Primer: Free Races of the Core Galaxy

Preface: This Primer contains information on races whose homeworld, home system, and the vast majority of their number living freely within the Core Galaxy. However, there may still be individuals of these species who have been subjected to humanity's encroachment - those who live off-world in the borderlands, or have been capture mid-transit through the system, or have been encountered and improved through other means.

This Primer has also been divided into two portions. The first details the races affiliated with the Core Galactic Alliance, while the second covers those races that are either opposed or neutral to the Alliance.

I) Alliance Races
<u>Schar</u>
Natives of the Scharun System and a member race of the Core Galactic Alliance. Considered an "outsider" race within the CGA, as the Scharun system is astrographically the furthest away from the heart of the Alliance, situated next to the borderlands expanse. As a result, the majority of Schar live off their homeworld and closer to the heart of Alliance space.

Said homeworld, Scharun, has it's surface covered by water due to it's ice caps melting over a millennium ago. The world is also wracked by turbulent storms and destructive weather due to flaws in it's orbit and magnetosphere, leading to it's north pole to be the only reliably habitable area. As a result, the Scharun have constructed a trio of magnificent floating cities within this safe zone where the entirety of their populace lives.

Physical Description: A tall and slender people, averaging over six-feet with a wispy, unmuscled physique. Humanoid, bipedal, most likely mammalian; their soft skin has a rubber-like texture to it, completely hairless, and pigmentation of bright pink or red with the exception of their chests and bellies, which tend towards blue and purple hues. Slight dimorphism between the sexes. Female Schar tend to be shorter and have human-like breasts, but the lithe nature of their physiology can make it difficult for outsiders to separate male from female forms. Notable biological characteristics include the upper half of their faces being covered by a thick, bony plate, a pair of fleshy antennae, and a long, prehensile, spiked tongue. Said plate covers everything save their above their mouths, stretching to the crown of their heads. Despite this, the Schar have even better vision than a modified human, with their sensory organ (called an 'aulfex'; located behind the plate) capable of sensing light across the electromagnetic spectrum, including both infrared and ultraviolet. Their antennae act as olfactory sense organs and are also the conduit for the race's minor psionic powers. Psi powers are extremely common among the Schar, but limited to empathetic emotion reading. Emotions radiating "light" to the Schar, who are able to perceive it through a combination of their antennae and aulfex. As a result, Schar society is an emotionally open one, where others are literally able to see your true colours. Deceit and lies are major taboos amongst the Schar, and have resulted in several incidents when they interact with other races.

<u>Kalari</u>
The most prominent and powerful psionic race found in the Core Galaxy, capable of feats of telekinesis, telepathy, and even emotional and mind manipulation and control. The Kalari are probably the race in highest demand due to their power, with most individuals that are obtained being earmarked by the Federation for a breeding program. The CGA is aware of humanity’s desire to possess the Kalari, so they are fiercely guarded deep within Alliance space.

Physical Description: Bipedal mammalian humanoids with a striking resemblance to humanity. Males are larger than females, with males hovering in the low six-foot range while females rarely break it. Purple-blue skin that is speckled with dark spots most closely resembling moles or freckles, while their hair leans to lighter colours. The Kalari possess large foreheads with a gem-like organ fixed in the middle, this organ being the source and projector of their powers. Kalari also possess sinuous tails and elfin ears. Sexual dimorphism closely resembles that of humanity, though males have large, muscular pillar-like legs while females have exceptionally wide hips and larger thighs, but comparatively smaller calves.

Other Notes: When first encountered, humanity was almost cowed in terror by the psionic prowess of the Kalari, before they realized that their culture stresses control and conscientious use of their powers. Despite the potential to influence thoughts and emotions, most Kalari abhor even the idea of manipulating a being like that, instead focusing on their telepathy and telekinesis. Humanity does not have any such scruples.

