# OLD OUTDATED SARATHI DRAFT NOT CANON!!!

###### tags: `Deprecated` `Lore` `Species`

The Sarathi are a race of tall, sentient humanoid reptiles standing an upwards of six feet tall on average, with females smaller in stature. Sarathi originate from the planet of Kalixcis, a lush, humid planet similar in size to earth. The planet's history can be summarized as a state of constant warfare between several large clans vying for territory and power. The Clan system is deeply entrenched in Sarathi society, with everything else revolving around it. It forms a major part of their code of honor, which stresses the importance of martial abilities and loyalty to the Clan.

Since contact with humans, Sarathi are most commonly seen aboard Nanotrasen stations working in Service, Engineering and Security roles. However some have proven themselves as competent surgeons and brilliant scientists, providing them new opportunities not afforded on Kalixcis.
Sarathi in the modern day enjoy all the same privileges as their human coworkers, though it is worthy of note they are not protected by Asimov's laws of robotics.

## Biology

The average Sarathi can be expected to live for about eighty years. However with the advanced medical care of modern society, that average is around a hundred years of age. Sarathi are a cold-blooded species, capable of trapping large amounts of heat in their body to self-regulate body temperature. When subjected to prolonged exposure to a cold environment, Sarathi will become fatigued and eventually undergo a comatose-like hibernation to preserve their life until receiving warmth.

Since they are carnivorous species, their diet consists mostly of meat, though they do have a tolerance to some plants and fruits. Primarily consisting of those found on their homeworld. However, they receive very little nutrition from most plants, so they are mostly used as garnish or decoration.

The reproductive system of a Sarathi is very similar to that of Earth reptiles. Females lay eggs, with the average clutch being somewhere between one and three. They have a six month gestation period, after which they are laid in a humid, warm area. After two months, the fetus is fully developed and hatches from the egg. Sarathi are born with their claws and ability to walk within hours of hatching. A Sarathi is considered an adult when they are 18 years old.

## Physiology

The Sarathi as a species show a great deal of diversity in their general morphology in relation to geographical point of origin. Facial and body features range in size and shape, with some having raptor-like aesthetics, serpentine looks, or a more draconic body. Traits such as tail size are genetic and dependent on the Sarathi’s diet.

Both sexes stand on digitigrade legs, with three toes on each foot and a hooked dewclaw, and have clawed feet and hands. However many modern Sarathi can be seen with plantigrade legs from genetic modification to better fit in with human society and clothing. They also possess very long, forked tongues, typically black or extremely dark red in color. These tongues function much like a snake, allowing a Sarathi to sample the air around them with great sensitivity.

Sarathi of the Heartland typically possess very earthy tones in their scale coloration such as greens, browns and oranges. They also have the greatest variety in physical traits amongst the species. These Sarathi are of average height, males standing at 6’2” on average, with the female average at 5’7”. This subspecies is the most common variety to see, making up the majority of all Sarathi. These Sarathi are the progenitors of modern Sarathi society and culture and retain most ruling positions of Kalixcis.

Sarathi originating from Demon’s Fang exhibit much darker scale coloration, typically red, gray and black. These Sarathi tend to have very sharp, raptor-like features, slightly larger on average than their Heartland cousins and known to be far more aggressive. These Sarathi tend to grow between 5’11” to 6’6”. Females growing between 5’4” to 6’ feet tall. Sarathi of the Fang are notorious for being distrustful of the other Sarathi due to a long and bloodied territory war spanning millennia past.

Sarathi of the Pale Ring reflect their environment with light coloration. Whites, grays and light yellows. They are the largest Sarathi, averaging 6’3” to 7’ feet tall with large, thick armored scales. Females tend to grow between 5’7” and 6’1” feet tall. Sarathi of the Ring possess “draconic” features. Often taking form in sharp features and many bone-like protrusions in the head, face, arms, along the spine and tail. These Sarathi are prized to the clans for their high natural resilience and martial prowess, though they are rather few in number.

