Shalgan

The Shalgan, also known as Hierarchs by humanity, are a near-extinct sapient species native to the planet Gagnoania. The Shalgan serve as the leadership caste of the Hivivian Empire, and exert complete control over the Hivivian's political and technological affairs. Shalgan civilization and culture is based on technology that was left behind by the Yictan, an extremely advance and extinct alien culture. Shalgan once revered the Yictan as both rivals and equals, and are the only galactic race that lived at the same time as the Yictan, in which the a bloody war known as the Yictan-Shalgan war.

Biology

Anatomy and physiology

Shalgan are a bipedal species that may share features with salamanders. They are cold-blooded and give birth to live offspring. However, Shalgan have not reproduced biologically in thousands of years. They possess three fingers, including an opposable thumb, which has allowed them to use a variety of hand tools. The Shalgan's circulatory system contains a three-chambered heart with two atria and one ventricle. Blood leaving the ventricle passes into one of four vessels. Shalgan blood does contain hemoglobin, making it red in color. Shalgan possess two lungs that primarily function in a nitrogen-oxygen-based atmosphere.
Most Shalgan have a curved spine as a result of evolving in space after leaving the higher gravity of their homeworld. This causes most Shalgan to be frail and weak, as their muscles do not need to be as strong to support their weight. Their heads are elongated, and their eyes are large and deep-set, allowing them to see in low-light environments. Their skin is smooth and varies in shades from light to dark gray. The outermost layer of their epidermis can secrete a thin, mucous-like film that helps regulate hydration and temperature. This secretion, while often clear, does not alter the color of their skin. The skin itself is quite sensitive to changes in pressure and temperature, allowing them to detect shifts in the atmosphere or nearby movement with remarkable precision. Shalgan limbs are long and slender, adapted for dexterity rather than brute strength. Their fingers, while relatively short, are exceptionally nimble and contain a unique tendon structure that allows for a greater range of motion compared to many other bipedal species. Their opposable thumbs are double-jointed, further enhancing their ability to manipulate objects with precision. This fine motor control has enabled them to develop and utilize complex tools, a skill that has only been refined over generations in space.
The nervous system of the Shalgan is highly developed, particularly in areas related to sensory processing. Their brains are elongated, with an intricate network of neural pathways dedicated to spatial awareness and environmental adaptation. Their auditory system is not as sensitive as their visual system, but they possess a secondary set of vestigial ear structures that aid in detecting vibrations. These structures, remnants of their evolutionary past, have lost much of their original function but still provide some level of sensitivity to sound waves in certain frequencies. Despite their frail musculature, Shalgan possess an efficient energy conservation mechanism. Their bodies metabolize energy at a slower rate than many species, allowing them to sustain themselves for longer periods without needing frequent nourishment. This efficiency also extends to their respiratory system. Their lungs are lined with an intricate network of alveoli-like structures that maximize the absorption of nitrogen and oxygen. Additionally, their ability to slow their heart rate at will enables them to endure extended periods of low oxygen availability without significant physiological distress.

Genetics

Shalgan genetics exhibit a stable and tightly regulated genomic architecture. Their DNA is double-stranded and chemically analogous to that of most carbon-based lifeforms, though notable for its unusually low mutation rate. This genomic stability is attributed to an enhanced set of DNA repair enzymes—particularly a highly active form of nucleotide excision repair—that reduces the impact of both replication errors and environmental mutagens. These features are thought to be a result of natural selection during the early stages of Shalgan evolution on Gagnoania, where variable radiation levels and environmental stressors likely influenced early genomic resilience.
Shalgan possess 28 chromosome pairs, including four pairs of specialized regulatory chromosomes that contain sequences responsible for managing hormonal balance, developmental pacing, and sensory adaptation. Unlike humans, Shalgan do not exhibit sex chromosomes; instead, sex-related traits are governed by environmental and epigenetic triggers, which were once linked to seasonal cycles on Gagnoania but are now largely dormant due to the species’ shift to artificial reproduction. The advent of long-term cloning and genomic engineering has left a significant mark on the modern Shalgan genome. For thousands of years, their population has been maintained through a combination of direct somatic cloning and controlled zygotic recombination, using preserved germline templates. These processes have been refined to eliminate harmful alleles, standardize cognitive baselines, and maintain critical physiological functions. As a result, modern Shalgan exhibit limited genetic variability, especially among the Conservative caste. However, a few lineages—primarily among the Stoics—retain higher genomic diversity due to their resistance to cloning and continued practice of natural reproduction.
Shalgan genes related to neurological development are particularly well-conserved and complex. Their neurogenesis-related loci encode for dense synaptic networks, extended cortical plasticity, and enhanced memory retention pathways. Several rare alleles have been identified in laboratory analysis that promote efficient cross-hemispheric signaling and facilitate rapid pattern recognition, contributing to the Shalgan's reputation for high intelligence and strategic cognition. Mitochondrial DNA in Shalgan cells is relatively compact but efficient, encoding for metabolic pathways optimized for low-gravity and low-nutrient environments. These adaptations reduce oxidative stress and cellular aging—traits which, along with somatic gene regulation, support their long lifespans. Telomere-maintenance genes are also highly active, with built-in redundancy in replication and expression cycles to counteract senescence without uncontrolled cell proliferation.
The Shalgan genome contains latent sequences believed to have been once associated with adaptive phenotypic responses to atmospheric shifts, such as dermal pigmentation, mucus production, and metabolic rate modulation. While most of these genes are now either inactive or artificially managed, they remain present in the genome and are occasionally expressed in Stoic lineages, especially under extreme environmental stress. Despite the Shalgan's technological and medical mastery of genetics, certain long-term concerns have emerged. The continued reliance on limited germline templates has led to discussions about the risk of genetic bottlenecks, particularly as the total Shalgan population declines. Genetic ethicists within the Hivivian Empire have proposed programs to reintroduce controlled variability into the population through synthetic recombination or hybridization with compatible species, though such proposals remain controversial and politically sensitive.

