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Species
[edit] Playable Species Terrans -A relative newcomer on the galactic scene, Terrans have nonetheless played a major role in the events of the last century. After interfering in the Klinshayan invasion of Celay in 2175-2176 S.T.Y., Terra fought a brutal war against the Klinshaya for nine years. In 2180 S.T.Y. the Terran homeworld was nearly destroyed, but the Terrans managed to recover and defeat the Klinshaya in 2184 S.T.Y.. As a result of the war, the United Systems Alliance was formed in 2177 S.T.Y., uniting Terra and her allies, Ryl and Celay, into one of the most powerful forces in the galaxy. [1]
Ryl'Atti -A peaceful race of insectoids, the Ryl'Atti were terrified when in 2105 S.T.Y. a sublight vessel from Terra reached their star system. An accident (or Therataan sabotage) caused the Terran vessel to crash in the neighboring Alpha Centauri system, and the slower than light communications of the time, together with language translation problems provoked fears of war back on both worlds. Wiser heads prevailed, and thanks to the Terran invention of hyperdrive in 2150 S.T.Y., a fast friendship was sealed between the Terrans and the Ryl'Atti. Staunch allies in the war against the Klinshaya, the Ryl'Atti sacrificed their entire star fleet defending Earth in 2180 S.T.Y..
Physically the Ryl'Atti have traits in common with Terran mammals and insects. They are cold blooded, and very sensitive to cold temperatures. Ryl'Atti blood is orange. Ryl'Atti do not have ears, their sense of hearing is provided by the pair of antennae branching out above the eyes, which are capable of detecting vibrations in the air at many times the sensitivity of the human ear. The Ryl'Atti have three genders, males, infertile females, and fertile females. For this reason, Ryl'Atti family structures are based on a bonding of three individuals. Historically this would have been a male, a fertile female, and an infertile female, although in modern times other combinations have been accepted. Eggs are produced by the fertile females, when hatched the young are nursed by the infertile female and cared for by all three parents. Fertile females, being somewhat rare in comparison to the other genders, have generally been discouraged from leaving the Ryl'Atti homeworld. This reluctance explains why the planet Centauria, only 14 A.U.s distant from Ryl'At, was never colonized by the Ryl'Atti prior to first contact with Terrans, even though the Ryl'Atti had had space travel for decades prior and had visited the planet many times. [2]
[edit] Celay
A technologically backward species transplanted to the Tau Ceti system a millennia ago, the Celay are the descendants of a slave race belonging to the Rodomok Empire. The Rodomok eventually exterminated all Celay within the Empire approximately 800 years ago, leaving the inhabitants of Tau Ceti IV as the last of their kind. After the Klinshaya overthrew the Rodomok in 1952 S.T.Y., and chanced upon Tau Ceti IV in 2174 S.T.Y., the Klinshaya believed the Celay rightfully belonged to them. The Celay resisted becoming the slaves their ancestors had been, and paid for this resistance with many lives. With the aid of the Terrans and the Ryl'Atti, the Celay eventually prevailed against the Klinshaya, and kept their freedom as members of the United Systems Alliance.
Celay society is divided into thirteen clans, each clan tends to specialize in a field of occupation such as farming, manufacturing, art, music or technology. There is no prohibition however, in any one individual Celay working in a field outside of his or her clan's area of specialization, the system is merely a tradition. The thirteen clans are politically, although not financially, equal. Usually a Celay's last name indicates the individual's clan, although many Celay are considered "clanless" and bear other names. The "clanless" may face some subtle discrimination among the other Celay, although this is becoming less of an issue in the years since Celay's first contact with Terrans and later joining the United Systems Alliance.
The government of Celay is divided into thirteen "kingdoms", roughly corresponding to the thirteen clans. The "kingdoms" are not a geographic distinction, as Celay of different clans live and work together fairly homogenously. The eldest of each clan nominate a "king" to speak for the clan as a whole, and once every thirteen years these leaders are responsible for choosing a new sovereign from a different clan on a rotating basis to govern the Celay as a whole.
