Sondrithans: Biology & Culture

## **Biological Origin:**

Understanding the greater fabric that composes the universe is always a daunting task, one that is just as insumountable as the sum of it’s parts. One of these particularly difficult parts to fully grasp and understand, is the origin of species, something the Commonwealth found out when they discovered alien life in their newfound galaxy home. In it, all sorts of nearly fantastical beings were discovered, many of which managed to challenge the foundations of scientific thought many times over, amongst these creatures, we find the ones being covered on this particular archive: The Sondrithan Species.

Much of what is known about the Sondrithans comes from the Collective Entente Public Archive and from there, we discover a fascinating theory about the origins of their species. In order to understand how it all came to be, we must go back thousands of years in the past, one in which the Sondrithans were nothing more than regular, primal and animalistic oceanic molluscoids like we would’ve seen in the old earth, before humans even thought of making an appearance. A state of affairs that was not meant to last for long, due to the fact that at some point, a large amount of these so called **Vulgaris** (name given to the original Sondrithans) were taken from their homeworld to, at the time, newly terraformed planet we know today as Nira Aztan. According to data, the planet have previously been a desert world, completely devoid of life and the perfect candidate to run a scientific experiment in which to observe how life could develop not only on a terraformed planet, but also an ammonia biome aswell.

In order to proceed with the experiment however, changes needed to be made to the Vulgaris if they were ever to survive in their new home, and so, before being dropped and observed, the *Precursors* made sure to effectively change up the biological chemical composition of the creatures, ensuring they would not die inmediately after interacting with the Ammonia but would also be able to benefit from it greatly. This scientific study, much like the rest started at the time by the precursors would be abandoned due to the necessities of the never ending war that was being fought across space and time itself; another project left unfinished and unattended but one that would reap some fascinating results.

The biological changes done to the Vulgaris proved to be a success and a critical factor on their survival. The molluscoids not only managed to survive but also made the ammonia a critical part of their evolutionary process much like oxygen had become one for species on earth. With their newfound critical element, all that was needed were several thousands of years for nature and evolution to do their part and thus, one of the most unique species on the Galaxy came to be.

## **Biology:**

Explaining current biology of the Sondrithans is not an easy task but once again, the archives have done much to help outsiders understand it and here’s what it’s known so far about them:

The first thing we notice about them (besides their unique appearance) is the fact they communicate using modulated voices the same way a droid would, and that stems from the fact that Sondrithans lack vocal cords with which to talk, instead they communicate with each other using brain waves that resemble telepathy but one that is in no way related to psionic power, meaning it’s a trait uniquely theirs and they’ve gone around the issue of speaking to other species by creating a sound box that translates their thoughts into a voiced sentence or command. A fascinating invention that demonstrates their ingenuity as a species.

Another thing that raises a fair bit of attention is their skeletal structure which’s exposed to the outside and covered by a few layers of hardened muscle-like cover that makes for a durable exoskeleton, one that complements their natural endurance and longevity, for Sondrithans are able to live for hundreds of years (up to 500 in some cases). This however does not mean, they’re a strong species, on the contrary, they’re lasting but they’re definately not among the strongest.

Their exoskeleton is not the only thing that’s exposed however, since due to the lack of natural dangers on their planet, many of the organs we know to be inside most creatures, happen to be on the outside for the Sondrithans, like for example, that which appears to be a head covered in hair but it’s in fact, their stomach and the hairs, are filaments used to feed themselves. The food they consume does not resemble that of most known species and the process of eating and digesting last for quite a while (depositions are handled internally).

If we were to look to their shoulders on each side, we would find another key element that usually stays within most creatures, their lungs. Theirs are also exposed but they work rather differently, since they use the ammonia biome to function, they only “breathe” the ammonia when it’s running low on their bodies and more is needed for basic functions to be done. Once enough ammonia is stored within, the shoulders pads shut down until the time for more comes much the same a camel stores water in a desert for whenever it might need it.

At least there’s one part of Sondrithan’s biology Commonwealth’s scientific community have been able to wrap their heads around with relatively ease and that’s how the Sondrithans reproduce. There’s not much not say on this part, for they reproduce much like fishes do. Females lay eggs that’re then impregnated by the males of the species. There’s however an interesting process worth mentioning, and that’s the fact that once the so called eggs are fertilized, they’re taken to a hospital-like facility in which they’re tended to until the creatures that spawn come of age and they’re returned to their parents.