Sarathi of the Shrouded Isle have unique, translucent scales, leaving them a pallid white or blue in color. Furthermore their scales are known to be iridescent in exposure to sunlight. As such this phenomena is rarely observed aboard stations. Sarathi of the Isle are extremely rare outside of their home and few in number. They possess much sleeker bodies than typical Sarathi with slender, serpentine features and blank white eyes. These Sarathi tend to grow to be between 5’4” and 6’ feet tall with females growing between 4’10” and 5 '6'' feet tall.

## Society

Sarathi society is often seen as primitive, its core philosophies outdated. The Sarathi will argue its traditionalism is what makes the Sarathi so strong as a people. Sarathi society revolves around clans, but more specifically the people. All facets of society exist to benefit the people as a whole. As a result the Sarathi are a united people. Even those separated by Clan ties or regional borders will gladly choose to trust one another over an alien species.

Kalixcis is governed by the three great ruling clans, The Sin’Arak, The Anu’El and the Unik'Kur. These three clans rule over all aspects of Sarathi life on Kalixcis as well as mediate with Nanotrasen on topics pertaining to worker rights and general treatment aboard their stations. All Sarathi are born into lesser clans, often encompassing their family or settlement. However all of these clans are subjugated to one of the three ruling clans.

The hierarchical structure of Sarathi society is best described as a feudal caste system. Clan noblemen being at the top, followed by priests, warriors, merchants, peasants and the outcasts. Save for the outcasts, each place in society is integral for greater function of daily life on Kalixcis. It is because everyone performs their roles in clan, family and society that the Sarathi are able to remain a powerful, unified people. This dissuades galactic corporations from attempting to take advantage of Kalixcis and the Sarathi people.

While previously dead-locked in millennia-long conflict with one another, The great clans have since made peace with one another, seeing humanity as a great potential threat. It is of mutual understanding to leadership that the Sarathi as a people must be united to remain strong enough, should the need for conflict ever arise. Military service is mandatory for all Sarathi born on Kalixcis, with four years minimum service to be put in. The Sarathi remain a highly militaristic society even in the modern age, possessing a massive standing military; Nearly every member of the species is trained as a war-ready soldier.

## Religion

The Sarathi of Kalixcis tend to be deeply spiritual people, with the vast majority of the population following the official religion supported by the Great Clans; Sekh’Xil. The Sarathi themselves, however do not see their beliefs as a means of salvation, but rather as the way of the world. The people believe in spirits that inhabit the land around them and build shrines in reverence to them. There are many thousands of known spirits, and are typically only known and worshiped by locals. The spirits are thought to grant protection to the land they inhabit and the people who take time to revere them.

Spirits who receive great reverence and worship are thought to ascend as gods, gaining power as faith and prayers are given. Several great spirits are thought to the people of Kalixcis as gods, and each represent different aspects of the world around them, and of life. Sarathi tend to devote themselves to the gods that best represent themselves and their way of life, along with the local spirits of their land. Regular worship and offerings to the gods and spirits of the land is paramount to the everyday Sarathi life, and by most would be considered the most important, and happiest part of their daily life.

An integral part of Sekh’Xil is ancestor worship. Sarathi believe when family members pass on, they become part of the world around them, and a part of themselves. That their spirit remains watching over them, and guides them in their life, granting them wisdom and strength during pivotal moments of their life. Sarathi tend to have shrines within their home of passed family members to honor their memory and regularly tend to them as part of their daily routine.

Sarathi tend to have Shamans who lead worship in their given community. Shaman pass down many secrets and tales through oral tradition to their successor. Shaman are highly respected members of society and guide many traditions such as communal worship and advise on creation of wards, talismans and even ritual scarring practices.

## Naming Customs

Sarathi lack given names until they reach maturity, at which point they may elect to adopt their own name reflecting who they are. While some Sarathi adopt names prior to adulthood, these individuals are usually shunned for defying proper custom. Sarathi names are heavy with harsh sounding consonants and short sussurated vowels. An example would be Dhreks Gnarssis or Bhink Khambasshk. Before receiving their name proper, many Sarathi choose or are given a name that represents specific traits or behaviors they exhibit. These names tend to follow a “Verbs-The-Noun” scheme. Though traditionally naming reserved for children and teens, many modern Sarathi keep these names, primarily those born off-world.