N'xrough (nah-hkhrau)

As a gaan'at-rel species, n'xrough bore many morphological similarities to humans. They were bilaterally symmetrical, dioecious, anisogametic, slightly sexually dimorphic, four-limbed bipeds, with five digits on the end of each limb and a cephalized head with a large brain proportional to total body size containing sensory organs involved in vision, hearing, taste, and smell and a mouth that secreted salivary liquid and connected to both the digestive and respiratory tracts. However, despite the many similarities between the species, n'xrough likewise bore several key differences from humans.   N'xrough skin was somewhat thicker and tougher than human skin and arranged in a lattice of small, smooth, pebble-like structures called lithoderms. The range of skin tones found in n'xrough was effectively in grayscale, varying from light gray, bordering on white, to extremely dark gray, virtually black.   On average, n'xrough possessed significantly less hair than humans, with most vestigial hair on the limbs and torso having disappeared. Thin hair and baldness were common among n'xrough, although facial hair remained prevalent in both males and females.   Because of the excess strength of their skin, n'xrough did not require as tough a skeleton, so they had developed more malleable bones that allowed for greater flexibility and shock absorption. While this adaptation prevented all but the most serious of injuries from actually breaking their bones as was common in humans, n'xrough often experienced bone strains.   The skulls of n'xrough were somewhat larger than humans to accomodate a slightly larger brain. In line with the rest of the skeleton, the skull was softer than that of humans, possessing several large fontanels that acted as major nerve attachment sites. The sinuses were smaller and situated deeper within the skull than in humans, making the front of the skull stronger and less prone to injury.   N'xrough had a stronger bite force than humans and tougher but fewer teeth. Because their ancestors were entirely herbivorous, n'xrough did not have canines or incisors, though they did have a pair of conical teeth near the front of the mouth to hold especially tough food in place. The rest of their dentition was a series of nearly identical, blunt, molar-like teeth, with abrasive grinding surfaces to effectively chew woody vegetation.   The tongue was similarly coarse, and it was more heavily coated in taste buds than human the human tongue, but these were almost entirely attuned to bitter, sweet, and earthy tastes, most common in the plant-based foods that made up the majority of the n'xrough's diets, while salty and especially savory flavors, more common in animal-based foods, were less distinct.   Their noses were generally blunter and closer to the face than humans and supported primarily by a small protrusion of bone, rather than cartilage. There was less flesh between the skin and nasal structure, a thinner septum, and smaller nostrils, resulting in a diminished sense of smell when compared to humans. This more compact nose, in tandem with the stronger frontal skull bones, made n'xrough's faces less vulnerable to injury.   N'xrough spines were thinner and longer than those of humans and made up of more and smaller segments, contributing to the n'xrough's flexibility and their greater average height when compared to humans. The spine served as the attachment point for an extended rib system, beginning just below the skull with a series of small "ribs" meant to protect the windpipe. As such, n'xrough had thicker necks that better protected from external harm but were likewise more difficult to move, had a narrower vocal range, and were prone to choking. From the collar down, the ratio of true to false to floating ribs favored false and floating ribs more in n'xrough than in humans.   Whereas in humans, the digestive tract had adapted to be far more accomodating of meat and other less complex foods, the digestive system of n'xrough remained attuned to tough, fibrous plants. To accomodate such a diet, the stomach acid of n'xrough was more acidic, requiring tougher stomach lining that made the organ difficult to puncture. The same applied to other digestive organs.

N'xrough reproduced sexually and were anisogametic and dioecious, with individuals typically belonging to either the male or female sex. Males possessed testes and many, very small gametes, while females possessed ovaries and very few, larger gametes.   The male genitalia was reminiscent of the human penis but typically smaller and with a more pointed terminus. In addition, both the penis and testes of the n'xrough were entirely retractable.   The female genitalia was reminiscent of a human vagina but typically with a less pronounced vulva.   Mating rituals varied from culture to culture, but unlike most animals, n'xrough were capable of facing their mate during copulation, and this was the most common position during sex.   N'xrough had a uterus-like organ that sustained their offspring as it grew and protected it from the parent's immune system. A n'xrough's gestation period was, on average, approximately 350 TSD.

