The Castores and the Tyneridae - Session Zero Reveal

Find below a document that the cast of our new show "High Level Games Presents: Star Trek Adventures" that outlines two brand new species that have been created by our writing staff. Let is know what you think and tune in to watch!

Castores
World Name: Castoria
General Look: A reptilian humanoid species ophidian in appearance, quite tall (1.8-2.2 meters on average) and slender, only 46-68 kg on average. 
Planetary Geography: 0.8 Terran gravity, Class H planet, very high in Oxygen which while breathable by most humanoids for short periods, is toxic for extended periods. Average temperature is higher than Earth's average by about 20 degrees. The planet suffered heavily during the war from nuclear attack, and many regions remain irradiated. Has no moons. 
Political Structure: The global government is based on a ruling legislative and executive body known as The Council which is composed of representatives from the various regions and clans in a complex patchwork of ancient constituencies. Representatives are not voted in, but are elevated by general assent by their constituents. 
Culture: Descended from multiple tribal groups that evolved into large clans, which are still points of pride. Culture is a meritocracy in which the best people for a position are elevated to that position by general assent. Are baffled by things like hobbies or skillsets that don’t directly impact immediate position and tend to underestimate those in lower positions or ranks. Tend to be fairly impatient and don’t value structure and rules as much as other species. 
Religious Outlook: Polytheistic animist. Very tolerant and open to other religious expressions or non-religious expressions. 
Summary History: There is a long and complex history of tribal movements and conflicts, leading to the modern age, which they refer to as the Clan Age. There was no history of serious warfare on their world until contact with the Tyneridans. Contact with the Tyneridans was almost 80 years ago, which led almost immediately to armed conflict. The details of this first contact are shrouded in mystery. About 50 years ago, the Castores developed warp capable starships as a result of this prolonged conflict, and the Tyneridae shortly thereafter as a result of a captured Castores ship. The Orions shortly thereafter arrived and after finding the species unsuitable as slaves, put a stop to the conflict via a show of force in order to secure the system as a trading partner. The war left both planets badly scarred, both physically and psychologically. The Castores broke their formal relationships with the Orions only a decade ago as they applied for Federation membership due to the overtures of Federation Ambassador Curzon Dax. While this nearly led to war with the Orions, the Castores were able to  stave off hostilities only due to a retaining of informal trade relationships with the Orion Syndicate, demonstrating that conflict would be less profitable. 
Names: Staven, Therero, Ajavar, Farzeron, Vistoro, Coluvar, Shezanci, Renavan, Korkona, Anamad
Military: The Castores military is encapsulated in the Castorian Defence Force (CDF), and maintains an automated planetary defence grid, though it has not been upgraded since the end of the the war with the Tyrenidae, and a number of fighter-intercepters of their own design, though heavily based on Orion craft of the same type. They have only two ships of the line, both of them Ferrengi Transports that have been refit for combat using a combination of Romulan disruptor technology and Klingon torpedoes, Makteth and the Jundithar, respectively.   
Important Figures: Federation Liaison Jazzo (political scientist and teacher) Greyish green skin, an older Castores, deeply committed to making the process work, and has a raspy voice. Very old and veteran of the war. 


Tyneridae
World Name: Tyneridan
General Look: They are mammalian amphibians, about 1.5 meters tall, between 150-170 kg. Colouring is a pale whitish blue up front, with a darker blue ranging to purple gray or black on their backs. So their look, other than their colouring, is very human like, but with this colouring, fin-like feet, and webbed fingers.
Planetary Geography: Class M planet with two times Earth gravity. About the same percentage of land to water as Earth, but what land there is is swampy, with heavy but stunted vegetation. Massive fisheries and patik farms (a kelp like plant) cover the oceans. Communities are typically half submerged and can be moved if necessary. Planet can seem sparsely populated because the population is spread out over the entire surface of the planet. 
Political Structure: The primary political problem that the various recent leaders and their factions have focused on is their relationship with the Orions. The planet is currently an independent client state of a faction of the Orion Syndicate. The planet has politically broken into two roughly equally sized factions, one of which favours a continued and strengthened relationship with the Orions and one which wants to chart a more independent course. These factions are diverse and quarrelling loose knit political alliances that often only agree on the primary issue, but nothing else. For example, the pro-independence faction includes pro-Federation membership proponents, those who want war with the Castores, those who want to set up a rival criminal enterprise to the Orions, etc. While the pro-Orion faction includes those who value the peace and stability and relative prosperity the Orions brought with them, those who are afraid of an unknown future, anti-Federation activists, those who want to petition other groups for their protection - everyone from the Romulans to the Klingons to the Ferrengi, etc. The government is made up of democratically elected representatives elected to a huge, bureaucratic, and ponderous body known as the Great Guild. The Great Guild then elects three of their own members to a triumvirate known only as the Tehom. The Tehom’s identities are a secret to all but members of the Great Guild and wield executive power, with legislative authority resting with the Great Guild. The most recent elections led to a Great Guild and Tehom dominated by pro-Orion members. 
Culture: The Tyrenidae grow up in tight knit family groups until the age of 16 at which time they join a professional guild which provides for their advanced education, work, salary, etc. The guild at that point becomes like a new family and Tyrenidae are very loyal to their guilds. However, guilds also have political and social policies that their members are expected to adopt.  
Religious Outlook: Main religious expression a chthonic faith that called Abbisalism that is centred around a worshipful fear and placating reverence for the unknown dangers and creatures of the deep. It has numerous expressions, some in utter opposition with the rest, including cults that see every unrelenting threat in the universe as an object of reverence, up to and including reverence of the Borg. The fastest growing religious expression on the planet is a form of atheism that honours one form of Abbisalmism or another as an important cultural expression.  
Summary History: For thousands of years the world was divided into brutal, often tyrannical people groups based on extended familial lines that engaged in near constant conflict and warfare. These were led by hereditary monarch of a type that exercised absolute control over nearly every aspect of their subject/families/clans. The guild system was a reform introduced only a few centuries ago to intentionally break up family units in order to bring about peace. However, there was no global unity, with the planet being broken amongst various feuding nationstates of cooperating guilds until first contact with the Castores and the subsequent warfare with same caused the guilds to come together in a global government. 
Names: Zita, Istivius, Seta Biztanz, Yisk, Zipashia, Dicius, Iniani
Military: A relatively strong military presence with a strong tradition of civilian weapon ownership. Has a manned planetary defence system of overlapping weapons platforms and drones. Operates three full squadrons of Orion 22nd Century Interceptors though their age means that they are notoriously dangerous and unreliable, though should not be overlooked as opponents in combat as they operate in groups, making them a match for larger combatants. Three ships of the line, all surplus D-12 Class Klingon Birds of Prey refitted with Orion weaponry and of course without any cloaking technology. These are The Deep, The Fathomless, and the Immeasurable. The current administration has begun looking into procuring a like number of D-12s, as they have a good supply of parts for that class, and has begun to make inquiries with several dealers. In addition, design work has begun on a “home-grown” class of warship that they plan to produce locally.  
Important Figures: General Zimpeck (Commander of The Fathomless and elected member of the Great Guild)