Binarine

The **Binarine** are a race of sentient ichthyoids from the planet Binar IV. Originally a deep sea predator, the Binarine were first discovered by the Gephew around 2,700 YBO. The Binarine possess bioluminescence and are adapted for dark environments. They are extremely light-sensitive, and can easily burn to death in bright environments.

## Biology and appearance

The Binarine are a race of sentient ichthyoids from the planet Binar IV. Originally a fully-aquatic species the Gephew are hardly adapted for living on the land, needing water tanks and constant moisture to survive. Binarine possess a serpentine body and move by either dragging themselves with one of their eight stubby arms, or using technology to move. Binarine are typically 0.8 meters tall and have a body length that ranges from 3.6 to 4.1 meters. Binarine usually weigh around 142 kilograms.

The Binarine's head has a large muzzle. Near the front of the face are four nostrils. The eyes are located near the back and have horizontally slit pupils and large lids. The eyes can be green or yellow colored. The top of the Binarine's head has two limp antenna, that sense out the environment. Binarine are nearly blind, and rely on the antenna to see. The large mouth of the Binarine can unhinge and has 32 uniquely shaped double-edged jagged teeth.

The Binarine's eight shrimp-like limbs can function as hands or feet and only has two digits. A colored frill goes along the Binarine's back at three increments. The tail extends until it has a two-pronged end. Binarine skin is smooth and oily and usually black in coloration. The frill along the back and the pattern that runs the entire length of the stomach is purple in color. Colorations at the nose, the end of the tail, and along the frill are neon yellow in color. A major quality of the Binarine's coloration is their bioluminescence. The antenna, frill, and tail glow in the dark, and serve as means of attracting prey and mates.

Binarine hatch from clutches of eggs typically in numbers of 12 to 20. As they fully mature over a period of 20 years, the baby Binarine continue to grow in size, ceasing entirely once of age. Young Binarine are called "biners". There is minimal biological differences between males and females. Binarine rarely need to eat only eating about once every six months, averaging at around 200 times over the Binarine's 90 year lifespan.

Since they are evolved for living in aquatic trench environments, Binarine are extremely sensitive to light. Their skin is easily sunburnt, meaning that a Binarine in a bright environment will eventually burn to death. This means Binarine tend to stay in darker and cooler locations.

## Society and culture

Despite their at times distressing appearance, the Binarine are an outgoing species. Binarine like to spend their free time, which they have large amounts of due to their lack of needs, socializing with others and expressing themselves. Because of their light sensitivity, most Binarine have a fear of bright lights, and instinctively develop nocturnal habits to avoid sunlight. Despite their aversion to sunlight, Binarine custom has the dead and dying set afloat on the oceans surface on fragile rafts. The sunlight eventually burns and shrivels the body, which then sinks to the ocean floor after the raft comes apart.

Since the Binarine are relatively new, they have a simple society, with deep-sea towns that consists of a single building with multiple families inside. The Binarine's technology is directly based on that of the Gephew's, giving them access to space travel fairly early on. Binarine society is matriarchal, with a chosen female leading the groups of families that make up towns.

When Binarine have to occasionally feed themselves, they wander off by themselves to hunt for food. If a Binarine goes longer than six months without food, they become irritable. If a Binarine eats too much food in one period, they collapse from energy overload and can even lose their bioluminescence.

The Binarine have no main language of their own, instead they were taught the Gephew's native language, Gephese.

## History

The Binarine first evolved on the planet Binar IV. They developed from a species of deep-sea predators. These predators had a playful nature when not hunting, eventually developing into a sentient nature. Binarine families began to cluster together in towns by the time of their discovery.

The Binarine were first discovered by the Gephew around 2,700 YBO, leading to the Gephew to teaching this species with newly developed sentience about their culture and technology. The Binarine became, and have remained, allies with the Gephew, trading and sharing their technologies.

Since then, the Binarine have managed to spread across the galaxy. However, Binar IV has remained unaffiliated, refusing to join any of the governments. This adage isn't shared by the entire Binarine species, as multiple Binarine have entered politics, most notably three separate Parsons, including Orpsin Garsu, the Parson who head-started the Western Expansions

## Binarine in the galaxy

Because of their light-sensitivity, the Binarine remain a rare sight in the galaxy. They can be found on planets lacking an atmosphere , and out during night on more urban planets, but so far the bulk of the population remains on Binar IV. Binarine often use technology as a way to move around because of their trouble with navigating with their fragile arms.

Binarine that travel off-world are typically openly social with others, meaning they usually get more socially focused careers, and are popular in public gatherings. Despite their extrovertness, Binarine are commonly found alone.