Life cycle and Reproduction

Shalgan life begins not through natural reproduction, but through a highly regulated artificial process that has been the standard for over three thousand years. While they are a biologically viviparous species—originally capable of internal fertilization and live birth—this method has been almost entirely abandoned by the Conservative Shalgan, who now rely on exogenic gestation via synthetic biowombs housed in secure, climate-controlled facilities known as growth chambers.
The genetic material used in reproduction is carefully selected from preserved gene archives containing viable sequences dating back tens of thousands of years. This selection process is governed by a council of genetic custodians who assess viability, compatibility, and projected phenotype, ensuring that only the most stable and functionally useful traits are passed on. Each embryo is subject to pre-developmental screening to eliminate mutations, regulate epigenetic markers, and calibrate developmental rates. Once artificial gestation begins, the embryo develops over a period of roughly 16 months. During this time, it is monitored by automated systems that maintain optimal nutrient delivery, simulate maternal biochemical rhythms, and adjust environmental variables such as pressure and temperature to match ancestral intrauterine conditions. At the end of the gestation period, the neonate is extracted and undergoes a multi-phase acclimation process, including immune priming and neuro-sensory calibration.
After birth, development is comparatively slow in terms of physical maturation. Shalgan reach functional adulthood between 35 and 40 years of age, though cognitive and social learning is accelerated through immersive neural stimulation and structured education beginning within the first three years. Their early years are spent in cohort-based academies that double as both living environments and educational institutions, emphasizing group identity and functional utility over individual expression. Biological puberty still occurs in the traditional sense, but its hormonal effects are moderated by standard endocrine therapy that regulates emotional volatility and stabilizes long-term developmental outcomes. Because of this, psychological maturity is reached relatively early in comparison to unregulated species, with most Shalgan entering societal service roles by their mid-forties.
Though reproduction is technologically managed among the Conservatives, it is still biologically possible. However, the natural fertility rate among modern Shalgan is extremely low due to long-term genetic drift, a history of clonal propagation, and widespread muscular atrophy in reproductive organs. Among Stoics, who continue to reproduce naturally in limited numbers, fertility rates are higher but still decline with age. Conception typically requires carefully managed environments and assistance from fertility specialists, and gestation among naturally born Shalgan lasts approximately 15 Earth months. Throughout life, Shalgan experience three major physiological phases: formative (0–40 years), functional (40–800 years), and late (800+ years). Most physical aging is extremely gradual due to optimized telomere regulation, low metabolic stress, and high-efficiency cellular repair mechanisms. Individuals in the late phase may continue functioning for centuries, though sensory and motor functions tend to degrade after 1,200 years, even with medical intervention.
Death, when not caused by external factors, typically results from cumulative organ fatigue or neural decay. Among Conservatives, end-of-life choices are often made voluntarily, with individuals choosing a formal deactivation ritual once cognitive performance declines beyond a socially accepted threshold. Among Stoics, death is viewed as a natural culmination of the life cycle and is generally not postponed artificially.

Diet

Shalgan are obligate omnivores with a digestive system optimized for both plant-based and protein-rich foods. However, due to the species’ long-term habitation in sterile environments such as orbital stations and deep-space vessels, their natural dietary habits have shifted significantly from their ancestral norms. The modern Shalgan diet is highly standardized and nutritionally regulated, with most food intake consisting of pre-processed synthetic meals designed to meet individual biochemical needs. Traditional Shalgan cuisine, once based on aquatic vegetation, mollusk-like protein sources, and dense root vegetables native to Gagnoania, has largely vanished among Conservative populations. These populations rely almost exclusively on lab-cultured nutrient blocks, hydroponically grown algae variants, and protein-restructured paste formed from microbial cultures. These meals are not consumed for taste but for efficiency, often delivered in semi-solid or gel-like form, optimized for minimal digestive load and rapid nutrient absorption.
Shalgan metabolic rates are relatively low due to their cold-blooded physiology, allowing them to maintain energy equilibrium with infrequent meals. An adult Shalgan typically eats once every 40 to 60 hours, although this can vary depending on temperature, activity level, and environmental pressure. Their digestive enzymes are highly specialized, enabling efficient breakdown of polysaccharides and non-cellulose plant matter, while also tolerating moderate levels of synthetic preservatives and mineral fortification agents. Hydration is vital due to their mucosal skin regulation system. As such, Shalgan water intake is strictly monitored. Instead of free drinking water, most hydration is integrated into their food medium as hydronutrient compounds, ensuring electrolyte balance and thermal regulation without waste. This method reduces evaporation loss in zero-gravity environments and supports longer metabolic stability.
Taste and culinary culture have been largely deprioritized among the Conservative Shalgan, where meals are utilitarian and largely devoid of strong flavor. However, Stoic Shalgan still maintain more traditional food practices. They cultivate native Gagnoanian flora in greenhouses for ceremonial meals. Their diet remains more diverse, including fermented roots, nutrient-rich fungi, and occasionally insect analogs, all prepared using heat and stone-based methods. Because of the Shalgan’s sensitive internal biochemistry, foreign proteins—particularly those from non-Hivivian species—must undergo rigorous denaturing and chemical neutralization before consumption. Failure to do so can result in digestive distress or metabolic imbalance. As a result, diplomatic meals shared with other species are either avoided or heavily supervised by medical personnel.
Nutritional science is a formal discipline among the Shalgan, particularly within their administrative caste, where food intake is tightly integrated into health monitoring systems. Nutrient levels are logged through internal biosensors, which automatically calibrate meal composition and caloric load. In military or exploratory roles, rations are compact and shelf-stable, containing tailored blends of amino acids, slow-release carbohydrates, and essential trace elements. These rations are engineered to support prolonged mental clarity and neuromuscular efficiency, even under stress or deprivation.
While the Shalgan do not possess culinary traditions in the hedonistic or aesthetic sense, the act of communal nourishment—especially among Stoics—is still culturally significant. Shared meals are tied to religious observance, rites of passage, and seasonal cycles on Gagnoania. For Conservatives, food rituals have been almost entirely displaced by biometric efficiency and precision nutrition planning.

