Oh yea, if there’s ANYONE out there who has an artistic flare, is there anyway you can give life to these ideas for characters I have. I don’t have any real drawing talent, and every time I try, they come out looking like a 3rd graders version of an uprooted tree with no leaves. It truly is terrible. So if there’s anyone out there reading this. Please, some help would be nice and much appreciated. ON TO THE CREATION!
The planet Zaln
Zaln, a planet in the farthest reaches of sector 3206; Larger than Earth, but with only 1/3 the land mass on its surface, it is covered almost completely with subtropical vegetation. There are 2 dominant races on the planet that have lived cooperatively for millennia.
The Balorn; A sentient plant-like species who have evolved from the large Umbrusk trees that are prevalent on the surface of Zaln and have been in existence since the dawn of life on the planet. Whereas the Umbrusk themselves are still rooted to the planets core and have a collective consciousness and work together to filter and purify the air of Zaln, the Balorns have evolved into smaller tree-like creatures who can root themselves in the ground to tap into the life force of the planet to replenish themselves and to interact with their still rooted ancestors. The Balorn average lifespan is about 650 Earth years. The average size of a Balorn is between 3 – 5m in height with a median weight of around 450kg. They have 7 legs which spread out like an umbrella at their base and 4 arms which face in each direction (front, back, left and right). They have no mouth, ears or noses and have a single large eye in the middle of the left, right and rear arms hands. The hands themselves have 4 extremely long finger-like obtrusions along with 2 opposable thumbs on either side of the palm. They have no gender but instead reproduce asexually through a small sac-like vessel on the top of their frames. Because of the collective mind their ancestors have used for eons, the Balorns have evolved the ability communicate solely through thought (with any race with telepathic potential, and any living being on their home planet) or graphic depictions such as Hieroglyphs. They feed through either rooting themselves in the soil of their planet, or less efficiently, through pores located at the base of their legs which can drain nutrients from almost any planets soil or vegetation or directly from the atmosphere if the planet has no apparent land masses. When confronted with the rigors of space they use craft developed by the Sikdar which incorporates the planets soil into all of its components, especially the flooring. If it is necessary to be OUTSIDE of the craft while in space, they employ containment suits which also have the soil embedded into the lining. The Balorns are the more prevalent race on the planet, with their numbers almost double that of the Sikdar, but they are less intelligent. The Balorns are the laborers; although a few of their ranks have garnered leadership roles in the Zaln hierarchy of politics, it is rare. Roughly ever 1 in 2500 Balorn are as smart as the average Sikdar. With about 1 in every 10,000,000 as intellectually inclined as the best minds of the Sikdar.
The Sikdar; originally a form of small, parasitic, insect-like creature called Siliktra that embedded themselves 2 at a time (1 male and 1 female) into the skin of the Umbrusk trees permanently to feed and reproduce, they slowly evolved into a highly intelligent species about the same time as the young Balorns were beginning to flourish, that now represent the scientific, political and religious side of the planet of Zaln. They have had a female member of their race in power throughout the course of history, with the exception of a few times when a highly intelligent Balorn came into power. Average lifespan for a Sikdar is about 500 Earth years.
Generally, a Sikdar is roughly 2 – 2.5m in length and they weigh, in average, around 180kg. They have a segmented body similar to that of an Earth Centipede, with 7 segments; with the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th segments containing a set of appendages with 3 prehensile flanges. The first segment is the head of the creature containing an array of 8 highly sensitive eyes capable of seeing in absolute darkness, and also they are able to close them independently in order to filter out up to 87.5% of light if an area is too bright. They have 2 sets of pincer like mandibles which, when closed, form almost a type of beak. They “smell” through 2 antennae on the top of their heads. The antennae are sensitive enough to distinguish over 15 billion separate smells, including the smell of newly developing life forms and the stench of those who are close to death; Even if they are not found to be ill in any way. The 6th and 7th segments contain the reproductive organs. Even though they are relatively small in stature, they make up for their lack of size or strength by being the foremost intelligent species around. They are able to communicate both telepathically like the Balorn, as well as verbally. They are able to master any language in a matter of days, and then pass the knowledge immediately to the entire race using telepathy. Able to create machines capable of reigniting a barren star, or helping a brown dwarf absorb surrounding interstellar matter to transform them into planetoids capable of supporting life forms. The female of the species is usually larger than the male counterpart and is ALWAYS the leader of the planet Zaln. There has never been a male Sikdar in power in the history of the planet. Even though the Matriarchs of the society are not voted into power, but more or less assume the position every 200 Earth years through a ritual called B’la Tuk, or “earned responsibility”, where the High Council calls upon the forces of time-space and nature to “choose” a new Matriarch.
The foremost religion of the planet is considered a melding of both science and monotheism. Wherein the “creator” willed into existence all that is needed for life to begin, but did not actually create life itself, just the means and ability for life to self produce. He created within all matter the ability to become sentient, given the right series of events, and evolve into beings of nigh-omnipotence. It is believed by some Sikdar as well as a vast amount of Balorn, that the Umbrusk trees themselves are the creators of all that is, as they are recoded as being the first life forms on the planet, and possibly in the entire sector. Some see them as the true choosers of who shall ascend to the role of Potentate and take leadership over the planet, and it is they who keep the planet plentiful for its inhabitants.
- The gravity is twice that of Earths, as the planet itself is twice the size.
- Terrain is basically what you would find in a rainforest, as most of the land on the planet is covered by tropical and subtropical vegetation. Pretty much what you would find around our equator, without the deserts. Some mountainous regions and tons of swamp land.
- Climate on the entire planet is like the above. Tropical to subtropical, not much derivation in temperature, even at the poles.
- CO2 (60%) and Oxygen rich (35%), with few parts Methane (3%) and various other small amounts of elements.
