Tajara

Overview
The Tajara (direct plural: Tajarra – Tah-jaw-rah both singular and multiple) (adjective: Tajaran - Tah-jaw-rah) are a race of humanoids which possess markedly felinoid traits that include a semi-prehensile tail, a body covered in fur of varying shades and padded, digitigrade feet.

To apply to be Tajara, apply here.

Additional information: Adhomai

Mechanics

 * Tajara can speak a unique language of Siik'Maas. Use this in game by typing say :j
 * All Tajara have claws, and will scratch with them instead of punching, dealing extra damage.
 * Tajara can see much better in the dark than humans.
 * Tajara are less vulnerable to harm from cold due to their fur, but more vulnerable to harm from heat.
 * Tajara cannot use human gloves or shoes due to their claws and digitigrade limbs. They are only able to wear hardsuits and hardsuit helmets designed/modified for their Tajaran anatomy. They are able to wear 'softsuits' (such as non-hardsuit space suits, biosuits, and fire suits).
 * Tajaran command options aboard the Aurora are limited too; Head of Security, Chief Medical Officer, Head of Personnel, Research Director, and Chief Engineer
 * Coloration
 * Hharar group, usual coloration:
 * Beaver Brown (RGB 159, 139, 112)
 * Kochiba (RGB 107, 68, 35)
 * Taupe (RGB 72, 60, 50)
 * Zhan-Khazan group, usual coloration:
 * Blue-Grey (RGB 34, 37, 50)
 * Dark Gray (RGB 30, 30, 30::

Chocolate (RGB 94, 38, 18)
 * Njarir'Akhran group, usual coloration:
 * Orange (RGB 238, 64, 0)
 * Cinnamon (RGB 160, 82, 45)
 * Ruddy (RGB 138, 54, 15)
 * Cream (RGB 205, 175, 149)
 * M'sai group, usual coloration:
 * White (RGB 238, 223, 204)
 * Ivory (RGB 205, 205, 192)
 * Wheat (RGB 205, 186, 150)
 * Silver (RGB 192, 192, 192)

Biology
To the average human, the Tajara share many similarities with Earth felines; however, when looked at from a purely scientific perspective, this description is largely superficial. Unlike terrestrial felines, the Tajara are both omnivorous and bipedal. Their bodies are almost entirely covered in a thick coat of fur that is extremely good at insulating them from the extreme cold of Adhomai. The layer of body fat and fur is designed to trap body heat in an efficient manner. There are only a handful of areas where fur is not present, those being on the palm of their paws, the soles of their feet, and a number of various orifices as well as a small area around their eyes.

Occasionally, the fur around a Tajara's neck is known to grow into a shaggy 'mane' of sorts, giving them a distinct look not unlike a terran lion. This hair tends to be much stronger and a great deal more wiry than the rest of the fur on a Tajara's body. Some Tajara tend towards monochromatic bodies while others have multicolor or even calico fur patterns. These designs depend heavily on the genetics of the individual's parents, much like hair and eye color. Because of this, some parents are utterly incapable of producing multicolor children. Designs including flat colors, stripes, spots and most conceivable combinations have been recorded by scientists both Tajaran and human. A male Tajara is somewhere between 145 cm and 185 cm in height, while the mean body mass is between 55 kg and 90 kg. Females tend to range between 135 cm and 185 cm in height, with their own weight somewhere around 35 kg to 75 kg. As such, both their body weight and height is roughly comparable to the average human.

Tajaran Evolution
The Tajara evolved as a predatory, cave-dwelling species upon their home planet of Adhomai, and as a result they have a pair of fairly large, well developed eyes that are forward set. These eyes are comparable to those of humans, but they are more effective in low-light situations due to the Tajaran ancestors having to hunt in dark cave tunnels. Tajaran eyes are set above a slightly elongated structure comprised of hard bone similar to a muzzle on terrestrial creatures. Their pupils are large and capable of contracting significantly faster than most other creatures, both sapient and otherwise. They have a thin, refractive layer which, while allowing them their low light vision, has the side-effect of appearing illuminated in the dark.

The Tajaran dental structure was at one point in their evolutionary history once geared for a carnivorous lifestyle, but has since evolved and shifted towards a more omnivorous role. Tajara have sharp, needle like teeth in the front of their jaw which are quite clearly geared to tear meat; the further along the jaw line one goes, teeth similar to human molars reside behind the sharp canines, evidence of the change to an omnivorous diet. Atop their heads, Tajara have a pair of deft, normally erect ears that are capable of a wide range of motion. They can rotate to roughly ninety degrees, capable of even being able to fold back almost entirely onto the skull if needed.

Extremities and Sleep Cycle
Tajaran extremities, specifically their hands and feet have five digits, and are generally the same shape as human extremities. However, they are slightly stubbier in appearance, though still dexterous enough to be useful. Tajara employed in more professional roles such as engineers, architects, or other occupations that require dexterous manipulation often find themselves with filed down claws, reduced to a smooth end in order to allow easy usage of standard human based technology. This is a task that Tajara tend to do reluctantly, given that cutting too short is incredibly painful and will expose nerves to the air. Normally, these claws are non-retractable and grow from the fingertips, usually measuring around on

The sleep cycles of the Tajaran species are one of their most scientifically curious features. A normal waking period is somewhere between thirty six and forty eight hours, with a subsequent twenty to twenty eight hours of sleep. Normally, the waking period is spotted with three to four fifteen minute naps in order to keep the Tajara refreshed and alert. This is universal on all worlds with Tajaran living upon them. Tajara are capable of great feats of intelligent, dedicated work but this is physically exhausting, which renders them utterly mentally and psychologically exhausted. Those that do not enter their sleep cycle properly may find themselves groggy, aggressive, paranoid and disoriented until their circadian rhythm is righted.