Biological variation

Biological variation among the Shalgan is relatively narrow due to millennia of genetic control, selective breeding, and eventual transition to synthetic reproduction. Most modern Shalgan descend from a limited number of preserved genetic templates, leading to a population that is homogenous by natural evolutionary standards. However, some degree of variation remains, primarily influenced by environmental, historical, and cultural factors.
Conservative Shalgan, who have lived for generations in orbital habitats and microgravity conditions, tend to exhibit more pronounced skeletal curvature, elongated limbs, and reduced muscle density. These traits are adaptive responses to long-term low-gravity environments and have been reinforced over time through gene-editing programs that favor minimal skeletal load and energy efficiency. Their cranial structures are also slightly more expanded, with emphasis on cortical development, particularly in regions associated with memory and spatial reasoning. In contrast, Stoic Shalgan, who remained on the surface of Gagnoania, retain a more robust musculature and denser bone structure. These individuals show slightly shorter stature on average, broader chests, and less spinal curvature. Their exposure to natural gravity and environmental stressors on Gagnoania has preserved ancestral physiological traits that have largely diminished among their orbital counterparts. Although they are considered physically stronger, their neural development is typically less augmented.
Skin tone among the Shalgan ranges from light silvery-gray to near-black, influenced by both heritage and local UV exposure levels. While pigmentation carries no cultural significance among Conservatives, some Stoic groups associate darker skin tones with spiritual lineage or divine favor. Subtle variations in dermal secretion rates also exist, likely linked to humidity levels in respective habitats; individuals from drier orbital environments secrete less of the protective mucosal film compared to those raised in the more humid lowlands of Gagnoania. There are also minor variations in sensory traits. Some Shalgan possess slightly enlarged ocular structures, providing enhanced night vision—a trait believed to have originated during early underground habitation on their homeworld. Auditory sensitivity shows less variation, though certain Stoic lineages exhibit increased vibration sensitivity through vestigial inner ear structures, possibly retained for ritual or survival purposes in ancestral caverns.

Psychology & Intelligence

The cognitive profile of the Shalgan is among the most advanced ever recorded in sapient species, with measured intelligence quotients ranging between 320 and 470, depending on genetic line, educational conditioning, and caste function. These values are drawn from the Hivivian Triune Cognitive Scale, which evaluates logical inference, multi-variable decision modeling, memory compression, temporal prediction, and structural reasoning. The Shalgan brain exhibits a dense and highly layered neocortex, with particularly pronounced development in the fronto-insular and dorsolateral prefrontal regions. These areas are responsible for complex decision-making, ethical reasoning, and probabilistic forecasting. Neural imaging from modern Shalgan individuals reveals extensive inter-hemispheric connectivity via a hypertrophied corpus callosum, suggesting a high level of parallel processing and cross-domain integration. This neuroanatomical architecture allows for real-time synthesis of symbolic language, mathematical data, and socio-political dynamics.
Working memory capacity among Shalgan is extraordinarily high. Experimental trials conducted aboard the Hivivian research vessel Tenor Lexos documented Shalgan subjects successfully maintaining and manipulating up to 38 discrete informational units in short-term working memory—a figure far exceeding the typical range (7–9) in baseline humanoid species. Long-term memory storage is equally robust. Their memory formation relies heavily on episodic clustering—storing sensory, temporal, and conceptual data in deeply interlinked associative webs. This capability enables rapid retrieval of complex systems knowledge (e.g., starship substructure layouts, political treaties, historical lineages) in dynamic problem-solving contexts. The learning rate of Shalgan is steepest between the biological ages of 10 and 60 years, a period during which their neural plasticity remains at peak levels. During this phase, most Shalgan are enrolled in state-managed cognitive enhancement programs that include neurofeedback conditioning, simulation-based forecasting, and artificial mnemonic indexing. These programs are designed to optimize not just factual recall but also adaptive abstraction—the ability to restructure known frameworks to solve novel problems.
Emotionally, the Shalgan psyche is highly modulated. While neurochemical analysis confirms the presence of analogues to serotonin, dopamine, and other regulatory neurotransmitters, the behavioral response to stimuli is controlled through a culturally instilled system of affective governance. Beginning at early development, individuals are trained to recognize emotional states as variables to be monitored rather than indulged. Emotional discipline is not suppressive but rather channelled—used to inform intuition, signal behavioral feedback, or reinforce long-term goals. As a result, emotional outbursts are exceptionally rare, and psychological resilience is remarkably high, with Shalgan scoring in the upper percentiles for delayed gratification, risk assessment, and crisis tolerance. Moral reasoning among the Shalgan is typically consequentialist and collective-focused. Ethical decisions are judged based on predictive outcomes for systems stability, not individual experience. This macro-scale utilitarianism is reflected in Shalgan jurisprudence, where decisions are passed not by majority or personal testimony, but by modeling the second- and third-order consequences of various policy paths. While this approach minimizes social volatility, it has led to a reputation for cold rationalism, particularly when dealing with species that prioritize emotional or individualist values. Despite their intellectual rigor, the Shalgan cognitive model does contain specific limitations. Their emphasis on long-range planning and equilibrium management makes them prone to deliberation paralysis in environments requiring rapid improvisation. In open-ended exploratory tasks where variables are poorly defined, Shalgan performance drops by an estimated 12–15%, as they rely heavily on predefined schemas and predictive algorithms. This is somewhat mitigated by their use of decision-support AIs and heuristic modeling agents, but remains a soft limitation of their psychological profile.
Social cognition is deeply ingrained but highly formalized. Shalgan are capable of tracking complex interpersonal networks, power dynamics, and cultural protocols across interstellar distances. They maintain mental representations not just of individuals, but of entire institutional bodies and their likely future behaviors. This grants them extraordinary diplomatic acumen, but also leads to interpersonal communication styles that are ritualized and hierarchical, often frustrating to species accustomed to casual or emotive interaction. Their epistemological orientation—the way they categorize and process knowledge—is heavily layered and taxonomic. All information is sorted into hierarchical categories, with known ontologies updated frequently through state-sponsored cognitive audits. Shalgan individuals are expected to integrate personal experience into broader theoretical frameworks, and deviation from accepted knowledge models is permissible only with evidence-based justification and peer verification.

Culture

Shalgan culture is often divided into two different sect; the conservatives, and the stoics. The conservatives are commonly more progressive, technologically advanced, and physically frail. The stoics, however, tend to be more muscular, religious, and warriors. It was the conservative Shangan that left their homeworld of Gagnoania to reside in space habits and starships, eventually forming the Hivivian Empire alongside the Shilizal and other races. The Stoics on the other hand, remained on Gagnoania and were strongly opposed to all forms of technology.

