Creature:Drad

The Drad are a carniverous, quadrapedal, reptilian sentient race native to the planet of Terrus. Their empire extends throughout the galaxy, reaching from the Far Rim to the Galactic Core, much of which was formerly the territory of the Grox Empire.

Vador and Cadar
The earliest ancesotrs of the Drad were the Vador. These were single-celled creatures that fed on meat fragments and other cells. Eventually, the Vador evolved into the Cadar, larger cells with poison, electricity and spines as their natural defence. One billion years later, the Cadar evolved into the very earliest Drad and emerged on the land.

Drad as Animals
For over three billion years, the Drad were little more than animals. From their earliest incarnation as something slightly resembling a bird, the Drad soon lost their cilia, which doubled as wings, and grew four legs. They also evolved a mouth that was much more adapted to chewing on flesh than the pincers that their Vador and Cadar ancestors had used. Instead, they evolved a much more crocodilian snout with two rows of teeth. They also became quadrapedal for maximum speed when chasing prey or fleeing predators.

Soon, however, the Drad hunted several other species to extinction and, as a rsult, became much more intelligent. They grew larger and much more hardy. However, this did not stop many Drad being killed by a volcanic eruption around one billion years after they emerged from the sea. The surviving Drad relocated to a new nest, far from the volcano.

It was at this nest, two billion years later, that the descendents of the survivors of the volcanic eruption gained sentience and first made use of tools and learned how to manipulate fire.

Drad as a Tribe
The Drad soon became the only species on Terrus that had achieved sentience. This did not last long, however, as the Olifa soon acheived sentience as well. The Drad, eager to open diplomatic relations with the newcomers, began preparing a gift of food. The Olifa, however, attempted to steal the food. The Drad, taking this as an act of war, rallied their tribesmen and marched on the Olifa village, killing every member of the Olifa tribe and razing their village to the ground.

Hereafter, the Drad took the same attitude to the other tribes that sprung up over the course of the next few hundred years. In this way, the Drad developed, and adhered to, the form of government known as fascism. They became a militaristic and expanionist people, fueled by xenophobia and their predatory nature.

In under a millenium, the Drad had conquered the whole of their continent of origin. Their people, under the rule of Chieftan Wilkar, began dreaming of cities, nuclear bombs and tanks. Their first city, Drad City, was built over their village. However, some of the tribe left, unwilling to follow Wilkar's vision. They formed their own cities and nations.

Drad as Many Nations
The Drad Schism soon led to Wilkar ordering the construction of the Conqueror-class Tank and the Destroyer-class Battleship. These were used to capture the valuable spice geysers surrounding Drad City as well as form the bulk of the Drad forces during the Great Drad War. The war began when a rival nation was set up. The Drad under Wilkar, firm adherents to fascism and militarism attacked their new neighbour with six Conqueror-class Tanks and soon captured the city.

However, during this time, several more nations had been founded, and none of them were interested in opening diplomatic relationships with Drad City. In response, the Drad attacked each nation one-by-one. Eventually, the only two nations left were the Empire of Drad City and the Empire of Nexus. The two empires fought the war for over fifty years, each attacking the cities on each other's borders. During this time, The Empire of Drad City invented the aeroplane and developed the Reaper-class Warplane and used it to capture cities far behind the frontiers of the war.

The invention of the aeroplane turned out to be the defining moment of the war. The Empire of Nexus found itself assaulted from all sides by the Empire of Drad City. At the Battle of Nexus, the Empire of Drad City emerged triumphant and the only nation left on Terrus.