Ex'hau: Difference between revisions

'''Ex’hau''' (singular ex'hai), also known as mothpersons (or moths: any variation of nickname), are a lanky, thin species of bipedal humanoids primarily insectoid in appearance. With beady, black eyes and thin, fragile wings, the ex’hau are one of two space-faring species that the '''[[Commonwealth of Orion]]''' has encountered (the other being '''[[Ethereal|ethereals]]'''). With bodies unaccustomed to what humans consider normal gravity, moths are primarily found in low-g environments, such as stations near gas giants or in asteroid belts. Their homeworld of '''Wallalius''' is a bustling, skyscraper-like world, with buildings sprawling along strange, elongated fauna, sediment loose, and plants odd with the lessened gravity.

While typically isolated, the ex’hau eventually formed into packs in order to survive and better guarantee future generations. Spears, as a staple of primitive combat, were even more advantageous for the early moths, as their abilities of flight permitted more advanced attacking maneuvers using the polearms. A lack of pressure in the planet’s magnetic core made precious and industrial metals rare, as even materials like iron and tin became highly sought. It is not known precisely the period of time that it took before something resembling civilization came to be. Even with the advent of writing and libraries which saw books bound and preserved via petrified plant matter, significant conflict and the tendency of incendiary wildfires saw knowledge and history burnt time and time again.

Over time, the inexplicable ability of moths to rapidly expand their population and their influence permitted them to become the dominant species via the usage of technology between several different civilizations that sprouted out across the planet. Scarcity proved to be problematic, as, while their constructs and infrastructure relied heavily on strong, renewable materials such as '''ironwood''' or '''durathread''', the few inventions which relied on metal were massively advantageous. With the late discovery of '''baroxuldium''' (also known as '''[[plasma]]'''), the state of '''Talium''' began to construct and sustain a space-faring division. While record cross-referencing is a finicky process, human scientists estimate that the first successful vehicle launch from Wallalius into orbit took place in 1762. However, the stress on both resources and the body which escape into space demanded was palpably high, even with the weakness of the planet’s gravity well. Until more efficient and safe methods of ship development occurred, the project was effectively put on hold.  

In 2010, a colony was established on S’lai by the newly founded '''United Directorate of Kemius''', and proxy colonies from opposing powers that stole technology and materials alike quickly grew, as various states of competing power, such as the '''Gx’strum Republic''' and the '''People’s Union of Carmas''' also spread into the belt, as Kemius’ attempts to maintain and hold the monopoly it had wavered, as even various colonies began to strike their own autonomy as the distance grew from the central homeworld. The belt nations of '''F’lum''', '''Munatius''', and '''Rellimium''' were three notable powers that grew from a marked specialization in the export and dealing with precious metals such as gold, titanium, and silicon, respectively. The planet of Wallalius kept its various political influences, simply because of its production of food. On the other hand, the belt nations dictated which materials could be in abundance in the Wallalian market. This symbiosis relationship, despite tensions and grievances that still flared from independence movements, resulted in uneasy partnerships and trading. Inevitably, both the inner and outer powers grew to a point of development where communication and travel times became short enough to permit more effective control over one’s colonies, and thus, the ex’hau slowly crept across the '''Deria System''', being mindful and ultimately bound by their fragile bodies and sensitive eyesight.

Soon, in 2323, a remote ex’hau colony encountered the mothpeople’s first known sapient alien lifeform: ethereals. Fascination was paramount on both ends: the ex’hau curious due to the seeming embodiment of light, the ethereals intrigued simply because of their explorative nature, as well as the nigh-immediate amiability of the strange, fuzzy creatures. Diplomatic efforts between the several ex’hau powers and the ethereal people proved to generally be friendly, and the two species found cultural interactions relatively wholesome, despite the widespread disease that wracked both populations upon initial contact. While there were some that advocated for isolation and distance due to the deaths this caused, the moths were less than eager to engage in conflict with a new species that clearly intended no harm. Furthermore, commitment to such a conflict would be impartially balanced in dedication, thus theoretically opening up one power to conquest from another ex’hau neighbor. As a result, trade, commerce, and infrastructure between the Deria and '''Elix''' systems grew to healthy levels. To this day, ethereals and moths are often found together in various settlements, regardless of the power that claims dominion over the land they walk on.

Over a century later, in 2463, bizarre news hit both Commonwealth and ex’hau media, as two of the species’ space exploration probes had discovered one another accidentally. Two years later, contact and negotiations quickly developed. While the distance between the Commonwealth’s borders and Deria was notable, the usage of '''bluespace''' permitted physical proximity and eventual translation. While the Commonwealth’s navy was more impressive, humans were cautious about the level of resources conflict or domination would require. The benefits of such conflict were questionable at best, as there were still plenty of habitable planets, and the development of '''terraforming''' technologies meant there was still a generally wide array of expansion options open to humanity and ex’hau alike. In addition, anxieties about the growing and nearby power of the '''Remnants of Vxtvul''' inspired reluctance regarding a full-scale assault on a massively distant, only potential threat, especially with the absurd decentralization of the ex’hau people. Relations between the two peoples became ultimately neutral as a result. The ex’hau referenced the ethereal people to humanity, to which they delivered a relatively similar response, despite the general peacefulness of the lightning-beings.

Today, the ex’hau still exist in a state of intense decentralization, each power pursuing development and expansion, as trade with the Commonwealth sees certain new technologies and items enter into their lives. Notable is the Commonwealth’s interest in supporting each power equally, so as to prevent a centralizing power from unifying the people. Certain ex’hau who are either seeking fortune, work, or an escape from their past lives tend to end up in Commonwealth space. Some of them shun the fragmented nature of their people, whereas others hold true to their loyalties. Recent experimental treatments meant for the therapy of low-g trauma mean that the ex’hau, through intense therapy and training, are capable of existing and functioning in standard-g environments (albeit commonly with consistent pain). As a result, mothpeople can now occasionally be seen in traditional Commonwealth environments, though they are still relatively rare.

Moth names can often range from puns as a result of bemusement from translation into '''Galactic Common''' to fuel an ex'hai's often eccentric form of humor. They can include ideas and concepts of certain biological functions, often with an ending of "ium" or "ius", based on the naming schemes of their language, such as "Stimulium" as a first name. Surnames tend to retain the language of the ex'hau, but the spelling done in the Latin alphabet. Nicknames or otherwise human names can also be common as working names in Commonwealth areas, as simplistic aliases.

Ex'hau have smaller life spans than humans, about an average of 65 years. Some can live longer, though the wings and body tend to shrivel away rapidly beyond the age of 70. Those who work in normal-g conditions tend to live even shorter, as the stress of therapy and the extensive round of drug treatment they go through tends to cause long-term damage to the lungs and heart, as well as making them more prevalent to developing bone fractures or muscle tears. Those who try to enter and labor in normal-g environments without the proper training and drug cycle tend to die of overexertion within days.

They have a neurotic obsession with light in most of its forms, often acting irrationally in the presence of extreme light (even if their eyes are protected from the damage) or in low-light conditions where a single, notable source of light is observed. Some crew members have gone on to exploit and mock ex'hau for these tendencies, though cases where discipline is issued for such tomfoolery is few and far between. Their brain patterns are otherwise similar to humans, though they have a higher chance of developing attentive disorders such as ADHD or OCD. Those that lose their wings without feasible replacement tend to enter a significantly depressive episode- cases of PTSD have been linked to events where they are lost. A lack of them is often shamed both by communities and the self, except for those close to the victim, which will often extend empathy, acting as supports to hopefully encourage them to return to normal life.