Valewi

The Valewi are a Near-Human species native to the planet Varshinek, located within the Free Trade Zone. Largely divided up into various tribes scattered around their homeworld, the Valewi have not advanced technologically past the bronze age, with most being even more primitive. They are, however, quite in tune with the natural environment and beasts of their homeworld, thanks to their species wide proclivity towards psionics. In the present day, the Valewi are embroiled in conflicts with the Exotic Species Corporation, and Vulkan Intragalactic.

## History

### Origins

Most of the Valewi's history is recorded orally, aside from a scant few runic inscriptions and carved drawings upon walls.

According to their oral traditions, the First Tribe of the Valewi were born from the dreams of Ashlah, the Great Mother Spirit. Ashlah planted the seeds of her dreams within Varshinek's fertile soil, and the members of the First Tribe sprang forth, fully formed and fully grown.

The First Tribe persisted for many years, though their lives were perilous, as the beasts of the earth hunted them, and they had no friends among them. It was not until Takkesh, a young boy whose gift for weaving dreams was stronger than those of his kin, forged the first Beastbond, and taught it to his tribe, that the Valewi began to truly thrive. Takkesh became known as Takkesh Beastmaster, and became chieftain of the First Tribe, and it is said that he ruled for a hundred years, and that every beast that flew or swam or crawled did him homage.

After Takkesh, the First Tribe grew large and strong. One time became many, and the Valewi used what Takkesh had taught them to spread across the earth.

ExoCorp researchers have speculated that the events that these tales are based on took place between 1,000 to 3,000 AF, based on archeological evidence.

## Society and Culture

The Valewi are a primitive people by the standards of the wider galaxy, lacking many of the hallmarks of "civilized" species, such as a unified planetary government or spaceflight technology. Most Valewi tribes possess stone age technology, and fight with weapons of stone, wood, and carved bone. Some tribes are nomadic, but most have established settlements, residing in structures constructed from animal hides or psionically woven from wood. Animal husbandry is common practice, and the Valewi also engage in a form of farming where they make use of psionic powers to grow food from plants. Metallurgy and stonework are arts that were widespread some centuries before, based on ancient temples and forged weaponry found throughout the planet, but Valewi society appears to have largely regressed, with knowledge of such technologies having been lost, with a few rare exceptions.

Socially speaking, most Valewi tribes are led by a tribal chieftain, several elders, and psionic shamans, though the precise structure varies from tribe to tribe. As a whole, the Valewi share responsibilities across gender roles. Both men and women are expected to hunt, gather, and fight in defense of the tribe. Women are believed to be naturally more spiritually sensitive than men, and tend to be shamans more frequently as a result.

Thanks to their species' innate psionic abilities and centuries of teachings, the Valewi are deeply in tune with the natural world, and revere the beasts they share the planet of Varshinek with.

### Tribes

* Arishni: The Arshni tribe primarily reside in the dense swamps and bogs found in the low valleys of the Karshidak Mountains, with one of their primary settlements being only a few hours march from the ancient structure of Tarentatek. The Arishni are greatly feared by neighboring tribes, for they are known to consult with dark and fearsome spirits, and practice a sinister blood magics. The Arishni are a matrilineal society, ruled by a Dreamspeaker matriarch known as the High Mother, while other Matron Mothers lead the families which comprise the Arishni.
* Balemi: The Balemi are one of the tribes that make their home upon the inland seas of Varshinek's eastern hemisphere. Fishers and swimmers of the sea, the Balemi are one of the friendliest tribes to outsiders. Due to their tendency for travelling island to island, sometimes driven there by storms, they have developed a strong sense of hospitality. The Balemi choose their leaders through a series of contests of skill, with contestants demonstrating their knowledge in useful crafts, combat, beast mastery, and navigation.
* Ikrolek: The Ikrolek tribe make their residences near the ancient stone structures of their ancestors. They are one of the few tribes to have retained the knowledge of metallurgy and stonework. Known to revere their ancestors, they place extreme emphasis on lineage and bloodline. They are a proud and honorable folk, and revere their tribal leader, the Ragnor, almost as a god.
* Sokrah: The Sokrah tribe are dwellers of the towering dark jungles of Sorash, located deep within the heart of the supercontinent Ja'aree. Inhabiting villages constructed high in the trees for safety against the dangerous beasts on the jungle floor, the Sokrah are a suspicious and reclusive people, though they would rather avoid conflict than fight. Led by a council comprised of the eldest members of the tribe (men and women alike), they have a powerful sense of filial piety and a rigid traditions, with marriages that are arranged by one's parents.
* Vortukar: The Vortukar are a vicious and brutal tribe, feared and mistrusted by most of their neighbors. They reside in the hostile jungles of Sorash, amidst the numerous deadly beasts which reside on its floor. Known for producing beastmasters and warriors of tremendous skill, they prize strength and cunning above all else, and frequently war with their neighbors for resources and to test their mettle. They are lead by a warrior known as the Red Hand, who has demonstrated their superior prowess by defeating all challengers in unarmed single combat. Males tend to occupy most of the higher positions within the Vortukar, but any woman who proves herself a sufficiently skilled fighter is allowed to rise without complaint.

