Saleluki

**Saleluki** are a reclusive and mysterious race native to the jungle world of Saleo in the Felon system of the Core. Lithe but agile and largely intelligent, Saleluki focus their resources and energy into bettering their spy networks and espionage research so as to hold an edge over their enemies.

## Appearance and Biology

Saleluki are generally short in stature and thin, standing usually around 4'10"-5'6", with the tallest at 5'8" in rare cases. They have large eyes with slit pupils capable of seeing in night vision, appearing to glow in the dark. Their eyes are usually colored green, yellow, orange, or red. Their skin is often in varying light shades of blue, purple, green, or red.

They have four digits on their hands and feet and a long, thin tail tipped with fur as well as a pair of short, feline ears on each side of their head. Their bones have a red color and their blood is a dark purple. Most Saleluki grow a pair of red horns, with females having more stunted and curved ones while the males grow ones that more resemble the antlers on deer and Torbuks. These grow constantly and the males often have groom and trim them to ensure they are manageable.

Saleluki are extremely flexible and fast, with great senses of reflex and awareness of their surroundings. Renown for their skill at climbing the tall and dense jungle trees of their homeworld and to be able to fit into areas most could not, many put these traits to use as spies and assassins, smuggling themselves into secure areas in shipping containers or hiding in crevices for long periods of time.

## Culture

Saleluki are a guarded and inquisitive people, treating information as the best weapon and defense one can have, for without it, one is unable to adapt to changing situations. Trust is a valuable thing to a Saleluki - not freely given, but once earned is treasured. Honor and family bonds are an integral part of Saleluki society, with family units often being lead by a patriarch who makes decisions for them. Those who break away from the strict traditions of Saleluki society are deemed "Kivura" or "Living Dead". They are shunned and ignored by other Saleluki, and are no longer recognized legally as a part of their society. Finding one's place in society and staying true to that place is what is deemed as the ultimate goal of every Saleluki, though many times family members have little say.

Saleluki are generally critical of non-Saleluki, viewing brashness and tactlessness as frequent flaws in other races. They have a "work smarter, not harder" mentality on just about everything, trying to find a way to outwit or otherwise outmaneuver past obstacles rather than barreling through them. Because of this, they have great intuitive and creative instincts though some in Aeos call their secretive ways cowardice in the face of risk.

### Architecture

Much of Saleluki structures revolve around very conservative and utilitarian designs, preferring dome shapes with base living space. Many Saleluki find little need for extra space, and furnish their homes in accordance with practicality. Domestic homes tend to be made of Hesplite clay, wood, and paper walls.

Due to the hostile wildlife of the planet, Saleluki have long adapted to living in treetops and high branches. This had lead them to build their homes high up in trees and treating trees as sacred on the planet, tending to them to last as long as possible. If a tree is destroyed, it endangers those who use it to support their home. In this way, trees have become as much a part of Saleluki architecture as their man-made domiciles.

### Language

Saleluki speak Sal'ikk as well as the universal tongue. Sal'ikk is described as difficult to learn and master, though it is taught at many universities on Prime Station and other major colleges throughout the Core.

### Philosophy and Religion

Saleluki center their tactics and belief systems around secrecy and knowledge. Family loyalty plays a heavy part in Saleluki society, with even the furthest cousins being appointed vital jobs within their own clans. Those without families often group up with others in similar situations, forming lasting ties.

Most Saleluki practice K'Voism - a belief centered around a natural order to all things, where prudence and loyalty to family is seen as pivotal to spiritual success. It also preaches that every Saleluki is born with an innate "nos", or "skill" and that finding this skill and using it to the best of their ability should be the main goal of every individual Saleluki. A nos can be anything from woodworking to healing to combat tactics. Thus, heavy emphasis is placed on schooling and education of young Saleluki, with free-range and opportunity for each child to select their own classes and find their own nos. K'Voism followers are known as "K'Voists".

### Crafting and Creations

#### Weapons

Much of Saleluki research into weaponry is centered around defusing threats efficiently rather than focusing on firepower like the URN. Flexible and robust, like their own society, Saleluki-produced weaponry are regarded as being very sleek and precise, built to be best fit for their intended purpose.

* **Ketler Blade** - Being carried as a short, knife-like weapon, the Ketler blade (also known as a Shi'to knife) can fold out several more blades from the end with a spring-loaded mechanism into a short-sword length, giving the weapon an element of surprise for the unwary. It has become a signature weapon used by Sarai agents, being light, easy to conceal, and deadly in the hands of those trained to use it.

