Gi·lon (gē'lon)

Culture:
Herd-minded, they form Associations to protect weak or wounded members of their group.

Government:
Empire/ state

Homeworld:
Heartland

Physical:
Gilon are humanoid with gems called 'bond stones' on their foreheads that are clear unless they have a Hyphokos bond, then it changes to whatever color the Hyphokos's eyes are- as that's the color their mindtouch is. They have short triangle shaped ears that point out from their heads, any color of eye and hair color under the sun, eyes and hair usually match, but there are some that don't. Average heights; male 5'5", female 5'0". They have special pockets in their bodies where Hyphokos can store the material their bodies are made of when they merge with a Gilon. Merging makes the Gilon faster, stronger, and more agile, but still not enough to defeat a Varas, also makes them think quicker.

Breeding habits:
Males have the conscious choice of being fertile.Gilon Females are very turned on by the scent of a fertile male. And after a female gets pregnant, the chemical changes in her body lower her ability to concentrate or recognize dangerous surroundings. She then will go into nesting-mode which causes her to hunt for a permanent residence and ignore all else except this goal, and after finding that place, she would then start rearranging it to her satisfaction, which could include coloring the walls multiple times in various shades and moving furniture.As for the males, they become very protective of the female they've mated with and grow incredibly suspicious of people who were not within their group of close associates. Those associates would also move in to protect the female, but not as closely as her mate would. After the baby is born, this instinct will become even more intense and the male will now be guarding the nesting female and infant as closely as he could. This was why Gilons have very small families- compared to humans- as it is a very exhausting time in a male's life. Only his mate, their Hyphokos Bonds, and the mated couple's parents would be allowed to hold the infant while the male slept, all others would be watched intently, and strangers would not be allowed near the child or mate.

Because of the mingled scents involved, a male becomes permanently Bonded with his mate- meaning once they decide to have a child, they can never even consider having sex with another who isn't their mate. When a mate dies, the partner dies shortly afterwards, generally by just willing himself into death... However, in some rare cases, one parent might live some years after his mate dies, but only if he was informed of her death after the fact and did not catch her scent after she was dead. Even if the child lives, it's rare that a female will live past her offspring's puberty. Males, while protective, aren't the nurturers of the pairing and aren't compelled to live much longer than it takes for the child to begin walking- as that is when the instinct to protect it so strongly starts wearing off. He usually hands the child over to someone he trusts and wanders off in a mental state much like what humans call Dementia.

Important Terminology:
Ha’name - admiral
Da’name - captain
Ma’name - 2nd in command or first mate
Fae’name - navigation officer
Ca’name - communications officer
Li’name - ship operations
I’name - doctor
Se’name - security
Wo’name - weapons
Pi’name - pilot captain
En’name - engineering officer
Ki’hyphokos - polite title for a Hyphokos Bond
Bond – referring to a Hyphokos or Gilon that has a partner of the opposite species
Scent Bond - an emotional attachment produced and enhanced by scent, mate to mate, parent to child, friend to friend, family to family. This Bonding drives a Gilon's instincts to protect the ill, weak, or pregnant members of an Association.
Association – the close circle of friends and family to any one Gilon, usually includes parents, siblings, Hyphokos Bonds and best friends of the newly mated pair.
Bondstone – a rock in the center of a Gilon's forehead that echoes the eye color of the Merged Hyphokos (also happens to be the Hyphokos's individual mindtouch flavor)
Merged – when a Hyphokos is riding inside a Gilon
Disengaged – when a Gilon and Hyphokos Bonded pair are separate.

Food Zodiac: problem solving, personal life
Cinnamon rolls- likes the feeling of ‘home’, being warm and cuddly with family and close friends. (was traditionally spice) inclined to trust.
Doughnuts- lazy, compromising
Bread- simplest solution is the best, place most loved is Mom’s Kitchen
Oatmeal – tenacious, believes in greater numbers solving the problem, togetherness, committee leader type
Eggs – self sufficient, doesn’t ask for help even when they can’t solve the problem on their own.
Meat – selfish, inconsiderate, the universe revolves around them.
Vegetables – air headed, a follower of whoever is the current leader.
Fruit – uses persuasion and cheer to get their way, the type of person that always sees to everyone else’s happiness before their own.