<u>Garex</u>
The worlds of the Rodax system are unified in their harsh environs - sulfurous swamps and lakes, mountains of jagged, razor-sharp stone, volcanoes spewing ash and lava into the air, and common and **** tectonic action. The fauna that have survived in such environs are indeed fierce, and none more fierce than the Garex. The Garex also stand out in the egalitarian Alliance in that they are a strongly patriarchal race, with extremely rigid gender roles. Despite tensions that rise from their culture and the rest of the Alliance, the Garex have outsized influence in the Alliance due to their home system being rich in the ore trinium, a key ingredient in starship fuel.

Physical Appearance: Bipedal reptilian humanoids, though that is only their baseline, as mutations run rampant in the Garex. Minimal dimorphism, with males being taller (though the race averages to giant, leaning towards seven feet or more). Notably, males being larger is a modern development, as archeological evidence suggested females were originally larger (as is true with Earth-native reptiles) before this trait was bred out. Most observers ascribe the Garex’ appearance to that of dragons of Earth myth, with rough scales and spines and a wide, stout snout.

Due to the volatile elements in the soil and atmosphere of their homeworlds, mutations run rampant through the Garex. The standard baseline is that of a bipedal humanoid with four limbs and no tail, but variants have been seen including those with tails, those with wings, and those with six limbs - either two sets of arms or with quadruple proportions for their lower bodies, giving them a centaur-esque figure.

<u>Egaz</u>
One of the first races to join the Core Galactic Alliance when it was first formed, the physically diminutive Egaz originate from a harsh sector of the Core Galaxy, near the borderlands and near worlds populated by the aggressive, war-mongering Kroxaa and Knavar. Hunted and bullied, the race migrated to a more peaceful system in the Galaxy where they were able to flourish as savants of all manners of technology.

Physical Description: Short in stature, with the tallest members failing to break five feet, and with much of that height being their head. Egaz are marked by their dark red skin, white hair, seven fingers, and two pairs of eyes, alongside enlarged heads and thick, muscular necks. Male Egaaz are known for their prominent body and facial hair, beards and moustaches being a cultural touchstone, while thick fur grows on their chests and the back of their hands. Women are marked by being slightly taller and thinner, with lankier limbs and long, slender digits. Physically weak, the Egaz are quick both mentally and on their feet, respected as master mechanics and engineers. Their origins most closely resemble a prey species, which might explain biological developments like only requiring to eat once every three days, or only needing one hour of sleep in a twelve-hour cycle. One their ancient homeworld, this probably meant they could spend less time in one place while under attack, but as a part of the CGA, it means they spend more time in their workshops.

<u>Phaaz’n</u>
Hailing from the desert world of Ophr, the Phaaz’n are distinct amongst most alien species in the Core Galaxy due to their strong religious tendencies. Known to be spiritual and mystical in nature, the Phaaz’n religion revolves around the worship of myriad elemental spirits, who have shrines dedicated to them scattered around the Hazan system. Their government is supremely theocratic, and while they are tolerant to the beliefs of other races, for the Phaaz’n, the dogma of their faith is ironclad. Heretics and dissidents face swift execution if caught.

<u>Physical descriptions:</u> Bipedal humanoids of an unclassified phylum. Females are tall and slender, while males are squat and muscular; females have sharp, refined facial features, while males’ are blunt and thick. The skin of a Phaaz’n is as black and shiny as polished jet, and they are hairless from head to toe. Males frequently show crystalline-like growths emanating from their skin, a much more rare condition for female Phaaz’n. All of this information is quite rare, though, as the Phaaz’n consider their bare skin sinful. Shortly after their birth, the Phaaz’n are encased in skintight suits and robes and remain in such garments for the majority of their life, even during sex. Only in the most dire and intimate moments does a Phaaz’n remove their suit and even then, only to a single individual at a time, less they **** their sin on others. Obviously, they claim they wear their suits for religious reasons, but it must not have hurt to adopt such a practice when their suits and robes also protect from the harsh climate of Ophr.

<u>Other Notes:</u> It has often been claimed that the Phaaz’n possess some minor psionic powers, but there is little evidence to support this claim. Captured and converted subjects do not possess a psi-organ like the Schar or Kalari. However, there is plenty of conjecture from those in the field and through Phaaz’n cultural sources that such powers are instead very rare and latent. These claims require further study to determine the ultimate truth.

