Lauki-Maus
A union of a sentient tree and a hiving insectoid organism, the Lauki-Maus have evolved to a state of complete codependence. The Maus provide organization, leadership and food, while the Lauki serve as loyal agents of interaction with the motile world.
Lauki have four arms, each with three graspers and hairs to allow for climbing on nearly any surface. Two long and powerful rear legs allow for speed running, long jumps of up to forty feet and powerful striking ability. They have two pairs of small wings, a heavier pair on top and a smaller stabilizing pair below, which allow short bursts of flight. Their heads are hymenopteran and streamlined, with small mandibles only good for eating fruits and chewing wood. They serve as the labor, foot soldiers and caretakers of the Maus. As such they lack the higher levels of intelligence and are mostly left to follow orders and without command they are fairly incompetent at any task. In recent times, genetically-engineered high-intelligence Lauki have rebelled against the Maus, and become a self-supporting civilization.
Maus are the large live Oak-like trees that are the voice and brains behind the Lauki. They are highly intellgient, sentient plants that alone can gather and store a mind boggling amount of information. Their true glory comes in numbers where the roots act like neurons connecting to form a giant network that is one powerful 'brain', able to calculate as fast and cold as any machine. They are photosynthetic, and can even survive in the vacuum of space for years on stored reserves of energy. They produce a sweet, blue-purple fruit with a pear shape and small out growths shaped like rounded spikes, tasting like a mix of mango and tomato. They speak through the Lauki using pheromones, the Lauki can then vocally communicate on their behalf, precisely and without error. The Maus live for thousands of years but will quickly become overgrown and schizophrenic if removed from the Lauki and other Maus.
Lumos
Mysterious beings apparently composed of sentient light.
Many
Tiny biomechanical ‘bugs’, the Many exist to serve the One- or by some other interpretations, the One is merely the omega of the Many’s development. Regardless, these small creatures serve as a vanguard for their massive, baroque, cathedral-like planet-eating monstrosity, scouting ahead and preparing worlds for One’s arrival. With their charge’s destruction at the hands of the Zan Kena and her Dirge of Eternity, the Many have withdrawn back into the deep space from whence they came.
Mechaniforms
An army of rapidly-reproducing autonomous machines of unknown origin, the Mechaniforms alternate between raiding cycles, where they plunder and fight to accumulate materials, and resting cycles, where they revert to a peaceful building stage and will not even defend themselves when attacked. The reason for this behaviour is not understood, although it is viewed as annoying and threatening enough that the Mechaniforms have become pariahs throughout known space, typically being destroyed on sight.
Mejani
While their natural form is little more than a hardened, three-pointed dome of a head and a soft body containing four tentacle arms and four tentacle legs, Mejani are most often seen moving around in mechanized, multi-use suits. Internal strife has seen the Mejani Lineages (Lyran, Kyan, Vycan and Vytan) reduced to just the Vycans, although recent evidence suggests that the Vytans may have managed to keep the barest fingerhold on survival.
Navartine
Natives of the planet Navart, the Navartines are bulky , eight-legged amphibians. Prior to colonization by the Zaff after their defeat by the Zan Shamai, the Navartines were divided up into a variety of somewhat primitive sovereign principalities, united only by a widespread planet-worshipping religion. Zaff Psychic Domination brought unity and slavery to the Navartines, spread the species beyond its homeworld about the expansion of the species to the planet of Truff. Today, the Navartines live primarily in New Braniga, as their ancient swampy homeworld was callously glassed by the Zan Kena. Given their faith, this event, coupled with the general rape of their planet by the Zaff, was horribly scarring to their species’ mindset. Embittered and greatly reduced in population, the Navartines nonetheless form a significant and productive portion of New Braniga. A separate population, descended from slaves liberated by the Fudirunins, exists within the Galactic Republic.
Nitha
Uplifted by the Qii to serve as warriors against the Kasekral in ages past, today the tiny, mammalian Nitha form the bulk of Sanath’s armies. Their relatively short lifespans and tremendous reproduction rates rendering them as the Collectivity’s most populous species.
