Yar'Lothari

The Yar’Lothari are an insectoid-crustaceous sapient species, infamous for being scavengers and raiders. They are named after their home planet, Yar'Loth, of which they are the surviving remnants of after it was ravaged by nuclear war. After many centuries, the Yar'Lothari found their new home in the Sol System. Seeking to reclaim their glory, the Yar'Lothari decided to explore the newly-discovered star system and start a war against humanity in an attempt to become the dominant power. Yar'Lothari bands scavenge whatever technology and weapons they can find and rally under the banners of various warring groups such as houses, clans, gangs, and crime syndicates.

## Description

### Anatomy and Physiology

Yar'Lothari are muscular and very tall, usually standing between 2.25 and 2.62 meters (7.38 and 8.6 feet), though they often seem slightly shorter due to their usual hunched position. Their jaws are double-hinged, with a right and a left mandible. Mandible and jaw structure along with teeth shape and numbers result from different phenotypes; however, they do not indicate reproductive isolation. These mandibles have between six and twelve teeth each and some Yar'Lothari have an additional, larger fang on the tips of each mandible. Anywhere from eight to more than a dozen broader teeth may be mounted on the upper jaw structure. Adult Yar'Lothari mandibles can be found in varying shapes, sizes, and ranges of dexterity, and are as distinctive as a human fingerprint. Some Yar'Lothari also possess molars. Yar'Lothari smell with the use of two nostrils, each slightly below and between the front two eye sockets. Given their predatory nature, a Yar'Lothari's sense of smell is very developed. Despite the Yar'Lothari jaw structure, they are able to pronounce the letter "M" without difficulty, a fact that human scientists have been unable to explain. They do however have difficulty pronouncing "P." Additionally, the Yar'Lothari skull has a density sufficient enough to prevent a .40 caliber bullet from being able to exit the other side upon impact.

Their hands are tetradactyl, each having three fingers and an opposing thumb. Contrary to what their anatomy might suggest, Yar'Lothari could release a loud, sharp and piercing whistle by placing their thumbs on the same hand into their mouths and blowing through the narrow gap. Their legs are digitigrade, with short upper and lower legs, and elongated tarsals, using the distal and intermediate phalanges to support their weight when walking. This arrangement possibly allows them to run very quickly and jump large distances, compared to ordinary humans and other alien races. Their superior agility may also be attributed to their homeworld's higher gravity; the additional strength required to move normally in a high-gravity environment would likely cause them to be more powerful in lower gravity situations (though, curiously, their tall, large, and lean figure would be extremely disadvantageous and impractical on a high-gravity planet—an arrangement possibly allowed by other major factors in their biology and life cycles; alternatively, the impressive strength and agility may be the result of the capabilities of their standard-issue combat harnesses). They also appear to have a double set of pectoral muscles, which contributes to their incredible strength. On the other hand, their digitigrade stance makes it difficult for them to climb vertical constructs such as ladders.

Yar'Lothari have a binary circulatory system that pumps lime-colored blood. They breathe oxygen and their homeworld has a nitrogen-oxygen atmosphere comparable to Earth's, allowing them to breathe the same atmosphere as humans. Yar'Lothari cannot breathe molecular nitrogen. Yar'Lothari have a similar digestive system to that of humans. They are shown to have an esophagus and intestines and are also depicted to have an anus.

Most Yar'Lothari have skin covered with hair follicles, though usually appear hairless, and have tendrils that protrude from their heads as well as quills from their forearms. Yar'Lothari skin color can range from light brown to dark brown, light red to crimson, and orange. They have four forward-facing eyes with vertical slits and horizontal eyelids much like those of terrestrial reptiles, likely giving them high-resolution central vision and depth perception. Their eyes can have multiple colors ranging from red all the way to green and can be even gray. Most Yar'Lothari though possess yellow or orange eyes.