Tajaran Build
In comparison to most other known species, the Tajaran body is designed to specifically be more flexible, lithe and slender despite their thick insulation. A handful of Tajaran ethnicities do not exhibit these traits and instead manifest increased muscle size, strength, or bulk. Tajara are sexually dimorphic; females have more elongated muzzles, shorter ears, as well as more petite forms, and their distribution of body fat is entirely different than that of a male. Females do not exhibit visible breasts until pregnancy, at which point they swell in order to provide for young. Males are in general taller, have broader shoulders, bigger hands and feet, and more pointed ears.

Tajara are built for the extremely low temperature environments that are incredibly common on Adhomai, giving them remarkable cold resistance. However, this gives them a tendency to overheat in more mild environments. To avoid this, most Tajara will dress lightly in warmer environments such as those on human installations or tropical worlds. Forgoing the usual layer-like clothing, these Tajara resign themselves to thin clothing. Those who find themselves confined to bio suit or radiation suit for extended periods of time will end up feeling extremely uncomfortable and perspiring heavily.

Social
Native Tajaran names are usually difficult for humans and other species to pronounce properly; as such, older Tajara prefer to take names (whereas young Tajara are given them at birth) that they find they themselves are able to pronounce and are also phonetically pleasing. For many, these are names derived from Arabic or Russian backgrounds, as they are the easiest for their inhuman mouths to pronounce. Traditionally, Tajaran names included their clan name, and some Tajara carry over this tradition and have their 'middle' name be their clan name.

As with all other species who work in Human-centric environments. Tajara are expected and required to have passed a prerequisite test to test their comprehension of Tau-Ceti basic, the operating language of NanoTrasen and most transstellar corporations, in addition to most major sovereign entities. Admittedly the passing levels of these comprehension tests are quite low, but are high enough to ensure basic conversation between what will likely be a multi-species crew. However, private communication in Siik’Mas or Siik’tajr is not forbidden by NanoTrasen regulations and is often used to hold conversations between Tajara on the crew.

Though there are a variety of languages used by the Tajara, among the foremost of this vast plethora of languages is Siik’mas and Siik’tajr.

Siik'maas is theorized to have been the ancient language of the Tajara, the 'religious' language shared between most Tajara from their onset as a species. Despite Tajaran society evolving to a point where religious devotion became less encouraged, the universal service language used in all churches and worship sessions became the most common for Tajara and almost every Tajara knows how to speak it. It has been taught as the primary educational language amongst most Tajaran ethnicities since the Renaissance era and continues to be the most prevalent language on Adhomai since.

It is capable of being spoken by a learned human, as it is not as reliant on body language as Siik'tajr or the other native languages on Adhomai. However, just as Tau Ceti basic is difficult for Tajara to master given their muzzle structure, Siik'maas is the same to humans, since they lack the proper biology to perform certain inflections properly. Despite it focusing more on spoken word than others, some of the vocabulary requires subtle body movements that are challenging for humans to grasp, no less perform. Even if one were to learn these movements, they tend to be sluggish and slower, giving the speech a sort of 'drunken' feeling. Tajara speaking this over the radio often find themselves in similar positions.

Siik'maas is the federal language of the People's Republic of Adhomai. However, several groups of Tajara ranging from scholars to traditional followers of the old ways are attempting to revive older languages such as Nal'rasan, Devahhi, Ya'ssa and other such languages.

Siik’tajr is the opposite of Siik’mas completely. A recent construction, it has seen more use recently following the overthrowing of the plutocracy. It was birthed from the necessity for a language that was difficult for law enforcers to understand, enabling revolutionaries to converse privately without having their conversations monitored or overheard. Revolutionary radicals have been a part of Adhomai's history for a long while, but were always small; however, when the Great War broke out, Siik'tajr saw widespread use by rebel forces during military operations similar to Navajo radio operators. It is a combination of Siik'mas and the more body language inclined Nal'rasan, a language traditionally used by farmers. It is not normally used in daily life due to its complexity, it is often maintained as a secondary language, especially for families who fought in the Great War.

Pro-human groups within Tajaran society have repeatedly attempted to push Cyrillic or Latin characters as 'easier to use' rather than the native Tajaran alphabet. However, the vast majority of Tajara use the old Siik alphabet and it is the federally enforced alphabet taught in schools, the original alphabet learned Tajara have been using for centuries. It has undergone certain modifications since the Great War to remove the influence of the plutocracy, and has made a widespread comeback with increasing literary levels amongst the Tajaran public.

Tajara as a rule tend to roll the “R” sound, extending it. They also tend to refer to themselves in the third person perspective instead of the traditional first person ( “He has completed his work instead of “I have completed my work) though Tajara who have spent a large amount of their lives in space or among other species may overcome this trait with great difficulty. Most Tajara will only speak to someone in the first person if it is someone they trust substantially. The occasional “slip up” can still be expected however, as being surrounded by a mostly Human crew can occasionally confuse them into using first person.

Fashion
Throughout Tajaran history, fashion has remained relatively simple. Extravagant vestments fabricated from silk and other high-quality animal hides were restricted exclusively to the nobility, and standard Tajaran peasantry had little time to choose their uniforms, usually donning overcoats made of rough fabric and patches of animal hide. The fluffier the design was, the wealthier a noble was considered.

Given the hardships of Tajaran life and the constant need to do work by hand, the peasantry came to favor practical, well insulated clothing rather than fanciful designs; they were also cheaper to weave, which made things easier on the weaver. Underwear usually came in the form of long-sleeved pants and a shirt typically woven from thick animal furs and plant fibers and is used as the inner most insulating layer. Then, a Tajara would overlay multiple garments to create several layers of insulation to stop the loss of body heat. Thick, full-length skirts, pants, and shirts were favored by the peasantry, all in dark colors to retain heat better. Typically pre-discovery and even post-discovery modern clothing consist of thermal underwear, pants for men or long, heavy skirts for women, with thick sweater-like shirts and fur cloaks.

