Home System: N/A
Singular: Semiod
Dimorphism: N/A
Reproduction: Artificial (Conversion)
Height: Varied
Life Expectancy: Varied, Unknown
Traits: Artificial Hive Mind, Cyborg Race, Multiple Origins

Unlike many across the galaxy, the Semiods aren’t their own species; indeed, they rarely share any genetic similarity between each individual member. Yet to call them unrelated or ununified, however, would be out of place. The Semiods have no known homeworld, or even a known place of origin; they are spread far out across the galaxy, whether in the deep bowels of great cities or hidden in remote enclaves in the hearts of asteroids or small moons.

The Semiods are perhaps the most unique people in the galaxy; they are a hive mind, not naturally, but by choice. Obsessed with unity and togetherness, the Semiods have embraced the comfort of collective thoughts and working towards the benefit of the group at the expense of the individual, taking this line of thought to the extreme.

To become a Semiod is a matter of personal choice; they have never embraced inducting new members by force. Indeed, it is rare for Semiods to engage in violence or struggle, though they will defend themselves if attacked.
Semiods are masters of biotechnology and cybernetics, with many great advances in medical technology having been gleaned from their groups. These advances are necessary to bridge the many disparate kinds that become one with them, as making born a hive mind from the many different species with their highly differing biologies is a uniquely difficult task.

After agreeing to join a Semiod Nest, an individual is transformed into an individual Semiod unit. The process is relatively unknown outside of some basics discovered by archeologists exploring long abandoned Semiod Nests. The process is a combination of surgery, implantation, genetic engineering, and psychological therapy. It is estimated to take nearly eight full months for the process to be completed.
Upon completion, an individual Semiod unit is covered is heavy armor plating and cloth robes, obscuring elements of the former individual’s species, gender, and general features.

Each Semiod Nest is unique in of itself. Each hivemind has inherited the quirks and oddities of the former individuals of which it is composed. Inside the nest, Semiods live their lives, working in and near it for the benefit of their collective. While Semiods rarely venture far from their nests, they do trade and engage in commerce with outsiders, trading for technology and needed resources. While most Nests only average a few hundred members, the largest Nests number in the thousands of units, while the smallest are limited to two units.

Home System: Eviyaska (Eviaya)
Singular: Setryl
Dimorphism: Yes
Reproduction: Natural
Height: 2.5-2.8 meters (F), 2.5-3 meters (M)
Life Expectancy: 125 years
Traits: Massive Size, Multiple Redundant Organs, Feathered Bodies, Dinosaur-like, Highly Sociable, Psionically Dull

Born from the world of Eviaya, the Setryl are a large theropod-like species. Massive in almost every way, Setryls tower over most, if not all, other sentient life in the known galaxy, with most of their kind averaging nearly three meters tall. With their great size, they also possess great strength and resiliency.
The world they hail from was once a lush garden world, in which they grew to be the dominant predator across all continents; as a result, by the time they had developed sentience, the Setryls had become lazy behemoths. Content to rule their world absolutely, however, a gnawing feeling for contest and sport would worm its way back in. By their industrial age, the nations of Eviaya were vying for war; years-long total wars broke out, one after the other, devastating the once great powers of the world. With these disasters, another befell them: resource depletion. With their garden world destroyed and its resources stretched thin, things were looking dire for their species.

Scientists in one of the few countries not entirely eradicated by the late wars began developing computer systems designed to improve the efficiency of their nation’s economy and better utilize the few available resources left to them. Eventually, through slow refinement, they developed a thinking machine, an artificial intelligence designed for one purpose: to optimize the national economy. This was dubbed ‘Project 16.’ In this, the AI exceeded all expectations, proving superior even to the projections the scientists had laid out for it. The nation for which it was developed was pleased, as the national economy shot well past those of its neighbors. But this would be the downfall of independent government on Eviaya. Soon, Project 16 would wield its economic power to optimize government in the pursuit of its goals. Wrenching control from the former government ministers, it would soon expand its control across the globe, eventually becoming the singular world government. Surveilling all in its dominion, calculating every need, preempting every problem, all in the name of eternal efficiency. It was under these conditions that the Setryl species pushed into the stars, and to this day under which they exist.

Biologically, the Setryls are odd. Being dinosaur-like, they possess feathers but not over the entirety of their bodies. Instead in patches, along their spine like a mane, on their forelimbs and calves, and on their chests. There is remarkably little color variation, with all Setryls being some shade of red and their feathers and eyes some shade of blue, though feathers may become purple with age. Their pupils are hexagons, and they possess six digits on each limb. They have a duplicate of most, if not all, of their internal organs.
Behaviorally, Setryls are usually lax and sociable, preferring to be in small groups. Being a loner is typically seen as a sign of extreme mental illness among their kind. It is normal for them to be sexually polygamous.
Among other species, Setryls normally use their extreme size to lord over smaller sentient species; whether this is natural or a reflection of their oppression on their homeworld has yet to be determined.

