RyverStyx: Sandbox2

Skrell Ethnicities

Since diverging from a shared ancestor known as the "Proto-Skrell" approximately ten million years ago, the Skrell are divided mainly into three ethnic groups: Axiori (Aquatics), Xiialt (Coastals), and Xiiori (Hybrids). The variations between the two are due to adaptations to better fit their environment, while interbreeding maintained genetic diversity in both groups.

For information on how Skrell subspecies view each other outside of the Nralakk Federation see Starlight Zone.

A depiction of the three different Skrell subspecies. Those who had prominent Axiori/Xiiori/Xiialt ancestors will have facial structures resembling those above. It is possible for Xiialt to look like Axiori, and vice versa, depending on ancestry. Art by Låmp Inspector #5516

Axiori

Axiori, which can be approximately translated to “aquatics” or “ocean-dwellers”, are notably better adapted to survive within the depths of the Homeworld’s seas. Typically sporting much more pronounced webbings for faster swimming, as well as larger and more monocular eyes to better perceive their environment. They also tend to posses longer tails that are more fish-like in nature. These tails act as a rudder; making them capable of changing direction at high speeds when underwater. The high-pressure environments in which they thrived and evolved have also resulted in a lower metabolic rate for the ethnicity, resulting in easier fat accrual.

Axiori, on average, tend to have far more raw psionic potential when compared to the Xiialt. Many studies that have dived into the topic in an attempt to answer why this occurs, suggest that is due to increased psionic usage and repeated interbreeding further strengthened these natural capabilities. Axiori also tend to have much darker skin tones, a trait believed to have helped them camouflage within the dark, deep depths of the Homeworld’s oceans many millennia ago.

After the Ranaera Skrellis split into Axioris Ranaera the Axiori lived in a relative primitive age for much longer than the Xiialt. While metallurgy was discovered by the Xiialt around the year ~12000 BCE the Axiori lagged behind due to their lack of fire. This caused true metal production to lag far behind for the Axiori; starting when information between the two subspecies was shared around ~10000 BCE due to Xiialt and Axiori coming back into contact. This relationship stays consistent today with many technological advancements being done above-water leading Axiori culture to emphasize traditional labor over research. Because of this lag in development the Axiori grew closer familial bonds than that of the Xiialt and communities of Axiori feel closer knit even to this day.

For prominent Axiori cities and settlements see Qerr'wesi, Eriuyushi, and Xy'laxi.

Xiialt

Xiialt can be approximately translated to “coastals” or “land-dwellers”. These Skrell are the biological cousins of the Axiori. They tend to be somewhat short, but the stout nature of the Xiialt helped them traverse the rough nature of their biome with bipedal movement. Due to this, their feet are somewhat bigger than those of an Axiori and their leg muscles are more defined. It is theorized that this helped early Xiialt outrun predators on land. Xiialt also tend to be much leaner; this is due to their slightly higher metabolic rate due to the abundant presence of food on the surface. While Xiialt are better adapted to live on land they are still able to breathe and see underwater; however, their swimming is not as agile. Those of Xiialt ancestry are more likely to not have a tail at all; however, if they do posses one- it is often short and resembles that of a turtle.

Xiialt, on average, tend to have far less raw psionic potential when compared to the Axiori. It is theorized that the early population boom played a role in this. For instance, Xiialt societies were dense and well populated. This helped to ward off predators but it also staved natural selection and resulted in the ethnicity’s lower psionic potential. Continued interbreeding within the ethnicity resulted in lowered psionic potential and has led to stark differences between the subspecies.

After the Ranaera Skrellis split into Xiialtus Ranaera the Xiialt advanced technologically at a much faster rate than the Axiori. Quickly discovering metallurgy around the year ~12000 BCE and advancing their research, the Xiialt were often far ahead the Axiori in terms of development. As a consequence, Xiialt occupy a large portion of the Federation's research and science society; however, this does not mean they are necessarily smarter. The different cultural shifts experienced at the beginning of the Ranaera Skrellis offshoot allowed Xiialt culture to place more emphasis on scientific curiosity than that of the Axiori. Due to this cultural divide the Xiialt often value their workplace bonds higher than that of their familial bonds; however, both are still important.

Xiiori

Xiiori can be approximately translated to “hybrids”. These Skrell are the off-spring of a Xiialt and an Axiori (and in some cases a Xiiori and a Xiialt/Axiori). Xiiori genes typically tend to lean more towards their Axiori ancestry. This is due to most Axiori genes being dominant; therefore, Xiiori have more psionic potential than Xiialt but less than pure-blooded Axioris. Typically, a Xiiori will look like a 60/40 split when it comes to their Axiori and Xiialt parents. There is little to no discrimination towards Xiiori from either Axiori or Xiialt; however, Xiiori are at a greater risk for many of the disorders that plague Skrell (often having at least one). Xiiori will most likely have a tail (unless they are the off-spring of a Xiiori and a Xiialt). Those with mixed ancestry will often have a fringed tail resembling an axolotl's.

NOTE: When playing a Xiiori you must pick the subspecies and tails that most closely resembles your character. You may also denote that your character is a Xiiori in your medical records and/or flavor text; however, this is not necessary if your character has a proper mix of body markings and tails.

