Liška

"'I'm off to join the stars, aloof and free, / Without bonds or masters, as all Liška should be!'""-- Song of the Nomads (Localized)"



The Liška (lee-sh-kah), sometimes called Liškans or spelt Liska, are a nomadic people from the planet Lačkano [Aestel’s Star]. Though they have a home planet, statistics show that 85% of Liška are spaceborn. Most are born aboard vast colony ships, growing up to live in eternal travel. Their culture is known for a dedication to freedom, equality, and the value of community.

Part of the Aslali Trio, the Liška are easily mistaken for Madra or Humans to the untrained eye, but a guide located at the bottom of this document briefly describes the differences.

QUICK INFO
Height Range: 3’3” - 4’10”

Avg. Weights: 45 - 105 lbs.

Avg. Body Type: Balanced, inclinations towards lithe or athletic builds.

Avg. Lifespan: 65 years (Adulthood reached at ~16)

Species Homeplanet: Lačkano [Aestel’s Star]

Key Physiology: Humanoid. Incredibly strong liver provides high tolerance to inhibitors (such as alcohol) and medications. Very high heart rate. Tall ears protrude from top of head. Thick fluffy tail(s). No subtypes of note.

Official Language(s): Jskv, Aroře, Kepla

Common Dialects: Kenji (Lačkanite), Ruruji (Diemsei-Liska), Aslada (

Common Occupations: Freelancer, Courier, Space Ranger, Scavenger

Common Traits: Social, Adventurous, Courageous

Common Flaws: Uncommitted, Ambivalent, Impatient

Common name schemes: A Liska remains unnamed or is given a placeholder name until they are old enough to decide upon their own. Traditionally this is done as a Liska sets out on pilgrimage. A Liškan name consists of three parts: a personal name, followed by a family name, followed by their ‘place of rest’. The family name’s only purpose is to distinguish kin, as is usually only said in formal settings. The place of rest is usually wherever the Liška chooses to end their pilgrimage, however some simply use the name of their ship. Thus, many Liška do not have one. Format: (Personal)’(Family) ta (Ship/PoR).

Examples: Jael’Vera and Mali’Vera ta Ramosa. Matej’Sali, Annara’Riel, Taje’Po, etc.

Visual References: Kemonomimi (Fox)

PHYSIOLOGY
Liška are Humanoids that resemble a vulpine strand of the Aslali Trio. They are the smallest of the three species by quite an amount and about half the size of your average Diemsei. Their ears are tall, sprouting from the top corners of the scalp much higher than any Madra’s. Additionally, they sometimes have extra tufts of fur near the tips or inner base. Lastly, their tails are known to be exceptionally thick and soft, and acts as a counterbalance when necessary.

Internally a Liška is very dissimilar to a Human, however there are a few key differences. For one, the Liška have noticeably more sensitive noses, and are able to pick up aromas from several meters further away than a Human or Madra. The Liška also present extremely powerful livers, able to metabolize high amounts of food or alcohol without even feeling it. Thus, they can outdrink an O’Kiran and food supplies should be increased when one is on-crew. This also means medicinal doses must be adjusted accordingly.

Liška are born in litters of at least six, born as very small organisms that grow rapidly into a survivable infantile state. The process of the ‘seedlings’ growing into Liškan toddlers usually takes only a couple days, wherein the mother/caretakers watch over and care for them during their most vulnerable state.

Liska genitalia is typically smaller than that of other Humanoids. Despite this, their four testicles/nipples provide the most sperm/breast milk of the Humanoids averaged.

The Liška grow quickly from youth, reaching physical maturity by 13 and mental maturity around four or five years later. Their natural lifespan is around 65 years, and the Liška are known to live hard and fast.

Pre-Space History
Ever since their origins, Liška have believed in the value of the individual and the ability to alter fate. When a Liška entered adulthood they were sent off from their home villages to explore the twenty continents of Lačkano and discover their ‘true self’, taking on the title of Nomad in the process. Generally, this pilgrimage came to an end when the Nomad in question found a mate to settle down with, wherein the process would repeat.

The Liška were never a very technologically advanced species, and given their state of society it was unlikely this would change within any organic lifespan. However, when a fleet of Vex pirates raided the planet and abducted several hundred Liška for slave labor, they were forced into our world. The Vex had mistaken them for a Madran colony, and started selling them as such.

Among these slaves was one Arije’Talel, who was rescued by a squad of Space Rangers intercepting a smuggling ring. When the universal translators couldn’t pick up their unregistered language, and a physical checkup only showed one heart, the Rangers concluded they had stumbled upon a new species.

What followed after was a series of months tracking down and eventually liberating the other Liška from captivity, called Operation Starbreak by council records and Livra Dolcika (“liberty’s starting pistol”) by the Liška. After the ordeal, when the Liška had started integrating into galactic society, they pledged loyalty to the United Council and joined its ranks.

Later on Liška would play a pivotal role in springboarding the Binary Revolt.

Modern Society
Despite their circumstances the core values of the Liška never wavered. In the following years the colonies themselves became migrant, with the species taking to the stars to be eternally free. These ships, such as the LSK Jara Sou, are dense tight-knit communities with populations in the millions. Most members of a colony treat each other like family, making surprisingly strong bonds despite their culture’s tendency towards affability.

Liška are known to be partyholics, with their high appetite for food and alcohol fueling astounding festivals. The most well-known holiday of the Liška is the Summer’s Voyage, which takes place during the first twelve days of July and bids farewell to the Nomads departing on pilgrimage.

Liška struggle in terms of relationships and commitment due to their nomadic culture. Monogamy is difficult to maintain for them, as is settling in one place long enough to have a child. Nearly every stable Liškan relationship is polyamorous. There are no such things as marriage in Liškan culture other than an ‘offspring contract’, a deal between two families to keep the population steady in times of crisis. Even then, the contract only dictates the two remain together until their offspring are departing on their own pilgrimage, after which they nearly always split.

TRIVIA

 * Alcohol: The Liška are best-known for their whiskeys and rums. The most popular one is Liberty Ablaze, but others such as Nomad’s Comfort, Liškan Standard, and Traveller’s Pistol are frequently served at any bar.


 * The Liška make up at least 35% of the Space Rangers, perhaps out of gratitude for being liberated from slavery.

Aslali Trio Reference Table
The three species known as the Aslali Trio includes Humans, Madra and Liska, three species with different cultures, technologies and ideals. Despite these differences, several key features remain similar in physiology, so similar that non-Humanoids often have difficulty telling them apart.

It has been studied that the Aslali Trio all share very similar traits in DNA that other Humanoids and non-Humanoids fail to. Scientists theorize that perhaps once the Aslali Trio were all part of the same species, that some major split or hybridization caused them to ‘split’ off into their own species.