U-Scha'hi Urs-katal (The Branch Coalition, by themselves as collective)
Last updated: June 25th 2026
COLLECTIVE SUMMARY
[missing icon]
According to Saffi records, their species were already a blooming starfaring civilization for 2,000 years when the Unrelenting Force struck their homeworld (circa 1452 AdF). The invasion resulted in the effective collapse of the Saffi interstellar sphere, forcing the evacuation of billions and the abandonment of numerous settled worlds.
Dominion Saffi are almost exclusively affiliated to a faction known as the Branch Coalition, originally intended as a temporary evacuation government, it gradually evolved into the dominant political body among surviving Saffi populations.
The Branch Coalition was responsible for taking evacuated populations far from Saffi space in search of potentially habitable worlds to reestablish and regroup their civilization - it took them almost two centuries to make first-contact with the Dominion, a stationed Qire vessel in the Riterkor system, in 1660 AdF.
The encounter rapidly escalated to Saffi-led aggression towards the stationed Qire crew, who worked patiently to appease and calm the interlopers. A series of diplomatic encounters led to the Qire welcoming the Saffi into the Foundational Dominion.
Joined the Dominion in 1781 AdF (aligned neutral power).
Origin
The star Ou'Papa (-130, -5, -50), about 140ly from Argost - just 33ly from Riterkor, deep within Qire space.
Originally from the small planet Ma-Okar, a moon of the gas giant Ma-Humpar. The Saffi home is a lush forested rainworld, thanks to the intense weather systems created by tidal interactions with Ma-Humpar and the planet's sibling moons.
Ma-Okar sports a very large 100km-wide crater in the planet's northern hemisphere, a remnant of a theorized asteroid impact that would have occurred about 4.5~4.7 million years ago. The resulting ecological collapse opened numerous vacant niches, allowing the ancestors of the Saffi and Shubafi to rapidly diversify into roles previously occupied by the planet's megafauna. A fine layer of radioactive atomic tungsten, cobalt and iron found all over the globe might challenge the origins and nature of the impactor.
Abroad, they're known to claim very few worlds, but operate numerous space habitats and crews throughout the Dominion.
Saffi cultural traditions generally reject concepts analogous to "honorable combat". Victory and survival are commonly viewed as the only meaningful measures of success in conflict.
Description
The Saffi as a collective aren't one single species, more like a 'civilizational label'. They are a joint of two main subspecies that according historical records, have had a strong mixed-relationship prior to the collapse of their interstellar sphere. They are the Saffi and the Shubafi (common terms).
Historical records suggest both species have existed in a shared civilizational framework for thousands of years, to the point that outsiders frequently mistake them for dimorphic variants of the same species. Neither species is generally regarded as subordinate to the other, with most Saffi social structures historically incorporating both populations in complementary roles.
They are both dromaeosaurid-adjacent bipeds, with a forward-leaning posture and stiff tail for balance. The arms of appreciable length end in two four-fingered hands for climbing and fine manipulation. Heads blend sharp saurian features with a short hooked beak. Large forward-facing eyes which appear bloodshot due their hot-colored sclera. Their bodies are covered in a mix of tough scales and vulture-like down, with a mane of brightly colored parrot-like feathers along the spine, head, and tail for social signaling.
Their four-toed feet sport a vestigial scythe-like claw in the innermost toe, called a spur - believed to have aided their ancestor in killing and catching prey, as the Saffi are primarily carnivores and pack hunters, with a secondary diet of fruits and fungi.
Both are known stalkers and voice imitators, a diplomatic custom of theirs is to mirror the voice of whomever they speak to as a show of respect. But due the usual negative reception of this behavior, experienced Saffi develop and master a "persona voice" as their external voice.
The small Saffi are uncanny imitators while the Shubafi are silent walkers.
Both are deemed by the Hoku and Chelok as too dangerous to deal with carelessly, due their innate lethality and strength.
SAFFI - the small ones
Compact, avian-like biped, 2'1 to 3'7" tall, ~2 meters long, 10 to 22kg, proportionally longer face/snout. Usually display feathers in black, white, and earthly tones with orange markings.
Faster, regarded as opportunistic, risk-prone, greedier, and more socially volatile than their sister-species. Usually employed in delicate or fine work, diplomacy, and spying.
SHUBAFI - the big ones
Robust, theropod-like biped, 4'0" to 6'0" tall, 4~5 meters long, 150~280 kg, proportionally shorter face/snout. Usually display feathers in light-colored earthly tones with yellow, orange or red markings.
Stronger, generally regarded as cautious, patient, and inclined toward long-term planning. Usually employed in administration, logistics, coordination, heavy industry, and other occupations requiring long-term planning and physical labor.
Spacetravel
Commonly use ionic rockets and torchships, developing proprietary interstellar propulsion is no longer considered a strategic priority. Some larger factions still use proprietary A-M/AM drivers able to pull into γ~6, but most current Saffi tech is reverse-engineered. They are by many standards, considered a reluctant client species.
Relations
Officially a neutral power. Highly opportunistic, seemingly non-territorial, clan-based, deeply social amongst themselves, deeply pragmatic. Untrustworthy but useful spies, salvagers and brokers.
Unknown fleet size.
Official census figures place the Saffi population at approximately 3 billion, though independent estimates range from 10-20 billion due to extensive clan migration, unregistered habitats, and disputed frontier settlements.
Civilizational goals seem to be the sole prosperity of their civilization.
Hard to trace relationships with everyone else. Primarily mercantile. Most dislike humans in general. Small Saffi are surprisingly fond of the Nan-Nan in the absence of Shubafi.
No comments:
Post a Comment