Nurm
Nurm live in isolated communities that correspond to the deep tidal pools their ancestors were bound to. Their anatomy reflects this aquatic heritage, and their culture does as well. Their body type is like a ten-meter cylinder that is usually about three meters wide with one end tapered to a tear-drop shape. This is the ‘tail’ end. The tail itself is a vestigial spade foot that ancestors used to burrow into sediment to avoid predation and capture prey. Moving toward the anterior end, the next remarkable feature is the bony plates that begin as the trunk of the body begins and the spade-tail ends. The bony plates are an extension of a calcified matrix inside of the Nurm individual. The plates may have served a purpose in defense at some point, or perhaps an anchor for mating practices. The plate pattern continues until the anterior face of the original cylinder is found. On the ventral surface, hundreds of thousands of modified calcified spines serve as support and a means of locomotion for the individual. The face of the cylinder is slightly tapered, with hinged bony plates at the top and bottom. Recessed into the cylinder, a fleshy, writhing mass is visible. This mass is the only part of the Nurm that can see or feel. It is covered with anywhere from one dozen to two dozen manipulators covered with eyespots and olfactory recesses. Amid the manipulators there are three or four manipulator ‘eyes,’ capable of not only sensing light, but making sense of the signals that are received. The color of the individual is usually an earth-tone, but the color is dependent upon the mineral content of the diet of the individual. The exposed flesh is a pink-green hue.
Qii
Slender, translucent-skinned amphibians, the scientific genius of the Qii has helped to propel the Collectivity of Sanath into a dominant position in local space, while their ardent pacifism has helped to serve as a glue within Sanathi Society.
Rama
A race of planet harvesters led by a figure named Ra, the Rama make use of colossal ships to decimate planetary surfaces, breaking them apart and harvesting valuable minerals before moving on. Consummate migrants, the idea of permanently settling down either seems ridiculous to them, or hasn’t been considered at all.
Sadhilim
The Sadhilim are powerfully built bipeds descended from apex predators on their homeworld, and maintain many predatory traits to this day, including vestigial hunting claws and a fiery nature. Their name for themselves is ‘Those Who Initiate Duels’, and ceremonial competition through oratory and martial display forms an important part of their culture. Dismissive of outsiders and the unproven, the Sadhilim are willing to accept those who display greatness as one of their own. The entirety of the Sadhilim population is presently ruled under the aegis of the Fehan, who have displayed no greatness beyond an adeptness at manipulation and some superior technology.
Sgligatiki
The Sgligatik are a very unintimidating looking race from the planet Athre. They aren't very large, standing only about two feet tall, and weighing a little over forty pounds at the most. They have four legs and two arms, three fingers on each hand that enable them to grab hold of things well. What they lack in physical strength, they more than make up for in population. Each mature female (age 3+) can give birth twice a Sgligatiki year, to a brood of over 50 offspring each time. And, the average lifespan of a female is 40 years old (males generally only live for about half that time, and are only about 75% the size, on average, of a female). Their round head is covered in "eyes" (more like lenses, not quite eyes like we know them but they get the job done), they have a two-way digestive system, a one way respiratory system (which they also use to communicate) and a full circulatory system with just one three-chambered heart. The history of the Sgligatik is generally uninteresting until Year 1 of the Izoza Calender, as that was the year Izoza himself came to bless the ancient Sgligatiki with the gift of technology. A metal man from the stars above, Izoza came down to the surface and for the past millennium has spread the knowledge of technology, and has personally shaped and guided the growth of Sgligatiki civilization.
Shu-Ghoo
Amoeba things, ask Darksaber1 for a better description of the Shu-Ghoo and everyone they’re associated with. Why am I writing this at 5 AM I don’t even
Skriv
The Skriv are a feral reptilian race, most who stand a little over 10 feet tall when upright, which is rare, as most often they hunch forward (and thus measure about 8 or so feet). They have black eyes with red pupils, extremely resilient gray skin and long, sharp claws which curve downwards, and an extremely long tail that is equally as thick and rough as their body, though it exhibits extreme flexibility. They have the ability to spit a sticky acidic purple ooze. Extremely bloodthirsty and violent by nature, these creatures seem to exhibit only minimal sentience. Their thoughts seem to revolve entirely round killing. There is little variation in appearance between Skriv, the only difference being the number and location of scars upon their bodies, which are acquired at an early age through hunting and violent encounters with other Skriv.
