Pirate Prince
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
- Intent: To codify some Shi'ido rebels.
- Image Credit: "War Horn" by Yang J
- Role: The Cytherai are a specialized unit of telepathic warriors native to the province of Cythera on Lao-mon.
- Permissions: N/A
- Links: The Benandanti
- Unit Name: Cytherai
- Affiliation: Shi'ido | Cythera, Lao-mon
- Classification: Force User Elite Unit
- Description: Essentially, the Cytherai are the elite warriors of the Benandanti clan. These are Shi'ido who have trained both their bodies and their minds, honing both into deadly weapons. While rarely worn in battle, they are associated with their ceremonial uniforms, the blin'daj, which include helmets that cover their eyes, symbolizing both their bravery in the face of unpredictable situations and that they have so thoroughly immersed themselves in the Force that they no longer need to see with their eyes when fighting.
- Unit Size: Medium
- Unit Availability: Rare
- Unit Experience: Trained
- Equipment: May vary based on individual preference or according to need, but all Cytherai are issued the following:
- Shi'ido-variant beamer
- Ultrachrome curved sword
- Ultrachrome dagger
- Blin'daj - A ceremonial uniform made from ultrachrome and shell spider silk (pictured above).
- Combat Function: The Cytherai's most significant Force powers include advanced forms of telepathy (including mind trick and stun), Force sight, and heightened reflexes. They are not known for their blunt strength; they are nimble, quick, darting warrior. Even so, they prefer to attack the mind first, using telepathy to distract an opponent or disable them in some way before moving in for the kill. While it is rarely done, they may simply destroy the enemy's mind directly by shredding their consciousness; this practice is viewed as cruel, however, and therefore taboo. It is also much more difficult, especially if the target has some mental defenses and a strong will, and the concentration involved can leave them vulnerable to physical attack.
- Veteran of the Psychic Wars: The Cytherai are mainly psychic warriors, attacking an opponent's mind with telepathy in order to distract, disable, or otherwise manipulate them in combat.
- Nimble and Quick: The Cytherai train and manipulate their bodies to make themselves faster and more agile than average members of their kind. They also rely on the Force to quicken their reflexes.
- Shapeshifters: Since this is a Shi'ido unit, they have their species' natural ability to shapeshift, which can further allow them to deceive and bewilder their enemies. It can also give them certain abilities through imitation - for instance, if they mimic the form of a winged bird, they can fly - but morphing into a Wookiee will not give them Wookiee-level strength.
- Weak: They are not known for their physical strength, and because of this they tend to avoid close-quarters combat.
- You Are Unwise To Lower Your Defenses: Because any kind of heavy or restrictive clothing can impair their ability to shapeshift, many Cytherai do not wear armor, period. This can present considerable problems, as you can imagine, when it comes to protection. A Shi'ido can survive and continue to fight if they lose a limb (the limb will eventually regenerate over time), but enough injuries will debilitate them in battle. Yet another reason to avoid close-quarters combat, too.
- Anti-Force: Ysalamiri, void stones, nullification resin, and other Force-resistant or nullifying materials will disrupt the Cytherai's ability to use the Force, forcing them to rely on their wits and physical training.
The Cytherai are members of the Benandanti clan, a Shi'ido ethnic group who hone their telepathic abilities from childhood to turn their minds into weapons. Those who are exceptionally gifted at mental forms of combat are eligible to become Cytherai, an elite class of psychic warrior that can manipulate and destroy an opponent's mind. They are also deadly warriors in their own right, trained to fight with swords and guns.
A very ancient group, the Cytherai have been around for thousands of years of Lao-mon's history. Like the Benandanti clan, they are well-known and feared for their power even among their fellow Shi'ido. In Lao-mon's more violent past they were hired by warlords and other leaders as bodyguards, spies, and secret agents. Since one cannot recognize a Cytherai based on looks alone, it is unknown how many of them there are and whether or not they are in use - though everyone takes it for granted that they remain a part of Shi'ido society in much the same capacity they always have, except that they are no longer as warlike as they once were, preferring peace to conflict.
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