Post by FreelanceZero on Apr 25, 2021 3:14:51 GMT
Overview
The Ubian race is a curious biological example of hyper evolution, the result of being a super predator in a world that constantly produced super predators. Though they ultimately did not win in the evolutionary arms race that was the biosphere of Harvest, they still achieved massive successes that ensured their survival as a race. Formerly slaves of the Ska'vari, today Ubians stand proudly next to their brethren in the Accord as the second of the two founding races.
Ecology & Behavior
Ubians can be active all around the clock, and can be found in every region imaginable, save for dry and arid landscapes. They have little favoritism for terrain otherwise, so long as the location provides ample cover in the form of foilage or rock. Highly resistant to both heat and cold, there is few places that an Ubian cannot live in, so long as the location provides ample hydration.
Relatively competitive and very curious by nature, Ubians are constantly driven to find problems to solve. It was the result of this natural curiosity that led them to discover methods of underwater forging (via thermal vents and lava) and, upon entering the terrestrial world, fire and gunpowder. This gave them an early edge against many of their predator race compatriots, allowing the Ubian race to become widespread and prosperous until the evolution of the Ska'vari. Their highly social and outgoing nature added to their success, as Ubians are seldom found quarrelling amongst themselves--or anyone else, for that matter.
Appearance & Capabilities
The average Ubian in their base form looks to be an octopus that can reach four meters in length with twelve arms. Many Ubians have taken to humanoid forms though, having even built lightweight artificial bones and joints to adhere to or absorb internally for a more natural humanoid appearance. Today, the average Ubian measure at and average of 5'7" (170cm) and 100kg for males, and 5'1" (155cm) and 70kg for females. Ubians are easily capable of reaching underwater depths past 700m, with records set at over 2km under the sea level.
As with most sapient species hailing from Harvest, Ubians are capable of shapeshifting, and to a significantly easier degree than their Ska'vari cousins. As such, racial averages should be taken with a grain of salt, as an individual is capable of crafting their own form given sufficient time.
Underwater, Ubians are unparalleled in agility and mobility, though they are not quite the fastest. Above water, their abilities are inhibited somewhat, but Ubians struggle significantly less on land than their Ska'vari cousins.
Brains
Ubian brains are perhaps one of the most unique in biology, let alone xenobiology. Much like an octopus, a Ubian's brain is less a centralized network as it is a highly decentralized, widely distributed network of neurons and synapses that could potentially cover the entire mass distribution of the Ubian. The resulting body-brain means it is physically impossible to kill an Ubian with a directed force to their head, as it houses little more than their eyes (which are replaceable). However, artificial and applicable neurotoxins have extremely powerful effect on Ubians, as whereas a human can fully recover from neurotoxin introduced to their body, an Ubian may be permanently crippled by the same dose.
Beak
Though Ubians rarely have a 'beak' in modern times, the biology used to develop the beak is still well intact. Most Ubian 'teeth' as a result are actually beaks, molded and formed to mimic omnivorous teeth. Additionally, an Ubian can choose to spawn more 'beaks' where they so desire--leading to results such as pseudo-claws on their 'fingers' and natural, highly flexible yet strong and hardy carapace. As an Ubian is also capable of controlling the hardness of their beak, this leads to a massive variety of possibilities as far as natural weaponry is concerned. It should be noted that the hardest Ubian beak is still weaker than most contemporary metals utilized by interstellar nations.
Muscles
Similar to the Ska'vari, Ubian muscles are coiled, but are considerably less sophisticated and dense allowing for far greater longevity of use yet allowing high amounts of muscle strength for their density. To use this strength requires far greater nutrition than a human would, resulting in heightened metabolism. On average, an Ubian is capable of lifting twice that of a baseline human, and the record is set at just over one metric ton.
Sight
An Ubian's vision is a curious thing. Despite originally having only one cone of light for their eyes, their eyes were evolved in such a way that the cornea was capable of refracting light, allowing an Ubian to see vivid colors much more easily at greater depths, though sacrificing immense amounts of brain power and some amount of visual detail. In modern times, Ubian eye types are as synonymous as the number of eye types in existence--their easy shapeshifting allows them to choose and pick to their hearts' content.
Smell & Taste
An Ubian does not have a centralized organ for smell like most other creatures, instead utilizing their arms for smell and taste. As a result, many Ubians tend to wear full gloves when interacting with items and others to prevent accidentally smelling and tasting the rust on a piece of metal. Today, many Ubians have begun dulling their sense of taste and smell in their arms, focusing those senses to their head to function closer to a humanoid being.
Toxins & Resistance
An Ubian is notably resistant to many forms of poison and some forms of naturally-produced neurotoxins, perhaps a byproduct of the Ubians' own naturally produced poison. However, this poison is rather weak and only causes irritation and rashes to large creatures, barring allergic reactions. This natural poison is stored in a sac that can be spat out by their saliva.
