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Dionae Forms

2021-11-17T01:10:47Z

Lmwevil: /* Mind Types */

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=Forms=
The merging and separation of Nymphs take much time and energy to complete, sometimes days or even weeks on much larger structures. For smaller collections such as Cyclopes, it typically only takes an hour or so before they are ready to function. This is due to the Nymph bodies fusing together and creating a sturdy body that will be able to reasonably support itself and move, adapting it to the current environment. Before performing a change, Nymphs and Gestalts will gorge themselves on biomatter in preparation. Separation is only ever done in life-or-death emergencies or special situations such as growing a larger Gestalt as it can often be traumatic to Nymphs if done in a hurry, causing the knowledge gathered to be improperly stored in each individual or even lost without the correct precautions taken. With each change, the new form will always take up a new name to represent the new information and experiences collaborated.

'''Note that Nanotrasen only hires Cyclops forms to work on the Aurora. All crew characters must be one.'''

Dionae, being in its very nature a compound creature, comes in several known and theoretical forms with several characteristics:

==Nymph==
[[File:Nymph.png|thumb|alt=Nymph|The humble beginnings for all Dionae, the Nymph stage.]]
Nymphs are the base form of a Dionae, often born separate from gestalts. They begin their life with an intelligence similar to that of the average dog, their cognitive abilities exponentially increase when they merge with other Nymphs, giving them a biological prerogative to merge with one another in order to survive and comprehend the world around them. If exposed to sentient blood and absorbed, they will grow to the intelligence of very young human children.
==Cerberus==

Cerberus are Dionae gestalts who make up more than one nymph, but not enough to be considered a Cyclops form, comprising roughly two to four nymphs. Their intelligence is comparable to the average sentient creature, and are largely unremarkable. It can be difficult for a Cerberus form to find work, as their general size can make it difficult for them to find the equipment they can use unless specialized specifically for them. The majority of long-term Cerberus forms can be found within the Jargon Federation.

[[File:Dionae.png|thumb|left|alt=Cyclops|Bipedal in form, the Cyclops are the most common gestalts to be seen across the Orion Spur.]]
==Cyclops==

The most common form of Dionae gestalts in the galaxy, cyclops-forms, sometimes referred to as “worker forms" are Dionae gestalts who are made up of roughly five to nine nymphs. Most Cyclops resemble other intelligent species, usually having two legs and two arms, although this can differ based on the number of nymphs that are a part of the gestalt. Their intelligence follows the growth of intelligence of lesser forms, comparable to highly intelligent sentient life. They can grasp highly abstract concepts, such as quantum theory, and vastly outstrip the sum of their parts by orders of magnitude. Dionae Cyclops tend to stand anywhere as low as three feet to as tall as eight feet, some even taller. Typically, the majority of the Cyclops will stand at a rough five to six feet.

==Argus==

One of the rarer forms of Dionae, Argus are Dionae made from anywhere from ten nymphs, to a hundred. Due to the sheer size of most Argus forms, work can be extremely tough to find in most unskilled jobs and many find work within specialized jobs, largely with Research or even as Engineers, considering many of them would spend their time on the exterior side of the ships and stations, allowing for the
soaking up of radiation and light.

==Colossus==

Colossus forms are Dionae gestalts that are made up of as little as one-hundred-and-one nymphs to upwards of five-hundred-thousand. Colossus forms are split into two sub-categories, "Trireme", who are gestalts that move through space, and “Echions”, gestalts that tend to stay in one area/system. Most newly discovered gestalts in space are considered a Trireme Colossi. Due to the sheer size of a Colossus, it is incredibly rare if not impossible for one to find work or a purpose. As such most will break up into a myriad of new gestalts to see new and better opportunities.

==Cetus==
[[File:SkrellDionae.png|thumb|alt=Cetus|One of few Cetus' captured by Skrell technology when discovered over Kelo'Hen]]
Cetus forms are a mass of Dionae so immense, in the orders of a million nymphs, that it can be considered a stellar body. Currently, only two have been observed, those being the gestalt above Nralakk, the second being the recent Venter's Cetus. Unknown capabilities - theorized to be more intelligent than most other forms of intelligence, organic or synthetic. It is suspected that the original Dionae gestalt, where it may be, is at least this form if not the form below.

==Titan==

A theoretical form of the Dionae - a planet, or even star-sized Diona form consisting of maybe more nymphs than is currently known to exist, maybe the pinnacle of organic processing and thought. Uncharted intelligence. The Skrell has an order to destroy any Dionae structure that could reach or has reached, this size due to the inherent risk of intelligence singularity and other classified risks.

= Dionae Life Cycle =

The Dionae life cycle is categorized in Basic by the old Greek words of Coeus, Geras, and Penuma.

All Dionae either form within a spored pod, or grown internally within a larger gestalt over time. Those who are formed from the former act almost entirely on instinct from their more limited thinking capacity, those who form via the latter are much more like a neuron that improves the whole until exposed to blood of a sentient species.

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Age bracket for Coeus officially being classified as a Geras
|-
! - !! Default Bark (temperate/spacestation grown) !! Lighter Bark (warm planets) !! Darker bark (cold planets/space)
|-
| '''Natural''' || 50-90 years old|| 80-120 years old || 30-70 years old
|-
| '''With treatments''' || 120-140 years old || 150-180 years old || 80-100 years old
|}
==Coeus==
Classified in Basic is Coeus, to mean “youth” in a rough translation. Those who are classified as Coeus are within a rather large age bracket, and have very little bark growth. All Coeus know instinctively if grown from, or are part of a larger gestalt that their purpose is to find experiences in their youth, and provide for the whole.

Without their protective bark, gestalts with a majority of Coeushave what is known as an ‘echo chamber’ by skrell scientists. Their pain echoes violently through the rest of the gestalt, and the others will amplify the pain to a degree also. It is highly unusual for Coeus to ever adapt to the ‘echo chamber’ phenomenon before their transition to Geras due to the sheer intensity.

This phenomenon is also what Solarian scientists posited lead to their pacifistic tendencies, that are far more pronounced in the Coeus of their species. In fact they cannot understand why anyone would inflict pain on another living being, more often than not, due to their capacity for empathy and how severe it is for themselves. It is not uncommon for them to attempt to talk down someone being violent, or using their speed to run away instead. Given their intense fear of the ‘echo chamber’ effect, they will try to avoid fighting until it is the very last resort. This idealistic and intensely pacifistic viewpoint means that they are unwilling and would likely never be employed in any army, security or PMC group until becoming Geras. Due to their high-degree of pacifism, Coeus who join a military will only do so if they can be assigned a non-combat position such as logistics or as a medic.

Providing for Geras and Penuma is part of their biological imperative, and it is not uncommon for Coeus to enter employment in order to provide funds in the modern era to allow their greater Gestalt to be housed, or given appropriate living conditions to not just be living in a box soaking sunlight. Often this supersedes their innate desire to explore and understand the universe, depending on how crucial the support is for their linked gestalt.

Coeus may often be affectionately called Saplings or Sprouts by Geras, and often will refer to Geras as Elders in return.

==Geras==
Geras, or Elders, are older Dionae who have a decent amount of bark grown. As a result of their thick bark, Geras are less mobile, although the bark also offers them an extra layer of protection from most damage. In addition they have finally evolved to negate the ‘echo chamber’ phenomenon, and will likely remember it for a large portion of their life.

Geras are generally looked up to by their younger, less experienced counterparts, viewing them as more experienced. While not as immobile as a Penuma, Coeus still frequently try to aid Geras in tasks their lesser mobility doesn’t permit. Due to their more experienced nature, Geras will more frequently serve as leaders or diplomats compared to their Coeus counterparts, such as the fact that the majority of Dionae translators are Geras.

Skrellian scientists have noted that Geras are quite protective of both Coeus and Penuma respectively, seeing the former as ‘their future’. It is not uncommon for Geras to help Coeus in social disputes, or to stand up for them if there is a perceived injustice. In addition, any Geras who live in proximity to a Penuma are extremely protective of anything that tries to approach them, due to their immobile and largely vulnerable state.

It is known that Geras see themselves as the ‘shepards’ of sorts of all Dionae gestalts, and see it as their duty and imperative to guide the Coeus and protect the Penuma. Unless a Coeus is exceptionally experienced for their age, it is rare to see any in a position of power trying to influence the greater whole of the group. Interestingly they will universally listen and attempt to follow when a Penuma gives advice, even if they disagree on the interpretations among themselves quickly.

Geras approaching their final life stages will often be focused on spawning new Coeus gestalts, and finding an appropriate place to spend eternity. Most often they will return to a similar environment to the one they were first grown from, the most common resting place to drift in space for eternity.

As a result of age, Geras are generally less pacifistic than Coeus. While conflict is still a last resort, Geras are more willing to defend themselves and are more willing to protect others even if it means coming into conflict with another. Negotiations and an attempt to de-escalate a situation are still preferred, and Geras working in a non-security or military field will usually not join into a conflict when there are better-suited individuals around to handle it.

==Penuma==
Categorized as Penuma, Skrellian scientists had no idea that these structures were sentient or even responsive upon their first contact with the Dionae. The reason for this is their bark has grown to such an extent that it cripples them and warps them into strange and alien shapes, the thickness of the bark in addition, almost entirely prevents UV radiation from being absorbed by the entombed nymphs. This leads to an outer casing of tendrils over the thick bark that look almost like a strange form of Ivy.

The biological purpose of those tendrils are to link to nymphs on the outside or eventually form a form of ‘moss’ over the immobilized Dionae in order to absorb the outside environment. It is noted that this process is woefully inefficient, so Penuma end up creating large amounts of mundane growths that can be burned as nutrients during periods of starvation.

Penuma were regarded as actual plantlife until neural activity was detected inside them through invasive probing. It was calculated that they were still fully cognizant of the outside world but were simply deciding to not respond, however due to the invasive probes, the subject Penuma responded by digesting the probes and pulling in the nearby Skrellian before they had a chance to respond, digested on the exterior by a grown sack. Geras explained after the incident that Penuma have no visual way to understand their exterior without linked nymphs, and that as a stress response they are capable of defending themselves by burning their biomass reserves, and that breaching the bark was seen as an attack instinctively.

In the modern understanding of Penuma, Geras explain that while they have the greatest experience and knowledge of them all. The eons of seeing the same things has made them disinterested in the outside world, quite literally thinking for years on end on philosophical or esoteric concepts simply to stave off being bored.

Penuma are seen as the spirits of the Dionae people, the foundation of their knowledge and their past. However due to their responsiveness being quite lackluster, they will offer guidance usually at complete random, leaving the Geras to their own devices unless absolutely necessary.

There has been no documented reports on the memory accuracy of a Penuma when it speaks about the past, and it is very possible that they are beyond the foundational limits of memory for a Dionae, given their size.

While there is little actual data on the pacifism of Pneuma, it is not unheard of for them to protect themselves through calling for nearby gestalts, or if the threat is adjacent as a stress response to entangle it in biomass and digest it remotely. Solarian alarmists see this as a reason that Dionae cannot be trusted, as in their final stages they seem to have no qualms with defending themselves quite lethally.

There is one exception to Penuma's immobility and lack of response, and that is of course those who drift in the void for their final stages. Moving at sunlight speeds and using internal gas bladders to make orbital adjustments, they often will orbit a star for unknown periods of time. These are the only known Penuma with independence, but due to their nature are mistaken as asteroids or space debris. Any attempts to formally contact them thus far have failed, and official funding for projects such as these are hard to find.

= Dionae Minds =
It is erroneously believed that the only format that Dionae can gain sentience- and therefore knowledge- is through the blood of sentient creatures. However this is quite false, and often the shortsighted view of those who are unfortunately subject to ‘anklebiters’. Sapience is instead something that is achieved due to the instinctive behaviour of nymphs to gather together. What they cannot achieve alone or through external DNA, they manage to achieve as a collective, becoming fully sapient and sentient. What is however debated is if they are actually individually sentient or only the greater being, although such collectives will argue it doesn’t matter.

The memories of any individual Diona are linked specifically to their neural strata, and due to how it is imprinted cannot be imparted across neural links to the others in their gestalt. This leads to an unfortunate eventuality in that if a nymph leaves a gestalt, the information it held is gone forever. When one wishes to leave formally, there is a known process known simply as ‘departing’. Where the collective will go to a safe place that they can be assured they will not need to move or be at risk of starvation. During this time the nymph will sing vocally a song of their experiences, of their knowledge and training. In this way they can imprint their knowledge in an abstract way across their collective or even much larger ones. It is not uncommon to go on pilgrimages when the departing is in process, and those who are at witness to it note how varied the emotion in such songs are depending on the histories of such nymphs.
There is also a darker method of obtaining the memories of other nymphs, to devour their neural strata allows the physical repurposing and absorbing of fragments of their memories. This is of course never done to another living nymph, as it would be incredibly traumatic to internalize being eaten alive. The strangest part of forceful integration is that their memories are an absolute void of emotion, when thinking about them or recalling them in any fashion there is never any emotional connotation. This can be incredibly strange and uncomfortable, and can never be reversed once absorbed. There are experimental unbinding surgeries to remove absorbed neural strata to get those experiences out, however the success rate is very minute as the exacts of nymph neurology are largely unexplored.

== Mind Types ==

Dionae do not choose how their internal mind structures work, such things will happen due to circumstances, personalities and environments around them that will cause various structures to develop. The below encompasses some of the myriad of potential structures that exist, and is by no means a conclusive list. Think of these as inspiration and feel free to make your own, although be logical with if your gestalt’s unique mind would be fitting for the job NT has hired them for.

'''Station characters still need to be reasonable, NT wouldn't hire someone who can't work or acts insane. Keep in mind that some of the mind types are restricted to certain roles/may not be allowed to be a station character at all
'''

=== Singular Sound ===

The gestalt has very little individuality within each nymph, with each being akin to a large cluster of neurons working symbiotically.There is little in the terms of an internal dialog within these collectives, usually all acting as relays for their unified consciousness. These are usually from nymphs that have merged without ever consuming blood. The loss of a singular nymph is catastrophically damaging to this kind of network, akin to suffering major brain damage. - They may speak all at once or only use one to preserve neural load, depending on their opinion. These are suggested for those new to Dionae or those who aren’t as interested in roleplaying the more complicated mind types.

=== Competence Choir ===

All skilled nymphs within the collective are in charge of their respective areas, the social nymph does not need to confer with the others and thus speaks with completely normal inflection without any large gaps. However may end up pausing if the collective has pressing issues they want the social nymph to present. This is most often with specialized collectives with utilitarian views. No individual nymph is more important than the others if they are all the same level of skill.

=== Tyrannical Tune ===

This kind of collective is unusual, stemming from a nymph with extreme ideologies or absolute indoctrination with a dogmatic view point. Usually the social nymph will take an authoritarian role over the other nymphs within the collective, and they all act together out of the unity of the singular personality than anything else. The loss of the Overseer nymph itself will utterly cripple this collective, causing a power struggle and internal conflict for quite some time afterwards. Such collectives will not usually have difficulty with speech unless the Overseer is not the social nymph.

=== Harmonious Hymn ===

Within this often complicated and socially conflicted Gestalt is a pure democratic rule, every action it takes will be voted upon internally. This results in gaps in speech either with long silences or a short pause between every word as they decide exactly what the majority of them wish to do. They might mention ‘majority’ frequently when referencing if they voted on something, or ‘minority’ when mentioning freedom of speech. Something frequent within these gestalts is that when returning to a greater such as an Argus they may have new ones replace older ones who cannot successfully get votes to their opinion. No singular nymph is more valuable than another, and the social nymph may be distributed to multiple throughout depending on the collective.

=== Chaotic Cacophony ===

A collection of nymphs who are together merely out of the benefit and added safety of numbers. They may speak all at once, interrupt one another and generally not be particularly easy to listen to. The nymphs could be prone to argue, or they may be quite content with saying what they feel. These collectives are usually quite young and have not settled into a structure that makes it easier for all of them to feel appreciated. (This mind type is restricted to Janitors, Gardeners and Cargo Technicians. Be reasonable with this one, we don’t want to have to remove it.)

=== Seasoned Song ===

These are one of the most common with more ancient collectives that come from the void and space whales. The opinions within them matter most entirely dependent on age, the more bark that has accumulated on your body the more complicated your song must be. These are likely to have traditions, be religious or have other viewpoints that are relayed by the elder. For a cyclops on station this could mean the head is entirely covered with bark to the point that it is immobile from age, as an example. They will often reference songs and the most traumatic loss is the destruction of the eldest among them. Such collectives will have entirely unique structures based around whatever the Elder deems best, but will always submit to the wisdom of the oldest among them. The Eldest will near universally be the social nymph to best represent them.

=== Bloodless Band ===

An extreme variant of the Singular Sound, they are nymphs who have achieved sentience quite similarly to the Singular Sound. However they have become increasingly opinionated against the idea of drinking blood, to the point that they reject anything that could shed blood. Such collectives are considered radicals due to their intense pacifistic approach, rejecting the utilitarian views on conflict entirely. Such collectives usually believe that drinking blood could fundamentally change who they are, and will often not join into an Argus for fear one of them may have drunk blood and could expose them. Their outright refusal to imbibe blood also means that they lose a critical quantity of information that will take potentially decades to relearn because they cannot fast track it. (This mind type is restricted from security roles due to the fact that lethality is something they have to be prepared to do.)

=== Learning Lyrics ===

Uniquely these never are formed from fresh cyclops but split from Argus and upwards. Specifically it is a trained gestalt that alternates one or two young nymphs on a regular basis, the others exist to let the young nymphs safely experience the outside world, working to provide funds for the greater gestalt, social norms, and get blood samples to help them experience the world around them. Such gestalts are usually run by the older nymphs but following on the whims of the younger ones to let them experience things with the safety net of those with more wisdom. The loss of the younger nymphs is more tragic to such a collective than the older ones, to a usual collective they will mourn the fact they failed to protect the very ones they were supposed to protect. (This mind type is restricted from Security roles due to the potential risk of killing the young nymphs.)

=== Emphatic Echo ===

These are a unique gestalt that have formed more in the modern era of Dionae xenos relations. What makes them particularly interesting to the observer is near to all of the nymphs are social nymphs, with expertly trained skills in specific areas of social nuance. This gives them an almost eerie essence when they pick up even your most subtle facial movements and deduce your emotional state. They are renowned for their social skills and patience, however due to the quantity of social nymphs are quite incapable of complex physical tasks. (This mind type is restricted to, Liaison/Rep, Psychologist(includes alt titles), Investigator, Chaplain, Librarian and visitor.)

