I'm posting with the hope that there won't be any culling.
Faction name: Kul'hari Collection
Race name: Kul'hari
Primary traits: Eccentric, Collectors
Flavour traits: Watchers, Negotiators
Primary colour: Azure
Secondary colour: Grey
Homeworld name: Principiter
Homeworld type: Tech
Home star type: G type
Natural Environment: Large, terrestrial planet, dense atmosphere, very rocky, large, powerful storms frequent across the planet. High pressure, high gravity (slightly higher than earth). All life, including the Kul'hari, are at least partially silicon-based, and as such plant life appears strange, from semi-crystalline trees that refract and concentrate light, to large, slowly-moving silicone-based gels (an algae-analog), all of which use sunlight to help digest the stone beneath them.
Physical form: The physiology of the Kul'hari is unusual; much of their energy is gained from oxidizing silicon to quartz, which forms the exoskeleton of the Kul'hari. They possess both an exoskeleton, for protection from harsh conditions, and an endoskeleton, with the former being composed of quartz plates, and the latter being composed of complex silicon-based polymers.The Kul'hari are upright, with quadruped bases and humanoid appearance from the waist up. The Kul-hari are able to utilise their exoskeletal plates to brace themselves and remain standing for long periods of time, but are often forced to shed them when they grow too heavy. They possess two hands and a head, but due to their exoskeleton and extra legs would appear similar to arthropods.
Starting units: 2 x Exploration Ship
Start location: Quiet
Brief Bio:
For most of the history of the planet the gel-like organisms thrived, shaping and reshaping the landscape, before larger organisms began to built crystalline supports and defenses against the harsh winds, crushing pressure, and high gravity of the planet. As the organisms evolved slowly into what would become the Kul'hari, large organisms were, as they died, converting their bodies entirely to quartz, and in doing so created ramparts to protect their descendants from the harsh conditions. Life became increasingly intelligent, they formed ever larger and more numerous communities, joining walled homes to make walled nations, which grew year by year, defended by the enormous walls of their ancestors.
Over time, as borders pressed against eachother, conflict arose. A culture developed which prized the technological advances necessary to destroy such powerful defenses, as well as technologies which would protect and make comfortable an extremely confined existence. Bitter, nation-state feuding became common. It was at the height of ceaseless war that a few key medical advancements were made, which would entirely transform the Kul'hari: first, techniques were discovered to preserve the neural networks the Kul'hari, and second, the joining of such neural networks was perfected, though it proved impractical for the use of moving Kul'hari. Now, however, when the Kul'hari grew old, in converting their bodies to quartz they still retained their minds, and were joined with the minds of all other lost Kul'hari. This hive-mind became known as the Collection, which soon came to dominate the governing, structure, and leadership of Kul'hari society. A semi-religious devotion, and deferral of authority and decision-making, was given by the Kul'hari to the Collection. Over time, it was found that one could only retain one's individuality within the core if one possessed a powerful, unique mind. Thus, most Kul'hari strove to define themselves through unique experiences, knowledge, deeds, and thought. This was encouraged by the Collection, who wished to stave off the boredom and stagnation of immortality and homogeneity.
Nation-state conflict rapidly diminished as more and more communities were incorporated into the Collection, encouraged to retain the different cultures of each nation, insofar as they could within the homogeneity of the Collection. It spread across the planet, soon uniting Principiter.
Now, however, the Collection turns its eyes towards the stars. It directs the Kul'hari scientists and engineers to build starships, and encourages its boldest to make their mark, boldly sending them out into the wide unknown.
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