The Hancher first came to the attention of the galaxy when they launched their Crusade against the Quorum worlds. Tribal creatures, the Hancher operate under a feudal system not dissimilar to that of the Holy Roman Empire during Earth's European Medieval period - powerful Hancher 'Chieftans' parcel off power and territory to less powerful Hanchar 'Knechts' in return for their loyalty and tithes, who in turn grant smaller amounts of land and power to their warriors and so on. Hancher society is built around the Clans, large feudal groupings of Hancher who are led by their Chief. Formerly, this involved warring with the other Clans over territory and resources, and also for religious reasons. However, when it was discovered that other species inhabited the galaxy, Hancher reaction was mixed. While some Clans began warring with the new comers, yet others renewed their attacks on the others. In time, the Warlord Makkan Gul'den defeated many of the Clans, assimilating them into his own, and forced the remaining Clans to swear fealty to him as Overlord of the Hancher, a feat that had been achieved several times in Hancher history, though generally short-lived. With this complete, Gul'den declared himself Grand Theologist Militant - combining his position as overlord with that of the head of the Unity's priesthood. The Hancher are a spiritual race, with most fervently believing in the Unity - they believe that through death in battle against a worthy opponent, it is possible to transcend the material universe become one with one's ancestors and the galaxy's collective spirit: this is one of the many reasons for the almost perpetual state of warfare between the Clans.
With his dominance over the Hancher race established as both warchief and high priest, Gul'den ordered that missionaries be sent into Quorum space (while the Hancher were still unknown to them) and convert their populace to the ideals of the Unity, aiding the quest for transcendence. However, when it became apparent that this would not happen, Gul'den launched his Grand Crusade against the unprepared races, crushing and occupying many worlds. Although the Quorum's counterattack destroyed their foothold on the occupied worlds, once the battle was taken to Hancher territory the war descended into a gruelling battle of attrition. For a full Terran century, the war raged, until Gul'den's subservient Clan Chieftans (assissted by high-ranking Unity priests who had become convinced that the war would not be successful in spreading their ideal) overthrew and killed him. Subsequently, the Clans fell back into their old habits of warring with one another, while the Quorum races pulled back and waited for the dust to settle. After another 50 years of war, a new Grand Theologist Militant, Skarr Mal'kith, emerged as the feudal leader of the Clans. Knowing that the Quorum races could not be defeated, he sued for peace and offered what reparations he could. His rule has seen the message of the Unity gradually becoming more moderate, though he allows limited warfare among the Clans to allow them to satisfy their religious sensibilities, only stepping in when things are laible to get out of hand. As a result, the Quorum extended and invitation to the Hancher to join as a full member - it was judged that their military strength would be better served in the power structure of the Quorum, and that cultural exchange would gradually aid in moderating the Clans' devout views. It seems that this approach may be working somewhat - a few Hancher fleets have been taking part in anti-pirate operations, and have even been reported as being relatively civil to non-Hancher civilians. Relative being the key term.
At roughly 7' tall, the Hancher are powerful beings, fitting of their warrior culture. Thick skin and bones serve to protect their vitals, while their bodies are covered in thick dark fur, allowing them to survive in a large variety of hostile conditions. Standing on two legs with a long, flexible tail (complete with thick, built up bones, allowing it to be used as a weapon), an angry Hancher, even unarmed, is a serious health risk. Two long tusks jut from their mouths, which are filled with constantly replenished shark-like teeth, and indeed, it was observed on a number of occasions that Hancher driven into a beserker rage would charge their enemies and attempt to gut them with these tusks while beating them with powerful fists. Their sense of smell is good, as is their eyesight, though their hearing is relatively weak. However, this does not seem to impede their combat effectiveness. Interestingly, the Hancher do not seem to die of old age; admittedly, they most often die violent deaths, but there are many highly skilled Hancher warriors, including the current Grand Theologist Militant, who have lived for at least 700 years.
On the Quorum, the Hancher (reflecting their stubborn adherence to religion and tradition) often join the Ra'zel as conservative voices, though the two races are somewhat uneasy of each other. The Hancher, though establishing diplomatic relations with the ITC, are highly suspicious of the upstart humanity, as they feel that humans have not sufficiently proven themselves in battle.
