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SUSTENIANS
Intent
Sustenians seek galactic progress and peace though not by traditional means of dominance or ruling of the galaxy as many have tried before. they work indirectly and seek to lead by example. others that see their way of life may understand that conquest is not the answer nor a reign over areas of the galaxy. they are here to teach others to take care of themselves instead of leaving the masses to be governed by a group like the senate or the jedi. there will always be trouble and something to deal with in the galaxy but when it is not overly evil nor trying to be too peaceful then there is a balance of day to day struggle much like a farmer experiences. if the sith are allowed to rule the galaxy it will most likely be with an iron fist and eventually a united force will overthrow them or they will become weak and complacent in their reign whereas the republic is no different though in their peace things are often overlooked and eventually the rivalling force grows in the shadows or conquers systems pushing them farther back and ruining their prosperity not unlike the mandalorian wars. simply put the Sustenians take care of themselves first and once others see how well they survive independently from any galactic rulership they mayhaps follow suite and build a harmony with the natural way of life, not encroaching on others and bettering themselves without disrupting another’s way of life.
BIOLOGY
perhaps it is the unerringly high number of force wielders that are born from this race that draws attention as virtually all Sustenians have a viable force presence. It is unknown if it is because of the force nexus on their planet, some intervention from the Celestials, or perhaps the environment of Sustenia that have populated the planet with a number of force wielders. Varying in adaptation even the weakest is high in midi-chlorians by galactic standards though it should be noted this power is rarely exerted outward and it is because of this that they continued to develop and keep their physical forms as they are today instead of degrading over time as any other species may have if they had relied on their powers too much.
Reptilian in appearance and often seen as anthropomorphic versions of saurian species that now share the jungled landscape with them. Sustenians stand anywhere from 2 to 3 meters tall. Thick scaled hide covers their body and often forms into plates and spines on their heads and follow down their back all the way down to their tail. A strong set of jaws and equally deadly teeth that give evidence to their predatory nature are often visible sometimes with an over or underbite differing from brood to brood. As a Sustenian ages they grow stronger as well as wiser and often increase in the number and thickness of their spines. though they do gain more strength as they get older they do often decrease in agility. it is noted that the overall Sustenian appearance and physiology is somewhat dependent on the individual and not their genetics. as seen with many forceweidlers in the galaxy, their phyiscal form symbolises them as individuals and who they are as beings. it is in this way that nearly genetically identical Sustenians can often have visible differences in their appearance though it is usually purely aesthetic and sub conscious alteration that happens over decades if not centuries. the average age of a Sustenian is around one millenia. this does not key into effect the suspended animation that many Sustenians take part in.
The front of the Sustenian is much less scaly and has virtually no spines and often has a different pigment to it than the rest of their body. Though it is smooth and almost soft to the touch it is far from weak. A strong bone structure and a tough ribcage have kept the vital organs inside from damage that would see another species swiftly dead or incapacitated in the harsh environment of Sustenia. Like other reptiles Sustenians do not blink, or at least not in the normal sense. A clear eye-lid like tissue covers and keeps their eye moist and from damage. A Sustenian can keep these membranes covering their eyes to prevent scratching from debris, dirt or other harm though it does affect their eyesight significantly enough to make it impractical and undesirable to continual use unless in brief moments. Possessing a great sense of smell they often use this feature to track prey through the jungle as well as an acute eyesight that allows them to travel safely in the jungle without fear of faulty footing with nothing but the stars to give them light. But it is not great enough for them to hunt efficiently in such conditions. It is preferable they hunt in the light of Hapnu or Hapiti when the light from their sun reflects off of the larger and smaller planetoid.
Double jointed legs allow for quick attacks on prey as well as means of escape from overpowering enemies. clawed feet and hands are natural weapons they use on Sustenia though often file down or maintain more closely when off world. Though they can posses quick reaction it is their endurance and stamina that is used to their advantage. A common tactic is to actually run down wounded prey until it is too weak to continue or is cornered and must face their attackers. They possess a prehensile tail which is a great source of balance and allows them to walk on tree branches and have sure footing in various parts of their daily lives as well as have limited manipulation though not as much as their hands. when a Sustenian ages they retain their stamina but lose their speed and reaction time.