<u>Laaza Marr</u>
The newest race to join the CGA - roughly two centuries ago - and highly isolationist, with only about one in ten Laaza Marr leaving their home system in their lifetime. Highly adaptable, the Laaza Marr are native to the Jool system which is know for it's planets encompassing a wide variety of biomes - Jool Amth is covered in ninety-percent water; Jool Toap is an arid desert; Jool Saphir is a frigid ice world, etc - and the Laaza Mar inhabit all of them an thrive on all of them. The Laaza Marr are also deeply religious, following a similar faith to the Phaaz'n, though with a few differences in tenants and much less dogmatically.

Physical Description: The Laaza Marr defy traditional taxonomy, as they seem to be some sort of silicon-base lifeform with numerous inorganic components... or they are an organic form of crystals and rocks. The Laaza Marr are physically short in stature - five-feet to five-and-a-half on average - with skin coloured either teal or pale white, depending on their native environment. The skin can either be soft and malleable or hard and rigid, depending on the subject. The most striking feature of the Laaza Marr is their hair, which is made of living crystalline matter. The Laaza Marr live under a strict caste system where the colour of ones hair dictates their role in society (rainbow for politics and nobility; white for the clergy; red for soldiers; pink for healthcare; yellow for the mercantile caste; black for manual labour, so on and so forth) while the clarity and "cut" of their hair determines their status within the caste. Dimorphism is minimal but instantly telling - females have softer, more rounded features to their bodies and hair, while males tend towards square shapes, hard lines and angles. Females lack mammaries and genitals for both sexes are hidden behind a crystalline sheath of sorts. As a result, most Laaza Marr eschew clothing.

Psionic powers are abundantly common amongst this race, with a wide variety of specialties including both hydrokinesis and terrakinesis. But telepathy and telekinesis are far and away the most common - those without at least telepathy are considered aberrant - and Laaza Marr prefer not to speak vocally if at all possible, and prefer to psionically float and propel themselves using their own telekinesis instead of walking. Oddly enough, even amongst those subjects do not walk, no atrophy of the legs has ever been noted, with the Laaza Marr tending to be a "bottom heavy" people.

<u>Nylanai</u>
Several centuries ago, Tatavash - the homeworld of the Nylanai - suffered a cataclysmic climate failure which led to the total destruction of the planet’s biosphere. With limited time and a lower than average tech level, the Nylanai seemed doomed to extinction, either all at once or slowly as nomads scattered amongst the stars. In those dire moments, it was the Anaareal who led a rescue effort of Tatavash to save as many Nylanai as possible. In the end, less than a million Nylanai survived, but they were safely placed on Anaar Primus and Anaar Exus. In gratitude for their heroics, the Nylanai became eternally indebted to the Anaareal, as their culture demands.

Today, the Nylanai still have not yet reached the numbers of the height of their civilization and live almost as an unofficial second caste for Anaareal society. There is no law on the books denoting the Nylanai as second-class citizens, but due to their culture placing importance on repaying debts and Anaareal dominance in the CGA, they have essentially become a servitor race to the Anaareal They often serve as attendants and assistance for the Anaareal political brass, but many can also be found working various jobs in the Anaareal Pleasure Cities.

Physical Descriptor: A monogendered, monosexed race composed entirely of females, the Nylanai are a strange mix between amphibian and cephalopod. Their soft, rubbery skin comes in a variety of hues - blues and purples and reds and pinks - and they possess both gills and lungs (though some modern specimens demonstrate atrophy in their gills, due to the lack of aquatic habitation in their current environs). The most distinct feature of the Nylanai are their abundance of prehensile tentacles. Their head ends in either one or two tendrils that reach down to their mid-back or waistline, while several more tentacles can sprout from their backs, these ones tending to be longer. Nylanai cultural norms dictate tentacles as a sign of beauty, and those with the longest, thickest, and most tentacles being considered the most beautiful. The Nylanai reproduce through asexual parthenogenesis.

