Xampula

The Xampula were a spacefaring species of intelligent gas bags native to Sampla IV, a gas giant moon in the Kesustadi system. They are relatively isolated from the rest of galactic civilization as despite having been active since the First Galactic Senate Era, they never discovered ygsium or any FTL technologies that would allow them to leave the Kes Nebula.

Biology

Xampula were octopoidal creatures with large heads filled with buoyant gases that allowed them to float. Their ten arms allowed them to manipulate a variety of different tools.

The Xampula homeworld of Sampla IV is a low gravity gas giant moon. Sampla IV has a very high atmospheric pressure, and large floating creatures such as giant blimp whales could be found there. Ancient hunter-gatherer Xampula nomads would hunt these whales for food and other resources.

Society

Xampula society evolved from disparate tribes to a strict autocratic dictatorship. Using superior military tactics, a tyrant leader named Bokun managed to unite the world under an iron fist in a brutal society where civilians obeyed the law through fear. As a result, their society was dedicated to expansion and conquest. One reason why their conquest was so successful was that they relocated people in family groups throughout their empire, effectively removing ties to their original homeland.

Religion

The most common religion among the Xampula is the worship of a technology god known as Takara whose life essence was said to inhabit all the gadgets ever constructed. They believed that the more technology they used, the greater spirituality they would achieve. This belief system descended from a prehistoric encounter with the Omni Empire who visited their homeworld briefly to conduct exploratory missions of this part of the galaxy.

Colonization

The Xampula colonized three different star systems but have yet to achieve FTL capabilities. They traveled from system to system via antimatter rockets. To attack other opponents, they made use of particle weapons to melt a ship's outer hull, then proceeded to finish them off with standard kinetic weaponry. On the ground, they used gunpowder weapons due to it being easily accessible to mass produce.

Because this species has yet to achieve FTL, it took them years for them to travel between systems. The sluggish communication between star systems motivated some colonies to fight for independence due to Bokun's draconian laws. During the middle of the war against Bokun, a distress signal into deep space hoping any nearby extraterrestrials would be willing to help. However, the Xampula have had no contact with any extraterrestrials ever since their prehistoric encounter with the Omni.