Jormunfolk

Jormunfolk
General information
Status	Existent
Population	22,000,000,000
Native to	Ganden II, Ganden System, Geirastern Sector, Pilgrim's Esplanade
Extent	2 star systems, plus scattered elsewhere
Biology
Size	13' 1" (Upper body is only 4-5 ft)
Mass	165 kg
Diet	Omnivorous
Limbs	2 arms
Eyes	2
Intelligence	Sapient
Symmetry	Bilateral
Lifespan	150 years
Miscellaneous

The Jormunfolk are a species of semi-humanoid serpents, whose genetic code shows extensive levels of tampering, showing their nature as an artificial species.

Biology

Created by an Arckasian Scientist using the DNA of a species of serpents they discovered on a backwater world, combined with DNA collected from the Syreni from the Drabreim Sector, the Jormunfolk resemble Syreni females, but with the fish tail replaced with a serpent's body, and there's more wide-coverings of scales on their body, protecting multiple vital points on the upper torso. Despite the Syreni's extreme sexual dimorphism, this trait is absent in the Jormunfolk, whose males merely resemble a more muscular and rugged version of female Syreni without the large mammary glands that female Syreni (and female Jormunfolk) share with female Lael'eth. Male Jormunfolk also possess more scale coverage than females, to the point that, traditionally, the Jormunfolk military is mostly made of males, due to their greater natural armor-coverage.

As an artificial species, Jormunfolk DNA shows extensive signs of tampering and alteration. Due to the expertise of the work, however, Jormunfolk are not only able to reproduce naturally, but because of their shared DNA, they possess a level of genetic compatibility with the Syreni species.

Culture

The Jormunfolk are organized in a series of feudal territories, organized in a form of neo-feudal government. Fortunately, due to the technologies that the Jormunfolk have managed to create, quality of life for even the lower classes of society is relatively comfortable.

While genetically-derived from the Syreni species, the Jormunfolk are not as peaceful, being more than willing to deliver a military solution to a problem MUCH more readily than the Syreni.

Mercenaries from the Jormunfolk are common in ISC space, to the point it's not out of the realm of possibility for even the Commonwealth armed forces to hire mercenaries (both those of the Jormunfolk and those not) for certain missions.

Technology

Jormunfolk technology is mostly standard for the Interdependent Systems Commonwealth: nuclear fusion power generation is common, their ships are well-armored, and they use fusion rockets. However, their weapons technology more commonly revolves around high-energy lasers and particle beams, while their sensors use a mix of gravimetric detection and tachyon scanning.

History

Release

After several hundred million years in stasis, explorers from nearby areas of space found the planet of Ganden II, where they eventually came across the Arckasian Scientist's laboratory. After triggering a mechanism within, the lab began freeing the Jormunfolk specimens and, not knowing what to expect, the explorers fled the planet, leaving the Jormunfolk with no clue of what happened.

Over the next few thousand years, Jormunfolk society expanded, soon encompassing Ganden II with a network of feudal holdings and fiefdoms, even long after the Jormunfolk's Industrial Revolution, and trips to the stars. Soon, Jormunfolk Lords began trying to claim entire planets as fiefdoms, but due to the number of Jormunfolk spreading out, agreements and treaties made it so that such worlds had to be divided into different fiefdoms, much like Gandan II itself.

Discovery by the Folkechse

It was nearly 5,000 years later that the Jormunfolk finally had first contact: a Jormunfolk planet was discovered by Folkechse explorers, who initiated first contact with the snake-people.

Relations between the two races started out guarded and cold, but they eventually warmed up to each other, until the point that the Jormunfolk were attacked by remnants of an empire that had fallen and turned to piracy. Said pirated ravaged Jormunfolk territory until the Folkechse drove them off. To better protect themselves, and to help with rebuilding, the Jormunfolk joined the Interdependent Systems Commonwealth.

Notable Individuals

• Phylkron - Mercenary and first wider-galaxy resident to establish contact with someone from the Drabreim Sector