Skrell

Skrell

R. skrellis axioris, R. skrellis xiialtus

Home System: Nralakk

Homeworld: Nralakk IV (Qerrbalak)

Language(s): Nral'Malic, Tau Ceti Basic

Political Entitie(s): Nralakk Federation

Skrell are a species of amphibious bipeds, originating from the planet of Qerrbalak. Skrell possess multiple features due to their origins from the oceans of their homeworld, possessing gills, self-hydrating pliant skin, and webbed digits. With notably longer lifespans than most of the sophonts, combined with their earlier development of organized societies, skrell are the oldest spacefaring species in the Orion Spur.

Skrell society has remained in a single, unified society soon after their expansion into space, with both incarnations of the Nralakk Federation being the sole body of modern skrell civilization. The Nralakk Federation operates under a single government that plans nearly all aspects of skrell society, with it maintaining both a nationally-unified efficiency and expansive social welfare system, though many detractors claim that these are at great cost to personal and political freedoms.

Contents

Heads of Staff

Skrell can be the following heads of staff:

• Captain
• Head of Security
• Chief Engineer
• Executive Officer
• Chief Medical Officer
• Research Director
• Operations Manager
• Consulars / Representatives

Mechanics

Species Mechanics

• Skrell speak their own exclusive language of Nral’Malic, which is used by typing ,k before the rest of the spoken message.

• Skrell are naturally psionic.

• Skrell can enter the Srom, or Dream, with other skrell when they sleep, allowing them to communicate through a lucid dreamscape.

• Xenobiological Slimes are naturally passive to skrell due to their anomalous circumstances.

• Skrell can breathe underwater due to being amphibious and possessing gills.

• Due to their advanced vestibular system, skrell cannot be slipped.

• Skrell have large heads with protruding headtails, requiring all EVA helmets to be refitted to their unique headshape. These are found in EVA storage areas, and can also be done by using a suit cycler. Their headtails also make it uncomfortable to wear most headwear and hats, making them usually unwilling to wear them.

• Skrell have a hemocyanin-based circulatory system, meaning that their blood is based on copper instead of iron. Skrell require copper supplements to alleviate bloodloss symptoms (but can receive human blood of their type without issue currently, due to game mechanics simplifying blood types across species).

Axiori Mechanics

• Axiori take increased burn damage due to their skin being sensitive to high heat.

• Axiori take decreased oxygen and brute damage due to adaptations to variable pressures underwater.

• Axiori have to rehydrate more often and regularly when outside of water.

• Axiori sprint slower due to their larger, webbed feet.

• Axiori have a naturally higher pulse due to their increased circulatory needs.

Relations with Megacorporations

Skrell are able to work for every megacorporation within the Stellar Corporate Conglomerate, and are accepted as agents into the Conglomerate’s internal affairs. Several megacorporations maintain labor agreements between themselves and the Nralakk Federation, with Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals in particular maintaining an expansive partnership with the Federation. Other corporations do maintain a comparatively smaller presence within the Federation, but still allow skrell to work for them.

Skrell History

See also: Skrell History

Skrell history extends multiple millenia, with the furthest recorded events stretching into the tenth millennium of the before-common era. With most of this period being lost due to the corruption of oral histories and impermanent structures in the oceans and shores, large portions of skrell history remain obscure. Dedicated skrell historians and archeologists maintain a generally agreed upon consensus of pre-historical skrell, though even most of this has been lost due to the Tzqul Archive’s lockdown after the Synthetic Era. Modern skrell historians and anthropologists to this day still struggle to retrace the steps of their species without the pre-existing sum total of their species’ history within the archives.

Biology

See also: Skrell Biology

Being amphibious, skrell are adapted to both living on the surface and underwater. Their hands and feet lack nails or claws, and have extensive webbing between each digit. Skrell lack any teeth, instead having hardened gum pads that can masticate most softer foods. Also present on their faces are a lack of defined noses, instead having nostrils on a slightly elevated part of their faces where a bony nasal structure would typically be. Skrell eyes are large and primarily black, being adapted for high acuity vision while underwater. Beside their eyes are pigmented ducts similar to tear ducts, which express when they are under severe stress. Many skrell, particularly Axiori and Xiori, have tails. These tails aid in swimming and balance, with Xiialt skrell regularly having shorter tails, or none at all.

Being relatively short, the average height for skrell range between 134cm (4’5”) to 165cm (5’5”). Skrell lack extensive muscles usually present for facial expressions, making them appear unemotive or lacking emotions to other species. Despite this perception, skrell have a variety of methods to display their emotions, and do experience a full range of emotions. Emotional displays include motions involving the position of their heads and headtails, as well as a variety of vocalisations. This also extends to their tails, which serves a role for emotional displays if they are long enough to be visible from the front.

Headtails are the most notable feature of skrell, being long appendages that extend from the top and sides of their heads. These headtails typically extend to the shoulders (but do lengthen as they age), and were originally used to keep the skin around their necks damp and enclosed in order to incubate and hold eggs. These headtails contain extensive muscular structures, allowing skrell to rapidly and easily manipulate their positioning, though they lack the same articulation that would make them fully prehensile. Headtails grow throughout a skrell’s lifetime, with their length being a visual signifier for their age. With the inception of Spa Treatments, most skrell alter the length of their headtails for fashion or personal taste, usually out of wishing to appear older or wiser to others. Accessories for headtails are ubiquitous for skrell fashion, being adorned with jewels, wrappings, chains, and bands. Headtails can also be tied back and restrained into tight shapes as well, which is not uncomfortable so long as the tie is not particularly tight.

Skrell are cold-blooded or poikilothermic, lacking the ability to maintain an internal temperature without taking action to change their temperature beyond their current environment. Despite this, skrell are adapted to having a high tolerance for different temperatures, and mainly rely on humidity in order to not dry out.