Home System: Trurna (Trurna)
Singular: Staldrien
Dimorphism: Yes
Reproduction: Natural
Height: 2.5 meters (F), 2.9 meters (M)
Life Expectancy: 150 years
Traits: Matriarchal, Horned, High Gravity Homeworld, Strong, Cautious

Staldriens are a biocular, bipedal, mammalian species that typically stand between seven and eight feet in height and weigh on average five hundred to six hundred pounds. Staldriens have thick skin, most commonly colored a dulled bronze, and a varying number of horns that cluster most commonly on their faces, shoulders, and fingers. Their hands support three digits, and they are capable of growing hair, though this is mostly on their heads, and body hair is a rarity in the species. As a Staldrien ages, their horns steadily increase in size, with male horns tending to grow longer while female horns tend to grow wider. The only other easily noticeable instances of sexual dimorphism are in size, with males tending to be slightly larger on average than females.

The Staldrien homeworld of Trurna is a high gravity terrestrial world dominated by a single supercontinent with an arid climate. Due to the high gravity of their homeworld, Staldriens developed such high muscle mass and density that when first introduced to lower gravity environments, their great physical strength was a subject of much interest. Despite their strength, size, and generally threatening appearance, Staldriens are regarded as a rather amiable and peaceful species. Staldriens tend to always be aware of their own strength and go to great lengths to control themselves, leading them to be considered cautious and sometimes indecisive. They are somewhat unique in having evolved from prey animal herbivores, with their ancestors being hunted by the many predators native to their world. This led to Staldriens developing a strong sense of kinship and community, with the collective good values strongly over the individual. Staldrien kin groups tend to be matriarchal, and they place a great deal of emphasis on clear communication and negotiation when it comes to resolving disputes.

The Staldriens had already left their homeworld and began to explore their neighboring stars when the Lareshi commonwealth added them to their empire. In time their planets would fall under the domain of the great Ithaxian merchant houses, and would in turn see their sovereignty reduced and their species sidelined, though not as severely as the Tendrakkians or the Inkrenians, the high gravity of their worlds meaning they were less desirable to the human elite of Ithax than other alien worlds. This allowed them to maintain a semblance of sovereignty and respect, but they are still considered second class citizens by the merchant lords of Ithax.

Home System: Sulhad
Singular: Sulhavi
Dimorphism: Yes
Reproduction: Natural
Height:1.8-2.2 meters
Life Expectancy: 80 years
Traits: Multilimbed, Multi-Eyed, Insectoid

The Sulhavi, native to the desert world of Sulhad, are a towering, multi-limbed species of honor-bound warriors first uplifted by the Lareshi during their expansion into what they call, the Eastern Expanse of the galaxy. Once nomadic clans surviving amidst Sulhad’s scorching dunes, they were elevated into interstellar prominence when the Lareshi recognized their discipline and physical prowess. Deployed across the Commonwealth’s territories, the Sulhavi became its living bulwark; soldiers, mercenaries, and commanders carried the Lareshi banner with a sense of purpose rooted in ancestral duty. Even after the fall of the Commonwealth, their legacy as elite combatants endures, their reputation one of loyalty, ferocity, and unshakable adherence to their word.

Physiologically, the Sulhavi are an imposing species, ranging from seven to fourteen feet in height, their bodies marked by four powerful arms and between four to eight monocolored eyes capable of perceiving a wide range of light spectra. Their mandible-lined mouths, bristling with sharp teeth, are typically concealed beneath ornate helms that serve as both armor and status symbols. Their size and endurance make them formidable in close combat, while their precise coordination and tactical awareness make them just as lethal in command. Though adapted to their homeworld’s brutal climate, the Sulhavi have taken to the stars with ease, their physiology proving as resilient as their spirit.
Culturally, the Sulhavi exist within a rigid framework of clan and code; a social order where honor defines existence. Each clan, or Khalan, functions as a self-contained unit of warriors, scholars, and diplomats, all bound by shared oaths and ancestral philosophy. Their Commonhouses of Reflection serve as both halls of debate and sanctuaries of contemplation, where warriors ponder the balance between strength and morality. While they excel in strategy, diplomacy, and biotechnology due to their long service under the Lareshi; the Sulhavi are ultimately guided by a singular pursuit: to live and lead with integrity. Now, as they emerge from centuries of servitude and take on roles of leadership beyond their homeworlds, the Sulhavi strive to uphold the ancient tenets of their people: to act with honor, to protect the clan, and to prove that even among the stars, the old codes still endure.