Language

The primary language of the Shalgan is known as Shaluun, a tonal, highly structured language designed for clarity, precision, and efficient communication across various technological and cultural contexts. Shaluun features a relatively small set of phonemes, but compensates with complex pitch modulation and timing, making tone and inflection critical to meaning. Misplaced intonation can completely alter the intent of a phrase, which makes spoken fluency difficult for non-native speakers.
Grammatically, Shaluun is agglutinative, forming long compound words that bundle together core ideas, actions, and contextual modifiers. This linguistic efficiency is well-suited to digital transmission, and as a result, Shaluun has evolved alongside Shalgan technology to integrate seamlessly with communication systems, AI interfaces, and command protocols. Shaluun uses a dual-channel system of communication: vocal and gestural. Subtle hand movements, posture shifts, and even blink patterns can modify or supplement the spoken word. Among Shalgan, especially in formal or high-level exchanges, it is considered improper to speak without the corresponding physical cues. This has led to the belief among other Hivivian species that Shalgan conversations are partially encrypted in body language, which is not entirely inaccurate.
The written form of Shaluun is logographic and vertical, composed of stacked glyphs that indicate word roots, grammatical roles, and relational context. Characters are symmetrical and often mirror in orientation depending on whether the subject or object of a sentence is dominant. These glyphs are optimized for fast optical recognition, and many Shalgan data systems are capable of interpreting handwritten entries with high accuracy. Regional dialects exist, though most are functionally identical in structure. Conservative enclaves often use a variant called Shaluun-Kar, which includes archaic glyphs and borrowed lexicon from recovered Yictan inscriptions. These words are typically reserved for philosophical, scientific, or ceremonial use and rarely appear in daily communication.
Within the Stoic populations on Gagnoania, an older dialect survives, informally referred to as Old Shaluun or Pre-Karic Shaluun. It is less reliant on technological integration, spoken more slowly, and features a stronger emphasis on oral tradition and mnemonic devices. This dialect is preserved mainly through ritual storytelling, chants, and song-based memory transmission. Despite these variations, Shaluun remains a unifying force among the Shalgan. Proficiency is seen as a marker of status and intellect, and it is taught universally from the earliest stages of cognitive development. Most Shalgan are multilingual, but Shaluun remains the default for official communication, political discourse, and scientific documentation throughout the Hivivian Empire.

Naming conventions

Shalgan naming conventions are structured, hierarchical, and deeply reflective of their societal values, particularly in the Conservative caste. A full Shalgan name typically consists of three components: a personal identifier, a lineage or genetic designation, and a caste or institutional affiliation suffix. These components are not randomly assigned but follow formal protocols administered by bureaucratic registries, often decided before the individual is even decanted from artificial gestation.
The personal identifier—the equivalent of a given name—is chosen based on a naming cycle derived from ancient Gagnoanian linguistic roots. Names are reused periodically across generations, often tied to occupation or social expectation. For instance, names such as Voran, Elissi, or Tehkral may be assigned to those intended for administrative, research, or diplomatic roles, respectively.
The lineage or genetic designation refers to the gene-template or cohort from which the individual was produced. This is especially prominent in the cloned and artificially reproduced members of the Conservative caste. The designation is often a contraction of the originating gene-sequence's registry code, stylized into pronounceable form. For example, a Shalgan named Voran-Ki’shal-Vaelar would be from the Ki’shal genetic line, indicating their ancestry or production batch.
The institutional or caste suffix indicates the domain or function the individual is affiliated with. This could relate to a specific scientific guild, diplomatic council, or administrative sector. Vaelar, Trelon, and Khevir are common institutional suffixes seen among government, military, and research roles, respectively.
While this tripartite naming system is standard among Conservatives, variations exist. High-ranking individuals may carry extended ceremonial names—particularly those serving in the Council of Trium—which include historical honorifics, event-linked epithets, or titles tied to Yictan-derived knowledge achievements. For example: Tehkral-Da’vul-Khevirin-Jurak'Teyn translates loosely as "Tehkral of the Da’vul line, affiliated with Khevirin Institute, recognized as Jurak-Teyn (holder of fourth-tier clearance in ancestral artifact studies)."
In informal settings or intra-caste communication, shortened names are used, often consisting of just the personal and genetic identifier (e.g., Elissi-Toran). In Stoic society, naming conventions are much simpler. They generally consist of a single or compound name reflecting birth order, environmental features, or mythic figures—e.g., Rahu, Delgarun, or Sharak-Val—without suffixes. These names are spoken in full and carry personal as well as symbolic meaning, often chosen by family or tribal elders. Among both castes, names carry not just identity but historical memory. Certain names are retired after moments of disgrace or preserved through honorific revival, ensuring that each name used continues to reflect the weight of Shalgan legacy.

Tools and technologies

Prior to their encounter with the Yictan in their home system, were one of the most technologically advanced species in the Milky Way, becoming a space-faring race by developing their own starships. The Shalgan's starships were considered impressive even by the Yictan. The Shalgan were responsible for developing a temporal stasis field that brought the passage of time to a stop through sophisticated higher-dimensional manipulation.
Following the Shalgan-Yictan War and the resettling of Gagnoania, the species redeveloped their technology based on their observation of Yictan artifacts. Conservative Shalgan developed their own technologies, such as Vision surveillance drones, anti-gravity belts, shuttlecraft, drop pods equipped with protective force fields, and pulse rifles. The Conservatives also experimented with various active camouflage systems. However, the Stoics largely resisted technological progress, perhaps fearing that technological advancement may have incurred the wrath of their gods. By 20,000 BCE, the Stoics had advanced little within the past millennium, maintaining a Tier 5 civilization by Yictan standards.
Within the Hivivian, the Shalgan combined their knowledge with Shilizal and other species, advancing their empire's technology level to Tier 2. As the Hivivian came across new Yictan artifacts, the Shalgan utilized them to build new technology for the Hivivian. Many of the Shalgan advancements came from the Yictan Dreadnought the Conservatives had originally taken from Gagnoania. However, the Hivivian's recovery and analysis of Yictan technology under Shalgan direction was the origin of most of the empire's technology, with artifacts from numerous Yictan sites providing substantial technological progress for the Hivivian. Technological advancements yielded from Yictan artifacts included hyperspace travel and communication, the manipulation of extremely high volumes of plasma energy through recycling detritus from sublight travel, the basic control and utilization of hard light, short-range teleportation of matter, and advanced influence over gravity and repulsor-based technologies, among other developments.