=== Mourning Mass ===
An entirely unique generation of mind types, who make up an extreme minority of Dionae in the Spur. There is only one known way to generate such a gestalt consciousness, and it is the absorption of the one person that the Consensus had viewed as significant.

Not all Dionae who do this will become a Mourning Mass, but only those who do can become one. Such gestalts are characterised by their complete dedication to the life of their former partner, and the memories that they cherish. They can vary from completely dejected, holding the greatest burden they could imagine to melancholic joy at being able to spend reality with them forever.

Their internal dialog is entirely variant on what their original mind type was, however typically different nymphs will have different parts of the person that they memorialise. This means such gestalts have the greatest loss of all, if their gestalt loses even a fragment of such knowledge, and thus would never allow a nymph to die at any cost. The loss of a nymph would be a loss of such magnitude that it’s rare such a collective would be able to cope.

Typically they may take on a name that has or involves their now merged other, something as simple as ‘Joy of Exploring The Endless Cosmos Together’ to ‘The Eternal and Unending Care for [partner name]’ could be examples of such. But as every relationship is unique, as are most Mourning Mass, and their name will most likely symbolize something deeply important to them.

Mourning Masses mostly will take on an employment that they and their partner enjoyed together, or perhaps something entirely around their interests instead. They are not actively restricted from any employment but are instead required to have 5 years to process their grief before positions of stress such as medical work, command, and security. This of course also includes a psychological evaluation after the required time period, to assure they are competent.

For reading of what a Mourning Mass looks like in Jargon/Skrell relations, look [[Diona_in_the_Federation#Diona_Relationships|here]].

==== Non Station Mind Types ====

=== Voided Vocals ===

The most alien of all the gestalts even to other Dionae, are those known as the Voided, those who are unified in purpose to absorb knowledge of the dead. They speak almost purely in poetic notions and have near to no internal dialog. What is so bizarre about these collectives is their obsession with death, offering to take on even the memories of other species post mortem despite the traumatic experiences. The amount of disjointed knowledge, memories and thoughts have long since made it impossible to tell what is from original minds or what their many memories are. Such collectives experience near to no real emotion due to the expanse of emotionless memories they contain, however, when exposed to grief from losing one of their nymphs, it may be overwhelming over the lack of emotion they have had for so long. Common notions of theirs is that nobody should ever be forgotten to time, or that they can give a form of immortality in themselves to those they can “save”. (This mind type is restricted from station roles entirely. It may be jobs not originating on the Aurora and is also restricted from merchant. They may additionally be antagonists.)

=== Scarlet Score ===
Something that gives cause to alarm is the plague that is known as the Scarlet Score, a plague that can overtake gestalts with no known cause. Any nymph who joins with one afflicted with his horrific disease will be irrevocably damaged. The disease causes them to become incredibly hostile, lashing out and desiring blood.

It is completely unknown how Scarlet Score thinks internally, they may be exactly like any other mind type but driven to absolute madness. Even how the madness is represented is unclear. All stellar organisations recognise that these are a complete lost cause and either must be contained for research or terminated. There is no saving them, and all Dionae are at risk if they are exposed to the plague.

There are examples of Scarlet Score who have imbibed so much blood that they have become Voided Vocals, and no longer hostile. Although they are not accepted by Dionae gestalts for fear they carry the dormant virus, they are not actively exterminated. (Antagonist and event related only).

=Nymph Limbs=
'''Potential Captains and Commanders with nymph limbs are not hired until they agree to replace them with mechanical prosthetics or other alternatives, due to security concerns.'''

A rather rare occurrence is when a living creature lives in direct symbiosis with a Dionae, however it is most common in the version of a prosthetic limb. The nymph attaches to a willing host’s stump, their neural strata growing into the host’s nervous system and stretching their form to the size of a full limb. The nymph will use genetic memory from the host to create manipulable biomass in the shape of fingers from their body, and fill out the rough shape.

The method of the connection is truly symbiotic, the host gaining something that they had thought they lost forever, whereas the nymph gains access to a constant source of blood and knowledge from their host. The amount of experiences such a nymph gains is quite substantial, and can end up having a copy of every memory in the host’s DNA.

They are capable of communicating to their host verbally or sending a vague ‘confirmation and affirmation’ of ideas by making the arm feel hot or cold, or similar sensory manipulations. Although they would never fake pain to the host, as that breaches their pacifistic beliefs and would also be cruel. They do not explicitly speak up against violence, often being partially dormant as they live through their host’s memories. (aka the host doesn’t feel like rping their arms) Although if they wake up and realise they have been used for murder they may be quite upset.

The symbiosis has a unique modularity in that it can be ceased at any time, the singular nymph could detach or the host could just pull the arm off, and put it back on just as easily!

Haptic feedback from the arm is slightly alien, in that it is first processed by the nymph and then translated into something the host can then understand. This leads to sensations being dulled, like wearing a thick leather glove. However pain is quite notable, as the nymph screams into your nervous system like a wildfire. If you fail to listen, the nymph’s fragile body will crack, their tendrils no longer actively wrapped into your nervous system, and it will just fall off, dead.

===Unathi===
Unathi reasons for taking prosthetic: It is not unheard of for Unathi to take a Diona prosthetic, almost always for spiritual reasons. Diona occasionally wander the radiation-laden barrens of the Wasteland, and so certain groups of Wastelanders have developed a reverence for these multi-souled organisms. Unathi who have lost limbs due to warfare or exposure see these limbs as augments for their soul, enhancers to the connection to the spirit realm— rarer, though, is the purposeful dismemberment of one’s body for the sole purpose of soul-melding with a Diona.

Unathi normality of prosthetic: For most Unathi, this practice is an alternative to getting a dreaded prosthetic. While a Dionae can never truly replace a limb, they are considered natural creatures and thus aren’t damaging the soul when used in this manner. Dionae are, by and large, a rarity outside of the Wasteland, so an unfortunate reality becomes apparent: not everyone who wants a limb like this can achieve it. Wherever it is available, it is typically regulated by a medicinal guild.

===Skrell===
Skrell reasons for taking prosthetics: Medical Science within the Federation is superb, with most cases of missing limbs being rectified with cloning a copy of the missing appendage. Though, the further one gets from the Core, the less reliable one’s access to Federation medical facilities becomes. It’s not uncommon for Diona in the traverse to spore a new nymph to replace a Skrell’s limb in emergencies. Additionally, desperate Skrell whose low credit score denies them access to replacement limbs may take up nymph replacements.

Skrell Normality of prosthetic: Possessing a nymph limb as a Skrell is usually a taken as a sign the Skrell has a poor credit score, it’s not uncommon for Skrell to replace their nymph prosthetics the moment their score allows it to escape the social stigma.

Dionae Forms

2021-11-17T01:09:47Z

Lmwevil: /* Voided Vocals */

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=Forms=
The merging and separation of Nymphs take much time and energy to complete, sometimes days or even weeks on much larger structures. For smaller collections such as Cyclopes, it typically only takes an hour or so before they are ready to function. This is due to the Nymph bodies fusing together and creating a sturdy body that will be able to reasonably support itself and move, adapting it to the current environment. Before performing a change, Nymphs and Gestalts will gorge themselves on biomatter in preparation. Separation is only ever done in life-or-death emergencies or special situations such as growing a larger Gestalt as it can often be traumatic to Nymphs if done in a hurry, causing the knowledge gathered to be improperly stored in each individual or even lost without the correct precautions taken. With each change, the new form will always take up a new name to represent the new information and experiences collaborated.

'''Note that Nanotrasen only hires Cyclops forms to work on the Aurora. All crew characters must be one.'''

Dionae, being in its very nature a compound creature, comes in several known and theoretical forms with several characteristics:

==Nymph==
[[File:Nymph.png|thumb|alt=Nymph|The humble beginnings for all Dionae, the Nymph stage.]]
Nymphs are the base form of a Dionae, often born separate from gestalts. They begin their life with an intelligence similar to that of the average dog, their cognitive abilities exponentially increase when they merge with other Nymphs, giving them a biological prerogative to merge with one another in order to survive and comprehend the world around them. If exposed to sentient blood and absorbed, they will grow to the intelligence of very young human children.
==Cerberus==

Cerberus are Dionae gestalts who make up more than one nymph, but not enough to be considered a Cyclops form, comprising roughly two to four nymphs. Their intelligence is comparable to the average sentient creature, and are largely unremarkable. It can be difficult for a Cerberus form to find work, as their general size can make it difficult for them to find the equipment they can use unless specialized specifically for them. The majority of long-term Cerberus forms can be found within the Jargon Federation.

[[File:Dionae.png|thumb|left|alt=Cyclops|Bipedal in form, the Cyclops are the most common gestalts to be seen across the Orion Spur.]]
==Cyclops==

The most common form of Dionae gestalts in the galaxy, cyclops-forms, sometimes referred to as “worker forms" are Dionae gestalts who are made up of roughly five to nine nymphs. Most Cyclops resemble other intelligent species, usually having two legs and two arms, although this can differ based on the number of nymphs that are a part of the gestalt. Their intelligence follows the growth of intelligence of lesser forms, comparable to highly intelligent sentient life. They can grasp highly abstract concepts, such as quantum theory, and vastly outstrip the sum of their parts by orders of magnitude. Dionae Cyclops tend to stand anywhere as low as three feet to as tall as eight feet, some even taller. Typically, the majority of the Cyclops will stand at a rough five to six feet.

==Argus==

One of the rarer forms of Dionae, Argus are Dionae made from anywhere from ten nymphs, to a hundred. Due to the sheer size of most Argus forms, work can be extremely tough to find in most unskilled jobs and many find work within specialized jobs, largely with Research or even as Engineers, considering many of them would spend their time on the exterior side of the ships and stations, allowing for the
soaking up of radiation and light.

==Colossus==

Colossus forms are Dionae gestalts that are made up of as little as one-hundred-and-one nymphs to upwards of five-hundred-thousand. Colossus forms are split into two sub-categories, "Trireme", who are gestalts that move through space, and “Echions”, gestalts that tend to stay in one area/system. Most newly discovered gestalts in space are considered a Trireme Colossi. Due to the sheer size of a Colossus, it is incredibly rare if not impossible for one to find work or a purpose. As such most will break up into a myriad of new gestalts to see new and better opportunities.

==Cetus==
[[File:SkrellDionae.png|thumb|alt=Cetus|One of few Cetus' captured by Skrell technology when discovered over Kelo'Hen]]
Cetus forms are a mass of Dionae so immense, in the orders of a million nymphs, that it can be considered a stellar body. Currently, only two have been observed, those being the gestalt above Nralakk, the second being the recent Venter's Cetus. Unknown capabilities - theorized to be more intelligent than most other forms of intelligence, organic or synthetic. It is suspected that the original Dionae gestalt, where it may be, is at least this form if not the form below.

==Titan==

A theoretical form of the Dionae - a planet, or even star-sized Diona form consisting of maybe more nymphs than is currently known to exist, maybe the pinnacle of organic processing and thought. Uncharted intelligence. The Skrell has an order to destroy any Dionae structure that could reach or has reached, this size due to the inherent risk of intelligence singularity and other classified risks.

= Dionae Life Cycle =

The Dionae life cycle is categorized in Basic by the old Greek words of Coeus, Geras, and Penuma.

All Dionae either form within a spored pod, or grown internally within a larger gestalt over time. Those who are formed from the former act almost entirely on instinct from their more limited thinking capacity, those who form via the latter are much more like a neuron that improves the whole until exposed to blood of a sentient species.

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Age bracket for Coeus officially being classified as a Geras
|-
! - !! Default Bark (temperate/spacestation grown) !! Lighter Bark (warm planets) !! Darker bark (cold planets/space)
|-
| '''Natural''' || 50-90 years old|| 80-120 years old || 30-70 years old
|-
| '''With treatments''' || 120-140 years old || 150-180 years old || 80-100 years old
|}
==Coeus==
Classified in Basic is Coeus, to mean “youth” in a rough translation. Those who are classified as Coeus are within a rather large age bracket, and have very little bark growth. All Coeus know instinctively if grown from, or are part of a larger gestalt that their purpose is to find experiences in their youth, and provide for the whole.

Without their protective bark, gestalts with a majority of Coeushave what is known as an ‘echo chamber’ by skrell scientists. Their pain echoes violently through the rest of the gestalt, and the others will amplify the pain to a degree also. It is highly unusual for Coeus to ever adapt to the ‘echo chamber’ phenomenon before their transition to Geras due to the sheer intensity.

This phenomenon is also what Solarian scientists posited lead to their pacifistic tendencies, that are far more pronounced in the Coeus of their species. In fact they cannot understand why anyone would inflict pain on another living being, more often than not, due to their capacity for empathy and how severe it is for themselves. It is not uncommon for them to attempt to talk down someone being violent, or using their speed to run away instead. Given their intense fear of the ‘echo chamber’ effect, they will try to avoid fighting until it is the very last resort. This idealistic and intensely pacifistic viewpoint means that they are unwilling and would likely never be employed in any army, security or PMC group until becoming Geras. Due to their high-degree of pacifism, Coeus who join a military will only do so if they can be assigned a non-combat position such as logistics or as a medic.

Providing for Geras and Penuma is part of their biological imperative, and it is not uncommon for Coeus to enter employment in order to provide funds in the modern era to allow their greater Gestalt to be housed, or given appropriate living conditions to not just be living in a box soaking sunlight. Often this supersedes their innate desire to explore and understand the universe, depending on how crucial the support is for their linked gestalt.

Coeus may often be affectionately called Saplings or Sprouts by Geras, and often will refer to Geras as Elders in return.

==Geras==
Geras, or Elders, are older Dionae who have a decent amount of bark grown. As a result of their thick bark, Geras are less mobile, although the bark also offers them an extra layer of protection from most damage. In addition they have finally evolved to negate the ‘echo chamber’ phenomenon, and will likely remember it for a large portion of their life.

Geras are generally looked up to by their younger, less experienced counterparts, viewing them as more experienced. While not as immobile as a Penuma, Coeus still frequently try to aid Geras in tasks their lesser mobility doesn’t permit. Due to their more experienced nature, Geras will more frequently serve as leaders or diplomats compared to their Coeus counterparts, such as the fact that the majority of Dionae translators are Geras.

Skrellian scientists have noted that Geras are quite protective of both Coeus and Penuma respectively, seeing the former as ‘their future’. It is not uncommon for Geras to help Coeus in social disputes, or to stand up for them if there is a perceived injustice. In addition, any Geras who live in proximity to a Penuma are extremely protective of anything that tries to approach them, due to their immobile and largely vulnerable state.

It is known that Geras see themselves as the ‘shepards’ of sorts of all Dionae gestalts, and see it as their duty and imperative to guide the Coeus and protect the Penuma. Unless a Coeus is exceptionally experienced for their age, it is rare to see any in a position of power trying to influence the greater whole of the group. Interestingly they will universally listen and attempt to follow when a Penuma gives advice, even if they disagree on the interpretations among themselves quickly.

Geras approaching their final life stages will often be focused on spawning new Coeus gestalts, and finding an appropriate place to spend eternity. Most often they will return to a similar environment to the one they were first grown from, the most common resting place to drift in space for eternity.

As a result of age, Geras are generally less pacifistic than Coeus. While conflict is still a last resort, Geras are more willing to defend themselves and are more willing to protect others even if it means coming into conflict with another. Negotiations and an attempt to de-escalate a situation are still preferred, and Geras working in a non-security or military field will usually not join into a conflict when there are better-suited individuals around to handle it.

==Penuma==
Categorized as Penuma, Skrellian scientists had no idea that these structures were sentient or even responsive upon their first contact with the Dionae. The reason for this is their bark has grown to such an extent that it cripples them and warps them into strange and alien shapes, the thickness of the bark in addition, almost entirely prevents UV radiation from being absorbed by the entombed nymphs. This leads to an outer casing of tendrils over the thick bark that look almost like a strange form of Ivy.

The biological purpose of those tendrils are to link to nymphs on the outside or eventually form a form of ‘moss’ over the immobilized Dionae in order to absorb the outside environment. It is noted that this process is woefully inefficient, so Penuma end up creating large amounts of mundane growths that can be burned as nutrients during periods of starvation.

Penuma were regarded as actual plantlife until neural activity was detected inside them through invasive probing. It was calculated that they were still fully cognizant of the outside world but were simply deciding to not respond, however due to the invasive probes, the subject Penuma responded by digesting the probes and pulling in the nearby Skrellian before they had a chance to respond, digested on the exterior by a grown sack. Geras explained after the incident that Penuma have no visual way to understand their exterior without linked nymphs, and that as a stress response they are capable of defending themselves by burning their biomass reserves, and that breaching the bark was seen as an attack instinctively.

In the modern understanding of Penuma, Geras explain that while they have the greatest experience and knowledge of them all. The eons of seeing the same things has made them disinterested in the outside world, quite literally thinking for years on end on philosophical or esoteric concepts simply to stave off being bored.

Penuma are seen as the spirits of the Dionae people, the foundation of their knowledge and their past. However due to their responsiveness being quite lackluster, they will offer guidance usually at complete random, leaving the Geras to their own devices unless absolutely necessary.

There has been no documented reports on the memory accuracy of a Penuma when it speaks about the past, and it is very possible that they are beyond the foundational limits of memory for a Dionae, given their size.

While there is little actual data on the pacifism of Pneuma, it is not unheard of for them to protect themselves through calling for nearby gestalts, or if the threat is adjacent as a stress response to entangle it in biomass and digest it remotely. Solarian alarmists see this as a reason that Dionae cannot be trusted, as in their final stages they seem to have no qualms with defending themselves quite lethally.

There is one exception to Penuma's immobility and lack of response, and that is of course those who drift in the void for their final stages. Moving at sunlight speeds and using internal gas bladders to make orbital adjustments, they often will orbit a star for unknown periods of time. These are the only known Penuma with independence, but due to their nature are mistaken as asteroids or space debris. Any attempts to formally contact them thus far have failed, and official funding for projects such as these are hard to find.

