yuu
Celestial Castellan
Posts: 182
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Post by yuu on May 2, 2010 5:12:48 GMT
Vatxah, "[The] Howler," The Vatxah, or the "Howler ," are the most primitive form of Devex. They stand at almost a meter tall when upright and are recognized by their extremely low profile and very sharp, mandible-like headpiece.
The Vatxah are highly intelligent for creatures incapable of self-awareness, capable of following relatively advanced commands, especially when in the presence of a superior.
In civilian matters, they usually assist their superiors in a variety of situations, including construction, mining, surveillance and disaster rescue, among others. They do this by shifting into into one of their myriad forms, each one suited for a specific undertaking.
In combat, they lash out at opponents with reckless abandon, changing their forms to that which is more advantageous to the current situation. It has been proven, however, that the creatures rarely sway from a set of "stand" forms when it comes to combat.
The Vatxah have been known to sprout wings and take to the sky whenever their adversaries are out of reach, or when higher ground is considered advantageous.
They have also been known to form wall-like barriers when they are engaged in CQC. As a pack, they have also shown to use this as a way to block off, or at least delay, access to tunnels and other indoor passageways.
The sword is another familiar form that the Vatxah take when up against melee opposition. They would fly above their targets before transforming themselves into blades that would rain down on their opponents, and hopefully, penetrate them. This is especially effective when they use it in packs, more so when the enemy is caught by surprise.
Alternatively, they could also be wielded by other Devex while in this form. This could prove to be a lifesaver when a person is caught without a reliable weapon.
Alone, the Vatxah are comparatively easy to dispatch. But in a pack, they are a foe to be reckoned with. If one does not have access to high caliber weaponry, it is in their best of interest to procure one as soon as possible, as the Vatxah have been known to alert their fellows that are within the immediate vicinity.
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yuu
Celestial Castellan
Posts: 182
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Post by yuu on May 7, 2010 2:54:01 GMT
Basic System Sheet "Courtesy of "darthgrievi" and "UFO King." System sheet: Tebex (Home) (Section 1 -- System) Star: Xoldah Xammah (Great Star) Star Type: Yellow, Main Sequence Planet #1: Xedah (Field ): Habitable, 1 Moon Planet #2: Xam xhel Xarah (Sea of Mountain): Asteroid Belt Planet #3: Xoldah Xarah (Great Mountain): Gas Giant, 83 Moons, Rings
(Section 2 -- Terrain and Atmosphere) Size: 130% Terra Gravity: 1.4 G Average Temperature: Warm Liquid: Water, Oceans Land-Liquid Ratio: 82% Ocean, 18% Land Average Terrain: Natural: Rain Forests, Mountains, Fields; Artificial: Cities Continents: 2 Density: Dense Composition: Nitrogen, Oxygen, Argon, Water Vapor, Carbon Dioxide Length of Day: 31.25 Terran Hours Length of Year: 358.5 Terran Days
(Section 3 -- Life) Main Species: Devex, native Native Animals: Simple to Advanced, Widespread Imported Animals: None Native Plants: Simple to Advanced, Widespread Imported Plants: None
(Section 4 -- Development) Structures: Megalopolises % Urban: 75% of Land, 29% of Planet Spaceports: Jump Stations, Space Elevators Imports: Raw Materials Exports: Devex Capital: Government: Xir xhel Xor (City of Light); Civilian: Xer xhel Xor (City of Awakening)
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yuu
Celestial Castellan
Posts: 182
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Post by yuu on May 7, 2010 5:41:19 GMT
Xedah, "Field" Pictured from left to right: Xedah's western hemisphere, Xedah's largest artificial satellite, Xedah's eastern hemisphere. Xedah, or "Field ," is the first planet from Xoldah Xammah, and is the third-largest and the densest of the two planets and eighty four moons in the star system. It is also the system's lone terrestrial planet. It is sometimes referred to as the Rock, the Three Colored Marble, or by it's full name, Xah Xedah xhel Xolek, or "The Field of Pasture."
