Sirenian 101 (not done yet)

Okay I had no idea where to post this so I decided to do it here.... because the idea of inventing this alien species was fun I decided to take it a step further and actually make a little race file for this incase someone else takes an interest.

Take note that this is a FULL INDEPTH guide. Not all people should know this information in character and I will highlight the areas only a Sirenian or someone who has actually had an indepth look into Sirenian (aka had a parent who was a sirenian or had a sirenian willingly tell them). There will also be a section on marine/pirate lore of the species.






Sirenians come from an area of the outer ring of the galaxy they call 'the deep sea' to galaxy charts it is an unmapped solar system known as J-34. The reason it remains and unmapped sector is because of the heavy ion storms that plague the solar system and the heavy asteroid belt around it dubbed by space pirates as 'the great ship graveyard' for how many ships have been dashed against the asteroids. Past those obstacles are said to be the Sirenians home solar system where the 'Heart of the Sea' lies in the dead center. This 'heart' is a giant star even bigger then earths sun and glows in multiple colours its light sometimes penetrating past the asteroid belt creating an almost aurora borealis in space. Surrounding this star are only 2 planets called Profundumare and Viteaquis which are the Sirenians home planets, there is a odd vacuum between these two planets connecting them together by a huge current of water Sirenians call the 'life stream' here the water from both planets converge and exchange properties. Many have seen Sirenians penetrate the asteroid belt, only able to pass through because of their small size in relation to the belt. This seems to happen once every hundred years or so for a sort of 'yearly' meet and greet between different Sirenian pods.

Heart of The Sea

The Heart of the Sea while a star is the Sirenian version of 'god', and they believe the light of the heart is reflected in their scales which is why they treasure their tails. Any serious vows they make are usually done with a symbolic gifting of a scale, this gesture shows that they are willing to part with a small piece of their own 'soul' to make such a vow.




Sirenian maintain a healthy distance from governments or politics when it comes to other species but that doesn't mean they do not have a system of their own. Sirenians form family groups called pods which are formed of either a mating pair of sirenians and their children or a group of young sirenian females (usually 1-4) and their children. In the case of the mating pair it is the mother who usually is seen as the head of the family an in the case of the group it is always the eldest sirenian female. The leader of the pod is known as the Matercula, which in the Sirenian language means mother.

It is the job of the Matercula to not only navigate the pod through their travels but to select where the pod will have it's 'host' planet. The job of protecting the rest of the pod and its young goes the 'second-in-command' known as the Tutela, which in Sirenian means protector. Pod politics are NOT democratic, what the Matercula says? goes and the Tutela will reinforce this (though there have been cases where the Matercula will take advice from pod mates on certain matters). The close relationship between Matercula and Tutela usually means the two are either a mated pair or sisters.

The pod's relationship and interaction with other species varies from pod to pod but one thing is clear. A pod will avoid spaceships unless the space ship is small and encroaches upon the territory of their host planet.

Because of the vast amount of space and how far Sirenians travel it is RARE to see two pods interacting. But most Sirenian pods either tolerate or enjoy another pods presence. And share stories of their travels with one another. Should two pods merge for a while to travel together the elder of the two Matercula shall become the head of this larger pod

A pod has a very interesting relationship with any natives on their 'host' planet. As most Sirenians will appear human on their host planet and even join as a full member of the community. But depending on the Matercula or the individual Sirenian some host planets do not even realize they have a Sirenian amongst them. More friendly pods however will actually return with 'gifts' for the members of their host planet. This is thought to be a way of placating the members of their host planet so that hunters looking for Sirenian tails will be immediately evicted or scared off by the native inhabitants. Sirenians have been known to immediately leave the host planet and never return if even one member of a local community has broken this trust and let a hunter stay.




Sirenians mature physically and emotionally to the stage of an adult at 16 which is 48 in human years, though many Sirenians will not begin initiating courtship rights till they are 18 (248) or older. For a Sirenian mating pair courtship usually begins at the 100 year gathering of pods BUT this is not the case 90% of the time.... WHY? because the ratio of males to females is 100 to 1. It is unknown why this is but thats just life. 98% of the Sirenian population is female and thus their chosen mates are usually not even Sirenian.

Sirenians actually mate with other species, there are many tales of one night stands with mysterious female that entrance men from their ship or from the shores of host planets. Sirenians show no general preference between the species of the known galaxy. The male of the other species sometimes doesnt even know they were with a Sirenian.

Once a Sirenian mates and becomes pregnant she will give birth within 2 years. 98% of the time the child will be a female Sirenian just like their mother, this is because the Sirenian genetics are dominant. 1% of the time the child will be a male Sirenian and the other 1% of the time the child will be a male sirenian hybrid. Though in the case of hybrids the only telltale sign will be their ability to breath under water or in space without hinderance and perhaps one other odd trait. While sirenian males are treasured and taken back to the pod. A hybrid child on the other hand is more then often abandoned into a local orphanage very very VERY rarely is the child accepted into a pod to live like any other sirenian child.

There are stories though of Sirenians 'giving up' their tales to live like human women to be with a chosen mate for the males natural lifespan. Though many of these stories usually end up with the woman disappearing one day mysteriously or waiting until the mans death never aging a day and then taking off.




A Sirenians greatest strength is also their greatest weakness... While in human form Sirenians appear human this is a great advantage for them because this is their main defence against hunters or other species in general, for being human makes them appear weaker and less threatening then their truly are. Though the issue with this is that without her tail a Sirenian has no true defence, if shot at a Sirenian will die of a well place blaster ray. This is because while their tail has diamond like hardness the rest of their body is made up of tiny micro scales that only protect them from the harsh radiations of space but not damage. But they reveal what they truly are once they reveal their tail, a Sirenian tail is unique to the Sirenian varying in color and shape but there are general commonalities. The first off being the tails hardness and blade like fins which are their tools for self defence. Unlucky marines and pirates have seen first hand the damage an angry Sirenian can inflict with those blade-fins known to be able to cut through the hulls of some space ships. Which makes capturing a Sirenian difficult and dangerous.

Sirenians hold great value in their tails and their scales taking the time to properly wash and groom them to make their tails shine. You can tell directly how healthy a sirenian is by the luster of the tails. This direct relation to their health is a trouble amongst hunters, for when a Sirenian dies scales still on their body quickly begin to lose their luster and become disgusting unusable hunks of stone. Thus valueless. Which is why Sirenians are kept alive through the horrible process of 'descaling' which to them feels like someone ripping off their finger nails. Though because Sirenians have yet to join any form of alien government the hunting of Sirenians for their tails has not been outlawed. Their fins are also useful in making war blades.

Sirenian scales have been found in; HIGH END jewelry, adornments, decorations, and armor.

A Sirenians personal attachment to their tail is one of well renown, threats up actions such as descaling are met with open hostility. Those wearing Sirenian scales when meeting another Sirenian are also the targets of vicious hostility (the exception to this will be scales that were given freely, somehow each Sirenian will know in an instant wether or not the scales were given freely, this has yet to be explained). This is because Sirenians view their tails as their own soul which their scales being pieces of their soul. Though scales will fall off and regrow naturally. A sirenian accepts this as the natural decay and renewal of their own soul as they live and grow.

Because of this view it is VERY intimate to touch a Sirenians tail, and is usually only done by trusted friends or potential mates. Though sisters and mothers are allowed to help in the grooming of tails. And staring at a Sirenians tail is considered rude by Sirenian standards as it is akin to staring at a human woman's breasts. Appreciating or flattering a Sirenians tail on the other hand is a most welcome gesture.

MORE TO COME LATER