Unathi (Oo-Nath-Ee)

Of the many races in the galactic community, none are more immediately recognisable than the Unathi, a reptilian-humanoid species hailing from the planet Moghes. Members of this species are typically tall, and adorned with colourful scales from head to toe, and often an intimidating sight to behold. As members of the interstellar community, they have their own ships, their own states, and their own internal politics. While they have become a quick ally to Humanity, the more isolated Unathi are still wary of the relatively younger race. With traditions and customs dating back thousands of years, they are a proud and capable species, though often find themselves split along historic political, cultural, and religious lines.
The Unathi are governed by their Coalition, the Vasakkad. It serves as a political, economic, and military alliance between the colonised systems of the Unathi, and all are considered a part of it. However, simply recognising the Vasakkad does not mean states have to give it any attention. Some colonies pay a lip service to the Vasakkad and nothing more, while others are fully part of it, its local authority completely subsumed into the whole. For the most part, the Unathi are divided into three major factions within the Vasakkad.

Szikan Hegemony

wip

Coalition of Free Traders

wip

Social Pact

wip Szena

Basic Information

Anatomy

The average Unathi often dwarf their human counterparts on average by a whole head; they are wry faced, if not malicious looking, and are covered almost entirely in scales of varying complexion. The eyes, also of various vivid colors, are withheld behind a short, protruding snout; a phylogenetic evidence of a predatory past long since behind them. In many ways however, the Unathi are a varied species and typically they come in numerous shapes and sizes, as they may be shorter by one or two feet, or significantly less aggressive in appearance.
The Unathi develops musculature in all ways similar to humans, compounded upon a skeletal structure that mimics that of humanity except for the addition of intervertebral discs at their cervical structure that supports their elongated heads, and another disc that comprise their caudal vertebrae that allow a full range of motion for their tails.
The most common phenotypes of the Unathi are often related to their eyes, scales, skin, and to a lesser extent their skeletal structure and height. The most common color for their scales is olive, as for their skin the average can vary greatly, as Moghes is a rather large planet. While the Unathi are largely identical in terms of internal biology, various sub-types of Unathi have begun to develop, creating distinct differences in their complexions and body morphology, and resulting in a wide amount of extremely varied Unathi. Some Unathi, like the Sinta'Unathi, dwarf their human counterparts, while the Ahat'Unathi find themselves dwarfed in turn by average humans. In regards to the sexual dimorphism of the species the female also follows the general evolutionary trend of the hominid genus; a waist to height ratio of 0.4 (can change for cm difference to males), a shoulder to waist ratio of 1.4 and a waist to hip ratio of less than 0.8. On average, males are typically the larger of the species, though in the case of the Hrad'Unathi, it is the females who are typically the largest of the two.

Biological Traits

The Unathi are divided into several distinct Unathi subgroups.

Sinta'Unathi

The Sinta’Unathi are the dominant unathi group on Moghes. They are the most diverse, and are spread all across both north and south Moghes. They have many settlements and states of their own, but are just as equally found living among the other types of Unathi. The Sinta are best described as being the ‘baseline’ of their species, from which all others have diverged from. The Sinta are at their best when living in warm climates, and their most prosperous states have always been located in the tropical regions above and below the equator.
As they are prevalent across all of Moghes, the Sinta are a much less united group than the Hrad or Tzeg. They have many nations, clans, and colonies, and can be found pretty much anywhere. Their largest, and most prosperous nation is the Szikan Hegemony, which lies on the northern continent of Sarrahat. However, the Szikan have spread out across the Esa System, with their largest colony, Diskan’Insthys, located on Oe’erg.

Hrad'Unathi

The Hrad’Unathi are the largest and most intimidating looking Unathi. They are on average taller and heavier built than the rest of their species, sharing many similarities to the earthly Crocodilia family, with long and flat snouts, with their natural domain being the swamplands and bayous of the Ssarina. The smallest Hrad stands on average with the tallest humans, with the tallest Hrad standing at around three whole meters. The tallest of Hrad are usually unable to work in human space, due to room heights and door frames. Despite their impressive and intimidating stature, the Hrad were historically ambush predators, preferring to settle on the riverbanks of their homeland.
The modern Hrad maintain a widespread belief in the Gozi, a quasi-religious way of life that promotes tolerance and friendliness to all. Some, like the Szikan Hegemony, have mistaken this for weakness, and were forced to endure a violent and passionate resistance when they occupied the Ssarina, which has since united into the Hekhun’Hrad, a nation-state for the Hrad’Unathi. This occurred almost five hundred years ago now, and the Hrad are members of the semi-united Vasakkad, with small colonial holdings across the Esa System, their largest being Hara’Hrad’Skrep, on the Akka’Sharan moon Skrep.