The feared enforcers of the nobility wore great suits of armor designed to seal the user inside, creating an environment that was completely isolated from the harsh snows of Adhomai. Build for brute strength rather than comfort, the helmets of these suits made no room for Tajaran ears. These 'Enforcer Shells', as translated from Siik'maas, were usually brown or olive in color, with slit visors that masked the wearer's face.

Today, the Government Officials of the People's Republic of Adhomai are usually seen dressed in olive military fatigues, occasionally donning a commissar-styled cap. These caps are usually styled with small rosettes to signify authority. When in especially cold weather, officials usually layer on black trench coats and scarves rather than wearing the outfits of the lower class.

The lower and middle class of the Tajara are better heated by proxy, and can comfortably wear flat caps and long sleeved buttoned shirts for warmth when working in their factories rather than excessive garbs. When outside, typical Tajara will wear bomber jackets or fur coats with additional fur padding on the interior to better trap heat, paired with traditional slacks. Headwear for these working class citizens usually comes in the form of full head scarves to keep ears warm when in the wilderness, and standard soft and flap caps within cities.

Cuisine
Similarly, due to the cold temperatures of Adhomai, Tajara favor warming or hot food that can be consumed quickly before the freezing winds can cool the meal off. Porridges, soups, and chowders consisting of diced meat and vegetables for flavor was the usual meal of a working class Tajara, coupled with some bread and water or ale. Pre-industrial Tajara used to have community meals around bonfires to keep their food from cooling off too much, and almost all of their food source came in the form of porridges and oats. However, with the introduction of new technologies - such as higher quality insulation and home heating systems - Tajaran cuisine is being experimented with by chefs who are no longer restricted to compensating for the naturally low temperatures of Adhomai. Historically, culinary creations were reserved only for the nobility, who had better heated homes than the peasantry and more leeway was offered towards not having your meat turn blue in front of you.

The Arts
Of all arts, music is one of the most highly valued by Tajara. Stemming from the long-standing ban on most literature in their society, song and dance remained one of the only ways for Tajara to express themselves through words. Composers and musicians were traditionally held in high regard amongst Tajara, and in place of books the fanciful song-stories of traveling bards were one of the few ways the public could remove themselves from their lives. Theatre was also equally important in the life of a pre-discovery Tajara. Given that, with the lack of books, there was little to keep your usual worker entertained, the ability to watch and enjoy a riveting drama or hilarious comedy was heaven. Theatres and performing halls can be found in almost every Tajaran village, and are often constructed to rival even the main seat of town council or government in architectural beauty. For example, the D'na'tel Hall in the Tajaran capital was one and a quarter larger than the seat of government prior to human sanctioned expansions. Dating back to the late Renaissance Era, it was constructed from high quality marble and many sculptures of characters and scenes from various popular Tajaran plays were meticulously hand-carved into the walls by sculptor Nasir Ka'nira. However, literature itself - that is to say novels - have never been looked kindly upon by the Tajara public. Though this closed way of thinking is starting to shift with the greater introduction of literacy amongst Tajara as a whole, many elders still harbor bitter feelings about books in general. They were almost universally considered a symbol of oppression and luxury by pre-revolution Tajara, given the fact that only the nobility were taught en masse how to read, and that every family had it's own private expansive library that even learned peasants had to pay out of pocket to access. This led to a widespread destruction of much of historical Tajara text following the uprising, as revolutionaries took it upon themselves to purposely gather and burn whatever books they could after taking a noble stronghold.

Nobility and the Ancient Past
For as long as most Tajara care to remember, Adhomai had always been under the rule of nobility. The most dated historical text that still exists in Tajaran possession dates back at least four thousand years and still talks about 'serving their masters', so many historians agree that the trend of blood rule is more deeply-routed in Tajaran existence than was previously considered. The ancient past of the Tajara is poorly documented and historical texts are almost non-existent; meticulous combing and destruction of educational material by millennia of harsh rule resulted in total atrophy of most scientific arts in Tajaran society. Top Tajaran scholars in this day and age have theories that life in Adhomai was similar to feudalism in which fiefdoms of five towns or less were controlled by a lord who managed the lands with large communities of peasants tending to the work. Nobles of fiefs commonly collected together to make crucial decisions about the ownership or trade of lands. If agreements were not met and conflict between two lords was imminent, decisions would commonly be made through trials of combat. In these trials, groups of peasants were equipped with matching weapons and faced with the task of killing off the opposition. These displays were considered a quality source of entertainment, usually in which nobles would come to an agreement on their previously unsettled differences -- before staying to watch the peasants slaughter one another. Peasants had little choice in these matters, and all dissidence was met harshly and fatally at the hands of the Nobles' Enforcers - trained agents (commonly of M'sai descent) who fought for the nobility of Adhomai in exchange for relative freedom. These Tajaran enforcers kept the peasants of Adhomai's lands repressed and powerless through shock and terror. What is known for sure, however, is that tension had slowly been increasing over a span of thousands of years between the populace and their fellow noble families. Based upon empirical evidence, historians believe that Tajara were at one point free from the rule of nobility but were a more deeply religious species than now. Ancient relics that survived the annihilation ordered by countless nobles suggest that the current lineage of Tajaran noble families stemmed from religious leaders appointed by primitive clans that were revered as a connection to the Tajaran god, S'rendarr.

