Sarran
 "Angels" |
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Sarran |
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| Pronunciation: | SAHR-run |
| Homeworld: | Ecirron |
The Sarran, sometimes pluralized "Sarrans," are an elegant but aloof species of Natives, considered one of the primary four Native species of Nova Refuge. Humans consider them to be the most human-like physically of the Natives, but Sarran have numerous biological differences with Humanity themselves.
History
The Sarran discovered Starlight gas long before Humans, using starlight-powered starships to travel between planets for possibly more than a thousand years. Sarran are known to travel in very spacious ships to accommodate their wings, as well as their rumored claustrophobia, and decorated in beautiful ornamentation. However, Sarran scarcely speak of their own history or their homeworld of Ecirron, especially to Humans, and such places are off-limits to anyone outside the High Council of Harmony. Presently, it is known that the Sarran harbor great hatred for the Mahlok and Helexith, which is almost certainly related to Sarran history.
Society
To other species, Sarran often come across as cold an emotionless, but this is largely a side-effect of their psionics. Emotions are easily read among the Sarran without the need for physical or verbal expression, so they rarely communicate through voice or facial expressions, their emotions toned down to levels all but undetectable to other species. In terms of society, the Sarran are female-domnant, as women are judged as having greater wisdom and judgment and a stronger spirit. Women nearly always occupy higher political and religious positions than men. However, Sarran always marry for life and bear very strong psychological and spiritual connections; the woman never belittles her husband. Sarran culture is known to be vast and intricate, putting great emphasis on freedom as well as the ability to fly, as Sarran nearly always make their homes in tall mountaintops in the coldest environments on any planet. However, Sarran are also known to create methods through which flight-impaired Sarran can reach these cities or else create special communities for them. Despite this, it is still considered degrading for a Sarran to touch ground at sea level unless absolutely necessary.
Religion
The Sarran are highly religious, but they keep the tenents and details of their religion to themselves, leaving it largely a mystery. Humans are aware, however, that Sarran believe in a unifying deity called Afaelya, through which all things are connected. Afaelya is seen as a deity as well as a spiritual force through which the Sarran have been gifted their psionic abilities.
Biology
At first glance, a Sarran may appear to be nothing other than a tall, attractive Human with large, bird-like wings. Most Sarran are around six feet tall, though female Sarran are shorter. Nearly all Sarran have very light, pale skin, most of a pink hue like a fair-skinned Human, though some have skin appearing more bluish. Sarran nearly always have clear and light-colored eyes but with extreme variety, including blue, green, turquoise, lavender, light pink, and yellow-gold, as well as grey-white eyes, with no one eye color seeming genetically dominant. Their "hair" is not like human hair, instead being light and feathery; Sarran have no body hair whatsoever, their skin smooth and hairless. Generally, their feathery hair matches their wings in color, brown or white or sometimes grey, with black wings and hair being extremely rare and recessive. Sarran always have very severe and sharply-chiseled facial features, with high-arching brows, pointed ears, and long, large eyes. Sarran have very high metabolism, requiring them to eat more frequently than Humans; partially as a result, they have almost never been known to grow obese. They also seem practically immune to cold temperatures, save for the most extreme, allowing them to live comfortably on their frozen homeworld. On average, Sarran live nearly twice as long as the average Human, but not as long as the average Mahlok, with the oldest Sarran making it to the mid-200s.
Wings
The most well-known aspect of Sarran are their wings. All Sarran have wings on their backs very much like Human depictions of ancient deities or angels, as well as small winglets on their outer ankles that are used for steering during flight. They have exceptionally light bones and strong chest muscles; all Sarran generally stronger than the average Human. Sarran also use their wings in battle, protecting them with fire-resistant gels and covering them in armor plating and even blades.
Psionic Abilities
Though best known for their enormous feathered wings, the most amazing power Sarran possess is their powerful psionics. How Sarran psionic powers work continues to baffle Human scientists, who are given no opportunity to study it. It is thought Sarran are able to transfer thoughts into another's mind simply by initiating eye contact, made more powerful by physical touch. Likewise, they can detect the minds of others in the vicinity, especially those who cannot keep their emotions in check. The Sarrah attribute their psionics to their religion, the universal spirit of Afaelya, saying it is based in the spirit rather than the mind and refuting all scientific answers or the search for them. Though this infuriates Human scientists to no end, they can give no better explanation.
Half-Humans
Some cases of supposed "half-Human, half-Sarran" individuals are documented, but they are little understood. Biologists cannot explain how such a coupling is even possible, yet the can not only produce offspring, but their offspring are likewise fertile, with some Humans having diluted Sarran in their bloodlines. However, any Human-Sarran hybrids are extremely rare and not well understood.
