Ladog

The **Ladog** are a race of quadrupedal amphibians from the planet Lad. Ladogs go through various developmental stages throughout their lifespan. Beginning as the bipedal **Ladtole**, the Ladtole then gains two hind legs along with two appendages on their tail. The stage between Ladog and Ladtole is called the **Tollup**. Though Ladog's are generally a closed-off race, they become more sociable in accordance to their homeworld's mating season.

## Biology and appearance

The Ladog are a race of quadrupedal amphibians from the planet Lad. Ladogs go through various developmental stages throughout their lifespan. The Ladog have a large head, a wide body with four stubby legs, and an upwards spiraling tail that possesses two arm-like appendages. Along the back, there is a series of rounded bone plates. Though the tail is the same size as the Ladog's body, it curves upwards and spirals around multiple time, make it seem shorter. With the tail, Ladogs are 1.4 meters tall on average and 1.6 meters long. Ladogs typically weigh 55 kilograms.

The head of the Ladog is large for the body, and makes up the entire front torso. Ladogs have a large, rounded snout with two small nostrils and no teeth. The tongue can stretch out two meters, allowing Ladogs to rapidly snatch food. The large eyes of the Ladog are yellow in color and have black uniquely shaped pupils, giving Ladogs the capability of seeing ultraviolet light.

The four feet of the Ladog are webbed with three toes. The hand-like appendages that emerge from the tail have the same capabilities as an arm with two fingers and a thumb. Ladogs come in various shades of green and have slimy skin that is elastic. The skin can stretch up to three times it's own size, allowing Ladogs to extends parts of themselves, particularly the throat for mating calls. There is also yellow spots along the stomach, and a yellow-colored skin strip that runs from the eyes. The skin strips contains the Ladog's hearing organs.

Like many sentient species, the Ladog have two genders that are assigned at birth, male and female. The sex of the young is determined by their temperature. There is minimal differences between the males and females, with the main difference being that the females have smaller pupils. Female Ladogs lay eggs in groups of up to 90 eggs. The parents don't partake in the raising of their young, allowing them to fend for themselves. The young transition through their multiple stages and reach maturity by the age of five. Adult Ladogs live for around 55 years.

Ladogs that are newly hatched are called Ladtoles. Ladtoles have a spherical body with an elongated tail and two legs. The Ladtole's mouth is merely two small filters, that filter out water. The tail is much shorter with two fins on the side and a spike at the end. The spike goes away altogether while the fins develop into the adult's arms. Though they only have two legs instead of four, the eyes and legs of the Ladtole are mostly the same. Over time as the Ladtole grows, they grow in size, gain two legs and arms, grow a pronounced snout, and greatly extend their tail. This in-between stage between Ladtole and Ladog is called the Tollup. Ladtoles begin developing into Tollups at the age of three and a half years.

## Society and culture

As a species, Ladogs have periodic mood swings in accordance to the changing of seasons on their homeworld, Lad. Typically, Ladogs have a more closed off nature, with a culture that disregards physical goods. Ladogs become more sociable as the mating season approaches, often engaging in song with any being they are attracted to. It is during this period when Ladogs accumulate physical goods as gifts for possible mates. This is shared even amongst Ladogs with a long-term partner, in which they give gifts and become more romantic.

Ladog adults often lay their eggs on separate planets, allowing young to develop completely separate from Ladog society. Ladog cities a semi-aquatic, much like their builders. The cities are built in the swamps of Lad and often feature canals running between the buildings with tunnels underwater. Because of their proximity to Lub, the Ladog have long been allies with the Lub, giving them access to advanced technologies.

Ladogs mainly speak Ladog, a language that includes the musical calls sung during mating season.

## History

The Ladog originally evolved from an amphibious species on the planet Lad. As they gained sentience, the annual mating season became engraved with their culture, with the semi-aquatic cities being built with this season in mind.

The Ladog gained access to the greater galaxy at 114 YBO, when they became allies with the Lub Republic. The Ladog, along with the Lub and the rest of their allies, became the first members of the Outer Galaxy Coalition when it was founded at 0 YAO.

The Ladog have remained part of the OGC since it's founding, with a Rector and several Parsons. Because of Lad's relative proximity to Osayr, the Ladog have manage to spread across the whole galaxy.

## Ladogs in the galaxy

The Ladog are a common, if individualistic, species in the galaxy. Ladogs can be found nearly anywhere and have several sanctuary planets set aside for Ladtole development. Because of their frequent closed off nature, Ladogs rarely openly engage in galactic events. Ladogs have gained a reputation as a "romantic"" species, especially during mating season.

Ladogs uncommonly work in physical jobs due to their odd biological layout. Most off-world Ladogs work in social work, being especially sought during their mating season for their sociability. Some of the most famous Ladogs operate as seasonal singers, performing concerts during mating season.