Ta'har

In several universes, the Ta'har (Scientific name: Homo Zanta) are a genetically engineered warrior race that gradually evolved on the planet Tybion before spreading across the cosmos.

Ta'har were designed originally as super-soldiers with a humanoid build. However, their creators were displeased with their progress and abandoned the Ta'har on Tybion.

The Ta'har are distinct from any other naturally-occuring life form in the galaxy. However, they aren't aware of this, as their creators lost the war the Ta'har were created to fight, and the Ta'har outlived them, developing their own culture and evolving beyond their own limits. In the Shattered Mirror Universe, SM Blackout was their creator and he engineered them from another race, but had to build weaknesses into them after the Great Beings grew concerned about their strength, which is the crime Ta'harok holds him responsible for.

Society and Culture
Their language groups all nouns into masculine and feminine (like French), with masculine nouns starting with T' or Ta', and feminine nouns starting with S' or Sa'. Their names are made by applying the appropriate gendered prefix to an adjective instead, with the idea being the adjective will describe the young Ta'har's character. 'Ta'har' means 'The [Male] People' and is equivalent to 'Mankind' in our language.

Their gender ratio is skewed - males outnumber females 3-to-1, and all Ta'har are born male - certain Ta'har can choose to undergo the metamorphasis, which is an incredibly physically demanding process. As only the strongest Ta'har can survive the process, it results in hyper-accelerated natural selection - only these strong Ta'har have the opportunity to pass down their genes.

As such, Ta'har society is effectively Matriarchal. The Kar (Head of State) is male, as the Government is seen as an arm of the Military, and females generally do not partake in battle - they are seen as among the honored few who have no further obligation to battle.

Ta'har rarely, if ever, infight, and have very little crime. They were genetically engineered to function as one army, and these insticts still hold sway. They are psychologically distinct from other races and have completely disparate concepts of morality and honor.

Biology
Ta'har rely on heat for survival, and are colored black to absorb heat. Usually access to a reliable heat source isn't a problem, as their home planet, Tybion, has an average room temperature of 243 degrees Centigrade. However, on planets where it is too cold (Too cold for a Ta'har meaning below 40 degrees C) Ta'har must find another source of heat.

The Ta'har numeric system is very confusing to most humans, as Ta'har have three fingers and a thumb on each hand, meaning that the Ta'har base number is 8, as opposed to the Human base number of 10.

Ta'har rely on a number of symbiotic relationships for their survival. For example, the biceps and triceps are actually symbiotic friction bugs, which feed off the friction generated by an arm movement. Most Ta'har are born with all of the necessary symbiotes, however those who aren't usually die. Ta'har get along with their symbiotes, many of whom are intellectual.

Ta'har, however, need to adapt as they grow older. They must acquire new symbiotes to allow them to use new features. Also, some symbiotes have a limited lifespan and must be replaced from time to time.

Ta'har can shapeshift slightly.

Self-Defence
Ta'har, like most other beings, have a basic urge for survival, and to this extent have developed a complex variety of self-defence mechanisms.

Ta'har can generate potent poison from any spot on their bodies, however special glands in the armpit produce an especially potent poison. Their fingers all end in claws, which can puncture a human stomach, or slash through bones. Their legs can deliver an insanely powerful kick.

While they don't like to spend much time on the matter, Ta'har faeces is explosive.

They can also shoot eye-beams.

Every joint on their arms can rotate freely, giving them great ability with weapons.

Their gastric juices can melt intritium.