Ahat'Unathi

The Ahat'Unathi are small Unathi residing in the northern hemisphere. Historically, they have been isolated to the small island of Ahat’Rashan, where they developed a unique biology that has made them more ‘energy efficient’ than other Unathi. They are typically small, both in height and in build, and prioritise using their limited energy efficiently. This means they are hardwired to ‘take shortcuts’. Where many see them as lazy, they are the epitome of ‘working smarter, not harder’, and tend to enjoy long periods of napping in the afternoon, or just about any free time they have.
The Ahat’Unathi mostly keep to Ahat’Rashan, having little reason to travel to other places outside of Moghes, beyond tourism or education. Due to the Ahat’s much smaller stature, most cities outside of their island are simply not designed to accommodate them. This has forced the Ahat to focus more on both internal expansion, and interplanetary expansion, where they have taken full advantage of their size and abilities.
The growth process of the Ahat is incredibly energy intensive and can last well into adulthood, as long as the individual in question has enough energy to continue growing. If they regularly exert themselves too much, their growth plates will finally begin to fuse due to lack of energy for growth, and their growth stage will end.
While theoretically this growth can continue forever, it is limited by a number of factors. Ahat grow in energy-intensive bursts lasting an average of two weeks, rather than slowly and over time; those who cannot reduce their energy expenditure for that entire time tend to wind up shorter, or even end their growth prematurely. Likewise, each growth burst is more intensive and less efficient than the previous one, meaning that for all practical purposes most Ahat will be between four and five feet tall. Some Ahat, particularly those who were particularly rambunctious—or simply restless—as children or began work relatively early will be between three and a half and four feet tall. An individual over five feet tall would be considered notably tall, while being over five and a half feet is exceptionally rare and would be grounds for celebrity status.
For much of their history, many Ahat held pride in their short stature as it was associated with industriousness and productivity. However, as technology advanced and the advent of the middle class came about, the richer Ahat were able to grow taller than their hard-working kin and thus the middle class began to view height as a marker for social and economic success, spurring trends like heels and tall shoes. While the middle and upper class may view being short as uncouth, working class Ahat are still known to take pride in their height, or lack thereof.

Lessik'Unathi

The Lessik’Unathi are adapted to the conditions of the arid and semi-arid regions of the Ktash Desert. The Lessik are roughly the same size and shape as other Unathi, but have protective keratin scales that run from the tops of their head to the base of their tales. Lessik tales are wider than other Unathi, but are less mobile. These scales allow the Lessik to curl into a ball, similar to an Armadillo, making them nearly impenetrable to most predators on Moghes. However, with the advent of tools and firearms, this protection has become significantly less practical in daily life, often occurring only in high stress situations, and usually an involuntary action.
The Lessik are the descendants of the prehistoric Sinta migrations into the Ktash Desert, where they evolved defensive abilities to protect them from megafauna, now hunted to extinction. Their homeland is the Lansa’Gatak, a land of oasis cities, clans, and polities. Though the Lessek are not unified culturally or politically, the Lessik’arrat is an important spiritual and economic confederation binding them closer together, which has allowed for the rapid industrialisation of the Lansassh, a trade route between north and south Moghes. Their homeland has been the crossroads of civilizations, both as a source of great wealth, and a target for conquest, for most of history.

