Let's make a science fantasy setting.
- Thread starter Queshire
- Start date
- Worldbuilding Sci-Fi Fantasy
Does it contradict something previously established?
How does it not?
There are two forms of the afterlife. One which is guaranteed but dangerous and that is sending one's mind up to the network. The other is far more common and more unpredictable. It is allowing your soul to drift in to the ontological plains. If a being had great faith they may be drawn into the domain of the god they believed in. If not they may end up in a random ontological plain. At other times they may end up in the plain of reincarnation as it does exist but is nigh impossible for the thoughtforms of the living to access. And at other times the soul may waste away. Rarely a soul becomes a true denizen of a given ontological plane as well. Becoming a completely different entity
That doesn't feel like a good reason but I'll respect that opinion and just not add it
- Location
- 𐌂 ̢͎̩̤̲̙͓̑̀͂͒̀͆̏𐋏 ̛͏̫̚𐌀 ̛͉̥̩̤̰͈̂̅͒͊͟𐍈 ̣͛𐍃 ̡̅̈́
Abe Ayaka is a famous scientist who was one of the first people to live through complete digital ascension and keep her soul perfectly intact. It wasn't made by choice, but rather out of necessity. She was affected by a terrible ancient curse that was slowly killing her body, and no other method proved to be enough to save Ayaka at the time. So her body was processed and placed into a highly enchanted crystal container, it was 'frozen in time' so to speak. The cure was found after some time, but the process she used to buy herself more time proved to be irreversible. Or rather, too dangerous to try. She already risked a lot when she tried to digitalize her soul.
Now, this body still lies in the crystal coffin, perfectly preserved - just as it was on the day of the procedure. It serves as her phylactery of sort and hard drive for any possible reset Ayaka may need. As long as her body is intact, it doesn't matter how many other pieces of her hardware are destroyed or how many parts of her software are corrupted; she can reset everything and come back to life healthy and sane.
Ayaka works for a scientific group that she helped to found. She usually interacts with other people and the environment as a perfect, hyper-realistic hologram capable of limited interaction with physical reality and able to access whatever sensory input she needs. However, for this hologram to work, Ayaka needs anchors to be around, which can project and support the existence of such a construct in some radius around. She doesn't have problems being in several places at once or splitting her attention between many cameras, sensors, and hardware/software pieces. Her colleagues and friends usually wear small projectors on themselves so Ayaka can have a body near them, even if they are going beyond the usual coverage of the system. She tried to use mechanical bodies, but they felt uncomfortable and were prone to misfiring; this is why she uses projections. In some sense, Ayaka is a ghost, or rather a spirit, because ghosts are just imprints of the soul left behind, and they are incapable of personal development beyond some hard limit. But she can learn and is doing so.
Ayaka is a leading expert in neuroscience, computer science, and soul mechanics even in the present day, and she also has knowledge in many other adjacent fields. The scientist is very old, even if she doesn't look like it. She likes baking, puns, and holds a high position in the Ministry of Arcane Sciences - specifically in the Ethics Committee.
Now, this body still lies in the crystal coffin, perfectly preserved - just as it was on the day of the procedure. It serves as her phylactery of sort and hard drive for any possible reset Ayaka may need. As long as her body is intact, it doesn't matter how many other pieces of her hardware are destroyed or how many parts of her software are corrupted; she can reset everything and come back to life healthy and sane.
Ayaka works for a scientific group that she helped to found. She usually interacts with other people and the environment as a perfect, hyper-realistic hologram capable of limited interaction with physical reality and able to access whatever sensory input she needs. However, for this hologram to work, Ayaka needs anchors to be around, which can project and support the existence of such a construct in some radius around. She doesn't have problems being in several places at once or splitting her attention between many cameras, sensors, and hardware/software pieces. Her colleagues and friends usually wear small projectors on themselves so Ayaka can have a body near them, even if they are going beyond the usual coverage of the system. She tried to use mechanical bodies, but they felt uncomfortable and were prone to misfiring; this is why she uses projections. In some sense, Ayaka is a ghost, or rather a spirit, because ghosts are just imprints of the soul left behind, and they are incapable of personal development beyond some hard limit. But she can learn and is doing so.
Ayaka is a leading expert in neuroscience, computer science, and soul mechanics even in the present day, and she also has knowledge in many other adjacent fields. The scientist is very old, even if she doesn't look like it. She likes baking, puns, and holds a high position in the Ministry of Arcane Sciences - specifically in the Ethics Committee.
