Xamon

## Description

The cold-blooded xeno-reptiles of Xama, the xamon are one of the most controversial and influential species in the galaxy. Their distinctly humanoid facial features and general reputation as perfidious and aggressive has garnered the nickname of “Reptoids” or “Troodon” by humans due to their resemblance to ancient folklore of shapeshifting lizardmen.

## Biology

Their typically green or brown skin is covered by large robust scales that are typically dark green or even black. As cold blooded in nature, they are unable to regulate their body heat and thus are drawn to warm, preferably dry areas such as their homeworld of Xama. Their vaguely humanoid visages are characterized by their bright yellow or orange eyes, which are deeply set within their skulls and protected by a thick brow of small spines that bear resemblance to typical mammalian eyebrows. Their noses are either broad with small nostrils or simply a pair of slits that lay flat on their faces, though the broad noses tend to be a dominant trait within their genetics. Though they are omnivorous, up to two sets of fangs can be seen protruding from underneath their stiff upper jaw, which itself is able to open much wider than it appears to be able to. Their faces are made up of several larger interlocking plates that form the forehead, cheeks, temples, chin, and the scalp. The scalp also tends to be more pronounced, which some xamon believe is a sign of increased intellect.

They tend to stand slightly taller than humans, however their general physique is strikingly similar, possessing two arms with five digits and two legs with five digits. If it weren’t for their long (several inches longer than their overall height) prehensile tails one might mistake them for a human when looked at from a distance. Xamon tend to use their tails for stabilization, a tertiary limb, or for combat, as the tail is remarkably muscled and capable of constriction, which xamon assassins use to great effect.

Their blood is bright luminescent orange and has extremely high levels of white blood cells, making the xamon remarkably resilient to bloodborne diseases, which is why xamon tend to naturally live slightly longer due to their robust immune systems in addition to their advanced medical technology. However, skin conditions tend to be more prevalent. As reptiles, xamon, especially in their early years, but shed their skin to grow, if a xamon in the middle of shedding is not in a dry climate, it is possible for stuck-shed to occur, which can lead to infection and even amputation due to lack of circulation in the digits and limbs in extreme cases. Xamon hatchlings, as such, are required to live the early years of their lives, when they undergo the most development, in incubation pods, which often serve as their personal rooms, which are highly temperature regulated to ensure that stuck shed does not occur.

## Culture

The national and most common language of the xamon is High Xamisch, an ancient tongue that originates from the Gavorchan Branch of the Heschenic Languages. The other languages from the Gavorchan branch include Low or Common Xamisch, Middle Xamisch, and Frischin. Heschenic languages originated from the continent of Hesche, the largest continent on Xama. In fact, the word Xamon literally translates from High Xamisch as “People.” The spread of Xamisch was due primarily to the expansion of the ancient Gavorchan Empire in 4080 BCE, which spread and homogenized much of Hesche and served as the basis for modern xamon culture and society.

The xamon originally developed in large tribal communities that in the present is thought to be extremely barbarous and warlike, though some of its elements have been maintained into the present. The most enduring symbol of xamon culture are their infamous Voskloch, or bird masks, which in ancient xamon mythology was said to be the face of a vicious demon that would kill sleeping soldiers in their sleep. The xamon weaponized this fear by adopting this visage, building it into their helmets and even ceremonial clothing as a way to strike fear into their enemies. This practice is still used today, though the mask is now made of more advanced materials and now has an integrated gas mask to provide protection against the myriad chemical weapons that the xamon employ in warfare. This extremely distinct helmet has become a symbol of xamon power as well as fear, with many of their soldiers being referred to as “Plague Troopers” by humans and later other species due to their resemblance to the Plague Doctors of the Black Plague from Medieval human history.

Despite the superstitious background behind the mask, the xamon do not have any native organized religions, as many of their ancient faiths have largely faded into folklore and legend. The most enduring element of their mythology that has remained in popular culture is Lady Verdana, a goddess who is said to be the creator of nature and the xamon people. Unsurprisingly, Verdana literally translates from Ancient Xamisch to “Soil Mother.” Lady Verdana’s influence is so deeply set within xamon culture that even their capital is named after her, despite being a largely patriarchal society for much of their existence. Due to their patriarchal social system, xamon families, which can get very large, are always presided over by the eldest male, who is believed to be the strongest and wisest of them. This custom descends from the practices of the Gavorchan culture, the dominant ethnic group of Xama, where tribes were run by a male village elder, who was the only one permitted to wed and have children, leading the other members of the tribe to refer to him as Father rather than chief, as they were said to all be descended from his genealogical tree. As such, much of xamon society has been run by hereditary leadership, as they are essentially still a modern feudal society. Because of this importance on bloodline and inheritance, homosexuality, especially amongst males, is highly frowned upon and in some duchy’s even illegal, as the presence of a homosexual family member puts the family bloodline at risk and is thus seen as dishonorable and even selfish. Devotion to one’s partner is also highly prized, because an infidelitous spouse who sires children from another xamon can dilute the blood and once again place the family in jeopardy. In fact, until the 3000s CE, adultery was punishable by up to 15 years in prison and severe fines to compensate the family for tainting their bloodline and reputation.

This focus on status is a high focal point of society. Xamon view selfish acts that advance one’s position and family as desirable, and believe that altruistic individuals are foolish and prone to poverty, thus charities that seek funds must offer something in return in order to secure any support. However, those that are unprivileged will not suffer for long, as the xamon government’s robust social safety net ensures that they are able to acquire employment to raise their own status.

