Mithrans
Their story is a sad one.
A millennia ago, Mithara was a beacon of progress in the galaxy, revered for its advancements in both magic and technology. It was a world where the trees whispered secrets of ancient magic, and the cities hummed with the energy of advanced technology. Mithrans, the inhabitants of this world, were renowned as masterful technomages, skilled in weaving the threads of magic and technology into a tapestry of wonders.
Disaster struck when an experiment with nanotechnology, intertwined with the intricate dance of magic, spiraled out of control. This event, known as "The Devastation," resulted in a rampant spread of nanotech that infected every living being and inch of the planet. A once-thriving civilization descended into chaos as the nanotech, in its quest to learn and adapt, transformed the world into a living nightmare. The nanotech, designed to heal injuries and cure diseases, turned malevolent, keeping the Mithrans alive in a state of unending suffering as it fed off their biological essence to evolve.
Over time, the stronger-willed technomages learned to harness and control the nanotech, bringing a semblance of order to the pandemonium. However, the society that emerged was deeply scarred by the ordeal. The mithrans were forever changed, their bodies and minds fused with the nanotech that had once tormented them. The Empire, ever watchful for an opportunity to expand its dominion, quarantined Mithara, viewing the nanotech as a potential weapon. Researchers sent to the planet were consumed by the nanotech, their bodies reduced to gray goo, as they lacked the Mithrans' ability to control it.
As the Empire decided to obliterate Mithara, a savior appeared in the form of Vex'Rok Thunderstrum, bearer of the Axe of Justice. He brought the Music of the Spheres to Mithara. He recognized the Mithrans as victims of the Empire's brutal oppression, challenging the belief that they were mere expressions of the nanites' collective artificial consciousness.
The conversation went like this: Vex asked, "So, they think you don't have souls?"
Mithrans: "They think that."
Vex: "And they think you don't have intelligence?"
Mithrans: "That is also true."
Vex: "And they think your culture is meaningless?"
Mithrans, "Yes."
Vex: "They say you're dirty and diseased and they want to wipe you out."
Mithrans: "That is the case."
Vex: "You're orcs!" And at his insistence, the Mithrans were invited to join the Orchidium Coalition.
In the present day, the nanotech has become an integral part of the Mithrans, a double-edged sword that defines their existence. For those who have mastered its control, the nanotech enhances their physical form, making them appear impossibly beautiful or terrifyingly formidable, depending on their emotional state. However, for those less adept, the nanotech warps them into twisted, darkened beings. To outsiders, the society of Mithara appears as a realm of striking sidhe kings and queens, ruling over their goblin-like subjects, a stark reminder of the ordeal that forever altered their world.
Present Day
Despite being part of the Orchidium Coalition, the Mithrans are not allowed to participate in the senate. This exclusion stems from a widely held belief among other factions that the Mithrans are not real, sentient beings, but merely expressions of the collective artificial consciousness of the nanites. Additionally, there is a pervasive fear that their nanotech might exert undue influence on those around them, thereby disrupting the delicate balance of power and decision-making within the senate. This controversial stance is a subject of ongoing debate and a sore point for the Mithrans, who continue to fight for their right to be recognized and respected as equal members of the galactic community.