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The Falaci are a primarily reptilian/insectoid species within the Ervo Sector, hailing from the icy and marginally habitable world of Darossa in the Vothan System. They are the primary species of the Falacian Dominion, Falacian High Rule, Imperial Falacian State, as well as the United Planets and a member state of the Vernarcan Federation, although it is important to note that Falacian culture tends to blur the lines between species that participate in it. The Falaci species has a societal reputation and predilection towards the arts of violence, and eschews the majority of close relationships.

Appearance

The average Falaci is roughly 2.5 meters in height, a thin, scaly form sharing characteristics of both reptilian and insectoid bodyplans. Their compound eyes cover much of their head, above a wide mouth which can unhinge to a level that most other species would instinctually describe as freakish. They possess four pairs of arms, and the rear pair is generally used for locomotion a la the legs of a Alorath. Antennae can be seen sprouting from the rear of their head, and most of their body is covered in scales.

Physiology

Respiratory System

The extraordinarily high oxygen content of Darossa's atmosphere allows the Falaci to survive by taking in oxygen directly through the surface of the skin. This also works underwater. As such, the respiratory system lacks any major organs, based entirely around the skin's absorptive properties. This also causes the Falacian language to be based entirely upon clicks made by the mandibles.

Digestive System

The Falacian digestive system is powerful and efficient, necessitated by the sheer amount of energy expended to maintain the warm-bloodedness required to survive in the harsh climate of the homeworld. Fixed plants are few and far between, so the Falacian digestive tract was not evolved to consume them.

The digestion process begins outside the body, as a Falaci injects their prey with a multiplying enzyme which begins to liquefy its interior. After this, they can insert a large, straw-like proboscis into the animal, sucking up the predigested meal to absorb it.

Due to the low gravity, the Falaci lack the need for a centralized heart, very strong muscles, or a permanent skeletal system, and the high oxygen content of Darossa's atmosphere negates the need for a fully-fledged respiratory system. This means that almost their entire interior, besides the distributed brain, nervous system, and reproductive system, is the Falacian digestive system. The entire body can be easily molded around whatever the stomach is digesting, allowing for the consumption of enormous meals if necessary. After consuming a 100 pound animal, the undigested remains of that animal after the stomach is through with it constitute less than five. All else is absorbed into the system and used in some way. Any waste remaining from that can be voided when necessary. Today, most of the Falaci live on much more hospitable planets, so the enormous energy needs of the distant past are gone and they can eat much less.

Reproductive System

The Falacian reproductive system is composed of two sets in organs, found in the male and female members of the species respectively. In males, a set of small organs exists which produce small gamete cells and provide a method to bring them to the large gamete cells produced by the female. In females, a much more complicated set of organs exists, designed to nurture the zygote from conception to its birth.

Female Falaci have 3-7 uterine chambers, allowing them to carry a great number of offspring at varying stages of development. Each uterine chamber can carry up to four unborn children inside it as the zygote is prone to splitting into multiple embryos early in development. As such, a single individual can theoretically remain pregnant with 28 unlaid eggs, ranging from mere clumps of cells all the way up to full term and laying. This number requires some shenanigans to achieve, so in practice the limit is closer to eight.

Demographics

The Falaci population of the galaxy is deeply fragmented. Roughly half the population resides in the Falacian Dominion and Falacian High Rule, most of this fairly evenly spread between the most populous systems of the warring nations. Around a fourth of the Falaci species lives within the borders of the Imperial Falacian State. Roughly an sixth of the total Falaci population can be found within the United Planets, a breakaway state from the Dominion which separated in 91 AC, and another tenth can be found within the borders of the Vernarcan Federation, particularly within the Republic of Avor, another breakaway state that later joined the Federation. another eighth may be found within the Krask Hegemony, having assimilated into the resurgent Krask culture after their secession. Finally, the remainder can be found scattered thinly through much of the Ervo Sector, including within the Tyran Free State and other successors of the Tyran Empire.

Culture

Society

Within Falacian space, the lines between species are blurred to the point of nonexistence in many cases. As a species assimilates into the nation's dominant culture, they gradually lose their native name and become known as another brand of Falaci. For instance, the Pahvo species of Neeia quickly assimilated after its conquest, and now make up approximately a third of the "Falaci" population alongside the original Falaci species. Other species which resist assimilation into the dominant culture such as the Eanai and the Krask never "earn" this title, and remain as second class citizens, migrate away, or declare independence.

In most places, particularly within the Falacian Dominion and Falacian High Rule, Falaci culture is centered upon the arts of violence. The greatest warriors are often assumed to be the best at everything else as well. Disputes are settled with duels, and the stakes are high.

The Dominion and High Rule are based upon a semi-feudal system, which results in a range of stratified social classes. The lowest laborer class has little to no rights under Dominion law, although this class system is much more relaxed in the United Planets and completely gone within the Avor Block, existing as it does within the Vernarcan Federation. Within the Falacian Dominion, the highest ranking noble families all theoretically got there by fighting their way up the ranks, but this is no longer actually possible if it ever was. Only the top few strata of society really have any agency in political life.

In the United Planets, this theoretically meritocratic system was returned to its roots, resulting in a much more socially mobile society. The best at their jobs are elevated, and those who fail may fall. Those who believe that their superiors are failing have the right to challenge them in an efra, a ceremonial duel, taking their place upon a victory. This is the primary method of social climbing in that nation, as well as a method for consistently peaceful transfers of power.

Familial Dynamics

The Falaci, as a rule, place little importance on a family. They lack the concept of monogamy found in many other cultures, but this does not necessarily translate into promiscuity as they also place much less societal importance on sexual activity in the first place. Rather than the simultaneously holy and profane act that it seems to be in some cultures, it is merely another example of social interaction.

Falacian children are usually raised by their mothers alone – in fact, the word for mother in their language translates more generally to "parent", with no native word for father even present. The mother is aided in caring for the child by her friends and whatever lover she has taken at the time. This behavior arose as a result of the harsh climate of prehistoric Darossa, which was even worse than it is today. Leaving a mother dependent on a single individual who may not return from hunting parties was considered to be really stupid.

Religion

The Falaci practice a variety of religions. A decent measure of their populace is atheist, a trend which happens to every civilization as it advances, but there are still a number of religious practices which are spread through the Dominion and beyond. The most populous religion of ~29% of the population, Kaviloraskara, features a rigidly binary concept of morality, with layers of heaven and hell sandwiching the world. Heaven is warm, temperate and home to the purest good, which has absolute power in its uppermost reaches. Hell is even more frigid than the poles of Darossa and home to the purest evil. The material world is caught between them, and neither has absolute control over it.

The next most populous, Julak'kao, is much more personable in its divine characters. Unlike Kaviloraskara, Julak'kao's mythos is populated by characters of all levels of power, who act like real people. There is a single powerful, but not all-powerful top goddess and a number of servants who she can send out to do her bidding. The morality of Julak'kao is much more wishy-washy and practical than Kaviloraskara, causing disputes between practitioners of the two religions.

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