Post by Kenneth New on Jun 12, 2011 15:58:46 GMT -5
Kishandry (pronounced kuh-SHAHN-dree) are a bipedal race of humanoids with horns, fangs and tails. They control a large region of space spinward of the New Frontier. They claim to have been spacefaring for seven centuries, but their level of technology is no more advanced (and in some ways lesser) than that of the Earth Alliance. [In game terms, they're TL 13 with a few TL 14 elements.]
Roughly human sized, the Kishandry have three distinct ethnic groups denoted by skin color. There doesn't seem to be any discrimination based on skin color (with a notable exception mentioned below). Kishandry can have dark black, dark blue-purple or maroon skin color, but all have very white teeth and black horns.
Adult Kishandry have craggy faces, long horns and thick tails. They have thick spiky black hair on the top of their heads. On males the hair continues to grow down the spine (like a mane) to the bottom of the shoulder blades. Their calves are also hairy. Female Kishandry have longer hair on the heads, smaller curved horns and less body hair.
The Kishandry are the only known spacefaring race that practices slavery. There are a few human slaves in Kishandry space, but most are one of their subject races or a type of Kishandry called Kelmurrha (roughy translated as "pales"). A relatively common condition among the Kishandry produces a lighter skinned, smaller and more frail Kishandry with small horns, no body hair and smoother faces. They look disturbingly human.
Kishandry have two pigments that governs their skin color. One governs the hue and the other the tone. Roughly 3 in 1000 Kishandry are born without the pigment that provides a dark skin tone, leaving them with pale blue, ivory or dusty pink skin. Their hair, nails and horns resemble aged ivory.
It's common for these Kelmurrha to be enslaved. Even when they're not sold by their families, they're often treated as slaves. On the Kishandry homeworld (which orbits an F5 type star), the Kelmurrha's lack of dark pigment makes them vulnerable to skin cancer if they spend much time in the sun. At first glance, it would seem that Kelmurrha syndrome is linked to smaller stature, but that isn't the case. The reason they resemble immature Kishandry is because of a neotenic lock (failure to mature properly) brought on by hormones. The full reasons for this condition aren't properly understood by human scientists and the Kishandry prefer not to talk about it. It may be artificially induced, or it may somehow occur naturally. In any event, the similarity in appearance between humans and the Kelmurrha is the main reason behind the lack of respect that many Kishandry seem to exhibit towards humans.
Kishandry fashions are baroque and stylized. No surface is allowed to remain undecorated and no wall is allowed to remain untextured. Traditional clothing are long robes, split to allow easy leg movement, worn over tight leggings. Patterns and textures are common, as are epaulets, gold braid and fanciful buttons. Kishandry slaves seldom where more than a short tunic, or even a kilt and loose vest.
Although slavery is illegal in Earth Alliance space, Kishandry officials and visitors are allowed to bring their slaves onto Alliance worlds (and into Pharos Station). This isn't popular among the human, Shoomari or Tekkaren populations, but is grudgingly allowed in the name of keeping the peace.
The Kishandry dominate several less advanced species, but they've lost control of one of them. The Myrgha were once subjects of the Kishandry empire, but rebelled and gained their freedom in 2302. Relations between the two powers is strained, but not overtly hostile.