Allendrith

The Endri-nâi (pronounced EN-dree-noi, singular Endrith) of Sothendra are an ancient civilization, long-lived and notoriously hard to kill. They are in general a peaceful species, preferring quiet lives and existing in harmony with others. They are renowned for poetry, art, and advancements in science. They are, however, also known for brutally destroying those unfortunate armies which have threatened them. Everyone has a point past which they shouldn't be pushed. Unfortunately, as the shorter-lived races pass from generation to generation, the memory of the Endri-nâi's ferocity when provoked fades; those coming into contact with them for the first time also often see them only as friendly, hospitable gentle giants and thus underestimate them.

The last time they were pushed too far was some hundred and fifty years ago, when another star empire declared war against them and attempted to invade their homeworld. The fourteen years of battle that followed were brutal and terrible, and the Endri-nâi prefer not to speak of them, for they were obliged to set aside their ways of peace and take up arms. They won, but at what cost?

 
The name Endri-nâi comes from the Kin-elleth language, the dominant language of Sothendra, and literally translates to "being-people," from -ndr-, "being/living", -nâi collective plural. The name of the planet, Sothendra, translates to "living-place," using the root -soth-, "place/realm." Other local names for the species/planet from minority languages are Alli/Lenoi (Yora), Krone/Drenila (Naugami), and Aru/Gôum (Kahai).


    
 
Endri-nâi began exploring and colonizing other worlds roughly four thousand years ago, as global political concerns made it desirable to look for off-world territory. The planet's governments eventually formed a coalition, after some thousand years of celestial colonization, but not all colonies – especially the far-flung ones – recognize the coalition government's authority. Currently, the Endri-nâi species has spread across three star systems, for a total of nine colonized planets and twenty-seven moons, asteroids, or other sub-planetary bodies.

Planets: Sothendra, Adarth, Alcamendra, Ranâin, Relpendra, Sûmbarth, Misâima, Ramalcan, Ilemarth

 
The major ethnolinguistic groups among the Endri-nâi are the Kin-elleth (57%), Yora (24%), Naugami (11%), and Kahai (5-6%). The remaining 2-3% are remaining smaller minority groups. Nearly all endri-nâi are fluent in the Kin-elleth language, which is the de facto language of commerce and communication within the Federation. The three major minority languages, however, are supported as official languages and often taught in schools.

 
Although globalization has led to a more homogeneous gene pool due to interbreeding between different nationalities and ethnic groups, distinct ethnic features still exist in the species. However, some generalizations can be made.

▘ Height: Adult endri-nâi are generally six to nine feet tall, with females generally being taller and males being broader.

▚ Skin: Endri-nâi have a mixture of smooth skin and scales. Generally, scales cover areas such as upper shoulders, shins, feet, tail, and the outside of the thighs, but some also have scales on their cheeks, on the backs of the hands, and/or running in a line down the spine. Scale thickness and prominence also varies by both gender (with females generally having less prominent scales) and ethnicity. Skin tones range from pale pink to tan to dark brown ¹ and even greyish or greenish ². Scales are normally a darker shade of the primary skin color.

▖ Hair color: Hair color varies by ethnicity, from a light silver-blond to black. Reddish hair is also common among some groups, as well as lavender or pinkish hair. Only one ethnic group is known to have pale bluish hair. An endrith's hair will not usually begin to turn grey until after age 1500.

▞ Eye color: Eye color can vary even within ethnic groups, though the most common colors are grey, brown, and green.

▖ Limbs: One of the notable features of endri-nâi is their number of limbs. All endri-nâi have two pairs of arms, one upper and one lower, as well as a pair of thinner arms arising from the shoulders which form membranous wings. The upper arms are typically stronger than the lower arms, being anchored to the powerful shoulder muscles. The lower arms, though marginally weaker than the upper arms, nonetheless have great range of motion due to their complex spheroid joints which allow full 360° rotation. Their hands (four of them) have four fingers and an opposable thumb each, the digits bearing retractable claws. Their feet are digitigrade, ending in four primary toes and one minor toe each, with non-retractable claws. All endri-nâi also have tails, which range in length in adults from two to six feet, and have a great degree of strength and flexibility. Many endri-nâi tails are at least partially prehensile, acting as yet another grasping limb.

