Sundar'Unathi
The Sundar'Unathi are subspecies of Unathi and one of the eldest of the Unathi subspecies, second only to the Sinta'Unathi. The Sundar are adapted to the Moghsian jungles, once the dominant terrain of Moghes, from pole to pole, until deforestation reduced it all to a small, isolated pocket in the southern hemisphere, which the Sundar today call the Ma'ha'an. They are typically lithe and athletic, with a light venom. They evolved to become excellent jungle ambush predators, and remain the best adapted for this harsh terrain. Several thousand years ago, a group of Sundar'Unathi migrated to the Yeosa'rashan, eventually becoming the Yeosa'Unathi.
The Sundar are slender, lithe Unathi with soft, dark scales, wide fangs, and short snouts. Their scales are are a base of black and green, allowing them to blend into the jungles. However, some Sundar are known to paint vibrant patterns onto their bodies, historically as a means of warding off predators, and now largely a cultural thing. They are expert climbers, with an increased resistance to falls thanks to their relatively light and wiggly bodies. Sundar saliva is mildly venomous, and their hunters would historically wet their claws before battle. This venom is excellent against animals and predators, but other Unathi are highly resistant to it, as are most larger creatures, including Humans and other aliens. Instead, the venom produces a mild and ineffective euphoric high. However, when refined into a more potent form, known as Sundar'Sint, it can cause a rapid onset of psychoactive effects, similar to LSD or psilocybin. At first, this substance was used in warfare, but it rapidly began to be consumed as a recreational drug by Unathi, and eventually by Humans too. This has created a strange and lucrative market for this refined substance.
For thousands of years, the Sundar have been sought out by other Unathi as healers and doctors, known for their expert knowledge of the many medicinal plants of their homelands, which has remained a key export well into the modern day. Many of these plants have been lost to time, owing to the great deforestations that have occurred throughout history. Today, all that remains is the Ma'ha'an.
The Ma'ha'an is a collection of ancient city states that have stood in this land since before recorded history. They were the backwater of the Sundarian civilization, isolated in the jungles, with mountains to their north and west, left to their own business. However, as the once massive jungles began to receed, the Sundar found themselves forced to migrate deeper and deeper within, until they could go no further, and the Ma'ha'an became their last stand. Their largest city, Osski, is cramped and uncomfortable, no matter wealth or social status. The Sundar are communal by force, with extended families living close together, often in the same building. Together, these family units work ‘family businesses’, either industries or retail, with the work passed down from parent to child. Extra siblings are often encouraged to find work outside the cities, often in the colonies, where life is considered somewhat better.
Outside the cities, the jungles are heavily and fiercely protected, either owned by the state, or by the Unathi-equivalent of corporations. It is jealously guarded by wildlife authorities such as Rangers and Keepers, and as such, there is a significant push for Sundaran young to leave home and settle elsewhere. As a result, Sundar can be found almost anywhere and under any profession, both across Moghes and beyond. Many Sundar youth can be found in the Sstrak-Yuk’har-V’vrenskan, the Coalition's military arm, where adherents to their ancient martial tradition form a significant portion of that body's recruiting base. Sundar-led colonization and terraforming operations are some of the most advanced in the Coalition, having many colonies spread across far across Unathi space. They have a presence in the systems of Krisgar and Spojken. However, their largest colony is the jungle world of Kresskit, in the Sskindi system, which is steadily becoming a new homeworld for the Sundar. Their oldest colony is Sajda’ha’an, located on Hh’ete in the Esa System. Sajda is a hollow cavern created by massive blasts, with its core now host to a transplanted forest, surrounded by side passages and vertical city blocks. Many travel to Sajda’ha’an to experience its tranquil beauty, but it also serves an important research purpose, home to many science labs dedicated to plant growth.
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