yuu
Celestial Castellan
Posts: 182
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Post by yuu on May 14, 2010 10:48:51 GMT
What's With All The Xs? The devex communicate using a set of very fast clicks of different pitch which are produced in the verbal organs located inside their chests. That being said, the devex need not move their mouths in order to speak, which might seem strange to other mouth-speaking species. Though having up to 50 different language families, only one is universally used and is considered as their main language, Xedrib, literally "[To] Speak." The verbal language of the devex is quite simple, with its basic components, the characters, being merely made up of different clicking patterns, especially Xedrib, which is specifically designed for streamlined communication. The same, however, could not be said of their written language, with the exception being Xedrib. Having only 26 main characters, instead of the average 850, it is the most simple non-digital written language on Xedah. "The Basic Citizen" Xedrib writing is a style ruled predominantly by generously curved characters and usually seems rather difficult to do from the viewpoint of a person who has yet to experience it firsthand. Contrary to the belief that it is hard to get used to, as one performs it more and more frequently, the initial irritation and discomfort actually lessens by a great amount and is replaced by a feeling of literary arousal as it becomes more and more pleasurable to perform, giving the user a great sense of satisfaction in mastering an exotic art. It is highly recommended for foreigners wishing to learn more about Xedah's many written languages yet find them rather difficult, which really can't be blamed on them as some languages honestly look like scribbles to the common non-devex person, or even to other devex who aren't sufficiently versed in that specific language. As said earlier, Xedrib has 26 main characters which, through Terran translation, individually correspond to the 26 letters of the USAmerican Alphabet. Below are the characters and their respective equivalents: X_____ AKJHMN_____ ODFG_____ EVBP_____ UQWR_____ ISLC_____ YTZThe characters are arranged in sets, with the lowest pitch being the "x" set and from there going up with each set. In each set, there are several characters. As one goes further and further to the right, the pattern of clicks become more complex, as can be seen in the illustration below. X = -_--A = -_--K = -_-_--J = -_-_-_--H = --_--M = --_-_-_--N = --_-_-_-_--O = -_--D = -_-_--F = -_-_-_--G = --_--E = -_--V = -_-_--B = -_-_-_--P = --_--U = -_--Q = -_-_--W = -_-_-_--R = --_--I = -_--S = -_-_--L = -_-_-_--C = --_--Y = -_--T = -_-_--Z = -_-_-_--Legend: "-" = click ; "_" = pause ; 8o( = sad clown Now, some people might be wondering, wasn't this supposed to explain why the devex love to spam the letter "x?" Well, here you go. "The Basic Citizen" in the original style. The reason why there is always an "x" in all of the devex' words is because back in the day, when the scrolls and brush was the predominant medium of writing, the devex wrote in a manner wherein a long string of "x" characters were written on the scroll before other characters were added. And that, is why the letter "x" is the most common letter in the Xedrib language. Despite the relative simplicity of Xedrib, some devex still use a simplified version of the already simple system. Hence... "The Basic Citizen" in informal writing style. This is usually done by devex in situations where e-pads or other electronic apparatuses are not available, as in the case of explorers getting stranded or other similar situations. For people who are having difficulties with Xedrib, there are several things to take note of: - There are no plurals.
- Tools or professions and the occupations designated in using them, ie. "science" and "scientist," usually have the exact same name.
- When reading or writing works using traditional word positioning methods, the letter "x" is your best friend.
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thatweirdguy
Satellite Scribe
Battlecruiser operational.
Posts: 91
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Post by thatweirdguy on May 19, 2010 0:50:02 GMT
Ok, first off with the Xah Xiraq, they look like strange versions of the Grim Reaper and the way they deflect enemy fire reminds me of Jedi. Theres nothing wrong about them though, I like it. Second, the Xalsetah, how do they handle space battles?
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yuu
Celestial Castellan
Posts: 182
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Post by yuu on May 20, 2010 14:15:46 GMT
Thanks! And as for the Xalsetah, they could ram things, which is not a very good idea, or wiggle a little to try and dislodge things that might cling on to their external surface. Other than that, they are pretty much defenseless unless someone is stationed inside or around them.
Update Time!
