Spirit of '77
Mongoose
There are three Major Sophonts of my setting which are not playable, and represent some level of "mystery" that the players could uncover over time.
Worker Drone Queen (small specimen)
The Narrelian resemble termites in terms of organization. Workers (~1.2m tall) are the only entities that interact with other sophonts. Narrelian are the highest TL sophonts in my setting at TL 16 or so. This pictured worker is clothed to better fit in with other sophonts, but would be unclothed amongst Narrelian. They have an extremely complex and information dense language, and their voices are equivalent to synthesizers. Thus, they can speak other languages with ease, and with unnerving fluency and no trace of accent. Their translation software is in great demand, but the Narrelian granted the Known Universe a great gift: Sign Language, usable by any sophont with 2 limbs and 4+ digits per limb. Sign Language is nearly ubiquitous amongst the traveller community, and various services have adapted it for their own purposes.
The drones and queens have a sole function of reproduction, though there are rumors that the drones are quite formidable fighters (this has never been observed). It is also rumored that all Narrelian starships carry queens, which suggests a purpose beyond reproduction, but again never observed.
About 100 standard years ago, the Narrelian imposed a Neutral Zone between the star polities of the Allani, Dellin, and themselves. Unlike Star Trek neutral zones as no-go areas, the Narrelian Neutral Zone is a Barbary Coast in space: the only rule is that no Major Sophont may establish an official presence. The result has been an explosion of settling for the purpose of leaving the major star polities. Why the Narrelian did this is not clear. In addition, the Narrelian are highly protective towards the Kryllin (see below), again for reasons not understood.
The Kryllin (small specimen pictured, 2.5m diameter) are bacterial colony organisms that dwell in certain types of gas giants. They can sprout nearly any type of appendage from their main spherical mass which is filled with hydrogen. This specimen has 2 large manipulative appendages at its bottom, with filter feeding tendrils surrounding them. The remaining sprouts are various sensory organs. Most sophonts find the Kryllin to be deeply disturbing in appearance.
The designation of the Kryllin as Major is controversial, as not only do the Kryllin have no conventional technology, they seemingly have no conventional culture. Very little has been directly observed, but what has been observed consists of gatherings of multiple entities who otherwise do not seem to be doing anything. There is no direct communication from the Kryllin: instead, they recruit Speakers from other sophont groups, who live their lives near the Kryllin and perform as ambassadors, though Speakers will never provide any information about the Kryllin.
The reason the Kryllin are regarded as Major is that, as far as any sophont as traveled, wherever there is a gas giant hospitable to Kryllin, there is DNA information that the Kryllin were there. How the Kryllin ranged so widely is a complete mystery. There is a region of the Known Universe called the Kryllin Free Zone where the Narrelian protect Kryllin hospitable gas giants from intrusion. Why they do this is unknown, and the Narrelian will never discuss it.
The Torran are an aquatic sophont group. Their star polity is very far spinward of the Sovereign Empire and very little is known about them, though the Destri and Nori are nearby and know a bit more. What is so strange is that they are literal "fish-men", even being about the same size as Allani. There are no other known aquatic species ANYWHERE with this bodily form factor. Even stranger is that the Torran have completely typical technology (though water filled), which ought to be impossible for an aquatic sophont. The obvious theory that there is some land-based helper sophont has no support or evidence anywhere. Their mere existence is implausible. And yet, they are making their presence known deep to spinward.
Worker Drone Queen (small specimen)
The Narrelian resemble termites in terms of organization. Workers (~1.2m tall) are the only entities that interact with other sophonts. Narrelian are the highest TL sophonts in my setting at TL 16 or so. This pictured worker is clothed to better fit in with other sophonts, but would be unclothed amongst Narrelian. They have an extremely complex and information dense language, and their voices are equivalent to synthesizers. Thus, they can speak other languages with ease, and with unnerving fluency and no trace of accent. Their translation software is in great demand, but the Narrelian granted the Known Universe a great gift: Sign Language, usable by any sophont with 2 limbs and 4+ digits per limb. Sign Language is nearly ubiquitous amongst the traveller community, and various services have adapted it for their own purposes.
The drones and queens have a sole function of reproduction, though there are rumors that the drones are quite formidable fighters (this has never been observed). It is also rumored that all Narrelian starships carry queens, which suggests a purpose beyond reproduction, but again never observed.
About 100 standard years ago, the Narrelian imposed a Neutral Zone between the star polities of the Allani, Dellin, and themselves. Unlike Star Trek neutral zones as no-go areas, the Narrelian Neutral Zone is a Barbary Coast in space: the only rule is that no Major Sophont may establish an official presence. The result has been an explosion of settling for the purpose of leaving the major star polities. Why the Narrelian did this is not clear. In addition, the Narrelian are highly protective towards the Kryllin (see below), again for reasons not understood.
The Kryllin (small specimen pictured, 2.5m diameter) are bacterial colony organisms that dwell in certain types of gas giants. They can sprout nearly any type of appendage from their main spherical mass which is filled with hydrogen. This specimen has 2 large manipulative appendages at its bottom, with filter feeding tendrils surrounding them. The remaining sprouts are various sensory organs. Most sophonts find the Kryllin to be deeply disturbing in appearance.
The designation of the Kryllin as Major is controversial, as not only do the Kryllin have no conventional technology, they seemingly have no conventional culture. Very little has been directly observed, but what has been observed consists of gatherings of multiple entities who otherwise do not seem to be doing anything. There is no direct communication from the Kryllin: instead, they recruit Speakers from other sophont groups, who live their lives near the Kryllin and perform as ambassadors, though Speakers will never provide any information about the Kryllin.
The reason the Kryllin are regarded as Major is that, as far as any sophont as traveled, wherever there is a gas giant hospitable to Kryllin, there is DNA information that the Kryllin were there. How the Kryllin ranged so widely is a complete mystery. There is a region of the Known Universe called the Kryllin Free Zone where the Narrelian protect Kryllin hospitable gas giants from intrusion. Why they do this is unknown, and the Narrelian will never discuss it.
The Torran are an aquatic sophont group. Their star polity is very far spinward of the Sovereign Empire and very little is known about them, though the Destri and Nori are nearby and know a bit more. What is so strange is that they are literal "fish-men", even being about the same size as Allani. There are no other known aquatic species ANYWHERE with this bodily form factor. Even stranger is that the Torran have completely typical technology (though water filled), which ought to be impossible for an aquatic sophont. The obvious theory that there is some land-based helper sophont has no support or evidence anywhere. Their mere existence is implausible. And yet, they are making their presence known deep to spinward.