The thirteen clans and their areas of specialization:
Ammimar - weaving Teishan - mining Deadra - construction Taediri - art Meedemona - fishing Nurissa - farming Jennastel - medicine Naistor - music Zastelle - philosophy Sitina - architecture Piniar - government Alican - religion Paican - technology
As seen above, there is no "warrior" clan, or other martial tradition among the Celay, which explains in part how unprepared the Celay were when invaded by the Klinshaya in 2174.
Physically the Celay are very similar to Terran aquatic mammals . They are warm blooded, and reproduce sexually, fertilization and birth usually take place underwater, in a manner similar to Terran Dolphins. Celay blood is red. The Celay have two genders, male and female, but do not form lasting pair bonds, the young are cared for entirely by the mother, and are unable to leave the water before they are approximately a year old. Celay are able to breathe underwater and on land using gills located on their necks, but tend to dry out if not in the water for longer than twelve hours. At first this is merely uncomfortable due to cracking skin, but can become painful and eventually fatal if allowed to go on too long. Celay have retractable fins located on each forearm and lower leg to aid in swimming, and are able to see partially into the infra-red spectrum. When not underwater, a Celay's sense of hearing is not as acute as the average Terran's, and their eyesight is approximately 50% as acute.[3]
[edit] Major Non-Playable Species
Klinshayans -A race of emotionless cold reptilians, the Klinshaya believe themselves to be the rightful masters of the Galaxy. Conquered in the Terran year 321 S.T.Y. by the Rodomok, the Klinshaya spent centuries fighting and dying as shock troops and cannon fodder. In 1944 S.T.Y., a number of Alshayan writings were discovered in the rubble of a destroyed Therataan colony. The finder of these documents, a Klinshayan male named Tasla Skreixx, would eventually become the center of the Klinshayan rebellion. Twisting the meanings of the Alshayan documents to his own purposes, Skreixx convinced his followers that their people were meant to be master, not slave, and rulers of every star in the heavens. Within a decade, followers of Skreixx had taken control of the majority of the Rodomok star fleet, and had laid waste to the Rodomok homeworld of Rodom. Tasla Skreixx then became the first emperor of the Klinshayan Empire. After consolidating their hold on their empire and technology for the next century, the Klinshaya began expanding towards Earth , always careful not to directly confront the Therataan. Discovering the Celay in 2175 S.T.Y., they began efforts to conquer them and were astonished when the Terran fleet handed them a humiliating defeat. After nine brutal years of conflict, the Klinshaya stood on the edge of annihilation as Terran fleets bore down on their homeworld and were astonished again when the Terrans refused to do so. A humiliating surrender and peace treaty ended the war for the Klinshaya, but awoke in them their first true emotion.
A desire for revenge. [4]
Rodomok -Once one of the most powerful races in this part of the galaxy, the Rodomok were a slave race of the Klinshaya Empire until the conclusion of the Swift War. Between the Terran years 317 and 1908, the Rodomok fought three brutal wars against the Therataan Protectorates and lost each time. After the third defeat, the Rodomok handed over the day to day running of their empire to their slave race, the Klinshaya. This proved a mistake when in 1952 the Klinshaya rose up against their masters and seized control of their empire. The Rodomok homeworld remains to this day a radioactive ruin, with the majority of the population barely scratching out a stone age level of existence.
Physically the Rodomok are VERY similar to Terrans . They are warm blooded, reproduce in the mammalian way, and form pair bonds much as Terrans do. They tend do have a pronounced brow ridge, occipital bun, and a stockier build than the average human, and far more body hair. The Rodomok sense of smell is at least ten times as sensitive as a Terran's, eyesight and hearing are close to the Terran average.