= Dionae Minds =
It is erroneously believed that the only format that Dionae can gain sentience- and therefore knowledge- is through the blood of sentient creatures. However this is quite false, and often the shortsighted view of those who are unfortunately subject to ‘anklebiters’. Sapience is instead something that is achieved due to the instinctive behaviour of nymphs to gather together. What they cannot achieve alone or through external DNA, they manage to achieve as a collective, becoming fully sapient and sentient. What is however debated is if they are actually individually sentient or only the greater being, although such collectives will argue it doesn’t matter.

The memories of any individual Diona are linked specifically to their neural strata, and due to how it is imprinted cannot be imparted across neural links to the others in their gestalt. This leads to an unfortunate eventuality in that if a nymph leaves a gestalt, the information it held is gone forever. When one wishes to leave formally, there is a known process known simply as ‘departing’. Where the collective will go to a safe place that they can be assured they will not need to move or be at risk of starvation. During this time the nymph will sing vocally a song of their experiences, of their knowledge and training. In this way they can imprint their knowledge in an abstract way across their collective or even much larger ones. It is not uncommon to go on pilgrimages when the departing is in process, and those who are at witness to it note how varied the emotion in such songs are depending on the histories of such nymphs.
There is also a darker method of obtaining the memories of other nymphs, to devour their neural strata allows the physical repurposing and absorbing of fragments of their memories. This is of course never done to another living nymph, as it would be incredibly traumatic to internalize being eaten alive. The strangest part of forceful integration is that their memories are an absolute void of emotion, when thinking about them or recalling them in any fashion there is never any emotional connotation. This can be incredibly strange and uncomfortable, and can never be reversed once absorbed. There are experimental unbinding surgeries to remove absorbed neural strata to get those experiences out, however the success rate is very minute as the exacts of nymph neurology are largely unexplored.

== Mind Types ==

Dionae do not choose how their internal mind structures work, such things will happen due to circumstances, personalities and environments around them that will cause various structures to develop. The below encompasses some of the myriad of potential structures that exist, and is by no means a conclusive list. Think of these as inspiration and feel free to make your own, although be logical with if your gestalt’s unique mind would be fitting for the job NT has hired them for.

'''Station characters still need to be reasonable, NT wouldn't hire someone who can't work or acts insane. Keep in mind that some of the mind types are restricted to certain roles/may not be allowed to be a station character at all
'''

=== Singular Sound ===

The gestalt has very little individuality within each nymph, with each being akin to a large cluster of neurons working symbiotically.There is little in the terms of an internal dialog within these collectives, usually all acting as relays for their unified consciousness. These are usually from nymphs that have merged without ever consuming blood. The loss of a singular nymph is catastrophically damaging to this kind of network, akin to suffering major brain damage. - They may speak all at once or only use one to preserve neural load, depending on their opinion. These are suggested for those new to Dionae or those who aren’t as interested in roleplaying the more complicated mind types.

=== Competence Choir ===

All skilled nymphs within the collective are in charge of their respective areas, the social nymph does not need to confer with the others and thus speaks with completely normal inflection without any large gaps. However may end up pausing if the collective has pressing issues they want the social nymph to present. This is most often with specialized collectives with utilitarian views. No individual nymph is more important than the others if they are all the same level of skill.

=== Tyrannical Tune ===

This kind of collective is unusual, stemming from a nymph with extreme ideologies or absolute indoctrination with a dogmatic view point. Usually the social nymph will take an authoritarian role over the other nymphs within the collective, and they all act together out of the unity of the singular personality than anything else. The loss of the Overseer nymph itself will utterly cripple this collective, causing a power struggle and internal conflict for quite some time afterwards. Such collectives will not usually have difficulty with speech unless the Overseer is not the social nymph.

=== Harmonious Hymn ===

Within this often complicated and socially conflicted Gestalt is a pure democratic rule, every action it takes will be voted upon internally. This results in gaps in speech either with long silences or a short pause between every word as they decide exactly what the majority of them wish to do. They might mention ‘majority’ frequently when referencing if they voted on something, or ‘minority’ when mentioning freedom of speech. Something frequent within these gestalts is that when returning to a greater such as an Argus they may have new ones replace older ones who cannot successfully get votes to their opinion. No singular nymph is more valuable than another, and the social nymph may be distributed to multiple throughout depending on the collective.

=== Chaotic Cacophony ===

A collection of nymphs who are together merely out of the benefit and added safety of numbers. They may speak all at once, interrupt one another and generally not be particularly easy to listen to. The nymphs could be prone to argue, or they may be quite content with saying what they feel. These collectives are usually quite young and have not settled into a structure that makes it easier for all of them to feel appreciated. (This mind type is restricted to Janitors, Gardeners and Cargo Technicians. Be reasonable with this one, we don’t want to have to remove it.)

=== Seasoned Song ===

These are one of the most common with more ancient collectives that come from the void and space whales. The opinions within them matter most entirely dependent on age, the more bark that has accumulated on your body the more complicated your song must be. These are likely to have traditions, be religious or have other viewpoints that are relayed by the elder. For a cyclops on station this could mean the head is entirely covered with bark to the point that it is immobile from age, as an example. They will often reference songs and the most traumatic loss is the destruction of the eldest among them. Such collectives will have entirely unique structures based around whatever the Elder deems best, but will always submit to the wisdom of the oldest among them. The Eldest will near universally be the social nymph to best represent them.

=== Bloodless Band ===

An extreme variant of the Singular Sound, they are nymphs who have achieved sentience quite similarly to the Singular Sound. However they have become increasingly opinionated against the idea of drinking blood, to the point that they reject anything that could shed blood. Such collectives are considered radicals due to their intense pacifistic approach, rejecting the utilitarian views on conflict entirely. Such collectives usually believe that drinking blood could fundamentally change who they are, and will often not join into an Argus for fear one of them may have drunk blood and could expose them. Their outright refusal to imbibe blood also means that they lose a critical quantity of information that will take potentially decades to relearn because they cannot fast track it. (This mind type is restricted from security roles due to the fact that lethality is something they have to be prepared to do.)

=== Learning Lyrics ===

Uniquely these never are formed from fresh cyclops but split from Argus and upwards. Specifically it is a trained gestalt that alternates one or two young nymphs on a regular basis, the others exist to let the young nymphs safely experience the outside world, working to provide funds for the greater gestalt, social norms, and get blood samples to help them experience the world around them. Such gestalts are usually run by the older nymphs but following on the whims of the younger ones to let them experience things with the safety net of those with more wisdom. The loss of the younger nymphs is more tragic to such a collective than the older ones, to a usual collective they will mourn the fact they failed to protect the very ones they were supposed to protect. (This mind type is restricted from Security roles due to the potential risk of killing the young nymphs.)

=== Emphatic Echo ===

These are a unique gestalt that have formed more in the modern era of Dionae xenos relations. What makes them particularly interesting to the observer is near to all of the nymphs are social nymphs, with expertly trained skills in specific areas of social nuance. This gives them an almost eerie essence when they pick up even your most subtle facial movements and deduce your emotional state. They are renowned for their social skills and patience, however due to the quantity of social nymphs are quite incapable of complex physical tasks. (This mind type is restricted to, Liaison/Rep, Psychologist(includes alt titles), Investigator, Chaplain, Librarian and visitor.)

=== Mourning Mass ===
An entirely unique generation of mind types, who make up an extreme minority of Dionae in the Spur. There is only one known way to generate such a gestalt consciousness, and it is the absorption of the one person that the Consensus had viewed as significant.

Not all Dionae who do this will become a Mourning Mass, but only those who do can become one. Such gestalts are characterised by their complete dedication to the life of their former partner, and the memories that they cherish. They can vary from completely dejected, holding the greatest burden they could imagine to melancholic joy at being able to spend reality with them forever.

Their internal dialog is entirely variant on what their original mind type was, however typically different nymphs will have different parts of the person that they memorialise. This means such gestalts have the greatest loss of all, if their gestalt loses even a fragment of such knowledge, and thus would never allow a nymph to die at any cost. The loss of a nymph would be a loss of such magnitude that it’s rare such a collective would be able to cope.

Typically they may take on a name that has or involves their now merged other, something as simple as ‘Joy of Exploring The Endless Cosmos Together’ to ‘The Eternal and Unending Care for [partner name]’ could be examples of such. But as every relationship is unique, as are most Mourning Mass, and their name will most likely symbolize something deeply important to them.

Mourning Masses mostly will take on an employment that they and their partner enjoyed together, or perhaps something entirely around their interests instead. They are not actively restricted from any employment but are instead required to have 5 years to process their grief before positions of stress such as medical work, command, and security. This of course also includes a psychological evaluation after the required time period, to assure they are competent.

For reading of what a Mourning Mass looks like in Jargon/Skrell relations, look [[Diona_in_the_Federation#Diona_Relationships|here]].
==== Non Station Mind Types ====

=== Voided Vocals ===

The most alien of all the gestalts even to other Dionae, are those known as the Voided, those who are unified in purpose to absorb knowledge of the dead. They speak almost purely in poetic notions and have near to no internal dialog. What is so bizarre about these collectives is their obsession with death, offering to take on even the memories of other species post mortem despite the traumatic experiences. The amount of disjointed knowledge, memories and thoughts have long since made it impossible to tell what is from original minds or what their many memories are. Such collectives experience near to no real emotion due to the expanse of emotionless memories they contain, however, when exposed to grief from losing one of their nymphs, it may be overwhelming over the lack of emotion they have had for so long. Common notions of theirs is that nobody should ever be forgotten to time, or that they can give a form of immortality in themselves to those they can “save”. (This mind type is restricted from station roles entirely. It may be jobs not originating on the Aurora and is also restricted from merchant. They may additionally be antagonists.)

=== Scarlet Score ===
Something that gives cause to alarm is the plague that is known as the Scarlet Score, a plague that can overtake gestalts with no known cause. Any nymph who joins with one afflicted with his horrific disease will be irrevocably damaged. The disease causes them to become incredibly hostile, lashing out and desiring blood.

It is completely unknown how Scarlet Score thinks internally, they may be exactly like any other mind type but driven to absolute madness. Even how the madness is represented is unclear. All stellar organisations recognise that these are a complete lost cause and either must be contained for research or terminated. There is no saving them, and all Dionae are at risk if they are exposed to the plague.

There are examples of Scarlet Score who have imbibed so much blood that they have become Voided Vocals, and no longer hostile. Although they are not accepted by Dionae gestalts for fear they carry the dormant virus, they are not actively exterminated. (Antagonist and event related only).

=Nymph Limbs=
'''Potential Captains and Commanders with nymph limbs are not hired until they agree to replace them with mechanical prosthetics or other alternatives, due to security concerns.'''

A rather rare occurrence is when a living creature lives in direct symbiosis with a Dionae, however it is most common in the version of a prosthetic limb. The nymph attaches to a willing host’s stump, their neural strata growing into the host’s nervous system and stretching their form to the size of a full limb. The nymph will use genetic memory from the host to create manipulable biomass in the shape of fingers from their body, and fill out the rough shape.

The method of the connection is truly symbiotic, the host gaining something that they had thought they lost forever, whereas the nymph gains access to a constant source of blood and knowledge from their host. The amount of experiences such a nymph gains is quite substantial, and can end up having a copy of every memory in the host’s DNA.

They are capable of communicating to their host verbally or sending a vague ‘confirmation and affirmation’ of ideas by making the arm feel hot or cold, or similar sensory manipulations. Although they would never fake pain to the host, as that breaches their pacifistic beliefs and would also be cruel. They do not explicitly speak up against violence, often being partially dormant as they live through their host’s memories. (aka the host doesn’t feel like rping their arms) Although if they wake up and realise they have been used for murder they may be quite upset.

The symbiosis has a unique modularity in that it can be ceased at any time, the singular nymph could detach or the host could just pull the arm off, and put it back on just as easily!

Haptic feedback from the arm is slightly alien, in that it is first processed by the nymph and then translated into something the host can then understand. This leads to sensations being dulled, like wearing a thick leather glove. However pain is quite notable, as the nymph screams into your nervous system like a wildfire. If you fail to listen, the nymph’s fragile body will crack, their tendrils no longer actively wrapped into your nervous system, and it will just fall off, dead.

===Unathi===
Unathi reasons for taking prosthetic: It is not unheard of for Unathi to take a Diona prosthetic, almost always for spiritual reasons. Diona occasionally wander the radiation-laden barrens of the Wasteland, and so certain groups of Wastelanders have developed a reverence for these multi-souled organisms. Unathi who have lost limbs due to warfare or exposure see these limbs as augments for their soul, enhancers to the connection to the spirit realm— rarer, though, is the purposeful dismemberment of one’s body for the sole purpose of soul-melding with a Diona.

Unathi normality of prosthetic: For most Unathi, this practice is an alternative to getting a dreaded prosthetic. While a Dionae can never truly replace a limb, they are considered natural creatures and thus aren’t damaging the soul when used in this manner. Dionae are, by and large, a rarity outside of the Wasteland, so an unfortunate reality becomes apparent: not everyone who wants a limb like this can achieve it. Wherever it is available, it is typically regulated by a medicinal guild.

===Skrell===
Skrell reasons for taking prosthetics: Medical Science within the Federation is superb, with most cases of missing limbs being rectified with cloning a copy of the missing appendage. Though, the further one gets from the Core, the less reliable one’s access to Federation medical facilities becomes. It’s not uncommon for Diona in the traverse to spore a new nymph to replace a Skrell’s limb in emergencies. Additionally, desperate Skrell whose low credit score denies them access to replacement limbs may take up nymph replacements.

Skrell Normality of prosthetic: Possessing a nymph limb as a Skrell is usually a taken as a sign the Skrell has a poor credit score, it’s not uncommon for Skrell to replace their nymph prosthetics the moment their score allows it to escape the social stigma.

Dionae Forms

2021-11-17T01:08:37Z

Lmwevil: romance arc addition

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=Forms=
The merging and separation of Nymphs take much time and energy to complete, sometimes days or even weeks on much larger structures. For smaller collections such as Cyclopes, it typically only takes an hour or so before they are ready to function. This is due to the Nymph bodies fusing together and creating a sturdy body that will be able to reasonably support itself and move, adapting it to the current environment. Before performing a change, Nymphs and Gestalts will gorge themselves on biomatter in preparation. Separation is only ever done in life-or-death emergencies or special situations such as growing a larger Gestalt as it can often be traumatic to Nymphs if done in a hurry, causing the knowledge gathered to be improperly stored in each individual or even lost without the correct precautions taken. With each change, the new form will always take up a new name to represent the new information and experiences collaborated.

'''Note that Nanotrasen only hires Cyclops forms to work on the Aurora. All crew characters must be one.'''

Dionae, being in its very nature a compound creature, comes in several known and theoretical forms with several characteristics:

==Nymph==
[[File:Nymph.png|thumb|alt=Nymph|The humble beginnings for all Dionae, the Nymph stage.]]
Nymphs are the base form of a Dionae, often born separate from gestalts. They begin their life with an intelligence similar to that of the average dog, their cognitive abilities exponentially increase when they merge with other Nymphs, giving them a biological prerogative to merge with one another in order to survive and comprehend the world around them. If exposed to sentient blood and absorbed, they will grow to the intelligence of very young human children.
==Cerberus==

Cerberus are Dionae gestalts who make up more than one nymph, but not enough to be considered a Cyclops form, comprising roughly two to four nymphs. Their intelligence is comparable to the average sentient creature, and are largely unremarkable. It can be difficult for a Cerberus form to find work, as their general size can make it difficult for them to find the equipment they can use unless specialized specifically for them. The majority of long-term Cerberus forms can be found within the Jargon Federation.

[[File:Dionae.png|thumb|left|alt=Cyclops|Bipedal in form, the Cyclops are the most common gestalts to be seen across the Orion Spur.]]
==Cyclops==

The most common form of Dionae gestalts in the galaxy, cyclops-forms, sometimes referred to as “worker forms" are Dionae gestalts who are made up of roughly five to nine nymphs. Most Cyclops resemble other intelligent species, usually having two legs and two arms, although this can differ based on the number of nymphs that are a part of the gestalt. Their intelligence follows the growth of intelligence of lesser forms, comparable to highly intelligent sentient life. They can grasp highly abstract concepts, such as quantum theory, and vastly outstrip the sum of their parts by orders of magnitude. Dionae Cyclops tend to stand anywhere as low as three feet to as tall as eight feet, some even taller. Typically, the majority of the Cyclops will stand at a rough five to six feet.

==Argus==

One of the rarer forms of Dionae, Argus are Dionae made from anywhere from ten nymphs, to a hundred. Due to the sheer size of most Argus forms, work can be extremely tough to find in most unskilled jobs and many find work within specialized jobs, largely with Research or even as Engineers, considering many of them would spend their time on the exterior side of the ships and stations, allowing for the
soaking up of radiation and light.

==Colossus==

Colossus forms are Dionae gestalts that are made up of as little as one-hundred-and-one nymphs to upwards of five-hundred-thousand. Colossus forms are split into two sub-categories, "Trireme", who are gestalts that move through space, and “Echions”, gestalts that tend to stay in one area/system. Most newly discovered gestalts in space are considered a Trireme Colossi. Due to the sheer size of a Colossus, it is incredibly rare if not impossible for one to find work or a purpose. As such most will break up into a myriad of new gestalts to see new and better opportunities.

==Cetus==
[[File:SkrellDionae.png|thumb|alt=Cetus|One of few Cetus' captured by Skrell technology when discovered over Kelo'Hen]]
Cetus forms are a mass of Dionae so immense, in the orders of a million nymphs, that it can be considered a stellar body. Currently, only two have been observed, those being the gestalt above Nralakk, the second being the recent Venter's Cetus. Unknown capabilities - theorized to be more intelligent than most other forms of intelligence, organic or synthetic. It is suspected that the original Dionae gestalt, where it may be, is at least this form if not the form below.

==Titan==

A theoretical form of the Dionae - a planet, or even star-sized Diona form consisting of maybe more nymphs than is currently known to exist, maybe the pinnacle of organic processing and thought. Uncharted intelligence. The Skrell has an order to destroy any Dionae structure that could reach or has reached, this size due to the inherent risk of intelligence singularity and other classified risks.

= Dionae Life Cycle =

The Dionae life cycle is categorized in Basic by the old Greek words of Coeus, Geras, and Penuma.

All Dionae either form within a spored pod, or grown internally within a larger gestalt over time. Those who are formed from the former act almost entirely on instinct from their more limited thinking capacity, those who form via the latter are much more like a neuron that improves the whole until exposed to blood of a sentient species.

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Age bracket for Coeus officially being classified as a Geras
|-
! - !! Default Bark (temperate/spacestation grown) !! Lighter Bark (warm planets) !! Darker bark (cold planets/space)
|-
| '''Natural''' || 50-90 years old|| 80-120 years old || 30-70 years old
|-
| '''With treatments''' || 120-140 years old || 150-180 years old || 80-100 years old
|}
==Coeus==
Classified in Basic is Coeus, to mean “youth” in a rough translation. Those who are classified as Coeus are within a rather large age bracket, and have very little bark growth. All Coeus know instinctively if grown from, or are part of a larger gestalt that their purpose is to find experiences in their youth, and provide for the whole.

Without their protective bark, gestalts with a majority of Coeushave what is known as an ‘echo chamber’ by skrell scientists. Their pain echoes violently through the rest of the gestalt, and the others will amplify the pain to a degree also. It is highly unusual for Coeus to ever adapt to the ‘echo chamber’ phenomenon before their transition to Geras due to the sheer intensity.

This phenomenon is also what Solarian scientists posited lead to their pacifistic tendencies, that are far more pronounced in the Coeus of their species. In fact they cannot understand why anyone would inflict pain on another living being, more often than not, due to their capacity for empathy and how severe it is for themselves. It is not uncommon for them to attempt to talk down someone being violent, or using their speed to run away instead. Given their intense fear of the ‘echo chamber’ effect, they will try to avoid fighting until it is the very last resort. This idealistic and intensely pacifistic viewpoint means that they are unwilling and would likely never be employed in any army, security or PMC group until becoming Geras. Due to their high-degree of pacifism, Coeus who join a military will only do so if they can be assigned a non-combat position such as logistics or as a medic.

Providing for Geras and Penuma is part of their biological imperative, and it is not uncommon for Coeus to enter employment in order to provide funds in the modern era to allow their greater Gestalt to be housed, or given appropriate living conditions to not just be living in a box soaking sunlight. Often this supersedes their innate desire to explore and understand the universe, depending on how crucial the support is for their linked gestalt.

Coeus may often be affectionately called Saplings or Sprouts by Geras, and often will refer to Geras as Elders in return.

==Geras==
Geras, or Elders, are older Dionae who have a decent amount of bark grown. As a result of their thick bark, Geras are less mobile, although the bark also offers them an extra layer of protection from most damage. In addition they have finally evolved to negate the ‘echo chamber’ phenomenon, and will likely remember it for a large portion of their life.

Geras are generally looked up to by their younger, less experienced counterparts, viewing them as more experienced. While not as immobile as a Penuma, Coeus still frequently try to aid Geras in tasks their lesser mobility doesn’t permit. Due to their more experienced nature, Geras will more frequently serve as leaders or diplomats compared to their Coeus counterparts, such as the fact that the majority of Dionae translators are Geras.

Skrellian scientists have noted that Geras are quite protective of both Coeus and Penuma respectively, seeing the former as ‘their future’. It is not uncommon for Geras to help Coeus in social disputes, or to stand up for them if there is a perceived injustice. In addition, any Geras who live in proximity to a Penuma are extremely protective of anything that tries to approach them, due to their immobile and largely vulnerable state.

It is known that Geras see themselves as the ‘shepards’ of sorts of all Dionae gestalts, and see it as their duty and imperative to guide the Coeus and protect the Penuma. Unless a Coeus is exceptionally experienced for their age, it is rare to see any in a position of power trying to influence the greater whole of the group. Interestingly they will universally listen and attempt to follow when a Penuma gives advice, even if they disagree on the interpretations among themselves quickly.

Geras approaching their final life stages will often be focused on spawning new Coeus gestalts, and finding an appropriate place to spend eternity. Most often they will return to a similar environment to the one they were first grown from, the most common resting place to drift in space for eternity.

As a result of age, Geras are generally less pacifistic than Coeus. While conflict is still a last resort, Geras are more willing to defend themselves and are more willing to protect others even if it means coming into conflict with another. Negotiations and an attempt to de-escalate a situation are still preferred, and Geras working in a non-security or military field will usually not join into a conflict when there are better-suited individuals around to handle it.

==Penuma==
Categorized as Penuma, Skrellian scientists had no idea that these structures were sentient or even responsive upon their first contact with the Dionae. The reason for this is their bark has grown to such an extent that it cripples them and warps them into strange and alien shapes, the thickness of the bark in addition, almost entirely prevents UV radiation from being absorbed by the entombed nymphs. This leads to an outer casing of tendrils over the thick bark that look almost like a strange form of Ivy.

The biological purpose of those tendrils are to link to nymphs on the outside or eventually form a form of ‘moss’ over the immobilized Dionae in order to absorb the outside environment. It is noted that this process is woefully inefficient, so Penuma end up creating large amounts of mundane growths that can be burned as nutrients during periods of starvation.

Penuma were regarded as actual plantlife until neural activity was detected inside them through invasive probing. It was calculated that they were still fully cognizant of the outside world but were simply deciding to not respond, however due to the invasive probes, the subject Penuma responded by digesting the probes and pulling in the nearby Skrellian before they had a chance to respond, digested on the exterior by a grown sack. Geras explained after the incident that Penuma have no visual way to understand their exterior without linked nymphs, and that as a stress response they are capable of defending themselves by burning their biomass reserves, and that breaching the bark was seen as an attack instinctively.

In the modern understanding of Penuma, Geras explain that while they have the greatest experience and knowledge of them all. The eons of seeing the same things has made them disinterested in the outside world, quite literally thinking for years on end on philosophical or esoteric concepts simply to stave off being bored.

Penuma are seen as the spirits of the Dionae people, the foundation of their knowledge and their past. However due to their responsiveness being quite lackluster, they will offer guidance usually at complete random, leaving the Geras to their own devices unless absolutely necessary.

There has been no documented reports on the memory accuracy of a Penuma when it speaks about the past, and it is very possible that they are beyond the foundational limits of memory for a Dionae, given their size.

While there is little actual data on the pacifism of Pneuma, it is not unheard of for them to protect themselves through calling for nearby gestalts, or if the threat is adjacent as a stress response to entangle it in biomass and digest it remotely. Solarian alarmists see this as a reason that Dionae cannot be trusted, as in their final stages they seem to have no qualms with defending themselves quite lethally.

There is one exception to Penuma's immobility and lack of response, and that is of course those who drift in the void for their final stages. Moving at sunlight speeds and using internal gas bladders to make orbital adjustments, they often will orbit a star for unknown periods of time. These are the only known Penuma with independence, but due to their nature are mistaken as asteroids or space debris. Any attempts to formally contact them thus far have failed, and official funding for projects such as these are hard to find.

= Dionae Minds =
It is erroneously believed that the only format that Dionae can gain sentience- and therefore knowledge- is through the blood of sentient creatures. However this is quite false, and often the shortsighted view of those who are unfortunately subject to ‘anklebiters’. Sapience is instead something that is achieved due to the instinctive behaviour of nymphs to gather together. What they cannot achieve alone or through external DNA, they manage to achieve as a collective, becoming fully sapient and sentient. What is however debated is if they are actually individually sentient or only the greater being, although such collectives will argue it doesn’t matter.

The memories of any individual Diona are linked specifically to their neural strata, and due to how it is imprinted cannot be imparted across neural links to the others in their gestalt. This leads to an unfortunate eventuality in that if a nymph leaves a gestalt, the information it held is gone forever. When one wishes to leave formally, there is a known process known simply as ‘departing’. Where the collective will go to a safe place that they can be assured they will not need to move or be at risk of starvation. During this time the nymph will sing vocally a song of their experiences, of their knowledge and training. In this way they can imprint their knowledge in an abstract way across their collective or even much larger ones. It is not uncommon to go on pilgrimages when the departing is in process, and those who are at witness to it note how varied the emotion in such songs are depending on the histories of such nymphs.
There is also a darker method of obtaining the memories of other nymphs, to devour their neural strata allows the physical repurposing and absorbing of fragments of their memories. This is of course never done to another living nymph, as it would be incredibly traumatic to internalize being eaten alive. The strangest part of forceful integration is that their memories are an absolute void of emotion, when thinking about them or recalling them in any fashion there is never any emotional connotation. This can be incredibly strange and uncomfortable, and can never be reversed once absorbed. There are experimental unbinding surgeries to remove absorbed neural strata to get those experiences out, however the success rate is very minute as the exacts of nymph neurology are largely unexplored.

== Mind Types ==

Dionae do not choose how their internal mind structures work, such things will happen due to circumstances, personalities and environments around them that will cause various structures to develop. The below encompasses some of the myriad of potential structures that exist, and is by no means a conclusive list. Think of these as inspiration and feel free to make your own, although be logical with if your gestalt’s unique mind would be fitting for the job NT has hired them for.

'''Station characters still need to be reasonable, NT wouldn't hire someone who can't work or acts insane. Keep in mind that some of the mind types are restricted to certain roles/may not be allowed to be a station character at all
'''

=== Singular Sound ===

The gestalt has very little individuality within each nymph, with each being akin to a large cluster of neurons working symbiotically.There is little in the terms of an internal dialog within these collectives, usually all acting as relays for their unified consciousness. These are usually from nymphs that have merged without ever consuming blood. The loss of a singular nymph is catastrophically damaging to this kind of network, akin to suffering major brain damage. - They may speak all at once or only use one to preserve neural load, depending on their opinion. These are suggested for those new to Dionae or those who aren’t as interested in roleplaying the more complicated mind types.

=== Competence Choir ===

All skilled nymphs within the collective are in charge of their respective areas, the social nymph does not need to confer with the others and thus speaks with completely normal inflection without any large gaps. However may end up pausing if the collective has pressing issues they want the social nymph to present. This is most often with specialized collectives with utilitarian views. No individual nymph is more important than the others if they are all the same level of skill.

=== Tyrannical Tune ===

This kind of collective is unusual, stemming from a nymph with extreme ideologies or absolute indoctrination with a dogmatic view point. Usually the social nymph will take an authoritarian role over the other nymphs within the collective, and they all act together out of the unity of the singular personality than anything else. The loss of the Overseer nymph itself will utterly cripple this collective, causing a power struggle and internal conflict for quite some time afterwards. Such collectives will not usually have difficulty with speech unless the Overseer is not the social nymph.

=== Harmonious Hymn ===

Within this often complicated and socially conflicted Gestalt is a pure democratic rule, every action it takes will be voted upon internally. This results in gaps in speech either with long silences or a short pause between every word as they decide exactly what the majority of them wish to do. They might mention ‘majority’ frequently when referencing if they voted on something, or ‘minority’ when mentioning freedom of speech. Something frequent within these gestalts is that when returning to a greater such as an Argus they may have new ones replace older ones who cannot successfully get votes to their opinion. No singular nymph is more valuable than another, and the social nymph may be distributed to multiple throughout depending on the collective.

=== Chaotic Cacophony ===

A collection of nymphs who are together merely out of the benefit and added safety of numbers. They may speak all at once, interrupt one another and generally not be particularly easy to listen to. The nymphs could be prone to argue, or they may be quite content with saying what they feel. These collectives are usually quite young and have not settled into a structure that makes it easier for all of them to feel appreciated. (This mind type is restricted to Janitors, Gardeners and Cargo Technicians. Be reasonable with this one, we don’t want to have to remove it.)

=== Seasoned Song ===

These are one of the most common with more ancient collectives that come from the void and space whales. The opinions within them matter most entirely dependent on age, the more bark that has accumulated on your body the more complicated your song must be. These are likely to have traditions, be religious or have other viewpoints that are relayed by the elder. For a cyclops on station this could mean the head is entirely covered with bark to the point that it is immobile from age, as an example. They will often reference songs and the most traumatic loss is the destruction of the eldest among them. Such collectives will have entirely unique structures based around whatever the Elder deems best, but will always submit to the wisdom of the oldest among them. The Eldest will near universally be the social nymph to best represent them.

=== Bloodless Band ===

An extreme variant of the Singular Sound, they are nymphs who have achieved sentience quite similarly to the Singular Sound. However they have become increasingly opinionated against the idea of drinking blood, to the point that they reject anything that could shed blood. Such collectives are considered radicals due to their intense pacifistic approach, rejecting the utilitarian views on conflict entirely. Such collectives usually believe that drinking blood could fundamentally change who they are, and will often not join into an Argus for fear one of them may have drunk blood and could expose them. Their outright refusal to imbibe blood also means that they lose a critical quantity of information that will take potentially decades to relearn because they cannot fast track it. (This mind type is restricted from security roles due to the fact that lethality is something they have to be prepared to do.)

=== Learning Lyrics ===

Uniquely these never are formed from fresh cyclops but split from Argus and upwards. Specifically it is a trained gestalt that alternates one or two young nymphs on a regular basis, the others exist to let the young nymphs safely experience the outside world, working to provide funds for the greater gestalt, social norms, and get blood samples to help them experience the world around them. Such gestalts are usually run by the older nymphs but following on the whims of the younger ones to let them experience things with the safety net of those with more wisdom. The loss of the younger nymphs is more tragic to such a collective than the older ones, to a usual collective they will mourn the fact they failed to protect the very ones they were supposed to protect. (This mind type is restricted from Security roles due to the potential risk of killing the young nymphs.)

=== Emphatic Echo ===

These are a unique gestalt that have formed more in the modern era of Dionae xenos relations. What makes them particularly interesting to the observer is near to all of the nymphs are social nymphs, with expertly trained skills in specific areas of social nuance. This gives them an almost eerie essence when they pick up even your most subtle facial movements and deduce your emotional state. They are renowned for their social skills and patience, however due to the quantity of social nymphs are quite incapable of complex physical tasks. (This mind type is restricted to, Liaison/Rep, Psychologist(includes alt titles), Investigator, Chaplain, Librarian and visitor.)

=== Mourning Mass ===
An entirely unique generation of mind types, who make up an extreme minority of Dionae in the Spur. There is only one known way to generate such a gestalt consciousness, and it is the absorption of the one person that the Consensus had viewed as significant.

Not all Dionae who do this will become a Mourning Mass, but only those who do can become one. Such gestalts are characterised by their complete dedication to the life of their former partner, and the memories that they cherish. They can vary from completely dejected, holding the greatest burden they could imagine to melancholic joy at being able to spend reality with them forever.

Their internal dialog is entirely variant on what their original mind type was, however typically different nymphs will have different parts of the person that they memorialise. This means such gestalts have the greatest loss of all, if their gestalt loses even a fragment of such knowledge, and thus would never allow a nymph to die at any cost. The loss of a nymph would be a loss of such magnitude that it’s rare such a collective would be able to cope.

Typically they may take on a name that has or involves their now merged other, something as simple as ‘Joy of Exploring The Endless Cosmos Together’ to ‘The Eternal and Unending Care for [partner name]’ could be examples of such. But as every relationship is unique, as are most Mourning Mass, and their name will most likely symbolize something deeply important to them.

Mourning Masses mostly will take on an employment that they and their partner enjoyed together, or perhaps something entirely around their interests instead. They are not actively restricted from any employment but are instead required to have 5 years to process their grief before positions of stress such as medical work, command, and security. This of course also includes a psychological evaluation after the required time period, to assure they are competent.

For reading of what a Mourning Mass looks like in Jargon/Skrell relations, look [[Diona_in_the_Federation#Diona_Relationships|here]].
==== Non Station Mind Types ====

=== Voided Vocals ===

The most alien of all the gestalts even to other Dionae, are those known as the Voided, those who are unified in purpose to absorb knowledge of the dead. They speak almost purely in poetic notions and have near to no internal dialog. What is so bizarre about these collectives is their obsession with death, offering to take on even the memories of other species post mortem despite the traumatic experiences. The amount of disjointed knowledge, memories and thoughts have long since made it impossible to tell what is from original minds or what their many memories are. Such collectives experience near to no real emotion due to the expanse of emotionless memories they contain, however, when exposed to grief from losing one of their nymphs, it may be overwhelming over the lack of emotion they have had for so long. Common notions of theirs is that nobody should ever be forgotten to time, or that they can give a form of immortality in themselves to those they can “save”. (This mind type is restricted from station roles entirely. It may be jobs not originating on the Aurora besides merchants.)

=== Scarlet Score ===
Something that gives cause to alarm is the plague that is known as the Scarlet Score, a plague that can overtake gestalts with no known cause. Any nymph who joins with one afflicted with his horrific disease will be irrevocably damaged. The disease causes them to become incredibly hostile, lashing out and desiring blood.

It is completely unknown how Scarlet Score thinks internally, they may be exactly like any other mind type but driven to absolute madness. Even how the madness is represented is unclear. All stellar organisations recognise that these are a complete lost cause and either must be contained for research or terminated. There is no saving them, and all Dionae are at risk if they are exposed to the plague.

There are examples of Scarlet Score who have imbibed so much blood that they have become Voided Vocals, and no longer hostile. Although they are not accepted by Dionae gestalts for fear they carry the dormant virus, they are not actively exterminated. (Antagonist and event related only).

=Nymph Limbs=
'''Potential Captains and Commanders with nymph limbs are not hired until they agree to replace them with mechanical prosthetics or other alternatives, due to security concerns.'''

A rather rare occurrence is when a living creature lives in direct symbiosis with a Dionae, however it is most common in the version of a prosthetic limb. The nymph attaches to a willing host’s stump, their neural strata growing into the host’s nervous system and stretching their form to the size of a full limb. The nymph will use genetic memory from the host to create manipulable biomass in the shape of fingers from their body, and fill out the rough shape.

The method of the connection is truly symbiotic, the host gaining something that they had thought they lost forever, whereas the nymph gains access to a constant source of blood and knowledge from their host. The amount of experiences such a nymph gains is quite substantial, and can end up having a copy of every memory in the host’s DNA.

They are capable of communicating to their host verbally or sending a vague ‘confirmation and affirmation’ of ideas by making the arm feel hot or cold, or similar sensory manipulations. Although they would never fake pain to the host, as that breaches their pacifistic beliefs and would also be cruel. They do not explicitly speak up against violence, often being partially dormant as they live through their host’s memories. (aka the host doesn’t feel like rping their arms) Although if they wake up and realise they have been used for murder they may be quite upset.

The symbiosis has a unique modularity in that it can be ceased at any time, the singular nymph could detach or the host could just pull the arm off, and put it back on just as easily!

