Xanthalian species

Xanthal is home to nearly every sentient species one could possibly imagine might be there and likely a few more besides. Still, there are several that stand out simply because they make up at least 1% of the nation’s total population. These species and their defining characteristics are listed below.

Elf

• Mirfakan name: ĕlflän

• Physical appearance: Elves’ appearances differ substantially between individuals and between races, but they are basically human with a tendency to have slighter build. Elves also have pointed ears, a physical trait which has become something of a trademark for their species.
• Physiological characteristics: Elfin biology is quite similar to that of humans, but their senses are much more finely attuned. Elves also tend to have a much longer lifespan than the average human, and certain races can live indefinitely under ideal conditions, though the average natural life expectancy is more along the lines of five centuries. The notable exception to this standard is a minority race known in Xanthal as the ösĕlf, which is characterized by very short stature, almost never over one foot, and a lifespan of a mere twenty years. Elves in general are sensitive to environmental changes, and do not manage well in extreme climates or polluted areas.
• General temperament: Elves have a reputation for preferring unspoiled nature to urbanization, and though many have adapted to city life a large number of them live rurally. Elves can be quick-tempered, especially on matters they are passionate about, but often conduct themselves in an elevated, almost regal manner. Elves are highly intelligent, but most races are averse to modern concepts in mechanical engineering, favoring a more traditional approach to problems. The ösĕlf stands apart in temperament, being generally inclined towards industry and meddling to the point of mischief.
• Origin: Elves are native to several multiversal incarnations of the planet Earth, with the different races frequently originating from separate dimensions. Most races of elf are thought to have evolved either alongside or prior to humans.

Human

• Mirfakan name: heyölän

• Physical appearance: A book could easily be written to describe the details of the human body, but as the single most common sentient species in the known multiverse such a description is unneeded for the purposes of this entry. Humans are divided into races primarily by variations in skin, hair, and eye color typically dependant on the physical origin of their ancestors; though more extreme variations in the human species have surfaced in the centuries since its population began spreading beyond Earth. Common Xanthalian humans are pictured above.
• Physiological characteristics: Humans arguably have the most versatile brains among known sentients. Though they do not excel in any one area, it is their well-balanced cognitive abilities that gift them with extraordinary creativity and intuition, and equip them to serve almost any function with adequate training. Humans have slightly above average lifespans for sentient species, and can live in excess of 120 years under ideal conditions; though the natural disease and normal wear and tear to which they are notoriously prone will almost always kill them before that limit is reached. A human’s natural lifespan, with the help of modern medical technology, is generally just over one hundred years. The human body is built like the human brain; though it is unremarkable in any one capacity, it is capable of withstanding decently a wide variety of environmental conditions and strains.
• General temperament: Human temperament varies widely among individuals, but they are, in general, an industrious and tenacious species. Humans are also more prone to violence than many other sentients, and frequently are inclined to actively seek possession and dominance over others. These characteristics make them highly productive and ingenuous, but can cause serious social problems in the absence of an effective governing structure.
• Origin: Humans evolved on Earth, though they and species remarkably like them have been reported elsewhere for millennia, including long before the modern age of faster-than-light travel. The forces behind historical human interstellar mobility have yet to be fully explained. Today, humans can be found throughout the multiverse, though they remain concentrated in the Milky Way.

Mon Calamari

• Mirfakan name: kälämärlän

• Physical appearance: A highly-evolved sea creature, the Mon Calamari are characterized by their odd skeletal structure: their heads are covered with skin, while the rest of their bodies are contained by an exoskeleton. They are large, solidly built animals with clumsy heavy appendages. Often described as a cross between a human, a crustacean, and a squid, they are a unique sight to behold.
• Physiological characteristics: Mon Calamari have a fairly simple biological structure which belies their above-average intelligence and intuition. Amphibious, they can live in liquid or gaseous environments, so long as there is an adequate oxygen supply. They are quite tolerant of contaminants in their environment, though high concentrations of toxic elements will kill them. Mon Calamari live almost as long as humans, with a natural lifespan that usually ends slightly before one hundred years of age.
• General temperament: Mon Calamari are gentle creatures, known for their calm and sound judgment. Their inquisitive nature combined with their intelligence makes them excellent scientists, strategists, and diplomats.
• Origin: Dac is the Mon Calamari homeworld, which they share with the Quarren, another sentient species. Xanthal’s Mon Calamari population is mostly composed of the ancestors of refugees who left Dac during that world’s troubles with the Galactic Empire.

Neko

• Mirfakan name: nĕkolän

• Physical appearance:
• Average lifespan: 80 Earth Years.
• Physiological characteristics:
• General temperament:
• Origin:

Than

• Mirfakan name: ŧănlän

• Physical appearance:
• Average lifespan: 75 Earth Years.
• Physiological characteristics:
  • Amber: laborers
  • Emerald: warriors
  • Ruby: builders and developers
  • Sapphire: scholars and scientists
  • Silver: leaders
• General temperament:
• Origin:

Xanthalian

• Mirfakan name: zăntälän

• Physical appearance:
• Average lifespan: 182 Earth Years.
• Physiological characteristics:
• General temperament:
• Origin: