The Mortok do not use bow weapons. Instead, they boast turrets, which are
able
to fire in any direction. When the Mortok are pursued, they are able to employ a
sudden reverse thrust, which will enable them to withdraw from the opponent's
cone of fire. The Mortok like bulky and rounded shapes. Their ships are heavily
armored and therefore, they are not very agile.
Mor, home planet of the Mortok, is a world filled with extremes. Large
volcanoes, roaring storms
and scorching heat dominate the side of the planet that faces the sun; frozen
oceans and eternal
night rule on the other side. The Mortok's genesis claims that the God Xorom
chose this world in
order to test the strength of the people whom he had created. Alas, the result
was not as he had
anticipated: Xorom's people climbed the towering mountain of which he resided
and killed him.
The history of the Mortok is as martial as its origin that lies in this legend.
The inhabitants of the
light and the dark sides of the planet were at war with each other for
millennia, fighting over a
small band of land that was situated between the two zones. This area was
fertile and the climate
was bearable. The ongoing war influenced the technology and the society of the
Mortok who
were divided into clans. Gunpowder and fire arms were invented long before any
written
language was developed. The Mortok also established a complex code of honor that
defined the
conduct of the Mortok in dealings with both comrades and enemies.
When they began to venture into space the conflict on the twilight planet
finally subsided as a
galaxy full of new worlds opened up before them. Soon they encountered other
races during their
explorations: first the eloquent Raptor, then the timid Arrack. The warring
nature of the Mortok
clans resulted in wars against these new races. However, the Mortok soon learned
that their
uncoordinated groups of warriors, who often harbored hostility towards each
other, could not
stand their ground against the Raptor. Even though the Raptor forces were
disorganized and
chaotic, the Mortok were hopelessly outnumbered and doomed to an overwhelming
defeat. The
lizard people conducted a devastating campaign, culminating in the occupation of
Mor.
The Raptor began to exploit the planet: resources were depleted, the inhabitants
were enslaved.
The Mortok realized that their only chance to shake off their oppressors was to
stand united. Fifty
years passed before the charismatic mine worker Avarro succeeded in uniting the
clans. He was
the leader of a mine worker rebellion that fueled the fire of a world-wide
uprising. Avarro united
the clans behind him. They expelled the Raptor from the entire cluster and
formed a planet-wide
government under Avarro as leader of all clans. Under his leadership peace
treaties were signed
with the Raptor and the Arrack, and commerce agreements were negotiated and
finalized with
the Terrans and the Oc'to. Finally, a period of prosperity and peaceful
coexistence with other
people dawned for the Mortok. However, the unity of the clans was superficial
and brittle. Many
envied Avarro and his successes; others feared that the Mortok were degenerating
into a weak
people due to the peaceful times. Tensions arose, conspiracies surfaced, and
secretive pacts
were made.
Barely fifteen years after his victory against the Raptor, Avarro was
assassinated during a
vacation in the twilight land.
The assassination of Avarro ignited a civil war which only ended when a new
enemy began to
threaten the Mortok. The Thul empire was rapidly expanding throughout the
universe and the
Thul were demonstrating an offensive interest in Mortok territories. With the
memory of the
Raptor invasion still vivid, the Mortok were united once more. They founded a
Council of the
Clans and confederated with the Arrack. The confederation, the Oc'to and the
Terrans
implemented sanctions against the Thul. Unfortunately, the Oc'to and the Terrans
did not abide
by these agreements and continued to smuggle goods to the Thul. The deception
was eventually
brought to light when a Mortok patrol captured a Terran cruiser carrying
smuggled goods. The
cruiser was destroyed. A miscommunication was recorded in the Mortok mission
log.
For most people this signified the beginning of the Great War. When it ended,
the economically
stricken Mortok threw their weight behind the foundation of a Galactic Council,
banishing the
immediate danger of a new war. However, with the lack of external threats
against the general
populace, internal disputes became apparent once again, feelings of discontent
that still linger to
the present day. The alliance of Mortok governments that spans many systems is
unstable, with
quarrels and assassination attempts occurring frequently.
The majority of the Mortok are not concerned about these incidents. They have
left the conflicts of
the clans behind. Many of them now roam the galaxy as mercenaries, pilots and
pirates, and they
are both infamous and in great demand. In a time of war they would fight
unwaveringly for the
Mortok cause - but until then they will continue with their own pursuits.