Yar'Lothari exhibit minor sexual dimorphism, with the females being slightly bigger than the males. Yar'Lothari males possess a subtle dog-like scent, while females have been described as smelling like "clean feathers". Yar'Lothari are oviparous, meaning that they lay eggs rather than giving live birth. They incubate their recently hatched young in tank-like pods. The species is remarkably long-lived; Yar'Lothari over 60 or 70 years of age have shown to be fully fit for combat duty, and Vor-Khai was considered young, at least in Yar'Lothari terms, at 64 years old. Circa 100,000 BCE Yar'Lothari life expectancy was 35 Earth years. This discrepancy was likely due to their primitive culture at that time having little, if any, functioning medicine, whereas Yar'Lothari of the 33rd century have medicine and medical technology surpassing humanity.

### Genetic Variety

Unique even among the diverse assortment of the other client species of the galaxy, the Yar'Lothari species has vast genetic variation within their race. The Yar'Lothari species is represented by at least three morphologically distinct subtypes. These include the mainstream Ur'Anrhyde of Anrhydyr, the notably reptilian Khotan'ara of Nara, and the more physically robust and more avian natives of Nies'ai. Many xenobiologists believe the morphological variation among the Yar'Lothari likely represents diverging evolutionary pressures in response to varied environments and ecosystems on prehistoric Yar'Loth and, subsequently, their various interplanetary colony worlds. However, all of the known variations of the species have the ability to effectively breed with all other subtypes of the Yar'Lothari species and exhibit no marked cognitive differences.

### Ur'Anrhyde

Yar'Lothari from Anrhydyr (known as **Ur'Anrhyde**) typically exhibit light brown, tan, or sallow skin tones, with green skin appearing less often; flexible quills on the head and forearms among males, with calloused plates among females, though some females may possess downy, hair-like plumes. Ur'Anrhyde have elongated heads with bulbous eyes and beak-like snouts. The most common head morphology involves a downward-sloping snout, though specimens with straight snouts are also common.

### Khotan'ara

Yar'Lohari hailing from the isolated, volcanic continent of Nara (**Khotan'ara, informally Khotan**) display the most "primitive" characteristics of all the known Yar'Lothari subtypes, being closest to the species' common ancestor. Khotan'ara have the same body structure as most of their kin, such as flexible quills on their head and forearms, but their heads are far more elongated, as well as sporting longer teeth and two noticeable mandibles. These Yar'Lothari also differ from the more commonly seen variety in having reddish or orangish plumes, yellow-tinted eyes, and more subdued sexual dimorphism, with both sexes possessing long head tendrils in addition to two cheek tendrils. They also differ from their relatives in their possession of two prominently long ears. Khotan'ara have served in the Aeon military as early as 3014 and constituted the majority of Yar'Lothari in the Aeon Empire.

### Isai'i

**Isai'i** originated from the Yar'Lothari colony asteroid of Neis'ai. They have darker skin and stockier, squared heads with small yellow eyes. They also have more beak-like mouths and bony facial coverings. Isai'i have true feathers on their heads and arms, unlike the Yar'Lothari's quills. Like the Khotan'ara, Isai'i have sharp talons on their hands and feet. While both subspecies are quite agile, Isai'i are capable of sprinting at great speeds and leaping long distances. Male Yar'Lothari from Neis'ai had much heavier upper body plumage than other Yar'Lothari. Females from Neis'ai had a ruff of feathers on their heads and necks instead of scales. The higher gravity and more dramatic atmospheric shifts of Neis'ai led to the development and evolution of these avian features.

## Culture

Although Yar'Lothari are naturally very intelligent, their culture's long dependence on a military-industrial schema has led to an emphasis on might over science. In some regards, the advent of the Aeon Empire made this position easier, allowing the Yar'Lothari to concentrate even more monomaniacally on military endeavors, while the New Product Development (NPD) company, Yar'Loth Tech, took care of science and technology. Despite this, their adeptness at using and creating technology is evident. In addition, despite their warrior culture being the most well-known, it has been noted that the Yar'Lothari actually have almost innumerable roles within their society, from political entities like Lords, Kings, and Queens, all the way to the more technical artisan-engineers and farmers.