Xah Kaxah Valxah, "The Oneblader" Pictured: A kaxah valxah holding its sword in an elevated stance. The Kaxah Valxah, or "[The] Oneblader ," are one of the most dreaded types of devex in the battlefield. Standing at an average height of 2.5 meters, they are one of the slightly larger forms of devex. They are easily recognized by their branching tubular appearance and the lone 5 meter-long high-frequency monomolecular blades which they always carry around with them, and consequently, give their order their name.
The kaxah valxah are tasked with cutting down any adversaries foolish enough to get within range of their extremely long blades. They also act as escorts of high-priority assets and guardians of extremely valuable and sacred locations.
All members of the order are expected to be well versed in both combat and the finer arts. That being said, all kaxah valxah are knowledgeable in at least three different liberal arts while at the same time being a master of the sword.
In battle, the kaxah valxah strictly employ the philosophy of Kaxah Valxah, or "[The] One Blade." According to this school of thought, practitioners must wield one, and only one, blade at any given time. This could be any blade which they may come upon, though followers mostly prefer to use the traditional longsword upgraded to keep up with the times.
This very unusual behavior has its foundations on the most important principle of said philosophy: Concentration. By focusing their mind onto a single weapon, and then projecting that weapon towards the opponent, kaxah valxah are capable of executing all manners of lightning-fast high-precision techniques with an exponentially smaller chance of error.
Despite their reputation for expeditiously dicing their opponents when on the offensive, the kaxah valxah rarely venture into spontaneity. These warriors actually remain noticeably calm and poised, sometimes eerily so, for a considerably long while before unleashing a sudden storm of stabs and swipes at their most strategically viable opponents. Moving slowly, yet gracefully, kaxah valxah wait for an exact opening in the enemy's guards before swiftly engaging them.
Despite their sluggish manner of walking, the kaxah valxah are actually very excellent sprinters and are even capable of walking up almost completely vertical faces due to their immense amount of momentum.
As for how the kaxah valxah actually brandish their individual swords, one can only try and count the multitude of styles that the order employs. The only thing certain is that there will always be a number of surprises.
Like the xiraq, the kaxah valxah also possess an important place in devex society, though with a more combat-oriented role than the former. The kaxah valxah and their titular blades, which symbolize the epitome of devex close-quarter armed martial arts, have always been seen with utmost dignity and respect.
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yuu
Celestial Castellan
Posts: 182
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Post by yuu on May 22, 2010 10:16:16 GMT
Xor, "Light" Pictured: Xor. Xor, or "Light," appears to be, from all current observations, some kind of alternate universe governed by a different set of variables and one which the devex have, for better or for worse, made very extensive use of. At first glance, Xor seems to be extremely similar to the "normal" universe, or any other alternate ones for that matter, albeit one made up mostly of photons and normal matter, with the latter being predominantly in the form of gas particles. However, as one performs a more extensive observation, one would quickly realize the presence of a very mysterious phenomena unseen in most other universes: large-scale structures known to the devex as Virix xhel Xor, or "Vessel of Light."
Virix xhel Xor are colossal veins of naturally occurring distorted space, usually saturated with photons from the visible spectrum and spanning thousands of lightyears in diameter. Using the proper equipment, one can harness this force to quickly move between extremely vast distances relative to the "normal" universe, efficiently generate large amounts of power, store and maintain mind-boggling amounts of data, create high-powered directed energy weapons for both military and industrial purposes, and much, much more. That being said, a large portion of the devex' high-end infrastructure is found in or near these colossal cosmological wonders.
As a related note, time moves much more slowly within Xor than within the "normal" universe. This can be used to great effect if used properly.
Being the root of most of the devex' high-end technologies, Xor plays an integral role in the continued survival of their civilization. If not for this universe, the devex would have remained trapped in their home system, technologically, statistically and strategically stunted, unable to expand due to lacking a working knowledge of the more common methods of faster-than-light travel.