Tenoderan
Resembling giant, bipedal mantids, the Tenoderans are a hiving species of questionable sentience but clear intelligence. ThThe Tenoderans use technology for communication, warfare and interstellar travel. Whether they possess a scientific tradition or simply reuse the tools of their defeated enemies is another mysterious question- they seem to be able to utilize technology whenever it is necessary for their purposes. Purposeful and ineffable in the extreme, the Tenoderans can wait centuries before launching rapid, deadly strikes. As has been made clear, very little is understood of this species, and there is currently very little ongoing research into their nature, given the fates of every known expedition into Tenoderan space.
Ullau
The Ullau have two large symmetrical eyes, with vision range slanted a little towards the infra-red spectrum, that can be retracted deep under the skin if need be. Other than that, their form is rather unique. Four arms are arranged radially around the front segment, adapted for a tree-climbing lifestyle, complete with grasping appendages. Each arm can also double as a leg, giving various modes of locomotion with the main body in either a horizontal or upright posture, inverted or not. The fingers are extendable as needed. Two pairs of piercing probosci are hidden behind complex folding mouthparts. Combined breathing holes, ears and scent organs are located in groves along the side of the 'head'.
The lower segment tapers to a long muscle-bound tail, which can easily haul the weight of the full body, leaving all four limbs free to manipulate objects when in a sitting or hanging posture. The tail ends in another two graspers, which tend to be atrophied in modern Ullau, but still useful at times. The internal structure is built for strength and flexibility, with a complex framework of cartilage anchored in strong mineralised joints, struts and pivots. While the skin and muscle are rather tough, there are no true bones. Much of the brain remains devoted to limb coordination and spatial awareness. The metabolism is a little slow, but energy efficient. Ullau can live up to two hundred 'earth years'.
Ullau are largely herbivorous. Their homeworld has less than two-thirds 'earth mass', and is actually the moon of a much larger, toxic ocean planet. The land terrain is mostly tidal swamps and jungle, the latter often featuring very tall trees. Ullau are settled and territorial by nature, but the modern species enjoyed a tribal lifestyle for many millions of years. It was the coastal swamp communities that eventually developed agriculture, along with other ideas that slowly spread to the populous jungle communities of the highlands.
Unaki
A species long-since fallen into hedonistic decadence, the Unaki remain highly dangerous in their own unique way. Masters of pheromonal control and illusion, the Unaki enshroud their naked, bird-like bodies through psychic trickery, making themselves highly desirable to both alien species and each other. Their world of Unaka, once an advanced ecumenopolis, has now fallen into minimally-maintained disrepair, as the Unaki dedicate as little effort as possible into maintaining their infrastructure, choosing instead to frolic in a demented dervish through the crumbling ruins of their civilization.
Utarite
Utarites are four-armed bipeds with crests and tufts of black fur ringing the neck and shoulders. Subterranean in origin, the surface of their homeworld was harsh and resource poor. Strong devotion to their families, clans and species led to rapid expansion, with the Utarites ravenously consuming resources as they expanded. Encounters with alien species led to heavy militarization, which ultimately led to strife and warfare within the Utarite species itself. Beset by enemies within and without, the Utarites reduced themselves to merely nothing through destructive infighting, and have since collapsed to a pre-FTL state of little relevance or interest to their neighbours.