Raised from childhood to be warriors, other societal roles were treated as secondary endeavors or even hobbies. Doctors were originally considered outright dishonorable as they "spill blood" outside the battlefield, though over the course of their time within the Aeon Empire, the Yar'Lothari became more tolerant of other societal roles outside of combat. Doctors exist within Yar'Lothari society, but other species are employed as medical personnel on the battlefield. Most injuries sustained by the Yar'Lothari can easily be treated by the medical technology employed by the species, otherwise they accept their fate. However, Yar'Lothari warriors hold disdain for using medical technology to treat themselves and some personally would rather suffer through their injury or die. There is evidence of this being overturned, however. Some Yar'Lothari warriors recognize that other species do not share the same views on medical treatment and were more than willing to lend them their medical technologies or even treat their wounded and sick themselves. Yar'Lothari are trained to be skilled in most ranged weapons, as well as hand-to-hand combat, and combat with melee weapons. A prominent example of this martial focus are the Sword-Bearers, whose sole combat focus is wielding plasma sabers. Sword-Bearers are not eligible for marriage; however, they may breed with any female they choose to ensure successful transmission of "swordsman" genes. Many Yar'Lothari children are trained in basic swordsmanship early on, both for personal development and for them to be capable of using a sword later in life if necessary. Within the military, a Sword-Bearer title is not necessary for wielding any sort of melee weaponry, but it is necessary to wield a plasma saber.

Military promotion among the Yar'Lothari is by merit. A Yar'Lothari soldier must succeed to advance among the ranks, with this success being measured in combat kills. A Yar'Lothari near the top of the military hierarchy may have personally slaughtered thousands of individuals to reach that status. This practice sometimes puts individuals of questionable strategic acumen in positions of command.

Historically the Yar'Lothari have considered most other species to be inferior to them, both culturally and in fighting skill; this thinking has caused Yar'Lothari to treat other species cruelly and in an arrogant manner. This eventually led to the 10-year feud between the Yar'Lothari and Ron'ai, as the latter's strength threatened the Yar'Lothari's superior military status. In the years following the end of the Aeon Empire, the Yar'Lothari entered a period of cultural renaissance however, triggering a rethinking towards their practices under the Imperium. This included views on secularism, gender roles, and technology, and there was also evidence to suggest that views on other species underwent a gradual ongoing alteration too. The longstanding feud between the Yar'Lothari and Ron'ai was well documented, but in 3818 Vor-Khai engaged in peace talks with a Ron'ai Chieftain known as Bhalus on Remaroid V. Bhalus accused Vor-Khai of engaging with the talks so that the Yar'Lothari could simply acquire Ron'ai resources, however Vor-Khai rebutted the notion with the idea that the Yar'Lothari cared for more than just that.

One great indicator of the Yar'Lothari's evolving attitudes towards other species was their interactions with humans in the decade following the end of the First Contact War. During and immediately after the conflict, many Yar'Lothari espoused the Aeon Empire's position towards humans as being a xenophobic and self-destructive people, and humans were subject to much of the same cultural arrogance from the Yar'Lothari than other species received; perhaps worse. Even by 3820, however, a growing number of human sympathizers existed among the Yar'Lothari youth, and by 3826, the social landscape within the White Lotus appeared drastically different with regards to humans. Specific examples include the training programs involving Guardians and Sword-Bearer troops in the VEGA Initiative, joint-operations between UCAF and White Lotus in the joint-occupation zone against pirate raiders, cooperative weapons and technology research and development as well as other cooperative endeavors between the two powers. The obvious practical nature of much of these endeavors strongly implies that the Yar'Lothari have come to view humans as a worthy investment, investor and ally, which is in stark contrast to their culture of 10 years past. Even in more remote locations on Yar'Lothari colonies the culture appeared to be undergoing remarkable change. Many Yar'Lothari had become tired of the war and were intrigued by the idea of a human staying with them, the White Lotus included. There were of course those who would try to harm humans if they could, but were incarcerated by the Yar'Lothari Justice System.