Physical Appearance

A skrell’s skin has two layers that define their moist, nearly gelatinous appearances, with the second layer of skin being less translucent and responsible for their pigmentation. This layer of skin can dry out and crack when outside of their comfortable humidity ranges, with this being prevented by moisturizing through entering pools of water, dousing themselves, or bathing. While variable between individual skrell, most space stations and vessels with appropriate climate control are equipped to allow skrell personnel to work without moisturizing for roughly four hours without drying to the point of discomfort. Wealthier skrell typically purchase genetic treatments that allow them to remain hydrated for up to a week without moisturizing.

Skrell skin notably contains glands that secrete mucus in order to self-moisturize, provide a layer of protection, regulate their temperature, and acts as an evasive advantage in order to escape grabs done by potential predators. Notably, skrell skin mucus is not sticky. The average level of mucus present varies between skrell, with some being extremely dry to the point of flaking, while others express to the point of nearly dripping. Skrell skin is generally described as damp, slippery, but not unpleasant to touch.

Natural skrell skin colour varies between subspecies, with colours ranging from deep blues, bold greens, vibrant reds, and the spectrum of colors between. Diet is also a determining factor, with brightness and shade being affected based on pigment consumed. Skrell genetic engineering has mastered the ability to accelerate natural changes in skin colour and headtail length, colloquially known as a Spa treatment. These treatments vary in length, with hue and saturation in skin colors changing over the course of a month, while changing headtail and tail length takes roughly a year. This type of physical alteration is commonly accepted in skrell society, being seen as the equivalent of dyeing one’s hair.

Skrell lack a particular view of beauty in the sense that there are “unattractive” appearances. Physical disorders and anomalous changes in appearance are not seen as disgusting, but worthy of study and interest.

Physical Development

Skrell physically develop throughout their adolescence at an equivalent rate of roughly three times as long as human adolescents, but physical maturity is held separate from cultural maturity. Skrell are physically fully developed around 50 years of age, though true social maturity is generally accepted around when they achieve two formal degrees from a college or university, which takes most skrell until they reach between 60 to 80 years of age. The average skrell naturally lives up to 250 years on average, with modern medical technology in the Nralakk Federation allowing them to live to upwards of 300 to 350. With youth serums, which are limited to the more valued members of Federation society, skrell can live up to nearly double their natural lifespans at 500 years old.

Due to the extensive genetic modification during the Synthetic Era period implemented on the unwilling populace, most skrell suffer from X’lu’oa-induced infertility, or are completely sterile. Intensive research after the Synthetic Era has been devoted to undoing the effects of the infertility crisis, to some success. Despite these efforts and extensive treatments, only a third of all skrell are capable of successfully reproducing, and their clutches are between one to three eggs in comparison to average of eight eggs per clutch pre-X’lu’oa.

Skrell Culture

Federation Culture

See also: Skrell Culture

Two skrell researchers in the aftermath of extensive scientific debate and comparison of their work. While one skrell is visibly pleased, the other is visibly upset at being disproven and being made to revise their week’s worth of study. While competitiveness is common in the Nralakk Federation’s scientific circles, it is regarded as a healthy behavior in the workplace.

The Nralakk Federation’s Social Compatibility Index affects the skrell citizen’s social standing around others. Skrell who are in the lower social stratum are expected to defer to their higher ranked skrell both in and out of the workplace. Skrell who are excessively argumentative towards their social stratum superiors will often be deducted out of disrespect and disrupting social cohesion, resulting in most skrell reluctantly deferring to them. This effect isn’t as pronounced between skrell whose SCI rankings are adjacent, but an Ox arguing with an Oqi is regarded as inappropriate and shameful.

In the public life, skrell in public areas and social congregations are fully expected to respond to other skrell who bombard them with questions in order to gauge their interests, career, personal opinions, and boundaries in order to understand both what is acceptable to discuss with them, as well as if they are worth forming a correspondence with. These questions, while probing and uncomfortable to non-Federation citizens, are completely normal and are considered good conduct in forming an initial rapport in understanding the other party. Outside of the Federation, this introductory interaction is extremely alienating and discomforting with other species, with the Federation posting cultural guidelines to its citizens going abroad about this cultural contrast.

Due to their lifespans, skrell have different perception of time compared to other sophonts. Passive observation, study, and mediation is preferred over immediate action, and tend to commit to decisions that will take decades to a century in order to receive the results from. While these can appear as incomprehensible decisions, most of these are generally planned well ahead in order to pay off in the comparatively far future.

Language

Nral'malic (transliterated as “Homeworld Voice”, more accurately The Voice of the Homeworld) is a constructed language invented during the early stages of skrell space colonization, created and enforced in order to have a single language spoken across all skrell, no matter their location beyond Qerrbalak. To non-skrell, the language has the particular trait of resonating in the neck and jaw instead of the ear, due to the fact that most of the language utilizes the expanded hearing and vocal range of skrell that exit the human hearing range. These particular tones are important in declaring tone in the language, allowing for emotional cues and responses to be easily conveyed. The only species capable of speaking Nral’Malic beyond skrell are diona and vaurca, who are naturally harmonic or capable of receiving implants to expand their ranges respectively. Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals has both invented and patented an implant that allows the receiver to both understand Nral’malic and perceive the ranges necessary to hear the full language, though speech remains outside of its current capabilities. For those who have received a Nral’malic processor and are residents of the Nralakk Federation, the government instead provides devices that allow for a text-to-speech form of speaking Nral’malic, to be used in tandem with the implant.

Originally created in 925 BCE out of an interest in preventing language drift and the difficulties of communication, the original Nralakk Federation enforced its widespread adoption after its full rise to power in 878 CE, and barred those unwilling to adopt it from travelling off-world as a consequence. These other languages were relegated to being primarily used in private and in the arts, though this usage eventually faded with time.

Skrell also utilize a wide range of sounds to communicate particular emotional reactions to stimuli, as well as to emphasize emotional associations. These generally range from squeals, croaks, warbles, chirps, and other sounds. Higher-pitched sounds are associated with positive or sudden emotions, such as happiness or being startled, while lower-pitched noises are associated with negative or neutral emotions, such as anger or hunger. Melodic noises such as crooning or trilling are more ambiguous, often used as an emphasizer towards a previously expressed emotion.

