Hyralise

A
now mostly-extinct species which once ruled several planets in a system as
the Hyralise
Hegemony just north of the Imperian
Confederacy's borders.

## **History**

The
Hyralise people are one of the more recent species to have evolved in the
universe, still retaining many characteristics of Sand Serpents they
once evolved from. They first began their civilization as a tribal species, learning
quickly that in order to survive they would have to learn to live underground,
as the harsh desert environment of Hyralisk, their homeworld, did not have much
vegetation or other life. They established complex underground caverns which
housed much of the Hyralise people and eventually came out of the tribal phase
and formed clans.

Clan
chiefs were typically those who bullied their way to the top, and huge
underground wars were sparked by constant resource shortages. A Hyralise legend
led his clan to victory and conquered all the others, uniting the Hyralise
people under one banner. His heir, Herl'Be'Zaatch,
would later go on to continue his legacy, putting down any threats to the unity
that had been created for his species.

They
became space-faring and developed primitive ships which allowed them to
colonize the other planets in their system, although these, too, were desert
like and mostly required more underground living. Recent advances in
environmental technology, however, enabled them to create limited dwellings on
the surface, creating a division in Hyralise society between those rich,
powerful nobles who lived on the surface, and the impoverished slaves who lived
beneath the surface. When Herl'Be'Zaatch led an expedition to one of these
colonies to see its progress, he was enraged at the conditions of those
underneath the surface and eradicated all traces of surface-based technology.

It
was shortly after this that Tyranis came across the Hyralise people
and, when they refused to join his army, he led a colossal genocide which
resulted in the deaths of approximately twelve billion Hyralise.
Herl'Be'Zaatch, despite his care for his people, had held plans of moving on
for some time as he believed their social conditions to be beyond redemption,
and so when Tyranis offered him, the last known Hyralise, to become one of his
trusted Diabolith, he accepted.

Hyralisk
was then destroyed by planet killer weaponry.

## **Tools and Abilities**

The
Hyralise was reptilian creatures which slithered around using their large,
muscular tales. They had upright torsos, like bipeds, which was a key
evolutionary difference between them and their less intelligent ancestors, the
sand serpents. Their upper body strength was impressive but not extraordinary,
although their tales could be swung with enough force to crack rock. They
possessed innate sand, stone, and earth powers, although clan chiefs typically
tended to be the only ones capable of exerting these abilities.

The
Hyralise did not rely on battlefield tools and instead used their agility and
guile to win in battle. This meant most conflicts between Hyralise were bloody
and unpleasant.

## **Society**

Hyralise
society was very competitive, with only the strongest managing to work their
way up. However, contrary to most societies of this type, a slave caste was not
widespread, as when the clans were united, this practice was abolished.
Following unification, most Hyralise, although still most definitely capable of
vying for power, seemed content to remain where they were comfortable, and,
despite many smaller conflicts and issues, there was relative peace. A war
almost sparked between the upper-surface nobles and the below-ground peasants,
but this was prevented by Herl'Be'Zaatch's quick and merciless action.

It
is known at least one Hyralise survived Tyranis' attacks. Makori researchers
theorize that pods of embryos may exist beneath the surface, and that trace
signs of Hyralise influence elsewhere in the galaxy may suggest refugees
survived the crisis.