Species Name: Midion
Species Adjective: midionic
Empire Name: Tearkia of Vrs
Empire Adjective: tearik
Phenotype: Arthropoid
Traits: Intelligent, conformist, non adaptive, slow breeders
Ethos: Xenophile, militarist, spiritualist
Government: Divine Mandate
Homeworld: Vrs
Planet type: Desertic
Short Description of Species: Evolved in the desert planet of Vrs, first world of their system (Vr'Shar) the Midions have something in common with the Solifugae from Earth (Sun spiders, Wind scorpions). They are (always been) a carnivorous species with a ferocious appetite, evolved as a nocturnal people (when the temperature precipitate to acceptable level). They breath oxygen, but their blood is grey (a result of using silver based hemocyanin, as opposed to iron end hemoglobin to transport oxygen).
The harsh condition of their home planet shaped the Midions: in a world where food is not very abundant, the Midions produce very little (and very precious), younglings who are raised by the whole clan (parenting is a strange concept to the Midion, because younglings are so precious that their raising is happily shared with the whole clan/ hut and in more recent centuries, city). This custom was also very beneficial in the eras when parents could be eaten alive by the predators of the desert (The Midions usually bond for life): younglings are born from eggs as larvae, and after 10 different phases as nymphs, they emerge fully adult from their carapace. Until then, they are utterly dependent from the others, a testament on how fast and far Midions can run to save their younglings, while the rest of the clan sacrifice themselves to stall the predators.
Still, the adaptation of the Midion to Vr's was maybe a little too successful, so they have difficulties to adapt to foreign ecosystems.
Short Description of Empire and History: While being an intelligent species, even before achieving sapient status Midions were often harassed (hunted and eaten) by the other predators of the desert (armored spiders the size of campers): while a genus of speedster (fastest species on Vrs), the most efficient way to defend themselves from the other predators and thrive, was to become an eusocial species, sharing huts and refugees, the care of newborn, hunting etcetera. In a score of millennia, this habit become an ingrained part of their culture and mentality: a Midion will always care first about the Midion than his/her needs. Though, they are too intelligent and curious to become a "true" collectivist species.
Because of their evolutionary history, they are a frugal kind: it's hard to crave for luxuries on a world where even water is precious. Still, Vr's is made of sands rich in minerals, so the Iron Age for the Midion basically begun when someone forgot a fist of coppery sands on a stone over a bonfire. Curious and intelligent, the millennia brought with them many changes for the Midion: their society thrived, not necessarily becoming more complex, but deeper and richer. The more they discovered, the more they wanted to know about themselves and the universe, but never forgetting from where they came from: the desert, the sandy emptiness under the stars (Vr's has no moons). Not even their science could fill that emptiness, so the ancient belief stayed with them until now: their religion is not really a proper form of creed, but it's more about honoring the ancestors and imagining the mysteries of the unknowable, than giving it shape and form.
Their government is a form of "castish" society, with free circulation of people and ideas between each sect and it's derived from their ancient customs: warriors/hunters/farmers, scientist/engineers/ artisans and politicians/priests/philosophers (akin to the Rishi of Induism tradition, not catholic priest). While being an unified species, before reaching for the stars the Midions had to confront to a terrible truth: the dispersion of their kind among planets could have dissolved their unity, promoting conflicts and the rise of different factions. Something the Midions found difficult to accept: the simple idea of being separated, of being forced to split the Midions, was enough to promote an arm race between tribes and clans to impose the best way to avoid that dreaded separation (tension who begets the "Crusades of the Desert"). The conflict was resolved in the end only with the imposition of the figure of Tearks (akin to spiritual/political planetary governor) and the discovery of psionics: being a Teark is a terrible burden and a willing sacrifice for a Midion. The reason why it's a lifelong rulership, it's because a Teark is blind, mute and paralyzed: reason for this are the effects of the poison from a very specific predator of the desert, a wingless wasp-like thing. The poison ravages the body, but leave the mind intact (in the desert, this creature use its poison to seed its eggs on the prey): the afflicted Midion develops heightened mental acuity as a result (akin to the processing power of an AI, maybe the first path for ascendancy as a species, maybe just compensation of the mind) and if they survive long enough, psionics. A very faint form of telekinetic talents, enough to use sand to express themselves: for this reason, and the respect the Midions tribute to "the poisoned ones", the Teark are the first and last revered leaders and servant of their people and prophet of their future. Every Teark is the sacrificial leader of a colony and use his/her talent to coordinate his/her planet with the rest of the Midion for the prosperity of all: among them, the Archteark of Vr's is the most revered of them all.
Technology (because why not):
Because Vr's is a planet with strong gravity (denser than Earth), the Midions preferred bladed weapons for a very long time: their favorite is without a doubt the spear, which they use even now in war (thanks to superior materials and their natural running speed: picture something similar to the famous
Tonbogiri). Bullet weapons were inefficient and suboptimal in their harsh environment, at least initially: only with the discoveries of
gyrojet technology and self propelled bullets, their use become more widespread. Called "Blood weapons" (because the first detonator ever created by the Midions was silver fulminate), their use was very important in shaping their weapon technology and propulsion system in the interstellar era: rocketry and missiles were natural choices after reaching the stars.
In war, artillery and infantrymen with .50 cals of self propelled hypersonic bullets, would usually cover the first line of fast melee fighters, who brandish spears with monomolecular blades.
The discovery on how to attain powerful psionics even for other member of their species is seen with mixed feelings by the Midions: a powerful tool without a doubt, something that put them finally above the predators of Vr's, but still the straying of an holy tool from its original path. The Tearks promote for now the integration of psionic in the Midion society in the name of security, prosperity and betterment of self, but it is something that is handled with much care and extra training. A psionic warrior is not exactly a pariah among the Midion, but while being honored and respected,
dancing lances are kept under strict scrutiny.
