Quam
Homeworld: along with about a dozen other spacefaring races, the Quam came to Zhiar from a younger Multiverse. Their current homeworld is Keltim, an ocean world orbiting the G-type sun Cktlin-- part of a sector in the Hahlan galaxy of the Mahaga universe.
Climate/terrain: an aquatic species, Quam prefer deep tropical and sub-tropical oceans, only venturing into shallower parts of Keltim's oceans when spawning.
Mental abilities: one of the oldest of the races migrating to the Zhiar Multiverse, most quam possess genius level intelligence by human standars.
Special Abilities: in the Multiverse they originate from, even telepathy was quite rare, but in the centuries which has passed since their race arrived in Zhiar-- and increasing number of quam with telepathic, empathic and even magic talents have hatched. At the present time, few quam have been accepted as students at the schools and academies of the Mages Circle, but that is more due to quam hesitation to let potential students go there than that their talents are too weak. However, the quam have accepted carefully selected groups of magic-users to start a few small schools within their territory.
Society: due to that female quam are capable of holding a certain control over the more agressive males through the use of pheromones, the society of the quam is mainly a mathriarchal one. Where females are responsible for most dealings with other races-- including trade, alliances and interaction in general, it is the males who run most of the major Guilds; constructing starships, weapons, growing food and medical science.
Trade is highly important to the Quem, and they will therefore always try to secure trading contracts with any fledgling races-- having earned a reputation for being clever but quite fair. Due to their time as starfarers in addition to wealth and respect gained when trading and interacting with other races in the galaxy, the Quem is one of the most influencal races in their section of the galaxy.
The starships of the Quam are typically constructed to resemble themselves or other oceanic species from their homeworld-- signature colors being shades of blue and green, often with a metallic tinge to it. As the Quam is an aquatic species, their ships are filled with slightly saline water-- requiring most non-Quam visitors to wear protective gear. When neccessary, the Quam will use mechanic suits designed to allow them to walk on dry land without harm.
Description: a mainly aquatic race, a Quam's powerfull body is torpedo-shaped and bears some resemblance to the terran fish tuna. However, their eyes are large and luminous and their bodies are covered with seemingly delicate, silver-green scales. While lacking any external arms, a Quem have two pseudo-arms that are usually folded within its mouth, these 'arms' being equiped with hand-like appendages-- these being used for hunting as well as for more complex tasks.
Among the Quem, there are no external physiological differences, both male and females being of the same size; 2-2.5 meters long and weighing at least 100 kilograms.
Specific Physical Statistics.
Size at birth: 20-25 cm long.
Size at maturity: 2-2.5 meters long.
Time to maturity: 20 years.
Natural lifespan: 40-50 years.
Combat: not a race that will resort to violence, the quam will always avoid combat if they can-- always debating with a potential enemy in hope of finding a solution that may benefit both of them. But in those cases when they have to fight or go to war, the quam are more likely to hire troops of mercenaries to fight for them, supporting the hired troops with equipment and supplies, while avoiding to join the fighting themselves.
Race weaknesses: to the quam, substances such as mayonaise, milk, coffeine and chocolate is highly toxic-- causing extreme illness and often death if ingested,