Keidz

The Keidz (pronounced /keɪdz/) are a primitive reptilian species native to the volcanic planet of Effluo. Due to the isolation of their system, they were not discovered by the Zealot or Sentinel empires for quite some time, though this did not leave them any more advanced than previously discovered races. They are massive beasts, with a hide quite like any other, which enables them to come in close proximity with hot magma without sustaining any major injuries. They are fierce and proud, and have split intoa rough total of seventy-two tribes over the habitable expanse of their planet, though their only technology consists of cave-man like huts and weaponry. Despite their primal situation, they have formed a coherent language that is - coincidentally - quite similar in grammar to English, though not in sound. As such, they are considered sentient.

The red-orange scaly hide they bear is of remarkable composition, and of great scientific interest. It's outer scales - which are tough enough to withstand several lazer shells - seem to be hiding a layer of incredibly potent coolant - or rather, temperature-regulating liquid - which defends them when the body senses heat. Even with this protection, their body temperature is already hot enough to burn a human at the touch. The scales line their entire body, with the exception of their belly, which is exposed.

Their heads are egg-shaped, with a protrusion of scaly spikes upon the crown of their head like a demented sort of 'hair'. Longer spikes usually means superiority in the Keidz. These spikes also line their spine. They possess three lidded eyes, the largest of the three set in their forehead, and the other two on either side of the dominant one, which gave them an almost 360º field of vision. The Keidz' sclera are red, with golden-yellow irises and vertical slit pupils. The Keidz' nose appears to be nothing but two slitted nostrils, and indeed it is revealed that their sense of smell is nothing extraordinary; it is only a little better than that of a human. Their semicircular maw takes up a rather large part of their head, the mouth extending almost from cheekbone to cheekbone. When they open their mouth to its fullest extent it takes up more than half of their total headspace.

The Keidz are bipedal, and thus have two arms and legs. Their arms are large and thick, covered in an extra-hard version of the scales that line most of their body, and end in in four conical claws, one of them being an opposing digit which allows them to manipulate objects almost as proficiently as a human can. Their legs are also bulky, and end in a similar pattern of three frontal toe-claws and one on their heel. Despite their apparently ungainly limbs, they move quite fast, and are surprisingly agile, though not extremely so. The prospect of their strength on a lower-gravity planet, however, is quite terrifying.