Yatathi

The **Yatathi** are a race of echinoderms from the planet Yatata Minor. The Yatathi possess bumpy, red skin and hundreds of arms on the undersides of their legs. The Yatathi are extremely intelligent, and often serve as the translators for the Bokkisca, the other race that inhabit Yatata Minor.

## Biology and appearance

The Yatathi are a race of echinoderms from the planet Yatata Minor. Their whole body is radially symmetrical with a central head with four, large legs. Because they are radial, Yatathi can move and interact in any direction. Yatathi have regenerative abilities and can even regrow limbs that are cut off. Yatathi are typically 1.95 meters tall and weigh around 82 kilograms.

The central head comes up from the intersection of the four legs. It is tall with a rounded top. A total of eight sensory organs are on the head. Four round, black colored, evenly spaced eyes and four nubs on the top that serve as a means of hearing.

The four legs are wide and support the head. The lower portion of the Yatathi has a central mouth underneath the head. On each of the legs, there is hundreds of smaller tentacle-like arms that allow the legs to grasp objects and pass food to the mouth. The entirety of the outer and upper skin of the Yatathi has a bumpy, rough texture and can come in various shades of red.

Like many species in the galaxy, the Yatathi have two main genders that are assigned at birth, males and females. The main difference is that male Yatathi are noticeably smaller in size than the females. Yatathi reproduce in a manner similar to that of their compatriots, the Bokkisca. Yatathi reproduce by spreading their larvae throughout bodies of water. These larvae dig into the sand and nestle down for an extended period of time in which they grow into their mature form. This process only takes around seven years, with the adult Yatathi living up to 150 years afterwards.

## Society and culture

Despite their simple appearance, the Yatathi actually have an intellectual nature, being one of the smartest races in the galaxy. Yatathi enjoy thinking puzzles, making random questions their go-to for socializing. Beyond their regenerative abilities, Yatathi have no real defense, making them enlist the Bokkisca as bodyguards.

The Yatathi's intelligence allowed them to develop advanced technologies like space travel, separate from the rest of the galaxy. Their cities are large and round, built around a central hub. Yatathi cities lack any tall buildings or defenses, relying upon Bokkisca as the means of defense instead.

Yatathi are capable of speaking many languages, their main language being Yatathan, a low, bubbling language, created as a way for communication between the Yatathi and Bokkisca. Currently, many Yatathi act as a translator for their fellow Bokkisca, beings some of the only beings who can understand them.

## History

The Yatathi first evolved from a water-dwelling species on the planet Yatata Minor. The Yatathi began the development of their early tribes, when these tribes encountered the also native Bokkisca around 100,000 YBO. Initially thinking they were non-sentient, the Yatathi ignored them until one Bokkisca purposely interacted with tribe. It was from then on the two races established their relationship, with the Bokkisca protecting the tribes in exchange for food and shelter from the Yatathi.

The Yatathi first established contact with the OGC at 1,748 YAO during the Western Expansions, during which the Bokkisca were also brought along. Despite their reservations with the religious government, Yatata Minor became a member of the OGC.

The Yatathi remain part of the OGC to this day, with a Rector in the government that represents them and the Bokkisca. Despite their involvement with politics, most Yatathi remain on Yatata Minor, making the species mostly unknown to the greater galaxy, despite two Parsons have previously been Yatathi.

## Yatathi in the galaxy

Despite their involvement with politics, most Yatathi remain on Yatata Minor, making the species mostly unknown to the greater galaxy and rare as a whole. Because of their odd biological layout, most off-world Yatathi attract attention, which is needed because most of them are public figures. Many of the off-world Yatathi can be found alongside wandering Bokkisca, often serving as translators for them.

Off-world Yatathi find jobs in science and industry or work in the OGC government. As a result of their relationship with the Bokkisca, many Yatathi work as translators because of their reputation. Multiple groups of Yatathi researchers have traveled to Plaaniva to lead the forefront of scientific research.