Tensions Rise
However, at some point, these religious leaders clashed and either pitted their followers against one another or amicable clans married and bred until the current leadership had spawned from their efforts. Over time, the nobility as it were slowly began to lose their religious inclination and approximately four thousand years ago Adhomai entered a Renaissance period. Religious devotion amongst Tajara had been dropping steadily in conjunction with the lower influence it had upon their nobility. It was this period that historians believe the overwhelming control of the noble families flourished and solidified into what it was prior to the current day. Literature was heavily regulated from this point forward following 'enlightened' publications by individuals deemed dangerous to the health of noble rule. Scarce few copies of these texts were preserved in the remains of several noble houses. In the place of novels, many famous Tajara sculptors, musicians, and artists spawned. However, rather than their works being presented for public viewing, they were collected by noble families and only a handful were shown outside of their 'palaces' for the peasantry to admire. Following this era, tension between the nobility and the peasantry began to steadily increase, believed to have stemmed from increasingly harsh rulers and laws. Thirty years prior to human discovery of Adhomai, the deep-seeded mistrust between peasants and nobles had reached an all time high. The Tajaran species was trapped in a technological bubble forced upon them by their nobility. At the height of their industrial revolution only a few years prior, the leadership at the time became increasingly wary of the unification of many Tajaran workers, seeing themselves in what could be accounted as another 'Renaissance' era and result in more 'enlightened' individuals straining their already crumbling control over the populace. The realms of education, science, and luxury found themselves under severe restrictions, and your basic Tajara was forced into almost twenty hour work days with minimal time afforded for eating and sleeping on the job. Analysis of the noble houses proves that during this time in Tajaran history, the nobility had never been worth more in Sol credits than previous. This is largely attributed to the fact that rather than having new inventions published for the peasantry, the nobility had seen fit to confiscate and use these fruits of scientific thinking for themselves. Automobiles are considered one of the best examples of this. Using a combustion engine much like primitive human vehicles with extra anti-freezing measures and a combination of wheels and tracks, one of the first fully functional automated cars had been produced by a collection of Tajaran engineers and scientists, at the behest of the nobility. These large creations were considered by many older Tajara to be a symbol of negligence and gluttony by their leaders. Workers were never provided with such things; they were forced to transport themselves through Adhomai's harsh winter conditions on foot or by using specially designed 'snow bicycles', regardless of how far away their place of work was. Further restricting the rights of the individual Tajara, legislation was introduced against 'workers unions' as well as any sort of illicit groups; a permit was required to form anything from hunting parties to agencies. In this whirlwhind of political turmoil, a fresh generation of Tajara were growing up, deprived of what most humans consider to be 'basic rights'. As they grew older and angrier, the nobility saw fit to continue tightening their control over their subjects until a civil war was almost inevitable. Like a powder keg ready to blow, only a single spark was needed to light the flame.

Human Discovery
This came in the form of human discovery in 2418. A Sol Alliance funded expedition into the Tajaran home system discovered the by comparison primitive species and their homeworld of Adhomai. Lush with untapped resources and potential workers, Adhomai was an attractive prospect for many human super corporations, especially NanoTrasen. Because of their slow technological progress, most of Adhomai's valuable minerals remained unharmed by mining or drilling. It was due to this that several corporations attempted to insert themselves into the dealings of Adhomai.

However, the nobility felt incredibly threatened by what they considered 'intrusions' by humanity and completely refused them diplomatic access to their planet. The Alliance stepped in and, reluctantly, the super corporations were forced to abandon their wishes to stake claims on Adhomai's resources - at least in the open. In the year 2420, a group of Tajaran intellectuals - considered rebels by the state - were shuttled off-world by a still unknown entity. Given asylum in the Sol Alliance, they met and discussed much with human scientists and officials. Tensions between the Alliance and Tajaran nobility rose after such an event and they accused the humans of harboring terrorists.



Eventually, these rebels were returned to Adhomai with supplies and weapons. Fed with new ideals of personal freedom and 'rights afforded to all' by their influential human friends, the seeds of revolution were sowed among the Tajaran populace, spread by word of mouth. Workers, doctors, teachers, even soldiers that were questionably loyal to the nobility were swayed by these promises of freedom and equality. Meetings in the basements of dark taverns or barns were common, and relations between the nobility and their peasants were at the lowest ever recorded in Tajaran history.

The Uprisings
It took little more than a year for a formal uprising to be staged. After the nobility had captured one of the original Tajara that had been shuttled off world, he was sentenced to be publicly hung by the neck in front of their peasants to show just how serious they were about keeping control. Ultimately, many historians believe this to be a highly egregious mistake. Rebels in the audience, armed with advanced off-world weapons, proceeded to open fire on loyalist forces and kill a nobleman in the process. This event, called the 'D'as'ral Massacre' (so named for the city it took place in) by the nobility was all the excuse they needed to enact martial law.



However, they found themselves in a cornered position. Weapons and supplies were being shipped in off-world by mysterious benefactors, and their collections of scientists and engineers had either fled to safety being noblemen themselves, or took up arms and joined the revolution. Without significant scientific presence to deconstruct or understand these new human weapons or support the war effort, the conflict resulted in a string of rebel victories that drew closer and closer to the capital cities of each providence. Among the noble families, the largest and nearly the most powerful was a clan called the 'Hadii'. Their castle was amongst the best defended in the region and the battle to take it was waged for six months of non-stop fighting. As it became increasingly clear to them that they were eventually going to be overrun, the Hadii struck a deal with the rebel leader; in return for complete immunity from the war, as well as persecution, they afforded the revolutionaries with unique tools and even blueprints of other families' castles, pointing out weak points and infiltration spots. It was this turn coating that tipped the revolution in favor of the peasantry. Armed with this new information, they made use of radio systems previously restricted for nobility to methodically and bloodily end their uprising by murdering most of the noble families and whatever soldiers and civilians remained loyal to them. By 2421 the revolution had finally come to an end with a total of more than forty million casualties, of which more than half were loyalist forces. Many Tajaran cities and villages were utterly destroyed by vicious fighting as well as bombardment by uncaring nobles. A informal ceasefire was declared between the factions, though skirmishes were still common.

