The vargon come from a cool world orbiting an F class main sequence star. The vargon world is relatively small compared to Earth and has a smaller gravitational pull and, because of that, a thinner atmosphere. The vargon are carbon-based life forms that evolved from a liquid body of water. They were the second race to be "discovered" by man. In reality, the vargon discovered the human race long before humans found out about them. They had been listening to radio signals sent by humans for years and had even deciphered some of our language when we first picked up on their broadcasts. That was when they sent a deliberate message to the human race explaining who they were and their intentions. We first made contact with them in the early 25th century. It was a peaceful encounter, with both races trying to learn as much about the other as possible. It was only a short time before we had their language deciphered and could discuss important matters. They had a head start on the human race and were already speaking human languages within a year of the initial encounter. The vargon are very curious and open to new ideas and they find the human race fascinating. They are as intelligent as humans and much more imaginative. They emerged as an intelligent race several thousand years after humanity. The chances of this happening by accident are astronomically low. It has been long suspected that the emergence of three intelligent races (humans, gon-chuti, and vargon) so close together in time and space was no accident.
The vargon evolved in the rocky, arid, desert lowlands of Bragen's (the vargon homeworld) subtropical belt. To conserve energy and moisture in this semi-hostile environment the vargon are slow moving and sleep 50% of the time. They also have a limited degree of direct control over their metabolism. This means that they can decrease the amount of food and water they need during periods of drought or famine. Unfortunately, their naturally low metabolism also limits their ability to heal quickly. A vargon is large, tall creature with a broad head, six robust limbs and large, hooflike feet. The vargon are a two sex species, with the males being slightly larger than the females. The average male grows to be six feet tall and can rear up on their hind legs to be nearly eight feet tall. They typically weigh between 180-220 pounds. Females are usually a foot shorter than males and about 50 pounds lighter. Vargon are fairly weak for their size.
The big bright sun of the Bragen system pours large amounts of radiation down on the planet's surface. The planet's thin atmosphere does not repel much of this radiation and as such life on Bragen has evolved some interesting ways of surviving. Millions of years ago the vargon evolved into a symbiotic relationship with a barnacle like creature that is native to the oasises of the vargon desert climate. This barnacle has a very hard, thick shell that is resistant to radiation. Thousands of these creatures form a hard shell covering over 80% of the vargon's body. The shell covering is especially thick on a vargon's back, legs and arms. A thin layer coats its hands and face. No shells grow on its chest or abdomen. The shells vary in color from rusty red to pale orange. The shells make unique and beautiful patterns, especially on the face. Vargon are vary careful to care for the shells and keep them clean. Every year the vargon shells begin to mult. It takes about a month for the shells to grow back completely. During this time the vargon have the equivalent of the albino disadvantage and stay out of the sun. Shortly before they mult the shells emit large amounts of pollen. This is a special time for the vargon and is accompanied by outdoor festivals. The reason for this seems to be spreading the pollen and ensuring a new healthy shell.
Most complex animals on Bragen have six limbs. The vargon are no exception. They have two arms with three fingers and a thumb. Their manual dexterity is comparable to humans. The thumb is set directly opposite of the three fingers, like an eagle's talon. The tips of the vargon's fingers resemble tiny hoofs. It has two legs which resemble the hands except that the hoofs on the end of the toes are much larger. Inbetween the legs and the arms are a set of limbs that can be used for either function. The are about as strong as the arms but have reduced dexterity and gripping power. They are primarily used as strikers. Traditionally, vargon warriors in hand to hand combat try to pin their opponent under their hoof hands and then finish them off. Having four walking limbs causes the vargon to hunch forward as a result the have a sloping back which gives them a semi-upright appearance like that of a gorilla.
Vargon have excellent vision. They used this, along with their height, to spot predators from a good distance on the desert plains. They see slightly higher frequencies of light than humans. They do not see the color red and can see soft UV rays. They're senses of hearing, taste, touch and smell are comparable to a human's senses. Their eyes are very small and set deep in the back of the skull. This reduces their field of vision considerably but offers the eyes ample protection from blowing sand. They have a long narrow mouth like that of a wolf only with flat, blunt teeth. They have a long thick tongue which they have expert control over. they have one large nostril that is located under the mouth at the bottom of the face. Also located in this oriface is the vargon's sense of hearing. The nose can open up very wide, gaining the appearance of miniature radar dish. This oriface can also be sealed. This happens automatically when the vargon is eating. Vargon never talk while eating for this reason. The vargon digestive and respiratory systems are one and the same. They breath and digest with the same organ. They also exhale and excrete waste through the same opening. They can not eat or drink and breath at the same time, however. While they chew they must hold their breath. Vargon are mainly herbivorous but sometimes eat small animals.