The Colorrbiz (/koʊˈlɔər.bɪz/, singular "Colorrb") were a race of furred sentients from Ekshi.
Biology and appearance[]
The Colorrbiz were bulky and furred, easily weighing several hundred pounds. Their almost perfectly spherical heads rested on their shoulders with little in the way of neck. They had long, droopy ears on both sides of their head and antennae on the tops of their head, which were used to perceive vibration. Their wide nostrils were located just above their mouths. They had deep-set, brown eyes and poor distance vision, relying predominantly on their senses of smell and vibration.
Colorrbiz mouths projected out from their faces the entire length of their heads again and were used only for consumption. The tubular, trunklike mouth was filled with teeth on all sides; sharp teeth in the front could shred meat or tougher plants, while row after row of molars in the back would grind food to prepare it for digestion. Though usually narrow, giving the Colorrbiz a perpetually confused look to many other species, a Colorrb's mouth could open to several times its resting width to consume food. As the species breathed only through their nostrils, Colorrbiz mouths led directly to their two stomachs. The first stomach broke down food, while the second processed the nutrients and sent waste to be excreted.
With their lungs connected only to their nostrils, the Colorrbiz communicated with a whistling language, as well as by using a complex hand sign language. Their large, furry paws had six thick fingers, including two thumbs, one on each end of the four other digits. By contrast, Colorrb feet had no digits at all, their thick legs simply ending in a tough, padded sole. This gave the Colorrb a slow, stiff-looking walk; when in need of quicker movement, they could shuffle over terrain by sliding their feet.
The Colorrbiz were omnivorous scavengers, and were famous for their willingness to eat anything organic. As their first stomachs could filter many poisons found on their homeworld, there was very little limit to their diet.
Colorrbiz reproduced sexually, and young were usually born in groups of two; odd numbers of birth existed, but were rare and usually the product of partial miscarriage.
Society and culture[]
Ekshi was predominantly composed of societies which were representative democracies, although on the local level it was not uncommon for cities to be actual democracies, with all citizens having an equal vote in governance. Though not overly warlike, the Colorrbiz were defensive about what they considered theirs, and the citizens of most independent states had a strong sense of national loyalty. When Ekshi was absorbed into the Golden Empire, most Colorrbiz transferred this strong attachment to the Empire as a whole.
The Colorrbiz as a species were generally regarded as more peaceable and open to discussion than many other species. Their scavenger origins made them open to many possibilities and curious by nature, but also generally willing to concede to an enemy who exhibited clearly superior force. Due to their omnivorous nature, the Colorrbiz tended to build their dwellings of stone, brick, or other materials which did not lend themselves to consumption.
Young Colorrbiz were raised by their family and treated as adults at the age of fifteen standard years. Until that age, they attended formal schooling and were responsible only to their families. However, Colorrbiz families often housed several generations together, and respect for all elders (however many generations back) was stressed. Respect for elders also manifested itself in governance; most Colorrbiz political, military, and economic leaders were toward the higher end of the age spectrum.
Thousands of variations of sign language existed across Ekshi, but a few languages acquired transnational usage.
History[]
Early Colorrbiz society was based on the wandering scavenger packs from which they evolved. After evolving sentience, they were able to forge rudimentary tools and weapons which allowed them to drive off the predators which were their normal competition for food. The nomadic nature of the Colorrbiz competed with their need for sustenance as packs combined and grew. Eventually, they began domesticating the large herds of animals they usually followed and formed rudimentary cities. Deliberate eradication of predator populations both allowed herd populations to swell and protected the Colorrbiz themselves.
Due to their ability to consume nearly any living thing, the Colorrbiz were able to live on most parts of their homeworld. As a result, once the idea of permanent settlements took hold, it spread quickly. Early Colorrbiz wars arose not for sufficient resources, but for variety of resources.
Over time, national governments emerged around Ekshi. Some areas united by mutual agreement, others were conquered by stronger neighbors. Most were democratic in some form, although dictatorship succeeded in some areas when a strong leader could intimidate his fellow citizens into subordination.
By 108 ABY, the Colorrbiz had progressed to computer-level technology. Curiously, they showed a species-wide aversion to flight or any form of aerial transportation, though they developed drones for military and exploratory use and were willing to travel by hovercraft. In 108 ABY, the Golden Empire arrived at Ekshi and Queen Rin Sakaros attempted to recruit the world. The Colorrbiz were leery of surrendering their freedom, but thoroughly impressed by the obvious power of the Empire's Armada, as well as Rin's massive Force-given personal power. After nearly a year of off-and-on negotiations, the Colorrbiz pledged their homeworld to the Empire willingly.
Initial membership in the Empire was little different than for other worlds; the Colorrbiz eagerly imported offworld technology and accepted offworld visitors to trade. However, in 121 ABY, the Centurion Vessyk was appointed as Consul of Ekshi, and spent the next six years turning the world into his own personal dictatorship. The Colorrbiz were severely divided between those who supported the government and became accessories to its brutality, and those who opposed it and became its victims. Resentment of the Golden Empire ran high among abused Colorrbiz populations, though this was severely mitigated when Rin Sakaros herself came to avenge the wrongs done and slaughtered Vessyk and his guards personally in 127 ABY. After creating the post of Tribune for her Empire, Rin publicly credited the Colorrbiz with making her see the need for the change, which increased the species' standing in the view of the general public.