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Description

Unlike most intelligent organisms, the capacity to use language appeared neither through natural selection nor genetic uplift. Instead, it arose seemingly sporadically through the hybridisation of two closely related species. It's likely this isn't as much a fluke as it might appear, with evidence pointing towards the species sharing an intelligent common ancestor, leaving the genetic framework for higher intelligence behind. While the hybrids are infertile, and their appearance was only a very rare event at first, with time consistent populations started to appear, herding and breeding the two parent species.

History and culture

It was during the Age of Myth that they made contact with the wider Bubble and began to spread through space. By this time, they had formed a number of pre-industrial civilisations - these had a fairly good understanding of science for their technological development. As a result many colonies were able to reverse-engineer the "artefacts" most other species at the time considered magic. However, given the difficulty of space travel during this period, this knowledge was contained in isolated pockets, and most branches soon bought into mystical explanations for technology. It wasn't until a similar occurrence happened with the arvon that scientific awareness truly spread.

Even before arvon contact, they quickly became a common sight throughout space. In fact, they constituted the largest populations within the artefact-lord civilisations, whose leaders held onto power through the possession of ancient, poorly understood technological artefacts. Nowadays they can be found in most places, mainly in the Realms of Par-Kisek and Arvon Space, but also Vikatian Space and the Theocracies. The most prevalent sign language in much of the central parts of the Bubble, Parwin, is derived from a par language. They tend to reproduce artificially now, rather than depending on hybridisation, but there are many planets that don't have access to this technology.

Biology

In terms of biochemistry, they are classified as ammonia life, using liquid ammonia as a solvent with little water dissolved, if any. They live at a preferred -40oC on average at around 6 bars of pressure, although many are modified for different environments, and regulatory implants widen that range.

Physically, they have six-fold radial symmetry, with six legs underneath and a mouth at the top. The mouth has a six part jaw, and is surrounded by tentacles used for feeding as well as tool use. Modified tongues, six in total, stick out from the edges of the mouth, each housing an eye near the end. These eyes bear a pupil, but instead of a lens a reflective surface on the back of the eye is used to focus images. Their eyes can be retracted and extended, even pulled into the mouth, and are able to move in all directions, supported by muscle.

Par tentacles are much thicker than their tongues and eye stalks. They have a split down the middle, forming a Y shape at the tip which can act as three fingers when opened. Lining the inside of the slit are “tube fingers”, resembling the simple tube legs of many species (for example the baug) and playing a role in finer manipulation. Splitting starts at the top, but it isn’t uncommon for resting posture to lead the appendage to twist, with the Y-split facing downwards.

Description

Unlike most intelligent organisms, the capacity to use language appeared neither through natural selection nor genetic uplift. Instead, it arose seemingly sporadically through the hybridisation of two closely related species. It's likely this isn't as much a fluke as it might appear, with evidence pointing towards the species sharing an intelligent common ancestor, leaving the genetic framework for higher intelligence behind. While the hybrids are infertile, and their appearance was only a very rare event at first, with time consistent populations started to appear, herding and breeding the two parent species.

History and culture

It was during the Age of Myth that they made contact with the wider Bubble and began to spread through space. By this time, they had formed a number of pre-industrial civilisations - these had a fairly good understanding of science for their technological development. As a result many colonies were able to reverse-engineer the "artefacts" most other species at the time considered magic. However, given the difficulty of space travel during this period, this knowledge was contained in isolated pockets, and most branches soon bought into mystical explanations for technology. It wasn't until a similar occurrence happened with the arvon that scientific awareness truly spread.

Even before arvon contact, they quickly became a common sight throughout space. In fact, they constituted the largest populations within the artefact-lord civilisations, whose leaders held onto power through the possession of ancient, poorly understood technological artefacts. Nowadays they can be found in most places, mainly in the Realms of Par-Kisek and Arvon Space, but also Vikatian Space and the Theocracies. The most prevalent sign language in much of the central parts of the Bubble, Parwin, is derived from a par language. They tend to reproduce artificially now, rather than depending on hybridisation, but there are many planets that don't have access to this technology.

Biology

In terms of biochemistry, they are classified as ammonia life, using liquid ammonia as a solvent with little water dissolved, if any. They live at a preferred -40oC on average at around 6 bars of pressure, although many are modified for different environments, and regulatory implants widen that range.

Physically, they have six-fold radial symmetry, with six legs underneath and a mouth at the top. The mouth has a six part jaw, and is surrounded by tentacles used for feeding as well as tool use. Modified tongues, six in total, stick out from the edges of the mouth, each housing an eye near the end. These eyes bear a pupil, but instead of a lens a reflective surface on the back of the eye is used to focus images. Their eyes can be retracted and extended, even pulled into the mouth, and are able to move in all directions, supported by muscle.

Par tentacles are much thicker than their tongues and eye stalks. They have a split down the middle, forming a Y shape at the tip which can act as three fingers when opened. Lining the inside of the slit are “tube fingers”, resembling the simple tube legs of many species (for example the baug) and playing a role in finer manipulation. Splitting starts at the top, but it isn’t uncommon for resting posture to lead the appendage to twist, with the Y-split facing downwards.