Taercal

The Taercal are an alien species from the planet Taerca in the Stardoc Universe.

Biology
Taercal possess aquiline features and intense all-black eyes. They evolved from an avian life-form, evident from their dark-feathered derma, curved beak-mouths and, their wings. In size they are comparable to humans. In addition they are capable of procreating with humans.

A Taercal’s life span is nearly identical to a Terran’s. One can tell age by the number of short feathers around their necks.

Background
Originally a technological species thanks to the intervention of Sadda, the Taercal regressed into a primitive state, after a plague began to afflict the planet. A cure eluded the doctors and healers, at which during this time religious fundamentalists launched a coup, blaming the plague upon the their scientists. All of their greatest minds were purged and the Taercal created a society that shunned their own technology save those given to them by Sadda.

Sadda supposedly returned after Cherijo and her crew visited the world to seek a relative of one of her crewmates. The Taercal believed to be evil as they brought medical equipment which they saw as a violation of their religion and more so due to Dhreen an Oenrallian. Before they were executed the appearance of Alunthri, a Chakacat, made the Taercal believe that Alunthri was Sadda returned. The crew managed to escape world but the Taercal seeking to “rescue” Sadda held the Oenrallians to be the culprits set of into space in antique ships to wage war against Oenrall. Cherijo studying the DNA structure of the Oenrallians and Taercal found that while the former were afflicted by a disease that prevented the dead from dying, the Taercal were being killed to early. Further investigations revealed that the two species shared a common ancestor. In fact there was a legend in Oenrall that spoke of a faction known as the Purists. They were radical Oenrallians had deserted the planet in search of the perfect world to go along with their rather demanding religion. The two species had evolved differently on two worlds, however their genes where contaminated by offworld mineral water. To survive the two species would need to interbreed to preserve their species. Thankful the Jorenians and the League managed to prevent the species from going to war by instituting a truce.

Culture
The Taercal are a religious people, worshiping a series of gods. Their main temple of worship is known as Sadda's Maw, there conversation is forbidden. Vanity is regarded as a sin, thus they enforce females to shroud their heads. Most species regard them as extreme fanatics, spending their time cloister in prayer. Their speech, culture, and daily behavior is strictly governed by thousands of years of complex ritual laws.

The main focus of their worship is Sadda, who in the ancient past was a Chakacat that crashed on their world and taught them how to build and gave its technology to them.

Interesting the evil incarnate resembles that of an Oenrallian.

Mannerisms aside, they regard unfurled wings to be an aggressive move.

Appearances

 * Eternity’s Row (Stardoc #5) by S.L. Viehl