Very little is known about Rodomok society prior to its destruction by the Klinshaya. It is known that prior to the year 178 S.T.Y., the Rodomok were largely a peaceful people, with very few wars, highly developed art , architecture and sciences. What caused them to create an interstellar empire by conquest is unknown. [5]
Therataa -One of the older and more advanced races in this part of the galaxy, the Therataan see themselves as the caretakers of the ancient laws of the Alshaya, who they revere as gods. The most important of these laws being the belief that the many species scattered across the galaxy by the Alshaya are to be allowed to develop without interference from more advanced races. To this end, the Therataa clashed with the Rodomok Empire numerous times in the last two millennia, defeating them each time. As a result of these wars, the inhabitants of Terra, Ryl and Celay spent most of their history protected by the Therataa. When the Terrans became capable of faster than light travel in 2150 S.T.Y., this protection was by Alshaya law no longer allowed. As a result, the Therataa refused to become involved when the Klinshaya nearly destroyed Earth in 2180 S.T.Y..
Therataan society is divided into four distinct but equal castes, Religious, Scholar, Worker, and Warrior. The Religious caste interprets the teachings of the Alshaya, and proposes laws. The Scholar caste passes or vetoes said laws. Disputes in the law are judged by the Worker caste, and the laws are enforced by the Warrior caste. The Worker caste is by far the largest, consisting of the laborers, farmers, and other civilians of the Protectorates. It is unknown at this time how an individual's caste is chosen, or if it is possible to join a different caste at a later date.
The vast majority of the Therataa encountered to date have been of the Scholar or Warrior castes. Starship personnel serving in the Therataan fleet are always members of the Scholar caste, as have been the Therataan ambassadors to the Alliance . Actual ground troops are of the Warrior caste. It is known that the elite of the Therataan military are also part of a sub-caste, known as the Kokiera. Kokieran warriors are said to be masters of personal combat and possess psionic abilities, although to date they have not been knowingly encountered by Alliance personnel. The Therataa do not practice gender discrimination officially, but in practice it has been observed that most of the higher ranking individuals in Therataan society tend to be female.
Physically the Therataa are very similar to Terrans. They are warm blooded, reproduce in the mammalian way, and form pair bonds much as Terrans do. The normal bluish tint of their skins is due the use of cobalt atoms in the Therataan analogue to human blood cells, Therataa blood is blue, but is otherwise indistinguishable from human blood. The Therataa have a sense of hearing at least double that of a Terran's, but their eyesight is somewhat limited in range, and most Therataa are unable to distinguish the color red from black. [6]
Alshayans -The first known hyperdrive capable race in this part of the galaxy, the Alshaya are also one of the greatest mysteries. It is not even known for certain that Caiph III is this races' homeworld, or is merely one of many colonies. Having either gone extinct or departed for parts unknown millennia ago, the Alshaya were responsible for the seeding of life on dozens of worlds. Now they exist only as ancient ruins and writings, and have been elevated to the status of gods by some races, most notably the Therataa. [7]
[edit] Minor Non-Playable Species
Ara -A peaceful race, locked for centuries at a turn of the 20th Century technology level.
The Ara are a unified people who have apparently had a cohesive planetary government for over two centuries. They have had no wars in over 500 years.
Rule is Technocratic, with highly skilled technicians and academics holding the highest ranks of power. Passing collegiate and graduate school level testing is how one rises in the governmental structure.
Technologically, they are at Tech Level of -2, meaning that they at a scientific and technical level approximately equal to Terra at the turn of the 20th Century, with some elements, such as powered fixed wing aircraft, still to be developed (though they have extensive use of dirigibles, given massive helium deposits under the surface).
The Ara have been at this Tech Level for some 400 years. Despite their putting a premium on science and education, innovation has stalled to a crawl. This is primarily due to a racial characteristic of demanding nearly endless tests and re-tests of various hypothesises and engineering concepts before implementation. It seems the Ara took nearly 80 years, just to "work the bugs out" of their gasoline internal combustion engine, before allowing its production to begin.
