Lanteia and Coron - A'Cheis

It's that time again. The alien of the month.

There have already been several pictures of this species in the gallery.
(two of the four)

But there hasn't been a proper species introduction.

The Alien of the Month for May:

Species Information
A'Cheis (Anterminus Cheistam)

Homeworld: Kendacha (pronounced ken-dock-ah)
They have expanded far beyond Kendacha to a few dozen other planets within the tightly controlled boundary of their empire. All of their space falls behind a line. A literal line of light that indicates their boarder. They also have an inhabited space station, large enough to be confused for a moon, that functions as their capitol; called Lenothis Station. They live closer to the center of the galaxy than would be very comfortable for humans.

Size: 6'5"- 7'8" (2-2.5m) (including horns)
These are the extremes. They are usually very much the same size.

Intelligence: Roughly human equivalent.
Every race, species, and nation has their shining stars and their small minded idiots. The A'Cheis are no exception. In some ways, they may *appear* to be more advanced, but the most honest of them would agree that it just seems that way. Some of their technology is more advanced, and some of it is a little behind. The difference is in the amount of time they've had to develop it, the different needs it was created to serve, and the different minds behind it's creation. The only things the two species seem to be equal in is military tech.

Language: A'Cheis Prime
There are several regional dialects that don't so much change the language as they add a level of detail. Humans cannot speak A'Cheis Prime, but they can learn to understand the basics of what is being said. They are learning English and Hassan (as mandatory subjects in their education system, and in job training) in order to keep up communication with other species.

The A'Cheis have dual vocal chords of a material with a surprisingly high amount of metal elements. Their voices tend to be very low and have a low frequency vibration behind them. Their skulls contain three separate sets of "echo plates", that can amplify and change the sound as needed. Some think they sound "attractive", and some think they sound like they're speaking into an old can.

There is no distinction between a male and female voice.

Lifespan: 200-250 human years

Temperament: Like humans there really is no way to classify them one way or another. Of all the races we've encountered so far, they seem to be the least unified and predictable in their behavior and emotions. It doesn't mean that a singular A'Cheis is going to be unpredictable, it just means that they are harder to classify when it comes to their interactions with others. They range from happy, gregarious, and optimistic to cynical, quiet, and depressed ... and everything in between.

They are obsessed with fairness and things coming out even. What they do for one, they are honor bound to do for another. Their negotiators don't stop until everything is fair and balanced. This tends to make them honest ... unless they feel they are being manipulated or mistreated because of it.

Physiology:
There are two ways to tell the genders apart: The males are cool colored and have a longer extension on the chin, the females are warm colors with a flatter chin.

As a whole, they tend to be graceful with very precise posture. Humans have described their movements as "snakelike" or "sharkish" because they tend to move from the torso out.

A natural advantage they have is in their eyesight. They have very good aim. The other perk is that they are capable of seeing in much brighter light. The noon sun of earth is like twilight to them. The downside is that they tend to be a little lost in the dark. (Probably more than they are willing to admit.)

Their colors may seem very vivid in other places, but in their own region the brightness of the suns tends to wash out their colors.

Despite their large size, they don't eat as much as humans. The rest of their nutrients and energy come from radiation in their natural environment. Much of it comes through the 12 gill-like openings in their neck. Six on each side. They use the same organs to breathe. The only reason air passes through their mouth is when they use it to speak or make noise.

There tends to be a higher metal content in their bodies than in any other major species. It gives them a slight sheen and slickness to the skin (best viewed up close). They are not (I repeat, not) magnetic ... so don't try putting magnets on them. They don't like it.

A'Cheis faces are difficult to read. They don't have lips or eyebrows, so a lot of the clues we look for as humans just aren't there. The best indicators are their eyes and the angle of their heads. If they raise their lower eyelids and tilt their chins up, that means they're angry. Lowered upper lids and lowered faces mean they're happy.

Other:
They have a psychological concept, species wide, simply known as The Line. It defines their architecture, their "religion" (they do not worship The Line), and their interactions with other from a personal scale up to the galactic level. The best way to begin to navigate the issue is to stop before crossing a line painted on the floor, in lights, or indicated by a physical obstacle and look around for approval. They will usually nod, motion for you to continue, or indicate otherwise whether you should cross or not.

Pictured Above:
Lanteia Na'Torii and her son Coron. She lacks typical human female features because she's not human. The A'Cheis lay eggs, so there is no need for things like hair and breasts. As a species, they tend to wear full-coverage clothing (they can be a little on the conservative side). But this is a picture for education as much as anything else, so she decided to expose more than usual. Her color is fairly typical for the species; about 50% of all females are yellow. She is one of their magic users. If she was using it in any way, then her energy lines and meridians would have been visible and glowing. She is considered a very classic beauty for her people.

Coron is almost two hears old. His horns will grow until he's an adult and he won't have any spots until he's in his teens. They stay fairly small for their first five years, then grow very quickly. At this point in his life, his favorite thing is to head-butt anything and everything. This is normal. It's a part of their development the same way babies who are teething need to chew on things. The more he does this, the stronger his skull will become, making the way for bigger horns and (so far as the A'Cheis are concerned) a more attractive face.