Alpha-Humans


"With hearts untainted and spirits unbroken, the Alpha stand as the true hope of humankind, wielding both nature’s wisdom and technological prowess to restore their species’ lost greatness."

The Alpha are a faction of humans who embody the truest ideals of humanity: purity of heart, nobility of spirit, and a boundless potential hidden deep within them. In an era where humanity split into two distinct paths, the Alpha emerged as the defenders of virtue, justice, and balance, while their counterparts, the Beta, fell to darker, selfish, and malevolent ways.

Alpha humans live in technologically advanced yet grounded societies, striking a delicate balance between innovation and harmony with nature. They refuse the excesses of futuristic decadence, preserving the essence of what it means to be human while wielding military-grade weaponry that is practical, efficient, and not overly futuristic. Unknown to most of their kind, Alpha possess the latent potential to push their physical and mental limits beyond what anyone imagines, a trait that makes them the hope of reclaiming humanity’s former glory.

Born of Humanity’s Division

The Alpha were not born of a foreign plane or mystical force but rather from the natural evolution of humanity itself. As civilization advanced, humanity faced a critical moment of division. On one path, the Beta gave in to greed, corruption, and self-serving instincts, leading them to become cold and calculating. On the other path, the Alpha preserved their ideals of unity, resilience, and compassion.

The Alpha evolved on technologically advanced yet sustainable worlds, where lush green landscapes merged seamlessly with cities of gleaming metal. Their societies fostered growth, self-improvement, and ingenuity without sacrificing their natural surroundings. This harmony between progress and preservation became the cornerstone of Alpha culture.

This divide between Alpha and Beta is more than philosophical—it has become physical. Alpha humans possess a natural vitality, their strength and potential a testament to their purity of spirit. Yet, for all their resilience, their struggle lies in overcoming the hidden barriers within themselves, unlocking the latent potential that could change the course of the multiverse.

Alpha in the Material Plane

The Alpha are deeply entrenched in the material plane, living and thriving on worlds that balance technology and nature. Their cities stand as monuments to innovation without exploitation, blending solar-powered skyscrapers with sprawling green belts and unspoiled rivers. While many Alpha are content to live peacefully on their homeworlds, some take to the stars or war-torn realms to fight against the encroaching darkness represented by the Beta and other threats to humanity.

Mortals often look upon the Alpha with admiration and respect, viewing them as the pinnacle of what humanity could and should be. However, their lofty ideals can sometimes alienate them from more cynical societies, and their presence is often a rallying point for hope—or a target for those who seek to crush it.

The Alpha are driven by a singular goal: to preserve and restore the greatness of humanity. Whether through diplomacy, innovation, or combat, they see themselves as stewards of the human legacy, striving to protect it from corruption and destruction.

Culture of the Alpha

Alpha society is built upon the pillars of unity, discipline, and balance. Though they may differ in their individual pursuits—scientists, soldiers, farmers, and philosophers—they all share a deep commitment to the betterment of their kind.

  • Harmony with Nature: Alpha settlements are marvels of ecological engineering, designed to minimize waste and integrate seamlessly with their environments. They see themselves as guardians of both the natural world and humanity’s technological legacy.
  • The Pursuit of Potential: Alpha culture emphasizes self-improvement, believing that every individual has the capacity to achieve greatness. From a young age, Alpha are taught to challenge themselves physically, mentally, and morally.
  • Conflict with the Beta: The division between Alpha and Beta is a constant undercurrent in their society. While some Alpha see Betas as irredeemable foes, others hold onto the hope of reconciliation. This philosophical divide shapes much of their politics and personal struggles.

Playing an Alpha

As an Alpha, you represent the last, best hope for humanity. Your character is a beacon of strength and potential, though you may grapple with the weight of those expectations. Whether fighting to protect your ideals or exploring the vast unknown, playing an Alpha means embracing both the greatness and flaws of humankind.

Questions for Roleplaying

  • What drives you to protect humanity’s legacy?
  • Do you see the Beta as irredeemable enemies or as lost kin in need of guidance?
  • How do you balance your technological advancements with your reverence for the natural world?
  • Have you discovered the hidden potential within yourself, or are you still searching for the key to unlocking it?

Traits

Ability Score Increase: Your Strength score increases by +1, and your Intelligence or Wisdom score increases by +2.

Age: Alpha humans age similarly to standard humans but often exhibit enhanced longevity, living up to 120 years on average due to their resilience and healthy lifestyles.

Alignment: Alpha tend toward lawful or neutral alignments, driven by their ideals of harmony and responsibility. However, individual Alphas may lean toward chaotic tendencies if their personal freedoms are threatened.

Size: Alpha are similar in size to other humans, standing between 5 and 6.5 feet tall and weighing 140 to 220 pounds. Your size is Medium.

Speed: Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Adaptive Resilience: Your disciplined mind and body make you resistant to external forces. You have advantage on saving throws against being poisoned and resistance to poison damage.

Inborn Potential: When rolling an ability check or saving throw, you can choose to reroll the dice and take the higher result. Once used, this ability cannot be used again until you finish a long rest.

Technological Adept: You gain proficiency in one tool of your choice (such as tinker's tools, navigator's tools, or vehicles) and one ranged weapon of your choice (such as a rifle or crossbow).

Languages: You can speak, read, and write Common and one additional language of your choice.

Subraces: Alpha Variants

The Alpha manifest their potential in different ways, based on their upbringing and personal values.