Shapeshifting & DNA
As a native of Harvest, the Ubians have an extremely unique ability to shapeshift as a result of their highly unstable (but relatively controllable) DNA. This allows them to regenerate lost limbs, organs, and even grow new ones with only time and nutrition as constraints. Unlike the Ska'vari, the Ubians feel little pain during shapeshifting, having no bones to warp, allowing them quicker and hassle-free transformations compared to their bulkier brethren.
This marvelous ability is not without terrifying cost. Their radically unstable DNA frequently causes tumours both benign and malignant, mutations are rampant amongst the species, and cancer is the single-handed leading cause of death behind violence in the Accord, with every one death in three having its root cause in cancer. In Accordite society, cancer is as normal as contracting the common cold, though it is no less fatal than the real deal. As a result, Accordite medical knowledge is the single most advanced field of study, outstripping even that of weaponry development, despite constant low funding.
Additionally, as a result of the Ubian's baseline unstable genetics, there are rare occurrences where individuals would completely change genders without warning. While difficult to reproduce, it is completely possible and has been done by even a few notable individuals in Accordite history, past and present. Even rarer are occurrences of self-impregnation. in Accordite history, there has only been a little over one hundred cases of self-impregnation, and always ending in an abortion for the afflicted for very obvious reasons.
Another point of notice is the matter of inbreeding. The current population of Ubians originate from only 16,000 mating pairs of Ska'vari and Ubians. Though fortunately they were capable of cross-breeding (more below), and mutations has reduced the risks somewhat, the current population of Accordites are starting to suffer from symptoms of inbreeding. New genetics are attempting to be introduced into the populace both through other races in the Ancerious galaxy and through artificial introduction by genetic engineering and cloning.
Breeding & Childrearing
As a result of both their octopodian origins and ability to shapeshift, Ubians are known to be able to give birth to both eggs and live children, though there is a trend towards giving live birth as a result of overpopulation. Another side effect is to cross-breed with anything sapient, and sometimes even those non-sapient. Strict regulations and enforcement ensure that Ubian do not end up animorphing into creatures too strange upon birth, though with the introduction of other xenos, the line is beginning to blur into complacency.
Raising a child for a Ubian is a very hands-on approach, with Ubian parents being very doting on their offspring universally with typically little favouritism in a litter. But as a result of the new trends towards live birth, favouritism is starting to become an emergent trait in parenting, for better or for worse.
The Ubian race is a curious biological example of hyper evolution, the result of being a super predator in a world that constantly produced super predators. Though they ultimately did not win in the evolutionary arms race that was the biosphere of Harvest, they still achieved massive successes that ensured their survival as a race. Formerly slaves of the Ska'vari, today Ubians stand proudly next to their brethren in the Accord as the second of the two founding races.
Ecology & Behavior
Ubians can be active all around the clock, and can be found in every region imaginable, save for dry and arid landscapes. They have little favoritism for terrain otherwise, so long as the location provides ample cover in the form of foilage or rock. Highly resistant to both heat and cold, there is few places that an Ubian cannot live in, so long as the location provides ample hydration.
Relatively competitive and very curious by nature, Ubians are constantly driven to find problems to solve. It was the result of this natural curiosity that led them to discover methods of underwater forging (via thermal vents and lava) and, upon entering the terrestrial world, fire and gunpowder. This gave them an early edge against many of their predator race compatriots, allowing the Ubian race to become widespread and prosperous until the evolution of the Ska'vari. Their highly social and outgoing nature added to their success, as Ubians are seldom found quarrelling amongst themselves--or anyone else, for that matter.
Appearance & Capabilities
The average Ubian in their base form looks to be an octopus that can reach four meters in length with twelve arms. Many Ubians have taken to humanoid forms though, having even built lightweight artificial bones and joints to adhere to or absorb internally for a more natural humanoid appearance. Today, the average Ubian measure at and average of 5'7" (170cm) and 100kg for males, and 5'1" (155cm) and 70kg for females. Ubians are easily capable of reaching underwater depths past 700m, with records set at over 2km under the sea level.
As with most sapient species hailing from Harvest, Ubians are capable of shapeshifting, and to a significantly easier degree than their Ska'vari cousins. As such, racial averages should be taken with a grain of salt, as an individual is capable of crafting their own form given sufficient time.
Underwater, Ubians are unparalleled in agility and mobility, though they are not quite the fastest. Above water, their abilities are inhibited somewhat, but Ubians struggle significantly less on land than their Ska'vari cousins.
