The Ausran
The Ausran are a strange race gifted with the innate ability of longevity. They live for immeasurable periods of time, with the oldest living Ausran rumored to be over 1 million Terran years old. Their adaptability makes them almost invulnerable to extreme atmospheric changes and air qualities, as well as rapid changes of environment including being submerged in water (the rather painful development of gills), lack of oxygen (changes to lungs, also quite painful) and other various catastrophic changes. Most Ausran are also endowed with powers spanning from the physical to the mental and beyond. These individuals are called "hux." Those without these abilities are dubbed "inux."
Basic Information
Anatomy
One of the most striking features of the Ausran race is the similarity in face structure. Depending on the region that an individual comes from, their face will be an exact match to any other Ausran with similar regional genetic roots. This is not just a Human difference, like saying that every individual from a certain ethnic group looks similar- the Ausran are largely indistinguishable from one another by face alone. Heights and skin colors still differ. Most Ausran are born with tentacle-like flagella on their heads, similar to hair. The flagellum's muscly structure is reminiscent of Earth's cephalopods, despite Auser having no documentation of cephalopod-like species. Their bone structure is similar to humans, with minor differences. Skulls are slightly larger, with a considerable brain cavity, and less ribs are present.*
*certain hux have a different bone structure and appearance.
Biological Traits
Height and weight and determined by ancestral region, but average overall height is 6'7" and average overall weight is 210 pounds. Since Ausran are not biologically capable to die by aging, the life expectancy ranges wildly.
Genetics and Reproduction
Ausran have a great deal of diversity in their genes, but as covered in appearances, have limited a phenotype. Skin color and height are the most noticeable traits passed down by genes. Facial structure is the best indicator in telling where an Ausran's genetic ancestry lies. Perhaps the most striking trait of the Ausran genotype is that it seems to be compatible with Human genes, although creation of offspring between a Human and an Ausran has not officially been attempted. Hux abilities are not passed through genes, but by unknown means.
Ausran have genitalia similar to Human norms, and fornicate as such.
A typical Ausran pregnancy will range anywhere from 9 to 13 months in Terran time, and they give birth to live young.
Growth Rate & Stages
Childhood stages last up to 5 years for females and 6 for males (in Terran time). Most hux abilities manifest early on, with others being present at birth. Hux abilities present at birth are almost always abilities that affect the physical appearance and anatomy of the individual.
Teenage years are the roughest time for a prynja (youngling), lasting from the end of childhood to the age of 10 (female) or 12 (male). During this time, rapid brain and skeletal growth occur. At the age of 11-13, an Ausran child is at the same maturity as that of an 18 year old human. Between the ages of 13 to 25, more mental changes take place. During this time, mortality rates of prynja skyrocket, in large part due to suicides. At 26 years, age and growth will stagnate. When the individuals that survive to old age begin to shift to their next phase, their internal organs slow their processes down. Muscle response times are higher, and movement becomes more limited. Externally, there are no changes.
There is a small amount of brain deterioration at these older stages, but that is easily remedied with exercise of both brain and body (puzzles, running daily, etc.).
Ecology and Habitats
Depending on the ethnicity of the individual, they may prefer the climate or environment matching their ancestral homeland. For example, Western Ausran are normally tall with red skin, and prefer a desert environment like the one they have most heavily adapted to thrive in.
Due to the incredible adaptability of the species, there are very few environments that are entirely inhospitable to Ausran (not factoring in flora or fauna).
Dietary Needs and Habits
Diet differs based on location and culture. Generally, Midlanders have the largest palate in accordance with their cuisine, which includes a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, meats, and fungi. Easterners are known mostly for their meats and jerky, and will avoid most above-ground veggies, sticking to tubers and wild fruits. Northerners have the smallest palate, and will insist on rarer cuts of meat and seasoned vegetables. Westerners eat mainly desert plants and small game, but will eat pretty much anything they can get their hands on. Southerners have a decent palate, and eat lots of fish and aquatic shrubbery. The smaller continents have their own regional cuisine, made up of a collection of different foods and recipes from the main continent.
There are farms in less populated areas of Auser that have both livestock and crops, but they mostly serve the metropolises. Westerners and Easterners fend for themselves and hunt regularly. Northerners sometimes pay others to hunt for them, but will almost always settle for provided food. Southerners have fish farms on the more secluded islets of their region. Midlanders practice a fair mix of farming and hunting/foraging.
Biological Cycle
Seasons on Auser are few and far in between. Female Ausran often travel during colder months, dragging their mates with them, unless the individuals in question are city-dwelling. They will often claim it's because they don't like the cold, but there is no evidence to suggest that females are actual caused discomfort by changes in temperature due to their hyperadaptivity. It is currently unknown why this migration occurs.
