Species Guide
Meet the inhabitants of Dane Griggs' universe
From fierce warriors to gentle healers, explore the diverse species that inhabit this romantic universe. Each brings their own culture, biology, and story to life.
Cerastean
The Cerasteans are a humanoid alien species from the desert world of Ceraste, distinguished by both their physical traits and their cultural history. They are typically larger than humans, with men towering over most people, and they possess striking golden eyes with vertical slit pupils, small horns at the temples, and, in some cases, patterned scales (such as tan and brown diamond markings on the forearms). Their appearance often gives them a dangerous, almost viper-like look, yet many are considered attractive by human standards. Their skin tones range through tans and browns, evolved to blend into their arid homeworld. They also have forked tongues used to detect scent and pheromones, making them highly sensitive to emotions and lies. Cerastean society once had multiple castes, but the destruction of their planet wiped out their ruling and female populations. Only the Warrior caste (names beginning with D’), who are physically larger and protective by nature, and the Scientist caste (names beginning with L’), who are smaller, cerebral, and analytical, remain. Warriors serve as protectors and soldiers, while Scientists now hold the highest ranks. Their original females were smaller than human women, fierce, and venomous, but unable to survive long-term space travel – none were aboard the fleet when catastrophe struck. The Bride Program was born of desperation: with their women gone, the Cerasteans faced extinction. Their exploration fleet, which had been searching for a new home, encountered Earth and discovered that human women are biologically compatible. In exchange for advanced technology and cures for diseases like leukemia and lymphoma, they asked for female volunteers willing to form partnerships and have children with Cerastean men. Volunteers may choose their partners, leave the program at any time, and are promised respectful treatment. In nature, Cerasteans tend to be honorable, respectful, and highly protective of those under their care. While their predatory heritage and imposing appearance can be intimidating, many display warmth, curiosity, and a strong sense of duty. Warriors often exhibit a protective instinct toward humans, while Scientists show fascination with human culture, resilience, and adaptability. Having focused for so long on survival, contact with humanity has rekindled their capacity for joy, humor, and deeper connection.
Cryzorian
The Cryzorians are a humanoid alien species bred for war and conquest, towering over most humans with their broad, dense musculature and imposing presence. Their dark gray skin carries a faint metallic sheen, smooth and hairless, with a subtle glimmer under light that enhances their almost machine-like appearance. Their eyes are especially striking – nearly pure white with only the faintest trace of a pupil, lit from within by a ghostly glow that grants them superior night vision and lends an intimidating edge to their gaze. Though they share the bipedal structure and general symmetry of humans, the similarities end quickly; every line of their bodies speaks of speed, endurance, and lethal efficiency. They possess sharp claws and strong teeth capable of serving as natural weapons, and their bloodstream is infused with cybernetic nanites that accelerate healing, boost strength, and neutralize toxins, making them extraordinarily resilient. Cryzorian society is built entirely around the art of war. They do not form family units, and there is no concept of a nurturing home or parental bond. Instead, males and females are separated from birth and raised in state-controlled training pods, where every moment of life is devoted to physical conditioning, combat drills, and indoctrination into the rigid Cryzorian code. Reproduction is not a right but a privilege awarded only to those who prove themselves exceptional in battle and service, ensuring that each generation is forged from the strongest and most capable. The result is a people for whom discipline, loyalty, and strength are the only measures of worth, and where compassion or hesitation is seen as a dangerous weakness. Their culture is fiercely expansionist, driven by the belief that their destiny is to dominate and harvest the resources of other worlds. Cryzorian Outriders – elite scouts and warriors – are dispatched across the galaxy to identify planets worth conquering. Once a target is selected, the Cryzorian war machine moves with patience and precision, willing to wait years for the perfect moment to strike. To them, other civilizations exist only as assets to be absorbed or obstacles to be eliminated. Strategic, relentless, and unyielding, the Cryzorians are a species that wages war not merely as a necessity but as the core expression of their identity. They are the harbingers of conquest, their very name meant to inspire fear in those who hear it whispered across the stars.
Dulci
The Dulci are small, squirrel- or chipmunk-like creatures covered in plush, silky fur, with bright, intelligent eyes and nimble paws made for climbing, grasping, and quick movement. Their most remarkable trait is their natural camouflage – their fur can shift in color and pattern to match their surroundings so precisely that they can seem to vanish in plain sight. This ability makes them exceptional at avoiding predators and moving undetected, a skill highly prized by those who keep them as companions or use them as lookouts. Dulci are curious, clever, and highly social with those they trust. They bond closely with their chosen companions, showing a mix of affection and playfulness, but remain cautious and quick to hide around strangers. Their sharp senses and quick reflexes make them excellent scouts and alert guardians. They originate from the lush, tropical world of Xerini, a planet rich in dense jungles, flowering plants, and warm coastal regions. Xerini’s abundance of fruit, nuts, and edible vegetation provides an ideal environment for the Dulci, and their camouflage allows them to move safely among the planet’s vibrant foliage. In the wild, they make their homes in hollows, woven nests, or concealed burrows, often hidden high in the canopy or tucked within thick undergrowth. The combination of abundant resources and natural cover has shaped them into agile, resourceful survivors.