There were many who refused to change their ways, which led to the Yar'Lothari civil war. Progressive factions in Yar'Lothari society appeared to have won following the end of the civil war, as Yar'Lothari supremacist organizations were entirely wiped out by the White Lotus's Sword-Bearer forces.

### Sense of Honor

The Yar'Lothari display respect and admiration for honorable fighters, whether they are allies of the Yar'Lothari or not; it is not unusual for the Yar'Lothari to have such an admiration for their adversaries. Yar'Lothari respect and revere veterans and often follow their lead. Their history is rife with victorious combatants welcoming the defeated enemies' remaining forces into their own army, provided of course that they fought with honor.

Despite their intelligence, the Yar'Lothari often allow their obsession with honor to cloud their better judgement. The Yar'Lothari usually employ complex strategy only if it either improves success in battle, allows them to inflict more casualties on their enemies, or if it conforms to their code of honor. Otherwise, in both tactical and strategic combat, Yar'Lothari generally charge their enemies with reckless aggression, regardless of any damage they sustain. Only very seldom do they admit temporary defeat. While lower-ranked Yar'Lothari might make numerous tactical mistakes, especially the Conscripts, such as standing in the open rather than taking cover, more experienced Yar'Lothari tend to lure their enemies into traps and quickly dispatch them in close combat. Yar'Lothari often sustain heavy casualties in the fervor to kill, though they use their plasma shields to screen and protect themselves.

One of the clearest examples of how zealous the Yar'Lothari are for honor comes from when Vor-Khai engaged the UCAF during his time as Viceroy when he and two Special Operations Yar'Lothari attacked an unarmed 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines during the assault on the planet Ungora. When Vor-Khai saw the humans unable to defend themselves, he dropped his plasma repeater rifle and activated his camouflage so the Marines could gear up and have a chance to fight. This was the first time the humans documented the Yar'Lothari strive for honor, even if it endangered themselves or others.

Conversely, those who favor practicality over conflict fervor in combat exhibit keen tactical and strategic acumen. Special operators and stealth specialists use shrewd, pragmatic tactics and are willing to engage in subterfuge in lieu of open combat. Some even use camouflage in combat, though most would prefer to fight outright than to skulk in shadow. Some Yar'Lothari see honor as more of an aspiration than a way of life and are willing to engage in deception, if need be, particularly after seeing humans use such tactics to great effect.

The Yar'Lothari honor code is similar to a few throughout human histories, sharing concepts such as skill in combat (with an emphasis on swordsmanship), loyalty to master and family/clan, and views on death. Both systems promote death in battle as being the most honorable and proper way to die. If a warrior is critically injured, incapacitated, or captured, the only acceptable recourse is to commit ritualistic suicide, ensuring one's honor is kept intact. This is of such importance to Yar'Lothari warriors that even if they are incapable of killing themselves, they may request the assistance of their fellow Yar'Lothari in doing so. The Yar'Lothari consider being captured in combat to be dishonorable. To retain his honor, a valiant Yar'Lothari would typically commit suicide while in prison. Often when imprisoned Yar'Lothari are freed, those who have not killed themselves are executed anyway. However, escaping or staging an uprising is acceptable.

### Customs and Superstitions

Despite their martial nature, the Yar'Lothari have reservations to the spilling of one's own blood. This is an extension of the belief that the blood of a warrior is his essence, which is synonymous with his honor; thus, to spill one's blood is to lose one's honor. As a result, in Yar'Lothari culture, doctors were once seen by many as the lowest members of society because they "make their living slicing and causing another Yar'Lothari to bleed without honor." This means that the only 'honorable' way for a Yar'Lothari to be injured or bleed out is from combat with the enemy. This belief also made visiting a doctor very shameful for some Yar'Lothari, however the social perception of doctors had changed over time and are no longer seen as dishonorable nor shameful.

