So I finished the actual species information, so I thought I’d share 🙂
Volus – The Merchant
Appearance
Are around 3’ to 3’6” tall
Look very similar to an shorter snouted echidna
Older volus grow spines, but it can make it harder to mine, so many trim them
Longer spines can be used as a status symbol because it shows that the individual is usually high enough not to need to work the mines
Attire
Heavily inspired by dwarven attire
It is very uncommon to see a volus completely unclothed, though not all are fully covered
Often wear helmets outside of their caverns due to the fact that their eyes are accustomed to darkness and too sensitive to sunlight
The material of the helmet is indicative of the wearer’s standing and wealth
Metals are incorporated in many volus’ clothing
Many of those that travel outside of Irune tend to incorporate jewels or more expensive metals to show off their people’s wealth
Armor
Though they wear metals, they do not actively make armor for themselves, preferring to have others (typically turians) fight their battles
Religion
Volus do not have a set religion as they believe no set deity is responsible for devising trade and dealing with coin
Because is it simple mathematics
They are free to chose to worship as they wish
Politics
Vol Protectorate: Rather than being a fully sovereign government in its own right, Irune is a client state of the Turian Hierarchy. In return for falling under the protective umbrella of the turian military, the volus pay a tax to Palaven, as well as deferring to the Primarch in all foreign policy matters
Internal matters are dealt with either by a certain region’s representative group
The introduction of mounted animals to pull carts for volus brought about an easier way to converse with other settlements
As such, when politics involve more than one city or settlement, then representatives deal together to find a solution
Combat
Have done away with domestic war in Irune and do not see it as necessary
Any conflict is short and usually ends in social castigation, bargaining agreements, or harsh economic sanctions
Mount
Turians introduced the volus to the lacerta
Volus then used the lacerta to pull carts and wagons, transporting goods and individuals
Volus genders do not seem to have a distinct difference in the sound of their voices
–Female voices are only a fraction higher than males
—It seems only peoples with really sensitive hearing can tell the difference
–As a result, volus do not immediately take offense to any mistakes in gender
—They don’t however see any reason for others to ask
—Only few actually tell other people their true gender
—-Then they prefer to be called as such and often take offense if not, finding it rude to have their preferences ignored
—It is typical of many volus that make a living in the Citadel to distinguish their gender in order to limit any outside prejudice towards their people
Best known for their work establishing a unified system of coin exchange and maintaining this balance and order through banks and organizing the trade markets
Book of Plenix calls for charity and forgiveness of debts in case the volus do become involved in war
Have two names but no family names. According to volus sensibilities one cannot own a person, so using a family name would essentially be laying claim to their offspring
Nonverbal cues include laying one’s palms flat on a table, an action roughly analogous to humans steepling their fingers
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