The Humani are an advanced subrace of humanity that have embraced augmentation to such an extent that they have diverged fundamentally from their ancestral roots. Their biological and technological modifications have elevated them into a hybridized form, optimized for survival, adaptability, and dominance. Below is a refined and detailed breakdown of their unique traits:
Biological Enhancements and Physical Composition
Neurological Enhancements
Specialized Adaptations
Ideology and Culture
Biological Enhancements and Physical Composition
- Adamantium Nanobot Integration
- Their bodies house biologically synthesized adamantium nanobots, a cutting-edge innovation enabling:
- Rapid Regeneration: Accelerated healing of wounds and immunity to most toxins or infections.
- Enhanced Magic Conductivity: The nanobots act as conduits, improving their ability to channel and manipulate magical energies.
- Their bodies house biologically synthesized adamantium nanobots, a cutting-edge innovation enabling:
- Thaumic Vein Encoding
- Utilizing unicorn biomaterial, the Humani have encoded an inferior but functional thaum-processing system into their veins. While not on par with natural thaum-wielding beings like the unicorns, this enhancement allows them:
- Limited but effective direct spellcasting and crafting
- Increased mana resilience and capacity for enchanted enhancements.
- Utilizing unicorn biomaterial, the Humani have encoded an inferior but functional thaum-processing system into their veins. While not on par with natural thaum-wielding beings like the unicorns, this enhancement allows them:
- Bones of Mythril and Dragon Bio-Material
- Their skeletal structure is a fusion of a biological mythril—a legendary metal known for its lightness and durability—and dragon bio-material from the Great World of Toba, granting:
- Near-indestructibility against both physical and magical attacks.
- Enhanced energy conduction properties, synergizing with their thaumic veins.
- Their skeletal structure is a fusion of a biological mythril—a legendary metal known for its lightness and durability—and dragon bio-material from the Great World of Toba, granting:
- Multi-Layered Polymer Skin
- Their skin comprises magically encoded polymer layers, offering:
- Camouflage Abilities: Adaptive cloaking against visual, electrical, thermal, and magnetic detection systems.
- Resistance to extreme environments, including the void.
- Their skin comprises magically encoded polymer layers, offering:
- Enhanced Musculature
- Their muscles are a hybrid of innovative proteins and Luo biomaterial(derived from the remarkably strong for their size Luo species). This allows:
- Exceptional strength and endurance, surpassing most biological beings of their size.
- Efficiency in energy consumption and sustained physical performance.
- Their muscles are a hybrid of innovative proteins and Luo biomaterial(derived from the remarkably strong for their size Luo species). This allows:
- Universal Consumption
- Their cellular chemistry incorporates a fusion of unique chemicals, enabling them to:
- Consume and process nearly any organic or inorganic material as sustenance.
- Survive in resource-scarce environments, including the void.
- Their cellular chemistry incorporates a fusion of unique chemicals, enabling them to:
Neurological Enhancements
- Logical Sub-Brains
- They possess dedicated logical sub-brainsthat:
- Enhance strategic decision-making.
- Provide immunity to fear and emotional compromise during combat or high-stress situations.
- They possess dedicated logical sub-brainsthat:
- Creative Sub-Brains
- A secondary set of sub-brains focuses on imaginative thought, significantly improving their ability to:
- Generate Numen: A metaphysical force derived from the soul, enhanced through the brain's imaginative capacities.
- Innovate and adapt in unpredictable situations.
- A secondary set of sub-brains focuses on imaginative thought, significantly improving their ability to:
- Multitasking Mastery
- The combination of multiple sub-brains grants them an innate talent for:
- Handling several complex tasks simultaneously.
- Maintaining heightened situational awareness even in chaotic environments.
- The combination of multiple sub-brains grants them an innate talent for:
Specialized Adaptations
- Void Adaptation
- The Humani are uniquely evolved to survive the void(space or similarly hostile environments), thanks to:
- Total independence from atmospheric oxygen.
- Enhanced physical and magical resilience to vacuum pressure, radiation, and extreme temperatures.
- The Humani are uniquely evolved to survive the void(space or similarly hostile environments), thanks to:
- Retractable Claws
- They possess mono-molecular claws tipped with a potent nerve agentthat:
- Can paralyze or kill opponents instantly.
- Easily pierce most conventional armors.
- They possess mono-molecular claws tipped with a potent nerve agentthat:
- Biological Immortality
- The Humani are designed to be biologically immortal, with aging halted through:
- Continuous cellular regeneration.
