Chapter One: Sentient Galactic Species
Human
Physique: Humans are bipedal mammals with two arms, a singular head, and a normally fleshy exterior. For structure and the protection of their internal organs, they have surprisingly sturdy endoskeletons. Their brains, which are arguably the most important of their internal organs, are located within their heads. Within, their brains are carefully encased in and protected by their skulls. Humans normally have two eyes, two ears, a singular nose, and a singular mouth. They have a variety of iris colors, ranging from natural hues such as browns or greens to more exotic blues or grays or sometimes even violets. Most humans have hair growing from atop and behind their heads, but some individuals - usually males - have hair growing from the lower section of their faces. Their skin can be anything from brown to tan, from yellow to peachy, and so on. In height and weight they vary, but rarely does a fully grown human go below four feet or above eight in height. Weight is trickier to measure, as it varies from planet to planet.
Diet: Omnivorous
PoO: Earth
Mating: Humans reproduce sexually. As far as customs go, they tend to have a casual attitude towards dating - but are expected to eventually take one as their monogamous mate and marry. Afterwards, the two spouses are often expected to have or adopt children and raise them to become functional members of society. However, things don't always happen as is culturally proper, so it's not unheard of for children to be born and reared out of wedlock. Nor is it unheard of, or even particularly shameful, to dissolve a marriage that doesn't work out for whatever reason. The process of ending a marriage is known as 'divorce'.
Culture: Humans, or at least citizens of Earth, are ruled by the galaxy's second largest democracy. Even if it is corrupt beyond any redemption, it is still considered to be quite an achievement to the rest of the uplifted galactic community. Humanity also earns extra credit for how disturbingly fast they, in general, improve both technologically and medically as a whole. Because of these positive factors, humans tend to be seen as ambitious and clever. Unfortunately, humanity has its ugly side as well. Due to the hyper-commercialization of anything that can be sold under the sun, their generally extreme prices, and their general tolerance for and enjoyment of depravity, humans are also seen as both greedy and hedonistic.
Other: Human settlements, whilst usually grandois and city-like, tend to have heavy problems with organized crime and corruption.
Physique: Humans are bipedal mammals with two arms, a singular head, and a normally fleshy exterior. For structure and the protection of their internal organs, they have surprisingly sturdy endoskeletons. Their brains, which are arguably the most important of their internal organs, are located within their heads. Within, their brains are carefully encased in and protected by their skulls. Humans normally have two eyes, two ears, a singular nose, and a singular mouth. They have a variety of iris colors, ranging from natural hues such as browns or greens to more exotic blues or grays or sometimes even violets. Most humans have hair growing from atop and behind their heads, but some individuals - usually males - have hair growing from the lower section of their faces. Their skin can be anything from brown to tan, from yellow to peachy, and so on. In height and weight they vary, but rarely does a fully grown human go below four feet or above eight in height. Weight is trickier to measure, as it varies from planet to planet.
Diet: Omnivorous
PoO: Earth
Mating: Humans reproduce sexually. As far as customs go, they tend to have a casual attitude towards dating - but are expected to eventually take one as their monogamous mate and marry. Afterwards, the two spouses are often expected to have or adopt children and raise them to become functional members of society. However, things don't always happen as is culturally proper, so it's not unheard of for children to be born and reared out of wedlock. Nor is it unheard of, or even particularly shameful, to dissolve a marriage that doesn't work out for whatever reason. The process of ending a marriage is known as 'divorce'.
Culture: Humans, or at least citizens of Earth, are ruled by the galaxy's second largest democracy. Even if it is corrupt beyond any redemption, it is still considered to be quite an achievement to the rest of the uplifted galactic community. Humanity also earns extra credit for how disturbingly fast they, in general, improve both technologically and medically as a whole. Because of these positive factors, humans tend to be seen as ambitious and clever. Unfortunately, humanity has its ugly side as well. Due to the hyper-commercialization of anything that can be sold under the sun, their generally extreme prices, and their general tolerance for and enjoyment of depravity, humans are also seen as both greedy and hedonistic.
Other: Human settlements, whilst usually grandois and city-like, tend to have heavy problems with organized crime and corruption.
