(0 unused cultural affinity points)
Warmongerers / Military Production: 8
Scientists / Research Income: 5
Theologians / Faith Income: 2

Race Name: Lorca

Name of Faction: A Lorca Ghaj (Eng: The Lorca Imperium)

Government Structure: The government structure favours achievement over anything else... And that achievement is either military or technological. Given their proud warrior culture it is perhaps inevitable that the military holds a considerable degree of power (indeed, all are trained from birth to fight so they can be called on if need be). At the top of the government is the high council, a body composed of three High Councillors. These councillors are elected by the council and then adopt a new ceremonial name.
Below them is the Council, composed of 200 councillors. These recieve a ceremonial suffix -Ax
Next come the lower councils and below them the Ministries. Both adopt the honourific suffix of -Oi

Race Biology: Lorca are muscular and tall, usually standing between 2.23 and 2.57 meters. Their jaws are quadruple-hinged, with an upper jaw and four lower mandibles arranged in two tiers. Mandible and upper jaw structure along with teeth shape and numbers result from different phenotypes, usually relative to ethnicity. They are still compatible with other members of the species, however. These mandibles have between eight and twelve teeth each and some Lorca, those whose descent is from the Lorca inhabitants of Sarudun, 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. This structure will likely make it harder for them to speak alien languages, and vice versa, as some of the pronunciation is through mandible positioning which most other species lack, and as the Lorca have mandibles they have no lips to position to make certain sounds. They are omnivores however they are more inclined towards eating meat and their body is more adapted towards carnivorous. Lorca smell with the use of two nostrils, each slightly in front of and below the eye socket. Given their predatory nature, their sense of smell is very developed.
Their hands are tetradactyl, each having two fingers in the middle and an opposable thumb on either side. Their legs are digitigrade, with short upper and lower legs, using the two phalanges in their legs to support their weight when walking. This arrangement allows them to run very quickly and jump large distances. Their agility may also be attributed to their homeworld's high gravity (Which is 1.6G); the additional strength required to move normally in a higher-gravity environment would cause them to be more powerful in lower gravity situations. They also have a double set of pectoral muscles, which contributes to their notable strength. As an aside, their digitigrade stance makes it difficult for them to climb ladders
Lorca have a circulatory system in which two hearts pump indigo-colored blood, as their blood has a high level of hemoglobin. This higher level of hemoglobin and secondary heart is used to offset their larger size. Through a rare birth defect, they are sometimes born with only a single heart and while they will survive with only a single heart, they have much less stamina than their two hearted brethren. They breathe oxygen and their homeworld has a nitrogen-oxygen atmosphere.
Lorca have gray scaley skin, though those descended from the inhabitants of the Arusa subcontinent are a gray-brown colour. They have forward-facing eyes with vertical slits and horizontal eyelids that are reptilian in nature, giving them high-resolution central vision and depth perception. Interestingly, they have 4 types of cone cells in the eyes, however in most only three of these function correctly, the nerve ending in the fourth cone does not transmit to the brain. However, those descended from the inhabitants of the Arusa sub-continent or the Tauri islands have a fully function fourth cone, allowing them to see ultra-violet light spectrums. The Lorca have approximately 130 million rod cells in their eyes. Their eyes are almost universally colored an yellow-orange.
Lorca exhibit minor sexual dimorphism, with the females being slightly smaller than the males and they are oviparous, laying eggs rather than giving live birth. The species is remarkably long-lived; Lorca over 70-80 years of age are usually fit for combat duty and their average life span is currently around 124 years. They also possess the ability to regrow lost limbs over a period of several months if properly fed

