JolKoar

Since their arrival in the Coal Sack, the Dwellers have genetically engineered themselves into three sub-species - Pureblood (Homo Antarcticus originalis), High Dweller (Homo Antarcticus superious) and Low Dweller (Homo Antarcticus suberious). In addition, they learned to alter Low Dwellers into larger, cybernetically-enhanced beasts of burden.

All the primary Dweller variants (Pureblood, High, and Low) are biologically different species and can breed true. The first few generations of High and Low Dwellers were originally grown in artificial wombs, but once these variants had a sufficient gene base this was abandoned in favor of natural reproduction. High Dwellers and Pureblood are theoretically cross-compatible with each other, the only real difference between the two species genetically is the removal of the potential for innate magical and psionic ability (the zero-g adaptations are, for all intents and purposes, a cosmetic alteration hardwired into their genome). However, breeding between High and Pureblood dwellers is regarded as social taboo, and therefore only happens in extremely rarer circumstances. The "Heavy" variant of Low Dweller is an engineered variation of the Low Dweller, created through gene therapy, cybernetic implantation, and forced growth treatments to increase the Dweller to the larger physical size.

JolKoar ("Purebloods")

Pureblood are the rarest of the three sub-species, having maintained their genetic purity through inbreeding (the population is large enough to prevent genetic decay) and telomerase treatments allowing for an extremely long lifespan. Purebloods command the most power and occupy high-ranking positions amongst the civilization. Pureblood Dwellers are visually identical to Homo Sapiens sapiens, aside from the amber eyes. Pureblood suffer a known, and somewhat critical drawback. While their large prefrontal cortex affords them the same cognition level as H. Sapiens sapiens, H. Antarcticus originalis does have a smaller brain. Though the cognition level is the same (biologically) between the two species, the capability for long-term memory retention is not as strong in H. Antarcticus originalis due to the lower amount of neurons which can have neurochemical connections associated with memories. Normally, this would not be an issue, since even with the smaller brain size there are still more than enough potential neuron connections to store a normal lifetime's amount of memories (on the order of about 2.4 petabytes). This was a non-issue until the development of the telomerase permanence therapy that affords the purebloods their long lifespan. In pre-exile days, the solution to the limited storage capacity of the Dweller brain was to utilize an external storage medium. Every decade or so, a Dweller would write down all that they knew and store it in their chosen storage form (some Dweller kept a daily journal and were far more descriptive), towards the latter days of the Old Dweller Empire, this was a smart material that had the texture and appearance of worked stone, but in reality it was a combination of writing surface, data storage, and indexing software, which could store the glyphs written on it for later callup. This material was also used as a display method for computer systems (as demonstrated with the facility discovered in the Plutonian system), and it was also used in the construction of the Hall of Records - a fabled location who's actual existence is debated to this day. The resources used to create this material were lost with the Exile, since they have not been able to be replicated with nebula-located materials. In lieu of this material, Purebloods now use more standard computer systems to duplicate the same function, they just no longer have the ability to have the information as easily at their beck and call, since the amount of storage media used to store the information for a thousand years of experiences is staggering, and the amount of media for several thousands of years is even more staggering. Some Purebloods take another approach, staying awake for a decade and then entering cryosleep for a few hundred years. Still others opt out of the telomerase extension therapy, choosing to live a more normal lifespan of about 150 years instead of the millenia of existence allowed by the therapy.

JolKoar'Hul ("High Dwellers")

High Dwellers are closely related to Pureblood Dwellers, but have had their genetic code stabilized so that raw psionic and magic talent are non-existent. They are the 'average' Dweller in the modern era, forming the bulk of the Dweller Empire's population. High Dwellers can receive Force Control implants. Appearance-wise High Dwellers appear the same as Pureblood Dwellers (including the amber eyes), but tend to have a more lanky build than the average Human, with spindly limbs and a lighter build, and show signs of extensive adaptation to zero-g environments. On average, a High Dweller lives for about 100 years, though they are compatible with the telomerase permanence therapy used to make purebloods clinically immortal. This therapy is rewarded for exemplary service to the empire.

JolKoar'Amask ("Low Dwellers")

Low Dwellers number about half of that of High Dwellers in the overall scheme of the population of the Dweller Empire, but they are among the most commonly encountered type of Dweller, due to their central role in the Empire's military forces. They are incapable of using Force Control Implants, innate Magic, or Psionics, but they are much stronger than High Dwellers and make effective front line combatants. They are also bred to be subservient to Pureblood and High Dwellers. However, they have diminished mental capacity, sacrificing that for their strength and resilience. Visually, Low Dwellers are a cross between a human and a gorilla, a hulking humanoid figure fully capable of walking about on two legs but frequently seen in a hunched pose, using its arms as a second set of legs. On average, a Low Dweller can live for about 75 years before they begin to suffer from old age. Low Dwellers are not compatible with the telomerase permanence therapies utilized by the Dweller Empire. Especially aggressive JolKoar'Amask youth are encouraged to accept cybernetic and genetic enhancement to modify them in the the "Heavy" form which is larger, stronger, and more durable.