The Ulthun home world is the jungle moon Olos, the largest of the three moons courting a colossal gas giant in the trinary star system Uloth. It is here that, over an incredible period of time, the Ulthun’s development took a divergent path from that of all other life in their environment, evolving them from plants into sentient beings. Retaining a need for water and light, the Ulthun were forced to compete with Olos’ resident plant life in order to ensure their continued survival. The species moved their civilization higher and higher in order to escape the choking darkness of the jungle floor, adapting their methods and always pushing themselves to think of new, more clever ways of bringing themselves closer to the tree tops without forfeiting any critical aspect of their established way of life. At each step they were progressively emboldened, and, when they were finally able to look upon the sky, it took the Ulthun little time to begin seeing what lay beyond as their next challenge.
As a people, the Ulthun are remarkably difficult to gauge; though their goals are always straightforward and clear, it’s never easy to determine which direction they’ll take in order to reach them. Their resourcefulness and ability to strategically and biologically turn on a dime form the basis of their remarkable adaptability – the very thing they are most proud of. The Ulthun feel that theirs is a story of success, and that those who, when faced with adversity, cannot act or adapt as they have are unworthy of respect.
It is a rare Ulthun specimen who can resist a challenge. As a result, the species’ technical path is and has always been one of specialization; to broaden their options, Ulthun utilize and produce organic as well as inorganic technology. Organic Ulthun weaponry is celebrated as the most advanced (and easy to use) in Sector 9, outclassing inorganic Haleian equivalents and offering a vast array of common-distribution and military-issue units and models. The diminutive organic Ulthun fighter crafts nicknamed ‘wasps’ also rank as Coalition favorites; their economical design, simple interface and impressive agility make them a great choice for new and experienced pilots alike.
Technology, however, is not the only area where specialization comes into play – the Ulthun apply the same principles to their biology as well. The Ulthun are asexual; new life can be produced by gathering attributes from as little or great a measure of contributors as the progenitor chooses, allowing for a wide range of unique strains to exist among the species. While the physical characteristics of individual Ulthun vary tremendously based on parentage and environmental factors, all members of the species are tall – easily towering above their Coalition compatriots. The majority of Ulthun are sturdily-built, but some rarer sub-species have developed wiry, more sinuous frames. All Ulthun are bipedal and most have four-fingered hands; their faces are typically flat, featuring no nose, a subtle mouth and two pupil-less, opalescent photoreceptors. Ulthun ‘skin’ is cool to the touch and smooth in early life, but aging, damage and environmental factors cause it to grow tougher and more mottled over time. Colors span the visible spectrum and vary based on the environment in which the Ulthun initially developed. All Ulthun have a swept-back, rigid crest extending from their brow to the back of their skulls, under which grow a number of fine, non-prehensile, tentacle-like appendages that vary in length from individual to individual. These appendages are neural pathway casings and are connected to the brain; they are responsible for processing Ulthun sensory input. Variations include different texture composition, additional limbs or digits, environmental adaptations, visual changes caused by benign bacterial infection, etc.
Generally speaking, Ulthun individuals are focused, industrious and intensely curious. All Ulthun possess naturally muted emotions and rely heavily on logic. While it is possible for individuals to grow emotionally over time, those that do are uncomfortable with it and are seldom willing to explore it – much less discuss it – as it is culturally viewed in a negative light. Despite their logical worldview, however, it should be noted that the Ulthun harbor a peculiar fondness for the number three; while the Ulthun agree that this finds its roots in the recurrence of the number in their native environment, they have definitely attributed a deeper, more mystical meaning to the number over time. The number three, historically viewed by the Ulthun as a the natural shape of perfection and more recently as a symbol of luck as well, is a recurring theme in their art, architectural aesthetic, technological design, and even in their personal choices.
Present-day Olos is still a dense jungle, and the Ulthun live in inverted tear drop-shaped floating cities – always grouped in threes – high above the tallest trees. Ulthun colonies in other areas of Sector 9 are typically aerial, though many land-based settlements exist as well.
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