Vinaed

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.

Over two-hundred years ago, after attempting to shatter their defenses for years using increasingly clever methods, the persistent Ulthun were forced to grudgingly accept that the Xi’Halei (or simply ‘Haleians’) would not break. Having finally been afforded a measure of respect, the Haleians were able to successfully convince the Ulthun leadership to hear a proposal that would shape both their futures: the Haleians put forth that the fighting could never be allowed to begin again – the only acceptable future was a peaceful one, where both nations would coexist and come to each other’s aid if there was need. The Ulthun agreed, and a few months later, the Coalition was born.

To the Haleians, the best offense is a good defense. The species devotes much time and attention to this end – the most prominent aspect of this being the rate at which they develop technology. Haleian technology is currently the best available in Sector 9. In accordance with the species’ ethos, Haleian body armor, personal shields, and environmental sensors are of particular quality and widely distributed. The Coalition often favors the Haleian-made transports, G-class vessels and spectacular Tla’nak warships for sensitive shipments, large deployments or industrial ventures.

Haleians are generally ruled by their sense of duty. Obligations towards one’s family, work, community and beyond are taken very seriously; only in the service of these can a Haleian gain recognition amongst his or her people. Haleians are typically honest, pragmatic, and results-driven.

Haleians are sallow-skinned, bipedal humanoids with sharply-defined facial features including skull-like noses and thin lips. The hair atop their somewhat elongated skulls is uniformly straight and ranges from russet brown to black in color. Over the course of their lives, individuals commemorate significant achievements or highlight important contributions made to the growth and success of the people in their realm of influence by adorning their hands and forearms with various inked markings or carved etchings. Because of this, an accomplished person is colloquially referred to as a ‘mazu halei’ – or ‘hand of the people’.

The Haleian species’ home world is Halei, located in the Xel’than system in the Sector 9 core. Under Halei’s fiery orange skies lie sprawling, highly-populated cities interspersed with huge, protected green spaces. Haleian government offices are split evenly between Halei and Thund Makat – the seat of the Coalition High Command.

Shortly after achieving warp technology, the Humans exploded from their home system of Sol, colonizing other systems more aggressively than any other species in Sector 9.  Current major strongholds of Human civilization include Sol, Alpha Centauri, Epsilon Eridani and Gliese 581.  Humans form the largest percentage of sentient life in Sector 9.

Forty years ago, the Humans’ impressive rate of interstellar activity caught the attention of the Coalition, and the Humans were quickly folded into the existing organization.  Gaining accessibility to external resources and technology only served to further bolster the Humans’ colonization and militarization efforts, effectively extending their reach to all of Sector 9. 

Humans are adventurous and highly adaptable beings with a strong drive to overcome obstacles in the pursuit of a goal.  Cultural backgrounds vary widely based on origin, as do individual physical traits and dialects.  Most Humans value the relationships they make over the course of their lives, as well as their personal freedoms.  To outsiders, Humans are generally seen as gregarious and open-minded folk.

Five years ago, due to its significant and continuing contributions to Sector 9 in the areas of health sciences and agricultural research, this pacifistic species from the frozen reaches of Teneb was invited to join in the Coalition government.  Possessing the lowest population numbers among Coalition participant species and no substantial military, the Tenebians’ request to sit on the council was initially denied and Teneb was taken on as a protectorate.  After years of petitioning and persistent high-profile activity, however, the Tenebians were ultimately allowed to elect council representatives, placing them on equal political footing with the other three Coalition nations.  
 
Various social anxieties have caused some parties to believe that the Tenebians’ inclusion into the government was a grave mistake.  This mentality has spawned a few activist groups that seek to destabilize public opinion and ultimately force the government to rescind; attacks against the Tenebians play on peoples’ fear of the unknown, skewing facts to paint the Tenebians as dangerous spies with nefarious designs.  Fully cognizant of the amount of work they did over the years in an effort to position themselves as a critical resource for the Coalition, the Tenebians view these groups and the sentiments they breed as ignorant, offensive and hurtful.

Tenebians are intelligent, hard working and creative.  Though they tend heavily towards meticulousness, they never lose sight of the overall picture and always ensure that their next step is in line with the desired final outcome.  Confident and proud, Tenebians typically carry themselves with an air of imperiousness; their curt and polite manner is often seen as frosty, landing them a reputation as generally disinterested and unapproachable people.  In reality, this could not be further from the truth.  Those who have the opportunity to form relationships with Tenebians find them to be thoughtful, interesting individuals possessing a strong sense of right and wrong.

Tenebians are bipedal humanoids with six digits, smoky grey hair and chiseled features.  Tenebian skin color bruises over time, progressing from blue-grey at birth to deep purple at old age; some individuals show black or grey flecking – a rare characteristic that is considered particularly attractive.  Tenebians form strong attachments to people, places and things; they are very fond of their home system and have not yet begun spreading themselves out in any signficant way.  As a result, it is currently possible for a Human, Haleian or Ulthun individual to have never set eyes upon a Tenebian outside the realm of media.