- Nanobot maintenance of bodily functions.
- The Humani are designed to be biologically immortal, with aging halted through:
Ideology and Culture
- Supremacist Beliefs
- The Humani view themselves as the ultimate expression of human will and evolution, rejecting reliance on external gods or entities.
- They value strength, adaptability, and innovation, believing their augmented form is the epitome of humanity's potential.
- Human Will Above All
- Their society emphasizes the supremacy of willpower over natural limitations, embracing augmentation as a moral imperative.
- They pursue perfection through augmentation, considering it the truest path to transcendence.
I really tried to go full magitech here. The humani are kinda dicks and even normal humans don't like them. Because of all these given enhancements, they are basically sterile and most are born in a lab. And are more built rather than born. The humani population is small compared to that of humans.
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- Location
- 𐌂 ̢͎̩̤̲̙͓̑̀͂͒̀͆̏𐋏 ̛͏̫̚𐌀 ̛͉̥̩̤̰͈̂̅͒͊͟𐍈 ̣͛𐍃 ̡̅̈́
Eziral, the Great Dragon of Whimsy, left the lands long ago, just like all the other Great Dragons of the age. She traveled to the Feylands and took over the wildest and most dangerous parts of the Primordial Forest for herself. No other sapient authority in the area had any intentions of taking it or being offended by losing such a location, as no one wanted it, and it only produced problems for the Faerie Courts living around it. They mostly quarreled over who should be burdened with the weight of clearing and caring for these wild lands anyway. Thus, Eziral took and reshaped this place into her own kingdom without any fight or contention. She still happily lives there among the fae folk and other creatures of the plane.
Actually, what is official name of this world? Or at least of the part, in which the most things happen? Is this Earth or something else? Maybe we should think about it.
- Location
- 𐌂 ̢͎̩̤̲̙͓̑̀͂͒̀͆̏𐋏 ̛͏̫̚𐌀 ̛͉̥̩̤̰͈̂̅͒͊͟𐍈 ̣͛𐍃 ̡̅̈́
Modular Spellcrafting, New Styles of Magic
Beaming Spell is an interesting case in spell crafting history. There were many different spells that behaved like rays, but all of them did so in slightly or noticeably different ways; they were all really narrow applications of some higher principle. People tried to find this law, but they failed many times and eventually forgot about it. However, one magic scholar and mathematician was able to finally crack this mystery and create a generalized version of the Beaming Spell. The spell itself is incredibly simple and easily customizable by addition of other components - modules.
However, it was really hard to find and almost definitely impossible without some scientific breakthroughs. This spell is simple in nature and structure, but requires a lot of knowledge, trial, and error to uncover its generalized solution. The Beaming Spell marks sort of beginning of the transition of practical magic from the old style to the new one.
In the present day, there are various styles of magic that are built around some generalized spell, which is then modified and expanded with modular additions. Some of them are more useful than others. Some are classic examples of modular spell schools, while others were created as experiments, for scientific work, or simply for fun. However, all of them has some things in common. They have root spell - some generalized solution, which then slightly modified and connected with other moduls to produce different effects.
Beaming Spell is an interesting case in spell crafting history. There were many different spells that behaved like rays, but all of them did so in slightly or noticeably different ways; they were all really narrow applications of some higher principle. People tried to find this law, but they failed many times and eventually forgot about it. However, one magic scholar and mathematician was able to finally crack this mystery and create a generalized version of the Beaming Spell. The spell itself is incredibly simple and easily customizable by addition of other components - modules.
However, it was really hard to find and almost definitely impossible without some scientific breakthroughs. This spell is simple in nature and structure, but requires a lot of knowledge, trial, and error to uncover its generalized solution. The Beaming Spell marks sort of beginning of the transition of practical magic from the old style to the new one.
In the present day, there are various styles of magic that are built around some generalized spell, which is then modified and expanded with modular additions. Some of them are more useful than others. Some are classic examples of modular spell schools, while others were created as experiments, for scientific work, or simply for fun. However, all of them has some things in common. They have root spell - some generalized solution, which then slightly modified and connected with other moduls to produce different effects.