Feline
The undisputed monarchs of every household they deign to inhabit. Officially classified as “pets,” but operating more like tiny, furry dictators with an unlimited supply of charm. They are demanding, imperious, and gloriously self-absorbed – yet somehow still the baby. Their days are carefully divided between sleeping like a decorative throw pillow, plotting world domination from atop the fridge, and reminding their humans that food bowls must never, under any circumstances, be less than full. They communicate primarily through tail flicks, judgmental stares, and strategic 3am stampedes. Resistance to their demands is futile; they will sit on your laptop, your book, or your dignity until you comply. In short, cats don’t live with us – we live in service to them.
Hisk
The Hisk are gentle, nomadic aliens whose physical form blends traits reminiscent of both woolly mammoths and centaurs. They possess large, fur-covered bodies with sturdy, powerful limbs, giving them a grounded and imposing presence. Their faces are long and camel-like, with a softly furred split upper lip and large, expressive dark eyes set wide on either side of the head. Despite their formidable size, their movements are often measured and careful, reflecting their inherently peaceful nature. By temperament, the Hisk are diplomatic and community-oriented, favoring cooperation and alliance-building over conflict. They maintain a deep respect for life and for the natural balance of their environment, often serving as mediators between different species. Their nomadic lifestyle means they are well-adapted to travel and survival in varied terrains, and their herds are close-knit, functioning almost like extended families. The Hisk have an innate ability to navigate vast, open landscapes, and their endurance allows them to journey long distances without strain. They thrive in wide, open habitats—plains, grasslands, and rolling hills—where their size and endurance serve them well. While they are not inherently aggressive, their strength and protective instincts make them formidable defenders of their kin when threatened.
Human
The galaxy’s most unpredictable import. We have a remarkable talent for stumbling into situations that no sane species would consider survivable – only to walk out with a monster for a boyfriend, an alien for a husband, or both. Give us an interstellar peace treaty, and we’ll turn it into a rom-com. Drop us into a political conspiracy, and somehow we’ll emerge mated, slightly bruised, and with a pet creature that everyone swears is dangerous. We fall in love in the middle of firefights, flirt during diplomatic negotiations, and collect shenanigans like other species collect war medals. If there’s trouble to be found, we’ll trip over it – probably in heels or flip flops – and if there’s someone tall, dangerous, and completely inappropriate nearby, we’ll be head over heels before the dust settles. The galaxy may never understand us, but it will never be bored while we’re around.
Kraken
Their society is organized as a hereditary monarchy, ruled by the Kraken King and Queen and supported by a royal court that oversees warriors, hunters, artisans, and keepers of sacred traditions. Status is determined by martial skill, loyalty to the crown, and devotion to their god, Thassalor, the primordial embodiment of the sea's will. Krakens are shapeshifters with three distinct forms. In their full kraken form, they are immense leviathan-like creatures with muscular mantles and tentacles stretching over a hundred feet, capable of crushing prey and matching even giant squid in ferocity. The scout form is a smaller, more streamlined kraken body used for navigating palace corridors, conducting reconnaissance, and moving through confined spaces. Finally, they possess a human form, which most krakens rarely use, believing humans to be fragile and inferior. Transforming between kraken forms is natural, but shifting into human form is taxing for pure-bloods. Half-human krakens, however, are uniquely adept at changing shape, especially into human form, though they face suspicion, hostility, and often exile for their mixed heritage. In the eyes of most, their existence is a stain on kraken purity, though some leaders recognize their adaptability as a strength. Physically, krakens in their aquatic forms combine the sleek predatory power of a cephalopod with the intelligence and precision of an apex hunter. Their skin is patterned with shifting bioluminescent markings, their eyes are large and adapted to pierce the blackness of the abyss, and their bodies are built to withstand the crushing pressures of the Midnight Zone. Each tentacle is lined with toothed suckers for gripping prey, and their movements are as fluid and deadly as the currents they command. Thassalor, the great kraken god, is a colossal and unfathomable being said to dwell in the deepest ocean trenches. His form is an endless mass of titanic tentacles, glowing patterns, and ancient eyes that seem to contain the weight of eons. He embodies the ocean’s duality, granting life and abundance while holding the power to unleash destruction on a scale beyond mortal comprehension. Worship of Thassalor is central to kraken identity, with sacred hunts, the defense of holy waters, and loyalty to the monarchy considered acts of devotion. The kraken’s abilities are formidable. They possess immense strength, speed, and agility in water, along with heightened senses that allow them to detect pressure shifts, subtle vibrations, and chemical traces in the currents. They can navigate in absolute darkness and communicate through a complex language of sonar pulses, body posture, and bioluminescent signals. Their habitat ranges from warm, sheltered reefs where their young are raised to the crushing, lightless depths where the royal court and the eldest krakens dwell. As apex predators, they maintain the balance of ocean life, upholding an honor-bound culture that values order and the stability of the seas as much as their own survival.
