H`nemthean

H'nemthean
Homeworld	H'nemthe
Language	H'nemthe [1]
Average Height	1.7 meters [1]
Skin color	Bluish-gray to pink [1]
Hair color	None [1]
Distinctions	Long curved noses, four horns, deadly mating rituals [1]
Known Members	List of known H'nemtheans

Biology and appearance

The H'nemthean are humanoids that resemble Gotals in that they have cone-like appendages on their heads. That is where the resemblance ends, though. Gotals only have two cones, while the H'nemtheans have four. They are native to the planet H'nemthe. The H'nemtheans have blue-gray skin, and their faces are covered with three ridges of bone and skin running from their cheeks to their chins. They have graceful noses and feathery eyelashes covering bright green eyes.

The female H'nemthean have silver, knife-shaped tongues, which are used as part of a bizarre mating ritual. When a female consummates her relationship with a male, she eviscerates him with her tongue, leaving him for dead. It is believed that this ritual is a biological reaction to the existence of twenty males for every female on H'nemthe.

They are humanoid reptilians. They have three fingers on their hands. They are omnivores. [1]

The sensory cones are used much like the way Gotals use their cones—to sense electromagnetic fields and weather pattern, because the weather on their homeworld is very irregular due to its three moons. They are developed as an adaptation to the extreme weather patterns and variable lighting conditions on H'nemthe, helping them to cope with the changing conditions. These cones are also able to sense heat differences in their environment as well as the emotional state of other beings, making them skilled hunters like the Gotals. [1]

Society and culture

The highly structured H'nemthe society was shaped by the natural ratio of the H'nemthean sexes: only one female was born for every twenty males. Despite this imbalance, their culture was based primarily on the search for true love and the creation of new life, which they considered to be the ultimate in spiritual fulfillment.[1]

As a result, male and female H'nemthe mated very rarely, and then only in the case of true love. Since virgin females were rare, they lived a sheltered existence, and were seldom allowed to leave their homeworld. Strict traditions also restricted virgin females to a vegetarian diet, ensuring that their first lover's flesh was the first meat they tasted. The males of the species were timid and spent a considerable amount of their adult lives looking for true love.[1]

Many outsiders considered the deadly H'nemthe mating rituals to be a bizarre contradiction in an otherwise peaceful society. H'nemthe philosophers disagreed, however, pointing out that life coming from death was the way of the universe. In their beliefs, death was merely a change in form that paved the way for future generations. H'nemthe believed that a male killed after mating would receive the ultimate spiritual reward by going on to the netherworld to act as a spiritual guardian for his offspring, and males were thus unafraid of the certain death that would come their way if they found this love.[1]

H'nemtheans prized music, and their music in turn was considered pleasant by non-H'nemtheans. They also valued calligraphy, and H'nemthean who had either of these skills were given great accord in their culture. Poetry was also very important to the H'nemtheans, and it was traditional for lovers to write each other poems. Females especially were expected to be talented in the arts. H'nemthe also enjoyed sciences and history, and studied them to learn more and prepare themselves for potential leadership opportunities. However, the H'nemthe spoken language was considered unpleasant to outsiders, as it was squeaky.[1]

The H'nemtheans had a direct democracy on their planet, generally ruled by a female, as the males often had short lifespans due to the H'nemthean mating ritual. A Senate on H'nemthe consisted of electees selected by local governments.[1]

Common H'nemthe names included Garriel, H'rassh, Liakkor, S'Basso, Vir'roc and Vishki. [1]

History

The planet H'nemthe had few viable exports save for minerals, and though H'nemtheans were known to take jobs in the music industry, they rarely left their home planet. They had few visitors and imported little, occasionally trading for technology or ships.[1]

References: [1] - http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/H%27nemthe