Dionae

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Overview

 * "The Dionae are nothing seen before, somehow both youthful and ancient. And you will never find two exactly the same." - Weirun Tup's Deathflower journal - 2430

A rather strange, cryptic species in comparison to the rest, Dionae are actually a bipedal fusion of smaller, singular organisms working collectively to create a whole. The smaller organisms are wood-fleshed, cat-sized to large, dog-sized caterpillar-like creatures with a curious, childlike disposition. Nearly every aspect of the species is a mystery; their origins, their behaviour, and functions. What is known is that they are capable of great intellectual and biological feats alike... for a price. Biologically, they are as much of an amalgam as their forms, similar to both plant and animal alike and yet not, surviving primarily off of the electromagnetic spectrum with a healthy diet of biological matter to supplement their growth. This has resulted in weakness to lack of radiation and can lead to death if not exposed to at least proper lighting, and when fused with others can move incredibly slow due to a shared hivemind and the need to make decisions as a group than a single entity.

To become one of the strange, plant-like Dionae, apply here

Occupational
Dionae can be the following Heads of Staff:


 * Research Director
 * Chief Engineer
 * Chief Medical Officer

Dionae cannot be any of the following positions:
 * Emergency Medical Technician
 * Paramedic

Mechanics

 * Access to the specie’s unique language, Rootsong, with,q prefix.
 * Lives off of light and radiation, dies without either for a long period of time.
 * Heals damage while in light or radiation.
 * Heals from radiation chemicals, gains damage from anti-radiation and weedkillers.
 * Not affected by lack of atmosphere or pressure.
 * Moves slower than most other species, even slower when in darkness. Speed increases when in good light or irradiated.
 * Can split a nymph from their gestalt and control it. Can also switch between the split nymph and original gestalt at will.
 * Can split completely into several nymphs, as well as reform into a gestalt with enough biomass.
 * Can regrow limbs with enough nutrients and while exposed to light or radiation, faster with radiation.
 * Can *chirp and *chirp_song.
 * Can devour certain creatures by grabbing them, aiming for the mouth, and clicking yourself.
 * Can use the Create Structure verb to form their biological mass into a wall, floor, or glowing bulb.

Non-Mechanic Traits


 * Does not like wearing many layers of clothes, if any at all to allow them to feed better off of a lower-radiation environment like a station

Biology

 * "Their variation in color is beautiful. Vibrant yellows from a cluster found on a desert planet, mellow browns from a temperate climate... I've even touched the charred exterior of one that lived in an elliptical orbit that dipped into the atmosphere of a sun." - Weirun Tup's Deathflower journal - 2432

The Dionae, by virtue of being a unique lifeform, features an anatomy seen almost nowhere else, and a variation in colour and texture that comes from different experiences in life.

Physiology
Whilst Dionae nymphs are similar in size and weight to a cat, they are highly adaptable and are capable of living in various environments deemed uninhabitable for other species. The Caterpillar-like shape that many are familiar with is shaped by many tough tendrils, beneath the large, singular eye, near which two long, thinner tendrils act as delicate sensory organs. These tendrils tightly wrap themselves around the body to cocoon it in a thick, protective layer, using six thick, shorter tendrils for locomotion. The most common sighted form of Dionae is a Cyclops, which is a four-limbed bipedal created by the fusion of several nymphs. Merging consists of wrapping or forming a symbiotic relationship with other Nymphs, and as the tendrils constrict they harden to almost stone - which further allows them to support the rest of the gestalt.

Nymphs that form the bipedal body typically use the standard construct of two arms, two legs and a central abdomen from which these sprout from. They are all connected to the top Nymph, who is usually the most vocal but also more commonly the one with the most experiences. Whilst merged, each Nymph surprisingly manages to keep their sense of self and individuality as they share their thoughts and communicate with one another as separate entities while acting as one.