Perhaps a notable characteristic is the fact that a Sustenian can have their tail be cut clean off and regenerate over the course of a few months. During this time the Sustenian is normally off balance and significantly unable to do the a number of tasks they normally would be able to do. As well if it has already happened a number of times before the tail will grow back more rugged and stiffer and less manipulative. The same happens the older a Sustenian gets as they accumulate more spines the more firm their tail becomes though this is not a bad thing and is often as equally appreciated as a dexterous tail and is a sign of experience. Not so much a subspecies as a common trait barbed tails are sometimes witnessed and used as weapons in defensive attacks and have served fairly well considering most individuals do not expect an additional limb they do not possess to be used as a weapon and have payed for their ignorance with their lives. on the black market some criminal underworlds have rumored to circulate the severed tails of Sustenians and market them as a delicacy.
Long without contact from the greater galaxy the Sustenians underwent a number of vast deaths as common illnesses plagued them as they had not had contact with these extensively mutated viruses and diseases. The number of force wielders cleansed themselves using differing techniques. Many of the first mercenaries and explorers that went out into the galaxy never returned because of these germs. Now it is considered a part of leaving one's homeworld and symbolic of leaving such a treasured place. During this time Sustenians have been known to go into a meditative state, force wielder or not, and suffer through the symptoms which are greater than the normal galactic citizen or die trying. Sustenians are in fact cold-blooded and so prefer the warmer environmental. When introduced to a colder environment they become sluggish and less capable of working at full capacity. most often they acquire environmental suits to keep their bodies regulated at all times. A Sustenian has never known to die of old age in all of history. It is unknown to even them why they do not age like other species but their cells seem to adapt differently and never stop replicating. In fact they seem to grow stronger with age.
Breeding
Sustenians reproduce Asexually. They do saw in "Spawnings" great rituals that happen every few centuries and are highly sacred and no outsider has ever been permitted to observe. a number of Sustenians gather together and lay eggs in special temple spawn pools where they remain guarded for many months until they eventually hatch on their own.
Diet
Though originally believed to omnivores of a more balanced diet they prefer meat over other foods. They do not normally care for sweets or pastries preferring hardy and nutricious and practical foods. Most non meat based food is gathered from the various trees, plants and fungi that can be found in the natural wilderness and differs somewhat based on longitude. Sustenians have a relatively limited sense of taste and cannot detect the more subtle flavors in foods that other species can. they can only taste various degrees of sour, salty, bitter and sweet making consuming food from other cultures somewhat odd.
Behavior/Temperament
every Sustenian is independent but keeps in mind the greater picture when making decisions. Often when a task presents itself they know when it is best to do things alone as well as when to work as a team. Self-sufficiency and self sacrifice are key facets of every Sustenians philosophy. All are often seen as quite stoic and of few words when dealing with other species, personifying the old saying "actions speak louder than words". A great deal of sharing in both thought and possession is utilized amongst the Sustenian. when pressured to use force powers it is only in non aggressive ways. if a Sustenian were to use them in an aggressive manner it would be very dishonorable and be akin to a wookie using their claws in combat.
the sleep cycle of the Sustenians is much different than other species. since their home planet has a twenty-eight hour clock and they are cold blooded more often than not they stay inactive for the majority of the day. this way the conserve energy and have time to meditate on their interests. Sustenians still sleep anywhere from twelve to eight hours a day though they do so for only four hours at a time with periods of activity
Subspecies
Subspecies amongst the Sustused to be more common and since have dwindled into a subtle few differences which even now their differing characteristics are not the same as they once were.
In the isolated valleys of Xrol the Sustenians there are capable of changes in skin tone. This can be as slight as a mild differing of the same tone to changing to different patterns and colors of the environment though the later is extremely rare even amongst the isolated community. the Xrol subspecies often express emotions and feelings with subtle changes in pigment and lack as dense spikes along their spines.
To the north there is a subspecies that exists amongst the nomadic tribe that sometimes hunts avian and mammalian species and bear infrared though limited vision.
Down in the great delta and marsh areas to the south another horde bear a handful of members that are capable of unhinging their jaws to swallow prey whole despite the lack of need for it though when one such member faces an outsider and displays their ability it is common amongst the Sustenians to laugh at the surprised and fearful look many give when seeing such a sight even if it is not for the first time. they also have less spikes on their tails and instead have thicker fan like tails that they use to assist them in traveling the various waterways
Strengths
Though a significant number of the population possesses a presence in the force they discipline themselves and learn to wield it only for non-aggressive purposes and often restrain from even that, preferring to use their natural physical abilities first which are honed over the years as well as the introverted and stoic nature which allows them to be fiercely independent and comfortable as well as reliable in the wider galaxy.
Weaknesses
the Sustenian's cold blooded biology limit their ability to perform in a number of environment and often must rely on altered environments or regulated climates and suits or pieces of technology that allow them to live in comfort and work a full capacity. As well they have very limited resistance initially to sickness and so even a mild cold could be a fever for them and often require them to isolate themselves before they can recover from such a thing.
