Landlak
A humanoid sapient species native to Birj, a moon of the planet Maman in the Lanlak system.
The species was almost entirely wiped out by The Phoenix, along with all over life on Birj. Although approximately 16 individuals are believed to remain, the species is classified as extinct by almost all galactic experts, as the survivors are too widely dispursed to make repopulation likely, and any chance of reuniting the scattered survivors is generally accepted to have died with Terrax.
The species was almost entirely wiped out by The Phoenix, along with all over life on Birj. Although approximately 16 individuals are believed to remain, the species is classified as extinct by almost all galactic experts, as the survivors are too widely dispursed to make repopulation likely, and any chance of reuniting the scattered survivors is generally accepted to have died with Terrax.
Basic Information
Anatomy
They are humanoids, standing upright with two legs, two arms, and a single head.
Their skin is typically pale pink, although deeper pinks or shades of orange are also common. A form of albinism that produces grey skin is found in some cultures around the equator, but is unknown in other regions. Females and secondary males possess large yellow patches around their eyes and across their chests and stoumach.
They have no body-hair, or eyebrows. The tops of their heads are likewise hairless, with the only hair on their bodies a fringe around the mid-point of their skulls. In some primary males, this extends down over their chin to form a beard. This hair is typically dark green, although in individuals with albinism, it will typically be the same shade of grey as their skin.
Their skin is typically pale pink, although deeper pinks or shades of orange are also common. A form of albinism that produces grey skin is found in some cultures around the equator, but is unknown in other regions. Females and secondary males possess large yellow patches around their eyes and across their chests and stoumach.
They have no body-hair, or eyebrows. The tops of their heads are likewise hairless, with the only hair on their bodies a fringe around the mid-point of their skulls. In some primary males, this extends down over their chin to form a beard. This hair is typically dark green, although in individuals with albinism, it will typically be the same shade of grey as their skin.
Genetics and Reproduction
They are a binary-gendered species, although the male chromosomes have two forms of expression, referred to as primary and secondary males.
Primary males are typically larger, without the yellow patches common on females and secondary males. They are also fertile, unlike the smaller, more colourful, secondary males, who are infertile (although not impotent).
However, once they began to develop advanced science and genetics, a treatment allowing secondary males to reproduce was developed, although it never saw widespread adoption for cultural reasons.
They do engage in sex as other species with recognise it, but this purely for enjoyment or as a bonding activity. Actual reproduction requires no contact between the parents. When an unfertilised egg(s) successfully embeds in the uterine lining, the female fully expels the womb from her body, made possible by the vessel which connects the womb to the mother's body being in two halves which can be safely sepperated. A male or males then deposit sperm packets directly into the womb via the now-open connecting vessel, and once fertilisation has occurred, the womb is reconnected and returned to the mother's body.
Primary males are typically larger, without the yellow patches common on females and secondary males. They are also fertile, unlike the smaller, more colourful, secondary males, who are infertile (although not impotent).
However, once they began to develop advanced science and genetics, a treatment allowing secondary males to reproduce was developed, although it never saw widespread adoption for cultural reasons.
They do engage in sex as other species with recognise it, but this purely for enjoyment or as a bonding activity. Actual reproduction requires no contact between the parents. When an unfertilised egg(s) successfully embeds in the uterine lining, the female fully expels the womb from her body, made possible by the vessel which connects the womb to the mother's body being in two halves which can be safely sepperated. A male or males then deposit sperm packets directly into the womb via the now-open connecting vessel, and once fertilisation has occurred, the womb is reconnected and returned to the mother's body.
Additional Information
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Most Landlak possess some degree of telepathic ability.
Civilization and Culture
Gender Ideals
Landlak culture essentially recognised three genders, with the societal roles and expectations for primary and secondary males were two widely diverged to be considered the same gender.
Early in the species development they lived in social groups called packs. Each pack would contain a single primary male, who was the pack leader, and the only male allowed to procreate. However, any secondary male could become a primary male and challenge the pack leader for dominance: this transformation might be hormonal, but is most often a response to stressors such as malnutrition which were a sign the current leader was not caring for his tribe. The defeated primary male might be forced out of the pack, but more often, they would undergo a transformation into a secondary male, remaining with the group.
Once they began settling and living in towns or cities, the pack structure was replaced with extended family groups, with one or two primary males acting as head(s) of the family. This lead to a strongly patriarchal culture, with primary males occupying most positions of power.
Once they had mastered modern science, hormonal treatments to allow men to freely transition between primary and secondary at will became extremely popular, which lead to a breaking down of any of the traditionally patriarchal power structures, although the rights of female Landlak lagged behind their secondary male counterparts.
Early in the species development they lived in social groups called packs. Each pack would contain a single primary male, who was the pack leader, and the only male allowed to procreate. However, any secondary male could become a primary male and challenge the pack leader for dominance: this transformation might be hormonal, but is most often a response to stressors such as malnutrition which were a sign the current leader was not caring for his tribe. The defeated primary male might be forced out of the pack, but more often, they would undergo a transformation into a secondary male, remaining with the group.
Once they began settling and living in towns or cities, the pack structure was replaced with extended family groups, with one or two primary males acting as head(s) of the family. This lead to a strongly patriarchal culture, with primary males occupying most positions of power.
Once they had mastered modern science, hormonal treatments to allow men to freely transition between primary and secondary at will became extremely popular, which lead to a breaking down of any of the traditionally patriarchal power structures, although the rights of female Landlak lagged behind their secondary male counterparts.
Relationship Ideals
Romantic relationships are the exclusive preserve of females and secondary males, and may be hetero- or homo-sexual. Monogamy is common, but not the rule, and there is no stigma attatched to polyamorous relationships, or to relationships which would be considered homosexual by other cultures.
Primary males were expected to abstain from romance, usually justified as being because females far outnumbered primary males, and so a primary males developing an exclusive relationship with one female would be a threat to the continuation of the species. It is common for fertilisations to involve multiple primary males, and showing any sign of jealousy or resentment of other fertilising males is considered a deeply embarrasing lack of emotional control.
If a primary male desires romance or exclusivity, they are expected to take the necessary hormonal treatment to become a secondary male.
For this reason, although the technology to make secondary males fertile was developed, it was rarely used, as there was an expectation that a secondary male would be unable to approach the interaction with the sense of duty and lack of emotion expected in such situations.
Primary males were expected to abstain from romance, usually justified as being because females far outnumbered primary males, and so a primary males developing an exclusive relationship with one female would be a threat to the continuation of the species. It is common for fertilisations to involve multiple primary males, and showing any sign of jealousy or resentment of other fertilising males is considered a deeply embarrasing lack of emotional control.
If a primary male desires romance or exclusivity, they are expected to take the necessary hormonal treatment to become a secondary male.
For this reason, although the technology to make secondary males fertile was developed, it was rarely used, as there was an expectation that a secondary male would be unable to approach the interaction with the sense of duty and lack of emotion expected in such situations.