Allarian

The Allarians are a near-human species known for their striking appearance, religious devotion, and brutal societal practices. Their culture is deeply tied to their worship of stars, believed to be fragments of their fire god, Oolmo, shattered by his wife, the goddess Nyllira, after an act of betrayal. This belief drives their zeal for ritual sacrifices, particularly the ejection of slaves into stars, to appease divine forces and protect their worlds from calamities.

Appearance

Allarians are slender and imposing, with long limbs and elegant yet intimidating features:

• Skin Tones: Shades of red and orange, with rare yellow individuals considered cursed and executed at birth.
• Facial Features: Flat, wide noses and large, slanted almond-shaped eyes in hues of yellow to green.
• Necks and Limbs: Forward-curving necks and long limbs ending in digitigrade feet with two clawed toes.
• Hands: Four-fingered hands with opposable thumbs on either side, ideal for wielding their ceremonial plasma-edged blades.

Religion and Beliefs

Allarian faith revolves around the worship of their fire god, Oolmo, and his consort, Nyllira:

• Star Worship: Stars are fragments of Oolmo, shattered by Nyllira after his betrayal. Each star is considered a vessel of his divine power.
• Ritual Sacrifice: Slaves are sacrificed by being ejected into stars, believed to protect Allarian worlds from cosmic calamities like solar flares and meteorites.
• Superstitions:
  • Yellow-Skinned Individuals: Considered cursed by Nyllira and executed at birth.
  • Solar Flares: Warnings of betrayal or disaster from Oolmo.
  • Meteor Showers: Signs of Nyllira’s wrath, demanding purification through sacrifice.
  • Eclipses: The most feared omens, symbolizing Oolmo’s waning power, leading to mass sacrifices.

Society and Culture

Allarian society is hierarchical and deeply religious, with the High Solar Priests wielding immense power:

• Hierarchy:
  • Emperor: Rules with divine authority but is subordinate to the High Solar Priests. Warrior Caste responds directly to the Emperor.
  • Emperess: Seen as a divine figure and lead Priestess of the High Solar Priests.
  • High Solar Priest Caste: Interpret celestial omens and oversee sacrifices.
  • Solar Priest Caste: Responsible for assisting High Solar Priests. Only Caste that can ascend from.
  • Warrior Caste: Conduct celestial hunts and wear ferocious fauna skins into battle.
  • Slave Caste: Encompasses conquered species, destined for labor or sacrifice.
  • Cattle Caste: Includes species that are not considered worthy of sacrifice, but are considered food.
• Cuisine: Strictly carnivorous, often consuming sentient beings as a display of dominance and divine favor.
• Weapons and Armor:
  • Plasma-Edged Blades: Wooden handles with plasma edges, adorned with carvings of stars and fire motifs.
  • Ferocious Fauna Skins: Worn by warriors as symbols of dominance and divine favor.

Architecture and Starships

Allarian architecture reflects their devotion to the stars:

• Ziggurats: Towering temple-like structures dominate their cities, serving as both religious and administrative centers.
• Ziggurat-Shaped Starships: Their fleets resemble monumental ziggurats, adorned with plasma carvings and fire motifs.

Relations with Other Species

The Allarians’ brutal practices and expansionist ambitions shape their relationships:

• Valdians: Viewed as weak for their pacifistic ideals. Clashes often arise over Allarian enslavement practices.
• Kolthians: Tense respect exists between the two, though the Allarians see the Kolthians’ lack of spiritual devotion as a flaw.
• Sluggo: Exploited for their opportunism, often serving as intermediaries in the Allarian slave trade.
• Humans: Frequently targeted for enslavement and sacrifice due to their perceived fragility.
• Trans-Organic Collective of Perfection: Hostile relations due to mutual disdain; Allarians see the Collective as soulless, while the Collective views them as organic zealots ripe for assimilation.
• Telerian: Distrusted for their hedonism; Allarians have assassinated Telerianan nobles to disrupt spice trade routes.

Notable Historical Events

• Execution of Emperor Tilus the Eighth: Executed for killing his wife to cover up his affairs, violating Allarian law.
• Solar Purge of Quarnos: Thousands of slaves sacrificed to a nearby star, celebrated as a divine victory.

Trivia

• Yellow-Skinned Survivors: Some cursed individuals escape execution, becoming insurgents or cult leaders.
• Lost Ziggurat Ships: Abandoned Allarian ships are rumored to hold forgotten artifacts and divine treasures.
• Celestial Hunts: Ritualistic spacefaring hunts target apex predators for sacrifice.
• Star Banquets: Nobles feast on sentient flesh following large sacrifices, symbolizing union with Oolmo.

Author's Notes

Allarian society is heavily inspired by neo-Aztec practices, including ritualistic warfare, slavery, and sacrifice. They are known for their ziggurat-shaped starships, plasma-edged weaponry, and consumption of sentient beings, which they believe honors their gods.