Culture
All Sustenians believe that nature is absolute and the controlled chaos it exists as can give as well as take. it is with this in mind that they survived in the jungle and made minimal indent on their planet's environment. They are aware that they may have the power to change a great deal but they see the beauty in the current way of life and the natural peace they posses as a result. They believe war is disruptive and causes damage to nature and only fight out of necessity. Despite this peace they know they belong at the top of the food chain and so exercise their skills in various fields especially hunting and so hunt more difficult prey as they gain more and more skillful in the field until often they seek work out as bounty hunters, mercenaries, explorers or other fields of knowledge seeking.
Communication
When speaking with one another they use a complex series of grunts, growls and noises akin to that of a beast as well as body language further including a series of hand signals as well as subtle nuances in tail movement. But when dealing with outsiders they are capable of rough basic and often have deep voices. they possess a complex hieroglyphic system for reading and writing though these are most often used on the various architecture and solid objects they possess instead of paper or any form of complex technology since most past information is past down through the numerous holocrons.
Technology
though capable of complex technology and vast knowledge they utilize only basic technology in most areas of their planet and the more advanced machines and tools are kept in vaults or in chambers beneath the temples scattered around their planet. everything else that is of greater technological advancement is kept off world and utilized by the explorers and mercenaries that ply the galaxy and the station that orbits the Hapnu.
History
not much is known prior to 1,000,000 BBY though the Sustenians give account of what may be theorised as another species though not confirmed. it was they who taught the ancient ones how to wield their force powers early on. but left the world alone to it’s own devices and chain of events. after 1,000,000 BBY they were left alone completely by any outward race for a great period of time. Sustenians banded together in larger tribes and roamed the jungles. after 500 millenia of this the chiefs gathered together and agreed upon a truce to end the “Time of Wandering”, as it would be known from then on. from that point most of the tribes settled in stationary locations and began forming the cities that they still inhabit to this day.
though they were not united they did come together around 50,000 BBY when an unidentified insectoid species tried to invade the system. it was then that the various founding cities and nomadic tribes banded together and fought off the invasion and nearly wiped out the attackers completely as they had not expected their force related abilities the locals wielded and natural terrain to be so dangerous. the planet itself seemed to defend against the invasion though these are claims by the few oldest of Sustenians who to off worlders are skeptical as to the truth of this statement. the Sustenians refer to the invaders in their own tongue that can only be translated similarly to the Swarm, Locusts, or Scourge.
around 40,000 BBY the united Sustenians reached a point of peace as they were wholly united as a species. they took this time to strengthen their cities and might. they studied inwardly about the force and their own abilities and limitations while their most precognitive members kept their eyes outward to see any potential threats to their livelihood. this was known as the Time of Reflection. they were so well unified together the councils of the cities could shape the landscape and direct the forces of the jungle towards any future invader. it was because of this that some temples and cities are made on "artificial" mountains.
additionally they made great effort to keep their force presence as a species hidden. this was thanks to the construction of the cities. the grid-like special formation of the cities hid the lifeforce of the planet from being sensed by any offworld force as well as special properties of Hapnu that made conventional technology disrupted. though technology such as spacecraft and vehicles could still functions, sensory equipment like navigation computers, communication arrays and probes would malfunction in system. Eventually by 35,000 BBY they learned of a coming conquest over the galaxy through vision from all the temples across the globe simultaniously. as a species they meditated for almost a whole millenia. only temple guards and seasoned wardens stayed themselves from being dormant and even they took decade long shifts watching over their territories as the rest of the species focused on conserving their presence from the rest of the galaxy in such a tremendous time of conquest later learned to be the rise of the Rakata Empire.
around 10,000 years passed the Sustenians stayed ever alert and ready in case their precious system was ever discovered. they had planned if they were discovered by some small fluke then they would awaken and return to their aggressive ways as they had been when faced with the previous invading force. but the attacks never came. the sustenians knew there was no threat to their homeworld any longer and so they returned to their way of life as if it had never ceased. it wasn’t until around 5000 BBY that the planet was discovered by a small exploration ship. the explorers were met with caution but not excessive violence though it was far from peaceful beginnings. the chieftains knew contact with the rest of the galaxy was inevitable and so dozens of Sustenians were hired as mercenaries by the explorers though these Sustenians were considered explorers in their own right. when these few returned decades later they came with ships they had acquired over time. these ships would then take more Sustenians that would act as explorers and mercenaries and this act would continue until present day.