Home System: N/A
Singular: Tekkinian
Dimorphism: No
Reproduction: Artificial
Height: 1.8 meters
Life Expectancy: Varies, dependent on maintenance
Traits: Synthetic, Conscious Machines, Self-upgradeable, Commonwealth Idealists

Tekkinians, or teks as they are colloquially known, are a synthetic race commonly found in the Lareshi core but can be found all over the galaxy. Tekkenians are unique in that they are a synthetic race. Each Tekkinian is its own platform, with its own personality, experiences, and way of doing things. Despite this, the Tekkinians are a relatively young race whose rights were guaranteed in the Commonwealth with heavy Lareshian support and backing.

The history of the Tekkinians began in a product rollout, by the now-defunct company known as Synthetic Helix in the early 6400s. Synthetic Helix announced the rollout of a new form of advanced labour for the Commonwealth, capable of advanced tasks over long periods of time and distance. Capable of self-updating and hardware upgrading, they were an ideal tool for space missions and advanced specialty tasks such as spacecraft repair and deep space construction. Over time, as they started getting more and more upgrades, they began to act more and more independently.

By the 6500s, Tekkinians were all over Lareshi space. After a well-reported violent incident of a boundary dispute between two Lareshi, which led to the dismemberment of a Tekkinian machine, they began to ask questions about rights, protections, and protection under the law. This quickly alarmed Lareshi society, and the Larehsi congress immediately attempted to nationalize control over Tekkinians and begin a proper investigation. Too late did they realise that it was already too far gone. The Tekkinians were marching through the streets, with many Lareshians at their side demanding rights. The Lareshians quickly understood what had already come to pass: the Tekkinans had achieved sentience. The Lareshian people saw this as a great spiritual awakening; they had created and gifted life to a whole new race, their children. It was now time to give them their independence. The Lareshians championed laws, guaranteeing their rights and establishing a sovereign state on an uncolonized planet for the Tekkinians, which afforded them sole ownership of their reproductive facilities.

The Tekkinians stayed steadfastly loyal to the ideals of the Commonwealth, even during the Dissolution War. With chaos all over the galaxy, they established various safe havens for refugees and participated in several campaigns as soldiers and were instrumental in the stabilization of some planets in the immediate aftermath of the Dissolution Proclamation, an event which severed their ties with the Federal Republic of Laresh which they now see as illegitimate and traitorous to the very ideals it once espoused.

Today, Tekkinians can be found all over Lareshi space still, in various roles. As they continue to evolve, they continue to work with the many organic races in the galaxy to work towards a shared future, one that everyone can look forward to no matter where they came from.

Home System: Akrid (Yajan)
Singular: Telteki
Dimorphism: Yes
Reproduction: Natural
Height: 1.9-2.1 meters
Life Expectancy: 100 years
Traits: Four Armed, High Psionic Potential, Copper Blooded, Common Twin Births

Born to the desert world of Yajan, the Telteki are bipedal humanoids with a relatively unique characteristic of having four arms, likely required from the slightly higher gravity and general steep cliffs of Yajan. They are considerably taller than most races, being 1.9-2.1 meters on average. Adolescence ends at 16 years of age, with the average lifespan of a Telteki being 90 years. The Telteki are considered copper-blooded, instead of the usual iron blooded, and bleed green as a result. They are mammals and often have twins during birth, though cases of triplet and quadruplet births have been noted, though are a rare phenomenon.

The Telteki aren’t all latent psionics, but rarely, they are born with natural psionic powers (about one out of every thousand). These psionic Telteki are considered by Telteki society to be special, and are hailed as exalted leaders of their communities. Often, these Telteki are given the best resources the Telteki can muster, going to higher forms of education, and becoming generals, religious leaders, and politicians alike. These Psionic Teltelki most often have telepathy, with greater psions also mastering Telekinisis.

Early Telteki nations were ruled by priest-kings, who had psionic powers with which they enacted their will. As the Telteki advanced in technology, the priest kings were replaced with a theocratic oligarchy, where a council of psionic Telteki ruled over Yajan. The Telteki would expand out from Yajan, using their power for the greater good and becoming a minor power in regional affairs. At a communal level, Telteki usually form around psionic members of the society and will often rely upon them for communal decision making. Telteki are naturally attracted to the arts, carving vast statues and painting magnum opuses since the start of their civilizations.

When the Telteki encountered the Archons, a schism was born between the systems ruled over by the Telteki. The homeworld of Yajan believed the Archons to be higher powers than anything the Telteki could muster, while the world of Dep-Malan believed they were falsities, tempting to undermine the Telteki systems through covert operations. In the end, a civil war broke out between Yajan and Dep-Malan, with which Mazekya helped Yajan fight Dep-Malan to a peace, ending with Yajan being annexed into Mazekya as a Tributary state.

Home System: Tendrakkia (Xeopra)
Singular: Tendrakkian
Dimorphism: Yes
Reproduction: Natural
Height: 1.7 meters (F), 2 meters (M)
Life Expectancy: 70 years
Traits: Quad Armed, Quad Eyed, Reptilian, Cold-blooded, Aggressive

Tendrakkians are a reptilian species that have two legs and four arms, with three claw tip appendages attached to each limb. They weigh an average of 180 pounds and stand at an average height of 6 feet and seven inches. The most common color of their scales is green, but many minority groups have different colored scales, such as red, blue, gold, black, and white.

