Endri-nâi Confederation
The Endri-nâi Confederation (Kin-elleth Dhankumôirin Endri-nâi ˈðan.kə.ˌmʊɪ.ɾən ˈɛn.drɪ.nɔɪ) is an interplanetary political organization, headquartered on the planet Sothendra. It is largely run and organized by the Endri-nâi, who are the dominant species on the planet and the only ones who make extensive space travel. However, all other Sothendran species (Trælau and Nirin) are considered to be members under the protection of the Confederation, even if they do not live on Confederation-controlled worlds.
It should be noted that while all Endri-nâi-inhabited planets are members of the Confederation, there are some moons which, while they may have political ties to Confederation worlds, are not themselves members. Regardless, by longstanding agreement they and their citizens remain under the Confederation's protection.
Overview
The Endri-nâi (ˈɛn.dri.ˌnɔɪ), singular endrith (ˈɛn.driθ), of Sothendra are an ancient civilization, long-lived and notoriously hard to kill. They are in general a peaceful species, preferring quiet lives and existing in harmony with others. They are renowned for poetry, art, and advancements in science. They are, however, also known for brutally destroying those unfortunate armies which have threatened them. Everyone has a point past which they shouldn't be pushed. Unfortunately, as the shorter-lived races pass from generation to generation, the memory of the Endri-nâi's ferocity when provoked fades; those coming into contact with them for the first time also often see them only as friendly, hospitable gentle giants and thus underestimate them.
The last time they were pushed too far was some hundred and fifty years ago, when another star empire declared war against them and attempted to invade their homeworld. The fourteen years of battle that followed were brutal and terrible, and the Endri-nâi prefer not to speak of them, for they were obliged to set aside their ways of peace and take up arms. They won, but at what cost?
Insignia
The official insignia of the Endri-nâi Confederation contains a nine-pointed star. Its nine points represent the nine limbs of an endrith (four arms, two wings, two legs, and a tail). The two smaller circles not only suggest a head and torso, but also represent the larger supporting the smaller, as the endri-nâi consider themselves the protector species of their worlds. The three longer points of the star (representing wings and tail) which extend beyond the larger circle represent the endri-nâi going beyond their homeworld into space.
Distribution
Endri-nâi began exploring and colonizing other worlds roughly four thousand years ago, as global political concerns made it desirable to look for off-world territory. The planet's governments eventually formed a coalition, after some thousand years of celestial colonization, but not all colonies – especially the far-flung ones – recognize the coalition government's authority. Currently, the Endri-nâi species has spread across three star systems, for a total of nine colonized planets and twenty-seven moons, asteroids, or other sub-planetary bodies.
Planets: Sothendra, Adarth, Alcamendra, Ranâin, Relpendra, Sûmbarth, Misâima, Ramalcan, Ilemarth
Sizes/distances not to scale; colors are representations only. Bodies in grey are uninhabited or gas giants. Color for moons indicates planet with strongest political attachment.
Other Species of Sothendra
The endri-nâi share their homeworld with several other intelligent species, races believed to be close kin to their own: the forest-dwelling træli-nâi, the ocean-dwelling neiri-nâi, and the aila-nâi, mysterious space-dwellers out of legend.
One origin myth among the Kin-elleth states that the Creator made four tribes of living creatures to inhabit Sothendra, and to each of them gave different domains to protect and govern: the endri-nâi, tall and hardy, were given the dry land, the mountains, and the lower airs; the træli-nâi, small and agile, were given the tall forests and swift-flowing rivers; the neiri-nâi, deep-diving and curious, were given the wide oceans to the lowest depths. To the aila-nâi were given the upper airs and the heavens, that they should ever watch over the planet itself, and all those below. Other cultures share similar stories about their cousins.
Whatever the truth, the similarities between the races are clear. All possess large ears, powerful tails, the ability (in some cases preference) to lay eggs instead of bearing live young, and at least some scales over their body. In addition, it has been noted - at least among the three planet-dwelling races - that all share at least some limited metamorphic ability. That of the endri-nâi is the most limited: when enraged, their fingernails become claw digits, their canine teeth sharpen into long fangs, and their body scales thicken and expand to cover additional areas of the body, such as the chest and groin. The neiri-nâi are able to change their feet into webbed paddle fins; to retract their tails into the body, making them able to pass among humans; or to merge their legs into their tails, making them appear much like the mer-people of Earth legend. While the træli-nâi have been little observed, they have shown the ability to hide their tails or to grow a second pair of arms. What other abilities each race may have - or indeed what they may share with the aila-nâi - is so far unknown.