Nehantite
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General Information
Genetic Background
Most curious, perhaps, is the diversion of the Nehantite race from its feral roots. Fossilized and otherwise preserved remains have been found of several species of mongoose of normal size and build as known to other worlds, but these creatures appear to have vanished nine thousand years ago, which is coincidentally the same time as the oldest known remains have been found of the Nehantite species itself, with no form of "missing link" between the two. While science has thus far been unable to determine why this is, it is commonly-held religious belief that a creator-god known to them as Garfife elevated his favorite species to the likes of men, converting the mongooses into people overnight. There is no form of scientific proof to validate such a claim, however and genetic testing has shown that the Nehantite race is still slowly evolving into a more advanced species, despite falling far behind humans in the evolutionary scale thus far. Brain volume falls short of most humanoid species, and in testing appears to be driven still more by instinct than higher thought, though Nehantites do classify as a fully sentient race. Reliance on such instinct may be key to the race's considerable life expectancy for such a young species, however, as average life expectancy is estimated around eighty-five years - double that of most other animalistic species in similar state of evolutionary development.
While Nehantites are one species, capable of breeding across their full spectrum, there are considerable differences in appearance, build, fur color, tail length, body proportion, claw size and shape, and in some cases, even the number and size and shape of teeth set into the jaws. A long-held belief from those outside of the race is that the species adapts quickly to its surroundings, and adaptations were due to various biomes, however this belief is not commonly held among Nehantites themselves. Instead, they believe that they were elevated from a lesser species, and they still carry the physical appearances of those they were ascended from. Studies of fossilized remains seems to support similar variations in the now-extinct feral species. The most common fur colors are yellow, brown and grey, though variations exist allowing for stripes or even reddish or near-black hues in some cases. Eyes, however, appear to be uniform in color across the species, typically a pale pink, but when angered or under extreme duress, these irises flood with blood as the optic nerves are stimulated, making their eyes appear red.
When breeding across variation in color or ethnicity, an interesting trait occurs. Instead of a blending of colors as seen in many species, the genetic makeup appears to follow gender lines. Should a yellow male and a brown and striped female mate and produce a male child, the child will be yellow, carrying the traits of his father. Should the child be female, it will be brown and striped. There is no evidence that genetic material blends, other than averaging the build size between the two parents. This is a trait not shared with any other known species, and there is no compelling evidence to explain why or how it happens, other than to retain the full diversity of species appearance. According to Nehantite lore, there were three other colors and patterns which were lost long ago: white with brown paws and tailtip, pure black, and brown with pale golden stripes and golden chest and underbelly. Loss of these genetic variations is said to be due to warfare and genocide during feudal periods in their history. Though there is no proof that they existed in humanoid form, preserved remains of all three of these colors have been found in their smaller, ancient feral forms, lending credence to the belief that they too existed as sentient colorations.
Animal Nature
Even among top Nehantite scientists and scholars there exists the understanding that the Nehantite race is still in its early evolutionary stages, and is closer to its feral roots than most any other race in the galaxy. While clearly a sentient species, evidence of behavior heavily influenced by instinct is commonly present, and physical activity may often resemble that of a feral creature, though primarily in males.
Disagreements between males in Nehantite culture often resort to physical violence, with both sides quickly losing their cognitive thought process and instead allowing instinct to take over their actions. When unarmed, the use of teeth and blunt claws is common in such fights which typically end when one has their jaws locked over the neck or throat of the other, forcing him into submission. Should one male submit, and the victor requires further humiliation, the victor may then bite the loser's ear in order to mark, pierce or even mutilate it before letting him go. Such mutilation is considered a crime among four of the five major kingdoms - Kuf being the exception-, but charges are rarely pressed.
Another curious trait exhibited by most Nehantites regardless of gender is their ability to convert from bipedal to quadropedal movement at will, with seemingly no ill effect. Typically reserved for when rough terrain must be covered at speed, a Nehantite may let themself drop to all fours and run in a scampering fashion. While such movement appears unnatural to a biped form, they manage it with little discomfort, though upright and bipedal movement is the preferred method of movement, and is the socially acceptable norm. In the kingdom of Midloth, to move about on all fours is considered beastly and uncivilized. By contrast, remote regions of Kuf see some tribes using either method of movement whenever it suits them.
