Strill
One of three non-human types of spacefaring beings so far encountered by humans of the Diaspora, strill have several habitats accessible on plots serving human worlds, but their primary clusters of population are noncontinguous, the nearest major center being a six-d'rihren journey, averaging 1150 standard hours.
The first strill/human encounter took place in 2444 when the strill corvette Hraaghsk approached Berehyn. A Gharvegh Axhvrg delegation was invited to observe at the Fourth Interstellar Colonial Axis Conference and in 2457 the Interstellar Clearinghouse Academy formally recognized the Gharvegh Axhvrg delegation and signed the Berehyn Agreement, establishing diplomatic protocols.
The first strill/human encounter took place in 2444 when the strill corvette Hraaghsk approached Berehyn. A Gharvegh Axhvrg delegation was invited to observe at the Fourth Interstellar Colonial Axis Conference and in 2457 the Interstellar Clearinghouse Academy formally recognized the Gharvegh Axhvrg delegation and signed the Berehyn Agreement, establishing diplomatic protocols.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Strill are oxygen-breathing, hexapedal, pseudo-mammalian beings, with a binary reproductive model. They are endotherms and females bear pairs of live young, which receive post-natal fluid feedings from both parents for the first 100 standard hours of life before switching to masticated proteins. They are obligate carnivores tolerating a wide range of protein sources.
Adults range about 35-40 kilos, and standing upright at about 1.5 meters. Locomotion is either quadripedal (using top/front and bottom/rear limbs) or bipedal (bottom/rear limbs only). Top/front limb extremities are divided into two pairs of opposed phalanges that provide a modest level of dexterity. Longer, more flexible triple-jointed center limbs are used in hunting/fighting and are equipped with three contraposed multi-jointed phalanges tipped with razor-sharp transverse slicing edges.
The underside/front of the torso is protected by a carapace formed of modified keratin-like bands, the upper/rear surface of the torso is covered with spine-tipped scales that spring erect when the spine is arched. There is a vestigial caudal appendage at the end of the spine.
The strill neck is long and both flexible and extensible, reaching up to 50 cm at full extension. Their heads are elongated, with a crest of modified scales that merges into the dorsal scales. The ears are large, pointed, and mounted on the sides of the head just above the upper jaw corner, and extending above the crown.
Strill are trinocular with two smaller eyes mounted on either side of the nasal ridge and set in muscular sheaths that can focus independently. The third eye at the head of the nasal ridge is larger and immobile, providing superior infrared-scale vision. It usually lidded in normal light conditions.
The nasal ridge is low and runs from near the crown to just above the upper jaw, where it bifurcates to protect two sensitive olfactory organs. The head ends in paired, contraposed jaws that open bidirectionally, and are lined with two rows of teeth each. There is an additional sensory organ at the base of the neck where it joins the spine which parses the ambient EMR spectrum above 70keV.
Adults range about 35-40 kilos, and standing upright at about 1.5 meters. Locomotion is either quadripedal (using top/front and bottom/rear limbs) or bipedal (bottom/rear limbs only). Top/front limb extremities are divided into two pairs of opposed phalanges that provide a modest level of dexterity. Longer, more flexible triple-jointed center limbs are used in hunting/fighting and are equipped with three contraposed multi-jointed phalanges tipped with razor-sharp transverse slicing edges.
The underside/front of the torso is protected by a carapace formed of modified keratin-like bands, the upper/rear surface of the torso is covered with spine-tipped scales that spring erect when the spine is arched. There is a vestigial caudal appendage at the end of the spine.
The strill neck is long and both flexible and extensible, reaching up to 50 cm at full extension. Their heads are elongated, with a crest of modified scales that merges into the dorsal scales. The ears are large, pointed, and mounted on the sides of the head just above the upper jaw corner, and extending above the crown.
Strill are trinocular with two smaller eyes mounted on either side of the nasal ridge and set in muscular sheaths that can focus independently. The third eye at the head of the nasal ridge is larger and immobile, providing superior infrared-scale vision. It usually lidded in normal light conditions.
The nasal ridge is low and runs from near the crown to just above the upper jaw, where it bifurcates to protect two sensitive olfactory organs. The head ends in paired, contraposed jaws that open bidirectionally, and are lined with two rows of teeth each. There is an additional sensory organ at the base of the neck where it joins the spine which parses the ambient EMR spectrum above 70keV.
Genetics and Reproduction
Strill co-parent but do not pair-bond. Females select males to complete the genetic complement for their young, the male's acceptance includes the obligation to co-parent the resulting paired offspring (always one female, one male) through their first gkek, including sharing feeding and care, encouraging communication, and teaching hunting skills.
Strill reproduction occurs during the vrgh gkek phase of adult life, and is considered an act of ngrajh dhrang.
Strill reproduction occurs during the vrgh gkek phase of adult life, and is considered an act of ngrajh dhrang.
