Bythan Species
Even after the Scream, The Dalphega's Cradle sector is home to several sentient species. Albeit fundamentally altered by the loss of instant long range FTL, they eke out an existence in the shadow of the ruins of former civilizations far greater.
The Elvaan, or more commonly simply the Drow are a warp-capable, biotic species hailing from the Kalim homeworld - since the Scream lost from all known records. Before the Silence, the Elvaan were the galaxy's dominant race, having established two major empires within the time span of a millenia, as well as countless smaller states.
The Elvaan are apt psykers and they used to be deeply attuned to the energies of the Void; however following the Scream, most of the psi-sensitive Elvaan have perished, leaving the entire race seerless and adrift. Imperial Drow live up to 75 Bythian Years (135 Imperial Years - and prior to the widespread loss of most modern amenities, probably lived longer). Non-Imperial Elvaan have a shorter lifespan, around an average 70. Elvaan skin varies considerably. Imperial Elves tend to have dark-hued skin tones - something much closer to their Drow ancestors. Elves from the former Republic tend to have lighter, almost iridescent skin. Despite that, especially in the mixed Neutral Zone, many are hybrids, and several planets are known to shape their population in ways as unique as their ecosystem and environment. There have therefore always been many subspecies of Elvaan, and in the isolation of the Silence, possibly unknown subspecies may have emerged. Transgenics were common as well, further adding to the variety and diversity of Elvaan phenotypes. In short the Elvaan are a varied race, though not overly varied barring transgenics that new off-shoot races may have formed. |
The Ton'Keena hail from a world light-years away from Bytha. They are not a warp-capable species : in fact, the vast majority of the Ton'Keena race has barely evolved out of Antiquity and their world is a savage, lawless planet. However, several Ton'keense brilliant minds have been abducted in the years leading up to the Scream by undercover Elvaan agents living underground, and have been uplifted and integrated into Imperial society.
This specific breed of Ton'keena has survived across the Neutral Zone following the Scream, and there they are known as a hardy, hard-working people. They have no biotic abilities; there are records of uplifting programs suggesting Ton'keena DNA was being modified at the time of the Scream in order to enable psychic ability in the entire species. Ton'keena can survive in tough environments, and are far stronger than Elvaan. Their reproduction cycle is rather limited, however, and many of them have taken to piracy out of general xenophobia, especially from Republican elements of former galactic society. Most of them now live on ships, following Imperial command structures, and move from system to system in herds, usually raiding or scavenging locally to resupply. Ton'keena typically live up to 50 Bythian Years (90.5 Imperial Years) on average. |
TBD
|
The Khiddari (Bytha dialect : Khdarri) are a biotic anthropoid species hailing from the planet Veddar. The Khddari are a fervently religious race, to the point that it permeates their culture entirely: their sole god is Vanolion, who manifests Himself as the life-giving sun. Prayers are offered in great public masses every morning and night, drawing the entire population to their local places of worship.
Worship of Vanolion has been the only religion on Khdar in its entire history - early Khddari tribes were atheistic and fractured, until a Khddari known only as The Great Prophet began to spread the faith throughout his hive in Imperial year 21 - which rapidly converted and engaged in a vicious exercise of annexing their neighbours, either through missionary work or massacres. Within 40 years, the Vanolion hive had assumed total control of the planet, with the religion being fervently enforced ever since. In 67, the first FTL drive was developed, given by Vanolion according to legends. Imperial records show an early scout prototype crashed years before, and has been retro-engineered. Imperial records suggest that the Great Shrine has regarded the Khddari hive religion as similar to that of the Imperial Faith, as early as First Contact in 74. The Khddari expanded for about a century, as the Empire and Republic waged during the First Wave. They remained neutral, however expansion was shut down in 154, by the Treaty of Delta-10 which closed the matter of the Imperial-Republican war as their territory and area of influence found itself trapped between the frontier of both Elvaan realms along the Neutral Zone. They have since percolated across both territories, founding hives amongst the stars. The Scream is said to have killed at least 95% of the entire race, and many hives are now tomb worlds, revered by survivors as the tribute of Vanolion. Survivors post-Scream tend to make it a quest to recover their lost home world, holiest of all tomb worlds, and many Khdarri attempt pilgrimages to that purpose. Physically, Khdarri are quite frail individuals, being around 4 to 5 foot tall with slender muscle mass, covered in a chitinous exoskeleton of varying colors. They are well adapted for the harshness of their desert home: their eyes are naturally phototropic, able to darken and lighten in response to the level of light, and their digitigrade legs ending in 2 long, wide toes at the front and a single one at the back to enable rapid movement on the sand. Unlike many other species, Khddari society remains relatively stagnant and predictable across multiple hives. It tends to be rigidly hierarchical, with 5 castes (Drones, essentially slaves, Workers, Soldiers, Priests, who also fufill the role of scientists, and Nobles) being assigned through a combination of birth and ability - while these castes are for life, and no social mobility is available for a Khdar once they have been assigned, it is not unusual for a large degree of mobility between generations. For example, the child of a Drone who shows great academic talent or particular gifts for scripture may be brought into the priesthood, while the child of a Noble who is physically strong but academically inept could find themselves in the army, or even working in the mines as a drone. |