Ferallion

What follows is an abridged and summarised version of the sapient life form study report submitted to the Galactic Council's science department. Findings reported have been discovered in accordance with the Galactic Council's ethical standard on the study of sapient FTL-capable life forms, and study methods include but are not limited to interviews, observation (both external and within the subject population(s)) and study of documents.

Ferallions are the apex predator and the dominant life form, as well as the only sapient life form of the planet Ferallii. The species is not a member of the Galactic Council but are currently regarded as friends of the Council and are considered their allies.

Biology, physiology and anatomy

Ferallions are a sentient, primarily bipedal, feline-humanoid species with largely feline facial features. They are about 80 to 130 cm tall when standing on two legs (roughly 2 ft 7 inches to 4 foot 3 inches) and weigh anywhere from 15 to 29 kilograms (roughly 33 to 63 pounds). The ferallions have a double layered furcoat, the topmost layer soft, long, thick and silky smooth while the undercoat consists of countless, faint and wispy hairs packed close to one another. Both provide insulation from water and protect the extremely sensitive skin underneath, but the thick furcoat also leads to an increased risk of overheating compared to humans. The coat is thickest on the torso area, gradually thinning and becoming flatter when moving towards the face, hands and paws. The fur colour can range from different shades of brown and red, some shades of gold, all the way to different greys, white, and black. It is possible for many different colours and/or shades of colours to be present in a ferallion furcoat. The non primary colours can manifest themselves as different kinds of markings, stripes and even somewhat blended into the primary colour of the fur.
The skin under the furcoat is, as previously stated, quite sensitive. Cuts through the skin, blunt trauma, abrasions and such are not generally more painful than one would expect, but if exposed from under the protection of the fur, the skin is prone to becoming drying out. Dried out skin becomes sore to the touch and very prone to lacerations and other injuries. During day to day life of a ferallion it is nigh impossible to suffer an injury that results in the sensitive skin being uncovered, but these points about the skin should be kept in mind during medical procedures, especially surgeries.
Ferallions are generally extremely agile and swift but cannot hope to match in a contest of pure strength against larger species. Their bones are light and relatively frail, making the species somewhat fragile. This also goes some way to explain their light weight, even when vast majority of their body mass comes from muscle.
Ferallions have a peculiar ability to transform. While primarily bipedal, most ferallions have the ability to move on all fours if they so desire. The actual mechanics of this shift are still somewhat unclear, but it is known that when changing ferallions undergo a series of anatomical shifts which allow for the radically different posture. For the purposes of this document, the quadrupedal form will be referred to as “feral” while in contrast the bipedal form will be referred to as “rational”. While feral, ferallions' physical attributes improve dramatically while their mental faculties take a dramatic hit. Most ferallions are able to very accurately control the “level of feral”, allowing them to adapt into many kinds of situations. It is actually common for a ferallion to let oneself dip only slightly into the feral mindset to get the benefit of quadrupedal movement while only having major difficulty in forming words in languages other than their native tongue, as well as the highest levels of abstract thought – and do this only because they wanted to make the trip to a friend's house faster. In the other extreme, when a ferallion is fully absorbed into the feral mindset, their strength, speed and agility rival those of much larger felines, while their intelligence could be likened to that of a rather smart wild animal and any kind of abstract, symbol-based language is both impossible to understand and impossible to produce. Feral will be further discussed in the sections about ferallion culture and – to a smaller extent – military.
Their ability to transform has a particular quirk that is worthy of mentioning. The feral mind functions as a form of failsafe: There is a link between rational and feral side of the brain that functions much like a killswitch. If the rational side is subjected to enough mental trauma, the feral side takes over to protect the rational side from damage. As the conscious mind is now taken over by the far simpler feral mind, the rational mind is free to process the trauma without distractions from external stimuli. This leads to the strange occurrence of ferallions who've suffered a trauma going feral and disappearing into the wild for days, weeks, even months at a time.
How exactly the failsafe is triggered is as of now not fully determined. What is known however, is that it all depends on how much the subject's brain activity follows the norm set by evolution. Physical, tangible illnesses of the brain such as scitzophrenia are known to trigger this, as well as drastic changes in brain chemistry, for example severe depression. However, it would seem that most personaliity disorders do not seem to trigger this mechanism, leading researchers to conclude that to trigger the mechanism there has to actually be something physically wrong with the brain for the mechanism to trigger.

