Esthorain Illuminate

## General Overview

The **Esthorain Illuminate** is an illusive, **non-humanoid species** which inhabits a small area of the **Lambda Quadrant** known as **"The Desolate Fold"**, a small area of space where there are no stars, planets or other materials. The Desolate Fold exists on the **"Outer Rim"** of the **Black Eye Galaxy** just north of **Kul'jana Clan** space.

First recorded activity of the Illuminate was documented about **1000 Years** prior to **2419**, where the Esthorain Illuminate waged a brutal war against the **Qox'cotel Protectorate**, with both sides containing equally powerful technology. This period was known as "**The Ascendancy War**" as the Esthorain were surprised about the rapid technological development of the once limited Qox'cotel, suggesting that they must have stolen their technology from another species yet unknown to them.

The Ascendancy War resulted in a stalemate between the two powers when the Qox'cotel induced a **New Weapon** which destroyed a region of space near what is now **Holy Halouvan Theocracy** space, resulting in the **Nebula** known as **"The Great Sail"**. The demonstration of this **Unknown Weapon** had devastating consequences for both empires, with the Esthorain Illuminate's council leader, **"Rhianos"** overthrown due to a coup and deposed and the Qox'cotel, horrified by what they had achieved through their technology to develop a list of **"Forbidden Sciences"**, in order to ensure that such an event would never happen again.

During this period, the **Esthorain Illuminate** retreated within their borders and closed themselves off from the rest of the Black Eye Galaxy, creating some kind of elaborate **Cloaking Field** which obscured their empire from the rest of the galaxy, while still allowing ships to pass through the Desolate Fold normally. There is currently no way to access Illuminate space unless they choose to reveal themselves and during this time, the Illuminate grew increasingly paranoid in concealing their existence to the rest of the galaxy.

## General Biology

The Esthorain Illuminate are non-humanoid that use advanced technology to pilot **"mechanical shells"**, which they use to influence their environment. The true Esthorian appearance has never been seen but it has been speculated that the Esthorain exist as single-cellular beings similar to that of the **Gloreen Commune** but are considerably smaller, resembling that of a **Brain Cell**.

Esthorain are believed to control their mechanical shells through neuro-electrical impulses similar to a **Human Nervous System**, giving the Esthorain similar control of their mechanical shells equivalent to that of a normal human. These mechanical shells are completely customisable to the users preferences or customs allowing each Esthorain to express their individuality and uniqueness and as a result, no two suits will look the same, containing an array of different functions.

Esthorain are believed to reproduce asexually, in a similar fashion to the Gloreen but rather though cellular construction in specialised **"Birthing Pools"** native to their homeworld, several Esthorain are needed to complete this process with each entity contributing a small part of their own cellular material in the medium of the Birthing Pool and then transmitting electrical impulses into the new Esthorain to imbue it with life.

Infant Esthorain are immediately given their mechanical shell as they are almost completely helpless without one, only able to discharge electrical energy to indicate their desires. It can take an infant Esthorain up to four or five months to become completely proficient in the operation of their mechanical shell, after which they are sent to many different educational facilities on their home planet of **Esen**, based on their specific interests or abilities. Since the Esthorain reproduce in this manner, they consider the notion of **"Family"** to be strange and unnatural, with infant Esthorain cared for by the entire community.

## Government

The Esthorain government is a council of **15 Scientists**, usually considered to be the best in their fields. These scientists make all the decisions of government right down to individual **"Living Standards"** for all of the **290 Different Racial Groups** of Esthorain that are known to exist. Despite this overwhelming diversity in racial appearance in the Esthorain, the Esthorain government remains committed to promoting a single tolerance for the diversity inherent in their nation, despite a few incidents of bigotry in the past.

Esthorain technology development is strictly monitored by the **"Esthor Sciences Committee"**, who review and approve the ethical viability of every experiment before proceeding to support technological advanced. As a result, the Esthorain have become very committed to protecting their own species however this same set of ethical guidelines does not apply to captured members of other species who are brought back to their home planet discreetly for scientific testing.