Gelve

The Gelve are a humanoid race, similar to the Rylve in some respects, and aided them in their dominion of the Heartworlds. They are native to the planet Dagrin.

Physical Characteristics
The Gelve’s most notable features are their bat-like ears, similar to but less elegant than those of their Rylve cousins. These ears parallel the head, rather than sticking out. They feature black, straight hair, and dark eyes. Their skin comes in similar shades to that of humans. Their foreheads feature a single ridge from the bridge of their nose to their hairline. Gelve height ranges from 5’6 to 6’6 on average. The Gelve also have an advanced nervous system, but not to the degree of the Rylve. The increase in reflex is increased 15%, with a variance of +/- 2%. The Gelve have greater visual and auditory acuity, however, likely due to the slow rotation of their world, its long nights, and frequent eclipses.

Culture
The Gelve speak with their hands as much as verbally, and can communicate with one another with hand signals only. Emotion is also shown partially in these gesticulations, rather than only in facial expression and inflection. This is due to their world being more predator heavy than most others in the Heartworlds. Hand signals were essential to not give away your position when hunting to your prey or other possible predators in the dark. The hunt is emphasized in Gelve culture, taking a prominent place among coming of age and end of life rituals. Gelve cities are constructed both on the ground and up among the excessively large trees that grow on their world. Their larger fortresses have been built over hundreds of years, by planting these trees in arrangements that will provide natural cover and extreme height advantage to the defenders. Gelve architecture is frequently hard to distinguish from their surroundings from afar. The Gelve believe in striking from the shadows before an enemy realizes their presence, and as such were instrumental in the establishment of the Rylve Dominion. Their assassins frequently effected regime changes that favored dominion membership.