Religion and spirituality

Shalgan religion and spirituality are deeply rooted in their cultural schism between the Stoic and Conservative factions. These two groups hold fundamentally different spiritual beliefs, shaped by their history, environment, and interaction with advanced technology. Stoic Shalgan practice an ancient form of animistic reverence centered on the planetary spirit of Gagnoania, often referred to as Kavaan. They believe that every geological formation, atmospheric pattern, and living organism is part of a larger planetary consciousness that communicates through natural signs—tremors, wind shifts, or biological anomalies. This belief system is accompanied by ritual observances tied to planetary cycles, such as the Rite of Stillness, in which adherents remain motionless for a full day in harmony with perceived shifts in Gagnoania's electromagnetic fields. Their spiritual leaders, known as Vekari, serve as both interpreters of these signs and protectors of traditional doctrine.
In contrast, Conservative Shalgan largely view religion through a philosophical and symbolic lens. While they no longer practice formal worship, many revere the Yictan as transcendent figures—beings who embodied the pinnacle of intellect, order, and balance. This form of reverence does not take the form of deification but exists as a cultural philosophy referred to as Yictan Idealism. It holds that technological advancement and control over entropy are pathways to spiritual ascension. Shrines to Yictan principles, rather than Yictan individuals, are present aboard Hivivian vessels and include inscriptions of translated Yictan maxims such as: “Stability is the strength of the star.” Despite these differences, both groups share a belief in legacy preservation as a spiritual imperative. The Stoics engage in oral tradition and ancestor rituals, reciting lineage histories during key life events like death rites or transitions to adulthood. For example, during the Rising Flame ceremony, a deceased Stoic’s remains are symbolically returned to the soil through cremation, and their name is etched into basalt tablets on the slopes of Mt. Tharon—a sacred site on Gagnoania. Meanwhile, Conservatives conduct data-sealing rituals, where an individual's final cognitive patterns are archived and stored in quantum matrices. These matrices, called Final Mirrors, are kept in ceremonial cryptovaults, believed to hold the wisdom of generations. This practice is both memorial and practical; stored consciousness patterns can sometimes be used for advisory purposes in critical strategic discussions.
Shalgan spiritual expression also finds its way into architecture and daily routines. Many Hivivian administrative chambers feature asymmetrical design motifs symbolizing the inevitability of disorder and the role of sentient beings in maintaining balance. Personal rituals often include silent contemplation periods, data inscription meditations, or exposure to harmonic resonance chambers designed to induce neural clarity—modern analogs to traditional prayer. Although formal religious institutions are limited among Conservatives, a Council of Spiritual Ethics still advises the Shalgan leadership on matters involving AI autonomy, gene editing boundaries, and the moral use of Yictan relics. This council includes both Stoics and Conservatives and serves as the only regular intersection of their spiritual traditions.

Science and philosophy

Shalgan science operates within a formalized framework of structured inquiry, governed by a centuries-old principle known as Trinal Alignment—the notion that all valid knowledge must reconcile physical law, ethical consequence, and systemic efficiency. Scientific exploration is not driven solely by curiosity, but by a deliberate cost-benefit analysis that weighs societal stability against technological advancement. Research is coordinated through centralized Institutes, each specializing in a domain such as astroengineering, bioinformatics, subspace dynamics, or applied linguistics. Technological breakthroughs are rarely the work of individuals; instead, they emerge from collective efforts where research nodes across Hivivian-controlled space collaborate through high-bandwidth quantum-linked networks. Progress is slow but reliable, with peer review systems involving AI arbitrators to reduce bias. Shalgan researchers are expected to master at least one scientific field and one philosophical school by their first century, with ongoing education mandated every 50 years to integrate new developments into their expertise.
Philosophically, the Shalgan are deeply rooted in deterministic materialism—the belief that all phenomena, including thought, are governed by discoverable principles of causality and structure. They hold that free will is a perceptual artifact, useful for decision-making but ultimately reducible to probabilistic neural pathways. As a result, their social policies and laws are framed not around moral intent, but predicted outcomes. This is reflected in their approach to governance and technology, where tools are judged not only on effectiveness but also on their projected systemic impact. Shalgan ethics are codified in a framework known as Karthic Symmetry, which prioritizes balance between input and output across energy, cognition, and culture. For example, the use of mind-altering technologies is legally permissible only if the benefit to cognitive performance exceeds the cost to social cohesion, as modeled by long-term simulations. The same applies to genetic enhancements, which are deployed only after exhaustive scenario modeling confirms alignment with societal equilibrium.
Notable examples of Shalgan scientific achievement include the Kerric Field Anchor, a device used to stabilize artificial wormholes within stellar gravity wells, and the Neurovector Array, a system that allows multiple Shalgan minds to co-process data at near-synchronous speeds. In the philosophical realm, their best-known work is The Collapse of Intrinsic Meaning by Savuun-Shar-Kareel, a foundational text that redefined cultural value as a function of interpretive utility rather than intrinsic worth. Despite their analytical leanings, the Shalgan do not reject the arts or abstract thinking. Rather, philosophy is treated as a precision discipline—a means of optimizing social systems through recursive examination of foundational premises. This approach has led to a highly rational society with limited ideological extremism but also a tendency toward conservatism in innovation, as all proposals must first pass layers of philosophical scrutiny before implementation.
In both science and philosophy, the Shalgan exhibit an enduring reverence for Yictan knowledge, often framing their own work as an extension of or response to Yictan principles. Many Shalgan theorists regard the Yictan as the apex of rational civilization, and Shalgan doctrine commonly cites Yictan models—particularly in subspace engineering and societal modeling—as foundational to their progress. However, this has also led to an intellectual rigidity, with some critics arguing that the Shalgan struggle to innovate beyond the boundaries established by their extinct predecessors.

