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Introduction
The phoronoids of Koltis are an oddity; as silicon-based lifeforms, they represent something truly alien compared to other alien races. Their unique physiology has been the subject of debate among xenopologists, and has contributed to making them much more well-known then other minor species, despite maintaining only a small fiefdom on the borders of Moghesian space.
Biology
Physiology
The physiology of a phoronoid is perhaps it's most unique aspect, for their bodies have been formed from naturally-occurring phoron-based crystalline structures. Equivalents to most humanoid organs can be found in a phoronoid; however, these organs are smaller, and appear more as unnatural growths, sealed within hardened crystal and protected from harm. Their 'skeletal' structure, if one can call it such, is quite literal. Their bodies appear to be skeletal in construction, with thin limbs consisting of densely-packed crystal, grown around strut-like 'bones' formed from carbon. This has led to their moniker as 'skeletons', penned by wayfaring humans long ago. Even stranger is what is inside their heads; bio-crystal constructs serve as eyes, sitting in the sockets of a phoronoid like cold ambers, connected to a central nervous system, and a brain. Said organs are a near-perfect mix of organic tissue and crystalline substrata, to the point where it is difficult to tell where one ends and the other begins.
Considering their bodies have evolved to integrate phoron on a cellular level, phoronoids depend on it to survive. The low-pressure, pure-phoron environment of Koltis has created a species that cannot exist beyond the specific planetary conditions found on Koltis, a fate they similarly share with the Zaddat of the Moghesian Kingdoms. Should a phoronoid be exposed to an oxygenated, or partially oxygenated, environment, they will react violently; spontaneously combusting within seconds, and burning to death within a minute of exposure. As this combustion occurs on the cellular level, it acts quickly; only prompt firefighting and medical services can save a phoronoid from certain death. Recent developments in technology have allowed the Phoronoids, like the Zaddat, to adapt to pressurized suits when leaving Koltis. These suits are equipped with environmental regulators, miniature fire extinguishers, and are composed of fire-retardant materials to reduce the risk of spontaneous combustion. These suits are as much a part of phoronoid society now as clothing would be to a human, for it is the only way many will ever see a phoronoid in their lifetime; in a bright orange pressure-suit, a simple glass pane away from a leering, skeletal face.
History
Koltis would be little more than a curio if it weren't for the Phoron Wars. Located coreward of the Moghes Kingdoms, the isolated, barren world of Koltis supported it's unusual form of life from cradle to the beginning of their space age. As phoronoid society developed, it would, in time, fall into feudal states, organizing beneath the rule of a monarchal figure known as a Chrnkit, or 'Spire'. These rulers warred against each other, and the phoronoid ways of monarchy were stable enough to carry said monarchies into the modern era. The discovery of oxygen-based weapons, and the oxygen bomb, lead to a period of cold war and uneasy peace between the phoronoid kingdoms. They were almost a microcosm of the neighboring Moghes Kingdoms. Ironic, then, that they would end up meeting their neighbors in battle sometime around 2502. Nearly beaten and conquered by the Unathi of Moghes, it would take the timely intervention of human corporate interests to rescue the planet from certain domination at the hands of the Unathi.
Though, this wasn't the era of peace the phoronoids desired. The time following the planet's liberation was fraught with petty wars over phoron deposits, as pointless to the phoronoids as humans fighting for air on Terra, but by being backed by corporate interests, the kingdoms returned to a state of total war. While no oxygen-based weapons of war were ever deployed on Koltis, much worse besides was used on kingdoms who did not wish to hand over their precious phoron reserves. The wars would slowly dwindle in size and intensity as corporations failed to survive the boom; today, only NanoTrasen remains, and has largely left the planet of Koltis be, after so many years of fighting and struggle.
Culture
The phoronoid kingdoms are vast, like the facets of a rough, uncut gemstone. From the fiefdom of Thichtk that sits above a sea of ammonia, to the vast crystal planes of the Chalak Thralldom, the cosmopolitan Mliktna and the space-port of Opal, each territory of the phoronoids is a miniature kingdom in and of itself; the term 'toll-booth castle' has been used by tourists to describe the experience of trekking through the barren continents of Koltis, where each kingdom could simply be a fortress ruled by an unimportant Spire-king.
Phoronoids themselves have adopted a peculiar naming system; while such names translate well into their native tongue, when translated into GalCom, these names typically take the form of an element, followed by a number. Examples include Radium-XV, Unobtanium-I, Iron-CXIV, and similar names besides. Owing to their feudal heritage, many phoronoids take to referring to others in terms of 'sir', or 'madam', regardless of familiarity, or even gender.
Galactic Species
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| Common Species | Humans, Synthetics, Skrell, Tajara, Teshari, Unathi |
| Uncommon Species | Akula, Alraune, Auril, Dremachir, Naramadi, Zaddat, Dnin-Nepids |
| Whitelisted Species | Adherent, Dionea, Phoronids, Proteans, Shadekin, Vox, Xenochimera, Xenohybrids |
| Misc Species & Data | Minor Races, Scori, Changelings |