Hey! Listen!
- Intent: To create a new playable species for my characters and anyone who wishes to use it.
- Image Credits: Banner, Trial by Mark Chang; 2nd picture, Climber by Faraz Shanyar.
- Canon: No.
- Permissions: N/a.
- Links: N/a.
- Name: Geminaie. (pronounced gemi-nay)
- Designation: Sentient.
- Origins: Geminidae.
- Average Lifespan: 160 galactic standard years.
- Infant: 0 to 5 years old.
- Young: 6 to 20 years old.
- Young Adult: 21 to 80 years old.
- Adult: 81 to 130 years old.
- Elder: 130 and onwards.
- Estimated Population: Planetary.
- Description: A near-human species, in most cases there is very little that would distinguish a Geminaie at a first glance and most would assume them to be humans unless they had reason to suspect otherwise. They tend to be tall and well built, and there is a lot of diversity when it comes to their features. Their physical similarity to the most abundant and dispersed species of the galaxy has helped them merge well in most places and not draw too much attention onto themselves.
- Breathes: Type I. May be able to breathe Type II and Type III (see distinctions and strengths).
- Average Height of Adults:
- Females: 1,7m to 2,2m tall.
- Males: 1,9m to 2,5m tall.
- Average Length of Adults: N/a.
- Skin color: It can range from very pale shades to tan and darker ones. Some individuals may display different skin tones or markings depending on their ancestry.
- Hair color: The most common are shades of brown and black, followed by lighter human-like shades. On rare occasions individuals are born with different hair pigmentation, generally dark blue, purple or green.
- Distinctions:
Through exposure to their environment and thanks to many generations of selective breeding and non-invasive genetic design, the Geminaie have become a well-rounded species with traits that make life in the daunting landscapes of their planet easier. At many points in their history they interbred with other species to strengthen their attributes or acquire new ones, and an important addition to the genetic pool were humans. During many years of careful planning and breeding, the Geminaie purposely strived to liken their appearance to that of humans while retaining their own traits, so that they would be more difficult to recognize on their incursions into other systems and planets. As a result, most Geminaie are very hard to tell apart from humans except for the observant and knowing eye. Even today, breeding programs feature interbreeding on occasion and the 'hybrid' Geminaie may display physical characteristics inherited from another species.
Like humans, the Geminaie can possess a vast array of different features ranging from skin tones to slight variations in bone structure that give each of them a somewhat unique appearance. It is only in the little details that their identity can be revealed. All Geminaie display a distinctive marking: the palms of their hands and soles of their feet present abundant small spottings, usually a few shades lighter than their skin tone. Furthermore, the pupils of their eyes are more ovoid in shape, they are not slit like a feline's but they are certainly not perfectly round like a human's. The difference is enough to be noted but not many recognize it. They also possess a nictitating membrane: a third, transparent 'eyelid' meant to protect their eyes while still allowing sight. The only other outward characteristic of relevance is the sexual dimorphism displayed by the species: the males are notably taller and larger than the females.
Almost all the characteristics that set a Geminaie apart are found within their bodies. Although resembling them, a Geminaie's anatomy is vastly different from that of any other near-human. They posses highly developed and specialized skeletal muscle fibers with a unique composition and a slightly different distribution. Their ligaments and tendons are equally developed, and this is particularly notable in their spines which allow for a wider range of movement and flexibility. This attributes go in hand with a remarkably developed vestibular system that allows for excellent control of motion. Like many felines, the Geminaie have a strong righting reflex.
Their internal structure and organs are also unmistakable. Albeit somewhat similar to a human's, there are many features and parts that are characteristic of their species. The more evident one is their respiratory system. Their lungs do not pull air in and out through a single opening, instead, the mouth and nose allow oxygen rich air in while a second opening found within the lungs allows deoxygenated air out into a secondary system of air sacs in charge of making the air circulate through the body. Because of this, their lungs are relatively static and they display no visible signs of ventilation (no rise and fall of the chest, no breathing sounds from the nose or mouth). This system is far more efficient and thanks to it the Geminaie can function normally even with minimal amounts of oxygen available and hold their breaths for longer periods of time. Their blood cells do not use hemoglobin but a different protein with greater affinity for oxygen and different pigmentation. A Geminaie's blood is not red but a bright purple when oxygenated and dark purple when deoxygenated.
The Geminaie possess retractable micro-structures in the palms of their hands and the soles of their feet. The presence of these structures beneath their skins is responsible for the spotted pattern of these areas of their bodies. They allow them to grip even onto the tiniest irregularities of a smooth surface to enable or facilitate climbing. When the structures are extended, their palms become incredibly rough to the touch. They are sharp enough to pierce through thin layers of clothing (common gloves, not protective ones) but not through the soles of shoes. Usually the strength of their upper body is enough for them to climb if they have a bit of traction with their feet. Similarly, if barefooted they could walk on a wall or roof so long as they have the necessary core strength to support such a movement. Using their four limbs and 'crawling' while climbing is still the most effective, the faster and the smarter technique to not consume energy unnecessarily, for even though they can adhere to surfaces this does not negate the effects of gravity which certainly don't favor bipedalism in horizontal or inverted positions.
Lastly, and probably the most prominent characteristic of their species, the Geminaie are always born twins. Fraternal twins are a lot more common than identical twins, while a single baby being born or pregnancies of more than two are extremely rare occurrences. Geminaie siblings can develop a very deep bond, this is specially true for pairs of twins but the phenomenon is observable in all siblings. With training and conditioning, a pair of Geminaie siblings can achieve a scary measure of attunement to each other and synchronicity. They have never been able to explain exactly why this happens but the theories are it might be somehow related to the Force, since the bond seems to be even stronger in force-sensitive siblings. However, this theory has never been confirmed because the connection displays many differences from a Force Bond: the bonded siblings cannot see the other's surroundings, communicate telepathically or physically feel each other in any way but rather gain insight in the form of an instinctual knowledge of the other's state and actions, it does not work across long distances and, as far as known, cannot be corrupted or changed through the Force.
- Races:
Thanks to the constant contact and migration of the Geminians on their homeworld, culture in Geminidae is quite uniform and there are no relevant differences in beliefs, customs or traditions. The only observable distinctions are in clothing and architectonic design which vary according to climate and biome, each city having its own style to adjust to their environment which the Geminians tend to adopt for the sake of practicality and aesthetic.
The Geminaie's breeding programs have existed for millennia and one of their results has been the formation of castes. Each Geminaie is bred to have a certain set of both physical and behavioral aptitudes to make them 'ideal' for a specific job and role within their society. The core attributes of the species are shared by all Geminaie to some degree, but a lot of other characteristic can vary outstandingly from individual to individual depending on their inherited affinities. The castes are loosely categorized into four groups: the novitae, the politicians, the soldiers and the Ambassadors. These are by no means absolutes, belonging to a caste simply establishes which are the strong suits of an individual, but that does not necessarily mean they lack other forms of aptitude, they always try to keep a certain balance.- Novitae: The novitae are those designed to fill the roles of researchers, scientists, engineers, doctors, teachers, historians, designers, and artists. They are characterized by their intellect, their creativity, observation, analysis and power of comprehension. Physically they are usually the most average of their species, the focus of their design being on health and durability to ensure they have a long life. Most of the older Geminaie usually belong to this caste.
- Politicians Charismatic, impetuous, measured and observant, the Geminaie belonging to this caste are destined to occupy administrative positions and others akin to public relations and management. Representatives, public-speakers, economists, negotiators, translators and advisers are usually some of the professions in which they excel. They tend to have pleasant voices, good looks and a commanding presence. Actors, singers and entertainers often belong to this caste too.
- Soldiers: The foundations of their army and fleet, this caste is all about physical prowess and skill. They are great tacticians with an unrivaled spatial awareness, resourcefulness and quickness of thought. They are also excellent team workers and remarkably steadfast. Most of them become either soldiers or pilots, but other roles which are common for them to fill are strategists, field workers, builders, explorers and trainers among others.