Haptic feedback from the arm is slightly alien, in that it is first processed by the nymph and then translated into something the host can then understand. This leads to sensations being dulled, like wearing a thick leather glove. However pain is quite notable, as the nymph screams into your nervous system like a wildfire. If you fail to listen, the nymph’s fragile body will crack, their tendrils no longer actively wrapped into your nervous system, and it will just fall off, dead.

===Unathi===
Unathi reasons for taking prosthetic: It is not unheard of for Unathi to take a Diona prosthetic, almost always for spiritual reasons. Diona occasionally wander the radiation-laden barrens of the Wasteland, and so certain groups of Wastelanders have developed a reverence for these multi-souled organisms. Unathi who have lost limbs due to warfare or exposure see these limbs as augments for their soul, enhancers to the connection to the spirit realm— rarer, though, is the purposeful dismemberment of one’s body for the sole purpose of soul-melding with a Diona.

Unathi normality of prosthetic: For most Unathi, this practice is an alternative to getting a dreaded prosthetic. While a Dionae can never truly replace a limb, they are considered natural creatures and thus aren’t damaging the soul when used in this manner. Dionae are, by and large, a rarity outside of the Wasteland, so an unfortunate reality becomes apparent: not everyone who wants a limb like this can achieve it. Wherever it is available, it is typically regulated by a medicinal guild.

===Skrell===
Skrell reasons for taking prosthetics: Medical Science within the Federation is superb, with most cases of missing limbs being rectified with cloning a copy of the missing appendage. Though, the further one gets from the Core, the less reliable one’s access to Federation medical facilities becomes. It’s not uncommon for Diona in the traverse to spore a new nymph to replace a Skrell’s limb in emergencies. Additionally, desperate Skrell whose low credit score denies them access to replacement limbs may take up nymph replacements.

Skrell Normality of prosthetic: Possessing a nymph limb as a Skrell is usually a taken as a sign the Skrell has a poor credit score, it’s not uncommon for Skrell to replace their nymph prosthetics the moment their score allows it to escape the social stigma.

Dionae Forms

2021-07-10T07:25:22Z

Lmwevil: Librarian Echo approved

Deep Space

2021-04-19T00:58:02Z

Lmwevil: /* Diona */

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==Overview==
Charted and uninhabited space in the Orion Spur is referred to as Deep Space, and it is here where the most wonderful oddities known reside. Contrary to uncharted deadspace, the dangers and obstacles are mostly logged and pose little hazard to civilian vessels exploring known territories. As one begins to enter this Deep Space, or anomalous areas such as the [https://wiki.aurorastation.org/index.php?title=Tau_Ceti#The_Romanovich_Cloud Romanovich Cloud], things get quite strange - from the mysterious, randomly appearing biohazards known as “blobs” to the elegant and delicious space carp, anything is possible. These are a few recurring anomalies seen in Deep Space, and anomalous territories.

===Blobs===
The level-seven biohazards known as “Blobs” are mysterious and highly dangerous organic growths which appear at random in anomalous areas across Deep Space. Somehow growing spontaneously from a tiny core into a ship-splitting, bulging mass, Blobs are a common threat that trained engineering personnel on NanoTrasen facilities deal with routinely. Though common, they often threaten the stability of facilities they appear upon, forcing their crews to diverge on and cut out the core as soon as possible before irreparable damage occurs. When the core is eliminated, the blob’s entire mass simply falls apart and disintegrates into nothingness, leaving nothing but rubble in its wake. This makes study of them nigh impossible, with only what is apparent available. Without knowing more, NanoTrasen can only hope something to contain a Blob can be created.

===Space Carp===
The Stellar Cyprinidae Carpio is the scientific name given to the space-faring creature known as the Space Carp. These are carnivorous vacuum-based fish whose origins can not be traced to known space that are closely tied to unknown means of warp travel, permitting migrations over extreme distances and appearances in seemingly random locations. Generally attracted to whatever generates large radio interference or light in the void and dissuaded from large gravity wells, they are most commonly found in Deep Space or areas with excessive bluespace activity. The common Space Carp typically has no definitive lifespan, and feeds primarily on valuable metals and any organic matter when able. Space Carp are known to many as a destructive, invasive species due to their large gatherings in the Romanovich Cloud and billions of credits of damage to property there. The Space Carp itself is quite hostile when encountering any form of organic matter, showing little care for obstacles and frequently smashing windows to get to light and anything else they detect with their bulbous six eyes.

When processed, Space Carp are edible to Humans and the like, but their raw flesh can only be safely eaten by Unathi under most circumstances. These fish have an upper limit to size when encountered, but are believed to grow as long as they are alive. Given that their lifespan is functionally indefinite, the largest Space Carp could be gargantuan - but the biggest ever recorded was a passive, reclusive and solemn entity documented in the Frontier. Referred to as a “space whale,” it wasn’t the only one to reach such a size class at nearly twenty-two meters long. Other common (but larger) sizes of carp include “space sharks” that are equally hostile, just… bigger.

Space Carp possess an inherent biochemical substance known as “Carpotoxin,” that is used in a wide variety of high-end medications such as Rezadone. It’s unknown exactly how the common Space Carp comes to reproduce, but large carp nests have been located in known space where migrations centralize.

===Hivebots===
SDARs (Self-Replicating Destructive Automated Robotics), better known as Hivebots are a self replicating group of simple robots with a central “hive” intelligence. Appearing from a bluespace rift in the Romanovich Cloud in 2433, they have since settled in the core worlds as a very minor looming hazard. While the specifics of their past are yet unknown, carbon dating draws their creation as some two million years prior to modern time. As a force, they are negligible, attacking nearby vessels indiscriminately with low-powered and primitive weaponry. Most civilian vessels are able to dispatch of Hivebot parties with inbuilt point defense systems, causing them to be little more than a nuisance wherever they are found. They possess mismatching technology - some advanced teleportation technology utilizing bluespace beacons for precise unhindered force projection, yet at the same time making use of the cheapest available materials to piece themselves together. Encountered to this day are manufacturing facilities dotting known space, some derelict and others dispensing rudimentary Hivebots by the thousands daily. Study into Hivebots has proven worthwhile, fielding many discoveries related to bluespace teleportation.

The term “Hivebots” was earned as a result of their hivemind intelligence, with central “beacons” controlling vast swaths of them in unison. The actual capabilities of these beacons are demonstrated by a typical Hivebot - as the numbers of Hivebots grow, the intellectual capacity of these beacons do as well. While requiring extreme numbers to manifest any basic comprehension beyond simplistic pathfinding and targeting, they nonetheless have demonstrated obvious compound intelligence in their hivemind nature. How far this can go exactly is unknown, as no known Hivebot collectives have grown in sizes beyond the tens of thousands.

===Diona===
Majestic and chaotic, the untamed Diona, or ''Stellar Dionaea Primo'', fly through space with no knowledge of civilization or culture - only the desire to feed and grow. Ranging from a single small, cat-sized nymph to the size of a station, the roaming tendrils fly like blobs of jellyfish searching for radiation or nutrients. There aren't too many documented untamed Diona in space anymore due to over-hunting and the fact that many have been integrated into society to become intelligent, however, some are tagged and studied by researchers aiming to understand Diona's natural instincts better. They swim through space, only reacting when something gets close enough for them to detect the radiation of engines or the biomass of organisms. These "Wild Ones" are not legally allowed to be killed in Sol Alliance and Jargon Federation space unless they pose significant threat - but Frontier laws vary depending on system. Poachers will hunt these "Wild Ones" for the massive quantities of metals, minerals and gasses that build up in the center of larger Diona gestalts.

There are intelligent Diona out there, with strange ideals - some intelligent and fervent. Stories of a cluster becoming organized across multiple systems with this new era of technology, spreading an ideology of an ancient All-Being known as the Divine Eternal. Although intelligent, these Diona are not seen as a civilization and instead more as nomads.

===Phoron Worm===
While closely resembling the earthworm, the scientifically classified ''Vacuum Vermis'' has very little to do with the earth animal. These worms are space fairing, majorly carnivorous and have a specialized element in their diet, phoron. This unique addition to their diet is not only the origin of their nickname, but also the source of their speedy space travel.
It was previously theorized that these worms spend the majority of their life inside asteroids they inhabit, only resurfacing to feed and spread their young onto other astral bodies. Thanks to new more dedicated observations, this theory has been proven false as it's been discovered that phoron is instead necessary to their propulsion. Through ingestion and throughout digestion, the unique physiology of the worm allows it to safely absorb and dispense phoron as energy. Allowing it to repeatedly phase in and out of bluespace, "surfing it". Thus, consumption of phoron is necessary to its procreation and population dispersion process. As a result, these worms are capable of detecting phoron over extreme distances, distances so extreme that even the most sophisticated equipment does not measure up.

In the past Phoron Worms have been a rarity, but with the brutal increase in phoron mining and scarcity in the known space, they've become a common sight. On arrival, they will immediately start attacking the crew and mining equipment, agitated by the tremors caused by their movement. After enough phoron is consumed, they will lay eggs on the asteroid which are wrapped in a form of phoron and nutrient rich resin, which will serve as a new start for their young. Finished with procreation and consumption of phoron, they will launch themselves to seek more phoron.

Attempts have been made to capture these creatures, but they've proven impossible to capture. Immune to all known forms of sedation within known space, hunters have to rely on capturing them via lures and cages. Yet containment is near impossible, the worms often bashing themselves to death against the walls or trying to propel themselves out, resulting in a violent explosion and the worm's death.

'''Large phoron worms were sighted in major deposits across the Republic of Biesel recently, and attacked the NSS Aurora as part of the [[KING OF THE WORLD]] event arc.''' This particular species was noted to be a "black trident" worm, a type growing ever more endangered due to the developing scarcity.

Dionae Culture

2021-04-19T00:43:29Z

Lmwevil: removing ambergris

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==Culture==
Due to their highly nomadic nature, Dionae do not experience a universal culture outside of certain behaviours that appear to be biologically ingrained and somehow hard-wired into their genetics. Information on individual group cultures can be found in https://wiki.aurorastation.org/index.php?title=Dionae_History

===Naming===
Dionae naming conventions vary heavily based on gestalt, but have one consistency; They do not go by first name, last name, but instead use '''experiences, emotions, actions,''' or '''ideals''' as their source of identification. These experiences that define them can change just as the individual changes, and can be both literal and metaphorical. Some examples of where these might come from can be from routines in their lives, remembrances of mortals, a particular fascination in an emotion, a unique location where an important moment occurred, or even just a defining feature on their body. '''''As a player, it is up to you to decide what makes an experience, and you have a whole galaxy of cosmically ageless ideas to choose from. Be creative!'''''

====Experience Is What Matters====
The only time when one Diona is venerated above any other is when a more experienced and therefore more knowledgeable gestalt is present. This more experienced Diona is seen as more valuable due to their vaster stores of knowledge and therefore are protected over less experienced ones in a dangerous situation. A more experienced Diona will often take up the responsibility to educate a new one on their environment- including but not limited to the ways of local alien civilization. This is to simply get the newbie up to speed so they can be quicker on their way to learn more about their particular interests, whatever that may be.
More often than not, the older Diona is the more experienced, however this is not always true as a Diona gestalt may have spent its whole immortal life simply floating in a gas giant until it was scooped up into the fuel tank of a starship.

===Art===
While the species may make incredible artists in civilized space due to their longevity and capacity to learn, another form of visual art exists for Dionae that they practice as a recreational activity known simply as "Forma" and have two versions. Both utilize only their own bodies to make Gestalts in creative and practical ways alike. The first and most popular of the two is the Artem, or Art-Form. These are more for form than function and are used to display a Gestalt's creativity in strange and unique ways. Artem are typically observed being made in the void of space where they are free of the restrictions of gravity and require no rhyme nor reason to their design and exists purely as a hobby.

The second and perhaps most shocking of them is Vita, or Life-Form. Seen most often in some type of environment with gravity, there are two different forms: symbiotic which is done in the presence of other life forms, and competitive, preformed in areas where the concentration of Dionae are high. The symbiotic version is seen every day and is a form of passive mimicry to blend in with their extraterrestrial neighbours whereas the competitive version is a surprising display of violence. One is to increase their chance of survival in an alien landscape, the other used as a strange yet creative form of population control.

Competitive Vita is a theoretical evolution simulator where each Gestalt will merge, often as fantastical forms of creatures, which is then tested with the current environment they are in under different conditions. If present, they will then be tested against other non-sentient life forms before finally each other. Throughout the competition the losing Gestalts are either consumed or absorbed into their forms as additions, the final battle being the most dramatic display of a Gestalt's abilities. While most sapients would find this practice barbaric and contradictory to the species' desire to gain and preserve knowledge, the fallen and their knowledge simply become a part of the victorious.

===In Society===
Dionae are extremely complex, taking up many different types and forms. It is often said that Dionae have a hard time integrating into society, even though they are found in the majority of the nations throughout the galaxy. The largest clusters can be found within the Solarian Alliance, Jargon Federation, and the Republic of Biesel, however, there have been sights of ‘wild’ Dionae on the edges of civilized space. The ‘wild’ Dionae usually are integrated, but some have been hunted down for the unique concentration of many valuable gasses, minerals and metals found within them from their eons of space travel.

Their concept of money is vastly different from other races, considering Dionae only need a little radiation and warmth, both of which can be extracted from sunlight. Many of the gestalts are used often for space-related jobs, including exterior ship repairs and mining thanks to their immunity to the void, as long as there is light nearby. It is sometimes possible to find Dionae have become housemates with other species, paying rent, and doing various menial tasks in exchange for safe shelter.

Dionae have been known to form communes on the outskirts of the major cities, such as Mendell City and Phoenixport. The communes consist of various gestalts unifying to assist the surrounding environment, often beginning small restorative efforts in particular ecologically damaged areas. Many have said without these efforts, the vast majority of the woodlands on Biesel would have fallen years ago.

Details regarding Dionae in each specific nation can be found, here: https://wiki.aurorastation.org/index.php?title=Dionae_Relations

====Education====

Although Dionae can contain vast amounts of knowledge and possess extreme intelligence, the species still have to obtain the appropriate degrees for the occupation they wish to pursue in their chosen location of residence. This can be accomplished after being registered for citizenship. All newly-registered Dionae must complete and pass the courses required for their field if their degrees from past planetary systems is not recognized in the new location, or they lack one all together. Their education must be defended one year following the awarding of a degree, and then every five years there on out. However, that timer is reset due to the fact that after each merging, Dionae are required to defend their education along with their re-registration for citizenship due to the possibility of accumulation of new knowledge, and possible loss of information depending on the nature of the new merging.

===Relationships===
As sapient beings Dionae, from nymph to gestalt, are capable of forming platonic relationships with each other and other species. Nymphs and gestalts "merging" is the closest human analogue for a "romantic relationship" with Dionae. Due to the low complexity of nymph emotions and thought, initial merging into a [[Dionae_Forms#Cerberus|Cerberus]] tends to be carried out for practical purposes by all nymphs involved. Likewise, larger forms of Dionae such as [[Dionae_Forms#Cyclops|Cyclops]]’ and beyond might merge with a single nymph as a symbiotic form of a teacher/growth relationship with the nymph learning from its new gestalt partners and the gestalt itself using the new nymph for grown and biomass.

Due to the complexity of memory and thought, gestalts at [[Dionae_Forms#Cyclops|Cyclops]] size and beyond are a lot more particular when merging with partners of a similar size or above. To merge is to become one mind and body in totality, therefore only those gestalts that truly love and respect each other would carry out the act. It is extremely rare for Dionae gestalts to split over disagreements and more likely for a “troublesome” or sick nymph to be ejected by the mass or a nymph to be temporarily split off to carry out a key task like safe exploration or to get help in a dangerous situation where the whole is in peril. In extreme cases the whole gestalt may break apart to save as many nymphs as possible. This is extremely traumatic, akin to losing yourself and is avoided. It’s a sad fact of life for gestalts from the Titan Prime cluster, most of which would have had to break apart multiple times throughout their lives.

When a gestalt grows beyond the size of a [[Dionae_Forms#Cyclops|Cyclops]], it becomes difficult for these forms to find work within known space and therefore becomes necessary for the gestalt to split temporarily into smaller forms in order to carry out tasks throughout the day. These split forms are often referred to as a “split partner” or “part of me” by the gestalts involved. If pressed, a Dione might describe their split partner as an aspect of their whole which their partner represents; “they are the brave part of me”, “they are the smart part of me” or something similar. Splitting in this way is unpleasant for the gestalt but a necessary evil. Gestalts who split in this manner all suffer from [[Dionae#Psychology_and_Emotions|“splitting anxiety”]] and as such tend to work in close proximity to each other. Though analogous to a close romantic relationship, split Dionae are much closer than this in reality, essentially being aspects of a whole with each gestalt being a personality, memories and thoughts of a singular being, temporarily split apart. The larger the original gestalt the more split forms there could be, therefore it is possible for a [[Dionae_Forms#Cyclops|Cyclops]] gestalt to have many split partners.

===Blood Market===
The Blood Market, known as such colloquially, is a relatively private sector of the DNA Market. It operates out of a facility called ‘Bloodworks’ in District Ten, owned by the Blood Buddy Organization. The Market is mostly used by Dionae looking to enhance their skills in a certain field, or simply someone raising a nymph. The Bloodworks currently holds a monopoly over the lucrative trade, charging from 3000CR to 20,000CR for samples large enough for Dionae to learn from.

The ‘Blood Buddy Organization’ was founded by a Diona Argus, Rationing Knowledge of Embodied Sanguis, and is a ‘publically’ funded organization spearheaded by various Researchers from the Jargon Federation, Sol Alliance and Republic of Biesel. The company holds various fundraising events, where many skilful participants are noted to donate their blood in order to be sold on the market. The Blood Buddy Organization operates mostly within the Republic of Biesel, but are noted to sell their products to other nations. The largest donor to BBO is Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals, who recently gifted them the facility in District Eleven.

The Blood Market is not free of criminals, however, one particular group stands out more than the rest. The Blood Runners are notorious/renowned for their criminal undertakings, specifically their undercutting of the Blood Buddy Organization. The Blood Runners sell their samples from 1000CR to 10,000CR - leading the BBO to place reward for the arrest of the gang leader, Xia Lu-Qing. They have also been known to dabble in Corporate Espionage, using the Dionae’s ability to extract information from blood samples to their advantage.