Dionae have also been known to form organs in order to assist in adapting to new environments. Typically they form Neural Stratas, Gas Bladders, Polyp Segments and Anchoring Ligaments. Neural Stratas are considered the ‘arteries’ of a Dionae - linking each Nymph to one another directly. It is said the Neural Strata is one of the first organs formed, and is considered the flow of information between each nymph, and severing it unexpectedly can force Dionae to go catatonic.

Gas Bladders are small pouches of growth, similar to a human lung, that allows gaseous exchange to occur - mostly being in that it turns only large amounts of various gases to use for biomass growth. Polyp Segments are one of the last organs to form - mostly along the Dionae’s Gas Bladder - but also the most likely to get infected. When infected, the Polyp Segments secrete large amounts of mucous which then is dispelled by the top nymph, which then goes on to infect more. Polyp infections are considered extremely dangerous to Dionae, and entire gestalts can perish as it spreads throughout them. Anchoring Ligaments are some of the last organs to form, and generally are formed on the ‘legs’ of a Dionae, which in turn assist in balancing. The ligaments can get inflamed, which is normally treated with various periods of rest. The condition is only noted in gestalts over a decade old.

Self Preservation
Dionae feel pain uniquely. When damage is inflicted upon a certain part of a gestalt, it would be incredibly painful for the nymphs affected and so they cry out in pain, however it would be an intense throbbing to the other members of the gestalt. Discomfort would originate from the injured section across to the entirety of the gestalt. Dionae also have a sense of fear, however, mostly related to that of losing experiences due to splitting. Splitting is the act of a gestalt fracturing due to continuously sustained damage, and is to be avoided. They would inherently fear environments deemed dangerous, as the risk of losing experiences is akin to that of death. Although physiologically plant-based, Dionae behaviour is more animal than plant. Radiation, specifically in the form of light, is extremely vital to Dionae, and without it will begin to wither. Dionae have three innate behaviours throughout their lifespan, no matter what samples are collected. Dionae see light as their main priority, and environments without such are deemed hazardous and are to be avoided at all costs, at risk of losing memories and knowledge.

Nymph Splitting
A Dionae Gestalt is able to split a nymph from itself and move semi-independently. This process is done by the two “singing” to each other on a frequency only they can understand. Since individual nymphs hold individual experiences, removing a nymph from a gestalt will cause minor amnesia while they're apart. This can mean that the gestalt might forget languages or ideas on nymph separation until the nymph returns to the physical body.

To best explain the idea, the Dionae philosophers in The Overgrowth of Xrim cluster describe the feeling as ... "Thoughts are liquid, winding as a river does. When the river splits, they are different beings with different experiences. When they return to each other, they share both experiences of both paths."

Metabolism
Dionae are capable of taking just about any matter from their surroundings and able to metabolize it into nutrition for themselves, being opportunistic feeders. Soil, fluids, biological matter, even particles from the air- biomatter being the most beneficial in the form of matter-to-energy conversion. If something is consumed and cannot be digested, the material is ejected through the process of regurgitation as the species appear to only have one orifice, their rather effective digestive system not producing waste, unlike most other organics. However, their main source of energy comes from the electromagnetic spectrum in the form of radiation, the most common being ultraviolet. While they can go without nutritious matter, being in the presence of radiation- ultraviolet being the minimum tolerated- is a necessity at all times. Without it, Dionae are soon to wither, enter a comatose state, and shortly die within the span of a few hours. A powerful source of radiation is highly beneficial to the species, and when provided biomatter can heal themselves at an accelerated rate; reproduction and growth is also done in exponentially short periods of time in such perfect conditions.

Means of neutralizing energy found on the electromagnetic spectrum would be disorienting to Dionae, but because they have evolved with radiation as their primary form of sustenance and must be exposed to the energy source at all times, substances that neutralize it, in particular, are toxic to the species.

Reproduction
Dionae follow an asexual reproduction cycle, similarly observed in plants. Gestalts will release a plume of seeds approximately once every ten years, typically after having travelled to their place of origin (similarly to Salmon). The reasoning for such is to best ensure that experiences occur, as many cite their best experiences come from their origin point, however, If it is either impossible to return to such a point, or it is simply wished to spread their seeds elsewhere, many Dionae will attempt to find environments that are optimal for pod growth.