- Ambassadors: The Ambassadors are the Geminaie who are bred and raised with the sole purpose of them leaving Geminidae to explore and learn from foreign planets and systems, acquire new technologies, customs, philosophies or whatever they might find that they believe would benefit Geminidae and the Geminians, master it and return to Geminidae to teach it to their people. As their name indicates, they are also the political representatives of Geminidae outside the Consors system. Ambassadors are well-rounded. They are fast learners, have good people skills and are renowned for their prowess as combatants and explorers.
- Force Sensitivity: Standard.
- The Friends in High Places: The Geminaie evolved on a planet with some of the highest mountains to be found in the galaxy, an outlandishly irregular terrain and giant trees. Being able to climb and survive in high altitudes was and still is a necessity for the species. They have a superior range and control of mobility which grants them improved balance and stability and the ability to function normally even when oxygen is in very short supply (thus becoming immune to mountain sickness). This respiratory adaptation allows them to breathe in Type II or Type III atmospheres so long as the reason they are classified as such is a lack of pressure or sufficient amount of oxygen and not the presence of contaminants. They cannot survive in atmospheres without oxygen or that contain other noxious gases without assistance. With the help of the retractable talons on their hands and feet a Geminaie is able to climb very smooth surfaces such as the sides of the skyscrapers of their cities.
- Iron Gripped: The muscle fibers of their upper limbs, particularly their forearms and hands, are the most evolved and the strongest to be found in their bodies, acting as natural crushgaunts (an adult can break bone and crush most metals and rocks of relative size and thickness within reason, they may bend a blade or crush an armor plate, they can't rip through blast doors or break a giant boulder). This adaptation also came about as a means to facilitate and enhance their climbing ability. Once they grab on to something they won't let go even if faced with impressive opposing forces.
- Jumping: The muscles in their lower limbs, while not as potent as their upper body's muscle, also possess exceptional strength. They are excellent jumpers and quite agile. The muscles in their thighs and calves act as coils, meaning the more time they have to brace for a jump the further or higher they can go while a quick, sudden jump from a static position will not take them remarkably far. Average static vertical jump for an untrained adult: 2,8m.
- Adaptive Behavior & Observation: Geminaie possess a remarkable ability to understand the behavior of others and themselves, to change their own as needed to blend in, make use of their understanding to better communicate and relate to others and pick up on details and tells that most beings would ignore but that are very clear to them. They are uncannily fast learners, capable of assimilating and remembering new skills and knowledge with speed and precision and comprehending new concepts or systems with little difficulty. This goes hand in hand with their curious natures. However, their memories are not unlimited and although they may pick up and perfect skills quicker than others, the abilities or knowledge they do not employ or revise regularly will fade over time.
- Sibling Synchronicity: Geminaie siblings, and specially twins, are capable of developing a form of bond that allows them to understand, assess and, to a degree, predict what the other will do when in their proximity. Through this connection, they can achieve almost perfect synchronicity becoming a frighteningly efficient team. The most famous display of this synchronicity is fighting: a pair of synchronized warrior or pilot Geminaie is without a doubt a force to be reckoned with. The bond is stronger if the siblings are force-users, in this case the bond will work even if they are away (at least in the same system, the bond is still more stable and trustworthy when they are close). This skill is a trained ability and siblings who do not put in the effort to develop it will not be able to perform it. On top of this, they may have a close enough understanding of more than one sibling and develop several bonds, but they can only synchronize with one at a time.
- Healing: While their muscle fibers, tendons and ligaments are very well developed and grant them their strength and agility, they are highly sophisticated and only work in the way they should when their composition and structure is the right one. When they tear a muscle or sprain a joint, the healing process can become a nightmare. Their muscles and ligaments can mend in an incorrect way and even a minor imprecision would lead to a considerable loss of their faculties. Because of this, they must treat this type of injuries with utmost care and usually even a minor sprain is immobilized with a cast. An injured Geminaie will be out of commission for quite a long time so as to be absolutely sure that the tissue is fully and well recovered before employing it again or risk seeing their capacities forever hindered.
