The Z'vali are a nomadic race from Endless Space.
History
The history of the Z'vali is a tale of technology gone wrong. An intelligent bipedal race born on a cozy, resource-rich world, the Z'vali developed advanced computer systems long before they discovered any kind of viable spaceflight. Ever-more-complex software and simulations allowed individual Z'vali to have their every need fulfilled through computer-generated realities, eventually stagnating their economy and driving their whole world to the brink of ruin. Only the actions of a heroic few thrust the Z'vali civilization finally spaceward, away from their dying planet. Now they travel the galaxy in close-knit, nomadic communities. But there are those who wonder if the Z'vali people of today still think they are playing a long, detailed simulation of some kind.