The Aurelian Kh'uunate: Biology

Biology

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Standing with average stature and lean builds, the crimson-and-gold-stripe-skinned Aurelians are an organic race composed of two sexually-dimorphic genders: Males tend to be shorter and of lighter complexions whilst females emit pheromones describable to humans as bearing the aroma of incense.

Hairless, lizard-like tails protrude down to an Aurelian's feet and end with alternating bands of brown and orange stripes. Given this attribute, the Aurelians are extremely agile and have a lowered risk of developing strain-related back problems, though at the cost of a lack of biological compatibility with most space activity suits otherwise tailored for tail-less species. Though metal refining is mostly limited to crude, primitive smelting of tin ores, enough gold and silver exists such that high-ranking members of society are socially permitted to pierce their appendages with jewelry.

At the molecular level, hydrogen cyanide rather than oxygen is responsible for acting as the reagent in respiratory reactions. Copper-based blood cells transporting hydrocyanic acid through an Aurelian's bloodstream assumes a dark purplish sheen which rapidly pales into the characteristic blue hue of cupric compounds upon releasing cyanide into the air; depending on ventilation conditions and the presence of effective respirators, this leakage of cyanide into the air by a mutilated, bleeding Aurelian corpse can pose a health risk to human crews accountable for disposing Aurelian bodies. In addition to providing a taste of vengeance to human victims exposed to aerosolized Aurelian fluids, the copper-cyanide circulatory system also provides for rapid coagulation at wound sites with remarkably few demands for would-be platelets. In this case, mild-to-moderate cuts can be safely ignored, yet this gift of rapid healing can backfire whenever bullets or shrapnel are lodged in a blood-rich environment: Flesh will still mend around the shrapnel and may thus cause concern for a thrombosis-like ordeal of intravascular constriction.

Energy storage is relatively elementary with regards to solid-state storage; Aurelians, like organisms from Old Terra, store calories in a fat-like medium. Muscle tissue is of similar appearance, though the HCN analog of ATP means that energy production in an Aurelian individual is incompatible with most forms of Terranized lifeforms. Furthermore, the range of acceptable hydrogen cyanide levels in an environment may vary: The Aurelian atmosphere of hydrogen cyanide, elemental nitrogen and methane stands around a molar ratio of 4;5;3, though cyanide-to-nitrogen ratios as low as 8;13 are acceptable for emergency respiration. At lower concentrations, the Aurelian analog of waste poisoning may occur with prolonged strangulation.

Impressive. Most impressive. I think you will get along well with the Comiderans (one of Rutianas' species) and the Bastians (one of mine). Both are cat people, though the Bastians are shorter than humans. Don't remember about the Comiderans.

Jesus that color is dark though.

Fixed! Thank you, Burnination!

Much more easily read that way . Nice work, though it looks like we might all need gas masks when visiting you.

x) As will our subordinates when we visit that oxygen-infested filth called Old Terra. >;-D

You wouldn't want to visit, since most of it is a radioactive wasteland. Europe is nice, though, courtesy of the Swiss Empire (yes, that's not entirely a joke).

The Great Lakes region and Appalachia is decent as well, thanks to the efforts of the United Municipalities of North America. Basically everywhere else sucks, though :p