Home to myriads of species, including the Devex, Xedah is on the higher end of the galactic scale of planetary biodiversity. The planet coalesced 3.81 billion years ago, with life appearing on its then iron-saturated oceans a billion years later. Since then, organisms have significantly modified the initially hostile conditions on the planet, allowing the proliferation of more complex organisms, as well as the formation of a protective layer of atmosphere which, together with Xedah's strong magnetic field, blocks detrimental solar radiation, permitting life to take hold beyond the oceans. The physical properties of Xedah, including its geological characteristics and favorable orbit, have allowed life to exist on its surface for approximately 2.8 billion years. Without any intervention, the planet is calculated to be able to continue supporting life on it's surface for a further 1.4 to 3.13 billion years, after which the increasing luminosity and expansion of Xoldah Xammah would prove too much for life to endure on the by then scorching surface of Xedah.
Xedah's outermost terrestrial layer is divided into several tectonic plates that gradually float across the surface over geologic timescales. Approximately 75 percent of the surface is covered with saltwater oceans, the remainder being the two continents and several smaller landmasses which possess lakes, rivers and other sources of water contributing to the entire hydrosphere.
Liquid water, which is essential for all native life, is not known to exist on the surface of any other body in the system. Xedah's poles are mostly covered in solid ice, the southern ice sheet, or sea ice, the northern ice cap. The caps have greatly increased in size for the past thousand years due to the coming ice age. The planet's interior is relatively more active compared to Terra, with a thick layer of semisolid mantle, an outer core of liquid that generates a magnetic field, and an inner core of solid iron.
Xeda interacts with other bodies in space, especially its sun and moon. Currentlyt, Xedah completes a single orbit around Xoldah Xammah once for every roughly 359.48 instances where it rotates about its own axis. This is a sidereal year, which is equivalent to 358.5 solar days. Xedah's axis of rotation is tilted 25° away from the perpendicular to its orbital plane, which produces seasonal variations on the planet's surface that are mroe pronounced compared to that of Terra's. Xedah's only known natural satellite, Xidam, or "[To] Measure," which got trapped in Xedah's gravity well about 3.31 billion years ago, provides the oceans' tidal motions, stabilizes the axial tilt and gradually slows the planet's rotation. Approximately 3.7 billion years ago, numerous asteroids struck Xidam, causing extensive damage and significant changes to it's outer surface.
Xedah's mineral reserves, and in the past its biosphere, contributed extensive resources that were used to support the early Devex civilization. Currently, the natives are under a single government composed of several hundred subdivisions. Information is quite vague concerning the Devex' past cultures, and their respective views regarding the planet, though the current perspective of the world is that of a highly complex interconnected group of environments that require the natives' stewardship to function at optimal levels.
There has been a striking change on the planet's outer appearance due to extensive urbanization. Devex technology, however, has allowed the planet to remain relatively stable through the extensive use of temperature conditioning systems, nature reserves, and other large-scale environment-sustaining methods.
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yuu
Celestial Castellan
Posts: 182
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Post by yuu on May 7, 2010 7:08:29 GMT
Xir xhel Xor, "City of Light" Pictured: Xir xhel Xor during daytime, viewed from atop a balcony. Note the Dalix xhel xah Nimseraxah's internal obsidian tower. Xir xhel Xor, or "[The] City of Light," is the center of Devex government, and is one of the civilization's two main capitals. Founded shortly after Xedah's unification, the City of Light was originally a minor town situated in the middle of a border between three separate nations, and was jointly-managed by said countries. This all changed, however, when the original Nimseraxah passed a law that effectively gave the city autonomy, turning it into a city-state before eventually being absorbed into the current Devex government. The city straddles along the southern edge of the local lake and is bordered by three metropolitan divisions, each one belonging to the three corresponding former nations which governed the city before the unification. The city has a resident population of 251,642, but due to commuters from the surrounding area, its population rises to over a million during daytime. Pictured: Xir xhel Xor during nighttime, viewed from atop a balcony. Note the lights illuminating the Dalix xhel xah Nimseraxah's internal obsidian tower. The Dalix xhel xah Nimseraxah, or "Tower of the Twelve," is located within the city and serves as the meeting place of the Xalem Xamtoza. The less conspicuous Dalix xhel xah Ximnah, or "Tower of the Leaders," is also located within the city. Aside from these two structures, many of the nation's monuments and museums are also located in the city. Xir xhel Xor also hosts the relay nodes for the Devex' extrasolar territories. Additionally, most Xuda place their headquarters either within, or in close proximity, of the city. The city is governed by a governor appointed by the nimseraxah. However, the Xanta Xamtoza still has supreme authority over Xir xhel Xor, and may overturn the governator.