* **Nag'ita Staff** - A polearm used for close-quarters combat, the Nag'ita staff comes in a variety of designs and lengths - some more short and lightweight, others tall and with greater reach. Originally made of wood and with stone-carved, spear-like tips, modern-day Nag'ita are often designed with metallic blade tips with wooden shafts. The ones used by the Kimara-to are designed with spring-loaded blades that flank the central lance, giving it the nickname "Cross Spear" by foreigners.

* **Nakiin** - Small, star-shaped projectiles meant for throwing, Nakiin are made of thin metal and are exceedingly easy to carry and conceal.
* **Satakiin** - Disc-like upgrades of the Nakiin, Satakiin are capable of retracting a series of curved, spinning blades. They are equally easy to conceal, transport, and use though their legality has often been the subject of debate within the Core. The reason for this is their design is intended for cutting through bone, and is often the source of more dismemberments than quick kills.

#### Armor

* **Spectre Armor** - A Xinweave suit of armor coated with Arpaasi oils to give them further protection from kinetic damage, the Special-Tactics-and-Reconnaissance suit, or Spectre Stealth suit, is one of the finest creations of Saleluki armor innovation. It is fitted with the same stealth technology as the Shade-class Pursuer and the Scythe-class tank, allowing it to reflect the light of its' surroundings to appear transparent as well as keep the wearer from being detected by most sensor technologies. The inability to detect a Sarai agent wearing this armor gives the elite commandos a vast advantage over their enemies, allowing them to assess situations from the safety of the shadows and act accordingly. Spectre armor is prized among the Saleluki and they are fitted fitted with intricate self-destruct systems to prevent others from obtaining and replicating the the tech. They are issued only to Sarai agents, and are returned once an agent retires or is discharged.

#### Cruisers

Saleluki cruisers tend to be small in comparison to the much larger war galleons of the Felisians and the Tyranians. They are often sleek and fast, with advanced stealth and engine systems that allow them to maneuver as needed across battlefields in space or in atmosphere.

* ***Menace*-class frigate** - Generally used for policing their territory and keeping it free of pirates, the *Menace* earns its' name by being one of the fastest and most nimble frigates in the Core. With over two dozen point-defense turrets and fifteen EM cannons capable of disabling starship shields quickly, the *Menace* can defend both itself and escort vessels from light attacks. Against larger cruisers, however, the *Menace* is less defensible, with light shielding to protect it from weak starship cannons. As a result, it is often kept close to more heavily armed and armored vessels capable of defending it from heavier artillery.

* ***Wraith*-class Battlecruiser** -

### Culinary

Saleluki food is considered very tasty by some, with a variety of spicy and sweet dishes served throughout the Core, mostly being served as curry blends of rice, vegetables, fruits, and salted beef.

* **Jamba stew** - A low-class and easy to make stew with ingredients of carroka, tatro, onions, rice/beans (optional), and Groff beef, Jamba is one of the most diverse dishes in Saleluki culture, with some being spicy and others being more mild.

## Economy

Before discovering space travel, Saleluki were said to use small, paper bills made from trees of their homeworld and dyed with leaves as currency. To prevent counterfeiting, the Saleluki governments would secretly spray a trace amount of a liquid metal known as Syjjite on the paper that could be detected through a special lens. In addition to this, Saleluki would hew special gemstones from their mountains as valuable items.

Now, as a prominent power in the Core government, the Saleluki use Galactic Credits for their currency, with the paper bills becoming next to useless. The precious gemstones are still mined and used, however, and are often collected for their value.

## Government

A constitutional monarchy, the Saleluki government is an alliance between the Shik'ma, Alon, and Vorei countries unified under one sovereign power. The leader of the Saleluki, known as the Rin, holds little real power and is bound by the Sunset Consitution. The Ministry of Defense, alongside the Saleluki Senate, are the true ruling power of Saleo and its' colonies.

## Military

The Ministry of Defense is the umbrella term for the Saleluki military, composed of their small Navy (known as the Interstellar Operations Task Force) and their Army (Elite Atmospheric Operations Unit). A special wing of the Ministry of Defense, the Sarai, serve as the Special Forces arm of the Saleluki, undertaking sensitive missions such as political assassination, espionage, sabotage, and securing intelligence. They are looked to as the most elite secretive operations unit in Aeos, with their reputation for covertness and lethality being known even in the Reach.

## Notable Saleluki

* Qisa Tryse
* Q'rey Raxos