Ivir

The Ivir are a feline species native to the planet of Qanus.
=Physiology=
The genus Ivirs evolved from contains a rare genetic mutation called erythrism, which causes an unusual reddish pigmentation of their fur, as well as most life forms on their home world Qanus. 
The oxygen and resource rich environment on the Ivir home-world meant that prey animals were unusually large and difficult to subdue. As such, Ivirs were forced to climb for their own survival, making them tree-top predators. 
The size of their prey also made them also develop into pack hunters. Eventually this path led them to the development of opposable thumbs and eventually, turning them into the sentient Ivirs we know today.
Almost all Ivirs on Qanus possess the Erythrism mutation. So much so that other pigment-related genetic mutations are more common than a member of the species not having that mutation. However, curiously, Ivirs born off planet (even to parents with the mutation) exhibit it at drastically lower rates and in the many years since the Ivirs became a spacefaring race, the numbers of non-red Ivirs have been increasing, even on the homeworld.
The Ivir evolved as arboreal ambush hunters, naturally giving them great balance, keen eyesight and natural acrobatic abilities as well as a keen sense for avoiding or making an ambush. They also have retractable claws, which are very sturdy and thick, used mostly for climbing and subduing large prey.
There are significant morphological differences between Qanus born Ivirs, known as Homelander Ivirs and Off-world born Ivirs, which are referred to as Offlander Ivirs.
Homelander Ivirs have various shades of reddish fur and their eye color is dominantly amber. Their metabolism for the most part allows them to maintain a very large diet and maintain their physical fitness but is also capable of maintaining body weight in times of scarcity. As they are of feline origin they present feline features, with the exception of tails, which like most primates, have been lost across their evolution. 
Offlander Ivirs can exhibit any natural color in both their eyes and fur, with a greater variety in height ranges even between known subspecies. 
=Society=
Ivir society is based upon a communal need for survival and have surprisingly not developed coinage at all during their social development, instead, meat has been used as the primary method of payment and trading since their stone age. 
The Ivirs were uplifted by the Grethions shortly after they have entered their industrial stage, mostly for the natural resources of their home planet and they have adapted very quickly to the advanced way of life offered by modern galactic civilizations. As a species, unlike the Requians, they feel indebted to the Grethions for bringing them into the new galactic battlegrounds and are as a majority loyal to the Grethion Union.
The Ivirs are a very practical species, they do not waste resources on vanity, as such there has been a great neglect of precious metals and stone mining until their uplifting, leaving their planet a resource rich heaven for farming and mining, which is what led Grethions to take it for themselves in the first place.
Iron has been used very sparingly and interestingly only in certain areas, as it seems the pollution from iron and steel forging had an adverse effect on local fauna. Forcing it to only be produced in mountainous areas far from the main concentrations of wildlife and animals. These forge settlements were often sponsored by the local authorities and powers to maintain a fair rate for their products and services and have made their population ideal for resettlement in the Grethion industrial planets.
While Requians make up the grunts and heavy troopers of the Grethion Armies, the officer caste and special operations are usually majorly Ivir dominant. 
==The Trickster==
Ivirs don't possess an official religion per-se, they do not pray or worship any Gods, or believe that correct behavior will grant any form of providence. Instead they follow the Mythos of the Trickster. 
In the Mythos, the Trickster was a jet black Ivir who was the master of hunting and survival. It is said that he was so adept that he was able to walk across the back of a (versions vary, mostly a very dangerous predator) without being noticed by the creature. It is said that he was cast out by his fellow Ivirs who were jealous of him and mistrusted him. So he proceeded to steal every animal for miles around, demanding they let him back in, in exchange for the precious meat. The leader of the village said that he would only let him back in if he could steal the seven brightest stars in the sky, but if he could not, he had to return the animals and give up their meat. 
The cunning Trickster stole all of the star charts from the wisest of the, and claimed he had stolen the stars themselves and when the villagers would look up that night they would be gone and so it was that the two moons blocked the stars from view and he was welcomed into his village. His exploits continued until such a time that he tricked the stars into making him one of them and he now resides in the constellation that he once "stole" as the 8th star.
The Trickster basically embodied what the Ivirs appreciate most, cunning, wit, practicality and knowledge, however, it is to note that he shared freely of all he had with his people and his tricks have always been harmless. In modern times this mythos has been maintained and altered with Grethion encouragement to encourage correct behavior in Ivir young, but by majority is considered superstition by adults.
Category:Galaxy One Species