- Nutritional Needs: Their bodies are agile and strong, but they demand a high caloric intake of useful macronutrients to maintain their health and not deteriorate. Because of their metabolisms it is very easy for them to lose muscle mass and because of the complexity of this tissue in their species, it is very hard to gain it back once its lost. A Geminaie must eat more and better than the average near-human. Those of them who are found travelling outside of Geminidae may have a hard time finding food sources that are sufficient and appropriate while being on the move. This is made particularly difficult because of their inability to properly digest and therefore extract nutrients from processed foods which are the most abundant in many other planets.
- Alpinist's Blood: Their blood is quite unique and while this has granted them benefits, it becomes a burden for those who leave their planet. Because of its different composition, the Geminaie cannot receive blood transfusions from any other species and a lot of drugs and treatments will not work on them (bacta, luckily, does work but it acts much slower on them when compared to other near-humans and therefore, is not very useful to treat urgent or life-threatening injuries). On top of this, the hemoprotein that grants their blood its characteristic purple color is made up of a lot more iron than hemoglobin. In Geminidae, where most species are adapted to high altitudes, iron is abundant in both plants and the meat of its creatures which provide the needed iron through common diet. However, when outside of their planet, the Geminaie must take a daily iron supplement. Failing to do so would results in symptoms similar to those of mountain sickness which worsen over time and could lead to death.
- Delicate Climbing Tools: The micro-structures that allow them to climb smooth surfaces do not regenerate once harmed. A deep enough cut or burn in their palms or the soles of their feet will damage them and their function will be severely affected or completely lost. These structures don't work through thick layers and therefore must be somewhat exposed if the Geminaie wishes to climb a smooth surface like the side of a building. For this reason, the Geminaie prefer to abstain from climbing if they can't do it with their grip strength alone and are very careful of their hands and feet, specially their hands.
- Sibling Synchronicity: The loss of a sibling is a crippling blow to a Geminaie, and this is specially true if they had established a bond with them. Depression and agonizing grief are the most common reaction to the loss of a bonded sibling and they often end up causing physical deterioration because of the state of stress that the emotional wreckage imposes on their bodies. It takes a very long time to recover and frequently the surviving bonded siblings even lose the ability to ever synchronize again (which is why most avoid bonding with all their siblings). If a sibling died or was killed while they were synchronized, the shock to the paired, surviving Geminaie is so great that they could go into cardiac arrest and die too or, at the very least, they will become incapacitated and pass out. Also, like all things learned, the bond requires a very deep mutual understanding so it is necessary that bonded siblings stay in contact and have an extensive knowledge of each other in a personal level. If they were to be away with no form of communication for a long time, kept important secrets from each other or one was to go through a sudden change of personality or view (because of something important happening in their lives), they won't be able to synchronize and will have to rebuild their bond.
- Diet: Omnivorous. As a general rule, the diet of a Geminaie is very similar to that of a human. Because of their nutritional needs they maintained more "natural" feeding habits and thanks to this they can eat raw meat and display some resistance to some mild poisons and toxins found in most wild fruits, herbs and fungi which they can digest with no problems. They are also able to drink fresh water directly from natural sources so long as it is not contaminated with chemicals/other substances with no fear of falling ill due to germs.
- Allergies: They are not used to eating ultra-processed foods. They can enjoy them but only in small quantities or otherwise they may develop abdominal pain and nausea. These foodstuffs are of null nutritional value to them because they are unable to break them down properly.
- Communication: Verbal, nonverbal and body language.
- Nexilis: Nexilis is the mother tongue of the Geminaie. A verbal and written language, Nexilis is characterized by a very complex phonation and a wide spectrum of speech sounds that it has incorporated from many other languages, making it sound very exotic to those not familiarized with it. Any sound the Geminaie found attractive or beautiful they would incorporate to their speech, resulting in a convoluted but incredibly expressive and fascinating language. Learning it proves to be difficult for this same reason, and those who pick it up as a second language usually still find it hard to pronounce it even while being fluent.