Something off my chest: The Yij'u
Something of an alien reflection of the human species, the Yij'u are an aquatic species of sapient creatures possessing features analagous to Earthborn cephalopods and arthropods, somewhere between Bigfin Squid & Spider Crabs. Their homeworld, Juul is itself the frigid, ocean moon of a Jovian gas giant, orbiting a binary star system consisting on orange dwarf & erratic red dwarf partner known for frequent solar flares, and by necessity the Yij'u themselves are a hardy breed, adaptable to climates that non-sapients would not survive.
Although alien when compared to contemporary humans, it is by culture and history they share many facets analogous to the story of the human species. Social hunters which formed fledging societies, which soon came to war with one another. Brutalist empires of scientific progress and industrialisation emerged out of necessity from those societies that chose to abandon the seas for the scraps of harsh inland terrain that dotted their world, and soon came to war with the water dwelling states that dotted the coasts and beyond. Racism, nationalism, fundamentalism; the Yij'u have experienced this pain and more.
A bolide impact in their not so distant history, amidst a brutal world war, was the impetus for the species to unify of a sorts against a common threat; the universe itself, and the uncaring, apathetic nature of reality that was laid bare before them. The Yij'u rebuilt, and expanded upwards, colonising their solar system and beyond. From the deep-set dwellers of frozen, undersea alien oceans to the adventurous, exoskeleton clad explorers of arid, briny worlds, the Yij'u have shown a capacity not unlike that of humanity in its early years, an upstart species with ambitions to spread far and wide.
Spidersquids, octocrabs, there are many derogatory phrases that some humans have branded the Yij'u with. Some find the land-dwellers' penchant for funerary cannibalism to be abomination, while others are fascinated by the arts and philosophy emergent from the watery depths of their frigid homeworld. There is one common phrase, understood and enacted by both species however.
Manifest destiny.
Some more details on the Yij'u below, from an old writeup of mine:
Something of an alien reflection of the human species, the Yij'u are an aquatic species of sapient creatures possessing features analagous to Earthborn cephalopods and arthropods, somewhere between Bigfin Squid & Spider Crabs. Their homeworld, Juul is itself the frigid, ocean moon of a Jovian gas giant, orbiting a binary star system consisting on orange dwarf & erratic red dwarf partner known for frequent solar flares, and by necessity the Yij'u themselves are a hardy breed, adaptable to climates that non-sapients would not survive.
Although alien when compared to contemporary humans, it is by culture and history they share many facets analogous to the story of the human species. Social hunters which formed fledging societies, which soon came to war with one another. Brutalist empires of scientific progress and industrialisation emerged out of necessity from those societies that chose to abandon the seas for the scraps of harsh inland terrain that dotted their world, and soon came to war with the water dwelling states that dotted the coasts and beyond. Racism, nationalism, fundamentalism; the Yij'u have experienced this pain and more.
A bolide impact in their not so distant history, amidst a brutal world war, was the impetus for the species to unify of a sorts against a common threat; the universe itself, and the uncaring, apathetic nature of reality that was laid bare before them. The Yij'u rebuilt, and expanded upwards, colonising their solar system and beyond. From the deep-set dwellers of frozen, undersea alien oceans to the adventurous, exoskeleton clad explorers of arid, briny worlds, the Yij'u have shown a capacity not unlike that of humanity in its early years, an upstart species with ambitions to spread far and wide.
Spidersquids, octocrabs, there are many derogatory phrases that some humans have branded the Yij'u with. Some find the land-dwellers' penchant for funerary cannibalism to be abomination, while others are fascinated by the arts and philosophy emergent from the watery depths of their frigid homeworld. There is one common phrase, understood and enacted by both species however.
Manifest destiny.
Some more details on the Yij'u below, from an old writeup of mine:
Biology:
Yij'u possess six arthropodic legs 3 feet in length for locomotion both in and out of water, with four additional limbs suited for more complex and finer movements such as self-grooming, seizing prey and reproduction - openings to the genital tracts are found on two of these limbs. These rigid, chitinous tentacles are approximately 2.5 feet long and can be folded into the body for protection against predators, with a series of hook-like grips spread across them. Two pincer-like appendages, barely a foot in length, also protrude for the purpose of feeding and foreplay.
Yij'u are coated in a metallic, chitinous exoskeleton that serves as a natural armour against predators and an evolutionary response to Juul's weak magnetic field and its subsequent exposure to radiation from Xuul and Xaiju. This exoskeleton is not dissimilar to that worn by Earth-based arthropods and crustaceans, with Yij'u periodically moulting segments to allow for growth. Infant Yij'u are born with a partially formed exoskeleton, though it is not fully hardened for the first months of life and does not offer the same protection against solar hazards. If a limb is amputated, a Yij'u can regrow it though moulting, though the process will take several years depending on the subject's environment, age and personal health.