Ara put a great deal of emphasis on personal freedom and openness, sometimes to the exclusion of the societal norms. It is the one aspect of their lives that has helped, rather than hurt, their scientific advancement. Ara are the descendents of quadrupedal, ruminant mammals with un-even toes (commonly called "cloven hoofed"). In fact, they resemble members of the Bovidae Family, Sub-Family Caprinae (or more simply, "bipedal sheep"). They are covered in a soft downy fur, and though possessing a standard four-fingered hand, their feet are a triple cloven hoof.
They have short lifespans (comparatively), less than 25 years. However, they mature rapidly, reaching adulthood at 8 years and typically mating in rapid succession, with families averaging 4-5 children each.
Though physically weak (by Terran standards) they are quite intelligent and showed a great openness to other species, when contacted by the civilian freighter crew who surveyed the system. [8]
Ehoc -A Stone Age species inhabiting the third planet of the UAC 182488 system.
The Ehoc are an extremely primitive race, both technologically and societally.
Essentially still in their "Sentient Age" (approx. 50,000 Pre-STY on Terra), they have yet to develop use of tools, such as a club or spear. Fire is used, but cannot be created (they rely on lightning strikes and brush fires). They have no art and their language is basically rudimentary "grunts" and some hand signs.
Rule of the tribes, in which they are formed, is almost "corporate". A few powerful individuals, those with the most food or breed-mates, control the rest of the tribe. Securing themselves more material "wealth" (such as it is) is their prime goal, and this typically involves fights to the death or tribal warfare to achieve.
Except to occasionally trade females for breeding purposes, there is little peaceful contact between separate tribes. Like the Ara, the Ehoc are apparently descended from cloven hoofed ungulates, in fact they resemble nothing less than an upright Terran bull (even females) with two horns emerging from the sides of their skull, a single hoof on each foot, and a hand comprised of a hard, calinated keratin thumb and two fingers.
They reproduce sexually, with a single child born at intervals of usually 1-3 years (Nursing puts the females in a state of non-ovulation.)
Biologically they are capable of longer lifespans, however warfare, starvation, and disease maintain their lifespans at the recorded 34 years. [9]
Jhorlera -The Jhorlera were discovered residing on the third planet of the UAC105905 system by the crew of the U.A.S. Hector in October 2223, though detailed cultural and biological scanning was made by the U.A.S. Midway in 2224.
The Jhorlera have now been incorporated as a protectorate of The Foundation.
The Jhorlera are an insectoid race, still under the classic biological rule of insects, that being a monarchy led by a breeding "queen". Although in the last three millennia, the role of the Queen has been reduced from the reproductive phase, with other fertile females taking over responsibility for the egg-laying.
As such, the new "modern" Jhorlera Queens occupy a leadership role not dissimilar to the monarchs of Earth's 15th or 16th Century. Their rule while almost always absolute, does allow for a "council" of advisors. (Typically, high ranking fertile males).
Technologically, they are at a Tech Level -3, meaning that they have developed steam engines, primitive electrical generation, telegraphy, and large-scale metal foundries. However, it should be noted that this level of technology has apparently been stagnant for over 1400 years, and archeological evidence suggests that the interval between Jhorlera advancements means that they may not reach Tech Level -2 (Flight Age) for another 300-500 years. Though intelligent, their society encourages very little innovation.
Inter-"nest" warfare is rare, but does occur. The last one though was some 95 years ago according to archeological data extracted. The Jhorlera are bipedal insectoids, in fact more insectoid than the Ryl'Atti, as they still have their chitinous exoskeleton (as well as a bony endoskeleton) and claw-like feet and hands. It should also be noted that they apparently are from the same genetic stock as the Nodasar, leading to speculation of an Alshaya "racial transplantation" in the distance past.
