Classification of sentients

In science fiction, a sentient is defined as any organism capable of feeling and intelligent thought. Within Final Frontier, many different types of sentients have appeared, and they are classified based on cognitive ability. This list, while comprehensive, does not include “unintelligent” non-sentient species such as animals and plants. Despite being living creatures, these are not capable of independent thought and therefore are not considered sentient.

Blacks
Main article: Black

The Blacks are the highest level of sentient life, comprising the most evolutionarily advanced species in the Universe. Their cognitive ability is unmatched and they possess complex abilities, such as warping space and shapeshifting. They see logic as above all and strictly work together to achieve maximum efficiency. The Blacks are the only species to harness the technology to create galaxies.

Black biology is unknown, but they are shown to be able to transform celestial objects, manually evolve a lesser species, and even colonize a galaxy with only a small tribe of themselves. Needless to say, their intelligence is well above the other two categories. However, due to the cognitive gap, it is sometimes difficult for a Black to communicate with a lesser being (and vice versa).

Higher Sentients
Gods and other supernatural entities are usually classified as Higher Sentients. They are often worshiped and sometimes feared by Lower Sentients. Most myths and religions are built around creatures of this classification. They are more intelligent and advanced than Lower Sentients, but are close enough cognitively to interact with them.

Many plot points within the story of Final Frontier revolve around direct influence from Higher Sentients. Occasionally, some characters are built around their respective god or may change significantly due to interaction with one. Rarely, a player character will themselves be a higher sentient; for example, in the case of Maia.

List of Higher Sentients
Notable examples include:


 * Dread (Sanya)
 * Klux
 * Maia
 * The Elven Pantheon
 * Ameno (Goddess of Death)
 * Era (Goddess of Love, Lust)

Lower Sentients
The player characters and usual NPCs of Final Frontier usually fall under the Lower Sentient category, with a few exceptions. The behavior and abilities of this class are most comparable to humans (who, of course, are Lower Sentients themselves). This class contains the largest number of species out of the three, being primitive and widespread throughout each galaxy. Lower beings are lowest on the proverbial food chain, often tending to personal matters and not serving any greater purpose.

Though it is extremely rare, it is possible for a Lower Sentient to achieve Higher Sentient status if one such god merges with or is otherwise integrated into a lower being. Sanya is perhaps the most extreme example, as Dread was forcibly fused with her (and later consumed entirely during her hibernation). It is not possible for any non-Black species to ascend to Black status.