The Tenebian aesthetic eye is second to none.  Elegance and symmetry factor evenly into every aspect of Tenebian life, infusing their architecture, clothing, art, and even their overall world views.  Language follows suit, of course; smooth-flowing and capable of supporting both incredible precision and figurative agility, the Tenebian language is a fantastic tool for arts and industry alike.  Tenebian technological solutions apply a standard ‘make due with what you have’ philosophy at the design phase, which imbues their tools and equipment with a certain simple, modest charm. 

Teneb, the Tenebian homeworld, is a frozen wasteland.  The Tenebians live in cities below ground.  Foodstuffs are shipped from Adura, a neighbouring planet and sister colony in the same system.

Possibly the only native species to Sector 10, the Ssujak have been aware of Vinaed (and vice versa) for some time.  Prizing information above all else, the Ssujak listened and observed for a few decades, comfortable in the knowledge that the Coalition seemed uninterested in them as a target for hostilities.  Historically self-sufficient, they ingored all Coalition attempts at direct communication and remained aloof – until their government finally decided that the Oban were not a threat they would be wise to face alone.

The Ssujak are keyed to subtlety, favoring the indirect route when in pursuit of a goal, using non-verbal signals over words in conversation, and choosing ambush over assault in combat.  Specifically remarkable at understanding and interpreting language due to a specialized region of the brain, the Ssujak are excellent at scouting and reconaissance.  The species are consummate believers in knowledge as the ultimate form of power, and that belief strongly permeates all aspects of their culture. 

Ssujak aesthetics are simple and muted; architecture and equipment are recognizeably sleek, seamless and minimalistic.  While the Ssujaks’ personal stealth units have ironically attracted quite a bit of attention on the part of the Coalition military and are presently under observation, it’s the various, extensively-deployed Ssujak-made user interfaces – all powered by advanced heuristic processors – that have caught the fancy of Sector 9 professionals and civilians alike.  It is widely believed that these UIs will see rapid adoption in Sector 9 once the basic specs are released. 

The Ssujak are a bipedal, roughly humanoid species with a vestigial digitigrade stance, clawed hands and feet, and a hissing language.  They are hairless, with elongated skulls, a toothy maw, slitted nose, and dark, narrow, forward-facing eyes.  Like every living thing on their home world, the Ssujak are uniformly black in color.  Males are slightly larger than females.  Their lean and agile frames are protected by a smooth, close-fitting exoskeleton; this layer of chitin is thin and supple at birth, toughening by a good measure and thickening by only a small amount as the individual ages.  All Ssujak have a long, segmented tail ending in a knife-like barb; outside of combat, this prehensile appendage is willfully kept still, as the Ssujak consider it rude when used as part of expression.  Ssujak are naturally adapted to low-light environments; as a result, they suffer a diminished ability to view color in the visible light spectrum.  Individuals typically wear enviromental suits when operating conditions risk being sub-optimal. 

The average Ssujak is shrewd, standoffish and pragmatic.  The Ssujak discourage demonstrativeness; expressive discourse and non-verbal interaction are reserved for family and close friends only, and individuals who casually err in this are viewed as uncouth.  Ssujak place a high value on trustworthiness; it is for this reason that they are loathe to form relationships quickly, opting instead to spend more time gathering information. 

The Ssujak home world and the seat of their species’ government is Ssujak-resk, a lone planet orbiting a dim star.  The Ssujak species has spread far, however, and many of their neat colonies pepper Sector 10.  All Ssujak colonies thrive under a single collectivist government – the Caucus, symbolized by a barbed spiral or briar.

Insectoid species that arrived in Sector 10 approximately three years ago by travelling through a wormhole terminating in the heart of the Lisj nebula, just beside the Ssujak species home world.  Members of three distinct colonies have crossed into Sector 10.

The Oban are a eusocial species that value order, precision and adherence.  Colony leaders (‘Moors’) are broodmothers with unique traits that are passed down through generations of offspring and reinforced through selective breeding.  Individual members of the species are part of a caste system, which determines their role in Oban society and can affect certain of their physical qualities.  The Oban language is spoken through tones.

As combattants, Oban are determined, fearless and strategic.  As people, they tend to be confident and resourceful, though individuals vary.

The Oban believe that they were exiled from Sector 10 – more specifically, the Lisj nebula and its neighbouring systems – in the far reaches of the past and that the wormhole opening and leading them back to Sector 10 is a fated event.  They wish to retake their ancestral worlds and have made it clear to the Ssujak (judged as squatters or imposters) that they have two choices in the matter: leave or stay and die.  The Oban have been unreceptive to Ssujak negotiation requests.