Font: Stoke
color: #11FF69
All Sustenians believe that nature is absolute and the controlled chaos it exists as can give as well as take. it is with this in mind that they survived in the jungle and made minimal indent on their planet's environment. They are aware that they may have the power to change a great deal but they see the beauty in the current way of life and the natural peace they posses as a result. They believe war is disruptive and causes damage to nature and only fight out of necessity. Despite this peace they know they belong at the top of the food chain and so exercise their skills in various fields especially hunting and so hunt more difficult prey as they gain more and more skillful in the field until often they seek work out as bounty hunters, mercenaries, explorers or other fields of knowledge seeking.
Communication
When speaking with one another they use a complex series of grunts, growls and noises akin to that of a beast as well as body language further including a series of hand signals as well as subtle nuances in tail movement. But when dealing with outsiders they are capable of rough basic and often have deep voices. they possess a complex hieroglyphic system for reading and writing though these are most often used on the various architecture and solid objects they possess instead of paper or any form of complex technology since most past information is past down through the numerous holocrons.
Technology
though capable of complex technology and vast knowledge they utilize only basic technology in most areas of their planet and the more advanced machines and tools are kept in vaults or in chambers beneath the temples scattered around their planet. everything else that is of greater technological advancement is kept off world and utilized by the explorers and mercenaries that ply the galaxy and the station that orbits the Hapnu.
History
not much is known prior to 1,000,000 BBY though the Sustenians give account of what may be theorised as another species though not confirmed. it was they who taught the ancient ones how to wield their force powers early on. but left the world alone to it’s own devices and chain of events. after 1,000,000 BBY they were left alone completely by any outward race for a great period of time. Sustenians banded together in larger tribes and roamed the jungles. after 500 millenia of this the chiefs gathered together and agreed upon a truce to end the “Time of Wandering”, as it would be known from then on. from that point most of the tribes settled in stationary locations and began forming the cities that they still inhabit to this day.
though they were not united they did come together around 50,000 BBY when an unidentified insectoid species tried to invade the system. it was then that the various founding cities and nomadic tribes banded together and fought off the invasion and nearly wiped out the attackers completely as they had not expected their force related abilities the locals wielded and natural terrain to be so dangerous. the planet itself seemed to defend against the invasion though these are claims by the few oldest of Sustenians who to off worlders are skeptical as to the truth of this statement. the Sustenians refer to the invaders in their own tongue that can only be translated similarly to the Swarm, Locusts, or Scourge.
around 40,000 BBY the united Sustenians reached a point of peace as they were wholly united as a species. they took this time to strengthen their cities and might. they studied inwardly about the force and their own abilities and limitations while their most precognitive members kept their eyes outward to see any potential threats to their livelihood. this was known as the Time of Reflection. they were so well unified together the councils of the cities could shape the landscape and direct the forces of the jungle towards any future invader. it was because of this that some temples and cities are made on "artificial" mountains.
additionally they made great effort to keep their force presence as a species hidden. this was thanks to the construction of the cities. the grid-like special formation of the cities hid the lifeforce of the planet from being sensed by any offworld force as well as special properties of Hapnu that made conventional technology disrupted. though technology such as spacecraft and vehicles could still functions, sensory equipment like navigation computers, communication arrays and probes would malfunction in system. Eventually by 35,000 BBY they learned of a coming conquest over the galaxy through vision from all the temples across the globe simultaniously. as a species they meditated for almost a whole millenia. only temple guards and seasoned wardens stayed themselves from being dormant and even they took decade long shifts watching over their territories as the rest of the species focused on conserving their presence from the rest of the galaxy in such a tremendous time of conquest later learned to be the rise of the Rakata Empire.
around 10,000 years passed the Sustenians stayed ever alert and ready in case their precious system was ever discovered. they had planned if they were discovered by some small fluke then they would awaken and return to their aggressive ways as they had been when faced with the previous invading force. but the attacks never came. the sustenians knew there was no threat to their homeworld any longer and so they returned to their way of life as if it had never ceased. it wasn’t until around 5000 BBY that the planet was discovered by a small exploration ship. the explorers were met with caution but not excessive violence though it was far from peaceful beginnings. the chieftains knew contact with the rest of the galaxy was inevitable and so dozens of Sustenians were hired as mercenaries by the explorers though these Sustenians were considered explorers in their own right. when these few returned decades later they came with ships they had acquired over time. these ships would then take more Sustenians that would act as explorers and mercenaries and this act would continue until present day.
Font: Stoke
color: #11FF69
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