Society

Shalgan society is deeply stratified, shaped by both historical legacy and the pressures of their near-extinction. The population is divided into two broad cultural identities: the Conservatives, who dwell aboard orbital habitats and Hivivian capital ships, and the Stoics, who remain on the homeworld of Gagnoania. While both groups descend from a common ancestry, their societal structures have diverged significantly over millennia. Among the Conservatives, society is structured around function and meritocratic hierarchy. Individuals are assigned roles based on aptitude assessments during early cognitive development. These roles—scientist, administrator, tactician, archivist, etc.—are not merely professions but social designations that define status and influence. Conservative settlements, often artificial environments like Dyson ring habitats or gravity-controlled stations, are organized into modular zones, each designated for a specific purpose: education, governance, research, and habitation. For example, on the orbital station Varen Thul, living quarters are adjacent to neural training facilities, and citizens are encouraged to dedicate a minimum of five hours per day to cognitive or technical enrichment activities.
Conservative communities emphasize order, ritual, and intellectual development. Personal possessions are minimal, and shared knowledge is more highly valued than material wealth. Public discourse and debate are frequent and formalized, often taking place in amphitheater-like chambers known as kesharii, where residents present philosophical arguments or technological proposals. Decision-making is collective but tiered, with senior citizens—often those who have served over a thousand years—holding elevated advisory status in civic matters.
In contrast, the Stoics follow a more traditional and tribal societal model. Their society is centered on kinship, oral tradition, and physical labor. Stoic communities on Gagnoania are organized into Clans, each led by an elder council, and decisions are made through consensus. These clans often control specific bioregions of the planet, such as the High Cradle Wetlands or the Stoneback Valleys, and maintain distinct cultural practices tied to the land. Stoic society places high value on physical endurance, spiritual guidance, and personal sacrifice. While technological use is restricted, they do employ basic tools, often crafted from native materials, and utilize pre-industrial infrastructure adapted to their biology. Despite their differing lifestyles, both groups adhere to a deeply ingrained sense of collective purpose and cultural survival. The Shalgan population is aging and small—numbering fewer than 37,000—so society at large places a strong emphasis on conservation of knowledge, continuity of leadership, and minimizing unnecessary conflict. Interaction between Conservatives and Stoics is infrequent and often politically delicate. For instance, a joint expedition known as Operation Talok-Merai, initiated in 22,405 BCE, was one of the few collaborative ventures, aimed at recovering a lost Yictan archive buried under a tectonic shelf. The effort was fraught with cultural disagreements over the use of technology and artifact handling but ultimately succeeded due to mutual respect between select leaders of both factions.
In everyday life, social interactions are governed by formality and ritual observance. Greetings often involve a brief gesture called the Thessa nod, where one inclines the head and extends both hands outward, a practice thought to originate from pre-spacefaring priestly customs. In public assemblies, silence is maintained unless prompted to speak, and eye contact is reserved for close kin or peers. These behaviors reflect the Shalgan cultural emphasis on restraint, humility, and precision in both thought and action. Despite living among other Hivivian species, Shalgan societal structures remain self-contained. Non-Shalgan are rarely permitted to observe internal customs directly, and few are allowed into civic roles within Shalgan-run regions. However, joint facilities—such as the Technocratic Synod Complex on Ilaros Station—do exist, where Shalgan collaborate with allied species under carefully managed protocols.

Gender

Gender among the Shalgan has become largely ceremonial and sociocultural due to the species’ long-standing reliance on artificial reproduction. While biological sex was a functional aspect of their early evolution, it has become vestigial in most modern Shalgan society, especially among the Conservative caste. The majority of Shalgan today are created through controlled genetic synthesis and gestated in artificial environments, bypassing any reproductive roles once tied to sex or gender identity. Despite the obsolescence of biological reproduction, gender still persists in Shalgan culture in symbolic and institutional contexts. Some individuals adopt gendered identifiers as part of their personal or political identity, often tied to historical figures, mythological archetypes, or traditional roles. For instance, in Conservative circles, a Shalgan who serves as a diplomatic liaison may take on the ceremonial title Vaalen-fem, referencing ancient peacekeepers once believed to be female-identified in early Shalgan records. Conversely, a military strategist might be referred to with the suffix Tarn-mas, indicating a traditional warrior archetype historically associated with masculinity.
In Stoic communities, where limited natural reproduction still occurs, gender retains more tangible cultural significance. Male and female Shalgan are recognized and often raised with distinct social roles tied to ancestral beliefs. Rituals of adulthood often differ based on sex, and traditional attire or responsibilities may still reflect gendered expectations, such as women presiding over rites of renewal or men performing seasonal strength rituals. However, these distinctions are largely symbolic and are not enforced rigidly.

Kinship

Traditional kinship among the Shalgan was originally structured around biological lineage, with family units composed of bonded pairs and their offspring. However, following the widespread adoption of artificial reproduction methods, kinship gradually shifted from blood relations to socially engineered networks. Among the Conservative Shalgan, kinship is defined primarily by genetic cohort. A genetic cohort consists of individuals grown from the same or similar genetic template within a shared development cycle. These individuals are raised in controlled educational environments known as cohort lodges, where they receive identical early conditioning and training. Cohort bonds are considered sacred and often serve as the primary social and emotional connection in a Shalgan's life. For example, an administrator named Rhalen-Kah’Vaal might refer to his cohort as the Fourth Sequence of Line Set 1084, denoting both the version of the genetic template and its production order.
Though the Conservatives no longer form families through reproduction, ceremonial pairings for companionship or political alliance still exist. These unions are formalized through ritual bonding contracts, which grant mutual rights over property, decision-making, and medical authority. Children are rarely part of these pairings, but joint sponsorship of a new cohort candidate may occur among high-ranking Shalgan. Lineage identifiers, like the Shar component of a name, continue to hold symbolic meaning. They represent either the original donor template or a historically significant figure whose genome formed the basis for later generations. For instance, an individual bearing the name Telis-Shar-Evorn would trace symbolic lineage to an Evorn-line progenitor, a genetic founder who may have served in a key historical event such as the Shalgan exodus from Gagnoania.
Among the Stoic Shalgan, biological kinship is preserved. Parentage is tracked through matrilineal or patrilineal records, depending on the local tradition. Families live in clan compounds, and ancestry is meticulously documented, sometimes extending back thousands of years. Clan elders serve as guardians of lineage knowledge and are responsible for organizing marriages, inheritance, and succession. A notable Stoic clan, the Khyvan, has produced multiple generations of religious leaders and maintains sacred rites tied to ancestral spirits. Despite differences in kinship structure, both Conservative and Stoic Shalgan share a strong cultural emphasis on collective identity. Loyalty to one's cohort, clan, or lineage group is expected, and betrayal of kin—whether biological or artificial—is considered a severe social offense. Adoption is rare but not unheard of, especially among Stoics. In some cases, individuals orphaned or separated during interplanetary conflicts have been absorbed into new clans through a ceremony called the Surran-Vekh, which integrates them formally into the receiving family’s ancestral line.

