The sisters Starfire and Blackfire are Tamaranians.
A Tamaranian (also spelled "Tamaranean") is a person native to the distant extraterrestrial planet Tamaran in the Vegan System. Tamaranians are humanoid in appearance, but are recognizable due to their characteristic orange-toned skin, red hair and green eyes, which are common among their race. Although rare individuals can be born with purple eyes and black hair. Some well known Tamaranians include:
Biology
Tamaranians are mostly identical to humans in appearance, but they are still far from being the same, having a unique biology that allows them to perform amazing feats as well as a very uniquely named anatomy. Tamaranians also have nine stomachs; Starfire said she is thankful for having nine stomachs in Mother Mae-Eye. They also seem to lack a navel, unless it is in a different place to a human's.
Teenagers eventually go through the human equivalent of puberty, called the Transformation. Most go though a minor physical change, for example turning purple for two days. However a few will experience several, escalating physical changes for at least several days, until they form a chrysalis around themselves which renders them helpless until the time comes for them to break out of it, or someone else releases them. At this point the Transformation will have run its full course and the person will return to their normal appearance, along with new and increased physical abilities.
Powers and Abilities
Tamaranians are extremely powerful beings capable of amazing things. They mainly use their abilities for combat purposes but can use them for other tasks as well. Many of their powers are fueled by specific emotions. Their known abilities are:
- Generating bright green-colored (or lilac in the case of Blackfire) ultraviolet energy from their hands and eyes
- Accelerated healing factor
- Self-sustained flight in vacuum and atmosphere
- Superhuman strength
- Superhuman reflexes
- Enhanced stamina
- Superhuman condition
- Superhuman endurance
- Superhuman agility
- Omnilinguistic assimilation (via lip contact)
- Invulnerability
- Have nine stomachs
- A long lizard-like tongue
- Self-sustenance
- Tolerance to extreme environmental conditions
- Experienced hand-to-hand combatant and martial artist
- Experienced use of various weaponry; such as swords, harpoons, or longbow and arrows
- Extended Longevity; capable of living for hundreds of years and have a slowed aging process.
- Some may be allergic to metallic chromium.
Culture
An example of typical Tamaranian table manners
Out of necessity, Tamaranians are principally a warrior culture. Children are brought up to be tough and self-reliant; weakness is frowned upon. While personal affection is permissible, it apparently must not be shown in general public, or at least to strangers; Starfire mentions that only her guardian has ever shown her kindness. Table manners are based on an "all-you-can-get" principle, which to humans would be the equivalent of "pigging out".
Marriages among the citizens are apparently arranged, though this may simply be the case only for Tamaranian royalty and the noble classes.
It is considered wrong for an outsider to touch a crown princess of Tamaran, as revealed in Betrothed.
Even though when Starfire first meets the rest of the Titans she is fierce and aggressive, she quickly warms up and becomes quite perky. Also in "How Long is Forever?", she tells them about blorfog, the festival of friendship. This contradicts the warlike themes of their culture.
Language
Starfire teaching Cyborg the Tameranean language.
"Tamaranian" is also the name of their spoken language. They are also capable of learning foreign languages through lip contact, during which they learn said languages almost instantly, though the subtleties of the language may still elude them.
Tamaranian vocabulary
Starfire has been known to periodically use terms from her native vocabulary, mostly in lack for a comparable (and to her, unknown) Earth equivalent. Known words and their meanings include:
- Bumgorf: A protegee or pupil, usually in need of a parent or guardian (k'norfka). Starfire often uses this term to describe Silkie.
- K'Norfka: A legal guardian of a bumgorf.
- Troq: A disparaging term meaning 'nothing,' as in being worthless/insignificant directed at Tamaranians.
- G'luthnog: The Tamaranian equivalent for 'Gesundheit' or 'bless you'.
- Grebnacks: Tamaraian term for an unspecified body part, possibly the buttocks or breasts.
- "behaving like a royal zorrgnarg": True nature of the term unknown; used as Tamaranian equivalent for the derisive term 'jerk' or 'pain' (essentially, a bad person).
- Rutha: weak, or weakness.
- Clorbag Valblernek: Possibly a person who pulls mean pranks on others, or merely the word he/she is described as by an offended reactant.
- Grimplork: derisive term for a female, presumably in terms of relationship (i.e. a romantic rival). Once used by Starfire in reference to Kitten.
- Milnip Wusserloop: Name used towards Beast Boy. It is not stated if it is something good or bad; Starfire simply laughs and flies off when Beast Boy asks if the term means something good.
- Grubfars: Type of Tamaranian currency. Used when asking Cyborg if he is okay. Instead of the term,"A penny for your thoughts" Starfire says, "For your thoughts I will pay six Grubfars."
- Glubnorb: A deriding word used to describe Blackfire.
- Shlorvax/ Shlorvaccs: Dreams (Starfire says "Pleasant shlorvax" when everyone is saying goodnight to each other in 'Betrayed')
Cultural paraphernalia
- Blorthog: A celebration for the renewal and maintenance of close friendships. The opposition to Rekma.
- Zorkaberry: A bitter-tasting type of berry native to Tamaran.
- Grubtharks: A Tamaranian form of money. How comparable it is to the US dollar is unknown.
- Gorka pipe: A native Tamaranian instrument, similar to Scottish bagpipes. Normally plays very dissonant notes too disruptive for humans to bear.
- Gorb-Gorb: According to Starfire, a "festival of berating drapery". Most likely, though, merely an instant invention to explain some ripped curtains in her room.
- Glorrk: A Tamaranian dish incorporating dried Spudlings and Zorkaberries. Terra once commented that it tastes like sushi and ice cream put together, and it is apparently made from some sort of Tamaranian fungus.
- Klorthog: Some kind of annual festival, which has a day dedicated to it known as the "Day of Klorthog".
- Rekma: The Drifting. A Tamaranian term for the termination ("living apart") of a friendship.
- Throknar: "Crown of Meat". A traditional Tamaranian birthday celebration item.
- X'hal: Term for the supreme Tamaranian deity. Also used as a respectful hailing.
Society
The Tamaranians are ruled by the Grand Ruler of Tamaran, the most recent one being Galfore, the caretaker of Princess Starfire. Blackfire is also a Princess of Tamaran, and Wildfire is the Prince. Tamaranians also revere the goddess X'hal as their supreme deity and may use her name as a respectful hailing.
The nemesis of the Tamaranians are the Gordanians, a reptile-like warrior race with whom the Tamaranians have fought many conflicts. Princess Starfire was once surrendered to the Gordanians by Princess Blackfire as a bargaining chip so that the Gordanians would not invade Tamaran (and also because Blackfire sought to be rid of Starfire so she could rule Tamaran unopposed). Starfire has since escaped their custody and is now a member of the Teen Titans on Earth.
Trivia
- According to Starfire, people from Tamaran could learn any language through lip contact (aka, a kiss).