Skin/Fur Color
Dark to black in normal light
blue/green to yellow/orange in ultraviolet
- "There was no danger. Humans need movement to see. Not-moving shadows are of no concern."
- ―Unnamed Defel
The Defel (colloquially known as Wraiths) were barely visible beings who appeared to most other species as shadows, re-enforcing the misconception that they were chameleon-like beings or "living shadows".
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Biology and Appearance
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Defel were from Af'El, a large, high-gravity, seldom-visited world orbiting the ultraviolet supergiant Ka'Dedus.
Since Af'El had no ozone layer, ultraviolet light passed freely to the surface, while other light wavelengths were mostly blocked by the heavy gases in the planet's atmosphere. Thus, all lifeforms on Af'El could see in ultraviolet light ranges, but were blinded by all but the dimmest light in other wavelengths. This is why Defels normally wore a visor when they left Af'El, and expected to be exposed to daylight at their destination.
Compared to other species, they could see exceptionally well in the dark.
Defel were short, stocky beings, averaging 1.3 meters tall and nearly as wide. Though they were nearly invisible in normal light, Defel were actually colorful beings. Viewed under ultraviolet light, their fur appeared in colors ranging from yellow to blue. Their snouts appeared green, with orange, gill-like slits at the base of their jawlines. Elderly Defel lost their ability to absorb light, fading to a dull dark brown under visible light.
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Society and Culture
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| Due to the harsh conditions of Af'El, Defel had a society based on communal resource sharing. Co-operation was vital for survival. As a result, the typical Defel was a tough, independent being, with a strong sense of honor. Defel stood by their word, and refused to associate with anyone who broke a promise.
The Defel lived in underground cities to escape Af'El's violent storms. Their subterranean society had developed highly advanced mining and metallurgical technology, though they had not developed space travel or agriculture on their own.
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Defel in the Galaxy
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Their homeworld was seldom visited due to the difficulty of escaping its gravity well, making Defel rare outside of the Ka'Dedus system. This rarity, combined with their unusual abilities, meant that much of the Galaxy believed they were mythical or supernatural beings. Some of the few Defel who left their homeworld went in search of adventure, and often employed their natural stealth abilities to become assassins, bodyguards, or thieves. Most Defel who left Af'El, however, were prized more for their skills in metallurgy, and were contracted by smelting operations and starship manufacturers.
The Defel did see some trade in meleenium, a rare substance used in durasteel production, which was only found naturally on Af'El. During the Imperial era, Vulca Minerals sent one ship a year to the Defel to trade fresh food for meleenium. Under the Empire, Defels were oppressed.
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language & Common Names
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| Defels were not fond of languages other than their own, so most of them did not learn Galactic Basic Standard unless they had need for it, mainly because they needed to leave Af'El. Ironically, more often than not, it was easy to find a Basic-speaking Defel (besides of the non-easy task to find a Defel at all).
Common Names
- Dourlas
- Freel
- Gr'vesh
- Yarchur
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