Outcome of the Revolution
Following this total upheaval of Tajaran society, rebel leaders met with Hadii noblemen and discussed how to form a government, given that only the Hadii were experienced with ruling. Human corporations took express interest in this; the Hadii were one of the few noble families that saw profit in human stakes on Adhomai, and many back-room deals were made until ultimately the Hadii were placed at the head of Tajaran government in 2422, and ushered in a new federal republic. The Tajaran public was markedly distressed by this turn of the events, and fearing another uprising, human intervention again helped defuse the situation. The Hadii promised that it would not be like it was before. Now, NanoTrasen, suspected by many conspiracy theorists to be behind the funding and supplying of Tajara during the war, holds claim to most of Adhomai and has a monopoly over most of the planet's valuables. Collaboration between them, the Sol Alliance and the Jargon Federation has resulted in more technological advances in Tajaran society recently than ever before in their recorded history. Approval ratings for the current leadership have risen in response.

However, serious problems remain. The brutal tactics employed by the current government of Adhomai, as well as the ruling Hadii's increasing totalitarian rule, factions on Adhomai have strayed away from what was hoped to have been a one world government.

The Second Revolution
The disagreements and hatred of the Hadii republican government had lead to insurrection and terrorism since its foundation. Many former rebel generals felt threatened by the reforms of the Hadii government and President Al'Mari Hadii (Rhagrrhuzau Hadii). In 2441, during a military parade, President Al'Mari was assassinated by a young Zhan-Khazan radical. His brother and vice-president Hussein Hadii (Mrrzaragh Hadii) assumed the office of the presidency and immediately passed brutal laws that punished Zhan-Khazans and other traitors. Public hangings and firing squads became the norm once again, and civil protest erupted into armed insurrection.

Many military generals that had fought for the Republic soon defected, and Adhomai found itself embroiled in yet another civil war.

Religion
There are a handful of faiths on Adhomai, but the majority religion is the worship of S'rendarr and Messa, the names of both suns in the Tajaran home system. Ancient Tajara were believed to worship the suns as gods, believing their light to be the only thing keeping the planet from freezing over entirely. Over time, this faith matured into a system of beliefs suited to the peasantry; looking down upon the acts of betraying your fellow worker and attempting to foster unity and understanding amongst its followers. It is believed by many that S'rendarr is the god of life and the day, as the bigger of the two suns, and he is associated with good happenings and is most often prayed to. Contrastingly, Messa, the blue sun, is the goddess of the night and death; whenever she eclipses S'rendarr, all followers partake in religious rituals that ask Messa to spare them from whatever ill tidings she may bring. Despite being the majority religion, there exist several others. Namely, the second largest religion is the worship of the Snow God Ma'ta'ke, which dates back to ancient Tajaran times. A figure of legend, Ma'ta'ke is believed to have been the head of a hardy clan of mountain dwellers that regularly came to the aid of another clan who was constantly plagued by bandits and wild animals. He is revered as fierce warrior capable of fighting a platoon of men by himself, but also as a kind soul, for the records of his dealings with other clans show understanding and kindness. Similar to the followers of S'rendarr and Messa, those who believe in the Snow God preach unity and understanding for the betterment and longevity of Tajara as a species. At one point, a religion was established heralding the nobility themselves as gods by certain devout loyalits, but this faith has all but been completely erased following the uprising. Individuals who were recorded to believe in or are suspected of being a member undergo persecution and even in some cases death sentences. With most loyalists either in hiding or killed during the uprising, and all places of worship destroyed, any intelligent Tajara would never admit to being, or attempt to defend, a member of this faith. Because of the Tajara's history as an repressive, conservative species, they have not grown too open-minded or liberal - unlike humanity's progressive views, for example. Homosexuality amongst Tajara is looked down on and treated as a deviancy, and there exists discrimination and bias against other races of Tajara - particularly against Zhan-Khazan for their purported low intelligence and rebellious tendencies.

Historically, the peasantry made due by uniting themselves as a workforce which has bred an intimate inter-person relationship amongst the families of most villages, towns, and cities. Regardless of the size of the population, pre-uprising Tajara were often well acquainted with families that may have lived on the other side of town. Arranged marriages were extremely common and were ways to improve relationships amongst families. However, this traditional practice has met with extreme criticism following post-uprising debates.

Hharar
Hharar – Highlander

“The Typical Tajara”

Hharar Physiology
Hharar, as the first Tajaran ethnicity who Humanity came in contact with is generally viewed as the 'typical Tajaran', which is reinforced by their numerical superiority over the other groups. Additionally, given their large numbers and capabilities, they most often serve in governmental positions and as ambassadors to other races; this leads to them being taken as the 'face' of the Tajaran race, as it were.

Hharar trend towards being the most intellectual of all Tajaran groups, and as such their physical prowess is significantly reduced. On average, they are on par with most humans as far as intelligence and physical strength go. However, in most cases their IQ is slightly lower than your usual human, which is generally attributed to the sub-par schooling and education Tajara received prior to the Great War. Regardless, many xenophobic groups use this as ammunition in their arguments targeting the Tajara, when in actuality the Hharar are considered to be extremely creative and innovative.

The Hharar are usually beaver brown, kochiba, or taupe in coloration.