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yuu
Celestial Castellan
Posts: 182
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Post by yuu on May 7, 2010 7:38:27 GMT
Xer xhel Xor, "City of Awakening" Xer xhel Xor, or "[The] City of Awakening," is the capital of the Lirxah Ezrax, and is one of the civilization's two main capitals. Founded shortly after Xedah's unification, the City of Awakening was originally a wide open grassland situated within a plateau-based nation, and was formerly a proving ground for high-powered military equipment. This all changed, however, when the original Nimseraxah, after the unification, declared that the area shall become a city, and that all future Lixah shall be born within the area, specifically in the confines of, the Ximzarak xhel Xer, or "Fountain of Awakening," which was constructed shortly thereafter. The city is considered a separate metropolitan division, which is in turn group along with other metropolitan divisions into the local megalopolitan division. The city has a resident population of approximately 350,030,000 people, with an additional one citizen who is soon to be born. These Devex are mostly Lirxah Ezrax and those who are assigned to teach them. Pictured: Ximzarak xhel Xer's interior during nighttime, viewed from within the central pool. Note that the system is in standby mode. The Ximzarak xhel Xer, or "Fountain of Awakening," is where all Devex are born, post Xedah's unification. It as a small building located atop a minor hill which is situated directly below Xedah's largest artificial satellite. Aside from birth, this is also where the Lixah undergo the Kaxah Xulan, or "[The] First Rite." Both events are very closely related. The Ximzarak xhel Xer holds an immense symbolic, and sometimes practical, value for the Devex, though it is still not clear exactly why.
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thatweirdguy
Satellite Scribe
Battlecruiser operational.
Posts: 91
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Post by thatweirdguy on May 7, 2010 16:17:46 GMT
Ah, so that explains all the gray area on the planet image. It's mostly urbanized area. Nice cites too.
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yuu
Celestial Castellan
Posts: 182
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Post by yuu on May 8, 2010 2:30:18 GMT
Indeed. Also, thanks!
Xah Xulan, "The Rite" There are several rites that a Lixah must undergo in its way to becoming a mature member of Devex society. The Kaxah Xulan, or "[The] First Rite," is the first of these rites. Immediately after a devex is born, already fully sentient, in the main pool of the Ximzarak xhel Xer, it will slowly be approached by a member of the Xuda xhel Xiraq, or "Order of Reaper ." The xiraq will then ask the individual what its name is. After the person has replied, the xiraq will orient it regarding its current circumstance. The new lixah will then be guided out of the compound and the ceremony is officially considered to be over.
The new lixah's answer will be recorded by the xiraq and sent to the registry. It will be the name that it will carry for the rest of its life.
The Xamit Xulan, or "[The] Second Rite," is performed after a lixah has decided which xuda to join. The lixah will travel to the chosen xuda's central office, where it shall recite that xuda's oath in front of several of its high-ranking members. The lixah will then submerge itself in a pool of microscopic machines which will reshape its body to that of the selected profession, thus marking the end of the ceremony.
The lixah will then be registered in the xuda's list of trainees.
The Xalos Xulan, or "[The] Third Rite," is the third, and last, ceremony wherein the title of Lixah is replaced with a title corresponding to the path which they had chosen. It is also held in the xuda's central office, and is preceded by the highest-ranking member within the xuda who is currently available. To that end, it is very similar to graduating from a Terran military or religious academy.
As the devex walks, or flies, out of the academy, it is no longer considered a lixah, but a xarab, a fully-fledged member of society.
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yuu
Celestial Castellan
Posts: 182
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Post by yuu on May 8, 2010 2:36:30 GMT
So, whaddya guys want to know more about the devex? I'll place a poll in a while, or you can ask directly.
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thatweirdguy
Satellite Scribe
Battlecruiser operational.
Posts: 91
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Post by thatweirdguy on May 8, 2010 3:09:45 GMT
I'd like to know what their starships are, or do transform themselves to go to FTL speeds?
