Selff

The Selff (//) were a cave-dwelling race of sentients from Shel Du. They were the perennial nemeses of Shel Du's other indigenous sentients, the Vimesk.

Biology and appearance
in configuration, the Selff had stout, boxy builds which enabled them to walk without difficulty in Shel Du's high winds. Their hand had four digits (three fingers and a thumb) each, but each digit was longer than Human or Vimesk fingers due to an additional knuckle and finger segment. The added finger length allowed them to dig, and their bone density (thicker than a Human's and far more than a Vimesk's) allowed them to tunnel.

Selff legs had sufficient muscle density to allow them to leap above their own heights, and their bodies were generally muscular enough to carry weights heavier than themselves. They had naturally thick hair of various colors, but their eyes were almost universally gold. Due to their evolution in caves and tunnels, the Selff could see easily in low light conditions.

The Selff had four tough, bony protrusions on their backs. Xenobiologists debated the function of these protrusions, although the Selff themselves often used them to hang objects they were carrying. Selff flesh was tough and had very weak nerves; Selff could have their hides penetrated without feeling discomfort.

Society and culture
Selff spoke in tough, guttural voices at full volume, but were quiet by nature when not fighting. They had little concern for physical appearance, judging others by their capabilities (and specifically the capability to contribute to society). Because of their tough, pain-dead hides, Selff often embedded objects such as spikes and spines in their skin to use in hand-to-hand combat.

Primitive Selff religion focused on literal darkness; as they evolved from burrowing species, they felt the earth and its subterranean caverns would reward those who had the courage and fortitude to seek out what they desired. Fear of the dark was unknown among the Selff, and was conceptually loathsome to them in aliens.

Selff societies were led by a males who triumphed over others in some contest, often unarmed combat but sometimes another physical challenge. The exact form of the contest changed after 120 ABY, and women were allowed to participate under the watchful eyes of Royal enforcers.

The Selff had a violent hatred for the Vimesk. By the time Shel Du became a possession of the Golden Empire, the actual cause of the strife had been lost to history, but it made the contempt no less venomous on either side. Many Selff considered the Vimesk arrogant.

History
The specific origins of the Selff-Vimesk war were lost to time. In early millennia, while the Vimesk claimed their persecution of the Selff was a mandate from their god, the Selff in turn believed the darkness had called on them to destroy those who fled from it. Religious grounds for wars came and went, but the wars themselves remained.

In 120 ABY, the Golden Empire arrived at Shel Du and forcibly pacified the planet. Tensions remained high, and though the Selff and Vimesk hated each other far too much to band together against the Empire, the assassination of a Selff Tribune in 134 ABY touched off a planet-wide riot that saw the Empire forced to brutally suppress the revolt and restore order.

In the galaxy
Like the Vimesk, Selff were generally distrusted and looked down upon in the Empire, as most aliens considered both species warmongering barbarians. Some Selff, however, gained employment in mining occupations where underground supervisors were needed; a small Selff community developed on Iomis.