Nral'Balak is an unofficial language consisting of emotional displays, having developed in order to compensate for the lack of facial expressions present in skrell. While containing dozens of variations and personal intent, there are commonalities in Nral’Balak. Skrell who are upset or annoyed often puff their cheeks out, which some liken to the way frogs inflate their necks. Some skrell scrunch their headtails up, chirrup repeatedly, and narrow their eyes as a way of displaying upset or a willingness to fight. This is often likened to a threat display, being similar to behaviors present in ancient skrell. Many skrell will often tilt their head heavily to one side to show visible confusion, and often adopt the human method of nodding and shaking their heads to agree or disagree.

Skrell Slang

Titles and labels

These are names, titles and other terms used to address someone based on one or more of their characteristics.

• Tadpole - A young skrell, or someone who is juvenile. This is usually used to call someone childlike or sophomoric in their behavior.
• Brown Dwarf - A disappointment, or someone who fell short of their perceived abilities. This is usually used to call someone a disappointment or failure, and is a severe insult.
• Protostar - A young, ambitious individual, who has just started their career. Most graduates are labelled this often, but it can refer to any ambitious individual.
• Supernova - An individual that has begun to lose the interest of the public. Often used in headlines for an idol as "going supernova" to refer to their declining fame. This is sometimes used to describe someone having peaked in their career, and that they are going downhill.
• Voidbeckoned - Someone who is careless, reckless, or acting dangerously. This is used almost exclusively towards non-skrell who are seen as reckless and uneducated.
• Black Hole - A slang term for someone who is considered very stupid, in a field of low repute, or for someone perceived as worthless.
• Sparks - A slang term for non-skrell, due to their short lifespans. The term is not considered an insult, most using it in a positive, negative, or neutral manner.
• Elder - An older skrell, typically in their twilight years.
• Webfoot - A less explicit term for someone who uses Xu’xi gas. This derives itself from the odd, waddling stance many Xu'xi Gas users adopt while high.
• Gasrunner - Someone involved in the smuggling or sale of Xu’xi Gas. This is applied as either the job itself, or in the same way someone might refer to a dealer as a “plug”.

The labels below are used rather than PhD, MD, or other degree titles in Federation space. It is common to see them used by skrell abroad, either alongside or superseded by more known titles such as Doctor or Professor.

• Lu'vesi - Dropout - Lvs. - Void Graduate
• Aqm'vesi - 1 degree - Aqvs. - Junior Graduate
• Qro'vesi - 2 degrees - Qrvs. - Graduate
• Qu'vesi - 3 degrees - Quvs. - Star Graduate

Extranet Emoticons and Shorthands

With the extranet as a facet of daily life for most skrell, the online lexicon is extremely vast. These are usable in order to display expressions without resorting to using more human-like emotes.

• cccccc - A term similar to the human terms of “lol” or “lmao”, this is used as a shorthand for the series of chirps often done by skrell who are being stimulated by humor. A “chirp” is shortened to c, and the more c’s are used show stronger reactions. More rarely, some skrell adapt “lmao” into “cmto”, or “Chirping My Tail Off”.
• ###/Netting/Netted/=== - Used as a way of showing someone they have been caught purposefully trying to upset other users for entertainment, or to refer to someone being caught messing around. This is made in reference to fishing nets, which sometimes will catch other skrell by accident.
• S0_0S / |0_0| / <0_0> - These emoticons are used as a way to convey headtail positions in reaction to something, much like the human emoticons of “:)” or “>:(“. The S is to represent curled headtails, representing the curling of the headtails often used to convey excitement, while the vertical bar represents a more neutral response. The less than and greater then symbols, in contrast, represent the folded inwards expression that is usually reserved for being reserved, feeling insulted, or generally negative or withdrawn emotions. Sometimes shortened to simply “SS”/”||”/”<>”.

Insults and Crude Slang

Terms that are considered rude or otherwise impolite by skrell.

• Briny - A recent neologism created younger skrell, to refer to something as “briny” is to call something “crazy” or “bad”. The term derives itself from extremely salty water, which skrell have great difficulty and discomfort being submerged in due to the drying properties and being adapted to freshwater.
• Choppy/Chopped - An insult that refers to someone who is in a project, activity, or habit that is considered a waste of time or worthless. Often used by more rebellious Federation citizens towards government projects.
• Rogue Wave - A term that describes someone as acting dangerous or shady, likening them to subversive behavior. Most commonly used to describe Lyukal members, it also sometimes is used to call something disreputable or questionably obtained, or swept in by a rogue wave.
• Labber - An abbreviated term for sympathizers of Glorsh, shortened from the phrase "collaborator". It is an incredibly severe insult, and is usually used to refer to skrell who accept or tolerate synthetics.
• Senseless - A term used as an insult towards sophonts not outfitted with a psionic receiver, or as a more general insult towards those considered dull, or stupid.
• Orb - A common container used to transport Xu’xi Gas.
• Sqrug - A derogatory term for someone with a dependency on Xu’xi Gas, which has since expanded to other drugs as well. This term has seen a revival as an in-joke to rib each other between Gasriders and gas users.
• Gupkala/Guppies/Gup/Guppy - A mocking word for law enforcement within the Federation or abroad. The term “Guppy” is also referred to by skrell who see someone or something as gullible or an easy mark.
• Grotto - Originally used in Weishii to refer to a place of spiritual fulfillment and worship, it is also used to describe buildings where Xu’xi gas is usually used and sold in. These buildings are usually stereotyped as being run-down and abandoned.
• Piisz - A term used to refer to synthetic Xu’xi Gas, or generally in reference to Xu’xi Gas of questionable quality.
• Toady/Toad - An insult used to describe criminals, conmen, or generally disreputable skrell. Meant to imply that they give other skrell a bad name, particularly abroad.
• Coral Stem/Stem/Gillpress/Lunar Gasmasks/Whistles - A term used to refer to inhalers, specifically those full of Xu’Xi gas.
• Drylister - Refers to skrell (and very rarely, someone of another species) who has been born abroad that is suspected of being under Federation surveillance by the Ruupkala due to their actions. The drylist refers to the hypothetical list of persons-of-interests or dissenters that is rumored to be kept by the Ruupkala. The topic of the drylist is considered taboo by citizens.
• Tidal/Tided - Something being absurd or otherwise dangerous, or someone who is insane. The term originates from Progressive Low Tide Syndrome, or “Insanity of the Tide”.
• Chapped - Referring to chapped, or dry skin, used to insult someone's appearance. This can sometimes also be used to refer to non-skrell.


Sayings

• I've Tup'd - "I've won", or "I've peaked."
• I've been Tup'd - "I've lost", or “I’ve been outdone”.
• Wake up - To call out someone acting lazy or being unproductive.
• Algae - Used to say "all good", “alright”, or “doing well”.
• Mudvein - Used to describe withdrawal symptoms of Xu'Xi Gas, likened to the sensation of withdrawal feeling like having mud in their veins.
• Mudlover - A term to refer to someone who is consistently forming new habits with drugs, or someone who struggles to quit.
• Too moist - To accuse an individual of being too traditional or stuck in their ways, not adapting to modern culture.
• Too dry - To accuse someone of being too accepting or progressive. Usually used to refer to a skrell with radical opinions, or being accepting of AI
• Zipped - To be high on Xu’Xi Gas.
• The stars grow brighter - A term to refer to an individual dying.
• Steel-Rained - A term used to mean "being stonewalled", or simply being stuck. Derived from the multiple orbital installations that were deorbited when Glorsh-Omega’s period of reign ended.
• Stars and void - A general exclamation of surprise or frustration.
• Stars damned/Void damned - A general exclamation of anger, and can also be used in mild surprise, similar to the phrase "I'll be damned".
• Oh, stars/Oh, void - A saying of gentle exasperation. Akin to “Oh, god” or “Oh, geez”.
• Stars guide - a polite way of saying goodbye.
• Shelled/kelped - Something sold or wagered, which originates from the currency of the Nralakk Federation being made out of modified kelp, usually stamped with images of seashells.
• Ink-stained/Inky - A concept, object, or person that brings sadness or stress. Refers to the ink-black tear stains that surround a skrell's eyes as a result of stress.

Psionics

The Zona Bovinae is a particular region of the brain which exists in all sophonts originating from the Orion Spur, as well as nearly all living animals. Originally presumed to be a brain center for an obsolete form of communication by human scientists, the Zona Bovinae was catalogued during a dissection of a cow’s brain in 2256, which was later discovered to be present in humans and other social animals. Despite its prevalence, human researchers would ultimately consider it a vestigial region of the brain, having controlled a now obsolete action in ancient humans.

The Zona Bovinae’s purpose would only be revealed during first contact with humankind in 2332 with the skrell. Skrell have markedly more developed Zona Bovinae in their brains, which skrell linked to their ability to use psionics. Through an exotic method of neurological signaling and resonance of a still vaguely defined “metaphysical force”, skrell can focus their Zona Bovinae to communicate and interact with each other. Despite the lack of understanding on its finer abilities, skrell have since developed technology that utilizes psionics’ effects.

Despite most other species only possessing vestigial forms of Zona Bovinae, they are still capable of psionic interactions. Extensive, strong use of psionics on this form of the brain center can be overwhelming and destructive on the victim’s physical and mental health.

Telepathy

Telepathy, or active psionic communication with another party, is a common ability used by skrell in order to hold conversations with each other. While this ability requires a significant burst of focus, telepathy allows for skrell to send messages between each other, other sophonts, and most animals. Telepathic communication is a common way to have a private conversation in public. As long as both parties are not doing this to exclude someone from a conversation, it is not considered unusual to carry out full conversations in telepathic communion. Using telepathy to gossip, send secrets, or converse without others knowing is considered rude and excluding.

Outside of telepathy, most psionic interactions are regarded as socially unseemly. Emotional suggestions to other skrell without consent is of the same caliber as a human instigating conflict, and can result in an emotional barrage being exchanged between the two skrell. This sort of psionic dueling typically ends when one skrell loses their emotional composure and succumbs to the suggestions.

Use of telepathy to non-skrell is considered risky due to its potential effects, with the Nralakk Federation deeming nonconsensual telepathy a criminal offense, akin to battery or assault. Precautions and travel advisories expound on this risk to skrell traveling abroad or when working with non-skrell, with many skrell being unwilling to use telepathy on them entirely. Long-term exposure to telepathy and other direct psionic influence remains an obscure field, with skrell researchers being too empathetic to the volunteers' pain to see most experiments to their conclusion, though unsanctioned research remains common.

OOC Notes on telepathy

• Psionic Pinging a location in order to find synthetics, particularly those who are attempting to hide their identity as a synthetic, is considered poor taste. Doing this without prior suspicion is excessively paranoid, and immediately ousting them without prior interaction is poor play. If you do find a character doing this, interacting with them before immediately attempting to oust them is heavily preferred.
• Telepathy is versatile, and you can convey images, sounds, emotions, and sensations along with regular speech. Make sure to format your telepathic messages to make this apparent to the recipient, at minimum phrasing it to the effect of "You hear/see/feel X in your mind". While you can project emotions and sensations, this does not mean you can force someone to fully accept this implanted thought.
• Telepathically sending pain or the sensation of an injury to a character does not mean they can actually be hurt by it, nor would it cause any lasting effects.

Receivers and Listeners

Skrell are divided into two psionic categories based on their psionic aptitude and relationship with the Nlom, being either “Receivers” or “Listeners”. This difference is decided at birth, with the majority being Receivers at a ratio of 9:1, with no methods available to predict a newborn skrell’s type, nor modify it. Being seemingly at random, some skrell refer to this as the “Great Lottery”.