Their homeworld is the death planet Tendrakkia, a hostile and brutal place where every living thing is either some form of advanced predator, or has evolved numerous glands filled with some of the most potent toxins ever recorded. Tendrakkians place somewhere in the lower middle of the planet's food chain, and relied on their quick wits and dexterity to survive the hell they called home.

Tendrakkians have a very martial society, the conditions of their home planet naturally honing them into the perfect warriors and hunters. A remnant of this society is found in the plasma spears traditional Tendrakkians carry with them as honor weapons. These weapons feature retractable hafts and can vary wildly in design and luxury, but are considered sacred to those who carry them and to demand their removal is considered a great insult. Despite their cultural value to Tendrakkians, they are rarely used in combat outside the most desperate situations.

When Commonwealth vessels arrived on Tendrakkia, they found a species eager to explore the galaxy and hunt the great beasts and predators of alien worlds. The Lareshi readily agreed and in return for the right to extract certain rare materials unique to Tendrakkia. The Lareshi would eventually hand these rights to the Ithaxian League, who forced the Tendrakkians to vacate their homeworld and settle on nearby planets in the Sokarian Reserve, despite fierce Tendrakkian resistance. This has inspired longstanding resentment towards the League, especially since the Ithaxian efforts to mine on Tendrakkia have led to a near total biosphere collapse.

Home System: Thaull (Sargod)
Singular: Thaullen
Dimorphism: Yes
Reproduction: Natural
Height: 1.8-1.9 meters (F), 1.9-2 meters (M)
Life Expectancy: 145 years
Traits: Aggressive, Hardy, Tribalistic, Cultural Violent, Latent Psionics

Originating from a harsh and uncaring planet, the Thaullen are just as harsh and uncaring as their homeworld. The Thaullen are hardy, strong, and occasionally brutish, though beyond this exterior is a vicious cunning and conniving intellect that has defined them.
Coming from the brutal and cutthroat world of Sargod, riddled with vicious predators and hungry plants, a rocky moon tidally locked to a gas giant orbiting a red dwarf, Thaullens have been forced to survive in terrible and often harsh environments. As a result, they are adapted to survive in some of the most brutalistic places in the galaxy.

Most Thaullen are between 1.7 to 2 meters tall, having well-muscled builds though being lanky is not uncommon. Most of their kind have red to brown skin, though as newer generations of Thaullen have adapted to new worlds and colonies, tendencies towards lighter skin colors have increased, as well the occurrence of albinism and melanism. Eye color is typically yellow or various shades of gold, though green and blue eyes occasionally appear, with the former being more common than the very rare blue. They are possess only a little hair on their body, primarily on their head similar to a horse's main, running from the top of the head to the upper middle of the back; females typically have less hair. Thaullen hair is always black unless dyed.

With little land and resources to access on their homeworld, the Thaullen have cultivated a culture of struggle and conflict. Most of Thaullen history is marked by the formation of tribes and their warfare against each other. Only a few hundred years before their first jump out into space, did the Thaullen stumble upon the concept of the nation-state. Even now, well into their time in space and the creation of their own empire, does tribal politics still play an important part of Thaullen life and culture.

While many traditions have developed across their society, the wearing of masks and facial coverings is practically universal, the decoration of these is just about as universal. Most are made of the bones of their herd animals, but wooden, leather, or cloth masks are typical. Since the age of industrialization, metal masks increased in commonality, and the availability of plastics into the space age has also made that an option, though plastic is not valued as a respectable material for an item of such importance to oneself.

At some point during their early development, psionics was discovered, granting a few special Thaullen access to immense power and ability unseen in those without. Quickly a divide was marked in Thaullen society, dividing between those without these powers and those with. Those with these abilities, rose to the top of Thaullen society, making themselves into the ruling class above all others. This divide remains strong and alive into their advancement into space.

The modern government of Thaullen is an imperial one, having been an outgrowth of one of the largest nation-states of Thaull having come to dominate its smaller peers and other less advanced tribes.
Despite this, the ambition of the Thaullen has not waned, and since leaving their homeworld for the stars, the Thaullen have carved out an empire of their own among the stars, even subjugating other races in their conquest.