Growth Rate & Stages
The normal strill lifespan is approximately 45 standard years, measured in ten gkek, the first two of which are helplessness and immaturity and the last two are the vgheh gkek. The intervening six, the "ea gkek" are divided into two stages, during which the individual is expected to first contribute resources to clan-wealth, and then to contribute luster to the clan's lhkhazh.
The initial two gkek are of variable length but generally the first gkek "trrj gkek", lasts until first molt, approximately two standard years. The second gkek, drvah gkek, involves additional molts to assume full adult morphology and may take up to four years.
The initial two gkek are of variable length but generally the first gkek "trrj gkek", lasts until first molt, approximately two standard years. The second gkek, drvah gkek, involves additional molts to assume full adult morphology and may take up to four years.
Additional Information
Social Structure
Strill society is based on a system of clans that include both familial clans and clans of choice - "rrendrhang". Clan-groups form bonds that create communities. Clan-groups may also affiliate into larger Clan-associations that form a kind of non-locational statehood.
Clans have a cooperative leadership structure involving individuals choosing or chosen to undertake various administrative and authoritative roles. Clan-groups have a slightly more formalized and heirarchical structure involving a Clan Council.
Most of the rrendrhang have their own lines of leadership, authority and responsibility based on the clan's function. They do not aggregate into Clan-groups although individual rrhendri may take up a "clan term" to co-parent offspring with a parent of another clan.
Clans have a cooperative leadership structure involving individuals choosing or chosen to undertake various administrative and authoritative roles. Clan-groups have a slightly more formalized and heirarchical structure involving a Clan Council.
Most of the rrendrhang have their own lines of leadership, authority and responsibility based on the clan's function. They do not aggregate into Clan-groups although individual rrhendri may take up a "clan term" to co-parent offspring with a parent of another clan.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Strill evolved as predators and have a full suite of predator sensory advantages including superb olfactory discrimination and night vision. They can also detect the presence of several types of radiation. Their manual dexterity is only moderate and touch discrimination is minimal although they are highly thermosensitive.
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
Strill naming follows a complex clan-based protocol for the bestowal of the single name an individual bears from their entry upon ea gkek to death. Each clan's protocol is different and related to the clan's own ilgrrerharzh. Names are never re-used as-is but some names are modified and iterated many times.
Gender Ideals
Strill social organization appears somewhat matriarchal although strill themselves do not differentiate cultural roles other than bearing young by gender. Female offspring belong to the female parent's clan, male offspring belong to the male parent's clan. Pair-bonding is rare in strill culture, although the obligation of gjehrr eng hgradh is more common, and most strill acquire some gjehrradh of both genders during their lives.
Strill mating is solely procreative, but there is an analog to human sexual congress in the physical stimulation of ngerrissh, which may be practiced between two or more strill in any gender combination for mutual enjoyment and relaxation.
Strill mating is solely procreative, but there is an analog to human sexual congress in the physical stimulation of ngerrissh, which may be practiced between two or more strill in any gender combination for mutual enjoyment and relaxation.
Average Technological Level
Strill have developed highly advanced protein-production technologies that have relieved them of the necessity of live-hunting prey for subsistence although all strill young are taught to hunt. Conservation technologies for prey species are also highly advanced in most strill worlds and habitats.
The strill homeworld system has a markedly unstable star which produces frequent solar phenomena, rendering the climatic conditions of planets in its habitability zone similarly unstable and prone to pronounced shifts, extinction events, and severe weather phenomena. This probably contributed to both the early development of advanced habitat technology and highly robust and redundant local communication technology among the strill.
The period in strill history immediately prior to Trragha Zhedhak was a time of intense inter-clan conflict that resulted in the development of advanced energy weapons. Although strill flow-pressure ships routinely travel armed with these as well as ballistic weapons, they have largely abandoned weapons research and the development of additional or more advanced weaponry.
The strill homeworld system has a markedly unstable star which produces frequent solar phenomena, rendering the climatic conditions of planets in its habitability zone similarly unstable and prone to pronounced shifts, extinction events, and severe weather phenomena. This probably contributed to both the early development of advanced habitat technology and highly robust and redundant local communication technology among the strill.
The period in strill history immediately prior to Trragha Zhedhak was a time of intense inter-clan conflict that resulted in the development of advanced energy weapons. Although strill flow-pressure ships routinely travel armed with these as well as ballistic weapons, they have largely abandoned weapons research and the development of additional or more advanced weaponry.
Major Language Groups and Dialects
It is estimated that there are more than 4000 major languages among the strill, in about 300 family lineages. In addition, each clan generally has developed a unique internal dialect from their base language, spoken only among clan-kin. The inter-clan common language, Gh'strril is a universal second language for strill and is also used for inter-being communications.
Gh'strril is a descent dialect of the archaic strill language still used for academic, legal, ceremonial, and some religious purposes.