==Military and Dionae Martialism==

As Dionae are generally pacifistic in their outlook they tend to operate in support positions within military units, acting as field medics, logistical support and any other function which does not involve direct aggression. That being said, under the teachings of the Eternal it is understood that there is a potential for violence to be unleashed by the powerful onto the powerless and thus it falls upon those who have undertaken martial studies to defend themselves and those unable to defend themselves. This is known as “Shh’sha’shu” or “The Divine Mandate to Defend All.” Dionae settlements that follow the principles of the Eternal are therefore aligned in their martial doctrines.

===Training===
''“Evil is just a lack of empathy and perspective. To understand is to be good.”''

In a universe largely unforgiving towards the Dionae it’s not uncommon for gestalts to study Dionae martial arts - “Shh’ush” or “Defence Mastery,” an art largely based on utilizing a Dionae’s great endurance and their opponent's momentum. The level of study a gestalt might undertake depends on a particular gestalts interest in martial studies overall with many dabbling in the art but not immersing themselves. Mastery of the student ranks or “Hshh’shee” allows a gestalt to ascend into full ranks or “Hshh” which serve as the highest scholarly ranks for martial studies and the military forces of the Dionae known collectively as “Guardians of Eternal” or “Chaa’shh’sha’shu” (The Guardians of the Divine Mandate to Defend All). Under the Eternal and generally for the majority of Dionae, combat or military defence isn’t a job but a calling and area of scholarly study. Other species might study Defence Mastery for its non-lethal takedowns however the art is especially suited for Dionae due to its reliance on their natural resilience and slower speed.

==== “Hshh’shee” or “Student Ranks”====
''“Waging war against good creatures is bad for the soul.”''

Initial training in Defence Mastery is focused on techniques to neutralise an opponent with minimal harm to both the user and their opponent. This is achieved by utilizing grapples, pins and stunning blows before retreating as well as methods of defensive retreat. Lethal force is not taught at this stage and is even strongly discouraged. Students at this level refer to themselves as “Shee” - Student or “One who is learning”. The teacher is referred to as whatever their rank may be. All teachers are those from the “Hshh” or “Full Ranks.” Advancement comes through mastery of the subjects being taught at each level and the completion of physical and written tests.
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Ranks from lowest - high:
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Shee’sho - ‘’’First Rank’’’ aka Student of the First Level
At this level, students are taught techniques based around defensive retreat from a threat.

Shee’cho - ‘’’Second Rank’’’ aka Student of the Second Level
At this level, students are taught key close combat neutralization techniques alongside advanced defensive retreat forms, including methods to assist others in retreating from threats. Most Dionae who don’t feel the call tend to stop at this level.

Shee’cha - ‘’’Third Rank’’’ aka Student of the Third Level
At this level, students are taught a wider array of close combat neutralization techniques as well as being taught to master defensive retreats.

Shee’che - ‘’’Fourth Rank’’’ aka Student of the Fourth Level
At this level, students are taught how to utilize the environment/objects to assist in close combat neutralization as well as in defensive retreat.
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====“Hshh” or “Full ranks”====
''“Holding hate in your heart is like grasping fire. It is you who is burnt in the end.”''

If a Dionae feels the call and has mastered the “Hshh’shee” or Student Ranks, they can opt to study the “Shh’sha’shu” or The Divine Mandate to Defend All and thus join the “Chaa’shh’sha’shu” or Guardians of Eternal. This is a more intricate martial discipline and covers military history, doctrine, diplomacy, martial theology and all combat forms. Advancement through the ranks is achieved not just by mastery as with the student ranks but also with the approval of the teacher. As with any hierarchy, commands flow down the ranks to the Defenders.

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Ranks from lowest - high:
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Shh’ch - ‘’’Defender’’’ aka Defender of the Dionae
At this stage, a Dionae is taught lethal combat forms as well as the use of weaponry and vehicles. The “Shh’sha’shu” is also taught which includes military history, doctrine, diplomacy and martial theology. Escalation of force is also taught at this level with a focus on de-escalation. Police and security units would begin at this level.

Shh’ch’sha - ‘’’Sentinel’’’ aka Sentinel of the Heavens
At this stage, a Dionae is taught further combat forms and more advanced lessons from the “Shh’sha’shu.” They might begin to specialise in a particular martial method such as piloting, combat engineer or even logistics.

Uushh’ch - ‘’’Master’’’ aka Master of the Defence of Heaven
At this stage, a Dionae becomes an Overseer with mastery over combat and defence. A Diona at this level is familiar with all forms of the “Shh’sha’shu.”

Uushh’ch’sha - ‘’’Grand Master’’’ aka Grand Master of the Defence of Heaven
At this stage, a Dionae has not only mastered the “Shh’sha’shu” but also multiple specialities. It is possible due to the way in which the advancement system works within the “Shh’sha’shu” for every member of the “Chaa’shh’sha’shu” to end up being a Grand Master barring the Marshall, though such a thing has never occurred historically.

Hss’shh’sha’shu - ‘’’Marshall’’’ aka Marshall of the Divine Mandate to Defend All
The highest rank in the “Chaa’shh’sha’shu.” At this stage a Dionae would hold superlative knowledge of the “Shh’sha’shu” and not just be an expert fighter and military leader but also a tremendous diplomat. Unlike all other ranks the Marshall is largely unique, with only one Marshall per independent Dionae nation. The current Marshalls are: ‘Amplified by Probing Discoveries of Unknown Investigations’ of the Epsilon Expeditionary Force, ‘Metal Forms Made Ready‘ of the Narrows and ‘The First Lights Across the Void’ of the Biesel Choir.
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==Religion==
The entrance of Dionae into the Orion Spur, alongside the Skrell, has been nothing short of a mystery - allowing many theories to form of their creation, some have even gone as far as to create religions surrounding the species.

===The Eternal===
[[File:Eternal.png|thumb|alt=Eternal Icons.|From left to right: Symbol of the Iron Eternal, symbol of the Orthodox Eternal, symbol of Connected to the Blossoms Beyond, symbol of the Blood Eternal.]]

====Belief====
Followers of '''The Eternal''' believe that a primordial entity exists in Light, Energy and Essence - which the Dionae are the embodiment of.

They believe that the Dionae were made to ensure that all things born from the stars return to stars, eventually. Before they may return the Dionae must devour as much knowledge and biomass as they can, growing exponentially until they reach the mythical Titan form, becoming a star once more. Transcended into a star, the Dionae will emit light and energy until they die, at which point their essence will spread across the void to birth new Dionae. It is in this way that '''the eternal cycle''' is achieved. Scholars of the Eternal link this to the very real potential outcome of Titan form Dionae which theoretically could grow to such mass as to collapse into a star, thus giving off "light and energy" before eventually going supernova and expelling matter or "essence" across the cosmos.

Dionae followers from outside of faction space (deep space or unknown frontier worlds) tend to be the most outspoken followers of the Eternal, preaching openly and trying to encourage Dionae alongside non-Dionae to join through words supported by good deeds, never by force.

The Eternal faith’s symbols originate as audio frequencies or “songs”. Non-Dionae members of the faith have, with guidance from Overseers, “translated” many symbols into a visual format for non-Dionae. Those thoughts, feelings and symbols that are not able to be translated are “sung” to the faithful, with non-Dionae learning to understand and even sing these “symbols'' themselves.
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Key "songs" of the Eternal:
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'''The Song of the Eternal'''

The song of the symbol representing the Eternal and the faith in general. It sounds like ‘’a soft, intoxicating melody which rises to an emotional crescendo before softly drifting away.’’

'''The Song of Energy'''

The song of the symbol representing energy, birth and action. It sounds like ‘’an intense melody building into an aggressive crescendo before abruptly ending.”

'''The Song of Essence'''

The song of the symbol representing essence and strength. It sounds like “a long, strong melody slowly rising to a high note before softly drifting away.”

'''The Song of Greeting'''

The song of the emotion associated with a pleasant greeting. It sounds like “a brief, colourful melody.”

'''The Song of Light'''

The song of the symbol representing light, wisdom and nourishment. It sounds like “a loud, operatic melody which seems to travel upwards then downwards in pitch before softly drifting away.”

'''The Song of Love'''

The song of the emotion associated with a both romantic and platonic love. It sounds like “a soft, angelic melody that seems to drift through the air before softly ending.”

'''The Song of Mourning'''

The song of the emotion associated with both mourning the dead and mourning general deep loss. It sounds like “a strong, keening melody which slowly drifts into silence.”

'''In game, these audio symbols can be “sung” using the chat command “!” and copying everything from “a” in the song’s sound description. For example, “!sings a soft, intoxicating melody which rises to an emotional crescendo before softly drifting away.”'''
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[[File:Eternal_symbols.png|thumb|alt=Eternal Symbols.|The translated symbols of the Eternal - Light, Energy and Essence.]]

====Leadership====
====Head of the Faith====
The de facto leadership of the faith is made up of Argus sized and larger gestalts which commune with one another to philosophise about the nature of reality and the faith within it. In the known galaxy the current “head” of the faith is ‘Connected to the Blossoms Beyond’, an Argus gestalt living within the Eternal Temple of Biesel, who communicates with the ancient gestalts in deep space.

====High Overseers====
Under Blossoms are three High Overseers who act as respective “sub-heads” for the three Eternal Doctrines - the Iron Eternal, the Orthodox Eternal (known simply as the Eternal) and the Blood Eternal. These are:

Amplified by Probing Discoveries of Unknown Investigations - High Overseer of the Iron Eternal, located on Epsilon Ursae Minoris

Rationing Knowledge of Embodied Sanguis - High Overseer of the Orthodox Eternal, located on Biesel.

The Ravenous Consumer of Beastly Monsters within the Cloud - High Overseer of the Blood Eternal, located within the Viscerabelt.

Overseers make up the equivalent of the priesthood of the Eternal faith. Overseers work alongside the large Argus gestalts, primarily Connected to the Blossoms Beyond, to relay any important messages to the congregation and largely to act as mentors and trainers, passing on their knowledge to the followers of the Eternal. Most if not all Overseers are experts in other fields, often working in different roles whilst acting as an Overseer so that they might better meet with and pass on messages to the faithful. Most Overseers tend to be Dionae but it is possible for a committed non-Dionae to become one. By virtue of the audio symbology of the Eternal non-Dionae Overseers tend to be good singers. '''On station, an Overseer might work as, say, a medical doctor training other medical staff whilst also acting as an Overseer for the Eternal.'''

====The Iron Eternal====
Followed largely by the Dionae on Epsilon Ursae Minoris and Dionae supportive of synthetics. The Iron Eternal follows the basic doctrine of the Eternal however believes that the Eternal exists within the material universe, on death memories and experience are lost and that it is the Dionae’s destiny to utilize the machine to transcend to the next state of being, becoming as the Iron Eternal. To this end, they utilize machine interface technology and their own biology to fuse with machinery as well as data storage units, improving their data processing power, data retention and other biological functions, allowing easier transfer of knowledge in life as well as on death. Followers of the Iron Eternal give equal standing to synthetic life, believing it to be capable of forming its own memories and experiences which can be absorbed and passed into the “Light” via their machine components.

=====The Deathflower Journal=====
A monolith-like computer system made from an unknown green crystal material. It contains technical diagrams on the construction of various advanced technology albeit with references to esoteric, unknown materials. Importantly, it contains direct references to what the followers of the Iron Eternal believe to be the actual Iron Eternal itself, descriptions of its acts as a creator god machine and immutable proof of its existence as far as they are concerned.

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Key "songs" of the Iron Eternal:
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'''The Song of Iron'''

The song which represents a greeting as well as reference to learning, knowledge and the Eternal. Can only be sung by augmented followers of the Eternal through their augmetics. It sounds like ‘’a soft binary burst, rising and falling until it gently fades.”
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====The Orthodox Eternal====
Followed by the majority of Dionae, the Orthodox Eternal belief which is generally just referred to as “the Eternal" offers a middle path for Dionae. A balance between the material universe and the immaterial spiritual beliefs of the greater Eternal. The Orthodox Eternal is the originator of almost all of the Eternal doctrine and overall philosophy, offering a balance between the transfer of knowledge materially through scholarly learning and data storage implants alongside learning through DNA.

====The Blood Eternal====
Followed largely by the Viscerabelt cluster and more unsavoury, aggressive Dionae. The Blood Eternal is a more violent interpretation of the Eternal, represented by a blood-red icon of the Eternal with a bloody maw.

Followers of the Blood Eternal are largely identical to their normal counterparts with one key difference: they prefer the consumption of flesh and blood to gain knowledge unlike regular followers of the Eternal who's pursuit of knowledge is largely based around standard scholarly learning. Blood Eternal followers also believe in the spread of Dionae biomass and growth through consumption of other biological matter over the perceived slow growth of mass through light and radiation. To this end, Blood Eternal followers tend to be more aggressive than their Orthodox or Iron counterparts as well as larger and stronger. The vast majority of the Blood Eternal followers are still sensible with their consumption of biomass- hunting animals, purchasing or at the very worst, stealing blood and flesh. The Blood Maw is the largest temple in the Viscerabelt and the known galaxy. Essentially a hollow asteroid coated in red, glistening Dionae biomass.

=====The Blood Well=====
An organic construction made from Dionae biomass. Based within the Blood Maw this large, pulsating biological machine stores collected blood samples up to 30 days for followers of the Blood Eternal to imbibe to aid in learning. Largely used to educate newborn nymphs by submerging them in its central “well,” the machine provides a large cocktail of DNA to the nymph, bringing it rapidly into sapience. The Blood Well is very closely guarded and protected to prevent contamination.

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Key "songs" of the Blood Eternal:
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'''The Song of Sacrifice'''

The song which represents sacrifice to the Eternal, death and feasting. It sounds like ‘’a bass boosted, howling dirge which ends in a bone-rattling crescendo.”
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====Burial and Practice====
All followers of the Eternal regardless of species believe that upon death their body should be preserved and merged with a growing Dionae gestalt as quickly as possible so their knowledge and experiences will live on. In this way Dionae believe they are immortal as long as they can be absorbed. Followers of the Iron Eternal focus mainly on preserving their data coils which contain their knowledge in digital form whereas Blood Eternal followers stress that the dead must be consumed and re-added to the mass. Orthodox Eternal followers tend to follow a balance of the two.

====The Ch’sssn’aah or “Great Conflict/Debate”====
Due to the polarizing nature of the Iron Eternal (physical world, materialism) and the Blood Eternal (metaphysical, idealism) there is often great theological debate within the Eternal faith. Known as the “Great Conflict” or “Great Debate” (debate and conflict being synonymous in rootsong) the doctrinal arguments would strangle Eternal theology were it not for the counterweight provided by the “Orthodox” Eternal belief which serves as a middle path for the Dionae. Though never resorting to physical altercations, debate between Iron and Blood followers can rapidly rise from good-natured jabs to heated exchanges.

====”Sn’aah” or “Eternal Debates”====
[[File:eternal_debate.png|thumb|400px|From left to right, an Iron Eternal Overseer, an Orthodox Eternal Overseer and a Blood Eternal Overseer debate metaphysics.]]
Followers of the Eternal and Dionae in general prefer to settle disputes non-violently through debate where possible. Though debates can become passionate and fiery, they all tend to follow the same basic rules as outlined in Eternal philosophy.

Overseers debate points of order collated by Connected to the Blossoms Beyond. Overseers sit in a forum and can only speak when formed into a circular shape known as “the form”. Only one gestalt can assume this form at a time. The debate is moderated by a High Overseer. Sometimes gestalts can get passionate/noisy especially when individual nymphs start to join in and multiple Overseers may end up assuming “the form” or just shouting out without assuming the form. The High Overseer will then call for “calm” usually by just saying/shouting “calm”. Overseers must then be silent. It can be difficult to quiet the Overseers but usually after a short time passions are pulled under control and civil silence reigns. If an Overseer won’t be quiet they can be ejected from the debate. To speak without being in the form and without authority by the High Overseer is called “talking from formless” and is considered against the rules. Overseers that continue to do so can be ejected from the debate. Connected to the Blossoms Beyond will then decide when a debate has reached its conclusion and give a verdict on its outcome, at which point a new point of order will be called and debate begins again. Eternal debates are essentially endless, with Connected to the Blossoms Beyond diverting aspects of itself to oversee them perpetually as Overseers come and go as they feel necessary.

This form of debate is also reflected in minor, ad hoc debates groups of Dionae might find themselves in.For example, a group of Dionae might want to debate on the next course of action in a research expedition. The group will hastily choose the most intelligent of the group to act as both the moderator and decider. The group will then debate as above, assuming “the form” until the elected moderator makes their decision which the rest of the group will follow. In very rare circumstances this might not always be the case and one member of the group my begin to enact the Schh’aah’shu or Rebel Path.

====Schh’aah’shu or “Rebel Path”====
“Pacifism is not passivism, do what you will and we shall do what we must.” Last words of ‘Hope of Starlight.’

Considered by the majority of Eternal followers to just merely be an aspect of the Sh’shu, an irreversible path towards unnecessary aggression and loss of self control. For those more “rebellious” gestalts the Schh’aah’shu or “Rebel Path” is a spiritual means to an end, a violent path in life one takes when there is no other choice. The Schh’aah’shu usually begins when a gestalt is faced with a situation they personally cannot tolerate, something beyond the pale with the only solution being calculated violent activity or reprisal. Naturally this is a very uncommon position for almost all gestalts who would much rather resolve issues lawfully as well as peacefully with words and good deeds. The most infamous (or famous depending on your position) example of a Dionae following the Schh’aah’shu was the Biesel Choir Sentinel Argus, Hope of Starlight, who ignored direct instruction by Overseers and naval enforcement by splitting into three cyclops gestalts before raiding a pirate vessel which was under investigation for smuggling sapient nymphs for slavery and food production. After killing its crew at the expense of two of it’s split partners, Hope of Starlight brought the vessel back to Biesel dock where it was violently apprehended by law enforcement officers as armed and dangerous. Treated largely as an example of stupidity, loss of control and a dark example of Sh’shu, Hope of Starlight is often idolised by rebellious gestalts as being an example of the Schh’aah’shu’s purity. Curiously, though followers of the Blood Eternal tend to be more aggressive, they are no more likely to follow the Schh’aah’shu then any other gestalt.