The Yar'Lothari seldom view personal weapons as anything more than tools of war, and rarely attach extra importance to a weapon simply because it once belonged to a great warrior. This was especially true during the Imperium's days, when weapons were mass-produced, and warriors did not carry customized weapons. However, certain historical weapons, such as Fleshrender, were so famous that they were said to possess a small part of the owner's heart and were given names as a result.

Many Yar'Lothari believe that a weapon is to be drawn only if it is to be used, because a drawn weapon "demands blood." However, it appears that the user's intention when it is being drawn matters more than the weapon actually being used. For example, a Yar'Lothari may draw his weapon when he is not sure if an incoming dropship contains friends or foes, only to deactivate or sheathe it upon seeing friends exit the dropship.

As a symbolic gesture of love for his people, a Yar'Lothari leader may choose to walk among his followers and help them in their duties, even doing what is normally considered females' work such as helping them care for eggs. This is also done to inspire the Yar'Lothari to work diligently so as to not be outdone by their superiors, as well as promote a strong sense of community within his people.

### Government

The Yar'Lothari often had no unified government; typically, they are splintered into numerous feudal, meritocratic states. A given state is governed by a single clan residence and assembly house known as a Convocation Hold, headed by a State Lord selected by the Council of Lords. There are usually a number of "servant holds" belonging to different clans under the leading hold's rule, though a state's lord will assume the lord's clan name as a title signifying their position, regardless of the name of their own family keep. Yar'Loth was once governed by the Council of City States during the early history of the Imperium. After the fall of the Imperium, the newly restored White Lotus were able to unite the clans of Yar'Loth as a planetary government, along with controlling many other Yar'Lothari colonies, after emerging victorious in the Yar'Lothari global civil war.

In Yar'Lothari culture, it is customary to settle disagreements with authority by a traditional Yar'Lothari duel or assassination, though one has to use personal weapons in order for the practice to be considered honorable. For example, if a council elder believes that his vote was ill-advised or had second thoughts, it is considered a tradition for council elders to initiate some form of attack, such as sending assassins, against the lords in order "...to test the true merit of the ruler's martial abilities." The belief was that "a lord who could not defend himself was not a true leader." Should the attack fail, the responsible elder will be executed immediately, and his family will be killed. However, punishment for this form of failure was usually flexible. As such, if the elder did something honorable, such as attack the lord himself, or attempted to make a final stand against the lord, then he would probably have managed to save his family from certain death, although they might still be banished.

### Family

Family history and lineage are greatly valued, with each family having their own unique "battle poem" and "saga wall" detailing the deeds and actions of its members during times of war.

Although Yar'Lothari society is classified as being patriarchal, and while most males serve as warriors, female Yar'Lothari hold considerable power in issues within their family holds, including political matters, civil duties and trade, while Yar'Lothari males are sent into service as warriors. The status quo of gender roles in Yar'Lothari society has lately been challenged however by the White Lotus. Yar'Lothari females have access to records of their own bloodlines and are able to choose their mates. The maintaining of a clan's familial records is typically the duty of the wife of the hold elder. The concept of divorce is completely foreign to Yar'Lothari.

Yar'Lothari warriors form very close-knitted relationships, referring to their comrades as "brothers" or "sisters" and remaining intensely loyal to them. This loyalty is shown in the custom of grieving after the death of a fallen comrade, a ritual which includes prayer for the dead warrior.