## **Coming of Age and Culture:**

At one point in their history, some 200 odd years ago (around the time first earth survivors where coming into Ortus), five Sondrithan geologists that were a on a mineral hunt in the southeastern sector of the planet, in the area of the *Baihu* (a rich mineral area covered in thick jungles and plenty of swamps) made a momentous discovery hidden deep in a cave system. A research complex that spanned for hundreds of kilometers and one that appeared to be abandoned for thousands of years but looked still functional somehow. This discovery cause quite the stirr on the scientific community and the goverment aswell which enacted an emergency bill ordering the brightest minds and the army to head to that place, quarantine it and find out it’s purpose and who had been there. The discoveries made were astounding and almost reality defiant, for inside the complex they found essentially their entire reason to be.

There were many schools of thought that explained the origins of the Sondrithans, ranging from scientific, to theological to many more, but the moment the data caches from the lab were brought up and eventually revealed to the public, the aforementioned theories crumbled in no time, for there was no mistaking it, no way of arguing, no way of disproving what was inside. There were all kinds of details of how the Vulgaris had come to the planet, the point of the research, how they had managed to alter the biochemical composition of the creatures to survive on an ammonia biome; everything was there and soon the scientific community with this newfound information make short work of any other lingering theory, proving the information on the cache to be correct.

The impact the revelation had on Sondrithan society was hard felt, not necessarely in a violent way, but rather on an existential level, for finding out that they were the product of an abandoned experiment was a very hard pill to swallow. They had been taken away from their homeworld and placed in a literal alien enviroment, all against their will no less.

Many societies could’ve collapsed after such a find, but Sondrithans made of it something that would become very characteristic of them, they used this as the fuel that would drive their endless curiosity. They would strive to find other life on the galaxy and see if there were more races that had suffered the same fate as them. The time to uncover the stars had begun.

Eventually they would find life on the galaxy and much more, for they would eventually become a part of the **Galactic Entente**, an alliance of democratic minded species that had the sole goal of defending the peace and uphold the ideals of democracy that were under constant threat on a galaxy filled with fanatic purifiers and enslavers.

The Sondrithans benefited much from joining the Entente but so did the alliance, for they got access to improved methods of research that Sondrithans had come up with thanks to their findings in that research complex long ago and their natural curiosity aswell. Not only that, but Sondrithan cultural aspects became rather popular within Entente circles; of important note were theatrical plays and films, of all things, which many that had laid eyes upon them claimed that both spoke to them on an emotional level never before experienced. The explanation for this could be that both the film and theatrical industries are very popular within Sondrithan society, so much so, that they’ve become staples of quality and very venerated career paths that produce products used to introduce the Molluscoids on a favourable light with other species. Mostly using their natural charisma to upset their looks in a sense. It’s more of an achievement that most think when we remember the way they comunicate, so it speaks volumes on the quality of the aforementioned products.

It’s interesting to note that up until very recently, Sondrithans didn’t really know, or made use of music and only came to experience it once they met the Alir and these ones introduced them to humanity. The Commonwealth exchanged much with Sondrithans who eagerly adopted many human customs and practices, music being one of them, which soon found it's way into the film and theatrical industries.

Another thing that Sondrithans share with humans, is their love for democracy. For generations, these mulloscoids, being the peaceful creatures that they’re, have been united in a form of goverment that best represents their view of meritocracy and democratic ideals and in a sense, resembles a plethora of human democracies over the ages.

In order to participate in the political life, Sondrithans that wish to dedicate themselves to public service must take part in the **Pomarium**, something akin to the *Corsus Honorum* of the romans. Sondrithans take part in many jobs that’re part of a political ladder and each of them has an important assignment and if they excel at their jobs for the turns that last their assigments, they continue to climb up the ladder until only the most competent of the bunch are elegible to be selected by a committee of judges to be a part of the ruling council of five. The council is in charge of ruling the nation and is comprised as mentioned before of five members in order to honour the five Sondrithans that changed history and also because it’s a far more efficient way to keep tabs on mismanagement compared to the previously bloated council of 100.

The part of keeping tabs on the five is a very important one because that’s where the citizenry takes part in, for it falls up to them as their duty to the nation to keep a watchful eye for any mismanagement on the part of the council and if the public where to be displeased with the performance of one of the councelors, they would be within their right under law to see that councelor removed from office and be forever disgraced by never being allowed to stay near politics again.

There’s much more to say about Sondrithans and for that we encourage you to take a look at the Entente Public Archive. We hope you found this informative and for more be sure to check out the Commowealth's Information Bureau for more.