Lecti

The **Lecti** are a race of aquatic scyphozoans native to the planet Lectis. The Lecti's body is 99% water, meaning they can't survive out of water. To deal with this, Lecti outside of water move and interact with aqua-suits. Before the creation of these suits, Lecti contact with the wider galaxy was limited to Lectis. Lecti lack any biological genders and reproduce through budding, gaining physical differences through their diet.

## Biology and appearance

The Lecti are a race of aquatic scyphozoans native to the planet Lectis. Their body possesses few organs and no bones, with the Lecti biology being composed of 99% water. This means Lecti are incapable of surviving out of water, quickly drying up and dying. Lecti are extremely small, swimming at only 0.5 meters in height and weighing a mere three ounces.

The Lecti's rounded head is typically large for the body. Their head has two eyes, and one large, dark brain equivalent organ inside that's used for thinking. The back of the head typically grows three polyps, though this can vary wildly. The Lecti's dark blue eyes are light-sensitive and weak.

The main body has a primitive central nervous system that visibly runs down from the head to the lower tentacles. The torso has two side fins that are used by the Lecti to maintain their swimming. The lower tentacles are wide and thin in shape and can emerge in numbers of five to twelve. The connective tissue between the body and lower tentacles is protected by a bell-shaped tubing. Lecti are all translucent, with blue colorings on the body and purple colorings on the fins.

Lecti reproduce by budding, with their young being a exact duplicate of their parent at first. As the young matures over the course of five years, they develop their own physical differences through their diet. After they reach maturity, Lecti live for around 40 more years. Their diet can change almost every part including the amount of eyes, number of tentacles, and fin shapes. The Lecti as a species lack any biological sex, with Lecti instead getting to choose their gender based upon their desires.

The Lecti's thin skin is naturally adhesive, providing a way to attract the abundant phyglo-plankton of their homeworld's oceans. As the phyglo-plankton subsist off the energy created by organic beings, the Lecti attract their own phyglo-plankton, giving them a means of bioluminescence. Lecti are capable or surviving in other types of waters and fluids, though they have a preference for the naturally glowing water of their homeworld.

## Society and culture

Lecti are a peaceful and serene species, known for their beauty in the water. Lecti enjoy gathering in blooms and performing elaborate dances while linking together. Since Lecti are naturally bioluminescent, though it isn't powerful indiviudally, the Lecti blooms are bright enough to light up their entire cities. Within Lecti culture, though their thin layer of phyglo-plankton was originally for survival, it has since evolved into elaborate means of self expression, with many Lecti customizing the texture, shape, and even color of their glow. This personal glow is only strengthened by a Lecti's proximity to others. Lecti who spend too much time by themselves often quickly become depressed and loose their glow.

Due to the Lecti's purely aquatic nature, being unable to survive on land, they build their society underwater. Lecti who venture out onto the land have to use aqua-suits, a mechanical apparatus solely created to function as a body for the Lecti on land. The suits come in all shapes and forms, with the higher class Lecti possessing elegant and rounded suits, while the lowest class Lecti use ragtag suits that are purely functional in nature. The suit's design allows it to recycle its water supply and make a mental connection with its user, allowing a Lecti to use the suit as a body indefinitely. Most aqua-suits use a sample of water from Lectis, thought the Lecti, and likewise the suits, can use most other kinds of fluids.

Lecti technology is simpler and more extravagantly designed than others and purely meant for use underwater. Most technology that Lecti have to use off-world is donated by other races. Lecti cities are often interlinked by glass tubules, allowing surface dwellers to traverse them. The most commonly used language of the Lecti is also known as Lecti, and is rarely used by other species.

## History

The Lecti first evolved on the planet Lectis, developing a symbiotic relationship with the phyglo-plankton of the ocean. The Lecti first began to develop their cities after the discovery of electricity from the Gwoni-gwoni plants on the ocean floor. This allowed the bright Lecti havens to first be constructed.

The Lecti were first discovered by the OGC around 1,000 YAO. Communication with the OGC was limited to Lectis at first. Eventually, the Lecti became allies with the nearby Axolians after Axolians selected by OGC Feasters helped with the Lecti's off-world communications. It wasn't until 1,163 YAO, when the first aqua-suits were created by the Phicar, finally allowing the Lecti to journey off-world.

To this day, Lectis and the Lecti remain close allies with the Axolians, representing them with their Rector. Lecti that are properly equipped with an aqua-suit play a major part in galactic politics, with even multiple Parsons being Lecti.

## Lecti in the galaxy

As an aqua-suit is required for leaving, the suits are in high demand on Lectis. Because of the relatively limited number of aqua-suits, Lecti are uncommon throughout the galaxy. Lecti are mostly found in the eastern portion of the OGC, being even rarer in the Unclaimed Regions. Lecti are prominent in politics due to their peaceful nature, often being placed center in negotiations.

Because of the extensive personalization options for the aqua-suits, off-world Lecti are literally well-suited for many jobs. Lecti commonly work for the OGC since the OGC offers free military aqua-suits for volunteers, meaning many Lecti become soldiers for the OGC Armed Forces. Lecti that work in the underground use aqua-suits with illegal modifications, often becoming ring fighters.