Hoytachian

The Hoytachians (Hoygaten) are a species of beings hailing from the Tera'bii Cluster. Some have described them as similar to earthly goats, anteaters and elephants. Their name in Kimbeau roughly translates to "Old Beings" as they are not only predisposed to behaving in a manner similar to elderly individuals of other species but are the oldest sentient species still living within the gauss galaxy.
Myths say they were created by the Krashen as a joke. Others say their unusual appearance was the result of genetic engineering or selective breeding, or simply evolution dealing a bad hand to the creatures.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Hoytachians possess a hunched over appearance. Their body is shorter and wider than a human's. Their rear limbs having a digitigrade stance and projecting a hoof while their forelimbs possess hands with a thumb to either side and two fingers, ending in claws.
Naturally, all of a Hoytachian is covered in thick fur, typically a dark brown in color (though gray, black, and dark red colorations have also been observed).
The Hoytachians also possess a very long and very flexible tail. Made up of a thick muscular braid it can be used as a sort of third limb.
On their head they grow two horns. These appear to be largely vestigial of some prior period in their evolution.
Their most notable feature however is their extremely large trunk-like nose. An airway runs down from the nostrils to the bottom of the trunk and then back up into the nasal cavity, with the entire trunk being lined with olfactory sensors.

Genetics and Reproduction

All hoytachians are hermaphrodites, possessing both male and female reproductive organs. Typically when mating, both partners will impregnate one another and produce eggs. Typically a single mating session will yield only one egg from each partner though some individuals will lay multiple eggs though not all at once.
Hoytachians are known to sometimes lay infertile eggs, even if they have not mated in a long time.

Growth Rate & Stages

Infancy (0-3sgy)

Infant Hoytachians are known to be hyperactive, and parenthood for hoytachians can be trying. Instead of crying, they make a blet sound similar to a baby goat. Hoytachian parents will often pre-chew and regurgitate food for their infants to consume.

Adolescence (3-15sgy)

During this time a Hoytachian will grow a fine downy coat, and increase in size gradually. They do not have a notable growth spurt. Around this time they become mature enough to be capable of complex communication and cognitive development. They will lose this coat when they reach adulthood and instead grow much coarser fur. Their senses become much more acute as they grow and their trunk will grow to its full length. 

Early Adulthood (15-18sgy)

This could be seen as Hoytachian "puberty". During this time their horns will begin to develop, and they will secrete strong smell hormones that indicate they are of mating age. The horns are largely non functional for any competitive or combat purposes but often play a role in attractiveness. Though the strength and precise smell of hormones is also a factor.

Adulthood (18-350sgy)

Mature Hoytachians have a lower libido than young adults, and experience a drop in fertility as they age. Upon reaching adulthood their bodies slow down significantly. It is believed that if left to live in the wild, Hoytachians would die around 25-30 standard years after being born due to physical insufficiencies and the degradation of their bodies. However in carefully curated conditions of civilization individuals that would die in the wild due to disease or age can live for hundreds of years.

Additional Information

Average Intelligence

Hoytachians have moderately higher intelligence than most other sentient species. This is believed to be in part mostly to their long lifespan and cultural predisposition to education, meditation and empirical thought.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Hoytachains have a poor sense of sight. Their eyes can only perceive black and white, and they frequently suffer from far-sightedness.
The Hoytachian's sense of smell, and related areas of the brain able to process smells are immensely well-developed. Able to identify and memorize thousands of scents throughout their lifetime and accurately track and identify individuals, even aliens by their scent.

Civilization and Culture

Average Technological Level

Hoytachians have some of the most advanced technology ever witnessed in the gauss galaxy. Their primary claims to fame have been incredibly sophisticated gravity manipulation technologies. They were the first species to attain faster than light travel by way of warp drives. They have also genetically engineered themselves as well as many plants and animals.

Culture and Cultural Heritage

Hoytachian culture has morphed around their highly developed sense of smell and many of their activities incorporate smell. The native hoytachian languages often have over 1,000 different words to precisely describe various scents. These words do not translate well into other languages creating an issue roughly described as 'trying to describe color to someone who only sees in black and white'.
Hoytachian culture is also extremely bearucractic. Virtually everything requires a near endless amount of procedures, paperwork, meetings and approval processes. Hoytachians heavily value thoroughness and hard work to an almost comical degree. The government of society (even local governance and religious administration) is a labyrinthine web of committees, procedures, regulations, and so on. This dedication to thorough review and procedure is seen as noble. Elderly hoytachians often die in lengthy council meetings and this is seen in their culture as a noble fate, to die in pursuit of greater wisdom and paitence.
Despite having access to advanced computers, Hoytachians prefer to make use of traditional paper scrolls for doccumentation. Often writing with scented inks to convey a specific mood, inflection or intensity in their writing. The use of a particular scented ink or combination of them is just as legally binding as whatever if physically written on the paper.

Epoch Storytelling

Hoytachians enjoy a genre of writing known as Epoch Storytelling. Epoch stories are often incredibly long, with the shorter ones being in excess of ten million words. Epoch stories are often highly descriptive of the characters motives and actions, as well as the scenery. This elaborate descriptive prose is not mere filler or a test of paitence on the part of the reader, but often contributes to or foreshadows events later in the story. Traditionally, Epoch stories are written by hand on paper scrolls, even in the current era of highly advanced technology.
Choices in calligraphy can emphasize the tone of the story (with smooth lettering for calm scenes, rigid lettering for informative scences or ones centering around procedure, and jagged lettering to emphasize violent, aggressive emotions). The choice of paper and ink can also be distinctly important as there are hundreds of types with distinct odors which can linger for many years.
Original copies of epoch stories are immensely valued, particularly if they carry the unique scent markers of the author.

History

The Hoytachians have been a space faring species for around 13,000 years. Early in their history they fought a civil war between two distinct religious ideologies. The Followers of Mazungaten and the Followers of the cult of Sur'vur. The followers of Mazungaten believed in a singular deity "He who steps time from one moment to the next." while the followers of the cult of Sur'vur believed that the universe was governed by a pantheon of eldrich beings called 'Arpiurs' who connected to the power of 'Sur'vur' and were manipulating galactic events for their entertainment.
The Followers of Mazungaten lost the fight for their homeworld. In their rage they used starship tractor beams to throw their home planet into its parent star along with most of the Arpiurs who were defending it. They later regretted the vast loss of history and culture this had incurred and adopted a philosophy of Mazunsorusdiobarok. (Time for Enlightened thinking and wisdom). A philosophy which, in simple terms describes that one should think carefully before acting and not throw their homeworld into a star.
After adopting this philosophy, Hoytachian society became convoluted and bureaucratic. They fell into nearly complete stagnation until other species began to arise.

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

For most of history, Hoytachians have looked down upon younger species. Viewing them as short lived, violent and iracible vermin that cannot ever learn to appreciate their enlightened ways or be worthy of their advanced technology and way of living. As of the dominion era they have grown to live alongside other species. There is still a lingering element of interspecies tension, but the issues are largely superficial and rarely incur serious strife.

Lifespan

350 Years

Average Height

1.8m

Average Weight

150kg

Average Physique

Hoytachians have a very hunched over physique having never properly evolved to walk upright. Some undergoing genetic engineering may have a more upright and bipedal appearance. This leads almost all hoytachians to carry a Daie staff.