▚ Sexual dimorphism: Apart from height differences (females generally being taller) and external genitalia, there are several general differences between males and females. Male endri-nâi generally have broader shoulders and narrower hips, shorter and thicker tails, and darker wing membranes. Males among many ethnic groups among the endri-nâi also grow facial hair and noticeable body hair. Females generally have softer facial features, less pronounced brows, fuller and darker-colored lips, wider hips and narrow waists. Female endri-nâi have four mammary glands, one over to each pectoral muscle, with the top pair being significantly larger than the lower pair. Male endri-nâi have no nipples. Baldness is unknown among the endri-nâi, though males tend to have higher hairlines than females.


▘ Flight: Nearly all endri-nâi are capable of at least limited flight on their wings, unless they are injured/infirm, elderly, or considerably overweight. However, most will only use them for gliding purposes, even though a majority are capable of sustained flight for several hundred miles and a limited ability to maintain stationary flight.

▞ Durability: One notable feature of the endri-nâi is their extreme durability (external sources have described them as "nigh impossible to kill"). They are supremely resistant to extremes of temperature and pressure, being able to hold their breath for extended periods to survive even unaided in space. They are immune to all but the most powerful of toxins or poisons, and due to efficient bone structure can withstand tremendous forces. The endri-nâi are also known to heal very rapidly, with minor wounds closing nearly instantly and more serious ones in a matter of minutes. If given proper nutrition and rest, an endrith can regrow whole limbs or organs in a matter of days or weeks. Their wing membranes, however, are known to retain scars and damage for longer than the rest of their body, when damage is severe enough or when the endrith is not able to rest sufficiently immediately after injury. Some endri-nâi have been known to bear scars or tears in their wing membranes for up to two centuries before they were completely healed.

▚ Physical strength: A typical adult endrith is capable of lifting at least a hundred times his or her body weight. Those employed in physical professions such as construction or mechanical work are typically much stronger.

▖ Senses: Endri-nâi senses of sight (both in high and low light), smell, and especially hearing are typically very acute when compared with other species. Acute sight, especially in low-light or nighttime conditions, is necessary for any species which flies, and the typical endrith has vision comparable to an Earth bird of prey. An endrith's long ears also seem to have a proprioceptory function, giving them excellent spatial awareness. The only sense which in an endrith may be less acute than a human would be taste, as endri-nâi have high natural resistance to toxins and poisons, rendering taste as a defense mechanism less necessary. It is unconfirmed whether reports of apparent extra-sensory perception or telepathy among the endri-nâi are accurate.

▘ Longevity: The endri-nâi are extremely long-lived by mortal standards, with the average life expectancy at 2000-2500 years.

▞ Reproduction: Endri-nâi reach sexual maturity between 27 and 36 years of age, though traditionally the age of adulthood is 40. The species reproduces sexually, with couples forming monogamous bonds, typically through extended courtships and subsequent marriage ceremonies. Twins and even triplets are slightly more common among the endri-nâi than among humans. Newborn ³ endri-nâi are smaller in comparison with adults than in humans, but grow more rapidly.

 
By nature and culture, endri-nâi are fond of peace and quiet. They are inquisitive, creative, and in general friendly to others. Most ethnic groups on Sothendra have a high regard for hospitality and respect. Given their long lifespans, most endri-nâi become very skilled and knowledgeable. Wars among the species are vanishingly rare, with the various groups having historically preferred to find peaceful solutions (often by moving further apart if differences appear irreconcilable) rather than conflict. However, in the few occasions where they have been provoked to war, endri-nâi have proven themselves deadly in combat. Invaders or aggressors of other species who refused to negotiate peace quickly learned how swiftly the people of Sothendra would crush them, both in space combat and in personal combat.

