Antedeluvians 

Home Planet:

 The planet Caine (translation), Federation registry Hotares IV
  Class: M

Surface:

 84% Land

Atmosphere:

 Dense

Description:

 Moderate hot

Life Forms:

 A humanoid race that shares several commonalities with vampire bats. To be more precise: They drink blood.

Important Features:

 1.12 G

Life on the Planet:

The Antedeluvians share the planet with no less than four intelligent life forms who live in small communities on four different continents. The Antedeluvians are a relatively small civilization that uses the other life forms as a strange kind of 'livestock'. They live amongst them and take part in their day to day life. They also guide the races, which they think of as their 'lost children', to higher technological levels. But at the same time, they feed on them at night. They do not kill them since this would leave the Antedeluvians with no means of survival.
  Strangely enough, the feeding procedure leaves the victim with an almost 'erotic' sensation. This is caused by the numbing telepathic abilities of the Antedeluvian attacker.
  Another strange fact is that one of the 'livestock' civilizations is aware of the Antedeluvian presence and welcome the very symbiotic relationship: Blood for knowledge. This civilization is therefore the highest evolved on the planet and it's likely that the cooperation between these races is going to enable them to make the leap into outer space, using warp travel, within the decade.
  The four civilizations call themselves the Camarilla, the Inconnu, the Gehenna and finally the Sabbatians. This Sabbattian civilization is the only civilization that is aware of the Antedeluvian presence, and they took their name from an Antedeluvian legend.

Civilization:

The Antedeluvian race, which they themselves call 'the Kindred', is divided into thirteen clans. These clans keep to themselves and sometimes fight against each other in what is called 'the Jyhad', although these fights are hardly ever to the death.
  Not much is known about the history of the civilization, except for their own myths and legends. These legends speak of a single Ancestor, known as Caine. Caine spawned a brood of vampires, who in turn Embraced their own progeny: thirteen grandchildren. The third generation that was thusly created, were the progenitors of the modern clans.
  The Antedeluvians do not possess a religion as such, but there are 'sects', which are groups of Antedeluvians that share a common ideology. Most Antedeluvians belong to one sect or another, changing sects as they wish when the other sect's ideas are more to their benefit at that moment.

 

 Many details of the Antedeluvian society have similarities to the Vampire legends of Earth. These can hardly be called a coincidence and it is thought that at one point the Antedeluvian society had the ability of warp space travel. At this point however this ability doesn't seem to be present anymore, with the Antedeluvians only being found on their home planet.
  Technical knowledge in the 'lost children' is however on the rise and it is believed the Antedeluvians are soon going to be able to travel through subspace once more.

Life Expectancy:

 250 to 300 years

Height:

 Two meters tall

Weight:

 Similar to Terrans

Skin Color:

 Varies

Hair Color:

 Varies

Eye Color:

 Varies

Additional Features:

Slightly prolonged ears ,chinked eyes and small ridges over the ears make them stand out from Humans. The last feature that makes them differ from Humans are their fangs.

Birth Methods:

 Procreation is slow. Antedeluvians are only able to have children from their 90th year and only two or three children can be spawned. This has kept the Antedeluvian race a rather small one.

Abilities:

Mild telepathic abilities include: the ability to numb the victim's mind, making them an easy prey for the Antedeluvian's feeding, and the recently developed ability to read minds.

Some similarities to Earth vampire legends:

The name of the planet and of the mythical Ancestor, Caine, is similar to the name of the 'evil' brother of Abel, the first two children of Adam and Eve.
  The names of several different clans are also rather well-known words from Earth legends. These are the clans:
  The Earth legend that a Vampire's 'kiss' can change the victim into a Vampire itself, is partly true for the Antedeluvians as well. A normal feeding by an Antedeluvian does not cause any problems with it's victim, except for the common problems caused by blood loss.
  The Antedeluvian usually makes sure it's victim does not die, since this would in the end leave it without a means of existence.
  When the Antedeluvian would, however, completely drain it's victim, a strange poison-like fluid is released from the fangs. This fluid has amazing DNA-altering capabilities, changing the victim into an Antedeluvian.
  This creature would, however, already have died because of the absence of blood. This can be prevented if the original Antedeluvian returns enough blood to the victim to survive.
  It is absolutely not common for an Antedeluvian to carry out this ritual. Only on three separate occasions when the Antedeluvians were in danger of becoming extinct, did they proceed with the ritual to ensure their survival.