### Religion

The Valewi believe in an animistic pantheon of spirits, each of whom is conflated with some aspect of the natural world, and linked with one of the great beasts of Varshinek. The list of major spirits the Valewi reveal is as follows:

* Ashlah, the Great Mother: Greatest and most revered of all the spirits is Ashlah, the Great Mother, who gave birth to the world and brought forth every beast upon it from her dreams. Ashlah is present in all things, for it is from her fertile soil that all things that grow spring forth, and that which grows is eaten by the grazers, and grazers are eaten in turn by hunters. All return to Mother Ashlah one day, their bones feeding the earth and bringing the cycle anew. Ashlah is viewed largely as a benevolent and protective entity, a patron of healing who the Valewi pray to for healthy children and to end sickness.
* Shangor, Father Thunder: One of the most mighty spirits, Shangor is a spirit of war, strength and virility. He is believed to wield control over the weather, and is responsible Varshinek's frequent rains, as well as wind, mists, and most infamously, lightning strikes. His chosen beasts are the mighty ulludrak, the Lightning Drakes who rule Varshinek's skies.
* Barakh, Wise Stone Brother: Barakh is a spirit represented by the nushkor, the huge, armored beasts whose passage alters the landscape of the jungles they walk. Barakh is a spirit of defense and protection, called upon both in battle and to protect homes. He is a defender of children, and it is said his anger makes the earth shake he has witnessed innocents suffer harm. Elsewise, he is a calm and benevolent spirit, much like his nushkor, and represents both patience and perseverance.
* Rauth-Nadha, Bright Sister: The spirit of the sun is Rauth-Nadha, the Bright Sister. She is a spirit which represents passion and beauty, full of life and energy. Rauth-Nadha is the mother of flames, and wields power over fire. She is also commonly called upon for courtship, as she embodies the passions and urges of love. Her chosen beasts are the rishgal, the magnificent feathered serpents who roam the jungles and spit fire.

## Biology

### Anatomy

The Valewi are anatomically extremely similar to humans, with a few notable differences. The first is their skin coloration, which mostly comes in various shades of green, which makes them better able to blend in with their jungle and swamp environments. They also stand notably shorter than most humans. The average adult male Valewi stands at 1.6-1.7 meters in height, while most female Valewi are 1.5-1.6 meters tall. In terms of build, most tend to be lean and athletic, due to a lifestyle that strongly involves running, climbing, and swimming.

Valewi also are noted for their abnormal eye colors, with most possessing irises that are gold or amber in colorations. On occasion, Valewi are born with that are a bright green or red. Valewi are able to control the muscles of their iris at will, enabling them to open or close their pupils. The large number of rods in their eyes grants them superior low light vision, though their capacity to distinguish color and details is slightly diminished compared to that of humans.

Valewi are also possessed of rather sharp senses of hearing, and are able to distinguish subtler sounds and hear into higher and lower frequencies than humans.

Other than these differences, Valewi are largely anatomically identical to humans, with the exception of a slightly larger appendix.

### Diet

Valewi are possessed of similar digestive abilities to humans, and are able to consume the same foodstuffs, though as a whole they tend to be able to process raw foods better.

### Development, Lifespan, and Reproduction

Genetic testing has indicated that Valewi are capable of producing viable offspring with humans, marking them as a Near-Human species. Their gestational period is marginally shorter than humans, about 8.5 standard months rather than a full 9. Elsewise, their rates of development are similar. Like humans, Valewi pregnancies typically produce a singular child.

Most Valewi rarely live beyond fifty or sixty standard years, though this is attributed by researchers largely to their lack of technological and social development.

## Psionics

The Valewi species is notable for its abnormally high psionic potential. Almost universally, most Valewi are rated as Epsilon level psions, as the species is prone to communing with and controlling the organisms native to Varshinek through psionic means. Delta level psions are extremely common in comparison to other species, with most acting as psionic shamans and spirit warriors. Several Gamma level Valewi psions have also been encountered by corporate forces on Varshinek, and there is speculation that some Betas may also be present on the world.