▞ Clothing: Endri-nâi clothing varies by planet and ethnic group, but in general they prefer loose clothing for the upper body, so that their many limbs are easily accommodated. Knee-length skirts are known to be worn by both sexes, depending on culture, though there is a general preference for short trousers or knee breeches. The memory-polymer textile known as kranimelth, which is light and breathable while also incredibly flexible and strong, has allowed for shirts and tunics which allow for an endrith's wings. Normally, the shirts have an open back with a clasp behind the neck to secure them. In recent times, the clasps have employed a self-adhering polymer known as sôlaben to allow for easy fastening. Short sleeves are normally preferred on shirts and tunics, and the shoulders of garments are often printed or embroidered with stylistic representations of endri-nâi scales.

It is customary for civilian professions involving high physical exertion (such as mechanics, construction workers, or landscapers) to wear bandages wrapped around their chests, as top clothing is often removed while working in the heat of the day. Endri-nâi as a rule do not wear shoes, as natural resilience and the ability to fly instead of walking leaves little need for foot protection. Jewelry is typically of wood, bone, or other organic materials (or metals such as iron or brass) although gemstones are occasionally worn.

▘ Food: Endri-nâi are omnivorous, eating both meat and plants with preferences varying by location and availability. The species' ability to digest nearly any organic material without becoming sick means there is generally little (apart from personal taste) which could not conceivably be eaten. However, by law and custom, sentient beings are not eaten.

Various forms of alcoholic beverages exist; however it is recommended that outsiders consume these with caution, as they were created by a species with a near immunity to toxins and thus an incredibly high tolerance for alcohol. Nonetheless, if a traveling endrith offers one a drink if klalth, usually carried in tear-open pouches, it is usually safe to consume (though still very potent to non endri-nâi).

▖ Hospitality: All endri-nâi cultures have very strong hospitality traditions, with obligations on a host to care for guests and for guests to treat their hosts with respect. It is not uncommon for an itinerant endrith to stay at the home of a stranger, though hostels and inns exist for those traveling in groups who may not be able to find one home with enough room to lodge them.

▚ Religion: Several religions exist among the Endri-nâi, given that many ethnocultural groups still exist. Nearly all endri-nâi believe in the existence of the supernatural to some extent. The scientific tradition accepts that not everything can be explained by science, and allows for the idea that there may be natural effects with supernatural causes. They are, however, familiar with the concept that sufficiently advanced technology can masquerade as the supernatural, so skepticism is not uncommon, especially when encountering other species with less-advanced technology.

Most religious traditions among the Endri-nâi speak of a singular Creator being, though dualism and polytheism (in the form of ancestor-worship) are not unknown. Religious observation has naturally been impacted by interstellar colonization, as any traditions tied to particular locations or calendar dates would have to be adjusted for those not living on Sothendra. Religious tolerance is also a norm among Endri-nâi society; no religions practice or encourage holy war or persecution of outsiders, in keeping with the general tendency of the species toward peace and conflict avoidance.

 
Given their long lifespans, Endri-nâi civilization has been able to achieve an extremely high level of technology, matching or surpassing their nearest neighbors in every way. They are masters of space travel, including warp tunneling and controlled wormhole transportation. Experiments in dematerialization-style transportation were halted over ethical questions of whether or not the same person was reconstructed at the end. However, they have managed to achieve pattern materialization, though its drawbacks keep it limited to food and some clothing/tool replication. Interspace communication is facilitated through their KnowCloud system, allowing for near-instant access to information through computer terminals. Medical technology is not as necessary for the Endri-nâi as for other species, as their general hardiness alleviates the need for much medical care, but they are highly capable in the field nonetheless, mostly for the treating of other species (e.g. veterinarians). Weapons technology has never been an area of high focus, as they so rarely engage in armed conflict; however, since they began contact with other species, they have made it a point to maintain at least parity in terms of weapons and defense capabilities, just as a preventative measure.

 
¹ Darker brown skin/scales are notable among the Naugami and Fel peoples.
² Green and grey skin/scales are common among the Kahai people.
³ While their children are generally delivered via live birth, endri-nâi can, like other species of Sothendra, lay eggs. Among the endri-nâi, this typically occurs when circumstances require flight or extended conflict.