Gremen

A common sight in the underbelly of urban areas, the **Gremen** are known as the galaxy’s top engineers. With their tall height, flexibility, natural accumulation to industrial environments, and long limbs, Gremens are well adapted for work in industry. Gremens are also employed in many other professions due to their ability of limited camouflage; Gremens ability to briefly change their skin to match the environment makes them adept at hiding and infiltration. However, this ability to camouflage makes the Gremen skin susceptible to over-absorption. As such, Gremens, though born with pure white skin, grow darker as they age from exposure to pollution. This process, called sutation, leads to a stark class difference in Gremen society; the darker skinned Gremen act as a mass employee base and the lower class of Geartop.

## Biology and appearance

Gremens are tall beings, typically standing between 6 to 8 feet in height, although variations exist among individuals. They have slender, yet strong, builds, with long limbs and a remarkable degree of flexibility. This physical structure allows them to navigate and work in tight spaces, making them excellent engineers and technicians.

Their skin is naturally pale white at birth, but it gradually darkens over time due to exposure to pollutants and environmental factors. The process of skin darkening is more pronounced in the suted Gremens, who comprise the lower class in Gremen society. As they age, their skin takes on shades of gray, ranging from a light ash color to a deep charcoal hue. In contrast, the unsuted Gremens, who occupy higher social positions, tend to retain lighter skin tones.

The Gremen's most notable physical feature is their ability to exhibit limited camouflage. Through a combination of pigmentation control and texture manipulation, Gremens can temporarily change the color and pattern of their skin to match their surroundings. This adaptive camouflage is an innate ability that serves them well in various situations, especially when they need to blend into industrial or urban environments or engage in covert activities.

Gremens have large, expressive eyes that often appear bright and alert. Their eyes are adapted to handle the diverse lighting conditions of industrial settings, allowing them to see clearly even in dimly lit areas. Their visual acuity and keen sense of observation contribute to their efficiency and precision in their work.

They possess dexterous hands with long fingers, which are well-suited for intricate tasks and manipulating tools and machinery. Gremens have a natural knack for understanding complex systems and mechanisms, and their nimble fingers enable them to work with precision and efficiency.

## Society and culture

The darker-skinned Gremens, known as suted, predominantly occupy the lower class of Geartop and other Gremen dominant population centers, serving as a mass employee base for various industries. They often work in demanding and physically strenuous jobs, which are necessary for the functioning of the urban areas. The suted Gremens face socioeconomic challenges and limited opportunities for upward mobility due to their lower social status. On the other hand, the lighter-skinned Gremens, referred to as unusted or pristen, typically have better access to education, career advancement, and higher social standing. They are often found in positions of authority, management, and specialized engineering roles. The pristen Gremens enjoy a higher standard of living and greater opportunities for personal and professional growth. They are typically able to retain their lighter appearance through the means of affording protective coverings when in industry polluted areas.

Despite these societal divisions, Gremens as a whole take great pride in their engineering prowess and industrial contributions. They value their technical skills and work ethic, and they are renowned throughout the galaxy as some of the finest engineers and problem solvers. Gremens are sought after for their expertise, and their presence in the underbelly of urban areas is a testament to their indispensable role in the development and maintenance of advanced technologies. Gremens are highly sought after for their engineering expertise that makes them indispensable in various sectors, including construction, manufacturing, and technology.

The Gremen's unique ability to camouflage, though shortly temporary, plays a similar role. Some Gremens may be employed in roles that involve infiltration, espionage, or covert operations. This can lead to a degree of mistrust or wariness from other species, especially those who are not familiar with Gremen society. However, when their skills are employed for legitimate purposes, such as security or intelligence work, Gremens may earn respect and recognition for their abilities.

The darker-skinned suted Gremens, who make up the lower class of Gremen society, often work in mass employee roles within the underbelly of urban areas. This can lead to a perception by other species that Gremens are predominantly found in lower-skilled or labor-intensive jobs. This perception, though not universally accurate, can influence the way Gremens are perceived and treated by individuals from other species. Many Gremen, especially suted, take offense at this stereotype. This, combined with the common Gremen pastime of drinking, leads to many violent encounters between the suted and other low-class workers after work.

While Gremen society is characterized by the class distinction between the suted and unsuted, there are ongoing discussions and efforts to bridge this divide and promote greater equality. Some progressive Gremen leaders and organizations advocate for social reforms, access to education and opportunities for the suted, and a more inclusive society that values the contributions of all Gremen individuals regardless of their skin color. Still, the difference between the two classes has only increased with unrest across Andromeda. Geartop especially, has been hard struck by interclass violence, with suted Gremens targeting pristen amenities.

The suted Gremen especially have a notorious reputation for drunkenness and roughhousing. Many workers, unable to pursue much pastimes in the over-structured society of Geartop, resort to drinking or illegal forms of recreation. Any efforts of organizing by the suted are promptly squashed. This and the near inability for suted laborers to take it out on the unsuted Gremens, lead to high levels of nativism among suted communities, mostly targeting other species. The high numbers of Masmanin immigrants on Geartop are especially prone to the violence, victim to riots and lynchings by angry Gremens.