Sundar'Unathi

The Sundar'Unathi are typically lithe and appear far more athletic than most other Unathi, although actual athleticism may vary. They were typically ambush predators inhabiting the expansive jungles of Southern Moghes, something their light form factor helps with quite a lot. Even in the modern day they still prefer to take up an occupation in hunting. They have adapted venom-tipped claws, which historically were used in hunting. While Sundar are immune to each other's venom, other Unathi are more susceptible, though it is not lethal, and instead produce a mild euphoric high. As such, there is a strange and lucrative market for Sundar'Sint, refined Sundar Venom. Sundar Venom is typically harmless to humans, but refined Sundar'Sint can cause highs and trips. Excessive consumption of Sint is presumably fatal, as no human has yet tried to find out.
Deep in the heart of the Sundaran jungles lie their most valuable resources; a pharmaceutical industry fueled by their native jungle's biodiversity. This historic industry stretches back thousands of years, to the times when Unathi would venture deep into the jungles to find Sundar Doctors and Healers. The former constitutes their primary export (being both medicine and recreational substances) and the latter being a draw for tourism and a source of employment, as wardens or rangers, for those not otherwise engaged in hunting, fishing, or production of pharmaceuticals.
This is the heartland of the Ma’ha’an, with the Sundar’s largest city, Osski, lying here. Urban life for a Unathi is somewhat dull, and cramped, no matter wealth or social status. There is a heavy focus on recycling and renewal, leading to relatively clean urban areas. The Sundar are a relatively communal group, 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.
Much of this land has become 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, 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 both the Esa System and beyond, with Sajda’ha’an, located on Hh’ete, being their largest and most powerful. 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.

Tzeg'Unathi

The Tzeg’Unathi are the most divergent from baseline Unathi, having come to inhabit the mountainous lands of the Tzegi, comparable to Earth’s Tibetan Plateau and Tarim Basin. Despite being woefully unsuited for these climates, Tzeg biology refused to submit, and they have adapted to these conditions by becoming less cold-blooded, and growing feathers on their ankles, wrists, and across their shoulders, neck, the back of their head, and down their tail. These feathers are typically gray or white, but this has not stopped the Tzeg from colouring these feathers themselves, adorned with fancy patterns and features. Their scales come in a variety of tones, typically darker shades.
The largest Tzeg nation is the Tzeg’Katal, a united federation that seeks to bring prosperity to the region. The harsh conditions of the Tzegi have forced them into close relations and reliances, but modernisation has led to many of the decentralised and isolated states seeking to express its own identity.

Yeosa'Unathi

The Yeosa'Unathi are adapted to the shallow seas of the Yeosa'rashan. They have a thinner, muscular build, and are typically thin and lanky, usually just slightly shorter than Sinta’Unathi. Yeosa have backwards fangs, with four maxillaries capable of injecting venom into their prey. They are adapted to swimming underwater for either bursts of speed, such as when hunting prey;, or slower long-distance swims, such as traversing the shallow seas between the islands. In terms of skin colour, Yeosa tend to possess darker colour scales.
Fishing remains their primary source of food and as such they evolved to be great swimmers, as before tool use came into play, they had to catch their fish by hand.

Genetics and Reproduction

The Unathi do not give birth to live young, and instead lay eggs. However, like humans, eggs are internally fertilised through sexual procreation. Following this, there is a period of internal growth for one week, followed by mass laying of between 3 and 5 eggs. Following this, the clutch require a further five months of development, before hatching. Hatchlings are dependent on their parents for two years before they are considered children. Like other species, the Unathi are hardwired to avoid incest, which can cause significant damage to their DNA. Breeding between Unathi subgroups is possible, and has become far more common off-world. The resulting children tend to be a mixture of their parents, leading to hybrid Unathi.
The Unathi tend to avoid genetic modification, and while the concept of IVF has been prevalent in Unathi society for hundreds of years, its primary purpose is to assist infertile or struggling individuals conceive, rather than the very human concept of 'designer babies'. The Unathi as a whole prefer physical intimacy and families over mass-produced workers.

Growth Rate & Stages

Unathi are born in an egg. They spend five weeks inside the egg until finally hatching. Hatchlings are weak and require supervision from their parents for at least two years. At this point, they have the capacity of a toddler and are capable of limited independence. It is at this point they are considered K’ten. They slowly develop over the course of two decades, reaching full maturity around twenty-nine. 
The majority of Unathi life is spent in this adult form, lasting roughly one hundred years. After this period is over, the Unathi become Ksaa. Ksaa, or elderly Unathi, have begun to suffer the gradual mental and physical decline their species undergoes at this age. It can take up to two decades to fully take hold, by which point the Unathi is incapable of surviving on their own, and tend to die of biological old age soon after.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Unathi are mesocarnivores. They require a significant amount of meat in their diet, and supplement the rest through fungi, fruits, and other plant material. Unathi have trouble consuming and processing sugars in their body, resulting in confusion and hallucinogenic properties. Most plants are not consumed individually, but rather as garnish, spice, or dressings for other meals. 
The Unathi have only three basic tastes: sourness, saltiness, and umami. They are unable to distinguish sweetness and bitterness. This has the benefit of allowing them to consume things that humans may find disgusting. In addition, the Unathi have an increased tolerance for spicy food.

