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| Art by David Monge Bustista |
O'omkaru are newcomers to interstellar civilization. They are often found accompanying other species from the Compact sphere.
So far as is known they have two sexes. Bidirectional hermaphroditism occurs, so that an individual may switch sex several times in a lifetime. The triggers for these changes are unknown, and it seems to be a topic they are reluctant to discuss with other species. Personality changes occur along with their sex, and o'omkaro society accommodates this shift in its members, altering responsibilities and roles as needed.
Many o'omkaru are followers of cultural fads (especially those from other species) and many are collectors of some sort. Almost any new religion, political philosophy or art form they sweeps known space is guaranteed to count o'omkaro among its enthusiasts. O'omkaro history has been painted but historians of other species as a churn of secret societies, revolutionary ideas, and religious awakenings.
Interesting. It's always hard to be sure about sizes on alien species, but are those pistols (if that's what they are) about the right size for a human to use? That would offer a scaling tool.
ReplyDeleteThe image appears to be wearing clothing that isn't environmentally sealed but possibly could be with a "sock helmet" and maybe boot-gloves, perhaps because this Compact includes species that aren't comfortable in each others' environments? The gadgetry on the torso could be a lot of things - translator, commo gear, life support pack, personal electronics, etc. Or any combination thereof.
Does the species have similar environmental tolerances to humanity? They look a bit spindly, which might indicate lower preferred gees, or very efficient musculature combined with a strong skeleton (interior or extreior). Their vital organs also appear to be contained in a pretty small volume, unless some are distributed throughout those long limbs and neck - spreading circulatory functions in penny packets all over would save some torso space. Are they vivaparous in female mode? There doesn't seem to be much room for a womb, but there are loads of other possibilities for reproductive options. How much sexual dimorphism is there between modes - personality changes were mentioned, but is there a lot of physical change as well or very little?
Good questions! The suit, I believe, is a flight suit not a full environmental suit. I don't know what all the controls on the chest do, but surely some of what you suggest.
ReplyDeleteThey come from a planet of slightly lower gravity than Earth, but close. There have a higher muscle to fat ratio than humans, so they are heavier than they appear and quite strong. They have accessory pumping mechanism within their vasculature. There are no external differences discernable by humans between male and female o'omkaro. They are viviparous.