The Bendonites

## Overview

The Bendonites are a diverse and adaptable mammalian species native to the planet Bendon. They are a prominent race within the Mission known for their long, hard, sharp ears. They also have a significant presence in the Red Mission.

## Physical Characteristics

Bendonites are fairly typical mammalian sentients, but their most notable physical characteristic is their long, hard pointed ears, which can be used as improvised weapons during hand-to-hand combat. Their skin tones range from very dark brown, brown, and cream or peach colored, to practically paper white even without the trait of albinism, giving them a diverse appearance. Paper white Bendonites who don't have albinism still have colored irises and hair.

## Population and Distribution

The Bendonites are the most populous single species in the galactic scene and inhabit dozens of worlds, many of which are mixed-race worlds housing other Mission or Red Mission species. They were one of the first species uplifted by the Mission (they were assimilated in the year -1999C), which has led to their wide-spread adoption of the Mission's beliefs and values. Bendonites were among the key species which made up the Red prior to and during the Mission War, making them one of the founding species of that government. There is little contact between Mission Bendonites and Red Mission Bendonites.

## Religion and Spirituality

The Soran Order selected Servism, one of the hundreds of small religions that existed among the Bendonites, as their "true" religion. This choice was seen by some as a blatant attempt to ease the transition into the Mission and to keep **the Bendonites** under the Misson's thumb. However, the Soran Order did not fully anticipate the resistance they would face in getting others to give up their own religions to follow one that many Bendonites had never even heard of. Nowadays, many Bendonites give lip service to Servism for political convenience, but there are still a few lingering vestiges of some of the old religions. This has led to a wide-spread adoption of closet atheism/agnosticism and of course many Bendonites have converted to the popular faith, Created.

It is theorized that if the species were to be uplifted today, a religion other than Servism would likely be selected.

## Lifespan and Society

The Bendonites have an average lifespan of about 120 years, but some live much longer for reasons science cannot entirely explain. These "long-timers" are respected in Bendonite society for their longevity and experience. Mental flexibility and a high-degree of adaptability are considered strong traits of the Bendonites. In the many worlds which house Bendonites, Bendonites can be found living quite well in a vast array of ecosystems.

## Cultural Identity and Stereotypes

The Bendonites are a species without many strong species-specific attributes. They are not known for many particular strengths or weaknesses, making them adaptable and capable of fitting into a wide range of roles and situations. However, this adaptability has not always served them well, as many have struggled to find a unique identity within the Mission and to maintain their cultural heritage while embracing the Mission's values. Some critics of the Mission have pointed out that the Xian similarly seem to lack a strong cultural identity, but that the Sora have not fallen into this trap. Some view this as evidence of an underlying unfairness in the Mission and its problematic policy of interventionism.

There is something of a stereotype in the galactic scene that Bendonites have no culture of their own but instead appropriate interesting bits from other cultures and species. Most Bendonites, however, don't really mind their "buffet" approach to culture, and many actively enjoy having what they see as greater freedom from filling expected roles in this regard.

## Bendonites in the Red Mission

The Red Mission also includes Bendonites as one of their key species, along with Yannis and Sora. Some of the "old" Bendonite religions have enjoyed a resurgence in the Red Mission as almost all Red Mission Bendonites reject Servism. Created and agnosticism/atheism are also more popular among Red Mission Bendonites than Mission Bendonites.