Biological Cycle

In late Moghsian summer, the Unathi undergo a period of shedding, in which their old scales steadily peel away to reveal fresh and new scales beneath. This is a process that takes roughly two days to complete naturally, during which time the Unathi is soft, squishy, and sensitive. A few weeks after this process, Unathi enter their mating period, in which they become more sexually active for roughly three weeks until the end of Moghsian summer. Following this, their sexual drive is severely decreased and they enter the courtship period, where two Unathi who met and conceived during the earlier period now focus on raising a family and a clutch of eggs, which require a five month incubation period, followed by a further two year infant development period, before their young are fully considered Unathi children.

Additional Information

Facial characteristics

The most defining facial feature of most Unathi are undoubtedly the horns, coming in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, Unathi without horns are still easily identifiable due to a variety of other facial features. Their eyes, scales, skin, and even their claws (and their horns, should they have any) come in all sorts of natural and ‘earthy’ colours.
As for bodily markings, the natural variety are typically unimpressive, being either patches or stripes along the back, either covering or dotting the scales. The unnatural variety however, typically applied via paint or “tattoos” are more stylish and less practical, keeping fashion in mind more so than anything else.

Average Intelligence

Unathi are, broadly speaking, an intelligent race. They learned how to control fire, to split the atom, and to colonise space. Individually, however, Unathi, like humans, vary wildly. Despite their longer lifespans, this does not mean they are inclined towards using it effectively. This means that while the average Unathi is no smarter than a regular Human, the smartest Unathi will vastly outpace the smartest Human.
Unathi young typically arrive at a toddler level of capacity between fifteen and twenty five months from birth, and slowly develop towards full maturity around the age of 29.
Elderly Unathi tend to retain their capacity until a certain peak age, which differs on subgroup and individual. Once they pass this point, they begin to suffer gradual mental and physicial deterioration, usually taking between ten to fifteen years to fully decline, and lasting until death.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

• Unathi have evolved to have a similar eyesight to humans, though with a clear reptilian ancestry. The Yeosa'Unathi have evolved a thin film to give them better vision underwater than the rest of the Unathi.
• The Unathi have generally worse hearing than humans in high frequencies, but are capable of hearing and producing sounds much lower than humans, including guttural rumblings that are used in some forms of communication.
• The Unathi are largely resistant to spices and minor toxins, and have weaknesses to sugar. As a result, their ability to taste is largely skewed in favour of spiced meat, able to distinguish tastes that humans are incapable of. Likewise, humans are able to appreciate sweet foods more.
• The Unathi have adapted capable smell receptors, much like their taste buds. They have adapted towards being better able to detect changes in meat, though are less able to distinguish sugary and plant smells, with the exception of extremely strong smelling flora.
• The Unathi are very similar to humans in that they are able to feel things through touch, and also feel pain in largely the same way, having developed a roughly similar nervous system.
• The Unathi are capable of detecting changes in air pressure through the use of their tongue, which is largely considered their sixth sense.

Civilization and Culture

Gender Ideals

As with humans, the Unathi are predominantly separated into male and female sexes, with an average split in population. While intersex and hermaphroditic Unathi do exist, they, like their human counterparts, are a rare kind. Unathi on the whole do not exhibit sexual dimorphism, and body composition is determined by subtype and by genetics. Some exceptions do occur, such as in the Hrad'Unathi, where females tend to be larger than males.
Because of this lack of dimorphism, and because of historic cultural developments, the Unathi see the concept of Gender in a somewhat different light to humans. It is not determined by one's sexual characteristics, nor is it a static construct. It is common for Unathi to transition through several distinct gender identities throughout their lifetime.
Much like Humans, the Unathi gender divide is largely split into masculine and feminine social roles. However unlike Humans, Unathi young and elderly are considered distinct.