Government and politics

The Shalgan government operates as a centralized technocratic hierarchy structured around a governing body known as the Council of Trium. This council is composed of three primary divisions—Administrative, Scientific, and Defense—each responsible for a distinct sphere of civil, technological, and military oversight. These divisions are led by individual High Seats, collectively forming the Triumvirate. Although each division maintains internal autonomy, decisions of significant scale require consensus among all three, ensuring a balance of power across sectors of governance. Shalgan governance emphasizes continuity, order, and long-term planning. Officials are not elected by public vote but are appointed based on performance, aptitude, and cohort standing within state-run academies. These individuals undergo intense political conditioning and career-long evaluations. Merit, however, is assessed within the parameters of loyalty, administrative skill, and intellectual contribution, rather than popular appeal. Public opinion holds minimal weight in Shalgan politics.
The Council of Trium is supported by a large technocratic bureaucracy, which includes advisory panels, intelligence cells, and policy enforcers. Artificial systems, such as predictive modeling AIs and socio-political simulations, play a significant role in daily decision-making, though ultimate authority rests with organic leadership. While public-facing Shalgan officials do exist, most decisions are made within closed councils, and transparency is not considered a political virtue—stability and efficiency are. Although Shalgan leadership dominates the Hivivian Empire, the two systems operate under separate frameworks. The Shalgan Emperor functions as the symbolic head of state within the Hivivian structure, overseeing political affairs and representing the unity of the multi-species empire. However, governance of the empire is shared with the Hivivian High Council, which includes representatives from Shalgan, Shilizal, and other Hivivian-aligned species. The Emperor appoints Councilors, often based on long-standing treaties or interspecies agreements, and holds veto power in specific areas of military deployment, interstellar trade regulation, and artifact governance.
Internally, Shalgan society is highly stratified. While the Council of Trium manages national policy and strategic direction, lower-tier administrators—often called Executors—enforce regional and colony-level mandates. These Executors are typically selected from within elite gene-cohorts and answer directly to one of the Trium divisions. Despite this centralized power structure, political infighting and factional competition remain common, particularly among aspirants within the Scientific Division who compete for control over technological development derived from Yictan artifacts.
The Stoic Shalgan, who have largely isolated themselves on Gagnoania, maintain a parallel governance structure. They operate through a theocratic tribal council composed of elders, spiritual leaders, and warrior-chiefs. While their influence over broader Shalgan politics is limited, they retain symbolic importance and are occasionally consulted on matters involving sacred sites or cultural doctrine. However, ideological tensions between Stoic traditionalism and Conservative technocracy remain unresolved, and the two communities have minimal political integration. Although the Shalgan political system is stable, it is also rigid. Change occurs slowly and typically only in response to existential threats or long-term simulations predicting catastrophic instability. Policy is engineered for centuries-long timelines, and emergency powers are rarely invoked. Dissent is not openly suppressed but is channeled into internal review structures or redirected into academic critique, where it can be studied and neutralized without disrupting social cohesion.

Military

The Shalgan, despite holding a dominant political and technological role within the Hivivian Empire, maintain minimal direct military capabilities of their own. Historically, following the end of the Yictan-Shalgan War and the near-collapse of their civilization, the Shalgan intentionally limited their militarization as a means of focusing their societal energy on political control, scientific advancement, and technological reconstruction. This cultural and strategic shift led to the Shalgan relying almost entirely on allied forces—most notably the Shilizal—for all military operations within and beyond Hivivian space.
The Shalgan do not possess any standing military units, nor do they field ground troops or maintain traditional armies. Instead, their involvement in warfare is logistical, strategic, and technological. They are responsible for the development and integration of command-and-control systems, military-grade artificial intelligence, battlefield communications infrastructure, and strategic weapons platforms used by other Hivivian races. Through their oversight, the Hivivian armed forces benefit from predictive modeling systems, automated deployment coordination, and precision targeting algorithms, all designed and maintained under Shalgan supervision. In combat operations, Shalgan participation is confined to fleet coordination and high-level oversight. Shalgan officials often serve aboard Hivivian capital ships in advisory or strategic planning roles, issuing directives to Shilizal commanders or AI tactical agents. In some cases, Shalgan have been known to conduct post-conflict assessments or oversee occupation governance on behalf of the empire, but they are rarely, if ever, present in active combat zones. The Shilizal, a physically robust and militarily oriented species within the Hivivian Empire, provide the bulk of the manpower, ships, and tactical leadership for the empire’s military needs. Shalgan doctrine emphasizes a clear division between political governance and martial execution, with the belief that centralized control of military assets without direct involvement allows for more objective, calculated decisions. This doctrine stems from lessons learned during the Yictan conflict, where unchecked militarism contributed to their near-extinction.
While the Shalgan maintain no formal military forces, they do retain administrative control over key strategic assets such as defense satellites, automated surveillance grids, and interstellar early warning systems. They also regulate the distribution and advancement of military technologies across the empire, ensuring no single member race can develop autonomous capabilities that might threaten central authority. In essence, the Shalgan military presence is defined not by direct power projection but by a systemic control of infrastructure, technology, and doctrine across the Hivivian armed forces. Their influence is intellectual and administrative, ensuring the military strength of the empire remains highly coordinated and strategically sound—even if not directly under Shalgan command.

