Thalenians

Thalenians are a humanoid species native to Thalen, an ocean world in the Thalen system. They range from 1.6 to 1.9 meters, with lean builds. Their skin is blue-green with light and dark mottling; they have gill slits along the neck and webbed fingers and toes. They can breathe air and extract oxygen from water, an adaptation for a largely aquatic lifestyle. The Thalene language is tonal and uses scripts carved in shell or coral; speech includes melodic cues and rapid glottal stops.

Most Thalenians live in coastal cities on reefs, archipelagos, and floating platforms. Society emphasizes navigation, engineering, and marine biology. Governance combines a council of guild representatives with regional leaders elected by communities. The economy centers on seafaring trade, coastal hydro-energy, biotech, and sustainable fisheries. They are known for tidal turbines and underwater construction techniques.

Thalen hosts diverse island cultures; ceremonial life features bioluminescent art and coral sculpture. Education centers on seamanship, ecology, and diplomacy. Thalen philosophy stresses balance with ocean ecosystems; traditions vary, but care for currents and tides is common.

Historically, Thalenians had limited contact with other starfarers until the early space age, when a treaty with the Terran Coalition established formal diplomacy. They later joined the Interstellar Accord to collaborate on science, environmental protection, and maritime safety. No single Thalenean political body governs all colonies; governance remains decentralized.