Khilsarii

The Khilsarii, also known as the Learned Ones or Lizards, are a group of spacefairing species native to the planet of Sil. They are the most numerous and founding species of the Hierarchy, and reside almost entirely within it's territorial space, though small migrant populations are found across the Human Sphere, Alvium and the Kesyk Reach, as well as in the disputed territories of the Katouku Overpod.

Taxonomically, the term Khilsarii roughly corresponds to the of the same name belonging to the family Shirutokage (シル蜥蜴), and consist of two major natural species, the Ahaka Khilsarii and Saka Khilsarii. In addition, a large number of minor and  with differing levels of genetic variation have been created through a mix of controlled breeding programs, genetic engineering, and bio-cybernetic enhancement; together they are known as the Akhalasarii.

Life cycle
All Khilsarii go through four stages of development: egg, larva, pupa and adult. The larvae, only around 30 cm in length, have no limbs but are capable of some minor movement; they are largely reliant on adults for food and protection. After a year or so of rapid growth, the pupa phase begins, and the larvae undergo metamorphosis to transition to their adult form, which vary depending on the level of care and nutrition provided in the larval stage. Less well-nutritioned larvae develop quickly into male 'pack' Khilsarii, while well-nutritioned larvae go through a much longer metamorphosis of up to 2 years, becoming fertile 'Queens'. Queens are generally animalistic in intelligence, and are not seen as individual persons in Khilsarii culture. Unlike adult hunters, they are similar in form to the larvae, albeit much larger (up to 20 m long), and similarly helpless.

Adult hunters take 6 years after the end of the pupal stage to fully cognitively mature, though they are physically fully developed.

In the modern day, almost all Khilsarii reproduction, with the exception of artificial, is carried out by the Population Control Bureau (Poconburo) of the Integratoriate, which maintains a number of heavily guarded subterranean hatchery sites and ensures genetic diversity among the population, as well as occasionally conducting secretive and genetic engineering to develop new 'hunter stock' specialised for particular purposes. These practices have led to the development of a third stratum in the Khilsarii race, besides the Saka and Ahaka, known as the Akhalasarii ('The Ones from the Moon'), in reference to the main headquarters of the Poconburo on the Silisian moon Akha.

Social behaviour
Khilsarii are, on average, possessed with an extremely collectivistic mindset and pack instinct, which predisposes them to dependence on others. Society is almost entirely governed through collective decisionmaking, be it in the sense of large scale or conciliar organisations. Individual dictatorships are in fact a historical rarity, and within the Hierarchy there are in fact almost no high-level ranks held by individuals. Integratoriate military commands are always held by pairs or trinities of Khilsarii, who exercise the powers of their office collaboratively.

Many Khilsarii cultures also have a concept of a voluntary social unit, known as a Khakha (often translated as 'marriage', 'pack' or 'tribe'), consisting of anywhere from 10 to 100 individuals living together under the same roof, and often sharing a number of customs and traditions which are passed on by the elders. Owing to the radical changes to Khilsarii society brought by the Universal Hierarchy, under which all education and child-raising is carried out by the state, and jobs are assigned by central planning authorities, Khakha today are often formed around a professional context, with military units, factories, or other workplaces serving as their basis.

Ahaka Khilsarii
Distinguished by a heavier build, larger eyes, a shorter and more hooked beak, and longer forelimbs, the Ahaka Khilsarii evolved as arboreal pack predators in the equatorial regions of Sil some 500,000 years ago. They are the second most numerous species overall, making up some 32% of all Khilsarii, but form the majority on Sil itself.