Creature:Draconis

The Draconis (Plural: Draconis Posessive: Draconid) are a race of bipedal reptiles originating from the planet Alcanti. They are the host species of the Draconid Imperium, notorious for their policy of 'Pax Draconica' and near-zealous belief that any other species is inferior to them.

Physiology
The average draconis has a standing height of 2.6m, but can reach 3m 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 roughly 470 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 vertically-split eye. They also have a row of deep crimson scales on the head and thicker scales along the back and stomach. Members of the species are one of the uncommon species of endothermic reptiles. Draconis posess thick strands of keratin that emerge from just behind the eye and from a spot at the top of the head. Members of the species often braid and style these into various ropes of hair as a symbol of status and sophistication. The side strands rarely extend below the bottom of the jawline while the top strands can reach the base of the neck.

A fully grown adult will measure 2.7m to the top of the head and measure 80cm in width. From head to tail they measure in at 4m long. A typical fully-grown adult will weigh on average about 320 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. Cognative ability is greatest between 45-500 years of age, with noticable decreases in brain function when an individual reaches 550 years of age. Draconis muscle tissue is much larger in proportion to many human muscles and coupled with their size they are capable of significant feats of strength.

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 poison at their chosen target. It is possibe for them to go for 1.5 months without eating as a result of an advanced digestive tract. Hearing within the species is much better than in humans and they are capable of hearing sounds above the range of human hearing. Any sounds above 85db are discomforting to their ears with prolonged exposure to sounds above 130db causing noticeable pain.

A distinguishing feature that is hard not to noice are the bat-like wings that protrude from their backs. The span of each wing of an adult measures 2m but allows for rudimentry flight. Their hands consist of three large fingers with a single thumb directly opposite to the middle finger

Females bear many similarities to makes. Distinguishing features include being slighly smaller and have lighter-coloured scales. Draconis reproduce in similar ways to most reptiles and will lay a clutch of eggs once a year. The eggs will stay inert until fertilised and can last unfertilised for a year and still remain viable. The embryo typically takes 12-15 Earth months to develop. When the baby is ready to emerge the eggshell becomes weakened and the baby uses a spike on it's tail to weaken the eggshell, it then pokes it's head through before emitting an ultrasonic cry.

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

Group Dynamics
Family groups are organised into broods of between 20-60 members. These groups are matriarchal and led by the oldest broodmother of the group and is the equivilent of the matriarch. The majority of broods normally consist of several males with the occasional female. Although marriage can occur between broods the bond is more flexible than in human societies and the two broods combine to become a single brood.

Within each generation there are at least two broodmothers who will care for the eggs. Any male within the generation who is not a direct relative of the broodmother is permitted to fertilise the eggs (Marriage is used to provide viable genetic material). A single broodmother cares for the fertilised eggs until they hatch and will care for the young for the first decade of their life. Baby draconis have little understanding of parental bonds and will regard the broodmother as their carer for the first decade before they are introduced to the rest of the brood. It is common for the father to watch the hatching take place and may show affection for the newborns but care remains the responsibility of the broodmother.

Occasionaly a broodmother will choose a single male who will fertilise her eggs. Although acceptable some consider this limiting to diversity but this does not appear to deter anyone.

Psychology
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 looking 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 brood.

They are rather xenophobic when around non-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. These xenopobic tendancies are similar to libgering rivalries between two or more families.

Subspecies

 * Miminan Draconis (Fterosaurus sapiens cobaltus; Trueblood Draconis; common Draconis): Blue or purple-scaled variations that make up the majority of the population due to the expansion of the Miminan Empire during the Unification Wars.
 * Osillan Draconis (Fterosaurus sapiens aurumus; Southern Draconis): Originally occupying the southern continent of Osillas, these Draconis were originally slightly smaller due to the climate of Osillas. Millenia of interbreeding with the Miminan Draconis has left only their amber-tinged scales. Their scales have been associated with both the south and Drakon but more noteably is linked to royalty due to House Ultanos
 * Khaxvis (fterosaurus sapiens abberentus): Identified by red scales, a second set of horns and a modified spine, Khaxvis Draconis are all associated with the former Grand House Khaxvis (now the Khaxvis Resurgence) and all are considered enemies of the Imperium.
 * Dronir (fterosaurus sapiens syntheticus): One of the racially youngest most visually different of the Draconis subspecies, this is because they are augmented from Draconis DNA (a crime in the Imperium).

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 & Society
Although xenophobic, The Draconis take pride in brood, freinds and kind. Many venerate and respect their elders, preferring to see their elders buried in a tomb rather than a simple grave. Members 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 brood but also themselves. They take pride in upbringing, education and martial prowess but would prefer themselves and their 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.