Xenobotanists have noted that the spores released from Dionae are configured to be capable of spreading via solar winds - and many study the journey of it, allowing for solar wind trails to be noted and investigated. This has also led to various clusters to form far from civilised corners of the known universe. It is also believed that the spores are capable of surviving atmospheric entry thanks to a hardened form of ambergris covering the seed, which becomes fertilizer within the soil after germination occurs.

When the seeds reach a location (preferably optimal) they sink themselves within the ground, many have noted once they have rooted themselves it becomes increasingly more hard to remove them. The Dionae seed then begins to germinate and develops into a Diona Replicant Pod - which is, in essence, a Diona egg. The pod then absorbs much of the nutrients surrounding itself, but also feeds on the ambergris coating that had once upon a time protected it.

In optimal condition, a pod can grow relatively quickly - however, should required nutrients not be available the pod enters a state of hibernation until such nutrients are provided. It can sometimes take centuries for a pod to fully develop. Pods grown without Ambergris tend to find the nymphs produced to wither soon after being disgorged.

Language

 * "When you hear them chirping, moaning, singing - that's their method of communication. I even learned to speak a poem to them myself with my string instrument after a year of practice. It was beautiful." - Weirun Tup's Deathflower journal - 2433

While they can understand all languages, if exposed to the genes of a speaker, their physical limitations only allow them to speak a handful; most Dionae that work aboard human facilities only know Common and Rootsong - however they are capable, due to their biological flexibility, to emulate most other languages - Gutter and Tradeband are easily spoken (if a little slow with certain subjects who use only one Nymph to communicate), while Sinta'Unathi is spoken perfectly. Their physical slowness, however, makes it difficult to talk Sik'Maas, the meaning sometimes being lost in the slowness of their "ear" and "tail" limbs when grown.

Dionae are fully capable of learning and speaking most human languages including Solarian Common, Tradeband, and Freespeak. Examples of how they would be acquired is a gestalt raised by a rich Sol family being taught Sol Common, while one cultivated by a Suit in Eridani might know Tradeband or one grown on Mars knowing Freespeak.

Most languages only use a singular Nymph to speak, most often the Nymph taking up the head, while Rootsong specifically uses each and every nymph to create a harmonious sound.

Rootsong
Their language, named "Rootsong" (as translated), uses various limbs and membranes to imitate what most would see as "natural" sounds - leaves whisking in the wind, branches rubbing - and even some instrumental sounds, at times (flute-like sounds and drumming being common). However, to those who can discern it - Rootsong is a true orchestra of language. Syntax and grammar are simply part of the song, reflected in tempo and beats, while emotions are conveyed through pitch and the imitation of weather effects, such as wind and moisture. Most interestingly - the sound itself is only a byproduct of their body structure, as some humans have successfully learned Rootsong (without the emotional intonations) through violin and calliope organs. Xenohistorians often use the Rootsong as evidence that the Dionae evolved in conditions involving an atmosphere.

Emotions and Integration

 * "Their life seems to truly begin with one pivotal moment: The moment the blood of a sentient is gifted, taken, or found. What this implies is... They need us." - Weirun Tup's Deathflower journal - 2434

A Nymph feels emotions rather simply at first, beginning its life with the intellect and emotion of a dog or cat, and able to quickly adapt at a moments notice. Once a nymph intakes the blood, or genetic code, of a sentient being, their capacity for knowledge increases and they will begin to understand more complex ideas such as deep emotion, tool-making, society, and language. Other sources of this knowledge could be from merging with a more experienced Diona, shortening the process exponentially.

The most common form of sentient life in the known galaxy are bipedal humanoids, thus making it the most common body for Diona as well, with two legs and two arms. However, the act of a diona changing its form is not exact and often fails to meet the standards to mimic completely, since a Diona cannot exactly change its bark colour or add fingers.