Brains
Ubian brains are perhaps one of the most unique in biology, let alone xenobiology. Much like an octopus, a Ubian's brain is less a centralized network as it is a highly decentralized, widely distributed network of neurons and synapses that could potentially cover the entire mass distribution of the Ubian. The resulting body-brain means it is physically impossible to kill an Ubian with a directed force to their head, as it houses little more than their eyes (which are replaceable). However, artificial and applicable neurotoxins have extremely powerful effect on Ubians, as whereas a human can fully recover from neurotoxin introduced to their body, an Ubian may be permanently crippled by the same dose.
Beak
Though Ubians rarely have a 'beak' in modern times, the biology used to develop the beak is still well intact. Most Ubian 'teeth' as a result are actually beaks, molded and formed to mimic omnivorous teeth. Additionally, an Ubian can choose to spawn more 'beaks' where they so desire--leading to results such as pseudo-claws on their 'fingers' and natural, highly flexible yet strong and hardy carapace. As an Ubian is also capable of controlling the hardness of their beak, this leads to a massive variety of possibilities as far as natural weaponry is concerned. It should be noted that the hardest Ubian beak is still weaker than most contemporary metals utilized by interstellar nations.
Muscles
Similar to the Ska'vari, Ubian muscles are coiled, but are considerably less sophisticated and dense allowing for far greater longevity of use yet allowing high amounts of muscle strength for their density. To use this strength requires far greater nutrition than a human would, resulting in heightened metabolism. On average, an Ubian is capable of lifting twice that of a baseline human, and the record is set at just over one metric ton.
Sight
An Ubian's vision is a curious thing. Despite originally having only one cone of light for their eyes, their eyes were evolved in such a way that the cornea was capable of refracting light, allowing an Ubian to see vivid colors much more easily at greater depths, though sacrificing immense amounts of brain power and some amount of visual detail. In modern times, Ubian eye types are as synonymous as the number of eye types in existence--their easy shapeshifting allows them to choose and pick to their hearts' content.
Smell & Taste
An Ubian does not have a centralized organ for smell like most other creatures, instead utilizing their arms for smell and taste. As a result, many Ubians tend to wear full gloves when interacting with items and others to prevent accidentally smelling and tasting the rust on a piece of metal. Today, many Ubians have begun dulling their sense of taste and smell in their arms, focusing those senses to their head to function closer to a humanoid being.
Toxins & Resistance
An Ubian is notably resistant to many forms of poison and some forms of naturally-produced neurotoxins, perhaps a byproduct of the Ubians' own naturally produced poison. However, this poison is rather weak and only causes irritation and rashes to large creatures, barring allergic reactions. This natural poison is stored in a sac that can be spat out by their saliva.
Shapeshifting & DNA
As a native of Harvest, the Ubians have an extremely unique ability to shapeshift as a result of their highly unstable (but relatively controllable) DNA. This allows them to regenerate lost limbs, organs, and even grow new ones with only time and nutrition as constraints. Unlike the Ska'vari, the Ubians feel little pain during shapeshifting, having no bones to warp, allowing them quicker and hassle-free transformations compared to their bulkier brethren.
This marvelous ability is not without terrifying cost. Their radically unstable DNA frequently causes tumours both benign and malignant, mutations are rampant amongst the species, and cancer is the single-handed leading cause of death behind violence in the Accord, with every one death in three having its root cause in cancer. In Accordite society, cancer is as normal as contracting the common cold, though it is no less fatal than the real deal. As a result, Accordite medical knowledge is the single most advanced field of study, outstripping even that of weaponry development, despite constant low funding.
Additionally, as a result of the Ubian's baseline unstable genetics, there are rare occurrences where individuals would completely change genders without warning. While difficult to reproduce, it is completely possible and has been done by even a few notable individuals in Accordite history, past and present. Even rarer are occurrences of self-impregnation. in Accordite history, there has only been a little over one hundred cases of self-impregnation, and always ending in an abortion for the afflicted for very obvious reasons.
Another point of notice is the matter of inbreeding. The current population of Ubians originate from only 16,000 mating pairs of Ska'vari and Ubians. Though fortunately they were capable of cross-breeding (more below), and mutations has reduced the risks somewhat, the current population of Accordites are starting to suffer from symptoms of inbreeding. New genetics are attempting to be introduced into the populace both through other races in the Ancerious galaxy and through artificial introduction by genetic engineering and cloning.
Breeding & Childrearing
As a result of both their octopodian origins and ability to shapeshift, Ubians are known to be able to give birth to both eggs and live children, though there is a trend towards giving live birth as a result of overpopulation. Another side effect is to cross-breed with anything sapient, and sometimes even those non-sapient. Strict regulations and enforcement ensure that Ubian do not end up animorphing into creatures too strange upon birth, though with the introduction of other xenos, the line is beginning to blur into complacency.
Raising a child for a Ubian is a very hands-on approach, with Ubian parents being very doting on their offspring universally with typically little favouritism in a litter. But as a result of the new trends towards live birth, favouritism is starting to become an emergent trait in parenting, for better or for worse.