HOLY YOITSUNI EMPIRE
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- SPECIES: Yoitsuni
- SYSTEMS/PLANETS:
Culture
After their introduction to interstellar travel, Yoitsuni have developed a reputation as cultural infiltrators. Yoitsuni can be found on almost any inhabited planet within their conceivable reach – whether or not their presence is known by the inhabitants of that world. This only applies to worlds with species that the Yoitsuni can disguise themselves as. Yoitsuni have extensive records of visits to worlds which had no knowledge of their presence there. Sometimes a Yoitsuni is exposed and has to flee the planet, but leaves behind evidence of their visitation in the form of legends about shapeshifting feline or fox creatures. Examples theorized to be evidence of Yoitsuni visitation include the kitsune, barghest, and nagual legends found on Earth, and the tuhk’le’nat’ra (lit. ‘she who moves on all fours’) myth on Proxima Centauri.
Consequently, the Yoitsuni are regarded as one of the species most knowledgeable about the culture of other civilizations, and are commonly found working as cultural experts, sociologists, tour guides, and as ‘cultural consultants’ for less-traveled or new-on-the-scene species.
‘The Way of the Three’ is the primary Yoitsuni belief system. Centering around a three-deity pantheon, it espouses the three virtues of Deception, Observation, and Understanding.
Deception: Stealth is most effective when you hide in plain sight. Cloak your presence with normality, and you shall be invisible in the eyes of the rest. Deception is necessary to gain the knowledge required for Understanding.
Observation: Observation counters Deception, and Deception is everywhere. Observe your surroundings, so that you may be free from Deception. Observation is a boon to Understanding.
Understanding: To Deceive or Observe, one must first Understand. Understanding allows for effective Deception and for efficient Observation.
History
The Yoitsuni have been capable of interstellar travel for roughly 2000 Earth-years, having first departed from their homeworld after commandeering a ship that had originally been crewed by thrill-seekers who had arrived their to hunt dangerous local animals. Prior to that, they had explored their native star system, but since the other planets in their home system had no real possibility for inhabitation they were largely left alone.
Military Forces
Since making their way into space, the yoitsuni have preferred to avoid direct military conflict. They instead choose to use their shapeshifting abilities to infiltrate enemy forces and wreak havoc from within via sabotage. Their innate theurgical abilities aid them in these matters by giving them formidable assets along the lines of easily-concealable destructive power in the form of their ability to form pacts with fearsome creatures not unlike the Spirit Beasts found on Earth.
Technology-wise, they exist in a state just beyond Earth’s technology level, with roughly the same technology – just in more efficient forms. Most of their technology is adapted for use in their natural form, so they tend to use whatever is on hand when shapeshifted. A notable exception to this is a smart material that the yoitsuni developed utilizing metal spirits. This material can reshape itself according to the user’s will, similar in nature to the abilities exhibited by humans contracted to metal spirits.
Yoitsuni spacecraft utilize Flux Space for FTL travel, having never developed a FTL travel method of their own. While they do have their own spacecraft, they more often use other species ships for transportation.
Imports
Raw materials, cultural knowledge
Exports
Special operations mercenaries, smart metals, intelligence operatives