There are variations and of course exceptions to this rule, however Taupe is the darkest a Hharar gets and Beaver is as light as they get. Most Hharar are also spotted with lighter brown or white spots across their upper chest and torso. Some Hharar females can even be calico in rare occasions, this is almost always hereditary on the maternal side, meaning the mother has to also be calico for her daughter to be, though this is not absolute and Calico mothers can have normal brown daughters.

Hharar Culture
Given that the Hharar are the most populous of the Tajaran ethnic groups, their culture is generally the most ubiquitous on Adhomai and in the psyche of the galaxy at large when thinking of 'Tajaran society'. The religion involving the worshipping of S'rendarr and Messa is thought to have been propogated by ancient Hharar and the original noble lines to have started from them. This has led to many of the less populous ethnic groups to look down upon the Hharar, with some extremists going so far as to blame them for a lifetime of enslavement.

The Hharar are the stereotypical 'worker' Tajara. This fact is reinforced by their history as the brunt of the workforce used by the plutocracy, as they were easier to control and force into unpleasant conditions than some of the other ethnic groups. As such, they tend to give their respect to superiors easier than other Tajara might. Most loyalists during the Great War were of Hharar descendence. Further, the familial system of Tajaran clans is also thought to have been a Hharar invention; the structure of clans and the introductions of arranged marriages are traditions started long ago that have encompassed many Tajara of other ethnic groups marrying into Hharar families.

Siik'maas and Siik'tajr are the primary languages descended from the ancient and venerable language of Hhar'Tol. Hhar'Tol or 'Hill speak' is a nearly dead language almost never used in modern Tajaran society. The sole remnants of the language can be found in many ruins left in the Highlands of ancient Hharar villages and cities. Some schools created by the Hadii offer Hhar'Tol as an available language for students and attendees to learn.

Since their liberation, the Hharar have been found to hold positions of middle or high wealth, owing to their intellectual capabilities. They are described as loyal workers who are passionate and not afraid to voice their opinions. Given their history as the plutocracy's major workforce and the largest part of the Tajaran 'peasantry', they are typically well-rounded individuals with more appreciation of older traditions than other Tajaran ethnic groups.

Zhan-Khazan
Zhan-Khazan - Mountain-Keeper

“The Workhorse”

Zhan-Khazan Physiology
Zhan-Khazan are the second most populous of Tajaran ethnicities, and are considered to be the backbone of the Tajaran workforce. Their history as an ethnicity is one not well documented; very little historical texts describing them were preserved in the wake of the Great War, and archaeological dig sites are difficult to preserve given the climate of Adhomai. What is known, however, is that the Zhan-Khazan were at one point a race of cave-and-mountain dwelling Tajara that traditionally were entrusted with physical work like mining, farming, ranching, and logging.

Because of their history of hard work and the way they adapted to harsh mountain life, Zhan-Khazan are more physically intimidating than their close relatives, the M'sai. Featuring more toned, muscular bodies, thicker fur coats, and a heavier body weight, they are well-suited to tasks requiring brute strength and heavy lifting. They are by no means less intelligent than the Hharar, but most Zhan-Khazan do not pursue the same type of work. Zhan-Khazan make up a significant amount of Tajara employed in resource gathering, construction, civil jobs such as law enforcement and even culinary work such as butchering.

Zhan-Khazan are usually blue-grey, dark gray, or chocolate in coloration.

Zhan-Khazan fur patterns are remarkably simple, usually consisting of only dark solid colors or at the most ticked fur or tabby stripes. They are capable of lighter colors and more varied fur patterns, but these are rare, recessive traits present in pure Zhan-Khazan bloodlines. Those that breed outside of their ethnicity have a higher chance of passing on their dark fur, as their genes are more dominant compared to other ethnic groups. These genes are present in both male and female parents.

Zhan-Khazan Culture
or most of Tajaran history, Zhan-Khazan were tasked with more difficult work as they were more suited to physical labor than their brethren. They were subject to harsher punishments and more repressive mandates as the plutocracy viewed them as lesser to other Tajara. Faced with work that segregated them from most settlements, the Zhan-Khazan have grown to be incredibly protective of their families and their own and follow traditional family values closely. Things like arranged marriages, inter-clan courting and gift-giving, and clan alliances were and are exceedingly common for Zhan-Khazan, and they support a close family life style. Those who go against their family face exile from their small, tight-knit communities. Zhan-Khazan also hold their co-workers in similar high regard, though not as much as blood ties.

Many Zhan-Khazan worship the Snow God, and scholars believe this faith was invented by this ethnic group. Small shrines are a common sight amongst settlements of or having a high population of Zhan-Khazan, and they hold very active, evangelical services. As such, many Zhan-Khazan take the teachings of the Snow God to heart, including unification amongst Tajara. They care immensely about the future of their species and most do what they can for the betterment of the Tajara as a whole. Zhan-Khazan are highly valued agricultural and mining experts, and they make up almost seventy percent of the farmer and rancher population of Adhomai.

Like all other Tajara, Siik'maas and Siik'tajr are the 'official' language of the Zhan-Khazan, but they were the inventors of the lesser dialect of Delvahhi. This language is still widely used in religious ceremonies dedicated to the Snow God and amongst settlements comprised mostly of Zhan-Khazan. It is also the favored language of farmers, who have adopted it in the wake of government intrusions into the agricultural industry of Adhomai.

Njarir’Akhran
Njarir’Akhran - Nobleman

"The Blood Rulers"

Njarir'Akhran Physiology
The Njarir'Akhran, or simply the Njarir, are the ethnic group that made up the majority of the plutocracy prior to the Great War. Their lineage can be traced from careful breeding between Hharar and M'sai, leading to where they currently are today. Following recent events on Adhomai, Njarir make up less than ten percent of the population, though reports see that number reducing slowly between honor killings and hate crimes given their close relation to the Tajaran nobility. Easily identifiable by their large ears, fluffy tails, luxurious fur and slender, elegant features. Njarir suffer persecution and rejection from certain proponents of Tajaran society because of their bloodline.

