Creature:Draconis

The Draconis are a race of bipedal Dinosaurs originating from the planet Alcanti. They are the host species of the Draconis Empire. Notorious for their policy of 'Pax Draconica' and near-zealous belief that any other species is inferior to them.

= Biology =

Physiology
The average Draconis has a standing height of 6ft 8in, but can reach 7 1/2ft tall if they straighten their backs vertically. Their lifespan is considerably long compared to lifespans of Humans and other species with accounts of members living up to 380 or even 400 years, reaching maturity at 40 years of age and full size at 50 years of age. The body is covered in hard scales of cobalt blue but colours of navy blue, auburn and even crimson have been reported, if less common. The eye consists of ridged plates that encircle a reptillian eye. They also have a row of deep crimson scales on the head and thicker scales along the back and stomach. Contrary to belief, Dracoris are endothermic with 20% of food consumed used to heat the body.

A fully grown adult will measure 6'8" to the top of the head and measure 3'10" in width. From head to tail they measure in at 9ft long. A typical fully-grown adult will weigh on average about 170 kilograms and much of their bulk is centred around their core bodies and their muscular tail. The development of a large head - the skull cavity of which is 50% larger than in a human - resulted in large complex brain compared to modern Humans. Cognative ability is greatest between 45-200 years of age, with noticable decreases in brain function when an idividual reaches 310 years of age.

Draconis can constantly replace teeth and without the interference of gum disease or any other form of tooth loss it is possible to measure the rough age by counting how many teeth have been lost over their lifetime. This includes taking into account that the rate of tooth loss - which varies between individuals - with a healthy adult losing on average one tooth every 4-7 months. Evolution has given them a venom gland at the roof of the mouth allowing them to spit a poision at their chosen target. It is possibe for them to go for 1.5 months without eating as a result of an advanced digestive system.

A distinguishing feature that is hard not to noice are the bat-like wings that protrude from their backs. The span of each wing varies between 5-8ft but allows for rudimentry flight. Their hands - each 'finger' taking the form of a horn-like claw - may be limiting at first glance but many Draconis technologies take advantage of the peculiar structure. the structure itself consists of two claws on the outside and one claw directly opposite which could be interpereted as a thumb.

Non-sapient members of the species make croacking/gargling noises which resemble something similar to a lion's roar, through speech the Draconis voice is typically low and gutteral and are known to make the previously mentioned tones within their speech when agitated or angered.

Psychology
The typical Draconis displays an IQ of around 135 which indicates high degrees of intelligence and problem-solving ability.

The Draconis are highly cunning as a result of predatory evolution and are comfortable in large social groups. Their long lifespan means they are often slow to come to a decision but will also more slowly calm down when frustrated or angry. Children are generally considered curious and signal curiosity with either pointing or a direct question before loking at the parent or minder, once reaching maturity they become far more open to socialising with the opposite gender even if the approached party is of a different house.

They are rather xenophobic when around non-sapient Draconis along with tendencies to view outsiders of their house -although they consider other houses to be inferior to a lesser degree than non-Draconis. This level of alienation does not however prevent them from working together and such tendencies only linger when around other members of the species.

= Evolutionary History = (Note: the timeline is in terrestrial years, this refers to the number of local years. One year on the planet Alcanti lasts 420 days.)

Precambrian Era (4,195-915mya)
The earliest ancestor was the Ovish, a pink cell that consisted of three bulges at the front, middle and rear of its body. it lived by consuming other cells through engulfing. after 2.1bln years the descendent, which had two sets of fins and sported poision glands, diverges. Ovish's descendents are a popular source of food even in the present day.

915mya a descendant moves onto land, the poision gland is a trait that defines descendents millions of years later.

Palaozoic Era (915-620mya)
The earliest terrestrial ancestor was the Kegonifid, a distinguishing trait of this creature was that a venom gland had developed under the roof of the mouth allowing the creaure to spit venom at it's target (a trait that survives to the present day, however modern Draconis consider use outside special forces to be socially unpleasant). By the end of the planet'sdevonian period (620mya) kegonifid had diverged again, with Draconis ancestry within a creature called Kergos - a winged quadroped bearing some resemblence to the modern species.

Mesozoic era (620-100mya)
Kergos became widespread throughout this period, eventually diverging to include Dragorinis. A large dinosaur with more bulk and a larger head than Kergos along with a mallet-like spiked tail, during the planet's late Triassic period (185mya) there was an ELE that resulted in the death of 78% of life on the planet. 60% of Dragorinis populations were killed in the resulting event. It was the evolutionary change that altered the once bold-yellow scales of previous generations to bcome a dark blue along with larger crimson scales along the back. The mesosoic era ends with 70% of giant animals sying out.

Cenozoic Era (100mya-present)
Over the next few million years Dragorinis evolves to stand on its hind legs, freeing up for hands. It is unkown why the forefeet changed from a four-toed clawed foot to the present shape with some scientists citing the effect of a solar flare or 'alien infulence' (Carbon dating suggets that there was a UFO that had visited the planet ~62mya but such interference is dismissed). This ancestor of Draconis achieves a sapient state roughly 4mya, with little sign of evolution afterward.

=Culture= Although xenophobic, The Draconis take pride in family, freinds and kind. With many venerating and respecting their elders, many prefer to see their elders buried in a tomb rather than a simple grave. mMembers of the species who feud still respect each other in death and those who would desecrate the burial site of another would not only be considered turning their back on family but also themselves. They take pride in upbringing, education and martial prowess but would perfer themselves and theri children to be home-schooled by an elder rather than taught by someone outside of the brood.

Draconis take great pride in culture and the arts, with some of the most repsected members of society being professionals in either visual or performing arts. Their long lifespan and complex brain means they can learn much compared to a more short-lived species, they take education as a source of pride and can be angered easily if someone tries to undermine their level of understanding. Teaching is a sign of respect within Draconid society and members of the species take pride in teaching others of their kind, if a Draconis is taught something new they gain respect from that member and this is one of the few ways for an outsider to impress the Draconis.

Religion
The Cult of Drakon is the state religion of the Draconis. The core philosophy of which is that the cult's namesake was a god who created the world and made the Draconis, he made them as his finest work and all he asked was that they appreciate the world he had created for them and to spread his name. the cult states He had also blessed them with long life so they could admire his grander works.

Drakon is typically portrayed as a colossal dragon with scales of gold, and is typically protrayed enveloping Alcanti in his wings. The cult states he deeply cares for both the world and the Draconis, and that the phrase 'his finest work' refers to the Draconis as his favourite and best creation, these teachinga are the source of the Draconis' racial arrogance and superiority. Much of the religion is based around his teachings to the early Draconis; the appreciation of art, how to care for the world and to respect it. After first contact with the Speeder the idea that the other species existed to serve them grew to include aliens.

A minor sect of the cult detests the widespread acceptance of alien slavery, claiming that the other aliens were blessed with a smaller fraction of Drakos' intellect than the Draconis, stating that enslaving them is just as bad as enslaving kin. The cult remains small.

Paragons are believed to be the chosen of Drakos; blessed at birth to lead their people forward. House Ultanos in particular believes their golden scales were a sign from Drakos that they are the rightful leaders of the Draconis.