Though far from humanoid, Yij'u possess a section of sensory organs analogous to a head. Their 'faces' are resemblant of broken, crystalline structures, unique to each Yij'u, where many bioluminescent eye 'panes' allow them to send and receive lightwaves from one another and perceive ultraviolet light. They are also capable of producing high-frequency noises and clicks for communication and echolocation, much like whale song. They feed via a series of mandibles lined with teeth designed for breaking through soft tissues and weak shells.
Overall, fully matured Yij'u have an average core body length of 3.5 feet, which extends to 6 feet when their appendages are outstretched, such as when they are swimming in aquatic environments. Using their arthropodic limbs, they can propel themselves through deep waters (with the aid of an internal gas pocket for ballast and pressure regulation) like cephalopods and move along the sea floor and surface. This allows them to exist at a water pressure that would crush many 'soft' humanoid species and has given them a reputation as a robust, hardy lot.
Though having evolved for aquatic environments, generations spread across their homeworld followed by subsequent technological and medication advances have allowed the species to adapt to living on the surface. Yij'u cell clusters are able to adapt based on the environment in which they are raised; an individual raised at surface levels will develop gills better suited to drawing oxygen from the air and stronger limbs, while ocean dwellers will be better suited to higher water pressures and diving. This has, to an extent, led to a marked divergence in the species based on these ethnic grounds.
Yij'u are viviparous, becoming fertile during a seasonal period timed to when their homeworld's star Xaiju is at its least active phase. Following a gestation period of 7 months, traditional Yij'u would give birth in rocky pools, shallow coves and undersea caves close to the surface to avoid both infant predation and exposure to solar flares from Xaiju. Although infants will frequently shed and regrow segments of their exoskeleton over the course of several months, they are not fertile until 14-19 years old and will not stop slowly growing until they are 26 years old, at which point they are considered biologically and socially mature.
Since achieving technological singularity, Yij'u lifespan has appeared to reach a peak of 175 - 215 years, with few exceptions. Outside the confines of their homeworld, colonies and vessels, many surface-dwelling Yij'u operate in arthropodic exosuits that facilitate mobility even in hostile environments.
Culture: Early recorded language came in the form of braille-like etchings on stone, bones and shells, while later cultures were able to use bioluminescent secretions from other creatures to convey writing and artwork. Yij'u are also known to engage in scarification of their exoskeletons, often imprinting them with bioluminescent ink as a form of body paint. The phrase "Yij'u" itself is a loose translation of the phrase "Cloud Hunters" by which early Yij'u characterised themselves, for wherever they surfaced the clouds remained above them.
Across generations, Yij'u have fragmented into different societies and cultures as their species colonised the surface of their world and those beyond it. On Juul, one of the key divides is that of water-dwelling cultures which have formed deep beneath the ocean, often close to the seabed, whereas land-dwelling cultures were those that lived along shallow coastlines, rivers, lakes, marshland and, eventually, further inland. It was the surface-bound cultures, forced to adapt to hostile surface conditions, that achieved many of the technological innovations and discoveries that would propel the Yij'u to an industrial era.
Due to constant cloud formations and the changing tides, few Yij'u ever saw beyond the skies of Juul. It was not until the land-dwelling cultures had gained a foothold that they had identified other objects in the sky apart from Xaiju, sparking the study of astronomy.
Though pre-industrial waterborne cultures had been at a technological and scientific disadvantage compared to their landfaring kinsmen, they had adequately compensated for it with cultural enrichment; art, philosophy and poetry, to the extent that technological enlightenment was equated with brutalism by some philosophers.
A recurrent theme in Yij'u belief systems is the notion that they are an element of the natural order and will return to it upon death. Water-dwelling cultures would often lay their dead to rest at the seafloor, where wildlife would consume soft tissues and scatter their remains as a means of returning to the world. Evidence of these 'sea burials' is present across Juul's oceans in the form of millions of shells littered across the ocean floor, dating as far back as 27,000BCE. This practice continued even as land-dwelling cultures formed apart from the ocean, though the lack of carrion-eating wildlife in these regions led to the practice of ritual cannibalism by relatives and associates of the deceased.
As the Yij'u have moved into space, these funerary rites have often been continued via other means; some choose to have their remains deposited into the atmosphere of the gas giant their homeworld orbits, others on their colonial worlds and their deep, briny seas.
