- Joined
- Jan 27, 2016
- Messages
- 490
- Reaction score
- 167
Name:
Basaakith
Prefix:
Fanon
Biology:
This species originates from a world that lives in almost year long darkness, and because of this they have developed a very unique physiology to accommodate. Their biology is based off of nitrogen rather than carbon. This makes it physically impossible for them to have offspring with other non-nitrogenous life forms. They have developed a layer of thick scales that serve as insulators and heat absorbers, as well as creates a natural armor. The scales will either expand or contract depending on the weather they are faced with. This exists because of the extreme temperatures that they are exposed to on their planet. On their heads they possess a large plume of bioluminescent quills. In many places this is used as a way to communicate through willing them to glow and dim in complex patterns of pulsation that are incredibly complex, as well as a way of scaring away predators. These signals can be sent through various extra sensory wavelengths, keeping them from being heard when communicating when hiding from predators or when hunting. They can signal intense emotions such as anger or arousal. Males are known to be quite large and naturally muscular. While females are much smaller they possess a similar muscular, though feminin, frame. Females possess the ability to project heat from their bodies as a form of warmth. They also have a small pouch for carrying Basaakith young. Because their evolution was made in direct contact with the material known as Ekäshn, a substance that was formed in underground caves on their planet and was imbued with volitale energies, they were exposed to a large amount of force energy. This has led to there being a much larger percentage of force sensitives within their population.
Breeding:
Basaakith breed through common sexual reproduction. They cannot interbreed with most other races due to the difference of their base biology. A Basaakith child is born without quills and their outer armor is soft upon birth. This means that for the first few months after birth a child is in severe threat of being frozen due to frigid temperatures, and must be held and cared for every second. This is why females of this race have superior temperature control compared to males, can project heat off of their skin, and possess pouches. They have in primitive times been the ones to constantly warm their young. In modern times many have used artificial heating to substitute this practice and free the child's mother from having to take constant care of it, though some continue the practice of caring for their child without technological assistance as a tradition. After about three and a half months standard time, the child's skin will harden, and they will be able to leave protective care. It is important to note that this care is only needed on their own planet. After 5 months standard time, the child will begin growing it's head quills. They will reach puberty after 10 Atakithu years, and reach maturity at 16.
Strengths:
Because they are from a planet that spends most of its time in darkness, they have developed extremely advanced night vision that can see into multiple extrasensory spectrums. They are also naturally nimble and muscular to traverse through the trees in the humongous forests of Atakithu. The dermal layer on their skin offers great protection against hand to hand combat and blunt attacks, though average against blades.
Weaknesses:
Their eyesight is weakened in brighter environments, and Basaakith must use eye protectors (usually in the form of specially made darkened contacts) to see. Their scale armor also has small gaps in it to keep it from impeding their movement, and by attacking these gaps with a blade or object that can reach into those gaps one can bypass their natural defenses if done correctly. These gaps are further augmented if they are in high temperatures, where the scales contract almost completely and expose large patches of skin. When the scales are fully contracted, they must wear special skin covering to avoid being burned and to remain cool.
Diet:
The Basaakith are omnivores, and are able to eat and digest most food sources due to their multiple stomachs. They must ingest a healthy amount of arsenic to maintain their biological systems if they are off world for very long, as it is a substance found commonly on their planet within both the flora and fauna.
Behavior/Temperament:
Most Atakithu are known to be quite stoic and level headed. They often give off an air of intelligence and wisdom due to their finessed and proper speech and demeanor, even when speaking foreign languages or are in uncomfortable situations. However, if provoked they are marked with a primal ferocity, as if they have devolved into an animalistic species.
Communication:
When amongst their own species, they may communicate through common verbal speech or a combination of speaking and visual cues. They can "talk" to one another with complex pulsation a of their bioluminescent quills, depending on what language they are using. The signals that are passed between them are highly intricate, though not visible to the average onlooker due to them reaching into ultraviolet and infrared light.
Culture:
The cultural identities of Basaakith usually revolves around the devoutly religious nature of most of the species. The specifics of an individual's beliefs, however, vary wildly. This has to do with the incredible complexity of their theological views. A large part of this religion is based around the belief in what is called the Shugän, an enormous pantheon of quasi-divine entities deemed sacred beings by their beliefs. Shugän vary greatly in form, power, origin and role in the universe, ranging from ethereal beings that act as moderators of natural laws, to species of mischievous inter dimensional nymphs, to abstract cosmic monsters that feed on the fabric of reality.