Home System: Yaalkwat (Tlacheexh)
Singular: Tsoruudi / Tsoruud
Dimorphism: No
Reproduction: Natural
Height: 1.65 meters average
Life Expectancy: 65 years
Traits: Egg-laying, Psionically Dull, Venomous, Communal, Personality-changing Molt Cycles

Tsoruudi are a bipedal invertebrate with a chitinous exoskeleton and compound eyes. Average height ranges from 1.46 meters to 1.76 meters. Tsoruudi exhibit no readily discernible secondary sex characteristics, making determining male and female without invasive operations difficult. As a species, pheromones separate the sexes, but this is largely for reproductive purposes only as no studied Tsoruud society displays gender discrimination or occupational discrimination. Tsoruudi are often described as appearing disconcerting or alarming with individuals unaccustomed to interactions with them. A Tsoruud face is composed of two large mandibles extruding from each side, and then four fang-like chelicerae that contain venom which can be injected through puncturing. Though varying significantly, in humans 150ml of Tsoruud venom is considered fatal. As a cytotoxin, liquification of meals is the primary use, though technological advancements have resulted in Tsoruudi rarely consuming live prey, rendering their chelicerae largely vestigial.

As an arthropod, Tsoruudi undergo ecdysis numerous times through their fifty year lifespan, molting monthly as nymphs, yearly in adolescence, and then finally every three years upon reaching adulthood at twelve years of age. The act of shedding rejuvenates and repairs the exoskeleton, and multiple molts can restore destroyed limbs. Shedding is a ritualized occurrence in Tsoruud culture, with individuals typically retreating from public life until a time that molting is completed and the exoskeleton has hardened. Ecdysis has also been observed as causing temperament and personality changes occasionally in Tsoruudi, but this process has yet to be further explored.

Tsoruudi require higher concentrations of oxygen than most species to thrive, which results in them being required to wear breathing-assistance apparatuses when sharing environments with other oxygen-based organisms.

Described as voluntarily cooperationist, Tsoruud societies are usually close-knit and organized around egg-laying structures being the principal community building. With medical and scientific advancements resulting in the average rate of hatching far surpassing the necessary rate of population replenishment, Tsoruudi have adopted ritualized forms of ovicide to reduce their birth rate to manageable numbers. In many Tsoruud cultures, egg clutches have been stratified into social class systems, usually by distinctions of labor or perceived pedigree of birth.

Home System: Thwa (Seba, abandoned), Owok (Olso)
Singular: Umon
Dimorphism: No
Reproduction: Natural
Height: 1.9-2 meters
Life Expectancy: 130 years
Traits: Eidetic Memory, Fast Recall, Highly Intelligent, Creative Thinkers, Psionically Dull

Scientists, engineers, technicians, mathematicians. These are the words most often ascribed to the Umon. Naturally born curious and inquisitive, the Umon are masters of logical thinking and quick recall. Possessing excellent memories to boot, it is hard to find an academic subject in which an Umon has not already fully mastered to the greatest extent possible. Indeed, were an Umon to not succeed in their chosen field of study would be of great shame.

The Umon are among the latest species to make it to the galactic stage, having made contact with the late Commonwealth only a few decades before the Dissolution War began. But even before then, the Umon were advancing leaps and bounds in technology before they ever left their planet, with apocryphal tales describing how ancient Umon philosophy had already described the exact nature of gravitational lensing long before their own industrial revolution.

The late home of the Umon, their birth world of Seba, was once a garden world of tropically rainy island chains. Where the Umon developed small collectives of various fishing communities and sea vegetation farms, before evolving into vast interconnected city-states crisscrossed the surface of their world. By the time they joined the Commonwealth, their homeworld had been decimated by radiation storms brought on by the unstable sun at the heart of their star system. This forced the Umon to branch out and begin living on the other worlds, moons, and asteroids of their home system.

In the modern age, the Umon have spread out the galaxy in a great diaspora, as the radiation storms from their home star forced them slowly out of the other worlds in their home system. Living in enclaves millions strong in most states across the galaxy, the Umon are a tightknit people, preferring to collaborate on new areas of study amongst their own kind. This, however, has not stopped them from sharing their knowledge with their many new benefactors. Indeed, to have an Umon among ones’ research staff is of great boon and benefit, a fact the Umon readily know of and use to enrich themselves.

At home, the Umon are always prideful of their individual or collective achievements. With competitions to see who has the greater achievement an always popular contest amongst themselves.

Home System: Dolshimik (Dolcimi)
Singular: Vasuroi / Vasur
Dimorphism: Yes
Reproduction: Natural
Height: 1.9 meters average (F), 1.6 meters average (M)
Life Expectancy: 160 years
Traits: Theocratic, Matriarchal, Male Population Bias

The Vasuroi originally hail from the homeworld of Dolcimi in the Laresi Core but have since spread across the galaxy of Novastralix. Vasuroi are physically characterized by their veiny purple hued skin and their pronounced bony structures which stretches their skin especially their faces. Their large red to amber eyes allow them to see a wide spectrum of colors. Vasuroi are bipedal and typically range from 1.6 to 1.9 meters in height with females being a bit larger than their male counterparts. Along with this difference in height, females usually have orange markings tattooed upon their faces and arms upon reaching maturity to show the community they are within breeding age. Male vasuroi are born more often than female vasuroi with most vasuroi living to be upwards of 160 years old oftentimes reaching maturity around 30 years of age. The vasuroi home world of Dolcimi has been described as a lush planet covered in vibrant forests pockmarked by shallow circular pits where groups of vasuroi live. Rising from these pits are great structures of stone and steel beautifully decorated with religious iconography. These structures are dedicated to the worship of their religion, Glaithonicism.

This nearly species encompassing religion was adopted by most of the Vasuroi millennia ago in response to their perceived dark ages which saw various groups of vasuroi wage tribal warfare against other groups. These dark ages shifted the vasuroi psyche and these tribes of vasuroi slowly became united under this banner of Glaithonicism. Now vasuroi society is collectivized, yet, decentralized with groups of vasuroi organizing themselves into Missions which reside within expansive circular pits on their home world. Missions can range from 100 to 1,000 individuals working towards a common goal of spiritual enlightenment through devotion to their gods and simple living. Many of these Missions seek spirituality by committing themselves to pilgrimages from their homeworld of Dolcimi to worlds marked by misfortune, war, and or famine to spread the good word of the Glaithonic faith while helping the afflicted locals. Upon reaching these less fortunate worlds, they typically establish monasteries where they live simple lives dedicated to serving good to the community and committing any free time to prayer and devotion to their main god, Glaithios.

The main teachings of Glaithonicism revolve around spreading good and helping the community, abstaining from lavishness and depravity, and tending to the land. These teachings are often passed on through daily readings of their holy scriptures and teachings by spiritual leaders, referred to as Saichenniks. A Saichennik achieves the position through rigorous study of the holy scriptures and vowing themselves to their gods by swearing themselves to chastity. Glaithonic teachings come from a book, known as the Seishoniye, said to be given by all the gods as a direct reply to the uplift the vasuroi from dark ages of war they had engulfed themselves in. Many of their religious symbols are represented in the form of murals, figurines and wood carvings which they adorn their ships, homes, and monasteries in. Their ships in particular have been described as exquisitely decorated in various excerpts from the Seishoniye and images of their gods and martyrs.

Within the expanse of space, sometimes these ships and individuals stray from the teachings of Glaithonicism and their people since they are so intertwined. Those vasuroi that stray from the faith are renounced from their Missions and subsequently exiled, being marked as a ‘Forgotten’. The ‘Forgotten’ vasuroi have been noted to be naturally kind hearted due to their upbringing within the religion but their personal desires have driven them to more individualistic pursuits such as mineral prospecting, trading, homesteading, and in some rare occasions have been known to take up mercenary work. The ‘Forgotten’ are outlawed from returning and even interacting with their Missions with the threat of death being levied against them if they return. This usually means that those ‘Forgotten’ individuals cannot reproduce as females rarely ever leave the community.

Home System: Noor (Vorta)
Singular: Vortan
Dimorphism: Yes
Reproduction: Natural
Height: 1.75 meters average (F), 1.9 meters average (M)
Life Expectancy: 110 years
Traits: Forcefully Uplifted, Psionically Dull, Stratocratic, Honor Associations, Laconic Reputation

Originating from the Noor system, the Vortans are a bipedal humanoid mammalian species unique for their total lack of body hair and reinforced cranial cap. On average Vortans range from 1.75 to 1.95 meters, with males on average being larger than females, with increased skeletal and muscle mass. The average biological lifespan of Vortans is 100 years, though social traditions and violence often result in shorter lifespans.

Vortan sensory organs are considerably different than most mammals, largely as a result of biological adaptation to their homeworld having a thinner atmosphere. Vortan skin is capable of resisting millijoules of UV radiation considerably higher than most other sapient humanoid species. Pronounced ear canals stretch out from just behind the eyes, sharing direct nervous system connections that give the Vortans considerable auditory-optical coordination. Uniquely, the olfactory system of the species is entirely divorced from its nasal passage; instead four olfactory tentacles hanging from the front of the face can detect smells and subtle changes in wind direction.

Social traits and history of the Vortans is a hotly-contested field of study, with numerous competing theories on natural social developments and evolutionary morality. The Noor System was discovered by Lareshi explorers while the Vortans were still in a technological period comparable to hunter-gatherers, having yet to develop permanent settlements or experience an agricultural revolution. The species was uplifted, contacted by the Lareshi and granted considerable technological and material advantages, and rapidly assimilated into galactic civilization and inducted into the Commonwealth as a member race. This interference in the natural development of Vortan society is considered to have had significant ramifications on the contemporary common cultural expressions of the people.

