Cultures & Races

Tékumel Humanoids & Cultures
Humans are the vast majority of the five great empires. Livyánu, Mu'ugalavyá, Tsolyánu, Yán Kór, and Salarv'yá are ruled by humans and most of the smaller nations are formed and ruled by humans.

The Humanspace Empire was descended from peoples of the southern hemisphere of Earth who survived a nuclear war, so the humans of Tékumel are predominantly dark-skinned and dark-haired. Humans with fair skin and blue or green eyes are not unknown, but are rare and considered to be unlucky.

N’lüss

Hlüss
Kind of aquatic scorpions eight feet long. They paralyse victims and lay their eggs in the body. Think of “Alien”, only not so tough. (Barker dreamt these up before the Alien films were released.)

Hlútrgu
Amphibious “Swamp frogs.” Vicious; attack in hordes. Not overly bright.

The Shunned Ones
Weird mysterious chlorine-breathing aliens who dwell in sealed cities in the north. Technologically powerful but few in number.

Ssú
Four-legged and two-armed. Smell of cinnamon and speak in high chiming notes. Capable of hypnosis. Well organized.