### Children

Newly hatched Yar'Lothari are called "hatchlings", and as they grow older, they are then referred to as "younglings". During the first decade of their lives, Yar'Lothari children have underdeveloped mandibles and have trouble eating food properly, requiring the aid of a parent. Yar'Lothari children are typically raised in the communal environment of their family hold to ensure that all start on an equal footing and progress in rank by merit of their abilities. They are not allowed to know the identity of their true fathers and are usually raised by a maternal uncle instead. This is a method of preventing status from being inherited in order to force children to make their own way in the world, so they actively work for and earn advancement, thus minimizing nepotism and promoting loyalty to the whole clan rather than their parents. However, as some children's fathers are swordsmen who have been granted the right to reproduce with any number of female Yar'Lothari they desire, the use of a maternal uncle as a father-like figure is used to allow children to be raised equally. Sometimes the individual acting as a Yar'Lothari's "uncle" is in fact the father, but this makes no difference to his role as the child will never know.

While traditional on Yar'Loth, the custom of Yar'Lothari children not knowing their fathers is not followed on all Yar'Lothari-occupied worlds, particularly ones with smaller populations and tighter-knit families such as Desolada. Desolada Yar'Lothari, who diverged from the mainline Yar'Lothari culture at the dawn of the Imperium, are allowed to know their fathers, presumably because they wanted to be sure who was descended from legendary figures and to possibly avoid inbreeding given their limited numbers.

Both male and female Yar'Lothari are taught to fight from a young age. Though typically only males go on to become warriors, it is believed that the females should be able to defend themselves in the event their hold is attacked. A popular pastime for Yar'Lothari children is to hunt small rat-like creatures that live on their homeworld. Young Yar'Lothari also learned and sang old narrative poems, the most famous and widely known being the legendary ballad of the demigod hero Kal-Aggath.

### Language

The Yar'Lothari language, which served as a *lingua franca* to the Covenant, is rather harsh and guttural to untrained ears. While much remains unknown about its overall structure and conventions, it is known that certain sounds are largely absent from the Yar'Lothari language due to their unique mouth structure; for example, Yar'Lothari have difficulty pronouncing human words containing the letter "v" or ending with "p", however, there are names in the Yar'Lothari language that use these letters.

Certain Yar'Lothari colloquial terms have been translated by human linguists; the majority of these are derogatory in nature. The Yar'Lothari often refer to humans using the word "trokk" which translates roughly to "worm" or "intestinal parasite." The origin of this term lies with the first encounters between Yar'Lothari soldiers and human military personnel. Upon first sighting human infantry on Earth, the Yar'Lothari mistook their body armor for an exoskeletal shell. After examining dead human soldiers, the Yar'Lothari discovered the relatively weak, fleshy creatures underneath the "shells" and came to the conclusion that they were some sort of internal parasite. Even long after this misconception faded, the term remained in use among the Yar'Lothari as an unflattering insult to their human enemies.

### Naming Conventions

The Yar'Lothari place great value in names and titles and consider names to be a privilege given only to those who are worthy. The Yar'Lothari generally regard humans as nameless, aside from generic labels, such as the "terran" name for their origins of Earth. They resent that the humans have assigned the label "Hunter" to them, along with many other, far more derogatory names, such as, Four-Eyed Bastards, Squid-head, and Split Lip.

A Yar'Lothari's first name is a given name that is attained at birth and persists throughout their life. After reaching adulthood, they are given a clan name drawn from their State of origin, which could be tied to a specific Hold or family. For example: Vor-Khai was from the Khai lineage. Some lineages, such as Khai, have control over their own states, although this is not always the case; it is typical for Yar'Lothari of other lineages to occupy smaller holds in a state named after another lineage. Servant hold lords within a given state typically adopt the name of the state instead of using their own family name. Titles, such as "Marr" and "Mal" appear to be related to specific ranks (Blademaster and Imperial Fleet Admiral, respectively). The suffix "-ai" denotes swordsmanship, which was derived from the Khai clan and used by the Sword-Bearers to honor them. Some Yar'Lothari have names tied to heroes, battles, and legends that harken back to early Yar'Lothari history. These more ancient family names often retain the idiosyncrasies of a more antiquated Yar'Lothari dialect.

The dash in front of the clan name is silent, as with Vor-Khai being pronounced as "Vor Khai".