Receivers and Listeners primarily differ in their natural acclimation to the Nlom, with Receivers being inherently more willing to accept the Nlom’s influences, aiding them in adhering to the current norms of the society around them. Listeners, in contrast, feel much less influence from the Nlom’s consensus-based state, though this causes Listeners to be viewed with suspicion. Bias against Listeners are present in Federation society, with Receivers being the disproportionately dominant group in the government and upper-class. Despite this binary being commonly accepted, some skrell cannot easily classify themselves within one or the other, having felt their attunement to the Nlom fluctuate across their lives.

While most Listeners force themselves to integrate and adhere to the Nlom’s influence, others resist the social ostracization, surveillance, and prejudices held against them by Receivers. These groups agitate for the acceptance of Listeners in many ways, with some adopting radical concepts that call for a purposeful disconnection from the Nlom entirely. Psionic isolationism is considered an extremist opinion within the Nralakk Federation, with most moderate Listener groups renouncing it.

The Nlom

The Zona Bovinae creates a small range around them referred to a “thought field” consisting of passive emotions and thoughts, referred to as a “psionic wake”. Referred to as the “Nlom” in Nral’Malic, skrell naturally produce a large enough field on an individual level to influence their everyday lives.

The psionic wake of an individual is a constantly passive release of their current emotional state, as well as subconscious thoughts and biases. These ripple outward from them and interact with other skrell, affecting their thoughts and perspectives. Over time, these wakes will grow into a large area of influence in the area Skrell routinely inhabit, expanding its field of influence. These bubbles eventually encompass the entire planet as the skrell population increases, limited only by the atmosphere. Most planetary wake field bubbles cease upon contact with the vacuum of space, with the exact point of termination varying depending on total population, supporting psionic infrastructure, and environmental qualities.

Sleeping and The Srom

Skrell typically sleep for roughly one hour every twenty-four hours, and are capable of lapsing both in and out of sleep on command. Skrell who enter deep sleep will have their zona bovinae cease transmitting to the psionic wake, instead sending it towards a shared, oneiric state simply called the 'Srom', or Dream. The Srom connects skrell across a kilometers-wide range, allowing them to share collective experiences together in the dreamscape.

While the Srom’s dreamscape is malleable through concentrated effort, the ability to do so depends heavily on the skill and psionic aptitude of each individual. Only particularly psionically sensitive skrell with extensive practice in shaping dreamscapes can modify entire regions of the Srom, at the cost of being left exhausted upon waking up. Most skrell instead dedicate their focus on the more accessible ability to self-modify their appearances in the Srom, with wearing costumes to transfer them into the dream being common practice. All of these modifications are temporary, fading back into the Srom’s original state over time.

Social inhibitions fade away entirely in the Srom, making it difficult for those in it to keep secrets or stay reserved from others. Many skrell use the dreamscape in order to share ideas and collaborate, finding it much easier to think clearly without having their usual inhibitions stifling their thoughts. Self-isolation in the Srom is as simple as moving themselves away from others in the dreamscape, while completely removing themselves from it involves the use of aluminum to block their psionic signals from being transmitted entirely. Aluminum headphones, wall linings, and hats are commonly used to accomplish this.

Skrell who suffer from sleeping disorders are divided between oversleepers and undersleepers. Psionic Oversleepers are those who rely on the Srom as a method of escapism, or develop a dependency to the potential of lucid dreaming to the point of disrupting their daily life and being classified as an addiction. Oversleepers are typically characterized by being seen as recluses, social pariahs, or otherwise eccentric and lazy. Psionic Undersleepers, in contrast, are skrell who have withdrawn from the Srom for multiple reasons, being regarded as having withdrawn due to holding secrets or dangerous information to the point of depriving themselves of sleep.

Srom-capable devices are interfaces attached to machinery that is accessible from within the Srom, allowing skrell connected to the dream to work even while asleep. These interfaces allow work to continue even while asleep, seeing adoption by researchers and bluespace navigators. Srom-capable bluespace drives allow for teams of skrell pilots to coordinate their navigation in order to match the dedicated AI navigators used outside of the Nralakk Federation. Learning how to interface with these devices requires extensive training, and requires the operator to be completely isolated in an aluminium-plated room to focus and restrict access to non-operators.

Skrell Social Dynamics and Society

Stress and Personality Changes

Skrell generally have difficulty with holding short-term events with the same importance that other species do due to their longer lifespans and altered perception, with most consequences that affect less than a decade being seen as generally less consequential. This differing perspective allows for skrell to have a higher tolerance of waiting periods and short-term anxieties, though the opposite is true over long-term concerns and existential dread.

Stress accumulation affects skrell at a slower rate, with high stress being exhibited through the inky liquid leaking around their eyes, being perceived as similar to crying. Skrell experiencing extreme stress will usually have patches of stained skin around their eyes and faces, having built up to the point of affecting the skin color.

A skrell’s personality and emotions are notably impacted by the tidal cycles, being both attuned to the ocean and the moon’s influence on the tides. These influences express differently between individual skrell, with the new moon causing some skrell a deep sense of anxiety and unease, while others feel revitalized and energetic from the same phase. Any phenomena that can affect tidal forces are also felt in the skrell present, which requires a period of acclimation similar to moving to a new planet. Some skrell are reluctant to migrate because of this, with the planet’s moon(s) or lack thereof causing notable personality shifts.

Cohesion and Violence

Skrell are traditionally a group-oriented species, putting importance on unity both in and between groups above the differences between them. The Nlom causes the prevailing thoughts in a community—and across the Nralakk Federation in the modern day— to be the dominant influence, causing most skrell to subconsciously adhere to the majority. Detractors are typically Listeners, as well as those negatively affected by the current status quo. While skrell enclaves outside of the Nralakk Federation experience conflict and differing opinions, the use of Nlom relays across the Federation ensures that most citizens will keep to the common consensus of their peers.

