Ditakians evolved on the wide savannas of Kor’Ditak
Planet is well within Paxus Space borders
Affinities: metal, fire
Features:
Curling horns on sides of head, and horn or bone-like structures protruding from the top of the forehead sweeping back over.
Leathery skin and shiny metal plates; different color sets. The most common are iron and copper.
Fingernails and toenails have the same color as plates
Fangs
Almost no body fat
Ditakians can go into torpor when starving and wait for prey to wander nearby
Ditakian females are shorter and smaller than males, but quite fierce in their own right.
Weaknesses:
Deep water. Ditakians are rarely able to swim without assistance.
Cold, especially wet cold for long periods of time
More males than females are born on Kor’Ditak, leading to population imbalances.
Culture
Kor’Ditakians tend to be conservative and xenophobic (Traditionalist); Ditakians offworld are more tolerant of other species. Traditionalists look down on species mixing.
Honor is an important concept for Ditakians, though what qualifies as “honorable” may vary. Many male Ditakians serve in the military, an honorable career. Ditakians are the most numerous soldiers in the Paxus Fleet.
Ditakians practice ancestor veneration, both of their families and the Great Ancestors of their species.
Ditakians suffer from “colorism” where certain colors are considered desirable and others undesirable. This can impact the ability to find a mate or a good job.
Hunting is an important rite of passage on Kor’Ditak for young males whose families have the privilege or wealth to have access to reserves. Not all males have this opportunity.
Males and females are separated in traditional Ditakian culture, except for mates and family groups.
Traditionalists do not think much of concepts like romantic love and outwardly look down on excessive entertainment.
Ditakians in general consider themselves to be superior to other sapient species: Smaragdine are too indulgent, Serontians are weak, etc.
Reproduction
Ditakian males keep their genitals retracted unless to urinate or have sex. This is to protect tender parts from the harsh sun of their home world.
Ditakian males and females have groin plates that protect their genital areas.
Ditakians practice claiming bites: the male first bites the female while having sex, and the female bites him back. After which, the couple is considered “Espoused”, or mated for life.
To avoid mate-bonding and pregnancy in the course of casual sex, Ditakian males have to use bite sticks or more extreme measures.
Adult males without claiming bites are referred to as “bare-necked bachelors”, a derogatory term. Unmated females are almost unheard of.
Claim biting often results in pregnancy. Gestation is a few months and the infant is born in a leathery egg sac that the parents immediately tear open. Offspring nurse from their mothers for a few months before being weaned onto soft meat. Technically Ditakians could be considered “mammals” but they don’t see themselves that way.
Diet
Ditakians greatly prefer meat, although they are able to consume other foods in smaller quantities. Ditakians in the military and those living in poorer areas are often consigned to eating manufactured protein.
Livestock is a major industry on Kor’Ditak and a major import as well. The animals raised for meat (as well as the ones used as game animals for hunting) tend to be “mammals” with fur. This can lead to contempt of sapient species who have significant body hair.
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