Loremaster:
WowGain
A proud and goal-driven simian species, the Apex are renowned for both their technological superiority and their physical prowess. Hailing from an Earth-like planet located near the far north-western border of CivSpace known as Ociapex. A temperate planet, chock full of forests and jungles that appealed greatly to the precursors of the Apex, parallel to the origins of humanity from the heart of Africa. With only two major continental landmasses, it was rather easy for the Apex to quickly spread across the globe, populating every nook and cranny available, much like their human parallels, though within a fraction of the time.
This rapid migration and dissemination was greatly assisted by the virtual planetary lottery the Apex clearly won in leagues. A bountiful planet, Ociapex boasts many resources both organic and inorganic, allowing for the Apex to quickly satisfy their desires for advancing technologies and the ability to move across their planet. All traits of this very friendly planet, relatively speaking, adding onto the ability for Apex Race to gain their trait of technological advancement and superiority. However, beneath the glimmering surface of this seemingly Utopian species lies many dark secrets and a hidden past that few in the Galaxy understand the true scope of.
The Apex are known for their great resemblance to Humans, something that has been noted and theorized upon by xenobiologists for some time since the first meetings between the two species. Their internal biology is rather identical, with the only noteworthy differences being their more dense muscle structure, allowing for the Apex to have their phenomenal capability for strength given proper training. Externally however, is where the Apex take their individuality from. Their outward appearances resemble those of the Great Apes of Earth, with pronounced brows, fur covering most of their bodies, and monochromatic, black eyes known for making the Apex give off a very intimidating demeanor to those around them. On average, Apex achieve a height between 5'2" and 6'6", but some members of the species have achieved massive sizes up to 8'4". The fur covering their bodies is usually in shades of browns and greys, however, odd colors such as greens and reds are possible without genetic modification or dye.
Strength-wise, they are capable of achieving what is considered the peak of the most populous humanoid species in the Galaxy, with their only true competitor in this class being the Florans. Who can say as to which of these two species is dominant in this factor is unknown, and is up to debate in most cases. However, this strength is not exhibited in most members of the species, as the civilian population is often discouraged by the MiniKnog from achieving physical prowess, perhaps for ulterior motives, but none can be sure.
Of all their traits, the intelligence of the Apex is often considered their greatest asset, and one of their greatest reasons for their technological superiority in the Galaxy. The brain of the Apex is considerably larger, and more voluminous than those of their colleagues, leading to a capability of intellect superior to those around them when given full and fruitful studies to learn from.
The culture of the Apex can be considered one of progress and the conflicting ideals of what to do with said progress. At its most basic, the Apex society can be split into two castes, those of the MiniKnog and the Ociapex Homeworld, and those of the Rebellion, hellbent on the destruction of the MiniKnog government at all costs.
MiniKnog society can be best described as highly refined and calculated, where those in the highest echelons enjoy the splendor of the Apex society, while those in the proletariat classes below them work diligently to continue the one-word mantra of their species. Progress. To examine the MiniKnog government itself is to look into a secretive group that is eager to show off its fruits, however, is highly secretive of the full story surrounding its rise to power, and the history of the societies that predated it.
The society of the Rebels, however, is a story of life's will to survive and thrive, regardless of anything thrown its way. Countless bloodshed has been seen since the Rebellion attempted to make their story known, and it can only be guessed at how long this secret war has been waged in the times before Galactic Unity allowed for the dissemination of knowledge out of the prying eyes of the MiniKnog Overwatch.
3133 - 3283
"The dark days of the War are often disregarded by the MiniKnog and their Overwatch, who only desire that they would have been able to wipe us out earlier, before we could discover contact with the entirety of our galaxy, and share our story in lands that didn't fall under the censorship of the MiniKnog's iron-clad authority. Often, when we rescue those held in internment camps, we find that they have little to no knowledge of the war that happened seemingly right under their noses. The same could be said for veteran soldiers of the war, who were given false information when they led fire-bombing brigades on entire cities of innocent peoples, told that they were simply clearing out unoccupied land that had fallen to the Ape Flu." -Unknown
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From what early documents of the young MiniKnog government have been made available to historians, it seems that the MiniKnog government was forged in the aftermath of a large-scale war that left many of the nation-states preceding it in ruin. Climbing from the ash of this turmoil was a group of scientists and researchers that branded themselves as the Ministry of Scientific Progression. One of their first acts to gain the trust of the Apex people was releasing an agent that they claimed would exponentially increase both mental and physical prowess of those that were exposed to it, at the cost of "slight evolutionary regression". The formula for this serum has never been released to the public, and most documents relating to its existence have been silenced. Whatever the truth regarding this serum may be, it is unlikely that anyone outside of the deepest halls of the MiniKnog's fortresses shall know.
All was seemingly perfect, from the perspective of the MiniKnog's documents. However, dissent still grew within the culture of the Apex, and on the fateful day of Minigus 12th (Comparable to July 16th), 3165, rebellion broke out in an off-planet colony. This marked the beginning of a brutal uprising against the Apex, which some claim never truly ended. The Rebels called out the MiniKnog Overwatch, stating that they had hidden cruelty in their dominance of the Apex, masking genocide in the name of progress.
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Very little documents still exist from the time of the Civil War, at least from the perspective of the MiniKnog, it as if the Civil War was little more than an unruly insurrection in a few outlying colonies. However, accounts and stories preserved by the Rebels paint a much different tale, one of cruel acts of war and lies. Genocide toward innocent peoples who were considered to be associated with a group they knew and cared for little, and diseases made to wipe out entire sectors of colonies, being chalked up to "natural disease". History is often written in favor of those who tell it, however, so the true story of these sordid days is likely to be unknown for many years to come.
Ocipus 30th (Comparable to March 13th), 3180 is often considered to be the public end to the first conflicts between the MiniKnog and the Rebellion, however, stories have circulated over the many years between then and now regarding legends and rumors of secretive attempts to overthrow the Overwatch and bring about an end to the MiniKnog as a whole. Talk of this is considered libelous within any MiniKnog-controlled land, though, and is discouraged as it will quickly earn even welcomed guests a mistrusting demeanor from the local Overwatch Authority.
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The activities of the MiniKnog and greater Apex society following the First Civil War at the public level can quickly be summarized as stagnation, in a word. Likely spearheaded out of fear of possible future attempts at usurping the order of the MiniKnog and their Overwatch, those beneath the upper levels of society within the government are discouraged from seeking out information regarding the past, forming interpersonal relationships outside of purely platonic working ones or a basic relationship with their partner and offspring. Family units are often disregarded in favor of a hive-like collective, and individualism is struck down from an early age. Such behavior often forms the overtly friendly, but off-putting "blandness" that is associated with MiniKnog colonials. While those working within the upper government are usually free from this societal molding, an anxious unease is almost universal within members of MiniKnog Colonies that have been born following the war.
While the technology of the Apex has always been regarded as a superior and fast-developing field, particularly in military and law-enforcement applications, the years following the war saw an explosion of research and development for technology that would prevent any further uprisings within the MiniKnog. This development has been kept largely secretive, with new technologies taking sometimes decades to hit any general public.
However, the time may be now for the galaxy as a whole to be witness to the feats achieved by the MiniKnog, as recent activities by the Rebel population have incited conflict which may be regarded as an upstart to a second war. For the future of the Apex's homeland at this point, little can be said.
"...Modernity for the Apex is a consistent standstill, with proletariat civilian populations held back from access to knowledge that is so seemingly emphasized as crucial to their society. An uneasy feeling of nervousness can be quickly gathered by entering any colony of the MiniKnog, and the stern, cold eyes of the armored Overwatch does nothing to help lighten the mood of these overall downtrodden, sheepish people." -Twilhert's Guide to the Galaxy