Ironkin

Backstory

Stocky, broad-handed, and famously stubborn, the Ironkin are the galactic arm's smiths. They abandoned their homeworld voluntarily two thousand years ago when they realized asteroid belts were better foundries. Today every major shipyard in the inner rim has an Ironkin quarter and most of the heavy ordnance you've ever heard of was forged by one. They fight under a single rule: never the first to swing.

Physiology

Short, broad humanoids with bone-density comparable to dwarf-star matter. Tolerant of heat that boils most species.

Visual template

Short (1.4m typical), extremely broad humanoids with skin the color of polished iron streaked with darker carbon veins. Massive beards or chin-ridges (some Ironkin chin-ridges are growth, not hair, made of denser bone). Eyes are deep-set, glowing dull-orange like furnace embers. Forearms and biceps are disproportionately thick; shoulders are wider than any other race relative to height. Most Ironkin have visible foundry-scars: burn-marks, hammer-callus, brand-stripes from heated metal. They wear heavy practical armor of layered dark steel with bronze accents, often with a single stamped foundry sigil at the chest, plus a leather work-apron worn even in combat. Helmets are open-faced or visor-up to leave the beard visible. Weapons are heavy: warhammers, two-handed mauls, kinetic mining lances. Posture is rooted and squared — they NEVER lean. They look immovable.

Color palette

• #5a5d62
• #828890
• #c8302c
• #fad068
• #2a2d32
• #aa3e2a
• #dcdcdc

Signature abilities

• Plate
• Bulwark
• Killstreak
• Shock