Infosphere
Skittermanders are energetic, six-armed humanoids with brightly colored fur. Skittermanders accomplish tasks with chaotic enthusiasm and typically enjoy teamwork, defying even their would-be conquerors through collaboration.
Skittermanders are the original inhabitants of Oeddertchonk, a planet that the Veskarium invaded long before the Gap and is more commonly known today as Vesk-3. Colorful in both appearance and personality, skittermanders are generally energetic and altruistic.
Most skittermanders quickly form new friendships, typically enjoy staying busy, and seek collaboration. Skittermanders are traditionally raised to always lend “allsix” hands to help a friend or stranger. Because of these values, they have a reputation throughout the galaxy for their compassion and selflessness that not every skittermander lives up to. Even the most altruistic skittermanders might be curious and nosy or insert themselves into others’ business and problems as though they belong there.
Skittermanders are short and rotund, with big eyes and wide mouths lined with sharp teeth. They have six arms, leading to their use of the slang term allsix for giving one’s best effort. A skittermander’s body is covered in colorful fur, most commonly in bright shades of blue, green, purple, or red. Skittermanders are mammals who begin life in a non-sapient larval stage called a whelp. Skitterwhelps look like miniature skittermanders, save that they scrabble around on all eight limbs, have bigger ears, and have a secondary, tubelike mouth that sprouts from their abdomen. Skitterwhelps don’t do much more than eat after birth, devouring fruits, seeds, leaves, raw meat, and any other source of nutrients they can cram into their mouths, hopefully with parental guidance. A skitterwhelp’s stomach-mouth can attach to large prey and secretes numbing saliva, enabling them to cling to large animals and feed on them over time like a furry leech. Skitterwhelps mature into skittermanders around the age of six, when their stomach-mouths detach. Most retain their large and undiscerning appetite throughout their lives.
Skittermander societies don’t create governments, laws, or rules, yet residents naturally help each other, forming free-form independent communities or joining neighboring societies. Communities are tight-knit and welcoming, and individuals tend to be friendly, sociable, and engaged. Skittermanders are often talkative, only abstaining from constant group conversation while focused on a particularly challenging task or while sleeping. Upon encountering a focused, silent skittermander, other skittermanders often fall silent in turn to help them concentrate, respectful of the hush that’s overtaken their fellow.
It’s said that the Veskarium effortlessly conquered the skittermander home world of Oeddertchonk. When the skittermander residents realized their vesk visitors wanted to occupy their world, they “helped” by simply being elsewhere. Oeddertchonk is simultaneously an occupied outpost of the Veskarium and made up of entirely independent sovereign communities. The skittermanders help the Veskarium when they feel like it but don’t acknowledge Veskarium leadership or governance. Because skittermanders don’t engage in military resistance, the Veskarium happily tolerates the arrangement.
A skittermander adds to their name as they age and pass certain milestones. A name begins very short, usually no more than one syllable. New syllables are added with the passing of time or whenever the skittermander feels like commemorating an important event. Added syllables are often repetitive, and many skittermanders adopt parts of other foreign names (notably Vesk) into their own.
Sample Names: Ayoka, Baazo, Bixby, Dakoyo, Fipzul, Gazigaz, Jomp, Kayoko, Kimikim, Mimzy, Nako, Prismacora, Quonx, Rudfuz, Sprax, Timinim, Tipps, Tonkona, Viverivim
Skittermanders care little for organized religion, instead passing on their beliefs and values through stories, songs, and art. Many consider themselves atheist.
Popular Edicts be kind, help others, respect and nurture living beings
Popular Anathema cause intentional harm without reason, pollute the environment, refuse to help someone in dire need