Quattapodians

Biology and Culture
Quattapodians are an intelligent species from the planet of Quattapodia. They are hexapods, insect-like and possess a very hard exoskeleton. It is believed Quattapodia has been through a major extinction event, and the lack of competition allowed for insectoid beings to take over and evolve. Quattapodians are the only intelligent species in Quattapodia, and are in the top of their food chain.

Quattapodians possess four inferior limbs and two assistance limbs in their body, two of them being attached to their torso and four of them to their abdomen. They are all hermaphrodites, except for the queens, and are divided into four physically distinct groups: Workers possess strong abdominal legs and two mandibles for hacking and harvesting root plants from the tunnels, and also manufacturing weapons. Caretakers have no mandibles and weaker legs, but they have wings and elytras for going up and down in the larvae "libraries". They also serve as scientists and artists. Soldiers have extremely strong legs and arms, along with elongated horns and shoulder pads. In older times, they would use brute force and makeshift weapons in war against enemy queens, but in recent years the Quattapodians discovered gunpowder and started making firearms with a rotating lever system for setting up the shot. Queens are typically twice the size as regular Quattapodians and much, much rare. They are responsible for laying the eggs of the colony and leading it in conflicts wherever they go.

Part of their culture is the use of body painting using underground plants as dye, with the workers and soldiers using light green, red and white, while caretakers don't use white. Queens use none of these colors, instead using the more incredibly rare purple dye, only found in the lowest levels of the underground. They also hang the different types of plants used for dye on their horns, as a way to symbolically show that they hold the entire colony together.

Society and Technological Advancements
Quattapodian society is monarchic and authocratic. The planet used to be split between four queens that became the most powerful in their subsequent regions, resulting in several conflicts between the queens.

After hundreds of years of unstopping conflict with little to no result due to their power equality, the four queens came together with a truce, meant to unite them and not let any more war happen, making them dedicate themselves to trade and technological advancement. This kept the peace in Quattapodia for many years, until one of the queens, the one with most territory called Mahattaria, decided she could take on all three queens and rule the planet herself. The three queens, upon knowing of this nefarious plan, crushed Mahattaria's army and capital with overwhelming force, killing her and all of her subordinates indiscriminately. They then created a Holy Capital, where they would focus their technological advancement and peace talks, being a neutral ground in the middle of the planet's hemisphere.

Quattapodian workers, caretakers and soldiers, although produced in masse, are not mindless drones. Although they are programmed to as the Queens ask, they have personalities and dreams. This can be dangerous to the Queens, an example being the Great Insurrection, an attempt by the remaining rogue subordinates of Mahattaria to destroy the Queens' rule and be free. Their insurrection was destroyed by the Queens before it could even have a chance to happen. Some other subordinates think of this insurrection often, but no other attempts have been made to dethrone the Queens. Instead, the rogue Quattapodians run away from Quattapodia via refugee ships to have a new life in other planets, away from Quattapodian rule.

Around 4987 A.E, they were discovered by the Empire of Etheria during their space exploration campaign. When they met, the Empire of Etheria noticed the overwhelming numbers and low possibility of colony adaptation that Quattapodia had, and then decided to make an exception, making a deal with the Queens to supply their mineral resources to the Empire in exchange of the Empire's technological knowledge. They maintain a peaceful relationship to this day (5061 A.E), but both the Federation and the Empire are constantly afraid of being attacked by the Quattapodians, due to the sheer size and reproduction speed of their population.

As of 5061 A.E, the Quattapodians possess one of the strongest space fleets and army in the Known Galaxy. The queens make it clear every possible time to all other species, that if they wanted to, they could destroy all of them in a swift and brutal manner.

Notable Quattapodians

 * Queen Mahattaria, the terrible
 * Queen Tra-Shalla, the kind
 * Queen Marg-Savitta, the powerful
 * Queen Jaxattoria, the blessed

Mentions

 * Quattapodians have not yet been mentioned in any Everdream work.