Octavian
Physique: Octavians closely resemble feminine humans from their torsos to their heads. Instead of hair, a pure-bred octavian has long prehensile tentacles in its place. Pure-bred octavians also have lower halves resembling that of a cephalopod. Their skin, eyes, and tentacles come in a variety of colors - above and beyond that found in ordinary humans. If the color exists, an octavian somewhere probably sports it. Sometimes an 'impure' octavian, the result of a humanoid and octavian coupling, might have hair instead of head tentacles or even legs instead of the more usual octopus-like lower half. 'Impure' octavians, as a whole, tend to have a much harder time surviving in underwater climates than their 'pure' counterparts. *ALL* octavians are hermaphroditic.
PoO: Ladon
Mating: Octavians traditionally have a very unromantic approach to mating and reproduction. Families seeking to further their genetic line will find a respectable family within their caste and try to negotiate a breeding contract. If negotiations go successfully, the paired octavians will fertilize one anothers' eggs and each individual will keep the offspring from the eggs they layed. Recently, however, love and romance have become a surprising trend - with fewer and fewer of the lower castes bothering with breeding contracts. In octavian high society, those who choose their mates based off of sentiment versus genetic value are looked down upon - ESPECIALLY if said mate would produce 'impure' offspring. Due to enhanced genetic modification, most space faring octavians are capable of reproduction with a humanoid mate - yet the result will always be another octavian.
Culture: Octavian culture is, by far and large, strictly organized into a rigid caste system. You are born into your work, your worth, and your wealth. It is traditionally believed that you earn your place as a good citizen by fulfilling your birth-assigned duty to society. A politician will always be a politician and a soldier will always be a soldier, so to speak. Unless you are a part of the noble caste, you probably don't own much if any personal property. If anything, most lineages beneath the noble caste are owned by one of the respected ruling families. This carefully crafted hierarchy has been all but shattered by their uplifting into galactic society, with more and more individuals of the lower castes getting themselves modified by what they consider to be alien visitors for the opprotunity to earn their own life beyond Ladon's perilous seas.
Other: Most space faring Octavians are 'impure' by their cultural standards, with 'pure-breds' becoming increasingly rare outside of Ladon's waters.
Physique: Octavians closely resemble feminine humans from their torsos to their heads. Instead of hair, a pure-bred octavian has long prehensile tentacles in its place. Pure-bred octavians also have lower halves resembling that of a cephalopod. Their skin, eyes, and tentacles come in a variety of colors - above and beyond that found in ordinary humans. If the color exists, an octavian somewhere probably sports it. Sometimes an 'impure' octavian, the result of a humanoid and octavian coupling, might have hair instead of head tentacles or even legs instead of the more usual octopus-like lower half. 'Impure' octavians, as a whole, tend to have a much harder time surviving in underwater climates than their 'pure' counterparts. *ALL* octavians are hermaphroditic.
PoO: Ladon
Mating: Octavians traditionally have a very unromantic approach to mating and reproduction. Families seeking to further their genetic line will find a respectable family within their caste and try to negotiate a breeding contract. If negotiations go successfully, the paired octavians will fertilize one anothers' eggs and each individual will keep the offspring from the eggs they layed. Recently, however, love and romance have become a surprising trend - with fewer and fewer of the lower castes bothering with breeding contracts. In octavian high society, those who choose their mates based off of sentiment versus genetic value are looked down upon - ESPECIALLY if said mate would produce 'impure' offspring. Due to enhanced genetic modification, most space faring octavians are capable of reproduction with a humanoid mate - yet the result will always be another octavian.
Culture: Octavian culture is, by far and large, strictly organized into a rigid caste system. You are born into your work, your worth, and your wealth. It is traditionally believed that you earn your place as a good citizen by fulfilling your birth-assigned duty to society. A politician will always be a politician and a soldier will always be a soldier, so to speak. Unless you are a part of the noble caste, you probably don't own much if any personal property. If anything, most lineages beneath the noble caste are owned by one of the respected ruling families. This carefully crafted hierarchy has been all but shattered by their uplifting into galactic society, with more and more individuals of the lower castes getting themselves modified by what they consider to be alien visitors for the opprotunity to earn their own life beyond Ladon's perilous seas.
Other: Most space faring Octavians are 'impure' by their cultural standards, with 'pure-breds' becoming increasingly rare outside of Ladon's waters.