Reproduction is sexual, with fertile males impregnating the "little queens", i.e. fertile females who are not the monarch, and producing a batch of some 15-20 eggs. Of these, 60% will be infertile males (who will take up positions as farmers, laborers, the small contingent of soldiery); 35% will be fertile males (who will take up the positions of the academia, intelligensia, scientific community, and mercantile leaders); and 5% will be fertile females (who in the ancient past were killed by a resident Queen, but now act as "ladies in waiting" to the Royal Nests, as well as their role in reproduction.)
The race is long-lived, at some 108 standard years, but reproduction is rare, so their population is kept low. [10]
Nodasar -Nodasar was discovered by the crew of the U.A.S. Challenger BCSS-34 on August 18th, 2223. Based on observations of the race it is believed they are in their early agricultural age.
The Nodasar are somewhat primitive insectoid species, marked by their unusual streak of individualism and intolerance of interference by others. Unlike most other advanced insectoid races, they reject the more "collectivist" nature and seek the greatest individual freedom.
They maintain some small groups or "nests", linked together in a peaceful confederation across much of the planet. But even the "queens", their nominal leaders, are very weak politically and accomplish nothing without great attempts at individual persuasion. Even sharing of knowledge seems to be difficult, which has resulted in the Nodasar being stuck at a Tech Level of -8 (approximately Earth in 8000 Pre-STY) for almost 2000 years. DNA sampling has shown that the Nodasar and the Jhorlera are virtually identical. This has led to the assumption that one or the other was transplanted to the opposing group's home-world, likely by the Alshaya in the distant past.
Like the Jhorlera, the Nodasar are an insectoid race, with a chitinous exoskeleton, as well as a boney endoskeleton. Reproduction, maturity cycles, and other biological elements are all similar. [11]
Penthend -The Penthend inhabit a Humid Terrestrial planet and are still in their Stone Age. While primitive they are quite prolific in population across their planet. They were discovered by the U.A.S. Midway in 2220. And later visited again by the U.A.S. Challenger in October of 2223.
The Penthend are a primitive species, still living in a Stone Age (Tech Level -9) existence in the vast jungles of the planet 268 Gamma Ceti-IV.
None of them have progressed much beyond the hand axe and spear in technology, though they have established a peaceful co-existence (like a confederacy) between their various tribes.
In most Penthend societies, tribal rule is gender egalitarian, with the eldest member typically becoming chieftain; on occasions, they are selected by a council of prominent members. Socially, males act as the soldiers, hunters, and often care-givers to the children. Females act as gathers and shamans. Mates are chosen by the females, with males demonstrating prowess with weaponry as well as dance, at elaborate mating rituals. Penthend are mammals, described as "quasi-humanoid", meaning that they are bipedal, with digital hands and feet. However, their skulls are elongated, with somewhat porcine facial features, as well as a distended, but muscular abdomens. They are, male and female, quite strong compared to Terrans.
Reproduction is normal sexual, with a 7 standard month gestation. Female Penthend are unusual in that they can control naturally their ovulation, thus allowing them complete freedom of reproduction. [12]
Ro -Ro society, as such, barely exists. They are an extremely primitive species, though some 12,000 years into their Sentient Age. No tools, art, or even language is known. Rulership that exists, is strictly based on those with the most food, who gather unto themselves and gain some measure of authority by distributing it to others.
Otherwise, the Ro simply wander about their territorial range, as gatherers or grazers. Contact with other "tribes" is usually peaceful and allows for some intra-tribal mating which keeps the genetic codes diverse.
Their distinctive stripes apparently are gradually moving away from the normal open grassland camoflauge, and into a primitive form of personal identification.
Ro are an order of Perissodactylic mammals, in many ways similar to bipedal equines or giraffidae. Their reproduction is standard sexual, with young being born in six months; and families consisting usually of 2-3 surviving children, with the mother. The father makes rare appearances, although later young male Ro join tribal food gathering parties with older males. They have few natural predators and high resistance to disease, thus granting them exceptionally long lifespans for a pre-industrial species.T[13]
Carnochar -Referred to by an admin as an undiscovered 'feline race'.
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