Ranfelin race

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Hailing only from the planet Palusnavalis, the Ranfelin race is space-faring, despite holding strongly to traditional values and skills. The Ranfelin hold no colonies, nor do they have a great part in any generation ships. They have embassies on all System planets and satellites, and have allowed one U-Ship. The refusal to claim more than their planet of origin is an example of their strong cultural bias against ownership.

Evolved clearly for their planet, which is mostly water and archipelagos, the Ranfelins are aquatic hunters and gatherers by heritage, with a strong ability to parley built from a history of distant clans learning to interact civily when currents brought them together.

Characteristics

1.1 Physical

On the smaller end of the bipedal spectrum, Ranfelin males top out around 1.5 meters with females not much shorter, averaging 1.3 meters. Stockily built, with wide shoulders and naturally padded bellies, a surprisingly low percentage of their body weight is fat; what fat a Ranfelin does carry is largely distributed across the body as a protective layer against cold or damage, a trait helpful for the near amphibious race. The distinct amount of belly fat acts as a protective cushion to their internal organs and as an internal buoy of sorts. Coupled with lack of body hair beyond a soft down in infants, their bodies are perfectly designed for swimming and water combat.

The thick, powerful limbs, evolved to move quickly through the water, easily adapted to climbing trees, which were an incredibly foreign concept when first introduced to the Ranfelin. Opposable thumbs and the three short phalanges on each hand, along with strong, flexible toes, are also a distinct Ranfelin trait, sharply nailed and surprisingly dexterous.

With characteristicly flat faces and wide, pointed ears, along with a range of oceanic skin tones ranging from a sea foam to deep water green, make the Ranfelin stand out against the majority of System races that come from more land-locked planets.

1.2 Vision

Wide pupils allow for excellent vision in the dark at the expense of perfect day vision. A nictating membrane, a thin third eyelid that closes from side to side, clears the eye from debris, both when in murky water or on land. Due to Palusnavalis lack of large bodies of fresh water, Ranfelin eyes are resistant to heavy salt content in water, but tear easily in dry environments. Space faring Ranfelin use eye drops to keep eyes moist in the dry, recycled air of space habitats and ships, though after a long enough time, some adaptation to the environment develops.

1.3 Hearing

Ears are a simple structure, consisting mainly of a hole surrounded by a cupped pinna of cartilage whose top end tapers to a point, focusing sound to the inner ear. Completely business-like in design, a Ranfelin's ear does have muscles that allow it to lay back or perk up at will or reflexively in response to emotion, though their placement does not allow swivelling to triangulate sound.

1.4 Filaments

Topping each ear is a group of three to five flexible filaments that range from 7.5 to 23 centimetres long. Biologically somewhere between whiskers and antennae; the filaments' main purpose is to "read" vibrations and waves underwater, further enhancing a Ranfelin's strong dark sight with a clear map of the surrounding terrain. Much study has been given to Ranfelin filaments, as there is no true equivalent among other System races. Like any specialized organ, the filaments are prone to damage in conditions opposite to the place of their evolution. Though tough enough to bear strong breezes, filaments must be covered in a stronger wind that not only confuses the senses but could cause irreparable damage.

1.5 Olfactory

A Ranfelin's thin, sealable, nostrils aid in diving--though do no benefit to their sense of smell, which is useless underwater anyway. What little ability to distinguish smells a Ranfelin has is aided on land by the sense of taste.

1.6 Reproductive

Females give live birth to rarely more than a single child at a time. Gestation is comparable to most System bipeds, though Ranfelin children are nursed longer than most, averaging four years. The cultural and social stigma of ownership that limits them to Palusnavalis also limits Ranfelin births, commanding zero population growth. In the standard partnered relationship, only two children are allowed. If a couple or individual declines their opportunity to have children, they may pass their responsibility to another, as approved and noted by local council. Reinforcing this cultural standard, Ranfelin males and females are only fertile for ten years after reaching puberty; compared to the Vicolla, who remain fertile an average of 70 years from an early puberty, or even Humans, whose females average 45 years of functional fertility.

It is unknown if their laws on birth quotas came because of their fertility limits, or for another reason.

Social

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Ranfelin Race Bio Notes

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