Shedu

Shedu, or Lamassu, were a fairly rare sentient species. While many Shedu rose to prominence over the years, they remained somewhat of a mystery to more common species such as humans or twi'leks. Shedu were very varied physically, particularly in the face and torso. Shedu faces were just about as variable as humans, but their bodies differed drastically. A Shedu could have one of two main types of body, both on four legs. The more common body type was very similar to a bull's, but could have many different colours of fur. This body type was more common in males than in females. The other body type, which was slightly less common, was similar to a lion or lioness. This body type was more common in females than in males.

Shedu were a generally force-sensitive race, and rather than being surprised to find a force-sensitive Shedu, many individuals were more shocked by a non force-sensitive one. Before Shedu first received contact from outside their homeworld, they practiced their force powers under the instruction of an elder, usually a parent. If none of their adult family members had force sensitivity, which was a very rare phenomenon, a young Shedu would be instructed by the eldest force-sensitive in their herd.

A herd was the social unit for Shedu. A herd consisted of at least six ordinary Shedu and one Alpha pair, who were the leaders of the herd. Shedu herds were very informal, and often the alpha pair would have very little authority except when the herd members could not agree on something, when the Alpha pair would decide on the outcome. Herds were made up of between 1 and 3 pairs of Shedu, not counting the Alphas. These ordinary pairs and their children formed the main body of the herd. When an Alpha pair of Shedu had four children, then any more children they had would be sent away to form their own herds.

Humans feared the Shedu before they had properly interacted with them. They thought that they were evil spirits, which brought bad luck and would kill anyone who tried to contact them. Because of this, on many planets cults emerged which worshiped the Shedu and sacrificed victims to attempt to 'appease the Shedu'. When humans and Shedu finally made contact, the Shedu were dismayed that people had murdered innocents in their name, and many Shedu decided to shut down the cults once and for all. However, some Shedu were pleased with the idea of becoming gods and being worshipped, and a war began between the two groups of Shedu: the Shedu Civil War. This war cost the lives of almost three quarters of the total population of the Shedu, but was eventually won by the Shedu trying to destroy the cults. The species in general decided to isolate themselves to a degree, as within years of them meeting humans they had entered a war against eachother and lost 75% of their entire population.

Herd Organization
Shedu herds were the main social group of Shedu. An alpha pair lead each herd, and 1-3 other couples of Shedu were in each herd. Every herd had to have at least eight members (six not counting the Alpha pair). Each pair in the herd was allowed up to four children and the children of Alpha shedu were not privileged over ordinary children. When a child reached 20, they were expected to find a mate. Shedu could only mate with individuals of the same herd. When an Alpha Shedu died, their widow would step down and become an ordinary Shedu, while a new pair would take the former Alpha pair's place.

New Herds
After a pair of Shedu had as many children as they wanted (a maximum of four), they were allowed to have more children, but when their future children reached 20, they would have to leave the herd and go off into the wilderness. While in the wilderness, Shedu had to roam around until they met other Shedu. When they had gathered into groups of at least eight, they would form couples (if their was an odd number, then some Shedu would either: stay in the wilderness; stay single within the new herd; or form triples rather than couples). After the couples were established, an Alpha pair would be chosen, which could be done in any way possible. Then the new herd would be complete.

Lone Shedu
Some Shedu (either widows; singles over 20; or Shedu who did not join herds while in the wilderness) would decide to leave their herd and live alone wherever they chose. This would make a Shedu more independent, but it would also put them in more danger from any enemies he/she may have. Lone Shedu became more and more common as Shedu moved into permanent homes such as towns and cities.

Isolated Pairs
If two Shedu met while in the wilderness and formed a mating couple, they sometimes decided not to join a herd and simply live together in a much smaller social group. This was very rare and was only ever done by Shedu in the wilderness.

Family Herds
Occasionally, an Isolated Pair would raise their children into a herd of their own, but these herds were very short-lived as all of the members would be of the same family, and while inbreeding was not a taboo amongst the Shedu, it sometimes produced more serious defections than in other species, and most Shedu didn't wish to risk this.

Physical description
Shedu were quadrupedal creatures, whichever body type they possessed. Their bodies could either resemble that of a lion, or that of a bull A pair of wings, which grew to 4 metres from tip to tip, sprouted from the shoulders of the Shedu, and a human-like head and neck began at the front of the body. The hair on the head of a Shedu was always black, but the fur covering the body could be any shade of brown, white, black, grey or yellow. Shedu had no dexterous hands with which to write or create things, but as the vast majority of them were force-sensitive, they often used ther Force powers to aid them in tasks which other species would use their hands for.

Shedu, despite their feathered wings, were decidedly mammalian. They gave birth to live young, but twins, triplets, or any other multiple birth was almost completely non-existant among them. There was very little sexual dimorphism, and male and female Shedu had few differences. Female Shedu had faces similar to human females', and male Shedu had faces similar to human males'.

Encasement
Encasement was a technique used by many Shedu on their deathbeds or in seemingly inescapable situations. While it did not require the Force to perform, the Force did give the user some control over the time the encasement took. While encased, Shedu would turn completely to stone, and would awaken in the future, often thousands of years later. When a Shedu awakened, they would revert physically to themself at about 50, but would retain their mind from their time of encasement.

Prominent or powerful Shedu often had their encased bodies put on display in museums or mausoleums, to remind people that when they returned they would expect to be reinstated at their former position. While encasement did cheat death for a while, a Shedu could only ever encase themself once.

Lamassu
Lamassu was what humans initially called Shedu. It meant demon in the language of the Yok Xip, though it was not the Yok Xip who invented the term. The Lamassu Cults were the cults who worshiped the Shedu before humans first made proper contact with them. After the Shedu destroyed these cults, the word Lamassu came to mean two things:

1. A racially offensive term for a Shedu. 2. A term for someone whose religion you disapprove of.

The Yok Xip still used the word to mean demon.

Behind the Secenes

 * Well done, Sherlock. The Shedu are based on the Shedu.
 * This is my signature article! Finally! I have a signature article! - JAWAchief