Skrawl

Skrawl are a sentient bipedal reptilian race capable of void travel. They are almost entirely piratical in nature and serve as a cautionary tale about the dangers of uplifting a species before they are ready.

Basic Information

Biological Traits

Skrawls are roughly humanoid in form, with a head, torso, two arms, and two legs. They also have a heavy, rudder-like tail similar to the crocodiles of Old Earth used for both balance and to propel them through the water that is abundant on their homeworld. Skrawl blood is cobalt-based for their equivalent of hemoglobin which can be seen in their blue tongues.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Skrawls follow a loose tribal structure with a chief leading the group with spiritual input provided by a shaman-like figure that is responsible for interpreting omens and portents from the Skrawls' gods and communicating that to the chief for his contemplation. The religious figure tends to be of some level of familial relation to the chief, typically a mate, sibling, or child.

Facial characteristics

The Skrawl head and face is crocodilian in shape with follicles that produce hair-like structures located at the back of the head which are typically braided into a dreadlock-like style.

Average Intelligence

Skrawls have a human comparable intelligence in terms of basic reasoning skills. They tend to be viewed as stupid or non-sentient due to their lack of examples of complex thought, but this is a mistake made by the conceited. While an average Skrawl lacks knowledge of complicated theories such as calculus, they are fully capable of learning such concepts if they so choose. The knowledge of the average Skrawl can be compared to the knowledge of the average hunter-gather during Earth's Mesolithic Stone Age.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Skrawl names tend to consist of singular syllable names with compound word lastnames being attached to skrawls of notability along with titles based around deeds of the individual. One particularly well known example being Ska Bloodmaw, the Scourge of the Attican Reach, known for his particularly gruesome raids on the colonies of the eponymous sector.

Major Organizations

Various major tribes of several hundred thousand members.

Average Technological Level

TL0 naturally, TL4 aquired

Culture and Cultural Heritage

Skrawls are almost to a man, piratical. Honour and fairness are seen as impractical things that only get in the way of survival and profit. A skrawl respects strength and power above all other things and will respect those that are capable of defeating it through any contest of strength.

History

Not much is known about the skrawls' history prior to their rapid expansion out into the galaxy. What is known is that they were found on a world that consisted of extensive island chains separated by shallow seas that were sailed by the primitive skrawls who had achieved a semi-nomadic seafaring stone age culture of minor coastal settlement and raiding. While being studied by an anthropological survey team the skrawls managed to surprise and capture the landing party sent to make first contact, torturing them to reveal how to operate the "sky ships", then utilizing the team's landing craft to enter high orbit and seize the void craft waiting there. From there the skrawls proceeded to collect and steal ships from other void faring species to spread their piratical ways to the stars.

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

Almost universally hostile with all other species. Known for their violent clashes with the Orks and their various subspecies.

Scientific Name

Crocodilus iratus cogitatio (Crocodile of Wrathful Thoughts)

Origin/Ancestry

Reptilian

Lifespan

20 years, Can live up to 65 years

Average Height

1.4 - 1.7 meters (4'7"- 5'7")

Average Weight

68 - 82 kg (150 - 180 lbs.)

Average Physique

Skrawls are heavier than a human of similar size, with heavy musculature covering their body. They have very little body fat and appear to be somewhat top heavy due to their large head, broad shoulders, and long arms.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Skrawl scale colouring varies through the hues of brown, yellow and green, with little significance given to any specific colours. Albinism is present in the species and those individuals are seen as special or sacred, and typically rise to leadership roles.