Wooshlyhee

The Wooshlyhee (//, singular "Wooshlyhee") were a sentient non-humanoid species native to Klee`shlyoo`hshee in the Unknown Regions.

Biology and appearance
The Wooshlyhee were instantly recognizable due to their long snouts and four arms. They evolved as insectivores, though they also consumed various roots and fungi. The most nutritious insects on their homeworld lived in the higher levels of Klee`shlyoo`hshee's trees, which could easily reach a hundred meters above ground. The Wooshlyhee had clawed feet which could dig into the bark of tree, and their powerful lower arms could grip tree trunks with enough force to support their entire body weight. Their lower arms ended in hands with four proportional (but thick) fingers. Their upper arms were much thinner and weaker, with three long, pointed fingers. These were used to dig insects out of holes and hollows in trees while the Wooshlyhee hung suspended with its feet and lower arms.

The Wooshlyhee had long snouts, ending in a small mouth which they used to eat, breathe, and communicate. They could insert their snouts into broader insect holes, or extend their thin, whiplike tongues in search of insects. Due to their narrow mouths, the Wooshlyhee spoke with very high, whistling voices, and sometimes had difficulty clearly speaking other languages which had originated from species with lower or harsher voices.

The Wooshlyhee had a covering of fur over their entire bodies, apart from the pads of their feet, the hands of their upper arms, and their glossy black eyes. Fur colors varied wildly, though some colors were more common in certain climates of Klee`shlyoo`hshee. Though these had provided evolutionary defenses against predators in the Wooshlyhee's past, when they began to use tools, the sentient insectivores were able to keep insentient predators at bay and fur color became a more cosmetic concern, as most of the insects they hunted were incapable of distinguishing colors at all. Children of Wooshlyhee of two markedly different fur colors sometimes developed a mix of both in their own fur.

Litters of Wooshlyhee younglings usually numbered between three and five, though as few as one and as many as eight were recorded. They reached physical maturity at twelve years of age.

Society and culture
Though non-violent by nature, when roused the Wooshlyhee could be dangerous enemies to most sentients, as their powerful legs and lower arms allowed them to crush a Human-sized opponent's bones with a single blow. Mature Wooshlyhee could usually hang suspended from a tree for upwards of ten minutes; those with weaker or flabbier lower arms, usually from hunting only land-dwelling insects, were viewed as personally weak by other Wooshlyhee.

Due to their heritage of foraging for insects, most Wooshlyhee tended to be curious and inquisitive, and had the habit of looking around others' belongings.

Because of their whistling language, Wooshlyhee names tended to be long and complex to the ears of other sentients. Consequently, many Wooshlyhee allowed their names to be shortened to something more pronounceable when dealing with offworlders, such as the Centurion Khoro`ly`ooho`sh`lyhoo, who usually went by "Khoro" among his siblings of the Order of Keltrayu.

Raised equally by their parents, younglings were taught to hunt for themselves from an early age, though their parents usually accompanied them on hunting trips until they were close to maturity.

A conflict of ideals existed between "urban Wooshlyhee" and "rural Wooshlyhee" – those who built cities for themselves and imported their food, and those who preferred to live in more tribal communities, continuing to hunt for food in the traditional manner. Urban Wooshlyhee viewed their rural counterparts as simpler, less refined people, while rural Wooshlyhee believed their urban neighbors had lost much of their heritage and become a weaker people for it.

History
Evolving as both predators and prey, the large Wooshlyhee were hunted by even larger predators. Most of these predators, however, were restricted to the ground or the lowest levels of trees, giving an evolutionary advantage to Wooshlyhee who could remain in the treetops longer to avoid predators. Over time, this ability became a dominant facet of their existence. When sentience evolved among them, the Wooshlyhee initially built their cities in the canopies of trees, trying to avoid the predators below.

After developing tools and weapons, most Wooshlyhee returned to the surface of Klee`shlyoo`hshee, forging settlements in the forests and using weapons to drive off their natural predators. Some began to develop fungus farming, creating large swamps or underground caverns filled with fungi which they could eat. Camps centered around these fungus farms were the roots of the first Wooshlyhee cities, although most Wooshlyhee of the time continued to supplement their diets with insects caught in the forests.

As technology progressed, some Wooshlyhee created larger cities, either by moving to open spaces or felling enough trees to clear space. Several wars erupted over this practice, as other Wooshlyhee believed that in chopping down trees, the Wooshlyhee would be destroying their own food source and dooming themselves to extinction. The growth of major population centers was stifled until Wooshlyhee perfected the domestication and breeding of massive insect colonies, with hundreds of thousands or millions of insects in each breeding hive. Though some Wooshlyhee believed this to be a perversion of their way of life and continued to resist, the majority became at least tolerant of city growth, as all their major food supplies could now be provided artificially.

By the time Klee`shlyoo`hshee encountered the Golden Empire in 110 ABY, its cities had reached an early industrial level of technology, and most of the globe was mapped. Unwarlike by nature, the Wooshlyhee had several cooperating states, all of which maintained contact and exercised nominal control over the forest-based tribes. Valuing the ability to continue their technological progress and fascinated by space travel, the Wooshlyhee leaders of the states agreed to join the Empire.

In the early days of the Nightmare War, Klee`shlyoo`hshee was invaded by the Reawakened and millions of Wooshlyhee were killed. The planet was largely deforested by fire, though some Wooshlyhee survived by hiding in the deepest, most primordial forests. When the Empire massacred the invaders and retook the planet, the surviving Wooshlyee began struggling to rebuild their society.

In the galaxy
The best known Wooshlyhee off Klee`shlyoo`hshee was the Centurion and Royal Guard Khoro`ly`ooho`sh`lyhoo. Other Wooshlyhee also journeyed off their home planet, many taking construction jobs throughout the Empire and using their great physical strength.