Historically, Njarir comprised almost the entirety of the Tajaran nobility. Efforts were made to keep noble lines purebred, even if it led to inbreeding in clans. Those who married outside of or slept outside of their bloodline were generally disowned by their family and forced into peasant life. This accounts for practically all surviving Njarir outside of those in the Hadii clan, who serve in important parts of the federal government. As the most learned of all Tajaran ethnic groups, they boast high intelligence and have a propensity towards the arts and sciences. Many have fled Adhomai only to be offered cushy jobs elsewhere working for the Alliance, other factions, or transstellar corporations. These individuals are looked down upon even more.

Njarir'Akhran are usually orange, cinnamon, ruddy, or cream in coloration.

In stark contrast to their brethren, Njarir tend toward very bright, colorful fur patterns. Typically, their fur color ranges from reddish browns to cream colors, and they do not generally have dark fur. Siamese patterns as well as tortoiseshell or patched tabby patterns were valued amongst Njarir bloodlines, and those with more intricate fur patterns were revered and admired by their fellow noblemen, and it was considered an attractive trait in a female. Despite all this, these patterns have been shown to be recessive genes in Njarir, and the most common fur pattern is simply stripes.

Njarir'Akhran Culture
Due to their history as the ruling class of the Tajara, many records pertaining to Njarir practices and culture were destroyed in acts of insubordination. This, coupled with the widespread burning of Njarir literature and destruction of castles, villas, and chateaus, has led to a loss of critical information in ancient Njarir practices. What is known, however, is that only a handful of Njarir were ever part of the peasantry. As stated previously, keeping the bloodline pure was almost mandated amongst the noble clans and anyone who broke this rule was exiled to a life as a peasant. Other stipulations were agreed upon to ensure the 'nobleness' of a family member. One could not marry a peasant, or involve themselves in peasant affairs unless it proved a problem to productivity. To be seen in public, a nobleman or woman were obligated to wear fanciful clothing to show their status and were discouraged from physical contact with the peasantry.

Following the Great War, almost every noble family was systematically exterminated. The only noble clan still in power is the Hadii, who serve in the Tajaran government. It has proved exceedingly difficult to acquire testimony or records from living Hadii members, who wish not to anger the Tajaran public any further due to the still unstable post-revolution period on Adhomai. Relics recovered from Njarir ruins, however, suggest that at one point they were highly religious, giving credence to the theory that these noble clans evolved from religious leaders.

Siik'maas was the widely spoken language of Njarir, though amongst themselves they preferred to use the Ya'ssa dialect. Presumed to be the traditional language of the nobility, it uses a more refined alphabet and speech pattern believed to have evolved from a less-used ancient language. Hadii members have been recorded to still use this language, though ultimately with the widespread annihilation of noble families, this language has fallen into disuse and is not taught or provided as a language able to be learned.

M’sai
M'sai - Hunter

"The Soldier"

M'sai Physiology
As the third (though only by a small margin) populous Tajaran ethnic group, the M'sai were at one point the hunters for ancient Tajara and evolved to have lithe, slender forms, and light fur that hid them in the blizzards on Adhomai. As Tajaran society advanced, M'sai could be found in many roles related to combat, including law enforcement and military service. Not all M'sai resign themselves to these positions, however, and enjoy helping Zhan-Khazan on the country farms or performing civil duties in cities from garbage disposal to cargo inspections.

Characterized by their thin, slender forms, the M'sai are deceptively light; by Tajaran standards, they are thin. With less but thicker fur and a thinner layer of body fat, they aren't as well-insulated against Adhomai's cold as their brethren. However, this gives them the bonus of being speedier, and their bodies are designed to be aerodynamically compatible with the harsh winds of Adhomai. Where a Zhan-Khazan would stumble as he weathered the winds, a M'sai can easily and quickly sprint through without being affected. The product of millenia of breeding between Zhan-Kazan and Hharar, the M'sai are agile, intelligent, and have quick reaction times, making them ideal for high stress work.

M'sai are usually white, ivory, wheat, or silver in coloration.

M'sai tend toward subtle fur patterns, such as ticked fur or spots. Their lighter colors are dominant genes and usually express themselves in cross-ethnic children, overwriting the parent fur color - except in the case of mating with a Zhan-Khazan. The dark and light colors mix, leading to a diluted shade of the darker fur. As they evolved to be hunters in the snow, dark fur colors tend to be suppressed in their children, as previously stated.

M'sai Culture
M'sai are known to typically be mild-mannered, but can also be prone to more aggression than their brethren. M'sai make up a significant portion of the People's Army of Adhomai, with a 2454 census giving a total of sixty-two point eight percent of soldiers, airmen, and sailors having been M'sai. They are very loyal to their friends and family, but aren't as overt about it as the Zhan-Khazan. With wide eyes and acute senses, they make great soldiers, with vision adapted to compensation for the heavy blizzards that plague their home planet. They are also great survivalists, and are capable of scrounging food for themselves via hunting.

Historically, they were employed by the plutocracy to aid in hunting and ranching, though the majority made up the armies and guards of cities, villages, and towns. They also made excellent scouts, and during the Tajaran Renaissance period, were part of cartography teams assigned to record and draw maps of then-unexplored territory in the northern regions of the planet. In the town of Davistok, a silver statue of the explorer D'nante was commissioned by its noble family for having discovered the land there the wealthy trade city was built; they were held in higher regard by the nobility who viewed them as closer cousins than the other ethnic groups.

