Planet Name: Nerak
Atmosphere: Devoid of oxygen, primarily consists of nitrogen, carbon dioxide and methane
Size and Mass: Approximately 5,200 km in diameter, approximately 4.86 x 10^23 kg in mass.
Axial Tilt, Orbital Distance, and Number 215 degrees, 0.85 AU, 2nd planet from its star (Krath)
Geography and Climate: Nerak's thick carbon dioxide/methane atmosphere, and its proximity to Krath, produce a sweltering climate everywhere on the planet except for two temperate bands near the poles. It has liquid oceans, but they only make up a third of its surface, and most potable water is found underground. These underground lakes are home to microorganisms that feed off of geothermal energy, which are predated on by eyeless fish, which are in turn predated on by larger predators such as Teshtaran. Nerak's ecosystems are dependent on a biogeochemical cycle wherein methanophiles consume methane and produce carbon dioxide, and methanogens consume carbon dioxide and produce methane.
Culture and History: See below
BIG OL' BALL (DO NO REMOVE)
Species Name: Teshtaran
Scientific Name: Pseudoacrididae myrmex
Homeworld: Nerak
Natural lifespan: Approximately 60 years
Physical description: The Teshtaran are amphibious methanogenic humanoids, possessing two legs and four arms and standing between seven and nine feet tall. Their upper arms extend to their knees and possess six fingers arranged in a radial pattern. Their secondary arms are located underneath their primary ones and are identical aside from being only about half as long. Their body ranges from a light greenish-brown to bone white in colour. They do not possess eyes, and rely on sensing heat, smell and hearing to navigate. Most of their head is actually a hollow cavity similar to the bill of a Hadrosaur, the sound of which is emitted through the six eye-like pores on their face, producing both loud noises useful for alerting fellow Teshtaran and intimidating enemies, and a haunting and alien melody used in Teshtaran art and oral tradition. Teshtaran have long, thin teeth designed for catching fish.
Teshtaran are by nature piscivores (fish-eating carnivores) that developed in and primarily inhabit dark caves, with the occasional once-in-a-generation foray into the outside world in order to claim new caves once the previous cave is overcrowded. Teshtaran are genderless and reproduce asexually. Fertile Teshtaran release hundreds of millimeter-long larvae into stagnant water at a time, which grow into adolescent Teshtaran over the course of approximately two years, at which time they instinctively seek out their parent to be raised by them. (If released into water that holds other life the majority of Teshtaran larvae die from predation, while if released into sterile water the majority of Teshtaran larvae die from starvation or being cannibalized by larger larvae.)
Teshtaran are naturally quarrelsome, an adaptation against overpopulation in their cramped cave habitats. Large, claustrophobic crowds trigger chemical responses in their body characterized by increased heart rate, symptoms of anxiety, massively increased levels of serotonin and adrenaline, highly reduced inhibitions, irritability and intense pain behind their auditory pores due to the swelling of hormone glands, and the loss of a sex drive. Large, overcrowded Teshtaran caves thus tend to reduce their own populations to safe levels through bloody, irrational infighting, preventing famine from wiping them out entirely. As a result, in both purely Teshtaran and in multispecies societies, Teshtaran tend to be loners by choice. Additionally, Teshtaran societies are generally highly militaristic and tribalistic as a result of these aggressive compulsions.
Culture and History: The Teshtaran are latecomers to the Galactic stage, as Nerak is deep in the core of the Sagittarius arm far from the great powers' influence, and the Teshtaran never developed space travel of their own. The Teshtaran were taken to space and spread across many worlds in what is now the Great Void by the Rheimans, but have never developed a position of power independent of other species and nations.
Teshtaran are organized into numerous "Clans" that have tremendous socio-spiritual influence over Teshtaran lives. The only legal authority Clan leaders have is the ability to strip other members of their Clan status, which is a serious action, as Teshtaran often rely on their Clan as a social and economic support network, and to be Clanless is to be effectively stateless. The only other power Clan leaders have is their sheer charisma, which they tend to have in spades as they are traditionally elected from prestigious warrior families and are seen as possessing a drop of divine blood. Clans are "families" in the sense that a Teshtaran's Clan name and surname are synonymous, but in reality they act like states, as Clans can easily adopt outsiders and the average Clan numbers in the millions.
The Teshtaran have no unified governing body, but the two most powerful Clans on Nerak are the ancient and prestigious Kraths, and the upstart Oskas. Minor Clans on worlds distant from Nerak have also united behind Teshtaran and non-Teshtaran partisan groups of varying political affiliation dedicated to establishing their own governments. Other Clans like organized crime syndicates, unions, or corporations.
Off-Nerak Teshtaran often find employment as mercenaries, bouncers, enforcers, raiders, etc., owing to their poverty and their physical size and strength.
CONSIDERED A DELICACY (DO NOT REMOVE)