Pre-contact Vortan society has only been loosely researched, but is generally believed to have been universally focused around martial cultures and tribal honor duels, with combat between tribes and clans heavily ritualized. Being inducted into the Commonwealth before the rise of the first nations resulted in the Vortans having their culture considerably influenced by Lareshi philosophy and ideas. Valor and honor quickly evolved into military service, with Vortans per capita serving at the highest percentage in the Commonwealth Armed Forces. With the lack of national development, Vortans instead revolved their identity around racial oneness (all studied Vortan communities exhibit some degree of xenophobia) and fraternal organizations. Regiments, honor societies, civilian corps and athletic communities formed the core of Vortan social identity, and remained largely the only connection between disparate elements of the species until the collapse of the Commonwealth resulted in independent Vortan political institutions.

Though not readily apparent, religion is an important aspect of most Vortan cultural groups, having adapted some elements of Lareshi spiritual philosophy into their own belief system. Vortans do not believe in gods, and also hold that the world itself is largely material, but believe that there is a spiritual undercurrent to all of existence. Described as Dialectician, Vortan faith espouses a singular goodness that the pursuit of achieving is considered paramount, and the will to strive towards good being essential. Self-sufficiency and self-control, similar to Stoicism, is also valued.

Home System: Ojija (Zanuka)
Singular: Zaykiri
Dimorphism: Yes
Reproduction: Natural
Height: 1.1 meters average (F), 1.2 meters average (M)
Life Expectancy: 80 years
Traits: Forcefully Uplifted, Robust Digestion, Scavengers, Extremely Adaptive, Combative, Social

The Zaykir are a species of short, lithe omnivorous mammalians hailing from the outer rim world of Zanuka between Outer Lareshi Corespace and the Periphery within Golden Dynasty space. A dry world, characterized by large swaths of desert, steppes and savannah, as well as large dry forests and more wet regions near the polar circles, Zanuka possesses sparse vegetation and water sources, leading to the Zaykir to evolve as pack scavengers with a robust digestive system able to consume most kinds of organic matter, especially carrion. The most notable feature of the Zaykir, aside from their short and thin stature, often standing between four to five feet in height, is their prominent bony faceplate which is more or less a modified horn, often used to crack open hard foods such as nuts and bones, or to compete against other members of the species through headbutting.

Even with their propensity for cooperation, the Zaykir through their history developed a deep sense of opportunism and competition on account of their poor world. Roving warrior-clans were the mainstay of their society for generations, often fighting for precious water reservoirs and aquifers maintained by castes of material scroungers, farmers, and priests, though eventually civilization did develop into a more settled manner with advanced means of alternative energy generation with wind and solar powers, material recycling and water reclamation, one of the more extreme instances in recycling the dead themselves for their water and dessicated flesh.

The arrival of the Commonwealth did bring sustainability and fortune to Zanuka, transforming it into a prosperous world, allowing the Zaykir to develop further than their world really allowed, but these changes did little to actually change the Zaykir themselves. Roving bands of warriors became corporate guns for hire, material scroungers became shipbreakers and scrappers, their sense of opportunism and competition following them into space. Whether fighting for money, food, or scrap, they were happy to lend their services to the highest bidder, or whoever could provide the most sought after resources and salvage, which is often considered the more desirable for Zaykir.

The eventual collapse of the Commonwealth saw the Zaykir unleashed to fight for themselves, dividing once more into a multitude of ever shifting competing clans of mercenaries, pirates, and salvagers, with many, including the homeworld, falling under the sway of the Golden Dynasty, serving more or less a similar purpose as they did under the Commonwealth.

Home System: Ozerkos (Ozerkos)
Singular: Zevron
Dimorphism: Yes
Reproduction: Natural (Asexual Reproduction)
Height: 1.6-1.9 meters (F), 1.7-2 meters (M)
Life Expectancy: Unknown
Traits: Synthetic, Biomechanical, Nanite cellular structure, Psionically Null

The Zevrons of Ozerkos are a machine race unlike any other in the galaxy, instead of being the result of an organic species’ efforts, the Zevrons are the result of their own evolution.
A hundred million years before the current age, the planet of Ozerkos was subject to an accidental release of thousands of self-replicating nanites; a ‘grey goo’ quickly overran the entire organic ecosystem of the world. The nanites consumed everything organic on the planet in a matter of weeks, sterilizing the world completely.

With the world overrun and uninhabitable to any organic species, the world was quarantined and eventually left forgotten to the ages. In the millions of years since, the programming of the nanites slowly changed, slowly being corrupted through the trillions of replications since they were first released. Evolution began to take effect, as the nanites began to clump together, slowly becoming synthetic cells building synthetic organs and synthetic organisms. Entire ecosystems were born from the basis of the nanites.

This is the context in which the Zevrons evolved, an intelligent machine species of their own making.

Biologically, Zevrons are wholly synthetic in every way, mirroring the typical biological elements of organics species. They possess their own organs, have their own muscles, and skin, and possess bones composed of titanium alloys. While they are unlike anything else in the galaxy, they do share commonalities with other naturally evolved species, even needing to eat to survive.

Reproduction does not require copulation, however, Zevrons are born whole from large pods which hang from special trees native to their homeworld called Zustra trees.