Siik'maas and Siik'tajr were always widely used by M'sai, but the body-focused language of Nal'rassan was their creation. Because the mrowling and vocal expressions of Siik'maas could sometimes alert prey to their presence and drive them away, hunting parties adopted this language to prevent such a thing from occurring. Rebel sects saw the use of this language and took made use of it for covert discussions and the transmission of highly classified information before and during the Great War.

Adhomai Today


The Tajaran homeworld has suffered plenty in the three decades since the end of the revolution. With the sudden injection of advanced technology into their relatively simple life, the discrepancy between modernized cities and outlying areas could not be more obvious. While the Tajaran capital boasts the most modern developments with sleek skyscrapers, advanced connections and phone lines, as well as hospitals and schools, the further you get from the larger cities, the more apparent it is that things are not quite so flashy. Expanding infrastructure remains difficult, as most public funds are seized for use by the military or used to repair infrastructure damaged by shelling or bombings.

There is a steady stream of money being fed into the People's Republic of Adhomai. NanoTrasen, as per it's agreement with the president, have set up mining and logging operations on Adhomai using the local work force for the most menial of tasks. In return, company funded clinics and schools are slowly being spread out and build in the needy areas. Tajaran resource operations are now all but nonexistent; the buildings that were once part of the nobility's small gathering efforts have now been refurbished and are being used by NanoTrasen. Literacy has risen to its all time high on Adhomai, and with the assistance of the Alliance, teachers have been brought in from off world to educate the younger generation of Tajara. However, this number has begun to decline as the dangers of working on Adhomai are beginning to become common knowledge. Special establishments for older students have also been constructed to assist the elder generation in being brought to the same level of education, but NanoTrasen has not expressed significant interest in this; these people make up the brunt of their low-paid workforce and they want to ensure that they are kept that way. There are still several proponents of revolution that oppose the current government, which has plunged the planet into another all-encompassing civil war that remains at a standstill today.



Factions in the Civil War
The Adhomai Civil War has three main factions participating in the fighting.

People's Republic of Adhomai
The loyalists are considered to be the People's Republic of Adhomai. With their capital centered in Nal'Tor, the People's Republic continues to enjoy diplomatic recognition by the major factions of the galaxy. Lead by President Malik Hadii (Njadrasanukii Mi'jri) who is in his 7th year of his 12 year term. With a focus on expanding the Navy of Adhomai and ensuring greater prosperity for his supporters, Malik has forced rapid modernization on the cities still in loyalist hands. The government's rule is marked by a lack of privacy, enthusiastic police and a pervasive secret police that leave privacy a nebulous concept to most Tajaran. In some areas the government even finances mafia families to help keep order and ensure a slice of the profits from the bustling criminal underground, with anyone suspected of supporting traitors or publicizing media critical of the government delivering them in prisons or at the wrong end of a firing squad. In addition, the Parliament under President Hadii is nothing more than a puppet, providing a rubber stamp to the extremely centralized office of the president. However, life under the government, while not free, can often be stable and safe when away from the conflict zones. And under the Republic, Tajara have more opportunities than they have had in their history, with Nanotrasen throwing out a net and bringing in hundreds or even thousands of Tajara new employment opportunities.

Adhomai Liberation Army
Calling themselves the Adhomai Liberation Army, the group made up of Tajara from almost every walk of life. Opposing corporate claims on Tajaran soil and citing mismatched development and governmental negligence as the fault of humanity, they aim to "free Tajara from the new shackles imposed upon them by the corporate overlords and return Adhomai to a free, prosperous planet like our ancestors dreamed of." In reality, towns and cities liberated by the Liberation Army often find themselves ruled by a military junta. Being a supporter of the loyalist government, or having been a collaborate, is grounds for immediate execution by firing squad. Villages often find their supplies seized by Liberation forces for the war effort, and administrative power is extremely decentralized, leading to limited communication or connection between controlled towns and cities, while the military commanders themselves are ultimately under the absolute authority of Supreme Commander Halkiikir Na'ted'Akhan, who defected from the People's Republic in the early years of the second revolution. However, the Liberation Army does, for the most part, try to respect the basic rights of Tajara. Most Tajara under their rule don't need to worry about a secret police or being framed for a crime. Criticizing the Liberation leadership is dangerous, but sometimes it is tolerated, giving Liberation press a bit more freedom in publications. This also extends to their tolerance of democracy - with such a decentralized power structure, most towns or cities can hold elections to govern themselves. These tend to be closely managed by the military Juntas, but the Liberation Army insists that the army power over the civilian government will end with the conclusion of the war.

New Kingdom of Adhomai
The last major rebellious faction is the New Kingdom of Adhomai, which seceeded and declared itself a nation on 2449. The New Kingdom is ruled by a Njarir’Akhran noble line that survived the previous Revolution by remaining in hiding, owing to the efforts of their supporters. Ruled by  King Nazira Ka'rimah (Vahzirthaamro Azunja) specifically, he denounces both other factions in the civil war as illegitimate and himself as the only legitimate ruler of Adhomai. Supporters of the New Kingdom tend to be rare outside lands it controls. However, they believe strongly that the current republic on Adhomai was founded on genocide and unspeakable slaughters. The New Kingdom puts forth the ideology that Republicanism is bloodshed. The only way to return Adhomai to peace and prosperity is to learn from the mistakes of the ancient nobles and Republicans, and create a new noble dynasty. A constitutional monarchy. In reality, this has proven very difficult, especially with the realities of war. Owning little territory in the north, it is constantly besieged and finds itself on the retreat. The lofty titles of the nobles disguise the fact that most of the nobility of this new kingdom remain in squalor only marginally better than the peasants. Life is extremely difficult, and the Ka'rimah dynasty finds itself struggling to function with their limited constitutional powers and factional in-fighting between the military and the civilian government.