Toreni
"Seat of the Empire and all we are good for is grunt-work and military jobs. Some Empire, huh?"
-Pro-Separatist Toreni
Basic Information
Anatomy
Members of the Toreni species are very humanoid in form and function. They walk on two legs, and have two arms for manipulation. Notably, however, Toreni seem to have a lot of muscle mass in their lower body. Muscle mass that they lack an abundance of in the upper body. Notably, all Toreni have similar body structure to that of a human female. They also completely lack sexual dimorphism, so there is no visible difference between male and female Toreni.
Genetics and Reproduction
Toreni have about 102 chromosomes, 51 from the mother, and 51 from the father. Unlike humans, the female determines the offspring's sex, though males are born only a sixth of the time, while females are much more common. However, due to large litter sizes reaching up to fourteen offspring, generally there is at least one male per litter. Toreni reproduce through genitals located underneath their tongues and after four months, the female will regurgitate larval offspring.
Growth Rate & Stages
Toreni mature rather quickly, but unfortunately, they do not live very long. The average Toreni will start out life as larva. Toreni larva are very simple organisms. They know nothing more than eating, and will do so until they have reached a weight of 9 kg, having started out at only 500 grams.
Once larva reach this size, they will develop a hard outer shell and pupate for a month-long period. Inside, a humanoid figure is growing. Generally these pupae are protected by their parents, or placed in gestation warehouses. After their month is up, Juvenile Toreni will emerge from their chrysalis.
Juvenile Toreni are generally around two-to-three feet tall when they emerge, and are functionally complete Toreni. They are capable of surviving on their own and can hunt and kill their own meals. In modern times, Juvenile Toreni are sent to Juvenile Basic Training to learn how to become soldiers. Over the course of five years, Juveniles will grow into Adolescents.
Adolescent Toreni are completely mature physically and are ready to reproduce again. However, their brain is not finished developing. It will continue to develop for the rest of their life, but after an additional five years, Adolescent Toreni are considered Adult.
Adult Toreni have around 20-30 good years before their body begins to wither. They remain fertile during this period, only becoming slightly less fertile during their elder years.
Finally, at the age of 40, Toreni enter Elderhood. A Toreni who has reached this stage in life is considered one of the best military tacticians in the galaxy, as they continue to accumulate knowledge and mental functions. Contrary to humans, their minds do not wither as they age, only their bodies. However, it is rare for a Toreni to live past the age of 60.
Ecology and Habitats
Toreni prefer hot environments. While adapted to dry environments, they prefer wet ones as it gives them a chance to moisturize their scales.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Toreni are semi-strict carnivores. They prefer to eat strictly meat and have no need for nutrients from fruits or vegetables. However, they can still consume certain fruits and vegetables and still benefit. Among the list of non-meat products they can consume are these: processed grains (bread), cooked beans, well cooked tubers, soft fruits, tree sap, and cactus greens. Toreni are also often seen gnawing on a bark-like substance, though they gain no nutritional value from this act. It is merely to maintain their teeth.
Biological Cycle
During winter months and general colder temperatures, Toreni switch from being cold-blooded to being warm-blooded. This greatly increases their need for food to metabolize, however, and their life-expectancy drops quickly in cold temperatures.
Additional Information
Social Structure
Toreni are notoriously militaristic in their social structure. Their lives are dedicated to fighting. They do, however, strongly value honor. A Toreni household is ruled by the most eldest member.
Facial characteristics
Toreni have an angular facial bone structure, and glowing eyes and hair-tips. They have sharp, serrated teeth. One or two glowing spots underneath each eye. Sticking out from the sides of their heads are large, elf-like, pointed ears. Generally, they lack a lot of cartilage, so they are known to flop about quite a lot. Special muscles are connected to each ear, allowing it to swivel in almost any direction and completely close in on itself to protect the inner ear.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Generally wherever the military is found.
Average Intelligence
Human-level intelligence
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Toreni have long, large ears, though they don't seem to aid much in their hearing as they are nearly deaf. Most Toreni rely on implants to be able to perceive sound below conversational levels. Furthermore, human speech sounds low-pitched to Toreni.