Additional Information
Social Structure
Matriarchal society, mostly meritocratic. Social structure depends on regional culture beyond this point.
Facial characteristics
Northerner: Long face, large forehead, medium sized eyes, thin brow, pronounced cheekbones, sharp jawbones, small nose, small ears.
Westerner: Roundish face, large forehead, small eyes, thick brow, round cheeks, sharp jawbones, small nose, medium sized ears.
Midlander: Round face, medium sized forehead, large eyes, medium brow thickness, round cheeks, small nose, large ears.
Easterner: Roundish face, medium sized forehead, medium sized eyes, medium brow thickness, round cheeks, small nose, medium sized ears.
Southerner: Tallish face, low forehead, large eyes, medium brow thickness, round cheeks, small nose, medium sized ears.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Worldwide on Auser.
Average Intelligence
Unmeasured, but due to the psychological prowess observed in the species, easily over 175 IQ average for adult Ausran.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
In addition to the 7 "Human" senses, Ausran have the ability to sense electromagnetic waves and energy patterns through the flagellum on their scalps. This "second sight" is amplified in subspecies that lack facial eyes, allowing for this sense without having flagella present. Strangely, their optical sensory organs don't see upside-down like Humans, instead viewing the image right side up without the brain having to flip the image over.*
*certain hux rely on different sensory organs for echolocation, and not all have access to the 7 "Human" senses
Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms
Incomplete list. Translation pending.
- Boro: Insect, crawls into mouth and replaces tongue. Allows host to taste food, but lives off of host's blood. Very painful to remove.
- Unik: Insect. Called the "spine stealer," uses its long body to latch onto host's spine and proceed to take control of all motor functions. Burrows into body, eating all spine cartilage and bone. When finished, detaches itself from host, leaving them immobile and unable to feel or control their limbs.
- Elari: See dossier.
- Ganit: Mammal. Shape and size reminiscent of Terran field mice. Clean flagella of smaller insect pests. Relatively common on Auser, fast breeding cycle, and highly sought after for off-world colonies.
- Liar-seeds: Plant. Upon contact with host, seeds break off of the plant and latch on to the host, burrowing under the skin. Subject will be psychologically affected, becoming a compulsive liar for the duration of the infection. After a period of time, seeds grow out from under the skin and burst out spores that attach themselves to organic plant matter and grow into Liar-seed bushes. Process is described as "horribly painful, both emotionally and physically."
- (unfinished)
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
Dependent on regional ancestry/culture.
Major Organizations
- The Ausran Universal Meritocratic Organization: Governing body. See article.
- Eskan: Religious establishment. Controlled by AUMO.
- Regional organizations: Each region has it's own organizations/governing bodies.
Beauty Ideals
Female: Toned muscles, large breasts and hips, able, brave, and willing. All other ideals are determined by regional culture.
Male: Toned muscles, willing and able to juggle household chores, and well endowed*. All other ideals are determined by regional culture.
*You know what I mean. -Pash
Gender Ideals
Female: Hardworking, outgoing, and ambitious. Military/trade experience is desirable.
Male: Supportive, submissive, and good at chores. Virginity is desirable, but experience is valued depending on cultural background.
Courtship Ideals
Females are supposed to be forward and stoic in proposal, and males are expected to play hard-to-get*. This is largely dependent on regional rituals beyond this point.
*It was a mistake to let my youngling write this. I apologize for misunderstandings.
Relationship Ideals
Dependent on regional culture and rituals.
Average Technological Level
Space-age technologies.
Vehicles: Highly efficient, sleek, and simple mechanisms for easy disassembly/reassembly. Larger vehicles, such as spacecraft, are incredibly complex machines with intuitive mechanisms and high-maintenance engines and internals. Parts are easily manufactured.
Weaponry: Advanced ballistics. Highly efficient and simple mechanisms for easy disassembly/reassembly. Under par when compared to other technologies due to the prevalence of hux. Chemical weapons are banned. High explosives are sparingly used. Bladed weapons are common.
Architecture and engineering: Space-age. Architecture is largely based on pillar supports for wider, more ornate buildings or metal internal supports for taller industrial structures. Engines and machinery are highly advanced, light, and efficient.
Agriculture: Sub-par harvesting equipment and technology. Genetically modified foodstuffs are common and affordable crops. Equipment is too expensive, and many farmers choose to harvest by hand.
Housing architecture: Dependent on regional culture, but furnishings and household items are largely advanced.