All are said to either inhabit or interact with what is called the Szyag-Kuan, which roughly translates to "Void Realm," a plane of existence that transcends space, time, matter and mortal understanding. Shamans are said to be able to access this dimension and communicate with the Shugän directly, asking for their guidance and intercession. Engaging in Falsuu, the ritualistic process of presenting offerings and prayers to various Shugän, is central to their beliefs.
However, the Basaakith do not regard the Shugän as gods. Calling them as such is considered a great blasphemy. Rather, they are more similar to spirits that act as guides towards the ultimate reality, and their religions equivalent of a god. Called many names, The Creator, The First and Last, Father and Mother, Spring of Existence, the central deity of their religion is regarded as absolute in power, truth and will. It is seen as much as a conscious being as it is an unconscious force, the source of all things material and immaterial.
The Basaakith believe that truth as seen in this world is a lie, a fabrication created by a mortals limited comprehension of a flawed, temporary and subjective universe. Only by reaching out to the Ultimate Reality and by listening to its infinite wisdom can one truly find knowledge and inner contentment. Through the Shugän and their transcendent knowledge, one can find guidance on how to see and feel what is already there. Though not considered an impersonal being, to make a request of The One is considered audacious of any shaman, for it's will and intent for what is to happen is absolute, and to suggest it do otherwise is a great offense. The Force is viewed a natural extension of the Ultimate Reality and ones spiritual connection to it.
Beyond the scope of these beliefs, the lines are generally quite loosely drawn. Depending on what Shugän one chooses to follow personally, a practitioner can act extremely different, functioning under different principles and moral codes. Because of their broad and complex beliefs on divinity a truth, they are known for being quite open minded when confronted with other belief systems, even officially acknowledging some foreign deities as members of the Shugän.
History:
The Basaakith originated from small hunter gatherer groups that populated the thickly jungled wilderness of Atakithu. These jungles were treacherous, almost always dark, and riddled with trees that rivaled skyscrapers. Because of this, and how thickly the branches were later together, a Basaakith primitive could go its entire lifetime without ever touching the ground, walking across interwoven branches and giant leaves as if it were solid earth. The first signs of civilization came when Basaakith began inhabiting the inside of. hollow tubes that were formed in trunks of the gargantuan trees. This place of stability meant that Basaakith could create more permanent settlements, leading to the formation of villages. Thankfully, the rubbery insides of the trees were fire proofed, otherwise the progression of civilization would have been severely stunted.
It is a commonly known fact that Atakithu possesses many strange energies and auras that make it have an extremely supernatural environment. After the discovery of Ekäshn, many force sensitive shamans began experiencing visions and premonitions of a strange and mysterious realm that they quickly grew reversing of. Because of the knowledge that they could gain from these Mystics, they quickly rose to prominence in many tribes. After some years different tribes began uniting into their own kingdoms, claiming regions of the forests as their own. Over time, the Mystics turned to both important political and religious leaders. Ekäshn also Kickstarted the development of technology, and allowed for great advancement in an objectively short period of time.
For thousands of years several kingdoms would compete and war over their territories. The Cthaoik-Tam order, the international authority on shamanistic and spiritual affairs, began to rise as a major political player. Then came the rise of the Tesiac empire, which, under the rule of the legendary first grand Shekra, the great Shekra Allringan, United the planet. This lead to the integration of the order into the governmental structure of the planet. Since then, the Basaakith have enjoyed 1,000 years of prosperity.
Planet:
Atakithu: Much of Atakithu is wild and untamed, partly due to the cultural tendency of its inhabitants to preserve wild places, partly due to the sheer treacherousness of much of the surface. Even so, huge bioluminescent forests broken by expanses of inhospitable desert dot the planet. Huge million year old trees are known to exist that extend above the clouds directly into the light of the sun, though their branches only further obscure the light down below. It is frigidly cold on practically every part of the planet, with even the thickly forested settings that would normally signal a very warm climate being many degrees below zero.
Technology:
For a species that remains relatively isolated from the rest of the Galaxy, their technology is quite advanced. It is often regarded as alien and strange, as it relies on the unorthodox fuel of Ekäshn, a kind of energized multicolored liquid that can be used to create energy, rather than conventional power sources.
Intent:
They are unique in several aspects, both physiological and behavioral, allowing them to offer a personal writing experience I do not believe any other species has. They are rich in culture and RP possibilities. This species will also be used as the main forwarders of a new group of force users that would add some spice and variety in the character origins in this story.
Last edited:
