Valati

The **Valati** are an intelligent race, native to The Sanctuary Moon of Valos, although are now found across all three of the habitable Osivan moons, owing to the forcible expulsion of 9 of the 18 Valati Nations by the Domolaki. They were first encountered by humans in 2262, when the crew of Nordica's Hagall IV made contact with the Nestara.

## Origins

The Valati (*Griseopellis Rutilans*) are native to The Sanctuary moon of Valos, but can now be found across much of Domolaki controlled space. The species is most closely related to the Mekifa, who are generally smaller, and lack bioluminescence.

## History

The Valati were in the early stages of their history when the Domolaki made contact with them. After a brief war, the occupiers rounded up each of the Valati nations, and exiled around half of the population from Valos, with them being relocated to either Auros or Tygros. As a result, much of pre-Domolaki history was lost. Although still within the lifetime of some of the eldest Valati, the war is a very taboo subject, especially in areas with the most Domolaki presence.

## Habitat and Population

Valos and Tygros are similar climatically to Earth, although Auros is significantly more arid.

There are approximately 2.1 Billion Valati, found across the three Sanctuary Moons. That being said, the Valati can be found across the Domolaki's Empire, as a result of slave trading.

## Biology

The Valati are **Humanoid**, and despite being from an entirely removed lineage, seemingly mammalian. Scientists have theorised that convergent evolution may have played a role in this, but are still baffled with the apparent similarity between Valati, and many of Earth's species. They are **Taller than humans**, by a margin of about a foot, owing to the lower gravity of Valos. As such, it is likely that they would be unable to live on an Earth-like exoplanet, Owing to a significantly stronger gravity making walking impossible, with their thin legs unable to hold the new weight. The most distinctive trait of the Valati is their **bioluminescent markings**, which a number of Valati civilisations dye in the colours of their nation. These markings emit light in **wavelengths between 720 and 300 nanometres**, at such an intensity that their glow is noticeable, even in daylight. They Naturally glow an off-white colour, with a purple tinge, owing to a lack of deep reds in their colour spectrum. It is theorised that the adaptation emerged due to the unpredictable Eclipse nights caused by Valos orbiting it's host planet, Osiva. The Valati have **two sexes**, that being male and female, alike that of Earth's, although they are not entirely analogous.

### Language

The Valati languages are spread randomly across Tygros and Auros, owing to their forced expulsion by the Domolaki. Only on Valos do the language groups follow any sort of pattern, which can be used to piece together the evolution of language across the species.

The Valati Languages fall into six major groups. The largest of these, the () group includes a number of languages native to the south of Valos, Including the Nestaran, Keilaran, and Meiaran languages on Valos, as well as the Kaltaran and Ruqaran languages on the other moons

Most loan words of Valati origin in Earth languages come from The Nestaran language, being the first nation to be contacted, and the first language to be somewhat translated. For instance, the names of four Osivan Moons, as well as the planet itself come from the Nestaran language, as does the word 'Valati'. A few more come from the related Keilaran languange, such as 'Dohmati', used in place of Domolaki in Unified Nordic. However, a few come from other language groups, especially those specific to the other moons.

### Science and Technology

The Valati have little native knowledge of science. They would not have known much prior to contact with the Domolaki, and much of their discoveries were lost to history, as the Domolaki destroyed many of the Valati writings. As such, they had little technological capacity until human contact. However, The Valati have since begun to adopt human technology, with the species beginning to develop scientifically.

### Governance

The Valati population are split primarily amongst 18 Nations, with each bearing their own unique marking colour. There are 9 on the largest Sanctuary Moon, Valos, taking up around half of their total. These include the Nestara, Keilara, and Vysara. As a rule, the weaker Valati nations are found on Valos. 4 of their Nations are found on Auros, the least habitable of the three Inhabited Sanctuary Moons. These Nations, including the Kaltara and Iskara, are the most warlike, being exiled to the harshest world to suppress them. The final five Valati nations are found on Tygros, including the Linara and Oclara. That being said, there are numerous smaller societies and peoples on Valos, which are not a part of any nation. very few of these were exiled by the Domolaki, though there are notable exceptions.

Most Nations are led by an **Ivak** (pronounced Eve-ak), who serves both a diplomatic and cultural role, akin to a monarch. The administrative responsibilities are less structured than that of Earth, with many different roles acting in this capacity. Their more Laissez-Faire attitude to government has been directly attributed to the collapse of their society when the Domolaki invaded. **A few of the nations have a more direct rule**, such as the Cthara, who are a tributary state of the Domolaki, and thus have a Domolaki Ruler, and the Kaltara, who have seen a number of reforms to better manage their more scarce resources, and so have an elected position for co-ordination and allocation of resources, in place of a traditional Ivak.

#### List of Nations

The above are ordered firstly by moon, and secondly by date of discovery by humans. On Tygros, the Ruqara may have been encountered by Humans before being officially distinguished, as their colour is invisible to humans and as such, indistinguishable from the Canarans at a distance.

## Relations

### Humans

Humanity, specifically those belonging to The Atlantic Confederation, are the main benefactor of the Valati in their war against the Domolaki. They kickstarted the industry of a number of Valati nations, and provided the first real chance at freedom for The Sanctuary Moons. As such, many of the Valati have good relations with Humanity, despite only having contact with one Earth power. However, nations aligned with the Domolaki are Fearful of the new faction in their vacinity.

### Domolaki

The Valati have poor relations with the Domolaki for the most part, owing to the destruction of their society by them. Only the **Cthara** and **Flintara** would consider themselves allies of the Domolaki. Cthara, in particular, has a cult-like following for their oppressors, being the only to adopt the Domolaki culture and religion, although admittedly, merging it with their own. The Flintara are the only to willingly help the Domolaki, and are universally disliked by the other Nations on Valos for this reason.