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yuu
Celestial Castellan
Posts: 182
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Post by yuu on May 8, 2010 9:51:47 GMT
Sure thing! I'll get to that after I update Tebex.
Xoldah Xammah, "Great Star" Pictured: Xoldah Xammah. Xoldah Xammah, or "Great Star" is the star at the center of Tebex. It possesses a diameter of about 1,421,000 kilometers, or about 85.5 Xedahs, and its mass, which is approximately 1.99 × 10 30 kilograms, or 237,844 times that of Earth, accounts for about 99.89 percent of the total mass of the star system. More or less three-quarters of its mass is hydrogen, with the rest mostly being helium. Less than 1 percent consists of other elements, including iron, oxygen, carbon, and others. Xoldah Xammah's color is white, however, from the surface of Xedah it may appear yellow due to atmospheric scattering. It is classified as a G2V star, and is considered by less astronomically-learned people as a yellow star because the majority of its radiation is in the yellow-green portion of the spectrum. The star has a surface temperature of approximately 5,778 Kelvin, 5,505 Celsius or 9,941 Fahrenheit. It is a main sequence star, and thus generates energy by nuclear fusion, converting hydrogen atoms into helium. In its center, the Xoldah Xammah fuses somewhere between 440 to 600 million tons of hydrogen each second. The absolute magnitude of the star is +4.83, but due to its close proximity to Xedah, it is the brightest object in the sky, with an apparent magnitude of −26.74. The star's outermost layer continuously expands, creating the system's stellar wind. This extends right up to about a hundred astronomical units away, and is thus the largest structure, natural or not, in all of Tebex. Xoldah Xammah is currently floating through a denser-than-average concentration of interstellar gas located in the very outskirts of the galaxy. Of the 120 nearest stellar systems within 30 light-years from Tebex, Xoldah Xammah is greatest in mass. The star orbits the center of the galaxy at a distance of approximately 52,000 to 52,200 light years from the galactic core, completing a single clockwise orbit, from the galactic north pole, in about 487.5 to 500 million years. Pictured: Xoldah Xammah viewed from Xedah Orbit. The distance between Xoldah Xammah and Xedah is approximately 151.2 million kilometers, though this varies as the planet moves from perihelion to aphelion. At this average distance, light travels from Xoldah Xammah to Xedah in about 8 minutes. The energy of this starlight supports a large portion of life on Xedah by photosynthesis, and is an enormous factor in Xedah's climate and weather. The tremendous effect of Xoldah Xammah on Xedah is recognized by the Devex, and is thus regarded as an object of great respect and absolute gratitude. Despite technological advancements, there is still much to learn about Xoldah Xammah and others of its kind.
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yuu
Celestial Castellan
Posts: 182
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Post by yuu on May 9, 2010 2:21:00 GMT
What Measures As A Non-Person The devex concept of person-hood can be seen as highly controversial by some civilizations. This stems from the way the devex deals with the lowest strata, the vatxah. The vatxah are, in regards to taxonomy, belonging to the same species as the rest of the devex. However, since they do not, and will never ever, possess the capacity for either sapience or sentience, the devex regard them merely as hollowed physical shells of a true person. In a sense, the vatxah are basically living slabs of metallic flesh, zombie-bots if you will. And we all know that zombie-bots aren't people, right? Right?
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thatweirdguy
Satellite Scribe
Battlecruiser operational.
Posts: 91
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Post by thatweirdguy on May 9, 2010 2:29:45 GMT
Right, and the star doesn't look very bright from Xedah orbit, or is it just my computer playing tricks on me?
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Post by Razonatair on May 9, 2010 3:44:37 GMT
Yeah, it looks really, really tiny.
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yuu
Celestial Castellan
Posts: 182
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Post by yuu on May 9, 2010 7:38:53 GMT
It is kinda 151,200,000 kilometers away. Though, I guess a little more size would be okay. Right, and the star doesn't look very bright from Xedah orbit, or is it just my computer playing tricks on me? That's 100% white. Technically can't get any brighter than that, though I guess I could try making an illusion so as to make it brighter.
EDIT: Improved the images a bit.
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Post by GroxGlitch on May 9, 2010 15:24:54 GMT
As a suggestion, try using a somewhat opaque spark effect in GIMP. Opaque enough to show the star, but there enough to show a shine effect.
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