Ostium
The Ostiums are a cunning, matriarchal people ruled by an absolute monarchy, with Queen Diamalla at its apex. Their society is structured entirely around female dominance, with women holding all major positions of power, authority, and influence. Males are considered subordinate, valued for strength, labor, or specific skills, but denied political agency. This balance of power is enforced by the queen’s most dangerous weapon: her Regina pheromone, a potent chemical signal capable of seizing control over any male, binding him to her will with absolute loyalty. Ostium culture is built on control, manipulation, and long-term strategy. Loyalty is expected and often manufactured, with pheromone influence ensuring the queen’s supremacy. Ambition is encouraged in females, but always directed toward serving the monarchy’s goals. The court is a dangerous place where words and glances can be as lethal as weapons, and reading one’s opponent—through body language and the telltale glow of luxen grooves—is a valued skill. Physically, Ostiums are humanoid with smooth gray skin carrying a faint purplish undertone. Their most distinctive feature is the network of luxen grooves that run beneath the skin, glowing with shifting bioluminescence that reflects emotional states: deep red for anger, gold for joy, silver for calm, and more subtle shades for other moods. Females wear their hair long or styled as a mark of status and beauty, while males are naturally hairless on their heads. Their features are fine and symmetrical, their luminous eyes sharp and intelligent, and their movements deliberate and precise. By nature, Ostiums are intelligent, calculating, and persuasive, with a strong aptitude for psychological manipulation and political maneuvering. Females are trained from an early age to control their luxen displays as much as possible, masking their true feelings while exploiting the emotional tells of others. While they field capable warriors and guards, their true power lies in their ability to undermine and dominate without open warfare. Their homeworld, Osti, is a center of opulence and authority, its cities constructed as physical embodiments of the queen’s dominance and the rigid hierarchy that governs every facet of life.
Slavic Gods
In the intricate tapestry of Slavic mythology, three deities stand out for their enduring influence and symbolic weight: Mokosh, Perun, and Veles. Together, they form a dynamic triad representing the cycles of life, death, fertility, conflict, and balance within the natural and spiritual worlds. Mokosh, the only major female deity in the traditional Slavic pantheon, embodies fertility, earth, moisture, and women’s work, especially spinning and weaving. She is the great mother figure, the sustainer of life, and the protector of women in childbirth. Her very name is linked to moisture and softness, evoking fertile soil after rain and the gentle but essential forces that nurture growth. Mokosh is also associated with fate, spinning the threads of human lives much like the spindle she often holds in depictions. Farmers prayed to her for abundant harvests, while women sought her blessing for safe births and skill in domestic crafts. Her festivals often marked seasonal transitions, particularly those tied to planting and reaping. If Mokosh is the nurturer, Perun is the warrior and protector. The god of thunder, lightning, and storms, Perun rules the heavens with a mighty hand and an unyielding sense of order. Armed with an axe or hammer – symbols of both creation and destruction – he hurls bolts of lightning at his foes, the most notable of which is Veles. Perun was the patron of warriors and princes, his worship tied to the defense of the community and the upholding of justice. Oaks were sacred to him, their towering presence reaching skyward like natural temples, and sacrifices at such trees were meant to secure his favor in battle and ward off misfortune. His domain was the lofty heights of the sky, and his role was to keep chaos at bay, maintaining cosmic balance through sheer force of will. Opposite Perun in both realm and temperament stands Veles, the god of the underworld, cattle, wealth, and magic. Often depicted as a shapeshifter – sometimes a dragon, serpent, or horned beast – Veles is a master of transformation and trickery. He presides over the watery and chthonic realms, ruling the land of the dead but also blessing the living with prosperity, trade, and artistic inspiration. Cattle, central to the Slavic economy, were sacred to him, making him a provider as much as a ruler of shadows. His eternal conflict with Perun forms one of the central myths of Slavic cosmology: Veles ascends from the underworld to steal from the heavenly realm, prompting Perun to unleash his thunderbolts in pursuit. This divine rivalry mirrors the seasonal cycle – Veles’s rise symbolizing the fertile chaos of spring and summer, and Perun’s triumph marking the ordered stillness of winter. Together, Mokosh, Perun, and Veles encapsulate the Slavic worldview: life emerges from the fertile earth under Mokosh’s care, is defended and ordered by Perun’s authority, and is enriched and tested by the cunning of Veles. Their interplay reflects not only the natural rhythms of the seasons but also the moral and spiritual balance between creation, preservation, and transformation. Even today, echoes of their worship persist in folk customs, agricultural festivals, and cultural symbols across Eastern Europe, keeping alive a mythic heritage that once bound entire communities to the rhythms of the gods.
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