Gh'strril is a descent dialect of the archaic strill language still used for academic, legal, ceremonial, and some religious purposes.
Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals
The most important cultural norms and customs among strill relate to the recording and discharge of indebtedness for any form of benefit exchanged, granted, or inadvertently accrued between individuals, between clans, and between clan-groups. There are over 900 categories of debt and statuses of indebtedness which are scrupulously acknowledged, recorded, and discharged as a matter of hh'llegrzh.
There are required forms of individual indebtedness - to clan, offspring, etc. which can never be fully discharged but become part of the individual's pprenzh, and forms of mutual indebtedness between clans and clan-groups that are maintained to the clan's lhkhazh.
Debt-status above the individual level is a matter for the Gharvagh Mnrrexvg to verify, record, and track, or "balance" (nmrritkitk).
Somewhat related to the customs around indebtedness is the strill dueling tradition. Although it has mostly devolved to a sporting or entertainment activity, strill do on occasion still duel to injury and even death where matters of hh'llegrzh and debt may be concerned.
However, most dueling occurs within the context of sporting or entertainment contests, and there are more than a dozen versions of the duel with various rules and scoring systems for such contests.
Principal strill art forms include the production of operatic versions of ouppnrral, delicately elaborate water sculptures using gravity membranes and projectors, jewelry, metalworks, architectural structures within the strill habitats, and the creation of park and garden spaces.
Although strill records have many versions and timelines, the basic elements of the events that brought the Gkek Mg'arrekh to an end are similar. After "a hundred gkek" of reciprocal slaughter, "Krch Pprehvz" (three sages) arose, one in each of the three largest faith groups, and by great spiritual example and leadership (there are many versions of the specifics) brought about the Pprahvg Ggraz.
There are required forms of individual indebtedness - to clan, offspring, etc. which can never be fully discharged but become part of the individual's pprenzh, and forms of mutual indebtedness between clans and clan-groups that are maintained to the clan's lhkhazh.
Debt-status above the individual level is a matter for the Gharvagh Mnrrexvg to verify, record, and track, or "balance" (nmrritkitk).
Somewhat related to the customs around indebtedness is the strill dueling tradition. Although it has mostly devolved to a sporting or entertainment activity, strill do on occasion still duel to injury and even death where matters of hh'llegrzh and debt may be concerned.
However, most dueling occurs within the context of sporting or entertainment contests, and there are more than a dozen versions of the duel with various rules and scoring systems for such contests.
Arts and Entertainment
Popular forms of entertainment for strill include the above-mentioned duelling contests, choral music performances, and the recitations of ouppnrral. Strill also eagerly consume human entertainment media, especially holodrama series.Principal strill art forms include the production of operatic versions of ouppnrral, delicately elaborate water sculptures using gravity membranes and projectors, jewelry, metalworks, architectural structures within the strill habitats, and the creation of park and garden spaces.
Religions
There are more than 2,000 known religions among strill clans and clan-groups, of which the majority (at least 1,400) belong to one of the seven major faith groups, three of which are closely related. During the historical period the strill characterize as the "Gkek Mg'arrekh", there were ferocious religious conflicts for several centuries, decimating many population centers.Although strill records have many versions and timelines, the basic elements of the events that brought the Gkek Mg'arrekh to an end are similar. After "a hundred gkek" of reciprocal slaughter, "Krch Pprehvz" (three sages) arose, one in each of the three largest faith groups, and by great spiritual example and leadership (there are many versions of the specifics) brought about the Pprahvg Ggraz.
History
Strill have been spacefarers for more than 2500 standard years, although for most of that time their voyaging was confined to a cluster of systems within ten light years of their home system, and without FTL propulsion their ships were cryotech generation ships. They sought space comparatively early in their species' technological advancement as their home world's resources were on a steep depletion curve subsequent to catastrophic consequences of a series of prolonged solar events, including mass extinction of prey species (the Hhjerldhak) and the increasing uninhabitability of several ancestral clanhomes.
Approximately 900 standard years ago (probably around 1850 S.E.) the klavangi encountered strill exploratory ships and passed along technological innovations that enabled FTL spacefaring. While the bulk of strill expansion since that date has been in directions far from human-traveled space (also far from areas settled by the Emyrilli), strill have not been slow to send exploratory expeditions to human space, establishing a series of habitats convenient to human-traveled nexi and developing lucrative trading relationships.
Approximately 900 standard years ago (probably around 1850 S.E.) the klavangi encountered strill exploratory ships and passed along technological innovations that enabled FTL spacefaring. While the bulk of strill expansion since that date has been in directions far from human-traveled space (also far from areas settled by the Emyrilli), strill have not been slow to send exploratory expeditions to human space, establishing a series of habitats convenient to human-traveled nexi and developing lucrative trading relationships.
Lifespan
45-48 years
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