JolKoar

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

All the primary JolKoar variants (Pureblood, High, and Low) are biologically different species and can breed true. The first few generations of High and JolKoar'Amask were originally grown in artificial wombs, but once these variants had a sufficient gene base this was abandoned in favor of natural reproduction. JolKoar'Hul 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 JolKoar is regarded as social taboo, and therefore only happens in extremely rarer circumstances. The "Heavy" variant of JolKoar'Amask is an engineered variation of the JolKoar'Amask, created through gene therapy, cybernetic implantation, and forced growth treatments to increase the JolKoar 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 JolKoar 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 JolKoar brain was to utilize an external storage medium. Every decade or so, a JolKoar would write down all that they knew and store it in their chosen storage form (some JolKoar kept a daily journal and were far more descriptive), towards the latter days of the Old JolKoar 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

JolKoar'Hul are closely related to Pureblood JolKoar, but have had their genetic code stabilized so that raw psionic and magic talent are non-existent. They are the 'average' JolKoar in the modern era, forming the bulk of the JolKoar Empire's population. JolKoar'Hul can receive Force Control implants. Appearance-wise JolKoar'Hul appear the same as Pureblood JolKoar (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 JolKoar'Hul 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

JolKoar'Amask are a recent development in the JolKoar species, developed during House J'Nag's (and several allied houses) campaign against the other houses over the past 200 years. These musclebound humanoids were engineered from a JolKoar'Hul genetic base and heavily altered through directed horizontal gene transfer from wildlife native to J'Nag's home planet and inheritable gene therapies, creating A'de'mask's "ideal warrior." Grown in artificial wombs and rapid-educated via neural encoding, JolKoar'Amask begin life almost fully grown and loyal to House J'Nag. The neural encoding teaches them everything they need to engage in basic military functions, and further training is used to specialize them into specific roles. JolKoar'Amask are not unthinking, uncaring meat robots - they are capable of free thought and inevitably some choose to mutiny, go AWOL, or otherwise go 'off-program.' "Killed for insubordination" has grown to become the number one cause of death for JolKoar'Amask over the past several years, finally supplanting "training accident" shortly before the Battle of Barnard's Star in 2029.

JolKoar'Amask are incompatible with the YorIna Force Control system and have an almost 0% chance of developing innate Magic potential or Psionics. Most JolKoar'Amask found to have these potentials are cleansed from the growing process, but some still sneak through the cracks. At 'birth' JolKoar'Amask stands as tall as an adult human, and is significantly stronger. Their musculature does not grow much past birth unless deliberately trained, and they grow a few inches taller before capping out. Mental capacity is on part with JolKoar'Hul however the neural encoding training doesn't provide much in the way of education beyond what is needed to function as soldiers - they are fully capable of learning, however this is not encouraged by their commanders. While they are primarily bipedal, they are capable of knuckle-walking (a trait obtained from the horizontal gene transfer from native wildlife) to carry heavier loads or cross uneven terrain. They are stronger, faster, and more durable than a standard JolKoar, leading some in the Empire to fear that these creatures will eventually replace them. Still others believe that House J'Nag is engaging in slavery of the JolKoar'Amask and work in secret to push for the abolition of the indentured servitude that these creatures are born into. The average natural lifespan of a JolKoar'Amask is about 75 years, and they are incompatible with telomerase permanence therapies.