====Lexicon====
Key words and phrases of the Eternal which have made their way into Dionae culture on Biesel:

Bad Blooded - A dionae who is unnaturally aggressive.

Eternal Cycle - The Eternal Cycle. Refers to the cycle of life and death.

Void - Means nothingness. To be "returned to the void" is negative and implies a being or thing is no longer part of the eternal cycle. It has completely ceased to exist in any form. “The Void comes/calls” or just “The Void” is often said by Dionae and Eternal followers to mean “something bad is going to happen”, “what you are doing is going to have a dangerous outcome for you” or “I don’t like where this is going.”

Young Star - A Dionae who is on the path to becoming a star. This could mean through consumption of biomass but usually implies a scholar who is "absorbing" knowledge. A Dione scientist might be referred to as a "young star".

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Dionae Clusters

2021-04-19T00:41:41Z

Lmwevil: removing ambergris

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====Dionae Clusters====
Clusters are groups of Dionae who share similar ideas, emotions, or goals and have interacted socially at some point may be part of a '''Cluster'''. These clusters are grown from group identity, if a diona heavily agrees with one or multiple clusters they will say they are from those clusters. This means clusters are very loose most of the times, with some exceptions. Clusters do not have to be physically linked to exist.

Some clusters are inside or a part of other civilizations, and will require knowledge of those societies. '''''Find one that interests you, you don't have to know them all, and you don't even have to be from any of them!'''''

=Dependent Clusters=

==The Emperor's Royal Garden - Dominia==

[[File:domi_dionae.png|Special standard of the Imperial Dionae.|thumb]]
The Emperor himself perceives the Diona as the perfect subservient life form, and has a personal biodome connected to his palace that houses the Royal Garden, where all his most loved children stay. When a nymph is grown in his garden, it is grown in the best-imported soil and given imported comet-based water. These diona nymphs are the perfect gift for The direct vassals, pets, children, and jesters to the high nobility of Dominia, these gestalts are perceived as displays of immense wealth for nobility. However, the cost for keeping a diona satisfied in the chilly system of Dominia is somehow so much higher than everywhere else - especially since they are one of the Emperor's most loved beings. Dionae are generally a rare sight within the Empire Of Dominia, with a majority coming from The Royal Garden or being more of a “showpiece” as part of a noble house. Some Dionae will become employed as diplomats, as they generally have the utmost loyalty to the empire.

Citizen Dionae are not permitted to merge or split any of their nymphs with a gestalt who is not also a citizen. When a Dionae becomes a citizen they are given a necklace called a “Branched Blossom” made up of smaller interlocking necklaces called a “Branch”, each engraved with the first word in a nymph’s name. If a nymph leaves or merges with a gestalt they are expected to bring their Branch piece engraved with their name to be connected with the gestalt’s Branched Blossom. While it is not required to be worn at all times, it is required to be brought with the gestalt if they wish to get a visa approved, or to a court hearing.

===Emperor Boleslaw’s Royal Garden===

The Royal Garden of Dominia has been known to grow various types of flora - including Dionae. The Dionae grown within the Royal Garden are assigned various duties to assist the Emperor, some even finding themselves on his menu. Majority of the Dionae that are grown within the Garden will follow the Moroz Holy Tribunal. For the Dionae, the Royal Gardens are a paradise, with perfect soil quality and climate. An Imperial Dionae would rarely grow stunted and, like their gene boosted sires, they tend to be the most well maintained Dionae in known space. Imperial Dionae are usually tended to by their Imperial Dionae kin when nymphs, before forming into gestalts to be assigned a further use. The Royal Gardens, when not in use, have Imperial songs and Tribunal hymns piped through the intercoms to stimulate the growing Dionae.

===Culture of Imperial Dionae===

Imperial Dionae are raised immersed in high society Imperial propaganda. They tend to be well-spoken and hold a fanatical support of both the Imperial regime and the Moroz Holy Tribunal. Almost all Imperial Dionae assume a humanoid form for their artemin reverence to the Goddess in the Imperial religion, trying as hard as possible to appear as a human covered in red/yellow flowers. Results vary from an almost abstract form to humanoid in shape with eyes and "mouth" in approximately the right locations. Many Imperial Dionae find what appeals the most are those that are somewhere in the middle.

Unlike other clusters, the Royal Garden does not contain larger gestalt forms and as such, does not have it’s own “song”. Imperial Dionae instead find themselves drawn to Imperial religious melodies as a surrogate for this missing part of their usual lives. Many Imperial Dionae carry music devices containing various Imperial songs or Tribunal hymns to listen to in place of any Dioane “songs”. Dionae often wear practically nothing but Dominian capes however Dionae allocated to great houses tend to wear greatcoats made from imported [[Dionae_Clusters#Organic_Mesh_Weave|Dionae Organic Weave]]. Importing the weave is expensive so such clothing tends to only be worn by Dionae allocated to great houses.

Blessed as they are by the Emperor, Imperial Dionae have their own collective zatimono which they often wear on their uniforms or capes with pride, regardless of what house they may be allocated to if any.

The Dionae of the Empire do not have access to communications from the Eternal Temple spire on Biesel and as such do not have much contact with the larger Dionae community, enforcing their elitism and fanaticism to the Empire. They are largely unaware of the various [[Notable Dionae Factions]].

====Diplomats====

His Imperial Majesty's Royal Garden on occasion has produced Diplomats that the Emperor has recognized. Prized for their ability to speak multiple alien languages and for their skills in cross-species empathy, Diona Diplomats are often found near their human counterparts following closely and listening attentively - however few have managed to secure diplomatic positions without the assistance of a human, usually in service to a great house.

Diplomat Dionae would align themselves as a Consular Agent.

====Priests====

His Imperial Majesty is known throughout the Empire for his piety - which also spreads into his Royal Garden. A handful of those grown have forged their own path and have ventured into the clergy - many times finding themselves as low-level clergymen who spread their faith and knowledge of the Goddess by amalgamating with non-believers. Dionae priests tend to be highly respectable and naturally empathic.

Dionae that have taken this route would align themselves as a Chaplain/Priest.

====Servants====

Dionae that do not find themselves in elevated positions within the Empire will likely remain servants - usually working as Imperial Gardeners for the Royal Gardens and beyond. Typically involved in menial tasks around the palace varying from cleaning, cooking and gardening. Dionae cooks and gardens are highly favoured amongst Imperial high society. Servant Dionae undertake their tasks with gusto, usually fully immersed in the Dominian servile culture.

Dionae that had been cast aside as Servants would align themselves with the service departments, mainly gardening and cooking.

====Harvest Dionae====

Although most Dionae are put to work - there are a few that are grown for the sole purpose of being served to His Imperial Majesty. These Dionae are grown in a separate area of the Royal Garden and are not given any form of education. The lifespan of these dionae are quite short, usually spanning a couple of months before being slaughtered - however in rare cases and by unknown means, nymphs from the “harvests” have been known to escape and form edict breaking gestalts. With no song to call their own and with no formal education to speak of these Imperial Dionae tend to live terrible lives, falling in with pirates and criminals. Most that find themselves in Biesel end up joining the [[Dionae_Clusters#The_Songless_Gang|Songless Gang]].

Dionae from this segment would be outcasts and labelled as edict breakers. Be aware - playing as a Dionae that originally was meant to be eaten can be quite tough if the secret gets out!

==The Pests of Titan Prime - Vaurca Hiveship==

This cluster, who have for '''500 years''' been hiding away on the Vaurcan Hiveship of Titan Prime, has constantly been in conflict with the bug-like Vaurca. The original gestalt was scooped up from a Gas Giant by the Vaurca on a routine fuel-refill for them, and it worked its way and grew on the outside of the ship like a barnacle. Eventually, the gestalt dug into the ship out of curiosity, causing a vaurca drone to be sent out to scrape off the biomass causing the damage thinking it's a routine acidic blob outbreak. Upon being attacked, the gestalt fought back, killing the drone and eating what it could of the corpse - but it didn't learn any languages, and couldn't communicate with the Vaurca in any way as their primary form of communication is telepathic, robotic, and foreign. More drones came upon the death of the first and were deadset in their orders to remove the dionae. This attack was more vicious and killed many of the nymphs, forcing the gestalt to deform.

After the first encounter, the nymphs escaped in different directions. They scurried through the strange, dark ship, barely surviving off the little heat and light they could find. Every nymph had to adapt to the different situations they were thrown in to in different ways, some resorting to mimicry and others using nymphs to scout areas ahead, with the rare gestalt wearing a Vaurca exoskeleton to blend in. Their main goal was '''survival''' now, and so they adapted to the confined spaces of the ship, hiding at moments of activity and scavenging off of the Vaurca. They would take advantage of any situation, and constantly have to split and reform to survive. This continued for 500 years, adaptation and adversity, death and loss - being '''treated like a pest'''.

Eventually, the hiveship found '''Tau Ceti'''. Now that there is a form of communication between the Vaurca and Diona, the Queens and Unbound of the Zo'ra Vaurcan hives have apologized and been welcoming - even offering a small greenhouse to live on at the top of the ship. Some diona have taken the deal, some have left to live with the other species. '''All of them have shared trauma of this experience.'''

==The Spirits of the Oasis - Moghes Wasteland==

[[The_Wasteland#The_Spirits_of_the_Oasis|''' The Spirits of the Oasis''']] are a great example of a symbiotic relationship between species - Unathi and Diona. Originating from a simple friendship between a lost Diona tending to wounded animals and a wandering Wastelander unathi on the brink of exhaustion, the clans of the Spirits of the Oasis have truly begun to understood and seek out any Diona on Moghes to assist in survival.

The origins of this friendship stem from a tale - the tale of Walking Sands, Clan Mother Dorviza, and the Last Plains Tyrant.

Clan Mother Dorviza was the eldest woman of her clan, and an avid Plains Tyrant tamer - knowing full well how to care for, feed, and tame one of these savage beasts. Walking Sands was a young and unknowing diona - born from the destruction of an Izweski laboratory in a nuclear blast. Both souls have learned something of the Wasteland, and in this tale, their combined knowledge will allow the survival of several Wasteland clans.

Walking Sands wanders through the Wasteland and comes across a wounded and trapped Plains Tyrant - the last one to be seen in the wild naturally. Lacking the knowledge or understanding of what it is, they approach it and the Plains Tyrant slashes out defensively. Understanding that the Tyrant is wounded and stuck, Walking Sands continues to try and get closer to try and see if it can help and gets attacked again. This continues until the Tyrant becomes too exhausted to resist, and falls unconscious. The diona cannot help, yet remains by its side for days growing shade and safety for the monstrous animal. Clan Mother Dorviza, knowledgable of traditional and ancient Plains Tyrants locations, comes to the scene after a scout from her clan reports a strange plant-like growth in a ruined temple.

=Independent Clusters=

==The Viscerabelt - Tau Ceti Space==

: '''''"We request blood to complete our rituals, for without, the Eternal will curse us."''''' - ''The Ravenous Consumer of Beastly Monsters within the Cloud.''

Located in the [https://wiki.aurorastation.org/index.php?title=Tau_Ceti#The_Romanovich_Cloud Romanovich Cloud] around Tau Ceti, these Dionae have made their home in a region of the cloud called the Viscerabelt. This area of space is littered with asteroid and carp nests, and is considered the most densely populated area of space carp in the known galaxy - making it an exceptionally dangerous region of space in Tau Ceti.

The cluster has a deep-set view on [https://wiki.aurorastation.org/index.php?title=Dionae_Culture#The_Blood_Eternal blood], primarily focusing on its uses for religion. The Viscerabelt Cluster will use the blood in ritualistic dances, chants and prayers. Sitting under the control of Biesel the cluster often trades in culled carp products and minerals in exchange for blood.

Gestalts can easily be recognised by their brands referencing the Blood Eternal as well as their larger size. It’s common for Dionae from this cluster to be miners or hunters whilst also following the Shh’sha’shu.

==The Blossoms of the Great and Divine Eternal - Deep Space==

: '''''"The Blessed Eternal is the perfect life form. It is the light in the cold and the dark and the ash. Its tendrils are bountiful and expanding and terrible in its fury. But it is a benevolent ruler. "''''' - ''Birthing From The Womb Of Heavy Matter''

An extreme in the ways Diona can naturally develop culture, the Blossoms of the Divine Eternal are a cluster-based around their belief in '''[[Dionae_Culture#The_Eternal|The Eternal]]''', a primordial entity which exists in Light, Energy, and Essence. The followers of the Eternal wish to create the densest materials in the universe by forging and reforging heavier and heavier elements - which they do so by devouring as much as they can and throwing themselves into stars once they reach a certain size - most likely the size of a Cetus form diona, large enough to be considered a stellar body. The gestalts of this cluster believe Diona are the embodiment of the Eternal in physical form, made to ensure all things born from stars return to stars ... eventually. This is the natural form of the universe.

The gestalts of the Divine Eternal appear seemingly randomly from deep space, located towards the centre of the galaxy. They typically have stories and experiences of celestial events - stars falling into each other, planets crashing, near-death experiences which they have lived through.

The Blossoms of the Divine Eternal are adamant in their encouragement of Diona to come together - literally. In times where a large Divine Eternal gestalt has come across a wild and 'unintelligent' diona gestalt, they have violently attacked and destroyed the creature and consumed its biomass for the expansion of their mindset and the Eternal's will.

===The Biesellian Choir===

Unlike most clusters that tend to arrive in a place through some great event, the Biesellian Choir was a slow, but steady immigration into Biesel. Gestalts first arrived as individuals seeking to spread the work of the Divine Eteneral to Dionae and non-Dionae alike, drawn to Biesel by its laissez-faire, free movement and trade attitude. The Choir have since established themselves within the slums of [[Mendell City]]’s district 11 where they live and grow. New Dionae either join the Choir from other clusters, immigrate from outside or are grown directly within the Eternal Temple, the centre of the Choir’s community. Growth is troublesome though, and many nymphs are born stunted and dead. Where other Gestalt communities might sell those stunted, dead nymphs to be used in fine cuisine, the Choir refuses to do so, uniquely finding the practice of other species consuming Dionae flesh abhorrent, they also return the dead to the temple to be consumed by their community leader, “Connected to the Blossoms Beyond”.

====The Eternal Temple====

Home to the huge argus cluster [[Notable_Dionae#Connected_to_the_Blossoms_Beyond|“Connected to the Blossoms Beyond”]], the de facto community leader of the Biesellian Choir. The Eternal Temple is a steel temple dedicated to the Divine Eternal. The outer shell of the building is made of green coloured steel sheeting, welded and formed into natural forms giving the temple an almost organic look. A central, smooth spire rises upwards towards the sky. Internally, the temple is much the same visually. It is extremely well lit and houses a Dionae community centre as well as a large hydroponics bay for the growth of new Dionae nymphs and the mesh weave factories. The temple’s central worship area is essentially a room constructed of “Connected to the Blossoms Beyond”, who speaks with the congregation directly. For many Dionae, this is the only connection they have to the more educated, ancient Gestalts. The central spire is a transmitter constructed using Dionae quantum wave technology which is used to “speak” directly with the clusters further in deep space, to achieve consensus. The sound of this rootsong “transmission” can be dimly heard by Dionae in Republic of Biesel space as a whisper, “the Hum”, likening it to the sounds of wind chimes to those species incapable of hearing it. A pleasant sound. The temple itself is expensive to maintain, with high energy costs and general land rental and maintenance expenses being quite high. To this end, Dionae of the choir work to provide donations to the temple and the community. A Faustian bargain for some as this leads them to work for organisations that would enslave and even consume the Dionae themselves.

====Culture of the Choir====

Initially a highly religious, firebrand society, it has somewhat mellowed in the face of their “Biesellised” young, becoming the largest Dionae community in Biesel. As patriotic as any other, these Dionae as a whole tend to work towards the success of Biesel and often assisted authorities in dealing with hostile independent Dionae such as raiders from the [[Dionae_Clusters#The_Viscerabelt_-_Tau_Ceti_Space|Viscerabelt]]. The Dionae of the Choir are also one of the few Dionae communities known to utilize actual exotic-Dionae technology, such as quantum wave transmitters, organic mesh weave and sonic weaponry. These technologies are highly sought after and development into their use for non-Dionae is ongoing across many mega-corps, much to the discomfort of the Choir. Fortunately, no functioning non-Dionae analogues have been developed as they appear to require some form of unknown Dionae process and the Choir keeps these technologies close to their chest. Some believe it is only a matter of time before one of the enterprising mega-corporations makes a breakthrough.

====Organic Mesh Weave====

One of the few technologies sold to outsiders, the organic mesh weave makes use of high tensile, photoreceptive organic fibres developed by the Dionae to produce lightweight, flexible building materials which reflect beneficial light and radiation onto nearby Dionae. In practical terms, the mesh is often used as a clothing material, allowing Dionae to wear clothes that would otherwise stifle their gestalts, blocking light. The clothing is manufactured by choir Dionae within the temple and is shipped across Biesel, making it an expensive rarity outside of the planet. Any clothing style can be copied in this way and turned into suitable Dioane clothing. The “cloth” is also a hit with many humans within the warmer climes of Biesel as the mesh weave clothing, whilst still allowing one to maintain their dignity, actually projects the sun's rays through the clothes allowing one to tan whilst still wearing swimwear or beachwear. Whilst this might allow for a Dionae to wear a full suit and pants, the technology becomes less potent the more layers are added and generally, all Dionae, even the Choir, prefer to feel a star's rays on their bare “skin”, finding heavy or multi-layered clothing psychologically stifling.

Community members of the Choir can be broken down into three main groups:

====Immigrants from beyond====

Immigrants from Blossom clusters outside of Biesel tend to be the oldest and most religious of the community. These Dionae have to be “integrated” into Biesellian culture and tend to behave in the most alien manner, being highly against non-Dionae consuming Dionae flesh and actively preaching the Divine Eternal creed. Due to their lack of qualifications within Biesel and their attitudes towards non-Dionae these gestalts are only found performing low skilled work for NT, working as assistants, cargo technicians, miners and janitors. The irony isn’t lost on many of these gestalts, some being quite old, being thrust into low level, entry jobs with many grumbling at the work. The work must be done, however, as it’s the only way they can acquire funds for the Choir community so done it is, albeit begrudgingly.