Drink Zodiac: refers to weather liked best, and reactions to situations
Cider- open to nature with an edge of survival instinct. Vicious if betrayed, season is summer
Smoothie – experimental and energetic, Season is summer
Tea - dislikes cold, spring is best, can appear cold and frosty at first, but has new growth hidden beneath the snow and clouds
Fruit drink – sweet, unpretentious, honest, simple, season is spring
Milk – hard working and strong, very dependable, season is winter
Water – simple, natural, unimaginative, season is winter
Alcohol – loud, obnoxious, partier, season is fall
Cocoa– warm and cozy, easy to love and great for cold days. Season is fall

Lucky numbers:
are 1-10, calculated by birth date, time, place, and number of family members.
1= shy and closed, a clam, or anti-social, mean spirited, unforgiving
5 = balanced between shy and outgoing, but on the negative side might hold grudges and be self centered or air headed.

Vathion’s number is 6

Natan’s is 7

10 = can’t get them to shut up, very outgoing, nice, compromising, totally brainless.

Zodiac (favorite) colors:
color calculated that your perfect mate or someone who will have an important impact on your life will have eyes or hair that color. Also affects personality type.
Gold - ornamental, air headed, but doesn't easily hold grudges. They like luxury and hate working for it. they'll take the easy route nine times out of ten and only rarely feel truly driven to do anything. They're usually day dreamers but also creative- if they can get off their lazy butts to create.
Silver - steely edged and vengeful when crossed, the defender of the unfortunate, also hard to read what truly lies past the surface. Will fight for what they believe in and persistently stick to a goal once they've decided to do something.
Green - adaptable to change, always seeking new things to refresh old ways. Will take on many projects at once and appears scatterbrained but somehow manages to get everything done. They hate waiting or sitting still. Very short on patience.
Violet - keeps dark secrets that are life altering, trustworthy, but tendency to get in a rut unless acted upon by someone else. They apparently have infinite patience, but can be annoyed, but when it does happen, they calmly explain their feelings and get on with life.
Blue - melancholy, prone to depression, sees the clouds behind the clear skies but tends to try and do something about them when there is something that can be done. They like feeling relied upon.
Red - regal, self centered, but good at arguing to get what they want. And when they want something, they'll let you know. They are the center of the universe.
 Yellow - warm, strong mothering instincts, usually good at listening and the eternal peace makers, can't stand to watch people fighting without feeling the need to arbitrate. But it's hard to get them to open up and speak of their own desires.
Orange - fun loving and life of the party, likes stunts and getting into trouble just for the thrill of it. Usually adrenaline addicted.
Black - obsessive, grasping, ambitious, perfect for politics or dirty jobs that require a sterner personality, hard to rattle.
White - calm, above everything but humble, unassuming, easily forgotten in a rush but always there when you need to be patched up.

Other:
Evolved on the same world as the Hyphokos, they're sturdier than Hyphokos and built to have a Hyphokos merged with them- which can increase dexterity, strength, and speed of body and thought. When in the presence of one or more Psions, Gilons will passively amplify everything said and broadcast it to all who are sensitive.

Religion:
Their God is the combined souls of their Emperors/esses of the past who guide the souls of the good people to Paradise.

Battle Tactics:
The Gilon are adverse to fighting personally. They do not like the scent of their people's blood, thus, they often resort to weapons that either don't shed blood or cauterize the wounds before they can bleed. In space, this translates to capital ship battles with skirmishes between fighter wings. Boarding actions are a completely foreign concept to the Gilon.

There are such things as personal challenges and those tend to be non-lethal or more just competitive. A game of Graviball could settle an issue between a pair of Gilon. When right to command is involved, there is an ancient custom involving the shock-batons that Ha'Natan, and Ha'Vathion are frequently stated as carrying. The first and second in command of a ship will carry these weapons as a sign of their status, but if a challenge to their authority arises, there are rules of engagement involved in the fight. These challenges are a last resort.