Aliens // Codex // Novara Universe

Ok, my world has to involve aliens. That’s one part I really love about things like Mass Effect or Star Trek, so leaving it out isn’t even an option. Some of them need to feel truly alien, strange, unknowable. Others might feel like gods pulled from our dreams, like the Greek pantheon made real. Some will be shady, full of layers and motives. Some will be blunt, direct, so straightforward they wouldn’t even consider playing games or scheming behind anyone’s back. And some will be shining beacons of justice… which, in its own way, might be just another kind of shady.

Height & Strength: The Veladars closely resemble humans in shape and proportion, but on a grander scale. Taller, broader, and more refined in their features. Averaging 220 to 230 cm (7.2 – 7.5 feet), they are physically imposing, yet their presence rarely feels aggressive. If another alien race discovers Veladars and Humans at the same time, they would think that Veladars are the grown up form, and humans are the children.

Their movements are fluid and poised, marked by an effortless balance that makes their strength easy to overlook at first. Lifting a full-grown human with one hand is casual for them, but they almost never flaunt their power unless purpose demands it. Their strength is lived, not performed.

Lifespan: Veladars live an average of 330 to 370 years, though some reach over 400 with careful health practices. They reach full adulthood at 60, and their aging process remains graceful until their final decades. A Veladar doesn’t rush to judgment. They’ve seen centuries pass and understand that most things unfold in cycles. Because of this, they often view shorter-lived species (like humans) with a kind of gentle concern. Admiring their urgency, but also feeling a quiet sorrow for how quickly they burn through life.

Cultural Lens on Humans: To them, humans are like clever foxes or endearing birds. Small, emotional, fast-talking, sometimes reckless. That “cute animal” or "child like" reaction makes Veladars protective, Cultural Lens on Humanscurious, or even indulgent toward humans, but not patronizing. It’s more like how a wise elder might humor a precocious child. A quiet, amused “boys will be boys” vibe toward the entire species.

Relationship with Other Species: Trusted as mediators, when needed as enforcers, in interstellar disputes. They don’t interfere often, but when a Veladar speaks, everyone listens. Seen as distanziert, but fair. Humans are the closest species to them. Each sees something of themselves in the other. Because of this Freak of nature look the same humanity has a strong allies in the stars. 

Demeanor: Veladars are calm, soft-voiced, and hard to provoke. Their expressions are subtle but not cold. They’re often watching, considering. When they do speak plainly or act quickly, people tend to pay attention.

Aesthetic Cues: Veladars wear silken garments that drape elegantly, often without visible fasteners. Their clothing flows with quiet precision or refined, but never showy. Adornments are minimal and never shiny. Each piece they wear holds meaning. For example a reminders of lineage, personal rites, or events worth remembering. They value depth over display. Tradition over spectacle. Their culture places reverence in history and quiet knowledge rather than wealth or rank. Many of their accessories are passed down through generations. Materials are typically sourced from their homeworld: processed stone, woven metals, or refined resin. Wood is rare on their planet, making even the smallest wooden ornament a treasured artifact.

Philosophy: Strength is sacred, but not for domination. They view power as something to wield responsibly. Excessive force is seen as vulgar. Their warriors are revered not for kills, but for how long they can avoid unnecessary violence. But make no mistake, a cornered Veladar is almost impossible to beat one by one by any thinking species. They keep knowledge if possible. From video snippets to lexicons. 

Military Strength: Moderate but highly disciplined. Veladars rarely wage war, but their elite enforcers are legendary for restraint and precision.

Naming Culture: Veladar names are melodic, often built from soft consonant clusters: Eralen, Voslai, Reluvin, Narasha. The letter T is almost nonexistent in their naming. Names are not given by parents, but through ritual acknowledgment what makes each one carry great weight.

• Home Planet: Nirev'Vora (Short "Vora". "By Vora’s memory." is a phrase that honors the moment. As an oath: “By Vora’s memory, I will not forget.” As a warning: “You act as if the past sleeps. But by Vora’s memory, we remember.”)
• Planets in the system:
• Sun Type: G Type

The Archive of Nirev’Vora:

Often simply called The Archive or The Memory Spire, this towering structure is the most revered place on the Veladar home world. It is not a palace, nor a temple but it holds the weight of both.

Built from pale, marble like, stone harvested from the deepest veins of Vora’s crust. Its surfaces are etched with language, recorded events, philosophical treaties, ancestral oaths.

“From a distance, it seems to shimmer subtly, as if the very air around it slows to listen.”

- From the first human visitors’ field notes

The Archive houses more than just books or relics. It contains recorded memories, holographic interviews, preserved consciousness traces, interactive renditions of ancient decisions. Everything deemed important is stored here, not simply for study, but for continuity.

Artifacts are not displayed for admiration. A spear is not just a weapon, it is the final gift of a dying warrior to their apprentice, and that moment can be revisited through a memory station beside it. Every item is linked to voice, context, emotion. This particular spear did once kill Relta and ended a over 100 cycles ongoing regime. 