• The Uxen are adult Unathi that exhibit traits associated with masculinity. They are associated with strength, proactiveness, and a dedication to protecting the community. The Uxen are typically seen as dominant and are associated with the warrior castes.
• The Ashi are adult Unathi that exhibit traits associated with femininity. They are seen as maternal caregivers that provide for the community, nurture its young, and support its old and sick. While Ashi are typically seen as less dominant than the Uxen, they are, like most Unathi, fiercely protective of their kin.
• The K’ten, or newly hatched, are Unathi children. They are considered to be neither masculine or feminine, but instead a mixture of both. Once a child reaches physical maturity, they host a K’tenabah, which marks the transition to adulthood. During this event, the young Unathi are celebrated, and announce to the community their preferred adult role.
• The Ksaa are Elderly Unathi, who have reached a certain age, which differs by sub-type. At this point, they exhibit natural physical and mental decline over a decade or two, coming to rely on their family and community. The Ksaa are considered respected elders, with their own rites and expectations. They are quickly identified by their subtle, plain clothing, and a steady ‘greyification’ of their scales, which works much the same way as human hair.

It is important to note that Uxen and Ashi are not determined by biological sex, and there exists countless female Uxen and male Ashi. Similarly, these roles are not static. Sometimes an Uxen is no longer able to provide, or an Ashi is forced to protect. Individuals, or small communities tend not to conform to rigid social structures when their daily lives are at stake. As such, genderfluid Unathi are a known, and tolerated concept, though distinct from non-binary Unathi.
Both roles are important for the community to thrive, but they are not the only roles the Unathi identify as. Most who live in the modern cosmopolitan Unathi societies no longer identify as either, preferring to live life as a Hukzhai, or non-binary Unathi. This is an ancient concept, stretching back thousands of years, and one practised even by the most conservative of Unathi communities. Within these societies, such as the Szikan Hegemony, there exists the concept of the Zhai, the traditional non-binary, or thirdgender Unathi. Zhai are Unathi that have transitioned beyond Ashi or Uxen, effectively both, filling whatever social roles they are needed in. To become a Zhai, a Unathi must be blessed by their community and their family, and they must renounce any individual ties that may hinder their duties. This has, understandably, led to much internal strife within communities that refuse to accept someone as Zhai. In many cases, rejected Zhai will abandon their communities in search of newer, more tolerant ones. As such, this practice has largely fallen out of favour with the majority of Unathi, and is largely associated with backwater Unathi colonies or the Moghsian boonies.
While transitioning to Zhai requires the approval of the community, and often involves elaborate ceremonies, the Hukzhai requires no such consent, but transition is still often marked with small, private celebrations.
Throughout the past three decades, a growing subculture of Unathi spacers have rejected these concepts entirely, rejecting any sort of gender construct, believing that Unathi should identify exclusively as themselves, and define themselves as ‘Anti-Moghsian’. They are known as the Lixu, or agender. They reject the roles established by historic tradition, and are a strange sight to any Unathi that has been raised on Moghes, but one that has found increasing acceptance in Human Space.
When in Human Space, some Unathi prefer using their own terms, and some are happy to sit and explain for hours on end, while others are okay with using human terms to refer to themselves for simplicity's sake.

