–Climate–
Made mostly of jungles and lakes Velka is one of the most lush places in the universe.
There are two major deserts, one in the north and another in the south.
Velka is covered in the ruins from the early Velkin society…it is widely considered an archeologist’s paradise.
–Physical Appearance–
Velkins are generally tall, lean and tend to be stronger than most other races.
They come in a variety of shades, mostly pastels, though with interbreeding other colors can appear.
The trademark of the species are the scales lining their bodies which are usually darker than their skin.
The scales cover the sides of their arms, their spines, the outsides of their legs and they have a large cluster covering their brow ridges and heart.
These scales give them a protection against weapons, some Velkins are even rumored to posses the ability to stop a tadillen dagger with their forearm.
Baby Velkins typically grow their scales at same time they grow teeth.
Initially the scales are soft and easily punctured, but around their thirteenth year the scales begin to solidify, at this time some Velkin fighters will scrape their scales off because they grow back stronger than before but it is excruciatingly painful.
It is not uncommon for Velkin males to have bloody sores where their scales should be.
Velkins also have denser packed muscles and thicker bones, and they have developed some of the most sophisticated martial arts in the universe.
The Veklin race is no longer lived than humans, they typically live only ninety years with current medical technologies.
Some older Velkins choose to accept a warrior’s death and enter into a fight expecting to die, there are entire squads of elder Velkin warriors that participate in high mortality GASP missions because they would rather die at sixty in a fight, than eighty in their sleep.
–Early History and Culture–
The people of Velka are a close nit species, they usually choose to live in populated areas and have left much of their world to the elements.
Velkins created a kind of Olympic Games where the greatest of the great would come to participate in sporting events other competitions. They have preferred to settle their problems through competition and not war.
Velkins have few written laws and prefer to instill their children with a sense of honor and duty and punish those who step outside the bounds harshly. They have a very low crime rate.
During their renaissance soft scales became a mark of the rich and powerful in Velkin society.
Those with the softest were considered the richest because they could hire others to fight for them.
This attitude fell out of favor quickly, however.
–The War–
Velka was one of the founding members of the ‘Traders Alliance’ and they are also credited with the idea for the creation of Basic, a language that would allow all races to communicate effectively.
During the early treaties that would form The Galactic Alliance Velka leaned towards the Rakins, and considered the race of warriors kindred spirits.
When The Kayooshen’s announced that everyone who didn’t follow him would die in a fiery blaze, the democratic Velkins were furious.
Because of their perceived kinship with the Rakin race Velkins felt the blow of betrayal far more painfully than the other races (save Airosians).
Tensions between Velkins and Rakins have been high, even Rakins that aren’t with The Kayooshen are disliked by the Velkins (especially in the days directly following the start of the war).
Their strong belief in honor made Velkins an obvious choice for membership to the high court of GASP, which currently consists of only three other races (Zagonian, Airosian and Norkian).
–Current Events–
Velkins make up almost thirty percent of GASP soldiers (which is a feat considering there are over a hundred planets in GASP) and Velkins are considered the strongest arm of the Alliance.
Even though Velkins are considered a warrior race they have a knack for politics and hold honor above their own lives.
Velkins are the most vocal proponents of peace and they are constantly concerned with underdeveloped planets and their wellbeing as well as refugees from the war.
Velkins do their best to make things fair, sometimes even at their own expense.
With the gradual spread of Velkins and their culture many have retained their lofty beliefs in universal harmony.
However, there are Velkins ready to make a quick dollar off their natural strengths and have entered into mercenary work and smuggling.
Many Velkins have found love outside their own races, leading to a minority of mixed blooded Velkins.
In an exact opposite tradition of the Airosians, Velkin mixed bloods are met with kindness by pure blooded Velkins.
Generally the child takes after the mother in appearance (something to do with the mother’s antibodies fighting off foreign invaders) but will often retain the Velkin’s slightly harder bone structure.
Velkins are patient and willing to hold off on conflict, but once the gauntlet has been thrown it is likely that a Velkin will be leading the charge against their foe.
Velkins are often considered the leaders of GASP…a title they resolutely deny, yet they carry with pride.
