H'qur, Slabin, and Tolans (Hello?)

[Darth Grievi]

H'qur: A race consisting of nothing but slimy masses of tentacles, the H'qur have developed a massive empire over the last thousand years or so.

They breed in an unusual way for multicellular organisms; under normal circumstances, the writhing masses of tentacles will pair off, exchange their version of DNA, and go about their way, a miniature version of the parents budding off of each after a few days, continuously growing as long as there is plentiful food about. However, once they discovered other sapient races, they became curious about their cultures. Unfortunately for them, most races didn't recognize them as intelligent beings, the more predatory of them actually wanting to make the H'qur part of their staple food source. Upset and terrified of these bizare creatures, they devised a way to get inside information without risking becoming a meal.

After many years of study, they found that they could easily infiltrate the alien societies. After the aliens reproduced, but before an embryo was formed, they would secretly abduct the mother and splice one of their own genes into the young's genetic code. The mother is returned unharmed, usually having no recollection of the event, and the baby develops normally, except for it's nervous system. Every last nerve that forms will be a piece of H'qur tissue, which is multipurpose and can function as nerves, muscle, or a gland. Since the original genes are still guiding the development, the baby looks and acts perfectly normal, and through most of it's life, it truly believes it is whatever species was impregnated.

As the child grows, so does the space for the alien nervous system. They acquire such abilities as near-perfect memory, enhanced reflexes, and mathematical prowess. Things continue along their normal path, until the being stops growing. The H'qur tissue inside is still receiving ample food from the body and continues to expand. The hybrid experiences aches of all kinds, usually around the major senses and the central nervous system. However, these subside after a few weeks. Most pass it off as a temporary thing, unaware of the real reason they stopped; The H'qur tissue has become too cramped and is now dissolving the surrounding body to make room, usually starting with the muscles.

Over the next few years, the hybrid experiences increased strength, stamina, and a loss in appetite, as their body is slowly taken over, being fueled by the digested remains. After the muscles, the heart and digestive system are usually next to go, followed by lesser systems such as the reproductive, excretory, and endrocine systems. Once the respiratory system is replaced, however, things speed up massively, throwing the hybrid into a coma as the rest of the body is replaced by writhing masses of H'qur tissue. This is usually where the H'qur pick up their inside man, but sometimes they can not get to the hybrid in time.

Over the next few days, the unconscious hybrid's skin grows taut, the tentacles of H'qur tissue visibly moving underneath. Eventually, the skin can't take the strain any more and splits, the compressed tentacles spurting out, rupturing the skin further. With the combined forces of the digestive secretions and the internal pressure of the tissue, the skin is fully ripped open, digested and absorbed. With no more organic matter to fuel growth, the H'qur has completed it's life cycle and the hybrid emerges from the coma, disoriented by it's new body. For ease of communication, the H'qur will usually create the illusion that the hybrid is still in it's "normal" body while they question it about the race it just came from. After this period, the new H'qur will be introduced to it's native culture and taught as a child would be.

For the unfortunate few hybrids that are never picked up, various fates await them, running the spectrum from immediate dissection to being worshiped as a deity, depending on the culture.

The other two will come later...

[Darth Grievi]

((A big hug and thanks to Allwayswatching of GamingSteve for the inspiriation ))

Salbin: One of those rare beings of this galaxy that make no sense whatsoever under scientific law, Salbin are usually Exhibit A in magical laws vs. scientific laws.

The Salbin are best described as Inter-dimentional Travelers, being made of what scientists call "tempo-neural energy" but mages simply call magic. As the description implies, they are able to move between the infinite timelines that make up the multiverse. Unfortunately for them, this means that their numbers are far spread, and having more than three different Salbin in one timeline is thus far unheard of.

Their bodies barely interact with matter, allowing them to pass through most things, though they can move objects up to a few pounds for bare seconds. Lighter objects fare better. They can vibrate the air to some extent to produce sound, though it is rarely louder than a whisper. They are also transparent, with light passing through them easilly.

