Thecatus:

Appearance:

• Eyes - one pair of eyes on short stalks and six others studding the head in a double row along the sides.
• Head - elongated triangle with a grasshoppers jaws.
• Body - like that of a walking stick. after 20 years (maturity) they look like a leafy walking stick.
• Limbs - long, thin, tend to slow, graceful movements. first set of legs also used for manipulating objects so the feet are slightly modified.
• Clothing - harnesses and such are studded with jewels and other shiney bits. Bells are also a favorite. Fur garments are popular for cold weather even when lighter-weight alternatives are available.

Stats/Skills/Etc.:

• Strength - minimal. Not capable of carrying great weight or powerful blows.
• Stamina - can go without food and water for a time, but will tire easily in a fight.
• Agility - hah. yeah, right.
• Speed - very slow and graceful. actually have a tendency to sway when standing still.
• Climate - suited to medium to hot weather. technology permits them to wear heated clothing for colder temps.
• Weapons - should I even think of any? They're merchants!
• Brain - two brains. The one in the head is purely for visual things. The other brain is located in the chest. Crush head brain and thec can still function and detect your movements through the way the air moves.

Arts:

• Anything to do with jewelry-making and shiny objects.
• Otherwise they share the mantid way of viewing art.
• Not good at making music, though appreciative.
• Good, if slow, dancers.

Religion/Philosophy:

• When they were a young species, Thecs had thousands of land spirits that they worshipped. Most were local.
• With civilization came a rejection and shame for these superstitions. Many names of spirits changed or were lost completely. Records of them have been destroyed.
• Modern thecs claim to have no religion. Accusing one of such will start bad feelings and the thec in question will never trade with you again.
• Most thecs secretly worship a few local spirits, but think that none of the others do.

Social Structure:

• Many people believe that thecs are telepathic on a subconcious level.
• Thecs actually do not quite have a hive mind though they never act outside the range of their people's peaceful beliefs.
• Outwardly, they are totally united with no government or social hierarchy. Inwardly, the others are dominated by those with the strongest wills.
• The strong-willed thecs are benign and honest. Those that do not share these traits are promptly destroyed.
• Thecs take pride in their seeming unity and go to great pains to hide all signs of conflict between individuals.
• Thecs take up the jobs that their talents and inclinations lead them to. The icky dirty jobs are taken care of by the immature thecs.
• Any adult thec can do a job that another can do with a bit of practice but will usually only do their chosen craft.
• Like mantids, they have no homes. Their farms are socialist. Farming buildings and storage facilities for shiney objects are the only buildings.
• A thec trading ship has enough beds for 4/5 of the crew. You just go in and tumble into the first empty bed.

Mating:

• Once a year, a female will become fertile. Often, they choose not to breed at this time.
• 2-3 eggs are layed that the male she choses then fertilizes. Yes, that means no sex. :(
• After fertilization the female swallows the eggs where they mature in her second stomach.
• Six months later, she barfs up mini walkig sticks the size of her head.
• The walking stick is practically mindless and does all the stuff no intelligent being would choose to do. Like waste disposal.
• After 20 years, the walking stick becomes a walking leaf and gains a brain.
• The walking leaf knows how to do anything, but only becomes good at it through practice.

History:

• Thecs started out as gatherers. They ate plants and the occasional already-dead animal.
• Then they started farming. Mostly mosses and fungus cultivated underground.
• Advancements in technology were mostly made from developments in the arts of shiney object creation and medical procedures.
• Mantids discover Thecs and introduce them to space. Much Thec culture is lost in an attempt to be like the mantids. Land spirits are supposedly abandoned.
• Thecs become valued for their sense of beauty, attention to detail, and precision with delicate machinery.
• Huge technical advances later and an eye for shiney things brings the thecs wealth. Their honesty makes them good traders.
• Thecs have a huge trade empire. All species will trade with a thec.
• Also spend time exploring new planets with Mantid guards and finding new pretty objects.

Species Interaction:

• Get along well with other species because they never fight.
• Mostly use Mantids as guards (also hire them as assassins, they may not fight, but they still kill).
• Try to cheat a thec and the other thecs won't trade with you either.