There is a negative side to all of this, however. Due to it's laws having different variables compared to the "normal" universe, some form of stabilizing technology is required to keep travelers safe from the devastating side effects resulting from their incompatibility with Xor. Fortunately, the methods necessary to traverse Xor safely can readily be extracted by other civilizations from their respective forms of faster-than-light technology, though there have been some cases wherein different methods of stabilization have interfered with each other's effectiveness, greatly contributing to the devex' overall isolationist attitude. Therefore, it is usually ill-advised to utilize Xor-based technologies when other forms of stabilization technology are currently nearby and in use.
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yuu
Celestial Castellan
Posts: 182
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Post by yuu on May 22, 2010 10:30:16 GMT
Xor-Based Technology Xor-based technology encompasses all technologies derived from what the devex define as Xor. The way with which the devex make use of Xor is, in a sense, similar to how a puppet master pulls a doll's strings from behind the scenes. Generally, technologies derived from Xor have the following qualities: - Non-physical in nature.
- Extremely volatile.
- Stable only in the hands of the adept.
- Developed after, or shortly before, Xedah's unification.
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yuu
Celestial Castellan
Posts: 182
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Post by yuu on May 23, 2010 3:30:38 GMT
Xah Xyilkatis xhel Xalakayah, "The Fighter" Pictured: A xyilkatis xhel xalakayah in its base form. The Xyilkatis xhel Xalakayah, "[The] Fighter " are one of, if not the most prolific xuda in the devex' space-based armed forces. Sporting an average length of 20 meters from tip to tip when in base form, they are the smallest of all the space-based military devex. They are easily identified by their X-like form when in base form and their beetle-like appearance when moving at full speed.
The xyilkatis xhel xalakayah are tasked with escorting larger forms of space-based devex. They also act as frontline combatants whenever the opportunity presents itself, especially in space.
All members of the order are expected to possess top of the line reflexes, excellent strategy and a deep sense of camaraderie with their fellow squadron members. That being said, all xyilkatis xhel xalakayah are masters of synchronized combat, dealing exceptional damage when engaged in squadrons, which usually number from fifty to a hundred officers.
Pictured: A xyilkatis xhel xalakayah's wings showing basic weapon compartments employed in spray and pray maneuvers (left) and a xyilkatis xhel xalakayah in intercept form trying to reduce its profile (right).
In battle, the xyilkatis xhel xalakayah employ both employ high-precision maneuvers and spray and pray tactics, whichever is most favorable.
Despite all their skills, the xyilkatis xhel xalakayah rarely deal the finishing blow in fleet-to-fleet warfare, letting the bigger guns conclude the battle for them.
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thatweirdguy
Satellite Scribe
Battlecruiser operational.
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Post by thatweirdguy on May 23, 2010 5:59:10 GMT
So they turn themselves into giant flying space guns to shoot? You never cease to amaze me, Yuu.
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yuu
Celestial Castellan
Posts: 182
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Post by yuu on May 29, 2010 8:35:00 GMT
Thanks! ;D Hope you'll also like the others' quirky tactics. But first, let me show something which is very timely to the current happenings in Rising Tensions.
Xah Xiraq, "The Reaper['s Scythe]" Pictured: A standard issue scythe, deactivated (left) and activated (right). Scythes are an integral part of being a reaper. It is where the entire profession revolves, allowing them to perform all of their tasks with greater efficiency than when without one. There are only two types of scythes within the order, with all of its members wielding the first type with the exception of certain individuals. The first type of scythe is a standard issue to all reapers, regardless of their place in the hierarchy. There are, however, some differences between those of the low-ranking members and those of the elites. Scythes of high-ranking members usually have more functions and possess a lot less restrictions compared to those found in the lower echelons. This is most apparent in those possessing first-class licenses, who can do alone what an entire division of greenhorns can barely accomplish. Pictured: Xoridane's scythe, deactivated. The second type of scythe, the Xiraq xhel Xor, or "Reaper['s Scythe] of [The] Light," is one of the single most powerful, and not to mention most revered, devices in devex society. It is said that possessing even a fragment of it draws out the holder's true form and power, which is one of the myriad reasons why only the nimseraxah are allowed to even lay their hands upon the device. Pictured: Xoridane's scythe, activated. Seeing as the standard issue was reverse-engineered from the Scythe of Light, it is capable of performing all of the standard's functions, and far, far more. Realizing this, the original nimseraxah have taken the liberty of dividing the artifact's access code into twelve individual fragments, and then dividing it amongst themselves so that no single member could readily abuse its power. The device itself is traditionally left in the hands of the master reaper, who comes in the persona of Master Xoridane during the events of "Book One: Rising Tensions." However, in the event that there is no reaper within the nimseraxah, the scythe is placed under the care of the highest-ranking member. There is still a vast ocean of secrets hidden deep within the enigmatic instrument, and the devex have only begun to stare against it's surface. There is no telling what could come out of it if a person completely versed in its use were to somehow manage to wield it.