On the upside, Toreni have eyesight nearly unrivaled in the Empire. They can spot a cricket on a log from nearly a mile away. They also have incredibly quick reflexes, which are aided by up to four peripheral simple eyes located beneath their regular, complex eyes. These eyes only detect the presence and absence of light, and therefore can transmit an image much faster than the complex eyes. This allows a Toreni to react to visual stimuli about three times as fast as a human.
Their sense of smell is also enhanced compared to a human, and they mainly recognize each other through scent alone as Toreni have little to no unique, natural, identifying features. Toreni can track a scent for over three miles, and can single out a scent from a hundred others. This, incidentally, gives them quite the culinary talent.
Their sense of touch is fairly deadened. Only on their fingertips does it begin to reach human levels. The rest of their body can't feel much, though that includes pain. This is due to the frequent sandstorms that whip across their homeplanet, Tor.
Toreni can communicate verbally naturally, though they sound somewhat like parrots when doing so. A special implant is required to speak in a human-like way. Fortunately, Toreni can communicate with each other telepathically and through bio-luminescence.
As far as Tatter attenuation goes, Toreni have about a 1 in 1,000,000 chance of being born Tatter Attuned. This means that they can perceive Tatter threads and manipulate them without the use of technology.
Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms
Mute Worms are a frequent issue for Toreni to deal with. They burrow underneath their hair and completely cut off their ability to communicate telepathically. They can be removed with medication, however.
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
Male Toreni names traditionally end in "U" and female Toreni names traditionally end in "I", though this isn't enforced. Toreni names do, however, have to have a meaning. Their surnames are adopted from their parents and do not change.
Major Organizations
Most Toreni live under the Sumoli Empire, though a separatist faction does exist, which is exclusively Toreni.
Beauty Ideals
Racial and Genetic purity are highly idealized. While sub-racial mixing among Toreni is welcomed, extraterrestrial hybrids are extremely frowned upon and even hunted down and executed. Furthermore, make-up is heavily used by both male and female Toreni including body-paints and tattoos.
Courtship Ideals
Generally the female will initiate a courtship with a male. Multiple females may fight over the same male.
Relationship Ideals
Toreni relationships tend to be short-lived. They meet up to mate, then separate after siring young. However, Adult Toreni have been known to enter romantic relationships with one or more partners as a means of satisfying the need for kinship.
Average Technological Level
Toreni are a spacefaring race, and are considered a type II civilization.
Major Language Groups and Dialects
Toren
Common Etiquette Rules
Toreni are generally polite with strangers, but not friendly. However, once friendship is made, all bets are off. Toreni are known to be overly comfortable with their friends, sharing extremely personal details about themselves.
Common Dress Code
Toreni are expected to remain covered-up in public, with everything from the neck down shrouded. However, in private company, they frequently completely undress. Toreni generally wear spartan and militaristic fashion.
Culture and Cultural Heritage
Toreni culture follows that of a military junta. Most traditions involve war in some way.
Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals
Toreni are known to challenge others to duels-to-first-blood. Legal quarrels are often settled in the ring, as well. Additionally, Toreni perform the Toreni Handshake when greeting.
Common Taboos
Machine intelligence, disloyalty, and dishonor are among the things strongly shunned by Toreni.
History
Long ago, the Scholars discovered a species of strangely intelligent, humanoid sharks in the oceans of Tor. Through genetic alteration, the Toreni species, Gladio Harenae, was born. After a turbulent infancy, Toreni quickly rose to being the apex predators of their homeworld. Their intelligence blossomed shortly after, and Toreni split into Clans, each controlling territory across the planet. War was frequent between the Clans until they were united with the express purpose of devoting their war effort towards the stars. Several hundred years later, the Sumoli Empire was born.
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
Toreni are actually quite xenophilic. They quite enjoy the company of other races and strive to make alliances when they can. This, sometimes, extends to romantic relationships, though only when there is no chance of offspring being created.
Scientific Name
Gladio Harenae
Origin/Ancestry
Torinid
Lifespan
60 years
Average Height
4'11" (1.5 m) - 5'7" (1.7 m)
Average Weight
170 lbs (77 kg) - 230 lbs (104 kg)
Average Physique
Athletic
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Toreni can range from being dark, almost black, blue to purely white. Their hair, however, invariably remains a dark blue with glowing, multi-colored tips. Some Toreni can have freckles on both their face and body, and some have a splotched or spotted pattern on their bodies.
Related Ethnicities
Related Myths
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