Velaya
| Velaya | |
|---|---|
 | |
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Homeworld: |
Caembris |
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Length: |
up to 2.2 metres |
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Height: |
up to 1.4 metres |
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Diet: |
Omnivorous |
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Intelligence: |
Sapient |
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Technology: |
Advanced (Class VIII) |
The Velaya are a sapient species native to the Viperius Galaxy. They are found in many locations throughout the galaxy, where they are often hired as mercenaries or guards.
Physiology
Velaya are large creatures, around 180kg in mass. They have six limbs and can walk in two fashions- quadrupedally, in which case they can use their front arms in manipulation and stand around 1.4m tall, or hexapedally, where they can move at up to 34mph and are around 80cm tall at the shoulder.
They have compound eyes similar to those of the Terran mantis shrimp, tetrachromatic and with very good depth perception. However, they have bad detail perception. They have sensitive chemoreceptors all over their body, able to detect the scent of blood or rotting flesh from around 100m away in standard atmospheres.
They have peculiar lungs, similar in style to a mammal's except flattened and eight in number. They are arranged in two stacks, either side of the heart, and are ventilated not through the mouth but through large, lipped and muscular spiracles in the thorax. This means that immersion in water is fatal, however.
Next to their jaws are two powerful, crushing appendages capable of bending steel bars, but their mouth itself is circular and filled with serrated teeth. They have a hyroid bone and are capable of making noises, mainly in the form of hisses and whistling.
Their skin is protected by cellulose plates, which are white or beige in colour. These are durable and around 2cm thick, giving them good protection against attack. However, their underside is less well protected.
They have a tail like that of a lobster, and females exude a powerful scent chemical from glands underneath it.
Diet
Though primarily carnivorous, Velaya also eat fruits and tubers, as well as the flesh-like fungi analogues of their homeworld and the worm-sponges of their shores.
Velaya are sensitive to acidic foods, which cause inflammation of the throat and possible death.
Reproduction
Sexual animals, Velaya reach reproductive age at 21 standard years old. The male fertilises the female, but then the female passes the eggs on to an adult past reproductive age (over 40 in the modern day), in which they gestate for around eight months.
Intelligence
Velaya are sapient animals, possessing an average standardised intelligence quotient of 88, where 100 is the galactic average.
They are more creative than analytical, and possess good memories. They learn quickly, but have a short attention span.
Culture
Velaya culture has changed drastically due to the species' exposure to other cultures. Few Velaya, mainly on their sparsely-populated homeworld, keep to the old traditions, most simply assimilating the galactic tradition and leaving most of their past customs behind.
They were a warrior culture, with both males and young females working to expand their clan's holdings and increase its reputation. There was an honour code and they worshipped the universe as a whole, believing that it was their duty to fight and remove the weak from their population, so that only the strong would remain.
One aspect of their homeworld culture that survives is strong clan affinity. They often bear facial markings, such as mottled bands and stylised patterns, on their headplate. The clan name is used much as a surname would be.
Technology
Velaya developed mass-adjustment based faster-than-light travel just prior to joining the galactic community. They have put most of their technology aside in favour of items produced by galaxy-spanning companies such as Paragon Weapons Systems.
However, the Kepaean Rifle-Axe, a Caembrean staple, has managed to survive this change. Most Velaya mercenaries carry at least one.
Spaceships
Velaya produced more spaceships in the past, but as they left their homeworld, they began to join the defence forces of other planets and use their ships. Some still remain, taken in and refitted by other fleets.
Taal-class destroyers are 200m long, with six torpedo tubes firing proximity-fused torpedoes, racks of long-range missiles, and flak cannons.
Darh-class frigates are 500m long, and equipped with racks of long-range missiles, many flak cannons, and a spinal mass driver.
Skyfortresses were many kilometres long. Few survive, but have extensive armament and thick defences.
The Column of Respite, the largest ship of the CDF fleet (at 22,000 metres long) was built around the stripped hull of a Velayan skyfortress.
The Caembris Defence Fleet (all the ships remaining loyal to the Caembris government) has ten Taal-class destroyers, six Darh-class frigates, and one Skyfortress.
History
The Velaya hail from the planet Caembris, a world of brackish swamps and deep oceans. They built their first city in 3.998(.463) AM, and discovered Hyperspace travel in 3.999(.994) AM. It was a few months after this that they were discovered by the Deraia, and brought to the galactic community.
Industrial development on Caembris was making the climate less and less hospitable, so the majority of Velaya jumped at the opportunity to move to other planets. A large number went to Centro, but they can be found in many other locations.
Relations with other races
Velaya tend to get on well with most races. Their honour system means they do not kill indiscriminately, and they are employed throughout the galaxy.
However, Velaya are opposed to the Kerarans, Flesh Thieves and Elisri, like most other sapients in Viperius.