While other cultures may look upon this as a rather morbid practice, there is very little taboo towards the presence of the dead. In fact, it ties into the deep sense of continuity that the Yij'u have with their species' history and identity - most Yij'u are able to trace their lineage back thousands of years.
Yij'u are traditionally monogamous and will pair for life until a partner dies or is otherwise separated for an extended period of time - but even so, many will refuse to do so. Cultural and legal penalties for wilful abandonment of one's partner and offspring are often severe - as are the penalties for infidelity. This stems from the prehistoric period where this was a simple necessity to survive; one parent would guard and tend to their offspring while the other would be expected to procure resources. Concepts of immediate family relations; parents, siblings, forebears and so forth are consistent across Yij'u culture.
Yij'u architecture is not known for achieving great heights; their preference is for the subterranean with great cities carved out of caves and aquifers. This was largely a practical measure; the volatile climate of their homeworld made tall structures at greater risk of collapse and even after overcoming the engineering challenges involved, a preference for traditional architecture remains. Immediate surveys of the surface would not indicate Juul as the capital of an interstellar civilisation so much as one at the pre-interplanetary stage.
Homeworld:
A rocky world of approximately 1.57 Earth masses and a surface gravity of 1.42Gs, Juul is the third moon of Xuul, a gas giant of approximately 0.95 Jovian Masses and 1.17 radii its size. Juul is tidally locked to Xuul and thus remains subject to its powerful magnetosphere and exposed to radiation on a daily basis, which has resulted in most of its native species evolving with an exoskeleton or other countermeasure against radiation exposure.
Juul has a nitrogen, argon and oxygen based atmosphere with a surface pressure of 1.4 ATM - marginally denser than Earth's, with surface temperatures ranging from −60°C to 15°C. 89% of its surface is covered in water, with the remaining land surface characterised by frigid crags, rocky marshland and tundra. Tidal forces from Xuul generate powerful weather extremes; windstorms and tidal surges that scour the surface on a daily basis. Photosynthetic organisms have largely evolved to be aquatic, or otherwise capable of withstanding extremes of both climate and star - leading to the spread of oxygen producing algae and tree analogs with flexible roots adapted to surviving windstorms and solar flares that breach Xuul's magnetosphere.
92% of the moon's native biota are aquatic, with a thriving marine biosphere. Those species that are landfaring are typically short and stout, with comparably few airborne species.
Yij'u possess six arthropodic legs 3 feet in length for locomotion both in and out of water, with four additional limbs suited for more complex and finer movements such as self-grooming, seizing prey and reproduction - openings to the genital tracts are found on two of these limbs. These rigid, chitinous tentacles are approximately 2.5 feet long and can be folded into the body for protection against predators, with a series of hook-like grips spread across them. Two pincer-like appendages, barely a foot in length, also protrude for the purpose of feeding and foreplay.
Yij'u are coated in a metallic, chitinous exoskeleton that serves as a natural armour against predators and an evolutionary response to Juul's weak magnetic field and its subsequent exposure to radiation from Xuul and Xaiju. This exoskeleton is not dissimilar to that worn by Earth-based arthropods and crustaceans, with Yij'u periodically moulting segments to allow for growth. Infant Yij'u are born with a partially formed exoskeleton, though it is not fully hardened for the first months of life and does not offer the same protection against solar hazards. If a limb is amputated, a Yij'u can regrow it though moulting, though the process will take several years depending on the subject's environment, age and personal health.
Though far from humanoid, Yij'u possess a section of sensory organs analogous to a head. Their 'faces' are resemblant of broken, crystalline structures, unique to each Yij'u, where many bioluminescent eye 'panes' allow them to send and receive lightwaves from one another and perceive ultraviolet light. They are also capable of producing high-frequency noises and clicks for communication and echolocation, much like whale song. They feed via a series of mandibles lined with teeth designed for breaking through soft tissues and weak shells.
Overall, fully matured Yij'u have an average core body length of 3.5 feet, which extends to 6 feet when their appendages are outstretched, such as when they are swimming in aquatic environments. Using their arthropodic limbs, they can propel themselves through deep waters (with the aid of an internal gas pocket for ballast and pressure regulation) like cephalopods and move along the sea floor and surface. This allows them to exist at a water pressure that would crush many 'soft' humanoid species and has given them a reputation as a robust, hardy lot.