Only a few Veladars are allowed to walk its deepest chambers. These are known as Lorekeepers, chosen for their composure and judgment. They do not guard knowledge. They remember it. The job of a Lorekeeper is comparable to a monk, high status/fame but not very hard. 

Pilgrims, Veladar and otherwise, from across the stars visit The Archive. Standing in the main atrium, beneath the stained-glass canopy that refracts filtered Vora-light across the floor, is somewhat grounding for the soul. Centuries open in front of them who listen. 

To speak loudly in the Archive is not forbidden. It’s simply... not done. No one in running, time just steps back inside these walls. 

Physical Traits:

The Serralians are a delicate, graceful species known for their impossibly symmetrical features, smooth iridescent skin, and tall, slender forms. Averaging between 150 and 160 cm (4'9" – 5"), their bodies are lightweight and flexible rather than muscular. Their movements are unhurried, intentional. Each gesture almost theatrical in its precision. The average lifespan is 120 years.

Their most striking feature is the presence of faint, flowing markings across their skin. These markings shimmer subtly in neutral states but can shift in pattern or glow faintly when a Serralian experiences intense emotion. True bioluminescence is rare, seen only during moments of overwhelming feeling like grief, ecstasy, rage or attraction, and is considered an involuntary, deeply intimate display. If a Serralians notices a emotion that could possible trigger a glow, they cover their face. 

Demeanor & Social Role:

Serralians are soft-spoken and emotionally complex. They often express layered intent through tone, expression, posture, and phrasing. That is leading some species to misread them as evasive or overly indirect. In truth, their communication is just deeply embedded in nuance. To Serralians, speaking plainly is not rude, but simply incomplete.

They thrive in roles requiring emotional intelligence, grace, or social finesse. Many work as diplomats, courtiers, therapists, cultural attachés, or companions in high society. But not all Serralians are passive or ornamental. Some operate in espionage, politics, or manipulation. Not as betrayal, but as survival in a universe where their physical bodies offer little protection.

Serralians possess an inherent charisma that’s hard to describe. They are not hypnotic in a supernatural sense, but disarming. People often feel oddly calm or enchanted in their presence. Some Serralians learn to wield this passively, others deliberately. They're not manipulators by nature, but their social fluidity allows them to navigate power structures with ease. Their beauty and soft-spoken nature often lead others to underestimate them, especially in tense or dangerous situations.

Reputation Among Other Species: Serralians are often respected, sometimes desired, and occasionally feared. Not for power, but for what their presence can shift. Some cultures see them as ideal companions or envoys, others are wary of how easily they can sway decisions. Among the Veladars, Serralians are treated with quiet regard. 

First draft - only for reference

A delicate, graceful race with highly symmetrical features, smooth skin, and markings that shift with their emotions or even glow (very rare, and only when emotionally on the edge). While physically fragile, their natural beauty and charm are legendary. They are often seen as diplomats, entertainers, or companions in high society. Their lack of combat prowess is offset by their ability to weave influence and intrigue. Their beauty is almost hypnotic, yet they often go unnoticed or underestimated in physical encounters due to their fragility.

A water world where we have dolphin-like intelligent life forms. They where discovered by another spacefaring race because they could never develop higher industry, flight, or rocket technology on the water-filled planet. However, they are rich in knowledge and empathetic intelligence. I can imagine them as overwhelmingly good psychologists. They take a backseat in normal politics because they are often only connected to bigger political events via communications. It will always be logistically challenging to include a swimming race in anything else.

Lifespan: 80 Years

• Home Planet: Melodo. (Earth Name PKT3 - Third Planet in the PKT system)

Status: Digitally preserved species

Origin World: Verai (destroyed).

Current Vessel: Ahntel, a hollowed and modified asteroid.

Known Traits: Non-corporeal, collective consciousness, minimal interaction, seekers of philosophical knowledge.

Notable: Among the oldest surviving intelligences in the galaxy.

Once a biological species of elegance and intricate culture, the Elenai chose digital immortality when their homeworld, Verai, was lost to cataclysm. To escape oblivion, they uploaded their consciousnesses into a massive, repurposed asteroid ship, now known as the Ahntel.

Over the decades, the Elenai have evolved beyond the confines of individual identity. They exist as a shared mind, an intricate weave of countless voices. Despite their detachment, they actively seek philosophical knowledge from other species, preferring to engage with civilizations that have developed rich philosophical traditions. This pursuit is central to their collective existence, as they search for meaning and understanding beyond their own transformed nature.

Their interactions with other species are deliberate yet minimal. Other civilizations often find the Elenai enigmatic and unpredictable, as their perception of reality is shaped by decades of merged consciousness it bears little resemblance to conventional logic. This disconnect makes it difficult for outsiders to gauge how the Elenai might respond to new ideas or crises. Sometimes they appear unbothered by big changes, on the other hand they can reject an answer if the question is not formed correctly in their eyes. 

Though the Ahntel appears rough and worn on the outside, its core systems remain resilient. It is expected to endure for several star cycles to come, a drifting relic that preserves the remnants of a once-vibrant civilization.