Lk

Lk
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While one may initially make the assumption that the **Lk** (pronounced simply as \ lk \, making it sound like "ulk") are potentially evolved from either a race of serpents or leeches, they are in fact evolved from saprotrophic fungal spores. These spores fed upon the remains of the then-rotting food stores of the ancient Precursors, possibly even the bodies of Precursors as well, assuming that the great race had perished and had not just transplanted their bodies somewhere else. This, combined with having evolved inside a Precursor base and thereby immediately possessing large quantities of their artifacts, they consider themselves the true heirs and inheritors of the Precursor legacy, and seek to control all artifacts of the long-lost species. They speak in a manner of hissed S's and rolled R's.

## Biology

The LK (pronounced \*ulk\*) are a race of saprophytic fungi superficially suggesting a commonality with the Mycon, but the LK are fully organic. Their origins, humble toadstools growing on decaying Precursor food stores, have manifested themselves into sentient detritivores with fully function sensory organs and a mouth, suggesting a migration away from the standard fungal feeding habit of absorption across hyphae, and a de novo evolution of a fully functioning gut, which is novel as well as pragmatic, as it has allowed the LK to increase their body size and therefore their capacity to manipulate their environment. Whatever other abilities the LK have, they were not interested in sharing.

## Culture

As obligate feeders on decaying organic material, the LK have taken a very pragmatic and callous view of life. They believe that every living being is out for their own needs, and when it serves them to cooperate, they do so only as long as it takes for them to get what they wanted. Given such a negative outlook on the motivations of others, it seems surprising the LK ever formed the collective of scientists and researchers that they are today, but instead of being paranoid of such behaviors, they expect and exploit it. To the fungal race, the way things are done are at the inevitable expense of others. The Druuge and the LK have something in common.

Their origin and maturation in a rich cache of Precursor artifacts has given the LK the notion that they are the closest living relation to the Precursors, for they believe they fed upon the decaying bodies of the Precursors. While this is not true, the artifacts more than sufficiently provide "evidence" for their claim of sentience. Their desire to possess the Red Spiral Rail is another ego boost to the LK; they wanted to have it because their having it would prove their worth. They look upon other races as decidedly inferior, lacking not only the resources of the mushrooms, but the inevitable potential.

Possibly it is this egotism that makes the LK different than the Vyro-Ingo. While both are somewhat deluded about their own self-worth, and use crutches to inflate their vaunted position, the LK believe that the "difference" between the races only allows the LK to exploit others better. They feel that other races are merely pawns, to be used and thrown away when they are no longer useful. While they do not share the Daktaklakpak zeal for destroying life when it cannot serve them, they do not feel any keen responsibility towards any whom they interact with, with the inevitable result that others see them as untrustworthy and contemptible.

## History

The Lk evolved in the food stores of the Precursors, sometime during one of the many Cycles of Feeding that the galaxy goes through with the Eternal Ones. As time went on and the Lk gained sentience, they came to the "realisation" that they were the closest race to the Precursors due to their origins. As a result of this, the Lk made it their mission as a species to advance down the path of their Precursor Potential, believing that they were the race furthest along in the galaxy.

Over time, the Lk would ally and betray many races in their quadrant, all to serve their needs of gathering Precursor artifacts and technology, becoming one of the most knowledgable on the subject. As the Crux began to invade the Kessari Quadrant, the Lk took it upon themselves to hide and continue their academic pursuits in a bid to secure their Potential and receive their heritage. An encounter with the Daktaklakpak left a foul taste in the Lk's mouth, as the Red Rail they had so sought as proof of their superiority and divine right was "broken" by the Daktaklakpak.

Upon encountering the League of Sentient Races, the Lk proved to be an invaluable source of information to the League, providing them with the right tips to find the pieces of the Ultron, discover the nature of the Vyro-Ingo and VUX and even the key to taking down the Crux as a whole. In all that time however, the Lk never joined the League formally, as they believed the League would betray them just as they were prepared to betray the League when it suited them.