Wardens of Nature

  • Natural Harmony: You can cast Detect Magic or Entangle once per long rest. Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for these spells.
  • Defender of the Wild: You gain proficiency in the Survival skill.

Technomancers

  • Technological Prowess: You can cast Identify or Alarm once per long rest. Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for these spells.
  • Tinkerer’s Intuition: You can add your proficiency bonus to an Intelligence (Investigation) or Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) check involving machinery or devices.

Guardians of Legacy

  • Unyielding Defender: When a creature you can see attacks an ally within 5 feet of you, you can impose disadvantage on the attack roll as a reaction.
  • Inspiring Presence: Allies within 10 feet of you gain a +1 bonus to saving throws against fear or charm effects.

Names

Alpha names reflect their noble ideals and cultural reverence for both nature and humanity’s legacy. These names often have strong, commanding syllables for leaders or softer, naturalistic tones for those connected to their harmony with nature.

Masculine Names

  • Kael, Tharos, Alaric, Deyran, Valric, Eryndor.

Feminine Names

  • Lyara, Thalena, Aeryn, Velina, Maelis, Cyrana.

Neutral Names

  • Ardyn, Sylas, Rynne, Vale, Myron, Tyval.

Alpha who venture into the material plane or interact with other societies may adapt their names to better blend in, often choosing Common equivalents or shortening their original names.

Playing an Alpha

As an Alpha, your character is part of humanity’s last bastion of virtue and potential. Whether you embody a warrior’s strength, a thinker’s brilliance, or a peacemaker’s compassion, you are a symbol of hope and resilience in the face of adversity.

Example Alpha Characters

  • "Kael Deyran, a Guardian of Legacy, travels across war-torn worlds with his trusty rifle and unshakable resolve, protecting settlements from marauding Beta warbands. He struggles with the burden of leadership and the memories of comrades he could not save."
  • "Lyara Velina, a Warden of Nature, has devoted her life to reclaiming scorched lands ravaged by industrial overreach. She wields the power of the natural world to heal and defend, but her distrust of advanced technology often puts her at odds with her more technophilic kin."
  • "Tharos Ardyn, a Technomancer with unmatched skill in deciphering ancient machinery, is on a quest to unearth a long-lost archive that could hold the key to humanity’s true potential. Haunted by the Beta who hunt him for his knowledge, Tharos struggles to balance his intellectual pursuits with the need to survive."

Roleplaying Hooks

  • Are you a born leader, or do you avoid the spotlight despite your natural charisma?
  • How do you view the Beta? Are they irredeemable villains, or do you believe they can be saved?
  • Do you lean more toward harmony with nature or humanity’s technological progress, and how does this shape your worldview?
  • Have you begun to unlock your hidden potential, or are you still unaware of the greatness you carry within?

DM’s Toolbox: Alpha in the World

Alpha can enrich campaigns as allies, protagonists, or even tragic figures in the battle for humanity’s future. Here are some ways to integrate them into your world:

As Allies

  • Noble Defenders: Alpha warriors might assist the players in fending off a Beta invasion, their disciplined ranks and advanced weaponry turning the tide in battle.
  • Scholarly Partners: A Technomancer Alpha could join the party to help decipher ancient ruins, offering both intellectual insights and battlefield support.
  • Protectors of the Land: Wardens of Nature may approach the party to help preserve an endangered ecosystem, offering guidance through perilous terrain.

As Antagonists

  • Rigid Idealists: Some Alpha leaders might see the players’ actions as a threat to their vision of humanity’s future, opposing them with unwavering determination.
  • Unleashed Potential: An Alpha who has fully unlocked their hidden abilities could become a formidable foe, consumed by their newfound power and the belief that only they can save humanity.

Campaign Hooks

  • The Battle for Humanity: The party becomes embroiled in a war between Alpha and Beta forces, with both factions seeking to sway the adventurers to their cause.
  • The Hidden Archive: The players must protect an Alpha Technomancer on a quest to uncover a lost repository of human knowledge, while Beta forces and other enemies close in.
  • The Corrupted Alpha: An Alpha character who has fallen to despair and aligned with the Beta becomes a tragic antagonist, forcing the players to confront the complexity of humanity’s dual nature.

Alpha in Combat

The Alpha’s versatile abilities make them valuable assets in any encounter. Their adaptability allows them to excel in a variety of combat roles, from frontline defenders to tactical support units.

Combat Roles

  • Tank: Guardians of Legacy are ideal tanks, drawing attacks away from allies and bolstering their team’s resistance to fear and charm effects.
  • Damage Dealer: Technomancers can combine their knowledge of ranged weapons with their abilities to manipulate machinery, making them lethal from a distance.
  • Support: Wardens of Nature bring healing and crowd control to the battlefield, using their connection to the natural world to support their allies.

Strengths

  • High adaptability and resilience, allowing them to shift roles depending on the situation.
  • Unique abilities tied to their subrace, giving them flexibility in combat and exploration.
  • Strong defensive capabilities, especially against poison and fear effects.

Weaknesses

  • Limited magical abilities compared to other factions, relying more on technology and physical prowess.
  • Internal conflict between nature and technology may hinder group cohesion in certain situations.

Optional Details

  • Visual Representation: Artwork of Alpha settlements could depict their seamless blend of futuristic architecture and natural landscapes, highlighting their harmony with the environment.
  • Faction Symbol: A stylized tree intertwined with a metallic ring, symbolizing the balance between nature and technology.