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yuu
Celestial Castellan
Posts: 182
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Post by yuu on May 30, 2010 7:10:00 GMT
Xah Nimseraxah, "The Twelve" The Nimseraxah, "[The] Twelve" are the most advanced form of Devex. They stand at about a meter and a half tall on average when upright and are recognized by their surprisingly "natural" appearance compared to others of their species. The Nimseraxah are highly intelligent, possessing savant-level minds at the very least, along with excelling greatly at their individual fields. Being the highest-ranking members, and in effect the leaders of their respective orders, this trait is to be readily expected. Most are also very able when it comes to physical prowess, possessing a greater level of power compared to other members of their respective orders. In civilian matters, they act as the rulers of devex society, participating in all branches of government. In combat, they serve as the Commander-in-Chiefs of the armed forces, and are more than capable of holding their own, and then some, when it comes to personal engagements. The Nimseraxah are known throughout devex civilization, not just because of the important positions that they occupy within society, but also because of their appearance, interestingly enough. Of all the different types of devex, only the Nimsersah are known to possess the ability to bring out their "original" form, a humanoid-insectoid frame which echoes greatly a time long past. This characteristic is a side-effect of having a fragment of the Xiraq xhel Xor in one's possession, and thus can easily be nullified simply by taking the fragment away from the person.
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thatweirdguy
Satellite Scribe
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Post by thatweirdguy on May 30, 2010 13:38:39 GMT
So... I'm guessing that also includes their sexual organs since you censored it out.
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yuu
Celestial Castellan
Posts: 182
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Post by yuu on May 31, 2010 2:29:17 GMT
Yeah, pretty much. >_>
I've always been kinda weird out by pictures of aliens that usually wear clothes, but don't in their header images. Unless if the topic's about their anatomy, of course.
Oh, and just so everyone doesn't get confused by how the head works:
That's not hair, that's a bundle of fibers which are analogous to Terran insects' antennae, only the devex' can be bent into different "styles." Also, those glowing things on the sides aren't ears, those are actually eyes, and there is another pair behind those, forming a total of three pairs which are arranged in a mostly hexalaterally symmetrical fashion.
Additionally, they move their mandibles in order to form facial expressions. By raising the bases, they smile. By lowering them, they frown. Other expressions follow the same principle.
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thatweirdguy
Satellite Scribe
Battlecruiser operational.
Posts: 91
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Post by thatweirdguy on May 31, 2010 2:32:15 GMT
Huh. Always thought of the Devex as a machine race, guess they aren't. Much...
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yuu
Celestial Castellan
Posts: 182
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Post by yuu on May 31, 2010 6:46:57 GMT
All that lie in the present has its own place in the tragedies of the past...
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Clarke
Celestial Castellan
Posts: 116
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Post by Clarke on May 31, 2010 12:18:40 GMT
Yeah, pretty much. >_> I've always been kinda weird out by pictures of aliens that usually wear clothes, but don't in their header images. Unless if the topic's about their anatomy, of course. Well, if you live your entire life in a self-contained environment, then why need clothes? Oh and by the way, I love all the stuff about the Xor-space.
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yuu
Celestial Castellan
Posts: 182
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Post by yuu on May 31, 2010 12:46:08 GMT
Thanks! Glad you like it! As for the clothes thing, I was pretty much comparing some of the creature profiles with this article about humans. Note that the pictures are only naked when the nakedness is relevant to the subtopic. Then again, that's just me. Nothing inherently wrong about it, storytelling-wise. In any case, I might make an update regarding their life cycle, seeing as it is a very relevant, actually integral, topic in The Other Side.
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