Thankfully for them, they can project telepathicly. Contrary to popular belief, they only project mental cues that the person's subconscious then expands upon. A conversation with a Salbin actually goes something like this:

========
*you see a ghostly, mysterious figure, who greets you as a close friend would*
Well hello, bubbly, to you too.
*thinks your comment is funny*
What are you laughing at?
*smugly apologizes*
Who are you anyway?
*parody of spooky voice. Ip. jokingly comments about typical behavior for visual image*
Oh, very funny, Ip.
*witty remak*
==========

A great deal is unknown about their life cycle. Salbin are most certainly born, (if you can call suddenly popping into existance in a random timeline a birth) but how they are born is a mystery. It is also unknown whether they eventually die.

As more corporial beings map space, and to extent, time, Salbin map timelines. They have organised the many lines as a sort of branching tree, with those supporting life as we know it taking up only a tiny fraction. However, this tiny fraction is where most Salbin stay, and they have mapped it extensively.

They lump groups of timelines into nine "plains" based, as they say, "on the core vibes of the place, you know?". They then further break these down into millions of "Shards", which each contain a discreet set of timelines that are inter-related and branch off each other from the decisions of sapients. Individual timelines and their possible futures are called "lines".

According to them, this timeline is classified as "Plain 1, Shard 9, Line 1182."

[danzik]

Both of these are really interesting.
So the Salbin don't actually speak, the communicate by manipulating the mind?

[Darth Grievi]

Pretty much. You don't realy hear *parody of spooky voice. Ip. jokingly comments about typical behavior for visual image*. If you're human, you hear "My naaame id Iiiip. Woooo... I've coooome to steal your sooooul..." in a sarcastic, moaning voice.

....
Or something along those lines anyway...

[Darth Grievi]

Tolans: The third party in this triad, the Tolans are, for most intents and purposes, human... except for a major swing in culture in their 1940's

The year was 1947, and it had been proved that man could get rockets out of the atmosphere. Now came the tricky part; figuring out if a life form could survive the trip. Fruit flies and corn were launched into the upper atmosphere, and came back with severe radiation damage. As the years rolled on, improvements were made to the rockets, and shielding was added. However, the monkeys, mice, and dogs sent up after that either died in the landings, or came back gutted with limbs surgically removed. A few were never recovered at all...

Things continued on until the 60's, then all hope was lost. Not a single organism had returned alive, and most of the world's space programs had shut down. A massive shift in culture arose, and technology was now being focused on improving human life. Millions of new drugs were developed, and by 2010, major advancements in cybernetic technology had been made. Cars ran on electricity generated by solar power, and iPhone-like devices were a household item as common as televisions and dishwashers.

However, this technological shift wasn't the only revolution going on. Hearing of the results of the early spaceflights, many hidden cults took this as a sign of things to come. They began preparations, and in their studies, they found secrets that had remained hidden since the middle ages; namely the magics and spell-castings of the ancient mages. Over the decades, many joined their ranks to learn the arts, and soon they were hidden no longer.

After a brief, but destructive, confrontation between the neomages and the technological powers of the world, an uneasy truce was made. Though the two parties disagree on most everything, they have been living in relative peace for the last decade. A few isolated skirmishes still do occur, however.


((Note: These guys are open to EVERYONE! Wanna RP as a Tolan? Go right ahead! Wanna do something to their planet? Sure! I'm leaving them very human and slightly vague for a reason! ;D ))

[Darth Grievi]

Well, crud. I thought having the Tolans as a community race would get someone to post.

Serriously, guys! Danzik is the only other person who has posted in this board! (Hyperion, you don't count in this case. You just posted up the rules)

If there isn't another post in this tread by the 20th, I'm saying "screw it" and moving the H'qur and a modified version of the Salbin into the Planets board.

[Hyperion]

(can I count a little?)

I love the Tolans and the Salbin and the whatsits! If I weren't so busy trying to write a backstory for my realms, I would create my own World aspect, and we could have an RP. I will try to create some fanart, but I don't know how good it'll look without the realm textures...

*Snap* I've got it! Wait for a day DG! I will come up with something!

[Darth Grievi]

(OK, now you count! )

I say you should go with the Salbin or the Tolans.

