Horizon 101: Shaph (Patreon)

Classification: Botanical

Place of Origin: Stronoe, Comarus System

Native Language: Sikstan

Usually standing around 5'7 to 6'2 and weighing anywhere between 200 to 300 pounds, most of their weight is attributed to bulkiness and well-defined muscles but exceptions exist. They possess four arms of the same length, four thick fingers on each, one of those fingers being an opposable thumb. Feet are similar, having only four toes. Their skin is made up of coarse material that many compare to the feeling of wood but being of the same hardiness of chitin.

Face wise, Shaphs share the same general structure as Terrans. Their eyes sit in the same position with a distinct sclera and pupil. They range in colors from green, blues, browns, blacks, and greys. The skin tones are typically grey or brown with the minority possessing much darker tones. Noses are thin and down-turned with two thin slits acting as their nasal vestibule. They have small, pointed ears that follow the groove of their extended skulls, also known as roots. Their mouth is a mix of both visible mandibles and lips, the top being the mandible and the lower actually being a lip. The overlap of the mandible and lip disallows the mouth from fully closing and creates a small hole that aids the species in breathing.

Each Shaph is born with one of three different facial markings which act as the only visual identifier to an individual's sex. The first sex and marking is called 'pisu', known as "web" in the Terran tongue. The marking appears as a large diamond that stretches from the upper bridge of the nose to the bottom of the lip, and to the outer area of both eyes. Six medium-sized lines branch off of it with a thinner line on the nose forming a circle. A pisu supplies a range of genetic markers in the fertilization process.

The second sex and marking is known as 'syutnu' or the "arrow." This marking is a thick line resting on the bridge of their nose with two thinner lines branching off at the bottom and stretching to both sides of the jaw. A syutnu also supplies genetic material. But while the pisu more so supplies a list, the syutnu allows boxes to be checked in the creation.

The third is known as the 'wumt' also commonly referred to as the 'foundation, base, or bark.' Two jagged lines that are not always similiar to another of the same sex, vertically covers the eyes. It reaches from the base of the roots to the jaw. The wumt supplies the DNA and basic constructs for the offspring.

Shaphs are a genderless race and do not recognize the use of pronouns. Instead they simply use their names. Each sex is needed in the process with the wumt beginning the fertility process and creating the sprout that is needed to be further fertilized by the other two sexes. These are always a faded white/light grey color.

The species possess the ability to enter a camouflage mode, similar to that of a chameleon. While in this mode they secrete a toxic thin smoke that is lethal to some species. Though not toxic to the Shaph, water usually causes allergic reactions. The species hydrate through toxins that exist in the air of only a few planets. When not on these planets, they typically are shown to wear lower face masks that keep water out of their systems.

The average lifespan for a Shaph is 200 years.