*Another idea Below*

The Yar'Lothari naming conventions are taken from the German language. Vor-Khai's prefix, Vor, meaning "to bring something" in German. Other prefixes are Zer- , Um-, and Dar-, meaning "to dismantle", "to kill" and "to point something out" respectively. Yar'Lothari all have a name given by their clan, with a prefix being granted later in life based on their personal accomplishments, personality, skills, or lack there of.

## Homeworld and Colonies

Yar'Loth is the homeworld of the Yar'Lothari species with a population of 17 billion by the beginning of the First Contact War. Yar'Loth is the fourth planet in a triple star system of stars Ushu, Ria, and Noi. The planet has two moons called Cirila and Zaamsar.

As a space-faring species, the Yar'Lothari have colonized multiple planetary entities as they ventured space, first expanding the reach of their own civilization and later that of the Aeon Empire. There are several dozen worlds considered as major centers of their civilization. Like their homeworld, the colonies house a number of independent city-states as opposed to a unified government. Thelara was a significant nexus of Yar'Lothari military during the Aeon Imperium's reign, while Vatis is an example of a more remote Yar'Lothari colony.

## Technology

Even before contact with the Aeon Imperium, the Yar'Lothari had developed several types of starships and other technological advancements.

After ties deepened with Marr Vor-Khai and his White Lotus following the First Contat War, his Yar'Lothari Sword-Bearers began to reap the benefits of cheap and simple human automation aides, revelations of Starborn language and command codes that had been locked away by the Imperium, and entirely new modalities of thought and systems of investigation. Using Starborn knowledge reclaimed by humans, a Renaissance has begun among Yar'Lothari researchers eager to explore new avenues of knowledge, demolishing opaque rules and taboos that shackled their craft under the Imperium. It seems inevitable that the combination of ambitious Yar'Lothari researchers and insatiably curious human engineers would lead to wonders and terrors yet undreamed of.

One of the most advanced technological inventions the Yar'Lothari produced was small-scale cloning. Yar'Lothari scientists were capable of flawlessly mass-producing clones of the Rhoi'Kymyr, small symbiotic lifeforms native to the caves of Yar'Loth. The Yar'Lothari warriors would wear a colony of Rhoi'Kymyr on their body for the crystallization ability that they have, granted them an extremely durable, flexible, and breathable armor.

## Command Structure

### Cultural and political

Viceroy
The Viceroy was the highest position attainable by a Yar'Lothari in the old Infinite Empire hierarchy. As members of the Imperial Council, they shared governance with the Imperial Councilors and answered directly to the Emperor.
Commander
The title of Commander was originally granted to the warrior ruler of the Yar'Lothari clans and was considered a great privilege. Following the fall of the Empire, the Commander's role as leader of Yar'Loth has been restored by Vor-Khai, the incumbent Commander who killed the Aeon at the end of the First Contact War.
Honor Guard
As part of the Imperial Honor Guard of the old Infinite empire, the Honor Guardsmen were highly skilled warriors, hand-picked for the duty of protecting members of the Imperial Council and the Emperor. Although it was a great honor and they were expected to eliminate anyone who drew a weapon in the presence of a Councilman, the position was seen by some Yar'Lothari as merely a ceremonial duty too removed from battle. One of the most formidable groups in the Honor Guard is the Black Daggers.
### Military

#### Ranks within the Infinite Empire

In Yar'Lothari culture, it is customary to promote individuals based upon their skills, abilities, and the number of casualties they inflict upon their enemy. In the original Empire, a fresh Yar'Lothari recruit would start as a Proselyte (indicated by their light Rhoi'Kymyr armor). When a Yar'Lothari had acquired sufficient experience in the field, he would often be promoted as a Conscript (indicated by their blue-colored Rhoi'Kymyr armor), leading fellow Yar'Lothari and lower-ranked species alike as field officers. Should a Yar'Lothari choose to focus primarily on combat rather than leadership, he may eventually attain the rank of Baa'tar, a class composed of the most skilled Yar'Lothari infantry.

