Sorian

Sorians are a common space-faring species. They are natural mudworkers and miners, and are known for their artisan cloth.

Appearance
Sorians stand anywhere between 1.5 meters to 2 meters, with "males" generally being taller and "females" shorter. They have 2 arms, 2 legs, 2 long spiky ears, and an insect abdomen protruding from their rear which houses reproductive organs. Their body is partially covered in hard chitin plates, with emphasis on the extremities, head, chest and spine; their skin is made of a similar material to the chitin, although thin and flexible. Their respiratory system is partially housed inside their skull; they have an air bladder in their chest which connects to a spongy organ called the sephyx, located on the back of the skull.

History
Sorians started out as a species of shrubland insects which would congregate near plants and underground water sources. Each colony would have a few "females" and a few "males" among several hundred drones, and multiple colonies would exist in one given area, all working together. Colonies all had their own shell color and pattern which still is reflected on the species' many colonies across the stars.

During their tribal stages, they developed a social caste system involving symbols painted on the forehead to identify which tasks one would have as well as their rank. The system is still followed today.

The Breeder
The breeder caste was the second most prestigious, and was only available to breeders for obvious reasons. Their duties involved producing offspring within the breedhouse, practicing combat arts and sometimes tactics. Some breeders would join the military as commanders and tacticians. In the event of an assault, all sorians were tasked to protect the breeders.

The Keeper
Keepers were the backbone of a functioning sorian society. Their main task was administration, such as taking care of newborn distribution, delegating caste ranks and making important decisions for the colony as a whole. Some colonies had several keepers to watch over different districts, while others had only one or two.

The Soldier
Soldiers were the third most prestigious caste available. They were tasked with the protection of colonies as well as attacking rival ones and performing patrols. breeders were generally placed in command positions, although not many of them were allowed to join in the first place.

The Worker
The worker caste was the most common and least prestigious. It involved one of a few jobs; a worker could be a builder, a farmer, or a crafter. Workers generally avoided combat but could advance into a military job.