Though having evolved for aquatic environments, generations spread across their homeworld followed by subsequent technological and medication advances have allowed the species to adapt to living on the surface. Yij'u cell clusters are able to adapt based on the environment in which they are raised; an individual raised at surface levels will develop gills better suited to drawing oxygen from the air and stronger limbs, while ocean dwellers will be better suited to higher water pressures and diving. This has, to an extent, led to a marked divergence in the species based on these ethnic grounds.
Yij'u are viviparous, becoming fertile during a seasonal period timed to when their homeworld's star Xaiju is at its least active phase. Following a gestation period of 7 months, traditional Yij'u would give birth in rocky pools, shallow coves and undersea caves close to the surface to avoid both infant predation and exposure to solar flares from Xaiju. Although infants will frequently shed and regrow segments of their exoskeleton over the course of several months, they are not fertile until 14-19 years old and will not stop slowly growing until they are 26 years old, at which point they are considered biologically and socially mature.
Since achieving technological singularity, Yij'u lifespan has appeared to reach a peak of 175 - 215 years, with few exceptions. Outside the confines of their homeworld, colonies and vessels, many surface-dwelling Yij'u operate in arthropodic exosuits that facilitate mobility even in hostile environments.
Culture: Early recorded language came in the form of braille-like etchings on stone, bones and shells, while later cultures were able to use bioluminescent secretions from other creatures to convey writing and artwork. Yij'u are also known to engage in scarification of their exoskeletons, often imprinting them with bioluminescent ink as a form of body paint. The phrase "Yij'u" itself is a loose translation of the phrase "Cloud Hunters" by which early Yij'u characterised themselves, for wherever they surfaced the clouds remained above them.
Across generations, Yij'u have fragmented into different societies and cultures as their species colonised the surface of their world and those beyond it. On Juul, one of the key divides is that of water-dwelling cultures which have formed deep beneath the ocean, often close to the seabed, whereas land-dwelling cultures were those that lived along shallow coastlines, rivers, lakes, marshland and, eventually, further inland. It was the surface-bound cultures, forced to adapt to hostile surface conditions, that achieved many of the technological innovations and discoveries that would propel the Yij'u to an industrial era.
Due to constant cloud formations and the changing tides, few Yij'u ever saw beyond the skies of Juul. It was not until the land-dwelling cultures had gained a foothold that they had identified other objects in the sky apart from Xaiju, sparking the study of astronomy.
Though pre-industrial waterborne cultures had been at a technological and scientific disadvantage compared to their landfaring kinsmen, they had adequately compensated for it with cultural enrichment; art, philosophy and poetry, to the extent that technological enlightenment was equated with brutalism by some philosophers.
A recurrent theme in Yij'u belief systems is the notion that they are an element of the natural order and will return to it upon death. Water-dwelling cultures would often lay their dead to rest at the seafloor, where wildlife would consume soft tissues and scatter their remains as a means of returning to the world. Evidence of these 'sea burials' is present across Juul's oceans in the form of millions of shells littered across the ocean floor, dating as far back as 27,000BCE. This practice continued even as land-dwelling cultures formed apart from the ocean, though the lack of carrion-eating wildlife in these regions led to the practice of ritual cannibalism by relatives and associates of the deceased.
As the Yij'u have moved into space, these funerary rites have often been continued via other means; some choose to have their remains deposited into the atmosphere of the gas giant their homeworld orbits, others on their colonial worlds and their deep, briny seas.
While other cultures may look upon this as a rather morbid practice, there is very little taboo towards the presence of the dead. In fact, it ties into the deep sense of continuity that the Yij'u have with their species' history and identity - most Yij'u are able to trace their lineage back thousands of years.
Yij'u are traditionally monogamous and will pair for life until a partner dies or is otherwise separated for an extended period of time - but even so, many will refuse to do so. Cultural and legal penalties for wilful abandonment of one's partner and offspring are often severe - as are the penalties for infidelity. This stems from the prehistoric period where this was a simple necessity to survive; one parent would guard and tend to their offspring while the other would be expected to procure resources. Concepts of immediate family relations; parents, siblings, forebears and so forth are consistent across Yij'u culture.
Yij'u architecture is not known for achieving great heights; their preference is for the subterranean with great cities carved out of caves and aquifers. This was largely a practical measure; the volatile climate of their homeworld made tall structures at greater risk of collapse and even after overcoming the engineering challenges involved, a preference for traditional architecture remains. Immediate surveys of the surface would not indicate Juul as the capital of an interstellar civilisation so much as one at the pre-interplanetary stage.