Hybridization

While most Skrell originally mated within their own ethnicities, as society evolved it became increasingly common to interbreed. This resulted in the designation of a new group known as the Xiiori (Hybrid), a combination of its parent ethnicities. Due to the X'Lu'oa, however, a growing portion of newborn Skrell are Xiiori, which has all but ensured the slow decline of the other ethnicities as their DNA becomes more blurred in the face of the X'Lu'oa crisis.

Colours and Markings

Body colour is divided along species lines, with Axiori taking the darker colours and Xiialt taking the brighter colours; Axiori can naturally have dark shades of purple, red, brown or blue, while Xiialt will have lighter shades of yellow, green, blue, or red. The distinction also extends to body markings, with Axiori having simpler markings in comparison to Xiialt. Xiiori, just like with other physical attributes, will take after both their Axiori and Xiialt parents, with the Axiori genes being more dominant. The offspring of a red Axiori with dot markings and a blue Xiialt with splotches could create a purple-coloured Xiiori - with the markings being either a mix of both or just one. There is enough variance in both subspecies for outliers in natural body colour existing without being Xiiori, although modern-day spa treatments and the species' societal views make this an unremarkable phenomenon.

Diet can influence colouration, but cannot change a Skrell's colour entirely. The process can take a few years for any observable changes or it can be sped up by eating high quantities of food with the desired pigment, reducing the time from a few years to only a year. Through diet, a Skrell can change the shade of their skin to be lighter or darker depending on what they have been eating, but the most observable change is in the stomach region and any markings; bright yellow spots may turn brown over time if a Skrell only eats food containing dark pigments, or the abdomen could change from white to orange if their diet contains a lot of orange pigments.

Spas are common enough both within and outside the Federation that unless finding themselves deep within the frontiers of space, Skrell are able to change how they look without being beholden to what was once unique to their subspecies; Spa treatments allow for any combination of colour or pattern and are neither especially promoted nor frowned upon by Skrell. This cosmetic genetic modification allows for Axiori to sport bright, vibrant colours and Xiialt to have deep, rich colours, or staying with their natural colouration. Spa treatments are permanent and can be passed onto offspring, while changes caused by diet will not carry onto offspring. Skrell are also known to use spa treatments to give themselves some form of advantage, in the same vein as animals evolving to better suit their environment; Aliose and New Gibson are notable examples of this, as Skrell hailing from both are known to undergo spa treatments that give them pale, opaque skin to further insulate themselves from the cold.

Examples of Skrell natural colours, along with an example of a Skrell who has had spa treatments

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  Axiori with green colouration.
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  Axiori with red colouration.
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  Xiialt with blue colouration.
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  Xiialt with yellow colouration.
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  Xiiori Skrell with purple colouration.
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  A Xiialt Skrell after spa treatment.

History

Largely considered lost to the ravages of time, it is only through archaeological evidence excavated from numerous locations across Qerrbalak that the Skrell are able to gather even minuscule amounts of factual information. Through a combination of both archaeological excavations, and a bit of oral history passed through the generations, it is believed that Ranaera Skrellis (the first Skrell) diverged from a primarily sea-dwelling creature. It is at some point in the development of the Ranaera Skrellis that specific circumstances tailored the evolutionary path of the species to begin developing the ability to use psionics; mostly as a method of continued survival.

Ranaera Skrellis really only expanded onto the surface of Qerrbalak after several extinction events that proved to be in skrellian favor. It was here that the Ranaera Skrellis split into Axioris Ranaera and Xiialtus Ranaera. Whilst viewed upon as ethnicities in the modern-day, they are both in fact subspecies of the Ranaera Skrellis that developed separately to live either primarily within the shallows and depths or along the coasts and dryer regions of the Homeworld.

Axiori typically have a higher number of psionically adept individuals compared to the Xiialt, while psionic receptivity doesn't appear to have any correlation with ethnicity.

Psionic Differences

While both have a similar range of intellectual ability, the Axiori tend to have a higher number of psionic prodigies than their counterparts. It is theorised that this occurs due to genes passed down from the Proto-Skrell, which are significantly more common in the Axiori (recorded to have interbred with the Proto-Skrell until their eventual extinction) than the Xiialt. The discovery, pioneered by Psionic Analysis professor Yleshir Zrose, was titled the Zrose Graph. They conducted numerous inquiries into the psionic inclinations of both ethnicities during the modernisation of Skrell culture in the early 2300s BCE.

The Zrose Graph is typically used as a visual representation of a Skrell's psionic ability - usually displayed after a Skrell has undergone a Psionic Capability Test where Skrell are tested on their psionic receptiveness by highly trained Skrell known as Nlom'Qalq, roughly translated into Tau Ceti Basic as Wake Examiner. High-scoring individuals are pursued, oftentimes rather doggedly, by Federation officials and pressured into taking opportunities relating to either the Starkeepers or Sromkala. Those who refuse and fail to find an alternate path fast enough may soon find other doors to be closed to them—and the Federation is more than happy to extend a hand to such individuals, placing them in a role where their talent would not go unappreciated.