Thursk

Indomitable. Monastic. Naturalistic.

A hulking, bestial race with thick manes and vicious claws, the noble Thursk appear to be brutish warriors—and yet are anything but. After being driven from their shared homeworld by the Rakashi almost three centuries ago, the Thursk adopted a monastic lifestyle, eschewing most technology and living as one with the natural world.

Thursk remain rare within the Dominion Colonies, having chosen only one world, Korath, to call their own. The planet is hot and arid to the point of being nearly uninhabitable, but the Thursk refused early terraforming initiatives. The world has no cities, minimal aerial traffic, and limited orbital satellites. Yet it has become a place of meditation for aesthetics across the galaxy.

Thursk are reclusive by nature, preferring to live in small prides in wide open spaces. They hunt with their own claws whenever possible, believing such acts are the divine will of the Daalim, the Thursk name for the intangible life essence of the universe.

Most prides enshrine a coming-of-age tradition where young adults leave the colony and travel the galaxy for at least five years. They are meant to explore other ways of life, learning new philosophies and enjoying unique experiences before returning home and recommitting themselves to nature. Those that never return are called Haresh—the Unenlightened. They are pitied rather than scorned, however, and they are always welcomed back once they are willing to abandon their technological attachments. Those who remain in the galaxy-at-large are highly coveted as bodyguards and enforcers.

Art Credit: Ullr2020