## Government

Originally a practice of the ancient Gavorchan Empire, the xamon have remained a feudal people for much of their existence since the unification of the xamon people in 1673 CE after the Covenant of Kings united the kingdoms and empires all over Xama. The xamon feudal hierarchy is organized into several tiers. In charge of cities and towns, known as Unincorporated Fiefs, are lords (Juncheren) who are responsible for economic policy and conscription of its eligible males for military service. Above them are counts (Grossen Juncheren) who rule over counties, which tend to be the size of small states, the smallest county is the County of Korin, which only encompasses the Korin Forest and is home to only 4,000 inhabitants. Incorporated Duchies are semi-autonomous duchies ruled by dukes (Hertzen) who is allowed to make his own rules and laws without regulation from his superiors or the lords below him. Above him are Landgraves (Vullgraffen) who preside over entire Landgraviates, which often have populations in the tens of millions and serve as the first seat in the Imperial Diet (Reikschtal). Above them are barons (Arklochen) who serve as the governors of the entire continents or continent sized regions, as one of the highest ranking noble ranks they hold a considerable amount of power and also tend to be military leaders. In charge of planets are two different ranks depending on the planet’s status; planets regarded as fully colonized and inhabited chiefly by xamon colonists are Archduchies, which are fittingly ruled by archdukes (Grossen Hetzen) while planets inhabited by annexed races are Margaviates, ruled by margraves (Achsgraffen). Of course, above all noble ranks is the Imperial Emperor (Reiksjucheren) and the princes (Hoffen), who preside over the whole of the Xamon Empire and serve at the head of the Imperial Diet. As per hereditary tradition, the title of Emperor, and by extension of noble titles, are inherited by the oldest living male heir, in order to secure heirs, in the case that the noble has no sons of his own, his closest male relative will ascend to the position upon his death or abdication. Female nobles will attend to household duties and occasionally assist in governing roles, but their voice is much less pronounced than their male counterparts. In the case of the Emperor, the declared heir to the throne becomes known as the Imperial Prince (Reikshoffen) and begins education on his future duties as Emperor. Upon ascension to the throne, the Imperial Coronation is presided over by the Imperial Speaker who is in charge of maintaining order and discourse within the Imperial Diet and serves as regent in the Emperor’s stead if he is unable to attend an Imperial Diet meeting. Members of the noble caste, including the Emperor, will also augment their names with the honorific Vull meaning “of.” Whereas most xamon hold just a first and last name, Vull symbolizes that one is of noble rank, however many nobles will leave the word out when announcing themselves for convenience’s sake.

As a society overly concerned with wealth and power, the xamon have made themselves exceedingly rich through their various trading ventures throughout the galaxy, many of which are illicit and have caused a wide amount of distrust for the species throughout the galaxy. As expert manufacturers of ballistic and gauss weaponry, arms dealing and ship building are chief exports and one of the primary sources of wealth. Until recently, the xamon’s other most prosperous business was slavery, which they conducted through the Vondrak Empire, a criminal and noble family that would roam the galaxy in search of refugees, defenseless planets, and other species to enslave and export back to the Empire. When war wasn’t an option, the xamon would conduct dealings with other major slaving empires such as the balthikish, the spravac, gorgarians, and zuroks, who would capture slaves for them in exchange for weapons and credits. The Vondraks, in order to maintain their monopoly on the slave trade, married into nobility and essentially ruled much of the outer rim of the Xamon Empire, hence why the Vondraks were often known as the Empire within the Empire. After the Xamon Civil War expelled the Vondraks after abolition was on the rise, the xamon gradually began freeing their slaves and moved towards indentured servitude to maintain what they believed was a proud tradition of supremacy. Despite being known for their harsh racism towards the rest of the galaxy, non-xamon within the Empire who live as legal imperial citizens are not often subject to racially motivated discrimination save for cases of stereotyping, however, immigrants who wish to live on Xama must contend with discrimination until they are finally nationalized. However, that has not stopped the xamon from placing embargos on certain immigrant species; spravac, karis, zyyntoreans, and non-imperial humans are highly regulated and must go through several layers of bureaucracy and protocol before they are allowed to legally allowed to live in Xamon Space, however planets in the fringe are more forgiving due to their proximity to Xama.

Very little of xamon culture is influenced by aliens, as the xamon guard their culture so fiercely out of fear that it will make them lesser by adopting other cultures. The only alien culture that has cemented itself into enclaves of xamon society is Zyyntorism, which has garnered enough converts to warrant its own Diocese and even a theocratic political party; the Worker-Zyyntorist Alliance (WZA), which spearheaded the abolishment of slavery. Despite Zyyntorism’s popularity, it does not resemble pure Zyyntorism and has become its own denomination known as Xamo-Zyyntorism, which represents Valeez as a xamon god and more closely resembles the xenophobia and conservatism of 1st Script ideals. With the advent of the Xamo-Zyyntorist Church, the Emperor now holds a ceremonial title as the Archbishop of the church, and Zyyntorist Emperors will often replace the Imperial Speaker with a Zyyntorist Priest at their coronation ceremony.

Though the Grachtvardun Edicts of 7047 CE ensured the separation of church and state as well as freedom of speech, imperial propaganda is highly pervasive and ensures that political beliefs are largely homogenous, which is why so many xamon within the Empire are fiercely against democracy due to their deep-seated tradition of monarchism. The formation of the Empire in 7047 CE also necessitated the creation of a new Imperial Army, which has since then become one of the most powerful and feared militaries in the Milky Way Galaxy.