Species for my setting.

[SilvercatMoonpaw]

Here are the sentient species I've done so far for my Pawprints setting.  I realize that other than the Heyaafoura they aren't particularly interesting, but I think that's because the more interesting/detailed I make a race the less I feel i can do with it afterwards.

Of course the truth is that I have almost no intention of creating something further than what would essentially be a CGI creation with human voice-acting.  My intent in making species is to create beings that, to varying degrees, don't at first seem similar but in fact upon closer examination are basically the same (at least mentally).

Species:

Notes: Panian: Essentially means the same thing as our word "humanoid", except it isn't based upon referring to one species and thus is not considered specist.  When referring to human-like head/facial features the word hominid is used.
On hybrids: Hybrids between species happen.  Unfortunately the relative chances of success are difficult to predict, even disregarding the influence of ah'rem powers.

Tek: Perhaps one of the most fascinating, if not the most common, sentient species of Out-there, the uniqueness of the tek lies not in appearance or special abilities but in a peculiar genetic lefover.  During gestation a tek's genome regarding their outer appearance mutates and rearranges itself constantly, shut down only by the presence of a certain hormone.  From then on a tek's appearance remains stable, only affected by normal aging hormones.
This gestation-form-shifting means that there is no one tek look, thought they are all panians.  Tek can most often be said to resemble other creatures: feline, canine, equine, lapine, and rodent are a few of the possibilities.  Mammalian tends to be the most common, however.  Coloration varies widely, too, from muted to bright tones and in many kinds of patterns.  Extra features such as additional tails or wings are uncommon but not rare.  Tek hybridize easily with many other panian species, though because non-tech genes are not as readily malliable the resulting offspring will still resemble the non-tek parent as usual for that species, and in fact their form will be mostly from that parent.
Because of this lack if inherited form tek societies do not usually carry many of the notions more stable species develop: bloodline and blood power, racial groupings and prejudice, and partner choice and family make-up.  Tek are known throughout Out-there as a generally tolerant and accepting species, and they are often called upon to make first contact with a new culture.

Koryuu: A small species descended from rodent-hunting predators Koryuu are a hardy and adaptable race.  Their bodies are well equipped to survive in extreme environments, hot, cold, arid, and even a semi-aquatic existence.  Their digestive systems are especially tough, allowing them to eat foods that would sicken or kill other beings.  Their eyes can see into the infrared spectrum and their hearing is quite accute, allowing them to operate relatively well in conditions of no light.  But their two most important traits are their multi-pedal lifestyle: they can switch between quadrapedal and bipedal modes without trouble.
A koyruu's head is somewhat feline with a short muzzle and large eyes, though more streamlined in that the muzzle widens toward the back and smoothly joins the cheek area.  The ears are long and narrow, almost lapine, and come to points.  The body and legs are more canine, though the legs look powerful.  The tails are not long in relation to body length, and are usually covered in fur.  Coloration is often various patterns of blue-black mixed with orange, red, and/or gold, though solid coloration of those latter three as well as blue hues are known.  Eyes are mostly dark colors, red and purple being common.

Sonata: The supposed ancestors of the tek, the sonata were shapeshifters who could supposedly alter not only their outer appearance but their entire body structure and mass.  Unfortunately all of what is known about them comes from legends: they are considered to have been extinct for thousands of years at least.  Some individuals have appeared claimed to be one of them, but invariably they turn out to be mutant tek throwbacks.

Heyaafoura: A very unique species resembling mantid insects, heyaafoura are not in fact biological organisms.  Though their bodies mimic biological functions there non-bio nature can be seen in their ability to upgrade via modular parts.
The basic form of a heyaafoura is a nearly rectangular semi-chitonous torso, with appendages at each corner and one pair in the middle.  The legs each have two normal joints and one "wrist" joint, plus a "hand" with an average of six finger-like claws.  Their heads are triangular with the point toward the jawed mouth and large eyes at the other points.  They do not possess any form of antenna.
All other aspects of heyaafoura appearance depend upon what parts they have on their bodies: they can be large and hulking or smaller and thin; they may utilize four of their appendages as legs or only two; color can vary, but is usually either a sandy gold or dark blue-grey.  The parts are easy to deal with: the heyaafoura enters a "trance"  and then can just tug out a part and place in a new one.  The only limitation to this procedure is that the brain of the individual is unreplaceable.
Heyaafoura reproduction is surprisingly simple method given their "biology": each mating individual, and there can be more than one, produces a "seed part" which can then be attached together and grow into a new heyaafoura.

[Scholar]

soo... what do you want us to comment on? :) that's a moderate number of furry races plus one android, all of which live for a very long time. this most likely leads to stable, nonviolent civilisations. right?

[SilvercatMoonpaw]

:) that's a moderate number of furry races plus one android, all of which live for a very long time. this most likely leads to stable, nonviolent civilisations. right?

Well I do prefer stable, non-violent civilizations.

soo... what do you want us to comment on?

Yeah, I realize there really isn't anything here.  But I had to take a shot just in case.

EDIT: Also comments along the lines of "these species are just a bunch of costumes and you're only taking Star Trek one step further" or anything else help because they focus my thoughts.

[Scholar]

Well I do prefer stable, non-violent civilizations.

so do I. I resent having my head bashed in for whatever stupid reason. but if you want to generate stories, you need some sort of conflict. "bring me eight yellow flowers" is a quest that only works in WoW. unless they are very rare flowers that only grow in a dragon's cave. ;)

EDIT: Also comments along the lines of "these species are just a bunch of costumes and you're only taking Star Trek one step further" or anything else help because they focus my thoughts.

if it is focusing you want, here's some good advice: start with a statement of intent. just four or five sentences that tell us, the readers, what this is all about and where you're going with it. That gives us a nice frame of reference to compare your actual detail work to. :)

[SilvercatMoonpaw]

if it is focusing you want, here's some good advice: start with a statement of intent. just four or five sentences that tell us, the readers, what this is all about and where you're going with it. That gives us a nice frame of reference to compare your actual detail work to. :)

Yes!  This is exactly the kind of comment I need.  :ontopic: