Gorn

The Gorn are large saurians with a high degree of intelligence and personal bravery. They are physically as large as (or larger than) Kzintis, being taller than (and with perhaps twice the bulk of) Humans. Planets have been found with signs of extinct populations of transplanted Gorns. An unknown precursor, generally labeled “Lizard Kings”, is thought to have transplanted the Gorns to these worlds from some unknown birthplace. The Gorns are very interested (but not obsessive) about this. Many adventurers and scientists search planets for signs of the Lizard Kings or other extinct Gorn relatives in Gorn as well as in Federation and Romulan territory.

The three races of Gorns are known as the Gray Scales (who had reached the highest technological level and built the starships that reunited the races), the Brown Scales(who had reached PL 6 before being contacted), and the Green Scales (who were a PL 4 agrarian race). It took nearly a century before the original social stereotyping was eliminated by intensive programs to bring the Green Scales and Brown Scales up to the level of the Gray Scales. Originally, the three Gorn races each had developed its own language; they quickly adopted “Standard Gorn” (now known simply as “Gorn”) as the language of trade and education and now all Gorns use that language.

During the first decades, Brown Scale businessmen took passage on Gray Scale ships to the Green Scale homeworld, where they set up industries using cheap Green Scale labor. Prior to Y120, you could still find resentment and prejudice in some areas and individuals. Since the differing Gorn species are all 95% genetically identical, cross-breeding is possible, and the gorn have a special mechanic for their race for this. Being reptilian, Gorn are Viviparous(not a egg-laying species). While tending her children for the first year, the female suffers what is known as "Brood Fever" that lasts until they have matured sufficiently, while this is usually a year sometimes the duration is extended due to the interbreeding of the three races. During this time, the female's maternal and protective instincts overrule conscious thought and she is prone to attack anyone that approaches her nest with the exception of her mate or a blood relative. The male Gorn in a mated pair, or a family member, is the only one able to care for the female during these times. As such, it is not uncommon for both parents to be granted a leave of absence from their given occupations when the female is expecting to nest until such a time as the children hatch and the fever subsides.

All three species of Gorn are resilient to damage. They are not indestructible by any means, but a phaser on low stun would hardly be felt. To actually stun a Gorn with Federation issue phasers would require multiple shots on high Stun, as the first shot would only serve to make the Gorn mad. A phaser set to kill has no guarantee of actually being fatal. Only a phaser at its highest setting is guaranteed to kill a Gorn with one hit, as he would be vaporized. Non-critical damage to a Gorn regenerates quickly. A severed arm or leg would regrow within a months time. Broken bones heal naturally within a week. Internal injuries heal quickly depending upon the severity. Burns, on the other hand, are far more serious for a Gorn. Burnt flesh takes far longer to heal than it does for other races and infection is almost guaranteed to set in, which could cause even minor burns to be fatal if not promptly treated.

On average, adult Gorn shed their skin every six months. Both shortly before and after shedding, the Gorn's skin is very sensitive and itchy, leading to them being very irritable. As such, Gorn generally prefer to go through shedding alone.

Typical Gorn lifespan is 275 standard years.

Mentally, Gorn are a highly pragmatic species. Though sometimes viewed as being dull witted due to their reptilian physiology, they are anything but. Gorn are decisive, calculating, and curious. They are slow to make friends, due to their long lifespans, but gaining the loyalty of a Gorn means that the Gorn in question would follow and guard his or her friend until death unless given suitable reason to do otherwise.

Biology

The Gorn are a cold-blooded reptilian race native to the Ghdar system. In reality, the Gorn are actually three separate sub-species with many genetic similarities and each hailing from one of the three habitable planets in the inner zone of the Ghdar system. It should be noted, though, that the three species each have distinctive traits due to evolutionary differences from the differing climates of their home worlds.