- Galactic Basic: Galactic Basic is one of the official languages of Geminidae, any Geminaie raised in their homeworld can speak it fluently.
- Nosk'lum, the Mountain Song: The need to communicate with each other across long distances or over terrain irregularities that would impede regular speech or sign language resulted in the creation of the Nosk'lum: a language composed solely of whistles and other bird-like noises. Thanks to their advanced respiratory system, which includes their voice box, they can whistle quite loudly and in many different ways. Having fallen out of use with the advance of communication technology, it stopped being an official language in Geminidae but many still learn it out of habit or to preserve it as a distinguished item of their culture. Nosk'lum is just as complex as any other language and anything they say in Nexilis or in Galactic Basic they can also say through whistles. It sounds just like a bird song, making it also an effective way of covert communication while in nature if technology is not an option.
- Technology Level: Slightly above galactic standard.
The Geminaie are known for their curiosity, technological prowess and pursuit of innovation. Their cities are famed for their designs and ever changing cityscapes as they improve on the already established buildings, systems and every-day life commodities. Through a careful balance between advanced technology and the upkeep of nature and active-lifestyle they have achieved a remarkable quality of life. Technology also represents the biggest form of export of their planet, so industrialization and keeping themselves on top of the technological "arms race" is one of their main priorities. - Religion/Beliefs: The Geminaie have never had an organized belief system or placed faith in spiritual and esoteric matters. Instead, they have always sought empirical and scientific explanations to the phenomenons around them, leading to the early and steady advance of technology in their society. That which they cannot define completely through these means, the Force being an example, they subject to loose theories and keep on researching, confident that what they cannot explain now shall be comprehensible in the future. They are, however, highly introspective even if never truly developing a belief in a soul or higher essence. This stems from the value they bestow upon individuality and self discovery. The practice of many forms of meditation that they learnt and incorporated from other cultures is common and encouraged.
- General Behaviors:
I. Values & Norms:
There is one thing that the Geminaie value over everything else: adaptability. There is no place for enforced traditions, stagnancy or hopelessness for the people who seem to fear obsolescence more than death itself. Being ready for anything or, if not, adjusting and coping through whatever difficulty or context they may find themselves in is regarded as their greatest strength and most important goal. Where there's a will there's a way, and if there is no way they will try to make one. It is from this core value that all other defining traits of the Geminaie stem.
Independence, productivity, curiosity and discipline are some of the more valued characteristics. The Geminaie believe in creating the best version of themselves they possibly can and those who do not work diligently towards this cause are quickly perceived as lazy and even selfish, for the betterment of oneself leads to them being of more use and help to others in their community. Their skill to adapt to very disadvantageous, tense or uncomfortable situations is also applied to their daily lives, avoiding conflict and helping them connect and understand others in a deeper way.
Lastly, they not only believe in bettering themselves but on using their skills and knowledge to improve those things around them. Curious, resourceful and intelligent, the ability to learn, modify and/or create is highly respected and celebrated among them. This is usually expressed through their technology and industries, to them it represents the endless realm of possibilities, providing comfort in the form of the reminder that not only are they able to comply but also to redefine and build on anything until they have shaped it to their purpose.
II. The Breeding Programs:
The Geminaie have practiced selective breeding on their own population for countless generations. Each individual's genetic code is analysed and their personality profiled and classified since their childhood and throughout their life. The information is saved into a system which is then used to find 'genetically compatible' pairs with the most chances of producing offspring that possess specific traits, both physical and behavioral. Through this practice the Geminaie control their population levels, sustainably and progressively strengthen their species and breed individuals that are tailored to fulfill a role in their society in which they will excel at thanks to the attributes they have inherited and the specialized education they will receive in order to fully develop and exploit these traits.
The famous geneticists and biologists of Geminidae follow the development of their species genome closely, the breeding programs can be loosely classified into two categories: the short term programs and the long term programs. The first are the programs that rule the passage from one generation to the next, the ones that control the population and also make sure all roles will have Geminaie to fulfill them once the current holders retire or pass. For example, if there was a war and many soldiers lost their lives, the short term programs would be adapted accordingly to ensure that the next generation provides enough soldier-material Geminaie to make up for the loss. The long term programs are more complex, span over several generations and are the ones that aim to improve the genome of the species as a whole leading to evolution and adaptation-by-design. These sometimes feature interbreeding with other species, either because this would strengthen their own traits or aid in the development of new ones in the long run.
