Antenok
Overview
Perhaps one of the most physically imposing races on NGC 300, antenok are large bipedal creatures with immense strength and durability and are what happens if you cross a rhinoceros with a triceratops. They are perhaps one of the stranger races as they are mammals that lay eggs and lack mammary glands. In many ways, they have more in common with birds. In spite of these odd biological traits or perhaps even because of them, the antenok is perhaps the greatest brute in the NGC 300 galaxy.
Biology
All antenok are massive brutes with thick leathery skin. Hair varies and can grow on the top of the head, over the lips and chin, or even the upper back. Hair color can be brown, black, or white. Skin color can be brown, gray, or black. Antenok possess four eyes that allow it a wider range of vision. Antenok are incredibly strong. Most civilizations perform executions through firing squads, a melee weapon, or perhaps some form of injection. Antenok perform executions by having the executioner crush the victim's head with their bare hands. It is likely that physical descriptions of the antenok reached the Milky Way and inspired the stories of ogres and trolls. Antenok skin is tough and can be compared to chain mail. As a result, Antenok have never used bladed weapon, using instead clubs and other blunt weapons to pummel each other. Antenok bone is porous. Like with birds, the notion that the purpose of porous bones is to reduce weight is a myth and is instead used to help supply the Antenok's muscles with more oxygen, the empty spaces in the bones containing air sacks. Upon that, the way the pores are shaped and structures allows it to distribute force across its entire bone.
There is a massive sexual dimorphism when it comes to the antenok. Most if not all races' sexual dimorphism can be traced back to the hunter-gatherer age with male hunters and female gatherers. The antenok have the same but an almost flipped result. The antenok homeworld has a higher gravity than most planets. Upon that, its wildlife is notoriously large and strong. Male antenok who hunted had to rely on speed and agility to take down prey. Female antenok who stayed behind to protect the eggs had to do so with neither. As a result, male antenok have a balance between speed and strength while the females are gargantuan brutes. Male antenok have an average height of 2.5 meters and their proportions are similar to other humanoid races. Males antenok can reach speeds of 50 kph. Females grow to an average of 3 meters in height and have proportions closer to that of a gorilla. Females also possessed tusks, long hair, and often a mane running down their back.
Culture
There are hundreds of different cultures when it come to the antenok. Antenok are a rather passive race, not prone to violence. However, when they do resort to violence they are renown for their savagery. Do not go to war, but win if you do. As a result, most antenok are known for being very easy going.
History
When the antenok first evolved, they had to compete with creatures far larger and stronger than them. Their world was native to tyrants and magog. The males evolved a balance of brute strength and speed. The females become raw brutes. The wildlife made it impossible for large cities or tall buildings to be formed.
The unforgiving nature of their homeworld also eliminated a lot of cultural diversity as cultures with beliefs not suited for the brutal wildlife were wipe out. When the antenok reached the nuclear age, they entered a cold war, all the major countries and several minor ones threatening nuclear attack and mutually assured destruction stopping them from pulling the trigger.
Even when they reached the interstellar age, the antenok formed a sort of elder's council to work together. Even though the antenok expanded into the galaxy together, they technically never ended their cold war and continued their threats against each other.
When the makhai started their conquest of the galaxy, the antenok found themselves pushed back to their home system. Cease fires were negotiated so the antenok could form a unified defense against the makhai.
The antenok actually maintained their homeworld during the era of the Makhai thanks to not only the durability of the antenok but the hostility of the wild life there. Even when the makhai fell, the antenok were in no hurry to reclaim their lost territory. They are not as large as it could be but they are still larger than most.
Funny enough, the antenok dominion has never ended the cold war they started back during the nuclear age.
Design
The inspiration for the antenok came from FEAR and the replica heavy armor. I also added in elements of the ogre, giant, and oni. Antenok were the massive brutes of the galaxy, akin to the krogan of Mass Effect. Much of their physical design was inspired by rhinos, elephants, and the triceratops. I also wanted to mess around with the concept of sexual dimorphism. Normally, sexual dimorphism with the hunter-gatherer culture resulted in males being more physical. I wanted to flip that on its head by having the hunter-gatherer culture result in more physical females.