Olari’i
Physical Characteristics
Average Height: 5’5”-6’5” (165-195 cm)
Average Weight: 150 lbs (70 kg)
Average Life Expectancy: 120-160 years
Skin: Soft tissue made of collagen and fat cells, with subdermal streaks of cobalt-based nari’icore
Notable Features: Pointed ears, 5-digit hands and feet, hair, pale, whiteish skin that can range from light cream to more blueish hues, streaks of black-blue nari’core that glow white when activated.
History
Pre-Contact
Early Civilization
Grison, the olari’i home planet, was a desert with few oasis that made it just sustainable enough for a sentient species to develop. Because of the harsh living conditions, the olari’i were forced to spend a vast majority of their species’ history on scientific advancement as a means of compensating for the lack of resources.
Their sun, a pulsar neuron star, was another obstacle the olari’i were forced to overcome early into their evolution. As a means of dealing with the infrequent, yet consistent blasts of radiation emitted from their sun, the olari’i learned to fuse their skin with a cobalt-based virus called nari’core that was genetically modified to absorb high levels of radiation and detoxify it inside the olari’i. As the virus was hereditary, it could be passed down to future generations without worry.
At first, the olari’i were centered around the same few oases in a small part of the planet. But as their technology evolved and population increased, they began to venture out further and further, colonizing other oases in other parts of Grison. This inevitably led to independent groups of olari’i forming over time, along with the later evolution of the species into three distinct subspecies: the mystical gri, the scientific carlun, and the hardened sarin.
Grison was one of the planets invaded by the nirgul, but seeing the vast deserts and lack of resources, the nirgul decided it was not worth their time and abandoned the planet. However, they left behind the knowledge to the olari’i that not only were there were other sentient species that existed in the universe, but it was possible for them to travel through space. Thus the three subspecies, who had been at odds, reconvened and began to work together to build starships that would see them following in the steps of the nirgul.
Post-Contact
The Resonance
By the time the Resonance Ping was heard on Grison, the olari’i were fully prepared for a space voyage. They had yet to embark on an adventure of a scale beyond their own solar system, but the Resonance proved to be the perfect motivator to attempt the feat. After successful test flights with drones that returned with images of Kylia and the Acarias galaxy, the olari’i decided to execute a full evacuation of their home planet in the hopes of better living conditions on Kylia.
Journey to Kylia
Traveling to Kylia proved to be a bit of a challenge in-and-of-itself as the three subspecies were not particularly friendly with one-another and had differing opinions on the optimal route to reach the planet. Multiple arguments were had over decisions not only about travel, but also how and what to do once they did eventually arrive. At some point, a civil war aboard their star cruisers nearly broke out when the Sarin and gri came to heads about leadership, but the carlun managed to diffuse the situation and would act as the mediators between the subspecies from then on.
Millennium War
The olari’i found reason to cast aside their subspecies differences when it came time to fight in the Millennium War. Thrust into combat against rival species that included the nirgul, the olari’i banded together to fight common foes. However, the war resulted in a egregious loss for everyone involved, and the gri were almost entirely wiped out. Estimates show that only about 1 in every 50 olari’i that survived were gri.
After Unification
Golden Age
During the Golden Age, the olari’i were able to restore their population and rededicate themselves to their scientific pursuits. Particularly the carlun, who had the strongest affinity for the subject, thrived in peace times, and were consistently at the forefront of innovation on Kylia. They would spread across the planet and inhabit a number of areas and biomes, eager to study and live in a space that their ancestors could’ve only ever dreamed about.
Formation of the Council
There was a modicum of pride when one of the olari’i was chosen as a council member, however at the same time, as a species they expected nothing less. Perhaps the only surprising part was that the olari’i who was chosen was a gri. Regardless, the olari’i were not the type to trifle in divine or political matters and they cared little about where it was the Nuru Moja or the Council of Seven who governed the planet, so long as they could continue to pursue their endeavors.
The Fall
It wouldn’t be that was forever, as when the council abandoned Kylia, the events that followed effectively ruined all of the olari’i progress. The Fall saw the collapse of modern society and the destruction of much of what would have been current technology. The depletion of resources was mostly to blame as it became impossible to build or fund innovation when the speed at which the world was devolving seemed to triple the rate it was improving. Fearing the worst, the olari’i realigned their efforts more toward sustainability and self-sufficient inventions in the hopes that such projects would be able to last indefinitely.
Post Fall
Current Kylia
Now as members of many of the independent nations on Kylia, many of the olari’i descendants continue their work as scientists and creators, working to help better the planet in any ways possible. But now, more than ever, olari’i seem to be choosing to pursue other careers and paths, taking up arms as Hadrai’da or learning the ways of the Seraph. Perhaps because they know that the age of innovation has come and gone and that their time is better spent elsewhere.
Culture
The nari’icore connects the olari’i with one another on a neural level, allowing nearby olari’i to commune and connect. Once a year, olari’i in the same neighborhood or village will gather together to perform La’nari’icore’ala, a ritual where participants take turns sharing their past year’s experience with the collective community for the sake of asking and offering advice, consoling those who are grieving, celebrating accomplishments, and generally growing closer with fellow olari’i.
The marriage of two olari’i is often a big occasion. Ceremonies with thousands of olari’i are not uncommon and the newlyweds are typically showered with gifts that will help them in starting a family. olari’i families are expected to have at least two children in order to maintain and regrow their population. Many parents will arrange marriages for their children as well, although many of these arrangements fall through.
Perhaps the most intriguing part of olari’i culture is their birthing process. olari’i children emerge as stillborn, wherein they are passed off to the community head, who takes a small amount of nari’icore from each member in the community and injects it into the newborn, passing along memories and creating a connection between the baby and everyone who contributed nari’icore. As the nari’icore flows through the olari’i’ child’s system, it activates the neural and circulatory system, reviving them. Success in this operation is typically rewarded and signified with the baby’s first cry.