Creative arts
Creative works in Draconid society are characterised by the amout of time spent on the construction and the meticulous detail that goes into them. Artists frequently emphasise the phrase "You can't rush art" to the point where a single project can take months or even years longer than expected.

Draconid music primarily takes the form of orchestral pieces. The reason the popularity of such music has not died out is because it is not just the harmonious tones they enjoy but they also appreciate the effort that was put into creating such music. Many aspects of their culture emphasise care and attention to detail and artists will frequently go into meticulous detail to make their work as close to perfect as is possible.

Film and visual multimedia is more varied in their society than music. The wide variety of available genres are emphasised to captivate and explore every level of a draconis' imagination. Like with music, directors and actors prefer going into meticulous detail to make their creations perfect and exemplary and rivalry with other artists is common. The end result is frequently of exemplary quality and even millenia later a piece of work, be it a building, film or musical score, can still be considered a msterpiece worthy of the modern age.

Social Structure
Modern Draconis groups are organised into houses which can consist of one or more broods typically bound by the marriage of an individual. Houseless draconis are rare and are generally considered inbred or the product of two uncombined broods or houses. Whatever the origin the houseless have been exiled from their parent house, even though they still register on a census they cannot serve in the military or in a respectable line of work, meaning that many resort to crime to survive. Brood members can request to found a new house if they wish thus increasing diversity and will usually keep cordial ties to the parent house unless certain circumstances prevent otherwise - such as a forbidden union, disgrace, or rebellious nature of one or more brood members - Although this separates the brood the new house is forbidden to breed with the parent house due to blood ties.

Houses are classified into two categories: grand houses and common houses - the Draconis equivilent of noble and common families respectively - Although it is possible for a common house to elevate themselves by combining with a grand house through marriage such unions give birth to so-called 'half-bloods' and many grand houses frown on such a union. Both categories are often mixed in their own circles of politics, economics and rivalries. Although it is rare for a common house to mix themselves with the matters of an unrelated grand house, some families believe this helps them become a grand house (or at least give the illusion of such) jowever this is never the case, requiring confirmation from the reigning paragon to be elevated. Such actions by 'false houses' make more enemies than allies and can lead to the entire house becoming social pariahs.

The senate may exile certain houses if they believe they are such a danger or threat to society to warrant this but most of the time this is done to common houses due to their lack of influence in government. A government department known as the House Census Order based in the city of Orras'Dacon keeps track of activities such as births, deaths, mergers and divisions of each individual house.

Military Philosophy
Along with culture the draconis also take pride in military prowess; Members of the species are not considered an adult - both by peers and the state - without some formal military training. As a result of this military academies are treated like schools and each citizen must serve at least 10 years in the local military on their 40th birthday before gaining full citizenship. Upon completion they accept a single preferred weapon for sentimence that they will keep for the rest of their life. It is considered a point of honour to accept a deceased brood member's weapon upon graduation rather than a weapon directly from the local armoury - a tradition in keeping with Draconis values of respect towards relatives.

All members of the species are trained to treat officers with the upmost respect (both senior and subordinate) and desertion is seen as a vile act of cowardice. There are urban legends of deserters returning only to be stripped of all rank, privalige nad social status, descending into the degenerate houseless. When a soldier is tried during a court-marshal the outcome can be as minor as expulsion from the military or demotion to the frontlines (if the offender is an officer) to becoming a member of the houseless or even exile from imperial space. Desertion is considered the greatest act of cowardice and punishment is considered on par with being a double-agent. Execution is reserved for traitors and betrayal of the state and - depending on the severity of the outcome - execution is typically by firing squad and is a public event for the most severe cases.

Religion
''Main Article: Religion

"Deep within his lair, the great Drakon fashioned all life as we know it from his hands, from this sacred earth he sculpted the first draconis with great care and love. Once finished he leaned to examine and admire us, his greatest work. As he did he donated his sacred breath, from which all life before had come" - Book of Drakon 5:12-14

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

Drakon is portrayed as a colossal dragon with scales of gold and is typically protrayed shielding Alcanti with his wings. The cult states that 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 their 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 other sentient aliens. The cult's sacred writings also portray Drakon as a craftsman who's ability goes far byond anything known in this universe.

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 Drakon; blessed at birth to lead their people forward. House Ultanos in particular believes their golden scales were a sign from Drakon that they are the rightful leaders of the draconis.

Quotes
Feel free to add your own

"Their similarities to the Thirteen Tribes are... curious."

"We would attempt to contact them, but their xenophoby has made us change our mind."

"To six I will count, and you shall vanish..."

- ???

"We and Draconis have so much alike. Our civilisation are going towards the greater prosperite together."