Once they were born, n'xrough entered a period of infancy, characterized by complete dependency on a parent, for approximately one year.   After a year, n'xrough entered the "toddler" stage, in which they learned to walk, speak, and develop hand-eye coordination.   At around age 5, n'xrough were considered children. Significant cognitive strides were made during this time, known as the critical period. If certain skills and characteristics were not developed during this period, it was highly difficult to acquire them later.   From about age 13, n'xrough were considered adolescent. The critical period extended into this stage to some capacity, but this period was mostly characterized by broad physical and hormonal changes. N'xrough entered puberty at around this age and developed into more mature forms.   After reaching about 20 years of age, n'xrough were considered adults, although their brains were not fully developed until around age 25. N'xrough typically experienced their physical "peak condition" between the ages of 30-40.   From age 40, physical and mental faculties slowly declined, although these changes were sometimes minimal or even unnoticeable until very late in life or even death.   Without cybernetics, stasis, or other means of artificially prolonging life, n'xrough could live up to 150 TSY with a healthy lifestyle and proper medicine.

N'xrough were highly adaptable, capable of surviving virtually anywhere on Valenor, and with the aid of advanced technology, they could live literally anywhere on Valenor, as well as on other planets and on moons, asteroids, and essentially anywhere else.   N'xrough first appeared in the lower temperate to subtropical regions of Pelishtar, before spreading across the entire planet, first to Cianthos, then to Rajikas, Penthura, Ceta, and countless smaller land masses the world over.

N'xrough were found throughout the Federation of Valenor and beyond, on various planets, moons, asteroids, and other celestial bodies. Like other humanoids, they were highly adaptable; if an environment was inhospitable, they would find a way to live there.

N'xrough were some of the most intelligent organisms in the known universe. Their average SIQ was the highest of all humanoid species, though that disparity was often attributed more to the Federation of Valenor's rigorous education system than to any actual biological advantage.

N'xrough possessed two camera-style eyes, larger than and lacking the blind spot that human eyes possessed. These factors granted n'xrough stronger vision than humans, and the presence of a structure akin to the tapetum lucidum allowed them to see in the dark as well.   N'xrough had a more acute sense of hearing than humans due to a more streamlined internal ear anatomy and sensitivity of the fontanels on the sides of the skull, as well as their ability to slightly rotate their ears and locate the origin of sounds.   For scent, n'xrough possessed a flat, blunt nose, significantly weaker than the human nose.   N'xrough primarily experienced sensation cutaneously, but they had a minimal amount of integument that served a similar purpose. However, unlike in humans, this hair was restricted almost entirely to the head, as vestigial body coverings had been all but lost.   Like humans, n'xrough possessed a tongue used to taste, which, while more sensitive to certain tastes, did not have as wide an array of sensory capability.

The largest predominantly n'xrough government was the Federation of Valenor, which extended across several hundred star systems, though the federation's control over distant star systems was at times tenuous.

In Penthuran and Cianthosian societies, which largely dominated Valenoran culture, there were traditionally considered to be three n'xrough genders: male, matrifemale, and patrifemale. Matrifemales and patrifemales were both biologically female, but matrifemales were considered more feminine while patrifemales were considered more masculine. This distinction was believed to be biological or at least innate, with external factors having little to no influence.   Even into the Valenoran Space Age, this idea was held by many traditionalist groups such as the Cult of the Redoubt, but the broader cultural understanding of gender for the n'xrough eventually recognized that the concepts of matrifemales and patrifemales did not represent actual biological realities. Furthermore, most traditional gender norms, for males and females, were generally considered unimportant and often inaccurate. Over time, intersex, transgender, and gender fluid individuals became fully accepted by the overwhelming majority of the n'xrough population.

At its height, the Federation of Valenor was a type 3.2 civilization on the Kardashev Scale.

For many years, Old Penthuran was the official language of Penthura, the foremost superpower of Valenor, but the colloquial Penthuran language had evolved far past it and into a corrupted state. Regional differences between dialects became incredibly pronounced, causing Penthuran to essentially collapse as a lingua franca, and rapidly changing and all-encompassing slang effectively eliminated all grammar and spelling rules, making communication an extremely difficult matter.   The Penthuran language, despite its shortcomings and confusing nature, was the most widely-spoken language on Valenor until the planet unified under one government, and Standardized Valenoran, soon the most widely-spoken language in the Local Group, was constructed, mostly from Penthuran, while borrowing some root words and minor grammatical rules from Cianthosian languages.

When addressing a soldier or veteran, it was customary to salute them by bringing the right hand, clenched into a fist, to the chest, just above the heart, before fully extending the arm down and to the right. In some places outside the Federation of Valenor, where Terran culture was dominant, some n'xrough adopted the human equivalent of this salute, bringing two or three fingers on the right hand to the brow, laid flat and pointing across the brow, while fully extending the right elbow.