The Host is a group of invaders from an alternate Earth, one in which, millions of years ago, a global climate shift never occurred.  The rulers of that world were never slain by cold and darkness.  Instead, they evolved, grew, and created a mighty civilization.  Of course, civilizations rise and fall.  The Host of today would little recognize some of their progenitors.  "The Host" is their name for their government, such as it is.  The race is named the Drajin.  There are other groups of Drajin who do not recognize the authority of the Host.

The Host that emerged after the last great war has recovered much, but not all of the ancients' technology.  Some of it was destroyed beyond all recovery - even wiped from the minds of those who used it.  Lost to the Host are the secrets of life-control that transformed some of them into shape-shifting, telepathic gods.  The Lords of the Host are not even certain that they are truly descended from the Ancients, although they suppress this information viciously.

They rule a vast stellar empire, recovered several generations ago after the almost complete loss of starfold technology.  The new network of fold gates is far less efficient, but the totalitarian Host prefer it that way.  Slipships capable of entering the Fold unaided are rare and expensive.  Most transports require fold gates for superluminal travel.

Biology

The Drajin's origins are lost to time.  They were at one time roughly humanoid pseudo-reptiles, but they are now so much more.

Melee    20+    Dmg 80+                   Type: Alien
Coord    20+    For 40+                   Origin: Birth
Brawn    20+   Rep Varies - 20 ave.  Weakness: Chemical Dependency (See below)
Fort       20+   Life Varies - 20 ave.   Effect: Damage/Power Loss
Int         10+
Aware    20+
Will       10+

Powers
Physique: The Drajin are very tough and highly adapted for their roles as warriors and rulers.
-Body Armor of at least 10
-Enhanced Senses from 6-10 or more.  Many have the ability to boost these further with shapeshifting.
-Regeneration of at least 1
-Superspeed from 1-5, but this ability requires an Endurance test.  A green result means the power works for 1 turn.  Yellow provides 3 turns.  Red provides 6 turns of speed.  Afterwards, this ability is not useful until the Drajin has had the chance to rest for at least an hour.
-Chemical dependency: Drajin need to consume the brain chemicals of sentient beings.  Their tongues have special feeding spines for this purpose.  The chemicals must come from a living brain, and the process reduces the vessel to a mindless husk.

Telepathy: All Drajin have some telepathic ability.  Most of their powers require line of sight or physical contact.  Available power stunts include
-Communication (LOS)
-Mind Control (requires contact - works like hypnosis)
-Mind Probe (requires contact)
-Mind Shield

Shapeshifting: The Drajins' natural forms are pseudo-reptilian humanoids with varicolored scaled hides, but they can change shape.  Members' power levels vary.  The least of them can only change their skin colors and manifest claws and the like.  The greatest can assume virtually any shape.

Drajin are carnivores, and many prefer the meat of sentient beings.  Cannibalism is a social ritual.  One consumes one's defeated foes to steal their strength and prevent them from entering the afterlife. 

Drajin have no gender.  Sex between them involves a sort of shapeshifting/wrestling contest where one attempts to overwhelm the other and implant spoors of genetic material.  Thereafter, the other's body will absorb the spoors and produce one or more eggs bearing the victor's genetic matter.  Drajin can recognize their own offspring by scent.  A Drajin who bears another's offspring is considered subordinate to the "father."  The gestation period is long, and the Drajin give birth to live young.  It is not unknown for a litter of young to get hungry in the womb and consume each other or even the "mother" although such cases are rare with modern medical science to make sure the mother is well fed.

Drajin in "female" mode lose two ranks of Strength, and their shapeshifting powers are limited to rank 2.  They are highly vulnerable to the telepathy of the "father" Drajin, resisting any attempts at mind control at -2 ranks.  Also, they are generally docile and non-confrontational, unless severely threatened.  Then an overwhelming urge to protect their offspring will kick in, making them want to run or fight as necessary.

The Drajin have also made slaves of other races they've encountered.

Doshou
Dull, brutish creatures of reptilian origin, used for heavy labor.

Hejin
The most pathetic and hated creatures in the Host - the Hejin are former Drajin who have had their brains fed upon.  Their regenerative capabilities are sufficient to return the semblance of life, but they are broken, withered creatures.  They lose their telepathy and any defenses they had against the telepathy of other Drajin.  They also lose their shapeshifting abilities, and can be forced to shift by other Drajin.  Even these shifts are imperfect.  Hejin have flaccid, weak muscles and doughy bodies.  They always look partly melted or "unfinished."

Hejin have intelligence comparable to large dogs, at best, although they remember their past lives.

To become a Hejin is the worst punishment possible for a member of the Host - worse even than being forced into motherhood or eaten.

Mynkin
Small, spry mammals often used for labor requiring a delicate touch.  They are similar to large lemurs, and nearly have a hive mentality.  An entire pod of Mynkin functions as a unit.  Separating a single Mynkin from his pod will kill him.

Synshin
Thin, long-necked reptilian creatures with elaborate head crests, kept as something between pets and companions.  They spit caustic venom and are often used as guards for the young or hunting "hounds."

Culture
The Host is a hegemony of Houses.  There are greater and lesser houses, with some mobility possible, although it is rare.  The House of Houses is the house occupying the capital of the Throneworld (alternate Earth).  The Host is as much a religion as a government.  Each House claims certain religious sites and artifacts.  Numerous orders permeate the society and cross House lines.  Orders link some Houses together in alliances, and force others to interact.  There is no clear "priesthood" as all Drajin claim to be descended from the Gods.

That said, there are Orders whose members take on advisory roles.

Families are very large, and track kinship through the "male" line.  This is easier since offspring and sires can recognize each other by scent.  A House is a large clan, and makes relatively little distinction further than that, save for the distinction of a Warrior's mates.  Drajin forced into motherhood belong to their "husbands" so long as they are gravid, and until the next time they mate and take the male role.  This often results in a lifetime of bondage, since Warriors decide who their mates may mate with under most circumstances.

Young are raised by their mothers, often somewhat in a crèche style.  As they approach maturity, they receive broad training until they show an aptitude for one Order or another.  Once a young Drajin is able to successfully mate (to either impregnate or be impregnated), that draj is considered an adult.  

Life in the Host is marked by almost constant conflict.  Houses vie for power against each other.  Orders contest against rival Orders.  Even within a House, there is continuous struggle.  There are only a few refuges against the endless strife.  A few Orders are pacifisistic, contemplative monasteries.  Drajin weary of battle might retreat to one for a few weeks, or even longer.  The other choice is to willingly become female.  Females are fairly safe from conflict.  A birth cycle can be something of a vacation - although it is a high price to pay.

Technology
The Host has technology far in advance of earth.  They have relatively "clean" nuclear capability, space flight, and energy weapons.  Using technology to mimic their unique biology, they have adaptive materials that can change shape and function in response to need.

Some of their technology is in the form of "relics" that they can operate and even repair (it is often self-repairing) but that they are unable to replicate.  These relics are rare and treasured.  A small one can turn a Warrior into a Master.  A large one can be the center of a Greater House's power.

The Host have no language as we know it.  They use telepathy to communicate in raw ideas rather than words, and use psionically reactive crystals in place of writing.  Rather than trying to put thoughts down in words, a Drajin "author" can imprint a crystal with everything he knows on a subject.  They even have "fiction" crafted by imaginative Drajin.

As a result of this, while the slaves might have their own languages, they have no written form.  All slaves are illiterate and have difficulty communicating beyond the halls of their own Houses.  This, as much as Drajin telepathy, keeps them in bondage.