Sexual traits, reproduction and gender polymorphism

Ferallions are sexually dimorphic species. Female carries the cub(s) for about nine months, after which they are born blind, with the protective undercoat already developed. Breast feed perioid can last up to 18 months and it is generally unlikely to be any less. As a general rule, ferallion females have traded size and strength for more speed and dexterity, and as a result are sleeker than their slightly more bulky and muscular male counterparts. However, the difference in actual performance is quite minimal when compared to similar differences in other sexually dimorphic species, such as humans.
Only females develop mammary glands. The breasts of a female ferallion are located similarly to other humanoid species and their size seems mostly controlled by a particular hormone released during rational stage. On average, ferallion breasts do not grow larger than an equivalent of a B-cup, and even that is stretching the upper limits of the average range. When rational, a specific hormone is released and this results in slow increase of the breast size. When feral, the production of this hormone seizes and the breast size shrinks during a period of several months. Currently a hormonal medicine can be easily administered and with sufficient information about the subject, the dose can be customised to result in and maintain a specific cup size.
Both male and female reproductive organs are shielded by a mass of fur between their legs, and in the case of both sexes, this protective fur goes completely flat upon arousal to both move out of the way and show what exactly is down there.
The penis of a ferallion male is not barbed, contrary to felines on earth. Comparatively small when flacid (hardly reaching one inch or 2.5 cm) when aroused it is not unusual for a ferallion to sport anything between five and six inches (roughly 13 to 15 cm). When flaccid, it is housed in a sheath of sorts. The sheath is sensitive to the touch much like human foreskin is, and the penis itself has only a thin foreskin meant to lessen unwanted friction during intercourse.
There isn't much to say about the female reproductive organ, as it is not very different compared to that of humans. Only notable differences seem to be the higher internal temperature (due to the ferallion body temperature being a few degrees higher than that of humans). Ferallions also seem to have better than average control of the pelvic muscles than humans on average, but this is not likely to be because of any physiological, or species-specific reason.

Diet

ferallions are primarily carnivores. While they can consume plants and even insects, the nutritional impact of these things is minimal and being deprived of meat in their diet ferallions would eventually succumb to different debilitating illnesses, and eventually die due to inability to sustain themselves. It is possible to sustain a ferallion like this but it would hardly have any benefits, as any ferallion subjected to this would fall into a vegetative state. Substantial decrease in strength, agility, speed and reflexes has been observed in ferallions completely stripped of plant based nourishment, but the decrease is not anywhere near as drastic as it is when meat is removed from the diet. Ferallions do not necessarily need to cook most of the meat and plant based nourishment they consume, but doing so makes the nourishment more nutritionally valuable. There are also cultural reasons and significance for cooking. These reasons are discussed further in the culture section.

Habitat

Ferallions are well suited for all of the land biomes found on their planet. In fact, they seem to fit in their environment in such a drastically seamless fashion that some of the Council research staff has half jokingly remarked that there might be a kernel of truth in the ferallion creation myth. Interestingly, Ferallii shows little signs of an advanced civilization upon cursory observations, and the study of ferallion made documents, as well as study of volunteers who have departed their planet for a prolonged perioid of time indicates that the species is poorly suited to alien environments. Prolonged stay (that is to say a stay lasting several years minimum) outside their home planet seems to make members of the species very susceptible to various illnesses and deficiencies. Additionally, the research of the ferallion historical records indicates that drastic changes in their own planetary environment - such as those brought about by the use of coal and oil as a power source - have severe negative effects on the population as a whole. To combat this, ferallion habitats are thoroughly permeated by the eco-tech of their own making.
The ferallion settlements are comparatively small and surprisingly far apart, the population density in the settlement also being relatively low.

Societal Structure

Societal hierarchy

Ferallion society is a constitutional monarchy, quite reminiscant of feudal systems on Earth. On top of the governmental hierarchy is the king or queen (hereafter referred to as “monarch”), and below the monarch the power is divided between lords and ladies all ruling their own respective clans, which in turn rule over smaller clans, which rule over even smaller ones and so on and so forth. The clan leaders and those of their family – adopted and by blood – are collectively referred to as nobles.
The ultimate power to reign and rule is in the hands of the monarch but the monarch has three advisory tools at his or her disposal: The ministers (personal, specialized advisors of the monarch), the small council, which consists of the representatives of the clans directly under the monarch (at the time of writing, there are five), and the great council, which consists of one representative from each and every officially recognised clan within the realm. The members of both councils are elected for a five year term by elections arranged by each of the clans. The number of terms is not limited, and neither is the amount of ministers, although the latter is in the monarch's sole discretion.
Although the monarch has extensive powers to rule as they see fit, some constitutional limitations still apply, and these limitations can be altered only by a minimum of 3 to 1 ratio of for and against in five consecutive great council votes set a minimum of four months apart from one another. These limitations include at least the following:

• Freedom of expression: The freedom of opinion and its expression are considered unalienable rights and any kind of criticism of the government and monarch is allowed - and indeed strongly protected. While these freedoms have some limitations mostly based on the common sense interpretation of the phrase “one's freedoms cannot infringe on those of another's”, it is strictly forbidden for the government to use the power of law enforcement to avenge an insult, and the one who has suffered the insult must instead deal with it as private entities.
• Lawful rule: Every action and decree of the monarch must be based on written law and monarch or noble who infringes on written law with a decree can be tried for treason.
• Voice of the subjects: when creating a new law or revising an old one, the monarch has to take into account the opinions presented by the councils and any number of other advisers he or she may have appointed.
• War and peace: declarations of war when not going to the aid of an ally must have the majority vote in the grand council.
• vote of no confidence: At any time, the subjects of the monarch may call a vote of no confidence and every eligible ferallion must cast a vote. The vote is to be strictly unbiased and should the monarch ever lose more than 50 per cent of the vote, he or she is to step down and a vote for a new monarch is to be arranged.

Some additional limitations are also in place, mainly to stop indiscriminate unlawful imprisonment and creation of clearly biased or bogus laws. However it is reasonable to presume that if that kind of situation comes to pass, the vote of no confidence would be invoked.
Clan leaders wield more localised governmental power. In addition of making sure that royal decrees are executed correctly (and spearheading the petitions for possible local exceptions or amendments should the royal decree clash with the clan's circumstances) they run their clan's day to day affairs and make smaller, more local executive decisions that (at least presumably) don't need the monarch's input. In addition, the noble is entitled to a command of a personal levy that consists of one third of the total manpower he or she can raise. However, the remaining two thirds are by law under command of the one above the noble in question, and the command of the royal starfleet as well as the heavily armored elements of the army and navy are under the monarch's direct command.
The relationship between the clan leaders and the monarch can at times be rather complex. The monarch holds the oaths of fealty of the nobles and has supreme authority over them with the power to strip them of all titles, banish, or even execute them almost at will. However, the monarch has to also keep the peace between the clans and make sure clan leaders don't get too unhappy with the situation since the clan leaders often hold their subjects' loyalty and clans themselves hold some influence. During the last couple generations, the people have begun to swear loyalty to both the monarch and their respective nobles but regardless of this, the monarch could never be absolutely sure where the loyalties of his or her subjects lie. This is further compounded by the levies nobles are allowed to raise and command, and while a single noble cannot tip the scales on their own, a group of them might. Because of all this, the monarch has to play difficult game of divide and conquer with the large amount of nobles and influential military officers in order to keep the realm from plummeting into another civil war.
Nobles lead their clans with the help of their families which in this case is far more far reaching term than usual. Along with the blood relatives, any clan leader's “family” consists of adopted members, highly capable subjects of the noble's rule, men and women alike who have somehow gained influence, impressed the clan leaders or are experts on their respective fields. The adopted members of the noble family are considered nobles but they are generally regarded as nobles of lesser value, upstarts. Some choose to refuse the noble title because of the added responsibilities and expectations but those who choose to receive their new title are often motivated enough to show the older families why the new blood is required.

Societal advancement

Despite the seemingly rigid hierarchy, social advancement is very much possible even for a commoner. Distinguished military service is one of the simplest methods, since local clan leaders as well as higher rank nobles are always on the lookout for talent. In addition, officer ranks carry a respectable amount of prestige in and of themselves.
For those not willing or able to ascend the ranks of military, there is a high chance that in the effort of working to perfect your chosen art - be it in the field of culture, sports, technology, science or anything else - one gains the prestige and connections to directly influence how the nation is run. Finally, politically active citizens may form parties and lobbying groups, petitioning nobles or even the monarch themselves to fix a perceived flaw in the system. Given all these facts, and the fact that currently great council representatives are chosen by election in majority of the clans, your average ferallion has a variety of ways to get their opinion heard, or to ascend the societal hierarchy.

The legal system

Ferallion legal system functions with the presumption of innocence and both the accused and accuser are entitled to legal representation. The first level of legal proceedings is the court of peers where judges and jury decide upon the guilt or innocence of the accused based on testimonies and evidence. Both parties have the right to complain about the verdict, and the situation is handled by the noble court. The noble court does away with the jury and the decision is made by the noble ruling over both parties. If the parties are under two different lords, the two lords agree upon a third one to make the judgement – or defer to a royal command, should the two lords fail to come to an agreement. Finally, if either party complains about the decision of the noble court, the case is brought in front of the monarch, whose judgement is final, and to be enacted instantly. Both the noble and the monarch making the judgement have legal advisers available, as well as judges to observe that the given verdicts remain lawful.
Some crimes can be settled outside courtroom, and the ferallion legal system does recognise trial by combat on some very specific situations. Trial by combat has to be agreed upon by both parties, after which the rules are agreed upon. The result of this trial is final and the matter solved by combat cannot be taken to court unless circumstances change drastically.