1) The H'qur aren't nearly as open to artistic interperatation
2) I've allready got a picture for the H'qur. It's a pain to color, though.

[Darth Grievi]

H'qur basically have four "organ" systems, best seen in a cross-section of a tentacle.

The innermost, central tube houses the H'qur's blood, which due to it's slightly acidic nature, is also used as stomach acid. The cells in the blood carry nutrients and genetic code, used for mating. The tube's inner surface is also lined with hair-like projections, which act like our inner ear to receive vibrations conducted through the H'qur by the air or ground. These hairs also have tiny metallic particles which produce and receive the H'qur language.

To circulate their blood, the central tube is wrapped in strong muscle, which acts like our inner intestine to pump the fluid around the body. The outer layer of these muscles allow the H'qur to move it's tentacles to manipulate objects or for locomotion.

Placed between the inner and outer layer of muscles is the H'qur's nervous system. The nerves are arranged in small, walnut to pea-sized nodes connected by a web of other nerves. Overall, the average H'qur has 3 to 4 times as much neural tissue as the average human. The nodes not only process local sensory information, but control the H'qur's muscles and gives the H'qur logical, analytical thought.

Finally, on the outside surface of the tentacle are thousands of slime glands that excrete a protective, lubricating mucous layer when exposed to the air.

Now take this cross-section, elongate it to form a complete tentacle, then multiply this tentacle by a few hundred, all connected together and writhing, and you've got a H'qur.

[Darth Grievi]

I just wrote up this beautiful intro for the H'qur the other day

---

The vastness of space... it's distances unimaginable. Some races have found ways to surpass the speed limit set by light and hop across tens, hundreds, even thousands and tens of thousands of lightyears in the blink of an eye. Their empires expand to encompas entire galaxies... but never much further than that.

Travel to other galaxies was deemed impossible long ago, due to the sheer distances involved. Not even the best stardrive could get a ship there within less than a century. It simply wasn't practical, and so other galaxies were ignored as potential real estate.

Another thing limiting empires is the fact that, whether they like it or not, they depend on their key planets, such as homeworlds, centers of government, shipyards, and others. Successfully attack a key planet, and you cripple the empire, usually fatally.

However, there is one race with the sheer tenacity to tell these bits of common knowlage to go **** themselves. They have survived not one, not two, but three destroyed homeworlds. When their most populated planet is either irradiated, glassed, or simply turned into another asteroid belt, they just pick up whatever is left and set up shop elsewhere. In doing so, they have crossed the void between the islands of light we call galaxies twice; from their true homeworld's galaxy, to another, and then finally here.

Who are these beings? Their true name is a number infinitely long, the answer to an equation so complex, simply typing it into a computer to solve would take a month. However, you may call them the H'qur, which is as good a substitute as any. They colonise and expand exponentially, but do not fear, they mean you no harn, as long as you mean them no harm.

[Darth Grievi]

Besides the fact that H'qur have an unusual set of senses (details later), diplomacy often breaks down for other reasons.

1) H'qur have trouble understanding motives other than the most basic needs of a society. While they can relate to the Willosaurs colonizing a world because they need more room for their growing population, they would not recognise that it if it was intended to be a nature perserve, or a key trading post, or something like that.

2) H'qur are slightly racist in that they believe all aliens to be chaotic and unpredictable, which, incomparison to the mathematically minded H'qur, they usually are. Such actions as lying, trickery, evil plots, back-stabbing, and intentional corruption of data, confuse them endlessly. Rapid mood swings, a sudden change in plans, or severe changes in behavior/opinion also throw them for a loop.

3) H'qur diplomacy is like a continuaous equation. When the Willosaurs help them in some way, positives are added to the total. When they harm them, negatives are added. When no contact is made over a long period of time, the equation gradually resets to zero, as the number of times the Willosaurs could have helped them, but didn't (negative numbers) and the number of times the Willosaurs could have attacked them, but didn't (positive numbers) even out pretty quickly. Due to the above, H'qur are often thrown off guard when the Willosaurs start attacking them for taking their nature reserve planet 20 years ago.