Culture and Cultural Heritage

Unathi Culture is as diverse as it is expansive. As a species however, they are bound by their pro-trade mentality. They are driven by curiosity, and seek out new friends and relationships across the Galaxy. Outside of this, they largely value art and artisans, and while their styles may differ across Moghes, they are widely regarded as revered by the average Unathi.
Generally speaking, no one specific religion has grown to dominate the Unathi mindset. They are largely tolerant of each other’s beliefs, with some exceptions, most notably the heretical disagreements between New and old Hrek’anns. For the most part, the average Unathi is no more or less religious than the average human, and their faith is determined largely by ancestry and culture. While the Unathi understand and appreciate science, many have attempted to merge science and theocracy, as a means of explaining the basic universal constants. It is no surprise that the most popular form of literature is Speculative Fiction. For the Unathi, they are at home when contemplating the future of science.
The family structure has been a key component of Unathi society since its inception. However, unlike Humans, the Unathi do not have specific gender roles. Rather than Father and Mother being gendered roles, they are determined by social status, physical status, and economic status.
The Unathi family system is initially confusing for Humans. A Unathi has biological parents, the Kuzka, who are their lifebringers. However, a Unathi also has their communal parents, the Kuz. In many ways, a single community can be akin to a family, with everyone dedicated to the upbringing of all children, not just their own. While a Unathi may only have two Kuzka, they have many Kuz. These bonds often last well into adulthood, maintaining a strong sense of familial community across Unathi, even when spread lightyears apart. Adult Unathi often choose to find their own familial community, the Hssakuz. (Broadly translated into English as Community, or Clan.) While biological relatives are automatically recognised as members of one’s Hssakaz, they are less important than one’s chosen relatives. The Hssakaz is composed of likeminded Unathi, who all share a personal bond with one-another. Either a shared culture, faith, or even hobby, the Hssakaz is an important part of the Unathi family structure.
Unathi family system is tight knit, parents and grandparents often live in the same house and the children are raised by both mother, father, and grandparents. The kids leave home and get a place of their own when they are of legal age to do so.
Legal age for home ownership varies from location to location but typically starts at 17-18 or earlier with parental consent and financial backing.

Naming Traditions

Unathi naming tradition varies from culture to culture. Typically their names are similar to humans, in that they have a Firstname and a Lastname. Some Unathi, such as the Hrad and the Tzeg, tend to have upwards of four names, their Kin Name, First Name, Parent Name, and Clan Name, followed by their Last Name.

Kin Name

One’s Kissatan is their Kin Name, the name they use around close family, friends and trusted peoples. It is a very special name, one that is not used by strangers, unless they want to be punched.

First Name

One’s Fossatan is their First Name, , which they will use in daily life, and are typically addressed as. It works much the same as any other first name would, and does not need explaining.

Parent Name

One’s Passatan is their Parent’s Name. Some Unathi cultures, typically those more traditional, will take a variation of their parent’s name, and add the suffix -tsan or -sheg, which indicates ‘Child Of’. For example, ‘Crethi Oxtitsan’ and ‘Sxixi Hazisheg’. Typically a Unathi will have two Passatans, indicating both of their parents. This is typically used by elders or family friends to refer to the child of the Unathi with the most communal prestige, and not by gender.

Clan Names

One’s Cassatan is their Clan Name, referring to the group or community that they were born into. The Cassatan is almost exclusively used by spacer Unathi, who identify each other by their habitat or colony. The Cassatan is the name of the community or colony, followed by the suffix -agan, which indicates ‘Of’. For example ‘Doegar Tikulagan Skrengi’ would be Doegar Skrengi of Tikul Station.

Last Name

A last name needs no introduction. Some Unathi don’t actually have one, but have adopted one of their other names as their surname for use in Human Space. Something about needing a surname to get your post delivered.

Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals

The majority of Unathi are considered Secular, in that they do not openly worship any particular faith. The belief in a soul, called a *Sjekha*, is present across all Unathi, as is the belief in an afterlife. However, many religions are still present across Moghes and the Unathi colonies, from the mundane to the strange. Below are the three dominant Unathi faiths. All of them could arguably have a presence on the Endeavour, in the form of religious Unathi crewmembers, or a passionate Chaplain.

Basaan

Basaan is a modern Unathi faith that has its origins in the Haja-Batek, the great wars that took place during the Unathi climate catastrophe. It is a rejection of the brutality and violence brought on by worldly desires and excess. Many Unathi understood the need to reduce their consumption, and stop the senseless struggle for a dying land. The combination of spirituality, religious dogma, and desperation led to the creation of the Basaan Cult. Basaanites follow the Hassat, a series of rules on how to live a life with as minimal a negative impact as possible. Many Basaanite extremists, known as the K’lar, travelled from town to town, raising large armies of followers to destroy ranches, factories, and other sources of major polluters. With many Unathi exhausted from years of fighting, the ideas of the Hassat and ending the senseless slaughters reinvigorated the population and helped to bring decades of conflict to a halt.
The Hassat is still followed by many Unathi, even those that have no ties to the organised Basaan Cult, as it largely functions as just a way to minimize carbon footprints, and living ‘in-tune’ with nature. The organised Basaan Cult has grown to challenge both Hrek’ann practitioners, and non-religious Unathi. It is considered ‘new age’, and rejects the concepts of deities and spirits. It also rejects the concept of ‘atheism’, which it blames for allowing unchecked greed to lead the Unathi to disaster. They argue the need for faith instead of organised religion.

