Umbarans (Second Human Empire: Hamo Ui'llmar), culturally known as the Shadow People, resided on the dark world of Umbara deep within the Ghost Nebula. Umbarans could see in ultraviolet (below 300 nanometers) and had the ability to read, subtly influence, and sometimes control the will of others. Umbarans spoke the language Umbarese which was written using the Umbara alphabet. Umbarans were gaunt, frighteningly pale near-Humans with sunken eyes and cold calculating stares, due to the planet Umbara having an eternal twilight. Their eyes were well adjusted to the dark, but they were easily disoriented when exposed to bright sudden flashes of light. The Umbaran militia who took part in the battle of Umbara wore sealed helmets containing a potent gas mixture, used to keep the soldiers combat-ready. It increased their reflexes and made them more aggressive.
Biology and Appearance[]
The Umbarans were basically a slender humanoid species with pale, bluish skin with achromatic sunken eyes. Due to the Umbara's eternal twilight, their eyes were well adjusted to the dark, but they were easily disoriented when exposed to sudden bright flashes of light. The Umbaran militia, who took part in the battle of Umbara, wore airtight helmets that fed them a potent mixture of gases, which enabled Umbarans to be more effective in combat.They had four limbs: two legs, and two arms with five-fingered hands. They had opposable thumbs, essential for throwing, gripping, and the use of tools
Umbarans spoke Umbarese which was written using the Umbaran alphabet.
History[]
Culture and Society[]
On their gloomy homeworld of Umbara, the so-called Shadow People formed an organized society divided into a finely detailed caste system comprising almost one hundred levels. Only those in the top ten caste levels were given the opportunity to leave their homeworld, explaining their rarity outside the Ghost Nebula. The primary ambition of the average Umbaran was to ascend through the caste levels, using tactics from blackmail and subterfuge to assassination, thus priming them for a life in politics. Failed plots to ascend the ranks of society were met harshly with the attempted perpetrator imprisoned and their family dropped to one of the lower caste levels. Dependent upon the rank of the targeted individual, the perpetrator risked a death sentence for themselves and their entire family. Successful maneuvering, however, was rewarded with prestige, making it worth the risk. They could also tell if a person was lying due to their more sensitive eyes and their ability to sense heat.
The highest caste level, known as Rootai, comprised a council that ruled Umbara, and its members were considered royalty. The Umbarans had their own military known as the Umbaran militia, which protected Umbara and the Umbarans from invasions.
and they constantly schemed to improve their social rank. Their technology was more advanced than that found in most of the Skyriver galaxy in many universes. Though Umbarans were capable of speaking Standard Basic, on their homeworld they primarily communicated in their native language, which had an alphabet that consisted of twenty-six letters. A traditional Umbaran garment was the voluminous shadow cloak.
Umbarans were highly isolated and manipulative. A societal caste system promoted cultural goals of power and influence. Many had a darker sense of humor than the average Humanoid, which would manifest in social interactions. Masters of misdirection, these creatures almost never revealed their true thoughts or intentions.