Created by Captain Michael Turlogh Kane on Aug 16, 2016 @ 4:49pm

THOLIANS

THOLIANS are sentient, crystalline beings around six feet tall, who rule the Tholian Assembly. They have six thin three-jointed crystalline legs, positioned radially around the middle of their body, that gives them the ability to move at speeds much faster than any biped. They have two upper limbs analogous to hands. Their upper body is a crystalline slab with a pair of glowing sensory organs at the top.

Given their physiology, Tholians are most comfortable in high-temperature environments. Low temperatures seem to cause them discomfort and can crack their carapaces. They are able to emit various forms of radiation and modulate it - it is thought that they use this energy modulation to communicate with one another when alone. When dealing with other races in person, they wear vox units that must somehow translate their thoughts into words.

Given their similarities to the Thal, it is likely that both species share at least some aspects of their physiology. Tholians seem to lack a Thal's bio-energy extractors, implying that they do not feed off the energy of living beings, but it is still unknown as to how Tholians gain or utilise energy to keep their life functions in operation. They do not seem to have a metabolism or any other biological functions, and no chemical reactions seem to be occurring in their bodies. How their crystalline-based, non-biochemical form of life is even possible is still a mystery to Federation scientists. Various xenobiological theories have been postulated over the years, ranging from an extra-galactic origin to an advanced form of 'dislocation loops' within their carapaces to store energy. No dead Tholians have ever been examined, but if they are like the Thal, then a dead Tholian is likely to simply become 'inert'.

There is simply too much that is unknown about the Tholians.