AlphaDraco
One Thousand Club
The Rooktan
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Anatomy
The Rooktan are an omnivorous bipedal species that most resembles a mix between native earth crustaceans and amphibians. They have quadnocular vision, meaning they have four eyes. The red bulbs that most species would call their eyes are in fact semitransparent lens that protect their real eyes beneath. These lens are capable of lightening and darkening their tint, thus regulating the flow of light to the eye. Their outer layer is mostly chitin in nature, which is impermeable to light arm fire, though they do have to periodically molt their exoskeletons as they grow. Their under layer is much like a frog's skin, being very permeable and slick, as well as having a toxic mucus secretion. This mucus has varying effects on different species, with humans reacting like they would to poison ivy. Their internal organs are somewhat standard among sentient races, consisting of a nervous, circulatory, endocrine, digestive, respiratory, and excretion systems. However, there are some notable differences. Rooktan have a second heart located behind the original, as well as two stomachs and two brains. They have two separate respiratory systems as well, including retractable gills and two pairs of lungs. There reproduction system is mostly standard, with males possessing the equivalent to sperm and the females holding the eggs. They are an egg laying species. Females are quite a bit larger than the males, but must stay within extremely humid environments to survive. The males are much more adaptable in terms of survivability, being able to whether most environments fine thanks to their exterior chitin and possession of several hormones that the females do not have access to.
Culture
The Rooktan have a variety of different cultures and beliefs, similar to humans. The most prominent among these, however, is that of the Skranl. The Skranl culture was named for the race that first developed it and from which it spread to most of the Rooktan's homeward. Rooktan who are a part of this culture have deep familial bonds, with extended families often living in the same household. The males are seen as the main provider for the family, as their more lithe structure originally allowed them to more easily maneuver and hunt prey throughout the swamplands that makes up 71% of their home world's surface. The females are often seen as the caregivers and teachers of the culture, as well as defenders of the household thanks to their more pronounced heavy muscle development. Rooktan of this culture are also quite friendly to most other sentients, as it is one of the tenants of their main religion, which is a big portion of most Rooktan's lives, to be kind to all. However, there is also a tenant to show no mercy to those that slaughter family and innocents, and doing so will cause nearly every Rooktan to ferociously hunt those responsible down and administer their form of justice. This punishment is to throw the perpetrator, if still alive, into a pit with the Riktyn for a time corresponding to how many were killed. If they come out alive, the Rooktan believe that then perpetrator has suffered enough to be free. Most people do not survive, and it is unknown to every other sentient exactly what a Riktyn is at this moment. Despite this seemingly barbaric justice system, Rooktan are often very thoughtful and purposeful in their proceedings with any other form of crime other than murder. In regards to war, the Rooktan have been relatively peaceful minus several small conflicts and one Great War. However, when in combat, they do prefer to have a two faced approach, having a sizable army at the front and stealth operatives to go behind enemy lines to take out the leaders who caused the conflict to begin with. To note, they are some of the best snipers and fighter pilots in the known universe.
History
The Rooktan first lived upon their homeworld of Rook, an Earth sized moon orbiting a gas giant that resides within a large, blue star system. After the Great War, which is still the single darkest time in the history of the Rooktan, the species began to explore spaceflight by landing on several of the other moons orbiting Grookt, the large gas giant. Several of the other orbiting bodies had the right atmosphere for life, believed to have been given off by the gas giant at some point in is development, and colonies began to form. Within several centuries, the Rooktan discovered faster than light travel, and set off to begin colonizing other star systems. Unlike the other species, the Rooktan focused on their own galaxy, and colonized any available planet, while terraforming any that had the chance to support life. Any systems that did not hold any significant habitable possibilities were strip mined. With the vast amount of resources at their disposal, the Rooktan began to develop massive drone factories that would readily terraform and mine planets for them. However, a millennium after the first interstellar colony was founded, humanity stumbled upon their galaxy. Apparently, it was a damaged fleet that had escaped from a conflict with another alien race. After a brief period of high tensions, peaceful contact was secured. While the Rooktan would not actively participate in the First Intergalactic War, they would be a major provider of the raw materials humanity would use within its last century of conflict. Since the end of the conflict, small amounts of Rooktan have begun settling other galaxies. Their naturally friendly nature has made them have decent relations with most species, with their extensive amounts of resources also helping that matter. As tensions rise between the other races, the Rooktan have increased their drone production and have the most numerous vessels of all the species by a large margin. However, the vast majority of these are their trillions of drones, followed up by stealth fighters and finally capital ships.
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