@Ira Yurang’ku Etana
Planet TEMPUS, Oceanic System
The Tsvians are an amphibious race that have adapted to arboreal and aquatic environments. Their most distinctive feature is the presence of specialized feeding organs located in the palms of their hands, complete with extendable tongues capable of reaching several meters in length. They also have two stomachs sacs located in their forearms that connect to their palms. Because they do not have mouths on their faces, their facial features are smooth and streamlined, with only subtle indentations where sensory organs are located. Their eyes are proportionally large and set wide apart on their face for better peripheral vision.
They have adhesive pads on their hands and feet and long tails for climbing. Their skin has a moist, smooth texture and comes in various muted colors ranging from deep blues to forest greens, often with subtle patterns that aid in camouflage. Specialized glands in their skin can secrete toxic gases as a defense mechanism when threatened. These secretions can vary in potency and effect, ranging from mild irritants to hallucinogenic compounds, depending on the level of threat perceived.
Tsvian society is built around communal living in elevated settlements that span both treetop and water-level dwellings. Their communities often display strong social bonds and artistic expression. Art plays a central role in Tsvian society, with painting being a particularly important medium. They create vibrant paints by processing natural materials like berries and minerals through their palm mouths, which allows them to thoroughly mix and refine the pigments.
Tsvian painting serves multiple purposes beyond mere decoration. Distinctive patterns and colors can mark territorial boundaries, highlight important landmarks, and create navigational guides through their forest homes. Their artistic traditions are deeply practical, combining aesthetic beauty with functional purposes that help maintain their society's organization and safety.
They view their ability to create art through their palm-mouths as a sacred gift, believing that the mixing of pigments through their specialized organs brings them closer to the essence of their world. Spiritual ceremonies often involve collective paintings where members of the community create elaborate murals.