A further advancement in the ranks is the rank of a Warmaster (indicated by their red/crimson-colored Rhoi'Kymyr armor). They have been observed personally leading a single Theater of War, consisting of both warships and infantry on the battlefield. Warleaders lead anywhere between hundreds to thousands of soldiers, with the aid of a Battle Tactician.

One of the highest ranks attainable by a Yar'Lothari, a Warleader (indicated by their yellow-colored Rhoi'Kymyr armor) bestows the control of large, combined fleets and operate on powerful capital warships, such as an assault carrier or supercarrier. Rather than require groundside combat proficiency, they are requested to be tactically excellent and to hold a great influence over the vastly numerous troops within their command.

#### Titles

These military titles are retained for individuals who have garnered enough field experience and are not based on their military ranks.

The following are known titles:

* **Weapons Master**: Yar'Lothari engineers who maintain and improve equipment used by the Imperium.
* **Artillery Master**: Yar'Lothari who oversee artillery pieces.
* **Field Master**: Yar'Lothari who lead land-based armies.
* **Shipmaster**: Reserved for Yar'Lothari commanders of individual ships, though they sometimes command small task forces, as well.
* **Fleet Master**: Given to a high-ranking Yar'Lothari in command of a fleet.
* **Supreme Commander**: The Imperium's equivalent of the human "Commander-in-Chief". The most well-known Supreme Commander was Vor-Khai, who commanded three fleets during the First Contact War while serving as fleet master of his own fleet, the Penance Armada, which he took to the Star Fortress.
* **Imperial Admiral**: The commander of the Aeon Imperial Fleet.

### Groups

#### Archons

The Archons are a specialized group of Yar'Lothari tasked with the search and recovery of ancient artifacts. They are involved in deep-infiltration, high-risk operations, sometimes led by a Field Marshal. In addition to artifact retrieval, the Archons can also serve in other command roles.

#### Special Warfare Group

The Special Warfare Group is a military organization responsible for overseeing all special operations for the purposes of achieving the objectives for the previous Infinite Imperial body.

#### Fleet Security

A part of Empire's Fleet Security, the Rangers are a group of Yar'Lothari specializing in zero-gravity, exoatmospheric environment and extra-vehicular space combat. Their suits provide a great degree of mobility in such extreme environment.

The Fleet Security's cover units are the Stealth Yar'Lothari. Their role focuses on acquisition of intelligence and strategic countermeasures than direct combat. Like the Special Operations, they utilize active camouflage in their operation. The Phantoms is a subset that operates under the Stealth Yar'Lothari for the purposes of information gathering on enemy weapons and military data.

After the collapse of the old Aeon empire, the role of Rangers persists in Yar'Lothari supremacist groups.

##### Special Operations

The Special Operations are the Special Warfare Group's division for unconventional warfare. The Special Operations are tasked with suppressing enemy progression and disable enemy installations. The division is controlled by the Special Operations Commander.

Special Operations Yar'Lothari operate in small squads and boast superior weaponry and camouflage. They are often led by Special Operations Officers and supported by Special Operations Minders,

#### Commando Unit

The Commando Unit is a branch of the Special Warfare Group based upon pre-contact ground forces.

#### Prison Guard

Prison guards, as their name suggests, provide security for Yar'Lothari prisons.
#### Royal Guard

The Royal Guard were a subgroup of the Honor Guard employed in the service of Vor-Khai and the Council of Lords.

#### The Shadow Hand

The Shadow Hand were the most elite cadre of guardsmen in Imperial service. They remain active post-First Contact War.

#### The Sword-Bearers

The Sword-Bearers are the most skilled warriors the Yar'Lothari race has produced. They wield plasma sabers and are led by the Blademaster. The Sword-Bearers have a subgroup of sword-bearer operatives known as the Wardens. It is unknown what their role is in the Sword-Bearers.