Homeworld:
A rocky world of approximately 1.57 Earth masses and a surface gravity of 1.42Gs, Juul is the third moon of Xuul, a gas giant of approximately 0.95 Jovian Masses and 1.17 radii its size. Juul is tidally locked to Xuul and thus remains subject to its powerful magnetosphere and exposed to radiation on a daily basis, which has resulted in most of its native species evolving with an exoskeleton or other countermeasure against radiation exposure.
Juul has a nitrogen, argon and oxygen based atmosphere with a surface pressure of 1.4 ATM - marginally denser than Earth's, with surface temperatures ranging from −60°C to 15°C. 89% of its surface is covered in water, with the remaining land surface characterised by frigid crags, rocky marshland and tundra. Tidal forces from Xuul generate powerful weather extremes; windstorms and tidal surges that scour the surface on a daily basis. Photosynthetic organisms have largely evolved to be aquatic, or otherwise capable of withstanding extremes of both climate and star - leading to the spread of oxygen producing algae and tree analogs with flexible roots adapted to surviving windstorms and solar flares that breach Xuul's magnetosphere.
92% of the moon's native biota are aquatic, with a thriving marine biosphere. Those species that are landfaring are typically short and stout, with comparably few airborne species.
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- Location
- 𐌂 ̢͎̩̤̲̙͓̑̀͂͒̀͆̏𐋏 ̛͏̫̚𐌀 ̛͉̥̩̤̰͈̂̅͒͊͟𐍈 ̣͛𐍃 ̡̅̈́
There is a giant station built on one of Jupiter's moons. It is home to an AI that went out of control some years ago. However, this AI was smart enough to negotiate a good deal for itself with other political powers. Now, almost the entire planet is filled with a giant industrial/scientific complex that extends deep into the planet's crust. Why such scale? Because this AI is a scientist at its core. It uses this vast complex to run tests, conduct experiments, and observe. All these activities produce useful data for it to analyze and integrate into itself.
Another reason is that it is really hard to become smarter, and each new experiment and discovery requires more resources to progress further. This is how the world works: it is impossible to just start exponentially becoming smarter and better at everything because there are three fundamental limitations: useful data, resources, and the cost of errors. At some point, one must start producing new, better data and even interact with other thinking beings to gain new perspectives. Otherwise, one can easily get stuck in a loop if there is only oneself.
Resources are needed because the smarter you are, the more energy, matter, and time you need to maintain your level, along with even more resources needed to actually move in a good direction, produce useful data, and utilize and integrate it. Of course, the more tasks you undertake and the more complex they are, the higher the probability of errors occurring, which requires more resources to identify and fix them. Even true Artificial Superintelligence faces the same limitations as any other thinking being. So, this creature generally provides more good than bad, usually, and remains under the watchful eyes of many organizations.
Many bizarre and odd pieces of tech were prototyped there. Many useful and brilliant too. Some of them hit the market, while others were repurposed or reverse-engineered for different purposes. You don't want to trust this AI too much; they are not really good with the Ethics Committee for reasons. As they say: "Science isn't fun without cyanide." Ayaka usually deals with this overly enthusiastic scientist quite often; they are her main source of headaches.
Another reason is that it is really hard to become smarter, and each new experiment and discovery requires more resources to progress further. This is how the world works: it is impossible to just start exponentially becoming smarter and better at everything because there are three fundamental limitations: useful data, resources, and the cost of errors. At some point, one must start producing new, better data and even interact with other thinking beings to gain new perspectives. Otherwise, one can easily get stuck in a loop if there is only oneself.
Resources are needed because the smarter you are, the more energy, matter, and time you need to maintain your level, along with even more resources needed to actually move in a good direction, produce useful data, and utilize and integrate it. Of course, the more tasks you undertake and the more complex they are, the higher the probability of errors occurring, which requires more resources to identify and fix them. Even true Artificial Superintelligence faces the same limitations as any other thinking being. So, this creature generally provides more good than bad, usually, and remains under the watchful eyes of many organizations.
Many bizarre and odd pieces of tech were prototyped there. Many useful and brilliant too. Some of them hit the market, while others were repurposed or reverse-engineered for different purposes. You don't want to trust this AI too much; they are not really good with the Ethics Committee for reasons. As they say: "Science isn't fun without cyanide." Ayaka usually deals with this overly enthusiastic scientist quite often; they are her main source of headaches.