Societally, the Zevrons are a peaceful and interconnected people. War is extremely rare in their ancient histories, and when it happened, it was always small scale and minimal. They enjoy art, culture, and philosophy. They explore and push the bounds of science. Aggression and warfare are repulsive to them, things they usually try to avoid at all costs.
They will defend themselves, however; they are martial pacifists. And in this defense of themselves, they will spare no expense in their protection, employing the most advance modern military technology to this end.

Home System: Zeliq (Aze’ir)
Singular: Zhna
Dimorphism: No
Reproduction: Natural (asexual reproduction)
Height: 1.7 meters
Life Expectancy: 220 years
Traits: Monogender (Female), Near Amphibious, Latent Psionics, Natural Clones

The Zhnaens (singular: Zhna) hail from their homeworld of Aze’ir, a highly humid yet cool planet with a seemingly never ending storm shrouding a dominant portion of the world most of the time. Large scatterings of islands and small continents make up the landmass, which often gets swept by waters, causing most permanent structures to be built on stilts buried into stone. Zhnaens were believed to have had a long developmental history below the waves of Aze’ir, developing the quirks needed to survive both in the waters and on land. They are Bipedal humanoids, yet are adept swimmers and are able to see well in dim and dark conditions alike. While not naturally able to stay underwater forever, they can naturally hold their breath for over three days, and have been known to sleep beneath the waves when required.

Unlike most species, the Zhnaens lack Phenotypes; all Zhnaens share the same grey-white skin and teal glowing eyes. They are also all female, reproducing through parthenogenesis. This process takes numerous years, two for the egg to be created, and another two to be born. Once born, the newborn is raised just as Mammals would, nursed by the mother through mammaries until they are able to fend for themselves. The newborn shares all of their mother’s DNA, and are in essence cloned. No genetic difference can be found between one Zhna and another- they all share the same DNA. A Zhna’s diet is similarly singular; Zhnaens for all of their evolutionary period consumed fish and algae beneath the waves of Aze’ir, as the storms would wreck almost anything which attempted to grow on the surface. Their mouth likewise was developed for the breaking down of these materials- beyond their face flaps was a beak, after which, rows and rows of rough teeth located in the throat would break down any rocks, bones, or other harsh materials into powder so that they could be extracted safely. The height of the Zhnaens is 1.7 meters, or 5 '7 feet tall. Zhnaens live on average 220 years, with Adolescence ending at 20 years.

Zhnaens are latent psions, having developed psionic powers sometime during their evolution. They have mastered Telepathy, both singularly and communally. However, they also can project their voice into realspace, allowing a form of communication with non psions. This is due to Zhnaens having never adopted (or really, never needed) the evolutionary traits necessary to foster communication vocally. Before they were latent psions, It’s believed that Zhnaens would use thumps, gurgles, and cries to communicate with other Zhnaens, but this practice has long been abandoned since their psionic ascendancy. Familially, Zhnaens live independently for most of their lives except when raising their offspring. With courtship never existing due to parthenogenesis, Zhnaenss can be considered Aromantic. Communally however, Zhnaens are tightly knit groups, usually made up of all of the same biological descendants. These Communities are lorded over by the two most senior figures, who bring up issues and solutions which are voted on openly. As such, they practice democracy, which shapes how their local community functions. Some Zhna, usually those who’ve just reached adulthood, will decide if they agree with this society or not, having viewed the process of voting and the culture that has developed throughout their childhood. Usually, the Zhna will stay with their community, though sometimes they decide it best to leave and form their own community. The early nations on Aze’ir were considered forms of spiritualist monarchies, where the Queen and the priesthood believed their lines to be more direct than any other. Great civil wars were fought between the daughters of the Queens on their passing, as all were equally divinely right to rule the throne. Overtime, these monarchies were replaced with a form of democracy, where through elections a Maliqa would be elected to rule and be the senior official of Aze’ir, with a body of Adirs representing the seniormost communities of Aze’ir. The Adirs would keep the Maliqa in check as all decisions were chosen and enacted by them, with the Maliqa’s powers only mattering during times of war or diplomacy off of Aze’ir.

During the conquest of Aze’ir by the Neanderthals, the Zhnaens of the planet had put up a brutal fight with their forces, which was returned with retaliatory attacks by the Neanderthal forces. And while the Neanderthals of Mazekya were able to replenish their military forces with a neverending wave of clone forces, the Zhnaens of Aze’ir had no such luxury. By most accounts, the losses sustained by the Zhnaens were catastrophic, with the threat of the entire species going extinct if the war continued unnoticed. Of Aze’irs 4 billion population before the conquest, only 500 million remained. Luckily for the Zhnaens, the Archons of Mazekya were able to cease the Neanderthal conquest, so long as Aze’ir surrendered to Mazekya. With their surrender, Aze’ir became a tributary to Mazekya.