The breeding programs are no longer as enforced as they were in the past and participation in them is not compulsory. However, social pressure is still very much present concerning the matter and although the decision to reject one's role in them is respected, those who opt out of the breeding programs are expected to either remain childless or find a 'genetically compatible' partner to produce "worthy" offspring with. In other words, they are pushed to preserve the selective breeding philosophy at least in their own terms if they do not want to comply to those of the established breeding programs. Every Geminaie gets the code number of their genetic archives tattooed on the inside of their lower lip when they are babies, this is known as the "gen-code". They also get a subdermal micro-chip implanted in the nape of their necks containing the information of their genetic archives, so each Geminaie acts as back up of their own information should the system ever be threatened or lost.
III. Upbringing and Family:
Because they are born as a result of the breeding programs the social construction of family is vastly different for the Geminaie. First of all, the only blood relation of relevance is siblinghood. A pair or group of siblings is considered the nucleus of a family, a concept which contrasts a lot with the conventional couple-centered family presented in most other cultures. Because of the way they are raised the concepts of 'mother' and 'father' do not properly exist in the geminian culture. Their "families" are limited to the one generation of siblings and hold no relation to the parents or descendants and because there is no hereditary association, the Geminaie do not have surnames. However, it is customary for them to have two names (most commonly in the format: "Name1-Name2", e.g. Feyd-Serit) and because of this, foreigners assume their second name is their surname.
Children are divided into Nasters, "litters" of youngsters within a range of five years of difference in age. They are sent to the Atheneums: temple-like buildings prepared to house the young ones, where they will live and grow together for about the first fifteen years of their life. Siblings always belong to the same Atheneum. Alloparenting is the common practice in Geminidae. Children are raised and receive care from several adults who are not necessarily their parents or related to them by blood. Thanks to this the Geminaie are free to choose who they will take for a maternal and paternal figure, while making sure that the connection to their siblings is strengthened further. Around the age of six, children begin their specialized education, training and conditioning according to their caste. This dynamic in which a Naster is raised together and then, as adults, care for the younger Nasters makes the Geminaie who are in the same litter and Atheneum but are not siblings behave like an extended horizontal family.
Marriage is not an institution they perceive as necessary either. The Geminaie are very open and usually the decision of two or more of them to enter a committed relationship is enough for them to be perceived as part of the same family in the eyes of their society and their government without the need of bureaucracy or further vows. Of course, heterosexual couples tend to abstain from having children of their own unless they also happen to be paired in the breeding programs.
IV. Mastery of Oneself:
Through the perfecting and betterment of the individual, the progress and welfare of the whole shall be attained. This belief has given way to a very complex form of individuality and the pursuit of self-ambition because it makes one more useful and more valuable to their peers. The Geminaie are, or try to be, deeply in touch with themselves both physically and mentally. They strive to have a complete understanding of their own feelings, behaviors, flaws, points of view and identity as well as control over these, resulting in the status of discipline as one of their trademark characteristics. This view is extended to their bodies and to physical mastery, which taking after cultures such as the Echani, they view as a form of art and expression of their inner understandings.
Through the deep study and comprehension they subject themselves to, they have also learned to read others and to objectively consider contexts, decisions, instincts and wants and how these are expressed in a physical way. This control and power of observation is the tool that allows them to adapt so easily and find a way to feel comfortable and be efficient even when outside of their comfort zone or when under stress. The balance in this practice is of vital importance, for shifting so easily could make one lose sight of their true attributes and core beliefs. Geminaie who become too invested in this ability to change traits and behaviors to suit a context sometimes develop some form of identity disorder. One must know what buttons to push and how far they can push them without threatening the foundations of their identity.
V. Kyr'ret Martial Art:
Inspired by the Echani, the Geminaie designed a martial art with the purpose of encompassing all the beliefs they have cultivated regarding self-discovery, the understanding of others, and the use of the body as a tool to achieve and express the previous mentioned disciplines. The most recognized practitioners of the Kyr'ret martial art are the Ambassadors of Geminidae, who are introduced to it since a very early age and who have perfected it. It is seen as a favored form of exercise and meditation, and therefore practiced to some degree by many geminians. The base goal of Kyr'ret is to first identify the lacks and strengths of an individual and the dynamic nature of these attributes in different situations, for example while experiencing different emotions. Kyr'ret, before being a martial art, is a form of self-exploration.
The following step of Kyr'ret is all about contemplating and learning from one's opponent. Once mastered, a Kyr'ret martial artist can fall into the rhythm of their sparring partner or opponent with ease, and in doing so gain a better understanding of their style of fighting and find both its strengths and weaknesses, allowing them to adapt their own fighting style to gain the upper hand. Because of this Kyr'ret masters are not only considered great fighters but also great teachers. Because the main goal of Kyr'ret is self discipline and discovery, its practitioners do not employ any form of weapons until after they have mastered hand to hand, unarmed combat.
The selection of a weapon is considered to be a very personal and important choice, and once made they will go once more through all the steps of self exploration, reflection and learning until they can employ their weapon as an extension of their own body. Force-sensitives who are also students of Kyr'ret usually choose a weapon similar to their lightsaber variation choice (sword for regular lightsaber, daggers for shotos, etc.). When used offensively or for self defense, Kyr'ret is all about adaptability. Once they have fallen into a rhythm they believe will grant them the advantage the most characteristic form of attacks are open palm hits, joint-locking, grappling and the exploitation of pressure points or vulnerable areas aiming to either incapacitate the opponent or cause severe internal damage.
Early History
The Geminaie originated in a planet of the Consors system, hidden away from the rest of the galaxy behind the cover of its dark nebulae clusters. The only sentient species in their homeworld, they evolved to sort through the difficult terrain of their world with ease and thanks to their physical capability and their intelligence, soon became the apex species. Originally their appearance wasn't so similar to that of humans, their facial features less defined, their limbs longer and with less control of fine motor skills. A near-human species, unique and easily distinguished.
In the beginning they would organize themselves in tribes. Each tribe had its own form of hierarchy and culture, but they all shared the Lands of Peace. These were terrains meant to serve as common territory in which the regional tribes would get together once or twice a year to share and strengthen bonds. The original Geminaie were great warriors for sport and training, but with no taste for war and preferred to fight their battles with breath and words rather than with spears and arrows. They were willing to help each other and reach agreements before wasting blood unnecessarily.
They were curious and observant, always trying to find a logical explanation to things. It didn't take them long to notice that the stronger Geminaie produced the stronger offspring, and this was the foundation of what would evolve to be an intricate system of selective breeding in the future. Back in the age of the tribes, only the most capable, the most intelligent and the best communicators were allowed to have children.
Thanks to their inquisitive and progressive natures, as well as the close contact and relation between the tribes, technology developed at a quickened and steady pace. With each passing generation they understood more and better of what surrounded them and their minds grew more capable and learned. They stopped dividing themselves into tribes in such a strict manner and unified under one government: a Sovereign and the Tribunes, but still kept their custom of meeting each other on common grounds. Many generations later, with their first steps into industrialization, the first great war would take place.
The Geminaie realized how certain practices affected their environment and knew that many resources were finite. A rift was created between those who wanted to keep up with the quick development of their technology at the expense of the land and those who were willing to slow down the advances in favor of finding a solution that wouldn't damage their environment. Tension over the extraction sites grew and confrontation was inevitable. The Geminaie chose sides and the war followed soon after, taking with it many lives. In the end, the conservationists won and a peace treaty was signed.
