Xa'Thin

Xa'thin are a race found in both Martial Space and Lowiras. They are highly intelligent, though dubious studies have placed them as subsapient. They experience harsh discrimination for their appearance and culture. They have contributed many world leaders as they have a natural affinity for Thaumaturgy and an interesting capability to use Dark Psionics without undergoing cerebral reconstruction, even though they did not evolve from a species in Lowiras.

Anatomy

Xa'Thin can grow to around 122 cm high by adulthood. They tend to way about 120 kg when fully grown, and exhibit several physical differences between sexes. They are covered in a chitin-like exoskeleton. All Xa'Thin have tentacle-like antenna on their heads that assist in sensing and communication, as well as tendrils for legs, with more legs on the front side than backside. Workers have thick, clawed arms, more defined body segments, no sex organs, and three two-footed legs. Drones have sex organs, two tendrils for each shoulder analogous to arms, and three single-footed legs. Monarchs have sex organs, colorful antenna, large singular tendrils for each arm, and six single footed tentacles as legs.

Culture

Xa'Thin are very social, and tend not to leave their communities. Xa'Thin societies are often made of many smaller eusocial groups. These groups have around 40 people, with a single Monarch serving as the leader, and around 10 drones serving as mates of the monarch; however, in times of crisis, or when isolated, Xa'Thin workers can grow benign tumors that become new identical Xa'Thin. Xa'Thin only change social groups in severe situations. Xa'Thin may find it troubling to live in a diverse community with non-Xa'Thin due to cultural differences.

Behavioral expectations vary between classes of Xa'Thin. Workers are expected to leave monarchs and drones to their reproductive labor and to do most of the work in society, including caring for juveniles. Workers mainly socialize with one another and with the children they care for. Drones are allowed to be out of the presence of the monarch, but must cover up. They are expected to communicate with their monarch and workers, generally staying away from one another when away from the monarch. Their only expected role is reproducing with a monarch, but they assist workers in their labor. Monarchs lead society and are allowed to socialize with anyone, with their only expectations being to lead and to reproduce.