Cultural History: Although the Lorca had evolved to chase and hunt creatures comparable in size to dogs, their natural prey did not move in herds but were generally solitary. As such, while individuals could feed themselves, supporting tribes was near impossible. As such Lorca relied on pack tactics to bring down much larger prey in order to feed their tribes in the prehistoric era. This, coupled with the dangers that many of their new prey posed, led to them relying on each other heavily. Over time, these strong brotherhoods created codes of honour, which became high in value.
Over time they moved to a more technologically advanced society, but the ideals of honour were resistant to damage. For most Lorca, an existence without honour is worse than death.
Naturally, the way to gain honour in earl society was through combat, and lacking an understanding if the world religions began to form around what has since been named in the most common tongue of the Lorca as "A Kha o a Lor", or "The Path of the Warrior". It was believed that only those with honour would be admitted into paradise upon death, and that the honour of a family was also taken into account during the day of judgement. Naturally, the link was in time made between Family Honour and blood and as such honour became associated with blood. Since honour was carried in the blood, when one bleeds they are losing some of their honour. The spike of adrenaline during battle was said to be the feeling of honour rushing into the blood.
Even though they now know the biology behind it and that blood carries no DNA, the traditions behind it still remain and some even contend that having an operation in shameful as it makes you "bleed without honour"
When the eggs are layed, most are turned over and the raised by the "Shapers" of the area. The young may have little communication with their parents or even none at all. These "Warrior Crèches'" are divided into Lances, which are the equivalent of squads in the Ghaj. Upon reaching the coming of age, the Lances are transferred to the fields it is believed would suit them best. These Lances are kept together where possible, and usually regard each other as brothers. Youths who are part of a Warrior Crèche have the suffix of -oo. The shapers have suffixes relative to their field, there is no shaper suffix.
Members of the military have the suffix -oa. "Swordsmen" have the suffix -ei, which denotes nobility; All swordsmen are automatically made part of the nobility, however the title is not hereditary. Swordsmen are allowed to wield the Plasma Sword, a weapon that is valued highly. It is considered an honourable weapon for a Lorca to use as it requires them to get close to their opponent, and to meet your fate on the tip of a Plasma Sword is considered one of the "least dishonourable" ways to be killed in battle, as it cauterises the wound and as such prevents blood loss, thus minimising the loss of honour. The plasma sword works by containing super heated plasma within a magnetic field to form a "blade". It is devastating in combat, though it requires the user to be close to their target.
With the advent of technology and enlightenment, technological prowess has become a new avenue for gaining honour. It is considered that a scientist will share in any honour his ideas and technologies lead to the creation of.

Social Structure: As has been mentioned above, the government is made up of the High Council, the Council. The Lower Councils and the ministries. After them comes the rest of society. It is hard to tell where the military begins and ends, as every member of society is trained to be a warrior. All members of society also hold a military rank as such. The higher members of society hold higher ranks.
Marriage exists, but is discouraged until the two partners are older. Known as "Binding", the two agree to whatever vows they decide, however one is universal: To protect each others honour and body.
There are rites and rituals that individuals perform that constitute legal agreements. These are often legally binding (which automatically constitutes honour binding) though some are not legally enforced. These may change social placement depending on the agreement.
The nobility is a distinct class, made of the dominions rulers and Swordsmen. Nobility is not hereditary, however having a noble parent may increase ones chances of becoming a noble. Nobles are granted certain rights others are not, but more responsibilities are placed on them and failure can have disastrous consequence's for the offending noble

Reaction to Aliens: Generally, they will attempt to make contact with aliens. However, they will keep their weaponry ready... and will almost certainly challenge a representative to a fight at the slightest insult to their honour

Having never seen a starry sky, write a first hand account of your race's explorer's reaction to seeing the densely packed vastness near the galactic core upon passing through the gate:
“Get the group ready to move through the Eye” The fleet Master barked, as the ships moved slowly forwards towards the gate. It activated in a blast of light, but the fleet master kept his eyes on it through the view screens. “We ascend from darkness.”
The ships glided forwards towards the event horizon of the portal, passing through it in formation and being teleported across space to the nexus station some million light years away.
The specs of light that stuck to the black void were reminiscent of jewels strewn over black velvet, glitter taunting them with its beauty.
"By the blood of my father..." he whispered. A gate, the object was a portal. That confirmed the suspicions
And now here he was. Like the captains of old who had established great Empires, the Fleet Master stood staring at his new find assessing it.
The reports returned and these glistening lights turned out to be balls of fire, similar to the ball of fire in their own homes… And presumably with rocks orbiting them like the rocks at home as well…
Like the captains of old, he stood in awe of his own find and the riches it would bring. But someone must have built this, there must be aliens of some sort across these stars. So were those to be the Lorca’s colonial competition? So be it…

Robotics - 5
Cold Fusion -5
Quantum Computing -5
Particle Manipulation -5
Ballistics -5

Industrial robotics -10
AI -10
Impulse drive -10
Particle fields -10

Particle Beams -15
Magnetic Shielding -15

Left over points 5

Warmongerers / Military Production: 8
Scientists / Research Income: 6
Theologians / Faith Income: 1

Race Name: Vendarii
Name of Faction: Eight World's Empire
Government Structure: Feudal Empire
Race Biology:

Vendarii breath an oxygen atmosphere, though their tolerance for lower concentrations is much higher than that of a human's. They also have much fewer toxic gases. Interestingly, a Vendarii can drink and eat everything humans do, although they have a cultural preference towards water and wine when drinking. Their food is very much reminiscent of what we would consider Asian today. This is a species-wide phenomenon, implying a very early point of unification.
Cultural History: The Vendarii have always been warriors, almost fine-tuned to fighting. For their entire recorded history, they have been united under the banner of the Eight World's Empire (the name has changed, obviously). However, internal wars between houses are common, and ships usually display their house crest instead of the Imperial Banner. The internal wars became incredibly bloody after the invention of space travel, with orbital bombardment being called down on entire cities just to get at a few enemy leaders. However, over time, space battleships were built. Launched from the ground, they had paper-thin armor and usually only a single spinal weapon. Obviously, these early battles were short and devastating, with entire fleets shredding each other apart entirely in a matter of minutes. With the advent of space industry, battleships could be built bulkier than ever before. Suddenly, the homeworld of the Vendarii was peaceful. All the battles took place among the stars, with fleets engaging not over the ground below, but over the right to claim a new dwarf planet. Among all the fighting, private colony ships were launched towards the other planets of the system. Since the transport of a suitable amount of troops from one planet to another was simply impossible, these colonies were left alone by the military (although stray rounds could destroy an entire city).

These colonies grew quickly, with everyone realizing just how valuable the surface of another planet was. Completely untapped resources, with no risk of invasion. It seemed as though a new ship was being launched every day, sent to bring colonists to the other seven planets of the system. Then came a revolutionary invention: negative mass. Above the seventh planet, an ancient ruin was found by the Na'brel House, floating among the clouds of the gas giant. An expedition was sent, and they returned carrying a small, red cylinder that fell up. The scientists sent explained that the ancient ruin had a device to create such an object within it, and that the entire building floated using such objects. They carried with them a map of the gas giant, showing the locations of billions of other such buildings, which they had dubbed "Sukaiisutsho" (referencing ancient religious texts).

With the ability to defy gravity, launching ships became effortless, as did the construction of things such as an industrial space elevator. Space industry boomed, with hundreds of space elevators popping up on every colonized body. Every celestial body that the Vendarii could get to, they developed immediately. After centuries of development, it all halted. There was nothing left to colonize, no Sukaiisutsho not yet explored, and no reason to continue the period of relative peace. So, as it had to eventually, war broke out.

Little did the Vendarii know that this Interplanetary war would lead to permanent unity. Not because someone won, not because everyone lost, and not because they changed their ways. The peace would come because of the survival instinct of a single crew, a million miles away from the eighth planet of Montsono-Shuroh...

Social Structure: The Vendarii operate on a loose Feudal system where families can move up and down in status depending on their actions. Their society never had any civil rights issues, there is only one race, and the word "sexism" was never even invented. Interestingly, nobles are not guaranteed a high military rank, they have to climb the ranks just like anyone else. Due to this, the Emperor could be a mere captain under the command of an Admiral born into a family of planetary miners. However, strict social rules make it shameful for a noble to refuse military service, as it is seen as a responsibility. Not abiding by this rules has resulted in many a family being removed from the spot of emperor.

Reaction to Aliens: The Vendarii, despite their warrior culture, almost instinctively greet other species in a friendly manner. Depending on the individual, the ship may approach cautiously, or sit there without any defenses online.

Having never seen a starry sky, write a first hand account of your race's explorer's reaction to seeing the densely packed vastness near the galactic core upon passing through the gate:

[hider=Pretty much a continuation of the Cultural History]
Captain Sparugh called out to the bridge crew, her sword held in her right hand as the warship shook with every shot the enemy took.

"Pōta hādn, kanzii nensh!" (Hard to port, full burn!)

"Nai, pōta hādn!" (Yes, hard to port!)

The warship Ma-Shirhi's engines suddenly lit up with the orange fire of a chemical rocket as the ship banked hard towards a gigantic ring. Rounds flew between it and the destroyer Midvai, an Abnrei House ship sent to take out the Ma-Shirhi. Both vessels took damage, but the Ma-Shirhi was already in bad shape from previous engagements. However, the chemical rockets of the Ma-Shirhi let it escape the Midvai, which used the slower plasma thrusters. Within moments, it had reached the threshold of the odd rings. An energy field seemed to run between all sides of it, creating a pond of rippling transparent blue. The Ma-Shirhi plunged straight into that pond, creating yet more ripples as it disappeared from the system itself.

In another star system it suddenly appeared, teleported there instantaneously. The entire crew stared out the windows, seeing tiny dots of light all around them. The entire ship was silent, until Captain Sparugh spoke.

"Su... tā... " (Stars)

"Shinv ne nōsdes" (The legends are true)

Tech: Asteroid Mining, Orbital Ballistics, Ballistics, Quantum Computing, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Industrial Robotics, Orbital Platforms, Orbital Construction, Particle Manipulation.