Discovery of SpaceFlight
Technology kept on advancing, now at slower but more efficient and sustainable pace. Eventually and after many centuries, the Geminaie managed to create their own space-crafts and discovered hyperspace. The first voyages outside of the Consors system would not render any major discoveries, they were alone in their system and found no sign of sentient life in neighboring ones. This trend would go on for many generations, but the Geminaie refused to believe they were the only sentient species to be found simply because the immensity of the galaxy made such an assumption a statistical improbability. However, when their first contact with another sentient life-form occurred, it was far from being the joyous discovery they imagined.
A small fleet of explorers lost contact with Geminidae and just when the Geminaie were considering sending more ships to look for the missing spacecraft and crews, an alarming message reached them. The explorers had found a civilized planet, inhabited by a species they called 'Humans'. But these humans were sick, and this sickness had spread to the Geminaie that made first contact. They learned that this infectious disease was known as the Gulag Plague and that it had ravaged the whole galaxy. The explorers would not return to their home-world, choosing to perish on foreign land rather than risk the safety of their people. Communication was lost soon after, and all exploration journeys would be stopped for many years in fear of the deadly plague reaching their system.
Many generations later when they finally decided to reasume their efforts, they did so cautiously. Small exploration teams would be sent to nearing systems, crewed by Geminaie who had accepted they could meet the same fate as the original exploration fleet. It was on a desolated and arid planet that they found humans once again. These humans had belonged to a fleet that had formed during the Gulag plague, individuals who had taken to their ships, living in space and scavenging to avoid catching the disease. Even after the plague had passed, they decided to keep to their nomadic lifestyle. Destiny had other plans for them, and their ships had crash landed on this desolated world where they were forced into a life of harsh survival.
Curious about this species that seemed to be so similar to their own, the geminaie invited them to their own planet. They learned many things from them, but many of those news about the rest of the galaxy were alarming. The information was exciting, they were confronted with an endless universe of possibilities...But at what cost?
Isolationism
Driven by their ambitions and optimism they once more set their eyes on the galactic horizon, their resolve to know what awaited outside their hidden system strengthened by the lessons and the tales they had heard. And even though they were met with beauty and promise, they also witnessed war, chaos and tragedy. The greater stage of the galaxy seemed to be the playground of grief and pain. Explorers returned with great discoveries that paled and were shadowed by the terrible recount of the events that shaped the foreign systems. Some of the Geminaie, tired of being met with despair every time they decided to get their heads out of the metaphorical sand that was the Consors system, proposed ending space travel once and for all. Others, either blinded by ambition or faithful in the goodness of the galaxy, wished to keep on exploring.
Tensions arose once again within Geminidae, this time between those who wished to hide and those who wished to conquer and explore. War broke lose. Once more, many lives were lost and in the end the Isolationists came out victorious. All exploration plans were cancelled and ships in foreign systems recalled. The Geminaie closed their system off and remained silent. During these many years, their efforts went into strengthening their defenses and preparing their fleet to protect their system in case of an invasion. Being combat able became even more important to them and the breeding projects were heavily enforced, their main goal besides betterment being to liken their appearance to that of humans.
Those who had pushed for expansionism were still many, and although no longer violent their voices insisted on being heard. It did not sit well with the Geminaie to miss out on the developments of the galaxy that could help to improve their own. So, as a form of appeasement for the defeated expansionists and to quench their thirst for knowledge, the Ambassadors were created. Genetically designed through their breeding programs and later on raised to become agents, the Ambassadors were the only members of the Geminaie allowed to leave the Consors system. They would acquire information and technology and learn skills that would benefit the Geminaie and later on return to teach what they had learnt. Diversity and interbreeding was a main feature of the breeding programs, utilizing DNA extracted by the Ambassadors.
Recent Times
The years passed and the Geminaie kept to their peaceful isolationism, maintaining a secret tie to the rest of the galaxy through the Ambassadors. Growing, stable, and secure, a change to the norms was pushed and they decided they could benefit from strictly economical contact with other systems and planets. The Advena region was created and the Ambassadors were now tasked with the additional responsibility of becoming proper Ambassadors, serving as representatives of the interests of their people and the main link between other planets and Geminidae. This order has been more or less maintained until now.
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