Honorably Mentioned Inventions:
- Dark Matter suspension: Used in spacecraft, allows for connection between free-floating mechanisms without sparing any extra material, as well as allowing parts to remain attached through the gravitational effects of Dark Matter. Free floating mechanisms with electrical connection to all other mechanics in the ship is a revolutionary discovery for a space-age empire.
- Transferable consciousness: Used in place of AI. Allows for transfer of consciousness from and organic being to a synthetic shell. Computer based. Also highly illegal.
- Battle-ready frame: Like a super-suit for inux. Skin-tight suit that allows for feats of strength unsupported by traditional anatomy.
Major Language Groups and Dialects
- Basic language: Eskan
- L'hinee
- Kojak
- Nadooga
- Slipsnir
- Vilten
Common Etiquette Rules
Largely dependent on regional culture, but one thing is static across all of the subcultures: DON'T MESS WITH THE FLAGELLA UNLESS GIVEN EXPLICIT PERMISSION.
Common Dress Code
Dependent on culture.
Culture and Cultural Heritage
Regional.
Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals
Regional.
Common Taboos
Regional.
History
The Ausran started in matriarchal tribes, each consisting of multi-male, multi-female groups. A single female had authority over mating rights, food distribution, and permissions. This was overall the case for all regions and subcontinents. As societies and larger populations developed, social structure did as well, and they began to separate into the regional cultures observed today.
Historical Figures
Eskan: The first named and recorded Clockmaker, co-founder of the Eskan religion.
Elvos Na: Longest living Ausran of all time. Survived 3 million years, but was killed in a Baru-tan raid 4 million years ago. No artifacts commemorate his existence, so it is speculated that he may not have existed at all.
Voak Skedrow: The most prolific and influential Ausran leader of his time. Clockmaker. Killed in an unfortunate accident aboard his space vessel.
Common Myths and Legends
Regional.
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
There are many races that have a relationship with the Ausran, but these are the most well known.
Baru-tan: Bitter enemies.
Gujateck: Trade partners. Insectoid species, similar to ants.
Muilok: Trade partners, close allies. Crustacean species, amphibious.
Baksati: Allies of great wealth. Mammalian species.
Scientific Name
Extraterrestrial longaevitas
Origin/Ancestry
Midlanders are the considered the truest form of living ancestors to the rest of the Ausran race.
Lifespan
Biologically immortal
Conservation Status
As documented by the Ausran Universal Meritocratic Organization (AUMO), the Ausran species is thriving, and is the equivalent of a "least concern" status by Terran standards.
"Only the vacuum of space stands unconquered by the Ausran. Oh? Well, as long as you don't count the star vessels." - Herman Bernardt, expert on extraterrestrial sentient races
Average Height
6'7"
Average Weight
210 pounds
Average Physique
Female: Average physique similar to Human fitness standards. All other averages depend on regional ancestry.
Male: Average physique similar to Human fitness standards. All other averages depend on regional ancestry.
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Northerner: blue (arctic blue, cobalt blue, sky blue, all in between), white (frost, snow, pearl, all in between)
Westerner: red (cherry, garnet, scarlet, candy, blush, all in between), orange (fire, squash, sandstone, marmalade, all in between), brown (tawny, caramel, chocolate, umber, all in between)
Midlander: blue, red, orange, purple, green, brown, pink, tan, yellow and all in between
Easterner: green (juniper to olive, basil), brown (tortilla, peanut), tan (granola, shortbread, eggnog, all in between), pink (watermelon, rosewood, strawberry, all in between)
Southerner: black (charcoal to pitch. All shades), grey (shadow, ash, silver, flint, all in between), sky blue w/ white belly (a strange mutation, but widely sought after)
Related Ethnicities
Related Myths
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Comments
Author's Notes
Terran Years. 1/14/45: I'm getting my daughter to help me write this entry. I think it would be a good bonding exercise, and besides, how much time do I get to spend with my children? I might start her out with a few articles, and just edit them as she goes. This will be fun! 1/15/45: Only a few major edits have been made so far. I had to stop her from writing about how much she hates general formats for articles like this. Other than that, she's done a fantastic job! I'm looking forward to continuing tomorrow. 1/16/45: We wrote about "relations" today. Of course, she knows little about them. I had to edit out a section where she declared that men who don't accept courtship proposals should be killed. I'll make sure to give her a long talk about the subject at some point. 1/20/45: Finally finished. I've spent most of this month's pay on crackers and cheese. Thank gods I'm done. On the bright side, I feel more connected to my daughter than ever before. I'll be sure to bother Shulak about this later; it's her youngling too, after all.