Fashion and dress

Shalgan politicians generally dress themselves in robes—sometimes made of filigreed material. The robes varied in complexity and color, with the overall design of the robe typically reflecting the personality of its wearer. Personal designs on robes ranged from golden thread on a scarlet robe to represent interlinked planetary systems to a simple white robe. The Shalgan emperor is often seen in more extravagant robes with a golden crown-like helm on their heads. Nearly all Shalgan walk with a cane curved slightly at the top.

Trade and economics

Trade and economic activity within Shalgan society—particularly among the Conservative faction—is structured around a post-monetary, centrally regulated value exchange system. Rather than using physical currency or credit-based economies, the Shalgan operate on a meritocratic contribution model tied to technological innovation, administrative efficiency, and strategic planning. Resources, services, and access to infrastructure are allocated based on recorded contributions to the Hivivian Empire's objectives, tracked via a ledger system known as the Contribution Matrix. This system is administered by Shalgan oversight committees and supported by decentralized AI protocols to ensure consistency across star systems.
Most Shalgan industry is automated, relying heavily on advanced manufacturing arrays, matter recombinators, and supply-chain optimization networks. These systems convert raw materials into usable goods with minimal waste, leveraging predictive logistics algorithms to forecast demand and preempt resource shortages. Industrial output is measured not just by volume, but by system efficiency, redundancy elimination, and adaptability to multi-species compatibility—critical within the Hivivian’s interstellar framework. Shalgan trade policy is typically unilateral and tightly controlled. They rarely engage in free-market exchanges and instead operate through exclusive bilateral agreements, particularly when dealing with non-Hivivian civilizations. These agreements often involve the exchange of strategic technologies—such as medical nanotech, plasma conversion systems, or energy shielding components—in return for biological samples, rare minerals, or access to unique local knowledge systems. However, trade of Yictan-derived technology is heavily restricted and subject to formal approval by the Council of Trium, especially if the recipient is external to the empire.
Internally, economic interaction between Shalgan and other Hivivian races is asymmetric. While most species operate within a more traditional barter or credit-based system, the Shalgan interface through influence-driven exchanges: providing advanced knowledge or administrative support in return for long-term service, political compliance, or cultural alignment. Shalgan control over high-tier manufacturing facilities and transportation hubs gives them leverage in interspecies transactions, often placing them at the top of the logistical hierarchy. Because the Shalgan population is small and not labor-reliant, their economic output is focused on strategic assets rather than volume production. These include artificial gravity cores, deep-space communication relays, shipframe composites, and computational architectures. The value of these products lies in their exclusivity and strategic relevance, making Shalgan goods disproportionately valuable compared to their quantity.
Economic planning follows long cycles—measured in centuries—anchored by risk-forecasting models and empire-wide stability indices. Resource allocation and research funding are coordinated through a distributed forecasting protocol that updates on a decadal basis. This system ensures that the Shalgan economy remains resistant to collapse or external disruption, but it also slows responsiveness to unpredictable market conditions or cultural shifts, a common point of criticism among younger Hivivian races.

Conflict

The history of the Shalgan is deeply shaped by conflict, much of it tied to their ambitions, ideology, and pursuit of technological power. Though they now serve as the strategic and administrative core of the Hivivian Empire, their past is marked by catastrophic wars that left lasting scars on their civilization and the broader galaxy.
The most significant of these was the Yictan-Shalgan War, a prolonged and devastating struggle that lasted over 900 years. The war was rooted in fundamental philosophical differences: the Shalgan believed in the directed advancement of galactic civilizations, asserting themselves as rightful stewards of progress. The Yictan, in contrast, embraced non-intervention and cultural preservation, fearing that rapid technological development could destabilize younger societies. The war was catastrophic in scope. Entire star systems were sterilized, vast populations were lost, and both civilizations incurred immense damage. As the conflict escalated, both sides resorted to increasingly sophisticated and ethically questionable technologies—most notably deep-space temporal suppression fields, which delayed reinforcements not through distance, but by disrupting time itself. Despite their superior capabilities, the Yictan avoided total destruction, instead focusing on containment and efforts at a conditional peace. The Shalgan, however, refused to yield. Ultimately, the Yictan prevailed, but the victory came at great cost. The Shalgan civilization was left fractured and on the brink of extinction. Surviving factions retreated, preserving what they could of their knowledge and resources. Over time, these remnants reorganized and laid the foundations of what would become the Hivivian Empire—a powerful but ideologically altered successor state shaped by defeat and survival.
Another pivotal conflict was the Shalgan-Shilizal War, which erupted roughly 180,000 years ago following the first contact between the two species. The Shilizal held strict views that Yictan technology should remain untouched, while the Shalgan were already dismantling and adapting it for their own use. The initial encounter quickly turned violent. In direct combat, the Shilizal held a clear physical advantage—each warrior capable of overpowering multiple Shalgan. However, the Shalgan's technological superiority, particularly their control of a recovered Yictan dreadnought, proved decisive. Through rapid, strategic strikes, they dismantled the Shilizal armada using superior targeting systems and mobility. Though short, the war was brutal. It ended with the signing of the Treaty of Allegiance, which formally resolved hostilities and established a cooperative alliance. This treaty became the foundation for the Hivivian Empire, uniting Shalgan intellectual and technological leadership with Shilizal military strength. In the thousands of years since, the Shalgan have preferred subtlety over open warfare, using diplomacy, technological leverage, and intelligence operations to maintain influence. However, internal tensions—particularly between with the Shilizal—have never fully disappeared. Disputes over cultural direction and control of Yictan relics continue to flare into isolated skirmishes and acts of subversion.

Role in the Hivivian

[coming soon]

Relations with Other Hivivian Races

[coming soon]

Modern Shalgan by Thach

Biological overview

Scientific Name

???

Classification

???

Diet

Omnivorious

Physical information

Lifespan

400 - 3000 years

Average Physique

physically frail, long and thin limbs, curved spine

Average Height

Around 6’ 0”

Average Weight

81.4 kg (179.4 lb.) to 96.6 kg (212.9 lb.)

Sociocultural information

Homeworld

Gagnoania

Population

less than 37,000

Founding Member of…

Hivivian Empire

Technological Level

Tier 2

Native Technologies

Plasma

Pinch Fusion Reactor

Repulsor engine

Shared Technologies

Artificial Gravity

Communication Networks

Energy Shielding

Holo-Projector

Inertia Damping Generator