<u>Anaareal</u>
Far and away, the most prolific and dominant race in the Core Galaxy. The founders of the Alliance, bringing disparate worlds and peoples together to share prosperity and to fend against outside threats. To this day, over a millennium later, they remain the dominant cultural and political **** in the Alliance through the resource rich worlds of their home system. They are notably very pacifistic and unaggressive and pointedly stress this philosophy to the rest of the Alliance, even as doomsday knocks on their doorstep.

Physical Description: Bipedal mammalian humanoids that greatly resemble humanity. The Anaareal are almost analogous in their likeness save for a different skin pigmentation, broader range of natural hair colours, and eyes which lack visible pupil or sclera. The first humans to see an Anaareal often compared them to fantastical, imaginary races of Earth’s antiquity such as elves. The Anaareal are tall and possess secondary sexual characteristics most in-line with the human standard of feminine beauty. Most notably, the Anaareal are a monogendered and monosexed race, as all Anaareal are female. Reproduction occurs when a mature Anaareal goes through a process known as tuvasis (occurring once every five to ten years, depending on the individual) where their hormones ratchet up and they physically grow a phallus. This process is analogous to the heat some animals go through and it can be hard for an Anaareal to focus on anything besides sex during this period. “Pleasure cities” are set-up on Anaareal worlds where Anaareal undergoing tuvasis can sequester themselves and indulge themselves in their carnal desires until the period passes.

Because of their striking, feminine beauty and the sociopolitical power they possess in the Alliance, Anaareal are lusted after by humanity as a whole, being one of the most prized races a Federation citizen can capture or possess, second only to the Kalari.

II) Non-Alliance Races
<u>Kroxaa</u>
The scourge of the Core Galaxy and one of the impetus for the formation of the Alliance, the Kroxaa are a brutish, war-like race that weaves war and battle into their religion, society, and culture. But do not let their bloodlust and zealotry fool you, the Kroxaa are not mindless brutes or primitive savages, for they do not go to war without much thought and preparation, and a Kroxaa warband is still a fierce sight for even humanity.

The Kroxaa are ruled by their shaman caste and worship the god Kruxmaw, who demands his subjects engage in constant warfare amongst themselves and others. The more kills in battle a Kroxaa warrior has, the higher they will ascend when they day, which only fuels their bloodlust even more. (Note: the Kroxaa are also patriarchal and do not allow their women to wage war; instead, a woman's worth is determined by how many sons she has, and how many kills those sons have).

Physical Description: Hulking, powerful crocodilian humanoids whose stature and physique is on bar or surpasses that of the Ligrii. Possessing long, powerful snouts full of razor sharp teeth and covered in thick, armour-like scales, the Kroxaa radiate the power and bloodlust of an extant apex predator. Notable dimorphism between the sexes, as female Kroxaa are larger (as they must carry the eggs) with shorter snout and a lighter colouration to their scales. The Kroxaa also have several redundancies in their biology, like duplicates of several organs, allowing them to take wounds that would be mortal for other races and just keep on fighting. Highly dangerous, regardless of the situation, approach with **** caution.

Other Notes: As part of their religion and war-like cultures, and demonstrating a startling high grasp of technology, Kroxaa warriors that return from the battlefield will have cybernetics ritually grafted to their body. From aesthetic pieces like cables imitating hair, to subdermal gadgets and systems, to full blown limb and organ replacement, the Kroxaa augment themselves in tribute to their god and themselves. The more augmented a Kroxaa, the more experienced and blooded that subject is, and is a good indicator for the level of skill and danger it represents.

<u>Shi’raka</u>
The Shi’raka of ancient times paid no heed to gravity, spreading their wings and taking flight, always aiming to go higher and faster than those who came before them. Now propelled by both wings and starships, the Shi’raka are widespread and common amongst the corners of the galaxy, especially the more lawless corners. The Shi’raka have made their names as smiths and weapon merchants, selling to the highest bidder, whether it be the Alliance, the Kroxaa, or humans themselves.

