Impar

The Impari (//, singular "Impar") were a bipedal, race of shapeshifting humanoids. They hailed from war-ravaged Vor'Dal, but were encountered throughout the galaxy.

Biology and appearance
The Impari were, and indeed resembled s closely except for their gray skin—they possessed hands and feet with five digits and grew hair, though it was usually black. However, the Impari had the ability to change their forms at will, altering skin color, hair color, and even (to some extent) build and height, although their mass remained the same. Some Impari could also change their eye color, though usually only for brief periods of time.

In order to more easily facilitate digestion while shapeshifting, the Impari had two stomachs.

Society and culture
Impari society was mostly democratic, with councils making government rules.

Impari religion held that they had been given the ability to change shape because their god did not know what the perfect form was (unlike most other beings, who were fixed in one shape). The most devout practiced shapeshifting as a form of devotion, constantly seeking the ideal form.

Since most Impari could not maintain eye color changes for any length of time, looking into the eyes of another speaker without looking away was often taken as a sign of distrust. More paranoid Impari sometimes wore distinctive identifying jewelry so their family could be (relatively) sure they were themselves.

History
The Impari dominated their native Vor'Dal, having initially used their shapeshifting skills to either hide from or intimidate predators by blending or adopting jarring color patterns. As they mastered their homeworld, shapeshifting became a tool of espionage and political assassination.

Some time after the, the Impari were attacked by alien invaders. They managed to repel the assault, but Vor'Dal was devastated in the attack. Many Impari fled throughout the galaxy, and those who remained built up extensive defenses. Despite their efforts, they were no match for the Golden Empire, who conquered their world some time after the Nightmare War.

In the galaxy
Among the Impari who fled Vor'Dal were the parents of Kylar Tanake, who crashed on. Though his parents died, Kylar was adopted by Reiko Kaytana and her wife Sigea Tanake, and became the brother of Nagarian Sakaros.

Some Impari who reconciled themselves to the Golden Empire joined Royal Intelligence, where they were highly prized as spies.