4) When H'qur meet a non-space-faring race, they will make an offering of good peace. Unfortunately, this usually consists of blood, or bones if no blood is avalable. The third choice is a drained and deboned animal, and rocks are used only in desperation. This is due to the fact that blood (for it's iron) and bones (for their calcium) are extremely important items to the H'qur, used as stimulants or as a way to contact their "reflection" (more on H'qur religion soon).

5) H'qur never trade for technology. Period. They never buy it, they never sell it. However, they feel it is acceptable to have a H'qur scientist work with the Willosaurs to develop teleporters, as the new technology will have been made by the Willosaurs, with help from the H'qur. Supplies and manual labor are tradeable, also. They see no need for money, and only trade out of concideration for other races, who often give them something in return. This means that they can be very easily "ripped off", as they don't expect anything important in return for their services.

[Darth Grievi]

The H'qur value only two elements; Iron and Calcium. Gold, Silver, Platinum, Uranium, Lithium all mean nothing to them. These two elements are important because they are essentially drugs to the H'qur.

Iron is a stimulant. It hypes them up, gets them going, speeds up their allready insane reflexes, and can even increase strength by temporarily increasing the amount of oxygen absorbed by the blood. This effect comes on quickly, since H'qur stomach acid and H'qur blood are one and the same.

Calcium is a halucinogen, though why is unknown. Many believe it binds to the H'qur's synapses and alters their firing patterns. It will often produce visions, although it usually just makes them feel tired and confused. It must be taken in small ammounts, since too much will put them into a coma untill it is cleared from the system, which takes anywhere from a few hours to a week or so depending on how much was ingested. Calcium-induced halucinations are quite important in H'qur religion, which centers around two concepts; Reflections and Duets.

It is said in H'qur legend (or at least what little has been deciphered) that finding one's Reflection, or something/someone with an "essence" so simmilar that they could have been swapped and history wouldn't have noticed, is very important. They believe that while the Reflections may even be in seperate universes, and usually are, they are intricately connected. Contacting a Reflection, via Calcium-induced visions, is said to give both parties important knowlage. Anything your reflection tells you, you should do. Any advice, you should follow.

The other concept, the Duet, is simmilar. A Duet consists of two beings firmly connected by what we would call fate. When together, they preform amazingly, and generally, their whole adds up to more than their parts. The two beings in a Duet may be Reflections, creator and creation, siblings, husband and wife, Shevir and Avashevir, or even just partners. Unlike Reflections, not every one is in a Duet, and they are far more likely to be in the same universe than a Reflection.

Everything else in the universes can be defined by natural laws, simple equations. Reflections and Duets can not be defined to easily, and are thus held in high regard.

[Fleetlord Atvar]

Like the H'Qur best. Pretty fascinating.

[Darth Grievi]

Yeah, the Tolans kind of died, and the Salbin realy don't have much to them. I might as well give you Wanderer's bio and leave it at that.

[Darth Grievi]

H'qur History: Part 1

(Notes: These history sections use standard Earth units, not H'qur units, for ease of translation
The H'qur divide up their history into 8 eras, defined by major events. They will be named Eras Alpha-Theta, again for ease of traslation.)

Era Alpha: About 8,435,000,000 Earth Years Long (Corresponding time period on Earth was about 4.5 billion years)

0 EA -- The original H'qur homeworld, H'qurai I, forms from the system's various small asteroids and planetoids.
4.1 billion EA -- Multicellular life evolves in H'qurai's oceans.
4.6 billion EA -- The very first ancestors of modern H'qur evolve.
7.3 billion EA -- Due to increased volcanism, H'qurai's atmosphere grows thicker and heats up. The oceans consequentally begin to evaporate.
7.4 billion EA -- Volcanism has dropped off, but the massive ammounts of water vapor in the air have started a runaway greenhouse effect.
8.0 billion EA -- The remaining creatures of H'qurai's oceans, including the primitive H'qur, either adapt to land or die as the last of the oceans boil off.
8.4 billion EA -- The primitive H'qur are fully adapted to life on land, or rather under the land. They are now almost identical to modern H'qur, but simply not sapient.
8.43 billion EA -- The H'qur develop sapience and form the first underground tribes, as opposed to hives.