During early skrell history, violent conflict was commonplace between different clans and between subspecies due to their differences. As skrell societies developed, violence became less culturally accepted, and conflict between opposing groups was not allowed to progress into physical altercations. Most violence during this period shifted towards small-scale, ritualised warfare throughout early-modern skrell history. After the end of the Synthetic Era, particularly after the Glorsh-Omega period, this stance changed as the fertility crisis of the modern day leaves most skrell with deep fears over the extinction of their species. This is most obvious in the collaborator trials, with the most severe punishment being forced interment into cryogenic stasis instead of execution or life imprisonment.

While conflict still occurs in skrell society, physical violence is considered unbecoming and beneath them. Instead, skrell have turned to nonviolent conflict through debate or social pressure between opposing groups. One method, known as a “Unity Demonstration", consists of a group of skrell arriving to socially pressure and intimidate another group to coerce them into submission. Despite this, violence still exists between skrell, typically damaging property and infrastructure as a common tactic, particularly by criminal organizations and the Lyukal. The threat of violence or serious injury is typically the limit for most, but many skrell can still be pushed to violence if forced to defend themselves.

Violence between skrell and other species is viewed in a different light, with the same sentiment that all life is precious being shared by less skrell. Other skrell consider other species to be lesser, and are much more willing to fight them should the need come to pass. Despite this, most skrell are aware of their physical limits as a species, and outside of groups like the Suur'ka and those influenced by primarily non-skrell communities, physical conflict should be avoided.

Social Mannerisms

Most skrell do not hold eye-contact as important during conversations between each other, and don’t mind the other party facing elsewhere or focusing on a task while speaking with them. This changes among non-skrell who consider this behavior rude and lack the ability to tell what they are looking at with the lack of visible pupils, where they will instead make a point to turn their faces to look directly at whoever they are speaking to in order to display their focus on them. In contrast, skrell are very physical among their peers, and will often embrace, hug, or be otherwise physically affectionate between each other in a way that most non-skrell would consider romantically charged. Personal space is not held as particularly important, with coworkers and acquaintances readily entering close contact without much thought on the action.

Skrell display intimacy with one another primarily through physical contact, with the act of touching the heads and headtails reserved for their close friends or partners. Gestures are also commonly used, with the gesture of touching their forehead and gesturing towards another party is similar to blowing a kiss. Some verbal displays of affection include comparing or nicknaming someone to a named star, with naming an unnamed star after them being a common practice among astronomers throughout history.

Less physically intimate gestures, like those between close friends, involve nudging or prodding them with a headtail, similar to how a human can playfully nudge or gently punch a friend in the arm. Tails are usually the subject of playful rudeness between skrell, usually being pulled on or used to gently hit their friends as a form of roughhousing, though this is considered immature in public.

While skrell can face discrimination and are often the subject of speciesist insults, responding to these in turn with insults of their own is considered improper. Losing face through these confrontations would be interpreted as a sign of being overly-confrontational or a sign of poor demeanor, negatively affecting their reputation significantly if done in public.

A government-provided informational guide depicting typical gestures used by skrell.

Gender

See also: Skrell Relationships

Skrell, due to lacking any form of sexual dimorphism, being simultaneous hermaphrodites, and common consensus across their multiple developed cultures, do not have a concept of gender. While gender identity remains virtually irrelevant in Federation society, skrell who interact often with other cultures that do have socially important notions of gender will sometimes adopt an identity out of simple interest or a desire to be more socially cohesive with who they are interacting with. This decision is given only as much weight as the individual skrell attributes to it, and choosing out of simple whimsy is equally as common as seriously studying and considering who they align the most with.

For the purposes of procreation, skrell utilize a simple form of assigning who is siring and carrying the eggs that will become their progeny. These terms are F'ex'Qa, or Egg-Layers, and F'ex'Tra, or Egg-Fertilizers. These terms are impermanent, and most skrell will alternate multiple times in their relationships between their partners.

Emotional Displays

Skrell lack the necessary muscle structures within their faces to perform noticeable facial expressions, leading others to believe skrell are emotionless or stoic. This perception is in contrast with the reality of skrell being very emotional and commonly use emotional displays through body language, vocal tones, word choice, among others.

Physical reactions to strong emotions are a key part of skrell emotional displays, which acts as a “tell” for which emotion is being felt through its physical reactions, which uses sensations like pain and warmth. Emotional pain will quickly become physical pain for skrell, with a link in this phenomenon being linked to their developed zona bovinae.

Due to most other sophont species’ limited hearing range, the tonal ranges skrell use for expression are lost when communicating with non-skrell. Skrell have a very difficult time expressing themselves to non-skrell for this reason, particularly as Nral’malic utilizes these tones to explicitly dictate emotional intent and expression. In contrast, skrell who communicate with each other in their shared language alongside the Nlom casting their emotions engage in near-seamless communication between each other, almost able to predict each other’s thoughts.

To adapt to the physical language barrier between other species, the gesture and tone-based language of Nral’Balak was made in an attempt to bridge the gap. Nral’Balak utilizes a combination of body language, gestures, and vocal cues to indicate emotional states and needs. While providing a standard for conveying emotions to non-skrell, it exists primarily as a guide for skrell to adapt to conversing in their own way, meaning most messages are context-based. A skrell crooning can either be from fear when being placed in danger, or from disappointment from not enjoying a meal. Typically, non-verbal sounds have a tonal indicator, with a high pitch indicating happiness or high energy emotions, while a lower pitch indicates sadness, distress or low energy emotions. Physical gestures also require context clues, with a tilt of the head capable of meaning confusion at a statement, or as a show of interest or curiosity to something shown to them.

Humour

The concept of humour between skrell is completely different to what other species consider humourous, with a majority of amusement or comedic value for skrell being solely a reaction to the unexpected. The sensation of finding something comedic or entertaining is also felt differently, producing a mild pain akin to the tingling sensation after eating spicy food, a sudden weakness in the muscles, or an itch on the roof of the mouth in severity. Humor as a whole manifests as a “fuzzy” feeling within a skrell’s head, which can rise with the severity of entertainment to the point of causing dizziness or disorientation. Outwardly, skrell primarily react vocally through a series of chirps and chirrups not dissimilar to a laugh, typically accompanied with repetitive headtail or hand gestures.

