Qip'oni

The Qip'oni are a species of bipedal amphibian humanoids that hail from a tropical continental world unpronounceable to humanity. Their species originates to the galactic north-east of Sol, and extends far beyond the furthest Human explorers have reached. They constitute the largest civilization in space, second only to their historical rivals, the Tikk'ykezki.
The Qip'oni maintain a massive, if heavily decentralised civilization known as the United Prefectures of Qerr'qun'xi, an imperial empire of largely autonomous planets, known as Prefectures. The hundreds, if not thousands of prefectures are considered individual entities, and can range from multi-planetary domains, to independent districts within Qip'oni cities. These rulers are collectively known as Qix'Katish, guided by a collective Qip'onian philosophy known as Qip'tixa, a rigorously meritocratic system of administration and bureaucracy, and the guiding benevolent authority of the Qix'Asah, the Emperor.
Their empire is far older than Humanity, and has become stagnant and isolationist, slowing dying at an imperceptible rate. This is a process that began upon the conclusion of the Qip'oni-Tikk'ykezki Conflict, also known as the Jiqu'sika War, an ideological war that took place around 300 years ago, ending with both sides heavily exhausted and further entrenched in their beliefs. While the Qip'oni have the technological edge over their Human neighbours, they are nowhere near their historic maximum, and are quickly being outpaced. The Qip'oni, despite their isolation, recognise Humanity as a potential threat, both due to their unprecedented rapid expansion across the galaxy, and their potential to ally with the Tikk'ykezki. As such, the Qip'oni maintain an informal organisation known as the Galactic Community, a proto-government aimed at regulating trade and military defence between its members. The Qip'oni serve as the Community's President-Species, and are keen to use this to control Human opinions regarding the Qip'oni and their enemies.
The Qip'oni emperors and elites have a strong interest in maintaining the status quo, and do this through the control of Qip'oni history, and the Qip'tixa. Ask any Qip'oni about their society and its rigid class structure, and they will tell you "It is good, because it has always been this way." In truth however, Qip'oni Authoritarianism developed specifically out of the humiliating white peace of the Jiqu'sika War, and is anything but ancient. The First Emperor was, in Qip'oni legends, "a wise and enlightened leader who united all Qip'oni under the truth of the Qip'tixa", but accounts written by contemporary Qip'oni outside the Prefectures state them to be a violent and thuggish despot that came, saw, and conquered all, and only after their death did their successors deify the leader as a philosopher-king.
This system of rule is not without its critics, though they do so from beyond its borders. While the United Prefectures has closed its borders to inward migration, allowing only tourists and permit-holding workers, Qip'oni themselves are granted an inherent right to free movement, and many have used this to travel to human space. Most are shocked by Humanity's lack of coherence, its inability to unify as a species, and its incredible tolerance for others. A Qip'oni has been taught all their lives that the Qip'tixa says they are an enlightened, superior being, elevated beyond the petty disputes of the alien, and euphoric for their collective achievements. Those that travel to human space still believing in the superiority of their culture are rudely awakened, with many digging in their heels and refusing to question their philosophical belief, leading to an overall impression that the Qip'oni are rather xenophobic, haughty, and egotistic. However, a great many Qip'oni have found themselves 'enlightened', and undergo the 'Xix'kwa', or 'Great Awakening', in which they realise they are but one of many species within the universe, and not inherently superior to any. This is a serious cultural shock, something that Humanity underwent several hundred years ago, the effects of which are still felt in the modern day. But Enlightened Qip'oni are happier for it, and more determined than ever to spread the Xix'kwa back to their homeworlds.

of individual entities governed by kings, dukes, counts, bishops, abbots, and other rulers, collectively known as princes.
UNITED PREFECTURES OF QERR'QUN'XI The United Prefectures of Qerr'qun'xi is the dominant political group that best represents the disunited Skrell civilization. The Qerr'qun'xi are a collection of independent Skrell city states, that have unified themselves through an economic and military pact. The Qerr'qun'xi does not represent all of Skrellkind, but has been collectively given the power to represent their species in matters related to human affairs. Most notably, the Qerr'qun'xi has spent a significant amount of time trying to cozy up to Humanity, largely to prevent them from allying their historical rivas, the Tikk'ykezki
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The skrell are a species of communal and logical amphibious humanoids hailing from the now broken world of Qerr’balak, constituting one of the greatest empires of the known galaxy. Older than, more advanced than, and more widely extant than humanity, their ancient empire is now plagued by issues due to their complicated societal structures and inefficient handling of things. Even then, despite the sluggish crumbling of their civilization, the skrell continue to thrive with their byzantine systems, but for how long?

Basic Information

Anatomy

The Qip'oni are a bipedal species, with two arms and two legs and