Old Hrek'ann & New Hrek'ann

Hrek'ann is an ancient, traditional Unathi faith that has grown to become the dominant faith amongst practicing Unathi. It is divided into Old and New Hrek'ann, as the faith underwent a divisive reformation, from which the faith has yet to recover fully.
Hrek'ann is the belief in the Fanann, a pantheonic group of deities that represent the spirits of both concepts and everyday objects. They believe that the Unathi were born from the union of several of these spirits: Ha'ahsa, the spirit of life; Mog'han, the spirit of the earth; V'anii, the spirit of fire; and Ca'tal, the spirit of knowledge. Together, they created the Unathi, and gave them Moghes.
Old Hrek'anns believe that the Fan'ann are infinite, and that certain Unathi, either through great spiritual acts, or legendary deeds, ascended to become spirit-gods, deserving of the same honour as the others. Though the Fan'ann share many aspects, they are all spirits in their own rights.
New Hrek'anns on the other hand, believe that the Fan'ann is not a collection of spirits, but rather, the representation of a greater being, the Fan'jaer, which created the universe and presents itself in the form of spirits, acting autonomously but all in service to the greater divine purpose. The Fan'ann may be appeased through prayer and worship for specific things, but it is through the Fan'jaer that all things happen.
The split between the New and Old faiths began almost one thousand years ago, with the Haja-Hrek'ann, a religious war between various Unathi states that declared themselves the representative nation of a powerful spirit. In religious mythos, this was seen as a war in heaven between the spirits, leading to the death of V'anii, with the sun itself dimming, and a year of intense cold, famine, and devastation until her miraculous rebirth, and the returning of the sun. This event is celebrated by both New and Old Hrek'ann followers with a three day festival.
The Old Hrek'anns celebrate this as the Rebirth of V'anii, however this event is interpreted by New Hrek'anns as the Return of Fan'jaer, the divine being, who had disappeared to mourn the mass slaughter that had occurred over the prior decades, in misguided belief. Led by G'issek, the prophet-king of the G'issekans, their followers. Though G'issek was able to conquer much of Southern Moghes, their successors were unable to hold onto such a large and diverse territory, quickly breaking into numerous successor states. Though the G'issek Hegemony lasted only 50 years, its faith, New Hrek'ann, remains deeply rooted across much of Kssinder.

Gozi

The Gozi faith, originating in the harsh heat of the Ktash region of Moghes, is based on the fundamental belief that existence is merely a test for those souls to enter J'rana, a paradise beyond the ether. Only those capable of overcoming the harshness of living, and thus worthy of ascending, will enter J'rana. Those that fail are doomed to repeat the cycle until they learn the truth. Gozi holds that acts of kindness, perseverance, and tolerance are the measures by which a being is weighed, and though all may learn of the Gozi, only those who have lived a life of active kindness and selflessness will be permitted to enter.
Some preachers of the Gozi, known as the Abnegate, are those who have dedicated themselves to spreading the word of the Gozi, deliberately choosing to remain bound to existence in order to spread the message across time and space.
Although Gozi originated in the deserts of the Ktash, it was embraced by the northern Hrad following the arrival of the first abnegate to the Ssarina, who allegedly taught the Hrad the knowledge of writing, and the knowledge of the great test, before deliberately casting herself to the void to spread the word anew. This sacrifice has long been part of Gozi discussions, art, and debates. Is choosing to remain to spread the knowledge of salvation enough of a selfless action to warrant entering J'rana? Are the Abnegate actually truly blessed?