- 1 orbiting body, slighty larger than Earth's moon. Desolate, rocky, inhospitable. Some active volcanos and a slight atmosphere consisting mostly (98%) of Methane and Sulfur Dioxide.
- Binary Star system, general main-sequence (yellow) stars with 3 times solar mass than our own. The planet itself is approx. 2 AU from the stars. It is the 5th planet in the system, with 6 more outside it's orbit. Because of the close proximity to the outer planets, they reflect back 85% of the light from the stars, making it permanent day on the planet Zaln.
- Balorn evolved from the Umbrusk trees who have been on the planet since the dawn of life. They were the first lifeforms. I haven't quite detailed the exacts of their evolution.
- As they are evolved trees, they're "legs" are what used to make up the roots, and they are able to root themselves into soil to siphon nutrients.
- No predators. They used to have a symbiotic relationship with the Sikdar before both species evolved.
- While rooted to the ground they go into a short hibernation-like state. They don't sleep technically.
- Very peaceful and quiet. Some are naturally more energetic than others, but as a general rule, they are semi-pacifist. Only fighting when absolutely necessary. This particluar character is experiencing a bit of vengeance and fury at the death of it's "father" As they are less intelligent than the ruling species (Sikdar) they have become the labor-force of the planet.
- Extremely social. They are asexual creatures who reproduce with spores/seeds. They have large family units and while rooted, they have a telepathic link to all other rooted Balorn and Umbrusk Trees.
- Clothing is not a necessity, although some (elders) do wear a type of cloak, like the Scottish Kilt, representing they're families.
- Average human intelligence levels. Compared to the Sikdar of the planet they are low on the intelligence chain. Some do exceed the norm to ascend to higher positions in their political and social hierarchy, but it is rare.
Kayl’r Dreq II is a Balorn and the son of Durlon Dreq and grandson of the original Kayl’r Dreq (one of the few Balorns in history to ascend the intelligence barrier of his people); former High Council member to the matriarchal Potentates of the planet Zaln. While Kayl’r Dreq was serving as a High Council during the reign of Potentate Malun XVI in the T’ul Uthon dynasty, he was dismissed from his position in the council due to other members’ (Sikdars) involvement in a coup to take the lone Balorn out of his position because they felt no Balorn should ever serve in an office of such reverence.
After Kayl’r Dreq was removed from his position he and his family were exiled to a small island on the opposite side of the planet from the capital of Brutask. Even though he was only around 400 years in age, he passed away shortly thereafter due to malnourishment and a lack of motivation to improve on his position any further. Soon after Kayl’r’s demise, his son Durlon took over the mantle of head of family, and tried to bring the Dreq name back into prominence amongst the inhabitants of Zaln. Even though he tried everything he could to erase the corruption brought upon his family by the actions of the jealous Sikdar in the council. It wasn’t until roughly 150 years later, when the Guardians of the Universe sent a ring to Sector 3206 which found Durlon Dreq and made him the newest member of the Green Lantern Corps that his family was once again allowed to join society and discard the image of social pariahs that they had worn for so long. It wasn’t long after he was appointed Lantern of 3206 that his first task at protecting his home would come to pass.
A fleet of Thanagarian cruisers were in orbit around the planet Zaln, demanding to speak to the leader of the planet. When they were confronted with a female, they immediately began to bombard the planet with anti-matter cannons and devices which could cause massive earthquakes, thinking that the female was just a ruse to insult them and show the inhabitants of Zaln had no real intention to let them speak to the real Potentate. As cities and towns were being decimated, the High Council and Potentate Malun XVI ordered a counter-attack to be lead by Durlon Dreq. When the battle fleet was ready they set off with Durlon Dreq leading the way, creating a force field to envelop and protect most of the fleet. During the pitched battle when the Thanagarians were gaining the upper hand over the Zalnians, Durlon decided it would be best to aim directly for the flagship of the Thanagarian fleet. As he was using cover fire from the Zaln fleet, he created an energy construct in the shape of drill-like machine and used it to puncture the Hull of the enemy flagship. With the decompression of their ship at hand the Thanagarian fleet ordered a regrouping around the flagship itself, and without warning began to fire mercilessly on their own vessel. In the confusion, thinking they were going to sacrifice thousands of their own to take out a lone Zalnian, Durlon created a force-field around the Thanagarian ship to protect himself and the ship from the bombardment. Little did he, or the rest of the Zalnian military know, they had already transported their crew members out of the ship and were using it to lure the Green Lantern into a trap. Even though his actions were merciful toward a threatening race, his actions were also in vain, as the ship he was protecting exploded due to the damage done by him as well as the rest of the Thanagarian fleet. The explosion shattered his force-field and decimated both the Zalnian and Thanagarian fleets. Caught in the explosion also, was Durlon Dreq, who could not react fast enough to protect himself and was also obliterated.
The Thanagarians called off their attack and the Zalnians returned to the surface to give the news to the Potentate as well as the family of Durlon Dreq, and his son Kayl’r Dreq II. When news spread about the selfless defense of the planet as well as of the sacrifice made my Durlon to try and avoid innocent alien lives from being slaughtered by their own kind, the Zalnian society deemed Durlon a planetary hero and erected a statue in the center of Brutask.
Sector 3206 was not without a Lantern for long, as the Guardians found in Durlon’s son the same innate qualities as they had found in Durlon himself. Kayl’r Dreq was quickly appointed the new Green Lantern of Zaln and Sector 3206. He took up the mantle with pride and proclaimed himself the protector of the entire planet, and that no peril shall fall them as long as he is alive. He vowed to avenge his father’s death at the hands of the Thanagarians and also to clear his Grandfathers name and expose the Sikdar involved with his exile (along with their families) to the entire planet, but most importantly, to Potentate Malun XVI.