Axolian

Females-

* Brown
* Black

**Axolians** are a race of energetic semi-aquatic amphibians from the planet Axolo. The species sports a vestigial inheritance of sexual dimorphism. Males come in many colors and display flamboyant tendrils on their heads and tails. Females lack any vibrant colorations or tendrils. Notably, Axolians possess four arms, allowing an individual Axolian to easily multitask. Axolians are commonly polyamorous, and maintain their friendships for life.

## Biology and appearance

Axolians are a race of energetic semi-aquatic amphibians from the planet Axolo. As bombids, Axolians possess a bipedal humanoid stance, with two legs, a head, and four arms. The joints in the Axolian's limbs are cartilage-based, allowing a greater degree of flexibility than other races. The Axolian's tail extends from their lower torso and are typically half the length of their body. Axolians are small, usually around 1.1 meters in height and only weighing ten kilograms on average. Axolians possess both a set of gills and a set of lungs.

The Axolian's head is wide, with a wide mouth with forty-two small teeth. Axolians have two beady eyes that can be black or blue in color. Two nostrils slits extend from the eyes to the Axolians barely perceptible muzzle. All Axolians have tendrils that extend from their heads. Male Axolians can have up to eight tendrils of various sizes and purpose on their heads while the females typically have only three. Every Axolian has two tendrils that hang down from their cheekbones that allow the Axolian to hear. For males, the four tendrils on the sides are purely decorative, while the one or two on top excrete pheromones, a function shared with the female's single fin.

All four of the Axolian's arms have four fingered hands with large claws, specifically adapted for climbing rough, vertical surfaces. Their feet possess webbed toes allowing an Axolian to swim quickly underwater. The Axolian's skin is normally one shade of color, with patternings above the eyes and on the stomach that can vary wildly in shape and size. The coloration and tendril shapes of Axolians is varies highly as well, with hundreds of different colors and patterns.

Originally evolved for mating rituals, the Axolian's extensive vestigial visual dimorphism is extremely apparent. Male Axolians possess five extra head tendrils that can have extensive patterning and skin flaps. Males can come in a variety of tropical and vibrant colors ranging from pink to green to blue to yellow. Female Axolians never developed the vibrance of the males, only coming in brown or black colorations. The only tendrils the females possess are the ones that serve as sensory organs, which lack any sort of coloration or patterning. Females also have wider hips and smaller eggs developed for laying eggs.

Axolians hatch from egg clutches that the females hang to the roofs of caves, outcroppings, or any sort of secure location. Axolians live on average 65 years and mature at the age of 16. The temperature of the area an Axolian hatches in determines their coloration, with brighter colors in warmer areas.

## Society and culture

Axolians are an energetic species with a reputation for being "immature". This is only true when compared with other species ideas of maturity, in reality, adult Axolians possess a boundless curiosity and desire for companionship that is highly regarded in Axolian culture.

Axolians are polyamorous, with the ancient Axolian enacting a ritual that involved aggressive dancing and large-scale orgies. This behavior has changed in the modern times to a more accepted procedure of a popularity contest involving females choosing from a variety of male suitors based upon their flamboyance. Despite their romantic nature, Axolians are friendly, and stick close to their closest friends for life. This also applies to polyamorous Axolian groups, referred to simply as "kinnings" in their culture. These Axolian kinnings range from two to twelve individuals and often stick close together.

The Axolian's vertical cities are built on the sides of both above and below the water cliffs of Axolo, easily accessible for the Axolians with their four arms adapted for climbing. The Axolians only possessed mid-level technologies when they were first discovered by the OGC. Nevertheless, the Axolians adapted quickly.

The main language spoken by Axolians is Ghirrup, an evolution of the ancient Axolian's amphibian songs.

## History

The Axolians originally evolved on the planet Axolo from a species of underwater cave-dwelling amphibians. Upon gaining sentience, the Axolian tribes congregated to the seaside cliffs throughout Axolo, beginning to develop their culture.

At around 1,000 YAO, the OGC first discovered Axolo, making contact with the Axolians. OGC Feasters, finding the ancient Axolian's culture disturbing, proceeded to collect local Axolian communities for use in both OGC expansion and Bism Trials. The Axolians gained space travel and became members of the OGC in 1,161 YAO after their involvement with on-world communication with the Lecti. With adjustments to their culture caused by the Feasters, Axolians soon spread beyond their homeworld, quickly spreading across the OGC cosmos.

The Axolians still remain part of the OGC with Axolo becoming close allies with Lectis. Individual Axolians were involved with almost all major galactic events, but the Axolian species as a whole has a minimal presence in politics, mostly due to Axolians as a race not being taken seriously due to their less hardlined culture. The Axolian species lacks a Rector, being represented by the Lecti instead.

## Axolians in the galaxy

Though Axolians only possessed mid-level technologies when they were first discovered by the OGC, they adapted quickly, soon becoming a common race in the galaxy. Axolians can be easily found anywhere, even in the Unclaimed Regions due to the species' willingness to do just about anything. The Axolian species as a whole has a minimal presence in politics, mostly due to the carefree nature of their culture, making them largely infantized in the wider galactic community.

Despite the Axolian's reputation, Axolians can be found in a variety of jobs due to their set of four arms and high amount of energy. This means Axolians are capable of doing minimal tasks for hours on end with no decline in morale. Unfortunately, this also means many unscrupulous beings take advantage of fresh Axolians, often forcing them into semi-slavery with minimal wage jobs.

Though singular Axolians are common, it isn't hard to find groups of Axolian kinnings. These kinnings have an close bond with one another, which unfortunately makes them particularly susceptible to being taken advantage by other beings.