History

The story of the Unathi began several millions of years ago, with the rise of the Kargur'Unathi, best described as the Unathi's homo erectus. The Kargur are the ancestors of every Unathi alive today. They discovered fire, and began to craft tools for the first time. The Kargur spread across most of Moghes, but remained in mostly grassland areas, unable to penetrate the deserts or jungles. The Kargur led to three subtypes of Unathi, the Mirgut'Unathi, the Sinta'Unathi, and the Taghut'Unathi. The Mirgut'Unathi are the ancestors of the Hrad'Unathi, and the Sundar'Unathi. The Sinta'Unathi are the ancestors of the Lessik'Unathi, the Ahat'Unathi, and the Hrad'Unathi. The Taghut'Unathi are the ancestors of the Tzeg'Unathi.
Both the Mirgut and the Taghut went extinct around 230,000 years ago, with limited remains being recovered. What is known is that a subgroup of the Mirgut learned to thrive within the dense jungles of Moghes, becoming the Sundar'Unathi. Some Mirgut interbred with Sinta to create the first Hrad'Unathi.

Prehistory

Unathi Prehistory began approximately 3.9 million years ago, beginning with the use of the first stone tools by Unathi. It ended with the invention of writing and language, which occurred at different points for different civilizations. The ancient cities of the Ma’ha’an, the Soh’rena civilization, and ancient Dik’ret were some of the earliest civilizations to develop writing, with their influence felt even in the modern day.
At some point in prehistory, the Unathi spread to all corners of the Zhedguun, and began adapting to the local niche geographic conditions. Around 50,000 years ago, the Ahat'Unathi became isolated on Ahat'Rashan, as receding glaciers and rising sea levels turned the land into an isolated island.

Ancient History

The Unathi learned the secrets of writing just over 12,000 years ago, where it spread from the Ancient Soh’rena in the north. This was a time of honorable warfare, traditions, and mythos. It is from this time period that most of the Unathi’s historic stories, fables, and myths originate. Being written in this time, usually about events that happened in prehistory. Some of these stories are fantasies, but others have been proven correct, such as the time the great Ktash flooded for several decades. Originally thought to be a myth, it was proven correct following the discovery of archeological evidence.

Middle ages

Industrial Age

Modern Age

At the dawn of the Unathi modern age, the rapid industrialisation of Moghes led to widespread deforestation, with much of Sarrahat being used for grazing cattle to feed the ever growing population. The continued use of fossil fuels and the destruction of rainforests led to climate change across the planet, and led to numerous wars and conflicts between the various Unathi states. This conflict is known as the Haja-Batek, translated as Meat Wars, and more broadly understood as a series of resource conflicts over grazeable land and valuable materials.
These conflicts came to an end after sixty-six years of fighting, and devastating the Unathi populations to an almost pre-industrial level. In the midst of this desperation, numerous states developed rocket technology, and began a space race to colonise the moons. Unlike in Earth history, where the space race was motivated largely by rivalry and nationalism, on Moghes, the space race was conducted out of necessity, fostering a long-standing sense of cooperation amongst the Unathi people. They have since gone on to become an interstellar species, joining the galactic community alongside the Skrell and the Ascent. They were the first to make contact with the Tajaran civilization, and were the first to call for direct intervention and contact with Humanity. They see Humanity as a danger to themselves and everyone around them first, and a friend second. A friend with nuclear weapons and a tendency to self harm.

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

The Unathi have diplomatic relations with most interstellar species. Most prominently, they are part of the Galactic Council, working alongside their Skrellian allies to manage to decades-long integration process that Humanity are currently undergoing. The Unathi are pragmatic, and care little for the Skrellian concepts of isolationism. As such, the Unathi are considered Humanity's closest allies, eager to trade and expand into Human markets. 
However, many Unathi recognise Humanity as a threat first, and a friend second. Humans are the only species to have willingly nuked themselves multiple times, and unlike the Unathi, are not a united species. However, the Unathi see their ancient selves within Humanity, and have a shared history of climate change, unrest, and world wars. Perhaps if we can befriend the Humans, we can help them achieve the same great things we have. Unathi engineers have found themselves on Earth, helping to tackle the after effects of its climate crisis. Most importantly, a combined Human and Unathi bloc would significantly weaken the grip over galactic politics that the Skrell hold.
With their other neighbors, the Tajaran and the Ascent, things are more clearcut. The Unathi were the first to discover the Tajara, and consider them capable trading partners. They are weary of the Ascent, but believe they could be allies, if only they were allowed to actually engage with them, something the Skrell have made impossible through treaties and sanctions by way of the Galactic Council.