Ourii
Physical
Evolved on the world of Tessera, the Ourii are a centauroid
race who were originally six-legged, mammalian hunter-gatherers.
Their fore-legs evolved into hands to grab prey and gather fruits and
vegetables. Their four wide-clawed feet are hyper-sensitive to low
frequency vibration and motion. What
appear to be "eyes" are black, rough-textured orbs semi-embedded in their flat
heads, though they actually function as smell/taste/chemical receptors.
They have small, round light receptors that spot their body
and provide crude hemispherical vision. They relay far less on
their imprecise vision, which is mostly used in motion
sensing, than on their chemical sensing "eyes". Their bodies
are also spotted with small sound and air-pressure sensors.Personality
The Ourii are a clever, politically and diplomatically excellent people.
They are excellent
speakers (when properly translated) and traders. While they have never
excelled at the development of cutting edge technologies, they
are quick learners and more than capable of grasping
technologies presented to them. They maintain close ties to and
membership in the
Core
Commonwealth from whom they acquire most of their high
technology, retrofit it themselves to suit their needs.
Diverse in personality, the Ourii tend to live
within the
Ourii Holdfast though many choose to travel or trade
independently.
Culture/Political
The Ourii maintain the
Ourii Holdfast
and continue an ancient empirical system of government. The planet of
Tessera is divided into over 30 countries on 6 continents and the
colonial protectorate planet of Skegslie is divided into a further 3
contries . Each country is presided over by a "Little Emperors" make decisions
based on the input of
area councils elected by the citizenry. Little Emperors are chosen by
the most powerful and elite members of each country. Maintaining and
overseeing the business of cities and towns is done by Governors who are
appointed by the Little Emperors with the advice of a popular election.
Once every five years, the Little Emperors meet and select from among
themselves the Emperor who will rule and coordinate the entire
Ourii Holdfast. The Imperial wisdom is greatly
respected but not absolute. Ignoring the people can lead to exile,
displacement through intrigue or the loss of political support among the
elite, or assassination.
Military
The Ourii are a capable people who are completely unwilling to be
intimidated. When diplomacy and intrigue fail, they are irascible
fighters. While most races have developed a chemical system that
stimulates fear, anger, and aggression when confronted with danger, the
Ourii's unique chemical system suppresses their passions, boosts their
brain activity, and heightens their agility. In essence, the Ourii feel
no fear in the face of danger and meet it with cold calculation and
clever, intuitive deduction. While the majority
of their technology is purchased from the
Core
Commonwealth and the mega-corporations of the
Prodigal Void, the Ourii
perform a variety of complex customizations and upgrades that
tailor the technology to their body type, senses, and needs. The
Ourii
Holdfast military is small but proud and effective, focusing
on fast, hard-hitting defensive tactics.
Breeding
Ourii tend to produce 3
or 4 young females for every male. Families generally consist of
a life-bond and tend to consist of a father and several mothers.
While they are mammals, Ourii females actually lay clutches of
unfertilized eggs which the father subsequently fertilizes. When
the eggs hatch, all the mothers and elder children of the family
will care for them. Mothers produce a nutrient-gel "milk" for
their young.
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