Lore:Snails
 Snails |
Denonyms: Snail, Snails |
Snails
Snailpeople evolved on the tropical moon of a gas giant known as Qualusa, their moon home being granted the Chitinclick name of Lush.
The large moon holds a moist and rich atmosphere that fostered the growth of huge dense jungles and heavy swamps that coat the moon’s surface. This is only bolstered by the constant glow of a red sun reflected from Qualusa and it’s many moons which allowed the jungles of Lush to constantly grow and thrive.
Biology
Snailpeople were one of many strange species to grow in those warm rich jungles. Evolving from mollusc ancestors that dwelled in the effervescent jungle pools of Lush, Snailpeople grew into a humanoid form inspired by the constant pressure of the dangerous amphibious fauna that hunted Lush’s undergrowths.
Unlike many humanoid species that evolved as hunter-gatherers, Snailpeople evolved as grazing prey. Their arms and legs evolved to better traverse the jungle landscape, powered by a series of tough fluid-bladders that work as bone and muscle alike. While they were a slow people with no twitch reflexes to speak of their gradually evolving forms allowed them to find the most defensive places on Lush and settle them, using both tools and their tough calcium rich shells to protect themselves and the small communities that formed.
These shells that grew throughout their life gave Snailpeople a defensive edge. Different shapes, colours and forms evolved across Lush as Snailpeople settled jungles, swamps, coasts and even mountains. These shells provided shelter but soon were adapted to be a mobile toolbox that each Snail held on their back, carrying equipment and precious objects with them at all time. At first Snailpeople lived in caves and simple shelters, rapidly over time adapting to large stone castles and eventually to entirely automated enclosed compounds.
Snailfolk have a number of biological quirks. Their body produces mucus that is used for traversal. By secreting mucus they can both adhere to floors securely by foot or move swifter by sliding across surfaces, with their mucus also working effectively even through clothing. This snail slime is largely an uncontrollable reflex, luckily the mucus evaporates rapidly or else is reabsorbed quickly by the snail.
The eyes of a Snaiperson are held on stalks that rise from their faces that subtly move as they speak and communicate. Framing their scalps Snailfolk formed a symbiotic relationship with a species of microbial algae that grows on their heads as hair would for other species. As such their ‘hair’ needs to be kept warm and wet in order to grow and thrive. These cultures are taken care of, by Snailfolk who enjoy them and how it makes them look, much as one cares for hair with plenty of washing, conditioning, and care.
The vast majority of Snailfolk have a vestigial tail or ‘foot’ often tucked into their snail where it connects to their lower back, with some genotypes of snailpeople having this tail outside of their shell where it rests against the back of their thighs and assists in mucus production. The lungs of some Snailfolk are strong enough to hold large quantities of air allowing for a semi aquatic lifestyle.
Compounds
Snailpeople never intended to conquer their own planets ecosphere. They instead made perfect habitats within their own homes. Snailpeople compounds, by their atomic age, were enclosed private communities with perfect atmospheric controls. Any threats outside their walls were dissuaded by powerful automatic defenses, with Snailpeople themselves rarely taking fights. Inspired by a bluespace rich species of vine on their planet Snailpeople threaded their planet with bluespace crystal empowered internet which allowed their compounds and communities across the planet to connect, share culture and work as a whole. Quickly Lush’s many communities linked together sharing scientific and cultural development faster than many races in the galaxy.
Snailpeople pre and post FTL were a quiet introspective species who respected their personal space. To give out access codes to ones compound and share private space was a deeply personal affair. As Lush held long warm days and beautiful nights the sky above them was enriched with celestial views, inspiring Snailpeople with a cultural respect for the stars forming pantheons of faith that adored each celestial body they could spy.
The Galactic Stage
It was the Grand Nomad Fleet who first found the signals Snailpeople were sending out into the stars. The Snailpeople of Qualusa had set up bluespace communication so impressive it rivaled what the fleet could already muster. The Snailpeople were overjoyed to be visited by a splinter of the fleet and at their own pace reached the FTL age.
Mothfolk and Snails shared language and trade passionately at first before Snailpeople joined with them and Humanity. Lush, by now joined by bio-dome colonies throughout the Qualusa system, joined the Solar Federation quickly with Snailpeople overwhelmingly wanting to be a part of something greater that looked to the stars.
Work in Progress: Footer subject to change at a moment's notice. Do not take a red link's presence, struck-through or otherwise, as confirmation (or denial) of their canonicity.
| Nova Sector Lore
| |
| Common Species | Humans, Tiziran, Unathi, Moths, Ethereals, Azulae, Slime Hybrids, Teshari, Synthetic Humanoids (and assorted robots), Pod Persons |
| Other Species | Genemodders (Felinids, Ice Walkers, Dwarf), Ashwalkers, Hemophages, Snailpersons, Ordoht (Formerly Skrell), Plasmamen, Flypeople, Vox (Primalis et al), Tajaran, Vulpkanin, Xenomorphic Hybrid, Rouges (Abductorkin), Miscellaneous Species |
| Nanotrasen | Nanotrasen, Central Command, Emergency Response Corps |
| External Groups | The Syndicate, Interdyne Pharmaceutics, DS-2, Cargo, The Spider Clan |
| Nova | The Nova Sector, Indecipheres, Freyja |
| Concepts | Bluespace, Plasma, Faster Than Light Travel, Resonance ("Souls"), Death |
| SolFed | SolFed, Earth in 2565, |