Diet
An omiviorous race, Nehantites are capable of eating almost any sort of plant or animal matter, and possess a digestive system which is able to safely digest and process raw meat as well as mildly poisonous vegetable matter. Diet ranges widely across the planet, mostly varying by region, but typical daily intake has been measured to be nearly 20% higher than an average humanoid species due to a faster metabolism. Regardless of culture, protein and complex carbohydrates appear to dominate most Nehantite diets. Diabetes is almost unknown among Nehantites, historically, but since the introduction of off-world and processed foods, it has been slowly on the rise.
Reproduction and Mating
Most cultures on Nehantish practice monogamous partnerships or marriages, though polygamy is still practiced in some regions of Munjesh, Kuf and Cathay. Females typically will choose to bear childen beginning in their early twenties. This is a change from the mid-to-late-teens which had been common before contact with other worlds. Gestation takes on average seven months, with a typical litter of one or two pups. Twins, while incredibly common among the species, are almost always fraternal.
Nearly two thirds of all births occur in late winter as a result of the species instinctual mating season which occurs in spring. Spread over two months of spring, Nehantite males from their early teens into their late fifties undergo a change in hormones which brings on a strong urge to mate. Throughout these two months, males will typically endure one week of intense urges, and during this week their fertility rate skyrockets. Not everyone goes into such a state during the same week, but each male will have the effect be strongest during the same week every season, allowing them to also plan around such urges. While it is not known exactly why these weeks stagger, it is theorized that it is done so that while some males are affected, others are able to continue their normal duties and ensure family and community survival. Females do not appear to have a similar urge strike them, but studies have shown that if a male is at the peak of his season, and they are a good genetic match, she will react strongly to his pheromones, increasing her own desire to mate. However strong the urge to mate may be, a negative reaction is often witnessed between a male and female who are too closely related. The same reaction occurs on a less powerful level when a male and female are too genetically disparate to guarantee healthy offspring.
Introduction to space travel, and employment as mechanics and technicians led to an unforeseen challenge related to mating season, in that those who chose to take work off-world were almost exclusively male. Despite having no females come spring, Nehantite males found themselves still falling victim to their urge to mate. Such desperation has been equated to the plight of other races when long ago they took to the sea, or to the stars, with no female crew. Those who could not resist the strength of their natural urges often found themselves finding relief in the company of a fellow male Nehantite in similar hardship. While same-sex mating and unions are often discouraged or shunned on Nehantish, it became understood that most males who took positions on engineering crews or mechanic teams off-world would find themselves mating with another male, should their ship not allow them back home in sufficient time. Despite this, the lucrative work of off-world employment held an ever-increasing draw on Nehantite males, until nearly a third of working-age male populace found themselves off-world at any given time.
CC30
When such "desperation matings" between off-world males were discovered by other species, Nehantish scrambled for a solution to what was rapidly becoming an embarrassment, and eventually a drug was concocted which, when taken regularly (one injection every thirty days), can delay the onset of mating season indefinitely. The drug was hailed as a miracle, and for years it was distributed to males who took work off-world, but in time the cost of production skyrocketed due to its demand as well as the scarcity of ingredients needed to produce it. Ten years after its introduction, the drug - known as CC30 - ceased being distributed for free and instead was sold as a prescription. While some major employers could afford it, many chose not to, forcing their employees to buy it on their own, or go without. Due to the steep cost of the drug, nearly half of off-world males were forced to return to their previous methods of dealing with mating season.
This change in distribution also revealed a powerful flaw in the drug's behavior. While many believe it had simply let them bypass mating season, it had actually only delayed it, and once the drug had worked its way out of their system, their urges returned, amplified by the amount of time it had been delayed. To this day, Nehantite scientists cannot find a more permanent solution to the problem, or a more effective method of nullifying natural urges. And despite such an intense urge to mate, and the now-widespread method of males partnering with each other in space with little or no protection, Nehantites as a species boast an astoundingly low number of venereal diseases, possibly due to their more feral immune system.
Canon
The Nehantites are not a canonical race, being the intellectual property of Mitch de la Guardia and adapted by him for use in the SW-Fans.Net Star Wars universe.