Physical Description: Winged humanoids with dark, umber skin tones and empty white eyes devoid of features. Beyond their wings and talons, the Shi’raka bear a close enough resemblance to humans, though are much more slender and shorter to make their flight possible. Their hair grows in thick, rigid spiky clumps that stick straight up, while lone tufts of feathers protrude from their skin, especially around their joints. Some Shi’raka, however, have growths which resemble metal or crystal, a very rare mutation, for it indicates that Shi’raka possesses psionic powers, the race specializing in ferro- and terrakinesis.

<u>Knavar</u>
Also native to the planet Hazan, the Knavar were once the **** race kept underfoot by the Phaaz’n. The Knavar rebelled centuries ago and fled Hazan (the planet and the system), quickly becoming a race of nomads that settled on numerous moons and exoplanets, or wandered the stars in flotillas of ever-changing spaceships. From there, the Knavar claimed a niche as scrappy survivors, as scavengers, raiders, merchants, and slavers. Indeed, they are one of the few races (including the Shi’raka) willing to deal directly with the Federation, up to including selling other aliens (or even fellow Knavar of rival tribes) to the humans.

Physical Description: The dog to the Ligrii’s cat, the Knavar have features which blend ancient Earth canines like the wolf, fox, coyote, and hyena (yes, we know that is a feline) with fur in tawny or brindled colours that is often spotted. The Knavar stand roughly equal in humanity in stature, with the males being the larger of the two sexes, while also having longer, sharper snouts and ears. Like the Ligrii, Knavar females have multiple teats and nipples only visible during pregnancy and while lactating. Notable at having extraordinarily sharp senses - all five of them - and with the uncanny, still inexplicable ability to “dampen” their senses as a defence measure, often instinctually and done at a moment’s notice. Little is known about this ability save for the fact that it isn’t psionic.

<u>Necrovirus</u>
A nightmare hailing from beyond the galaxy. A terror from parts unknown that torments Federation and Alliance and unaligned races alike. Not yet a race or species or any living being, the Necrovirus defies classification and summons sensations of utter dread. Very little is known of the Necrovirus, for those who come in contact it rarely survive, but through the collective experiences of the Federation and Alliance races, we know the core of this horror is a technorganic hybrid of gene seed and source code, embodied in the form of the four Hive Queens, who rule the four factions that make up this “race”.

The Queen are the source of the virus and through them it spreads, infecting organic and inorganic matter alike with ease. The virus causes infected matter to break down into a primordial sludge, which is collected into vats of seething biomass, only for that to be absorbed back into the Hive Queen. Through this process, the Queen assimilates with whatever the biomass used to be, acquiring knowledge, abilities, and properties of the infected matter. From there, the Queen reconstitutes and regurgitates the assimilated biomass into technorganic nightmares which heed their commands and spread the virus even farther.

While the whims and goals of the virus and the Queens is utterly inscrutable, their activity is erratic, irregular, and haphazard. They seem content with attacking small exoplanets at the furthest edge of the galaxy, lying dormant upon that planet for years, only to suddenly return to wherever they came from beyond galactic space.

Yet, despite the unknown and the danger, the maddest of the Federation dream of getting a sample of the gene seed or source code or viral kernel of the Necrovirus and modifying to humanity's end. Surely, having such a weapon at our disposal would make conquering the galaxy and it's races easier, but would acquiring the Necrovirus and bending it to our will be less difficult than conquest by conventional means? Either way, such a dream is highly implausible at given time.

Do not approach or encounter under any circumstances. If you are **** to face a Necrovirus creature, run. If you cannot run, kill yourself. But even that won’t save your corpse from being added to the virus…

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Wanted to flesh out some lewd lore for this setting before committing to any kind of story. I'm thinking that for any story thread involving this universe that it won't be a standard narrative story. Instead, I want to take "snapshots" of this universe, at different places and different times, capturing the goings on as humanity slowly asserts their authority and bends the galaxy to their will.

I also just created nineteen alien races because I'm insane. Which of the races is your favourite? Who do you want to see? What fate do you want these various races to succumb to when they confront the Federation? Let your voices be heard in the comments.

Stay tuned and hope you have fun!