The feeling of amusement is enjoyed by most skrell, particularly by younger skrell, while others may find it as patronizing or insulting due to it being derived from the assumption that they would not have seen the joke coming. Older skrell find very few things humorous from their long life of experiences, and will usually remain unsurprised. In formal settings, it is considered impolite to tell even a mild joke in the wrong context, with a joke as a slight towards the guest of honour being seen as more acceptable, rather than doing so while dining at a restaurant with your extended family.

While most other species’ humour relies on words, wordplay, or stories with punchlines to be effective, skrell humor relies primarily on visual humor. Skrell humour is considered very literal as a reaction to the unexpected, with most jokes relying on the unexpected to be funny. Compared to a human joke, a skrell joke relies less on a punchline, and more on the setup, with absurdity taking priority. Due to this, most skrell find verbal jokes unfunny or taken incorrectly, with describing a scenario being taken completely differently in comparison to actually viewing it. As a consequence of how skrell humour functions, skrell fear reactions are the same as laughing. A skrell may chirrup or chirp in response to being startled, much like nervous laughter, and is generally unpleasant. Despite the differences in senses of humour, skrell can develop an appreciation for the humour of other species. While not find a human joke amusing, skrell will instead find it clever or and be able to identify why the joke is considered funny. Most puns will be seen as wordplay, and usually explained back to the speaker, though this isn’t taken well.

Many skrell who undergo training or treatment to repress their fear responses, typically for work in dangerous fields or as an enforcer, will equally suppress their senses of humour. While these emotions are tied between each other, most skrell who lose their sense of humour will find it very difficult to regain it afterwards.

Happiness is very easy to visually tell from skrell emotional displays. Skrell will use a varied mixture of headbobbing, shrills, and positioning of their headtails to convey their joy, with the curling their headtails and warbling in higher pitch being most common. Skrell struggle to contain their joy, resulting in such often spilling over into the rest of their body and repetitive motions (such as rapidly blinking or flapping their hands) as an obvious sign of happiness.

Sadness is a much more difficult to identify emotion, and is one of the harder emotions to convey for skrell that other species can understand. Emotional pain quickly surpasses the threshold to cause physical pain for skrell, which can sometimes become debilitating when suffering from sufficiently overwhelming misery. Physically, sadness is displayed through quiet, low chirps shifting the headtails to hide the neck, fidgeting and rubbing of the headtails and fingers, as well as facing away from others compulsively.

Both confusion and fear are easy to spot emotions for skrell. Confusion compulsively makes skrell emit a mix of high and low pitched warbles and croaks, along with the continuous shifting of their head side to side. This behavior helps skrell process audible information from someone speaking, or when noises in the dark. Skrell will also feel the need to cover their neck with their headtails, tucking their arms inwards and widening their eyes to protect the vital organs to ensure their survival as a flight response.

Politics and Factions

The Nralakk Federation

The flag of the Nralakk Federation.

The Nralakk Federation is the sole skrell political entity within the Orion Spur. The Nralakk Federation's history traces back to its original founding in 878 CE, having formed in response to independence movements across skrell space colonies. The Federation was dismantled following the rise of Glorsh-Omega, then reestablished as the Second Nralakk Federation following the reunification of the species afterwards.

While the Nralakk Federation is primarily a meritocratic state, Federation society is heavily stratified based on the Social Compatibility Index system, which scores individuals based on how closely they follow the ideals and maintain the social cohesion of the nation. Low-scoring individuals experience social ostracization and restriction of their rights, while high-scoring individuals are elevated as celebrities and pillars of the society. This social stratification causes skrell pushed outside of the system to rebel against it in the form of illegal organizations and non-conformist movements, who work to dismantle the system, or towards reforming the nation entirely.

The Lyukal

The Lyukal is a decentralised resistance movement that aims to dismantle the dominance the Nralakk Federation has over the species. Named after the resistance movement that acted against Glorsh-Omega originally, Lyukal cells work independently to achieve their objectives, ranging from non-violent demonstrations, to acts of terror and attacks against military installations.

Marauders

The Marauders are a broad term for pirates, smugglers, and other criminals who operate within the Traverse. Despite sharing a term, each group typically operates independently from each other, from pirate groups that plunder resources to extort higher prices from their original recipients, to collectivized groups that intend to aid colonies in the Traverse to lessen their dependence on the federal core. While a loose group, the Ti'Rakqi is the largest and most notable Marauder group active in the Traverse, consisting of multiple fleets of Marauders that work in tandem for mutual benefit.

Interspecies Relations

Skrell generally hold themselves above the other sophonts of the Orion Spur, being technologically advanced and self-titling themselves as being enlightened and scientific. Skrell society self-considers itself to be refined and above the trappings of violence and ignorance that other societies suffer from, culminating in many skrell seeing themselves as caretakers, wards, and mentors for the younger, lesser species. This manifests in many different ways on an individual level, but is readily apparent in the Nralakk Federation's international relations and foreign policy. The Federation has maintained its position as a technological giant, and is unwilling to release many of the technological advancements to other nations. Any research shared is done through releasing technology that they perceive has no potential for misuse, and only to those deemed responsible enough to receive it. Politically, the Federation has historically maintained its isolationist position until recently, and is still in the beginning phase of involving itself in Spur-wide politics.

On an individual level, skrell experience a wider general acceptance from other species tolerance when abroad, with a few exceptions. Humanity as a whole tolerates skrell, with the Solarian Alliance in particular maintaining close ties due to their relationship with the Nralakk Federation. General xenophobia persists, but skrell are tolerated more than other species within Solarian space, differing only by region. Skrell are more tolerated on planets where they have a large presence such as Europa, Silversun, Venus, and within the richer areas of Solarian space. The Nralakk Federation's relationship with the Solarian Alliance means that many who are anti-Solarian may also be anti-Federation and anti-skrell, such as the Coalition of Colonies. Other species, like unathi, have a tense relationship with skrell due to their involvement in first contact with humankind. Some unathi maintain a level of animosity towards skrell due to the events of the Contact War, though Ouerea have embraced skrell in their shared fight for democracy on the planet.

