Arvonian

With appearances remarkably similar to that of Humans, the pointed ears, white-less eyes, and striking features are the only immediate tells that one is looking at an Arvonian. They have the ability to change the patterns and colors on their skin and even alter their facial features to their liking. Bald by default, their abilities allow them to manifest hair and even jewels out of their skin, given time.

Arvonians co-evolved in a symbiotic relationship with a species of plasmodial slime mold on their native world, which they call daemon. Daemon spores enter the brain of each infant Arvonian, becoming a slime mold and growing alongside their brains to copy their neural pathways. Hormone control and brain enhancement from each Arvonian’s daemon increases lifespan, fertility, intelligence, and well-being in the host.

When an Arvonian dies, they are interred at the base of a large mass of daemon which has crystallized into a tree form. The tree feeds off the deceased Arvonian while the daemon slime mold that individual carried joins with the tree, retaining the consciousness of its Arvonian host and becoming one mind with all the Arvonian ancestors there. This tree flowers and creates new spores which Arvonians the planet over bring their infants to receive. This represents the Arvonian afterlife, and all Arvonians desperately wish to be brought to their homeworld and joined to the Daemon Tree once their lives are over.

Both male and female Arvonians are slender and beautiful. Their society is highly matriarchal, with the female of the species demonstrating more efficient use of the symbiotic daemon which among other things grants higher intelligence and lifespan, and as a result most of their starship captains are female.

Special Powers: none

Special Weaknesses: none

Style Guide: Pointed ears, eccentric colors/patterns painted on the skin, jewel stickers on the face. Loose, flowy clothing.