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HidesHisFace — Syleans

#alien #anthro #fish #reptilian #sylean
Published: 2017-03-13 21:01:06 +0000 UTC; Views: 543; Favourites: 12; Downloads: 2
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Description Yay, a new species. 
Changed the paper - run out of a good quality one, and it sadly shows. Plenty of smudges from pencil on this one I could not erase. Sorry for that.

"Ultimately, pleasure and beauty are the only things worth pursuing. There is no grand scheme in the universe, no driving power. And without those, every virtue is either an empty word, or a way to achieve self-fulfilment. And self fulfilment is a form of pleasure. Same goes for profit, for example. People gather wealth, because they either find pleasure in collecting, or it allows them to gain things they love. Everything, ultimately, is self-serving, even though many don't want to admit it."

Syleans, more commonly known as "maskfaces" are the final species of the Tribunal and de-facto creators of the whole faction, and just like every other member species, they are also survivors of the Great Plague.

Originating from a water-world of Liosa, Syleans are semi-aquatic humanoids with anatomy resembling a mixture of fish and reptilian traits.
They are large, usually over 2m (~6,5 ft) tall, and relatively heavy. Their bodies are covered with tiny, smooth scales and sets of larger bone plates. 

Syleans are extremely diverse in terms of looks and can be divided into countless ethnic groups. Differences lie in many characteristics:
- body proportions: especially in terms of size of the chest, width of hips, length of neck
- colours: from bright, warm colours, like red, yellow, through cold hues of blue and silver to very dark browns. Patterns on bodies may also differ, from spots, to stripes, to single colours without patterns at all
- bone plate pattern: different groups may have different number of scales, lack scales in certain areas. Chest and head crests may also be more or less complex depending on ethnic group.

One thing that is present in all groups is the "mask" and it is a signature trait of the species - a large set of bone plates covering most of their face.

Syleans express relatively subtle sexual dimorphism. Both males and females may be described as rather feminine and they may look almost exactly alike with the exception of two features:
Females have flat ending of the tail. Males have more complex "mask", made of three or four segments. Females have only two segments. The first piece of the male's mask is small and covers additional compartment of their nasal cavity, used for sensing female pheromones. 

Syleans are not particularly strong or fast, but tend to move with unusual grace, especially in water and are gifted with rather unique, versatile beauty. They have very acute senses with the exception of rather average eyesight. Their bodies are, however, exceptionally resistant to damage thanks to reinforce skeleton and bone plates. Current population is biologically immortal thanks to genetic modifications and cybernetic implants, though their natural lifespan is around 250 years.

They reproduce more or less like reptiles, on land. They lay eggs. Their reproduction rate is relatively low.

In terms of culture, Syleans do not form a single nation but rather a basic alliance of many small factions. They do share many cultural traits. Pretty much all Syleans are hedonists, and their cultures often centre around different forms of pleasure.
Members of this species are generally seen as very intelligent and charismatic. Most of them hate conflicts, though there are some minor groups that find pleasure and beauty in combat, and they form the bulk of common military of the Tribunal, right behind the Hakon robot armies. They rarely form longer relationships.
In personal contacts, Syleans tend to be rather curious and focused on details. They are generally hospitable and find great interest in exploration and discovering new cultures. They are skilled diplomats and politicians, though they tend to be overly emotional at times.

In terms of technology, Syleans are opportunists, they do not invent their own tech if they can help it. Most of their current equipment was invented by Hakons. However, unlike their bird-like allies, Syleans are much more concerned with safety, convenience and looks. They often redesign things created by others. 
They are great fans of genetic engineering and cybernetic implants. Most members of this species uses them in one way or another - often for the most trivial reasons, like making oneself as beautiful as possible. For this reason, many of them do not wear any clothes as well.
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