Vaurca, specifically those from the C'thur hive, are generally well-accepted by skrell. Their contributions to the Nralakk Federation have quickly secured their place as respected members of Federation society. However, Hive C'thur's use of Viax and Cephalons are considered too close to the use of artificial intelligence among some skrell, with the hive’s loyalty to the Federation also called into question after C'thur was granted strategic positions within the nation’s political and military spheres.

Diona were the first species encountered and integrated by the Nralakk Federation, with their assistance in rebuilding the nation post-Synthetic Era cementing the bond between the two species. Dionae are respected on both a societal and individual level, being integrated into most levels of Federation society, and the rights they have received in comparison to the rest of the Spur remains proof of their position.

Skrell Outside the Federation

A vast majority of skrell live and are primarily born in Nralakk Federation, with those skrell living outside of the nation being a small, but notable, minority. In the Radiant Era, skrell born outside of Federation space were noted on human worlds with significant skrell presence, notably Mictlan, New Gibson, and other planets. These children still enjoy Federation citizenship by birthright as skrell, as the Federation considers all skrell as citizens, while also preserving their citizenship within the nation of their birth. Skrell born in the Republic of Biesel are protected from deportation or other legal actions by the Nralakk Federation, which also extends to skrell who have enlisted in the Tau Ceti Foreign Legion.

Slimes

Slimes appeared in the aftermath of the Tri-Qyu incident, of which they are living anomalies in the aftermath of what is hypothesized to be a bluespace anomaly. These slimes will manifest wherever large amounts of bluespace transit and bluespace interactions occur. These lifeforms remain a topic of controversy and debate in the scientific community of the Nralakk Federation, with massive efforts are made to contain and research slimes across the Orion Spur. The Federation extends this effort towards non-allies to ensure slimes cause no harm, though the Federation’s presence alongside slimes are the source of many conspiracy theories. Moral quandaries around the treatment, specifications, and ethical handling of slimes continue to this day, with some skrell viewing them as remnants of those that died in the rebellion, while others call them bioweapons leftover by Glorsh-Omega.

The Nralakk Federation outlaws the smuggling of slimes to other nations, and requires effective culling to ensure research can continue without slimes escaping beyond laboratory environments. Slime research facilities in the Federation are equipped with state of the art control systems to ensure slimes do not escape containment, and most slime facilities are located underwater to take advantage of the slimes’ natural water and cold intolerance.

Playing Skrell

Rulings

Jobhopping is not allowed. While skrell are long-lived and typically obtain multiple degrees, adherence to the server rules on jobhopping is mandatory.

Playing as a Glorsh collaborator/synthetic sympathiser, resistance member, Marauder/ex-Marauder, or Federation loyalist/spy is allowed, but these backstories can result in your character being caught and made unplayable. Consulars are allowed to report non-conformist and dissident activity of Federation citizens to the lore team, but players are not allowed to lie or gather this information OOCly. Character removal is a serious event, and attempting to misuse this progress is a violation of server rules.

The Nralakk Federation considers all skrell to be de jure citizens, regardless of origin. In reality, those born outside of the Federation do not have full citizenship, and must apply before they can receive the benefits and adhere to Federation laws. Some nations have official policies and agreements with the Nralakk Federation that allow their citizens to be deported for any reason, while others have agreements that protect Federation citizens who wish to claim asylum. Most nations will protect those who are their citizens, but as a rule, if your character officially has Federation citizenship, they are at risk of being deported if the Federation orders it necessary. Characters can claim asylum within the Republic of Biesel with ease, which can be done through joining the Tau Ceti Foreign Legion. Other asylum claims need to be discussed with the relevant lore team.

Thoughts and Behaviours

While skrell as a whole are generally communal and embrace conformity, this does not mean that all skrell hold the same beliefs. While skrell can be split between Listeners and Receivers, where Listeners are less susceptible to the Nlom’s consensus and Receivers are more susceptible, this does not completely override the individual character’s personalities and experiences. The consensus reached through the Nlom can only influence a skrell's thoughts to an extent. For example, while a majority of skrell agree that artificial intelligence is dangerous, more specific views of its use differ on an individual level. The debate on Cephalons and Viax being used by the C'thur is contested, with a majority believing that they are too close to artificial intelligence, but it is not the singular opinion of the entire species. In the Traverse, where the consensus from the Nlom is fed through the federal core worlds through Nlom Relays, these have begun to fall into disrepair in light of the Phoron Scarcity, and before that point faced more contested opinions with many skrell in the Traverse. Skrell on the frontier live in the reality of their circumstances of neglect from the Nralakk Federation, and thus hold more skeptical or outright anti-Federation sentiments.

When playing a skrell character, the factors of their life do influence their thoughts. If your character is a Secondary Numerical from the Inner Systems, they have been exposed to the Nralakk Federation’s care, propaganda, and Nlom consensus their entire life, and would not personally experience oppression at the hands of the nation. This character would then be more inclined to agree with the group consensus reached through the Nlom, regardless of their Listener or Receiver status. When faced with evidence that the Federation's actions are wrong, however, Listeners may be quicker to change their attitude than Receivers due to their relationship with the Nlom.

Skrell behave very differently compared to other species. They are long-lived, and are prone to thinking more in the long-term than the short-term. This can manifest in many ways, and players are not expected to be constantly thinking ahead. Generally speaking, skrell characters would act in a way that sacrifices short-term benefits in favour of long-term ones. Skrell also do not show emotion in the same way that other species do, as reflected on the entries regarding their emotional displays on this page. These mannerisms can differ, and a skrell born abroad in human space would adopt more human displays and ways of expressing their emotions. When roleplaying your character's emotions, it should be done in ways that would be less obvious to non-skrell who haven’t interacted with many skrell before.