Masmanin

The **Masmanin** grow up in the heated worlds of Rewson and Ginmalf, learning the traditions of the species along with their trade. Most Masmanins are content to stay on their birth worlds, as most planets do not offer hot enough environments to suit them. While not immune to flames, Masmanins are very resistant and agile, being able to snake their tubelike bodies through small cracks and holes. This makes Masmanins very popular in espionage in the criminal world, with large numbers of them working for the Circittan World Coalition, or as industrial labor, such as the large immigrant population on Geartop. However, Masmanins are still a comparatively rare sight outside of heated environments, only being able to venture to cooler areas briefly before their body systems slow and eventually kill them.

## Biology and appearance

Masmanins have tubelike, snake-like bodies that are long, slender, and flexible, allowing them to navigate through small cracks and holes with ease, like the volcanic tubes on their homeworld. Their bodies are covered in a heat-resistant outer layer, providing them with some protection against flames and extreme temperatures. They have evolved to thrive in hot environments, but they are not completely immune to fire or heat.

Masmanins are well-suited to the extreme heat of their homeworlds, and they require a high-temperature environment to survive. Most planets do not offer sufficiently hot conditions to sustain them, which is why many Masmanins prefer to remain on Rewson and Ginmalf. They find it challenging to exist outside of heated environments for extended periods, as their bodily systems slow down and eventually lead to their demise.

Masmanins often have lines of spines running down their back. As they grow older, male Masmanins grow additional tendrils and spines, resembling facial hair. Masmanin jaws are unhinged. Masmanin have four, dark eyes, designed to filter the glow of lava flows.

## Society and culture

Masmanin individuals learn the traditions and skills of their species from a young age, focusing on trades and practices that are relevant to their hot homeworlds. The most prominent being flow riding, in which the Masmanin rides and directs the supercooled metal slabs that accumulate naturally in the heated lava flows on Rewson. Masmanin then collect this metal and either fashion or sell it. On the largest pieces, resembling small islands, the Masmanin form mobile communities. Occasionally, one of these large isles in collected, carved, and transported to appropriate manufacturing facilities offworld (most commonly to shipyards) in a celebration called the Festival of Bhasman Dwi.

Masmanins have found a niche in the criminal underworld due to their natural abilities and adaptability. Their agility, heat resistance, and ability to move undetected through narrow spaces make them valuable assets for espionage and covert operations. Many Masmanins work for organizations like the Circittan World Coalition or the Trade Alien Assocation, lending their skills to activities such as theft, infiltration, and information gathering.

In addition to their involvement in criminal activities, Masmanins also contribute to industrial labor, particularly in high-temperature environments like factories or sweatshops. They have a significant immigrant population on planets like Vhose, where their heat resistance and physical capabilities make them ideal for tasks such as maintenance, repair, and operation of machinery in extreme heat conditions. In particular, during periods of immigration following the end of the Second Colonic War and the Race War conflicts, large numbers of Masmanins emigrated to Geartop. Continued migration to the planet has led to strained tensions and violence with the native Gremen species.