Verthommes
A species of plant-like beings, or animal-like plants, the Verthommes are mobile and possess animal-like organ systems, but more closely resemble triradially symmetrical photosynthetic plants. They possess three slender legs, three branching arms, and numerous fleshy surfaces for photosynthetic ‘feeding’. The Verthommes are divided into three main castes- Carvers, mouth-bearing who serve as warriors and diplomats, Framers, the saprophytic working class, and Vengarians, extremely plantlike beings who traditionally formed the intellectual, political and cultural backbone of the species. All Verthommes communicate psychically, although the Carvers can speak- although this has somewhat ******ed their psychic linguistic skills, giving them an unfortunate lisp. Verthommes, while generally tolerant, can tend to be possessed with a strong sense of superiority, which has often led to a vague sense of resentment towards their neighbours. Despite this, they are noted for their honesty and noble nature, and their extreme resilience in the face of adversity. In recent history, the Verthommes have faced very much of this, at one point facing extermination by the Tenoderan organism. Interactions with aliens are viewed as important to prevent the species from lapsing into decadence and an eternity lounging in the hydroponics gardens of their homeworld. Verthommes are particularly advanced in the fields of genetics, agriculture and programming.
Vins
Humanoids, survivalists, isolated on the very edge of known space, and of generally little interest.
Wera
A transcended civilization, the Wera today are colossal vacuum-dwellers, feeding on the energies of the suns and swimming their way through the void. Planetary in size, they are capable of eating basically anything they want, although they seem to be content to watch their younger, planetbound counterparts and their struggles. They are unquestionably the largest animals in the known universe, although their abilities to seemingly circumvent the laws of physics bring their biological nature up to debate.
Wess
Once a rising power in their region of space, the Wess interstellar empire was wiped out in a brutal war against a vastly more powerful, migratory enemy. The survivors hid underground, where they exist to this day, deeply paranoid and distrustful of anyone who might try to infiltrate their fastnesses. With red, leathery skin and four arms, the Wess are tall and gracile in the extreme, and make use of biosuits to augment their otherwise-limited physical capabilities.
Yplein-Yjogl
A tremendously ancient pair of species, the Yplein came from the deepest depths of space and approached this galaxy long, long, ago on the bellies of their huge steeds, the Yjogl. They interact very little with their neighbours, operating on a vastly different timescale and having no desires for the resources of planets. The small Yplein flit about on helicopter-like wings through the rarefied atmospheres of their steeds, who bend light around themselves and feed on the radiation of stars, growing without constraints for millions of years. The Yplein possess powerful neurotoxins and wield a range of simple telepathic abilities, but are content to remain in space, elevated above the concerns of the rest of creation. A few herds have united to form the Association of Fplinmy, which is just as powerful as it is unlikely to ever interact with other galactic powers.
Ysir
Fighting constantly to redeem themselves from a legacy of violence, the Ysir have long been a migratory race, in search of their ultimate Destination. Strongly adapted to life in space, the Ysir may not be as physically tough as land-based species, but their win-at-all-costs ethos makes them a much more dangerous foe than might be expected from their small and gracile forms.
Zaff
The Zaff are psychic vampire toads. They grow constantly throughout their lifetimes, though they plateau partway through their second century (physical adulthood, mental development takes another century). The average Zaff adult weighs five hundred pounds. Zaff are able to mentally dominate non-psychics, and while doing so they drain will and intelligence from them. The Zaff are united under the Zaff Dominion, which contains the entirety of the species’ population, along with that of numerous slave species.
Zan
Brooding galactic masterminds, Byronic heroes or simply the petty remains of fallen glory, the Zan of today are all but mechanical gods. What little is left of their peaceful, scientific forebears is a quivering lump of flesh buried deep within an entire empire of machinery. The original Zan were brought to their knees by a terrible infection which wiped out all but the tiniest fraction of their species; the only survivors were those who abandoned their flesh for an eternity of mechanical isolation. Today, they are proud in a way unmatched by any of the lesser races, and possess tremendously advanced robotic technology. However, deep down, they are deeply phobic of their own fundamentally organic natures, to the point where it has become entirely taboo. The Zan population has not reproduced since the cataclysm, and their numbers are doomed to dwindle away to nothing.
Zzndkn
Resembling little more than a foot-tall glistening black ball with a small red eye and sucker mouth, Zzndkn live in tight and uniform communities on their eponymous planet. While they possess no apparent technology, they carry on an immensely detailed folklore through memory alone, and are capable of generating what appear to be laser beams, which are used in a lethal social shunning process applied against individuals who deviate from community norms.