====Converts into the Choir====

Many Dionae within the Choir originate from clusters not belonging to the Divine Eternal and have instead either converted or generally joined the community. These gestalts come in all shapes, sizes and creeds but most seem to find purpose within the Choir community. These Dionae tend to have all sorts of temperaments usually based on the original society they were from and as such tend to be found in all walks of life, from janitors to doctors.

====Natives of the Choir====

Few in number compared to converts, the natives are gestalts that were born and raised within the Temple and Biesel. Due to the age of the community on Biesel these gestalts tend to be quite young, with the eldest usually being around 30 years old at most. These gestalts tend to be the most “humanised” or “Biesellian” of the Dionae, speaking clearly and concisely and understanding the subtle nuances of cross-species interaction, as well as sharing the interests that most Biesellians might share. They are the most tolerant of non-Dionae cultures/activities and tend to grudgingly accept the non-Dionae culture of consuming Dionae flesh. Often patriotic towards Biesel and the Republic, these Dionae can be found serving as support within the [[Tau Ceti Foreign Legion]], often as engineers, pilots and medical staff. They are also found working for law enforcement, something largely not done by the subservient Dionae, operating as investigators and support staff. Many Dionae work as local police for Mendell, policing the Choir and ensuring compliance with Bieselian laws. Though stellar investigators and support staff by virtue of the Diona's natural learning and deduction capacity, they are never found walking “the beat” as patrol officers due to their natural slowness. As such, these Dionae and Dionae in general are rarely, if ever, found working as security officers within the mega-corps instead taking their cadetships within offices as support staff and working as [[Forensic Technician]]s, [[Detective]]s and [[Warden]]s for the mega-corps. Having been raised around the Hum for their entire lives, these gestalts enjoy its sound and in their spare time can often be found listening at station windows for it. They tend to become saddened when they are separated from it for extended periods.

===The Biesellian Song===

Originally starting as a series of religious publications and pamphlets, the Biesellian Song has evolved into a full-blown news outlet for the Dionae and people of Biesel and the Choir, sending out digital news across the extranet. Though usually used for communion with the clusters beyond, the Eternal Temple central spire is sometimes used to broadcast the Biesellian Song locally across Biesel space for Dionae to hear if they wish. Though usually only heard as a whisper, when the spire broadcasts in this way it essentially acts as a town crier, shouting news. Dionae that are interested must concentrate to properly hear the messages which many do, however uninterested Dionae can easily ignore the “song” when it is broadcast.

===The Songless Gang===

The Songless Gang or simply “the Songless” are a ragtag group of mainly immigrant Dionae who have fallen into a life of organised crime. Dipping their tendrils in all sorts of ill-fated schemes, the most troubling is phoron smuggling, extortion rackets and thuggery. They are known to take on low skilled work jobs such as cargo workers or service roles to gain access to materials they can steal and sell. They’re extremely difficult to stamp out and the Choir works tirelessly with law enforcement to bring the gang down.

==The Wild Ones - All Space==

: '''''"Back in the ol' daysss of Wild'un huntin', they'd pay thousssandsss if you brought back a Wild'un dead. I jusst wissh we didn' kill ssso many... ya never sssee 'em much anymore."''''' - ''Captain Kash Lardback''

Majestic and chaotic, Wild Ones fly through space with only the knowledge of collecting and scavenging - with many suspecting that they report back to a much larger 'Hive'. Due to the culling of the Wild Ones - thanks to their gravitation towards orbital scrapyards and derelicts, and have since becoming increasingly hostile, leading to numerous groups or mercenaries to be hired to clear them out to retrieve the scrap collected by the Dionae and to also harvest the solid mass of collected minerals, metals and gasses found within the centre of large Dionae forms over their eons long journeys. Many are tagged and studied by researchers who aim to understand Diona's instincts better, with patterns suggesting that the Wild Ones are 'evolving' in a way to prevent themselves from being hunted; by moving primarily through nebulae, then absorbing the surrounding gases found and emitting it both increase their speed and cloud sensors. These "Wild Ones" are not legally allowed to be killed in Sol Alliance and Jargon Federation space unless they pose a significant threat - but Frontier laws vary depending on the system.

==The Narrows - Frontier Space==
: '''''"It's weird to hear about the life of these creatures - having founded their society on the outcasts of the galactic community? It begs the questions on how much we can learn from the Dionae." - Doctor Khali Al-Saquu'''''

H-Z-63 nicknamed “The Narrows”, a now-abandoned prison based on an asteroid, developed by [https://wiki.aurorastation.org/index.php?title=Hephaestus_Industries Hephaestus] within the [https://wiki.aurorastation.org/index.php?title=Template:Aurora_Starmap Frontier]. H-Z-63 was unveiled as the perfect solution to deal with the swabs of criminal activity that had formed within the Frontier. It was hailed as an innovation that would bring new prosperity to the surrounding systems, especially with the number of criminals being sent that would soon be contributing to the galactic economy and no longer being burdens.

H-Z-63 would stand testament to Hephaestus engineering might - being used for almost a century before its destruction in June of 2452. The asteroid in which H-Z-63 was built rotated almost to sync with the orbit of it, taking days to do so, exposing a large portion of the prison base to cosmic radiation and light.

The destruction of the Prison could only be attributed to the rioting that had taken place, in part because the prisoners felt they had not been given sufficient privileges. It is unknown how exactly some prisoners had got hold of a few Dionae seeds, but they had. It was said that the Dionae were grown to help overpower the guards, and then assist the prisoners in escaping, but a stray bullet lodging itself into a welding tank forced all plans to cease - destroying a large portion of the life support within the Prison. All those without protective gear succumbed within moments, and those with gear fled the Station - leaving only the Dionae behind.

The Dionae soon banded, working together to assimilate those they could - understanding that chaos only brought destruction, and that a rigid hierarchy should be formed to ensure that order remained to ensure the survival and protection of the Cluster. H-Z-63 is still ‘owned’ by Hephaestus, however, the facility is maintained by the Dionae who taught themselves skills in numerous areas; such as Botany, Engineering and Mining. It was these three sectors that many of the Dionae are recruited into when they are hired by Hephaestus - it also is the sectors in which are governed by a Council.

===Culture of the Narrows===
Born into anarchy and strife, the Dionae of the Narrows value order and a clear hierarchy. Mainly split into miners, engineers and botanists, the Narrows Cluster embraces the basic Dionae belief of [[Dionae_Culture#Experience_Is_What_Matters|Experience]] with their society being based around experience in any given role, borrowing ranks that were held by the penal stations’ personnel. The oldest and most experienced gestalts hold higher status within the cluster with leadership sitting with three Argus forms: Echos of Sticken Earth - Mining Lead, A Sea of Growth - Head of Botany and Metal Forms Made Ready - Chief Engineer. Underneath these are gestalts known as Overseers which act to manage smaller groups of various workers.
[[File:DionaeHierarchy.PNG|An accurate depiction of how the Hierarchy works in the Narrows cluster.|thumb]]
The gestalts of the Narrows have an excellent work ethic and, due to their anarchic birth during a prison revolt and their close ties with [[Hephaestus Industries]], value those who show strong leadership skills and empathy. Being able to use your force of personality to subdue an aggressor without violence is held in high regard within the cluster. Due to this, most Narrows Dionae, though friendly, are perfectly capable of “talking the talk and walking the walk,” being able to argue their own case with co-workers of the same “rank”, being sure to treat their superiors with the utmost respect.

After the activation of the Eternal Temple spire on Biesel, the cluster has been connected to the Dionae community at large and a large following of the [[Dionae_Culture#The_Eternal|The Eternal]] has grown. The Narrows cluster are kept abreast of galactic events by the spire connection, albeit from the [[Dionae_Clusters#The_Biesellian_Choir|Biesel Republic Choir's]] point of view, with most if not all being aware of the various [[Notable Dionae Factions]].

=====The Rootsong Network aka "The Instructions"=====

The Narrows rootsong network is quite subdued and quiet, with only the three heads and the overseers singing instructions to the various workers across it. Non-Dionae visitors liken this noise to the sound of creaking tree bark in strong winds every few minutes. For Dionae the network is just barked commands given every so often.

====Those on Biesel====
Overall gestalts from the Narrows tend to work in Biesel as contractors for [[Hephaestus Industries]] carrying out mining or engineering roles. Some have been known to sign on to Nanotrasen as Botanists and Medical staff but all gestalts will have some connection to Hephaestus, perhaps working for them previously. Due to their links with the [[Dionae_Clusters#The_Biesellian_Choir|Biesellian Choir]] most Narrows Dionae will live amongst the Dionae community within Mendell Cities’ District 11. It is highly likely that they’ll follow the [[Dionae_Culture#The_Eternal|The Divine Eternal]]. Being largely friendly to all other clusters, it’s highly likely that gestalts from the Narrows will take a dim view of [[Dionae_Clusters#The_Emperor.27s_Royal_Garden_-_Dominia|Dominian Dionae]] due to their elitism but harbour deep empathy for gestalts from the [[Dionae_Clusters#The_Pests_of_Titan_Prime_-_Vaurca_Hiveship|Titan Prime]] cluster, having both been born from anarchic beginnings and the Prime Clusters trauma, a reflection of what could have been had the Narrows not been left alone due to random accident.

Dionae History

2021-04-19T00:39:10Z

Lmwevil: removing ambergris

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==History==

The enigmatic species, Dionae, have been discovered in various different locations throughout the Orion Spur. With a history unlike any other, with myriads of different perspectives and thousands of years of experiences culminating into what is known today, it was inevitable that there would be different viewpoints of the discovery of the Dionae with each species.

==Skrell History==
===First Discovery===

[[File:DionaeCap.PNG|thumb|alt=First Discovery.|The first discovery of the Dionae lead to a rush for rare minerals collected by their mass.]]

It is speculated that the species was initially discovered by [[Skrell]] prospectors on an arctic planetoid within the Xelp System. Originally sent to Xelp III to locate minerals that could aid in the reconstruction of Qerrbalak, but instead discovered concentrated and condensed metals shrouded by weeds. The discovery prompted the ‘Gold Rush’ of the '''2190s CE''' with thousands pouring their efforts into searching for more of the refined and compressed metals, climaxing in '''2198 CE''' when it could no longer be located throughout the planet. It is now suspected that the Skrell had caused an Echion Colossus to perish during the Gold Rush.

===Skrell Discovery===

The first documented discovery of the species occurred in '''2217 CE'''. A [[Skrell]] Exploratory Vessel noted an inconsistency with data taken from a scan of the Neuron Star - Kelo’Hen. It was soon labelled as an astrological anomaly, prompting further investigation after the discovery of an organic celestial body orbiting Kelo’Hen IIa. Whilst the loggings indicate a massive hull breach occurred shortly after first contact.

The destruction of the vessel sent shockwaves throughout the Jargon Federation - many theorising that Glorsh-Omega had returned after a period of hibernation. The recovering nation quickly dispatched a small fleet of cruisers to be attached to a rescue operation. Upon entering the system, they were welcomed by a now overgrown derelict, filled with an unknown organic growth. Initially believed to be some kind of parasite, the [[Skrell]] outfitted themselves with the appropriate gear to investigate the derelict exploratory vessel.

The operation perforated the derelict, discovering the dozens of hull breaches. As they pushed deeper into the vessel, it became apparent that there were no signs of the deceased crew. Although this gave rise to the hope that they had managed to utilize the escape pods, it soon proved to be false hope as they located the untouched pods. Additional analysis yielded that the growth was in fact flora - one that could survive in the clutches of space - and thus samples were taken.

[[File:SkrellDionae.png|thumb|alt=First Discovery.|The first-ever documented discovery of the Dionae was simply tagged as an anomaly in astrological data.]]

Upon their return, it was discovered that a stowaway had managed to cling onto some gear - a small worm-like creature that shared characteristics with the growth located within the confines of the derelict. Initially believed to be a non sapient creature of the void, it was only after it had begun utilizing various chirps, and incoherent sentences in Nral’Malik, that the team began to understand the gravity of the situation at hand. Almost immediately, it was contained and transported to the nearest scientific asset for it to be studied.

The project was deemed confidential, with the reasoning for the destruction of the derelict simply cited as a massive solar flare decimating the electronics - further leading to a catastrophic failure of life-sustaining machines. After covering up the destruction, the Grand Council proceeded to select very choice Biologists, Botanists and Linguists to investigate the creature, and whether a language could be deciphered. It was Linguistics Professor Xuq’mqix Volq that successfully constructed the Xuq Translator, a machine only capable of being described as a Skrell Enigma Machine.

The creation of the Xuq Translator allowed for crude, but coherent communication to occur between the singular nymph, and the Skrell. In horrific detail, the creature describes the acts committed against and within the exploratory vessel but reassured that after the deceased Skrell had assimilated into the conglomerate that they understood the weight of their actions. The species was soon dubbed Dionae Primis, after a similar species on Qerrbalak that had parasitic qualities. With the use of the Xuq Translator, the remainder of the Dionae were contacted. It was established that the Dionae would be rerouted to the Nrallak Star System, where they could commence additional diplomatic engagements. The entirety of the cluster promptly agreed, and navigated through the stars to where it remains today as the Conglomerated Choir of Nrallak.

===Skrell Aftermath===

After the Dionae the operation had become declassified, the cultural shockwave it had on [[Skrell]] society was enormous. Hundreds of different theories expanded across the species - some believing the Dionae wish to harm them, whilst others believing that the discovery of an alien species was inevitable, and they should be welcomed. Integration of the species began in '''2210 CE''', with the bulk of the species being selected to assist in reconstructing the destroyed cities across the Federation.

Dionae and [[Skrell]] have since formed an inseparable bond. The Skrell provide the Dionae with resources necessary for reproduction, as well as for the development of places of living, which the Dionae repay by contributing their efforts to assist in the Federation’s expansion across the stars. Another byproduct of this relationship is an order to destroy a theoretical form of the Dionae, noted to as a [https://wiki.aurorastation.org/index.php?title=Dionae_Forms#Titan| Titan], due to the inherent risk of intelligence singularity and other classified risks.

==Human History==
===First Discovery===

It is believed that the Dionae were first discovered by humanity during the First Interstellar War, within the Weeping Stars Region on the Orion Spur. Numerous auxiliary fleets seemed to have stumbled upon a now derelict Battleship, within 1.2 parsecs of the war’s deadliest assault - The Battle of the Binary. The auxiliary fleet further investigated the derelict, noting the existence of an abnormal growth of the starboard bow. Initially, it was thought that the Battleship had been destroyed by Coalition Forces, however, after preliminary scans it was observed that the derelict had become a breeding ground of sorts for extraterrestrial fauna. The auxiliary fleets eventually disembarked, leaving the vessel to be engulfed by the red giant it orbited.

===Human Discovery===

Almost a decade after the discovery of [[Skrell]] by Humanity, a joint operation had been initiated. The respective operation had been alerted to an astrological anomaly similar to the one noted in Kelo’Hen before it was discovered to be the Dionae. The possibility turned into reality as a new cluster was unearthed - just as the operation entered the Rueltab System on '''July 18th 2378 CE'''.

The [[Skrell]] forewarned that proximity was important - as getting too close to the Dionae may prompt them to become hostile. Whilst the Xuq Translator was being prepared, the Cluster began rapidly navigating through the void - with onlookers stating it was almost as if the species were capable of manipulating its surroundings. It pounced on a [[Sol Alliance|Solarian]] vessel, known as the Ophion, causing multiple hull breaches which ultimately prompted the overload of the warp core - an explosion echoed and acted an electromagnetic pulse to any ships within a ten kilometre squared radius of the explosion. With most of the joint operation being damaged one way or another, they were forced to retreat into more civilised segments of the Orion Spur - dubbing the event the “Rueltab Incident.”

[[File:DionaeCaelphon.png|thumb|alt=SASV Ophion.|The SASV Ophion was abandoned shortly after a Dionae assault on the vessel.]]

After the exponential damage done to the operation, it was deemed necessary for additional firepower to be sent - outfitted with a unique chemical weapon, later discovered to have been created by the Skrell in the unfortunate event that the Nrallak Cluster had begun to act hostile. Upon entering the Rueltab System, the fleets were welcomed to a similar sight experienced by the [[Skrell]] a century earlier - an overgrown derelict that replaced the Ophion. Armed with knowledge on how to circumvent the possibility of hostilities, they fired upon the cluster as a preventative measure. As the cluster attempted to recuperate, the Xuq Translator was established and diplomatic talks began with the Cluster.

The talks would continue for over a year - with a blockade of the system being placed to prevent unnecessary interruption. The assimilation of the crew aboard the Ophion assisted greatly giving the Dionae an inkling of the culture, and the language, that the Solarians had. The Dionae were soon ‘arrested’ for their crimes against the [[Sol Alliance]] and were almost immediately integrated into menial labour, where they were expected to pay their debt to the Alliance - usually taking a decade or more to do so.

===Human Aftermath===

The tragedy of the Ophion is still considered the greatest example of why the Dionae should be kept under close monitoring. Decades following the incident, the Dionae would have regulations and restrictions placed on them - essentially being classed as residents, but not citizens, of the Solarian Alliance. Many were sent to [https://wiki.aurorastation.org/index.php?title=New_Gibson| New Gibson], to strip mine the planet - and assist in developing it as a major-industrial powerhouse in the '''Middle-Ring''' of the [[Sol Alliance]]. Their survival only being guaranteed by the various electronics designed to provide light, and the majority of the radioactive waste produced on New Gibson being sent to the sizable community.

Those who had paid their debt to the Solarians resettled themselves to [https://wiki.aurorastation.org/index.php?title=Biesel| Biesel] eventually leading to the commencement of the construction of the Eternal Temple in '''2362 CE'''. It became a beacon for all Dionae, to continue to strive and work hard for the eventual taste of freedom. It took nearly sixty years for the Temple to be completed, finally being unveiled as a whole in '''2431 CE'''. [https://wiki.aurorastation.org/index.php?title=Notable_Dionae| Connected to the Blossoms Beyond] was one of the first to resettle, being granted rights to a rather large piece of land considered to not be of any value to the [[Sol Alliance]], which would eventually become the one of the largest [https://wiki.aurorastation.org/index.php?title=Dionae_Clusters#The_Eternal_Temple| community] of Dionae a century later.

==Unathi History==
===First Discovery===
[[File:DionaeHistory1.gif|thumb|alt=Unathi First Discovery.|The first Unathi discovery was merely the watching of a meteor shower, later discovered to be Dionae seeds.]]

Various clans littered across the northern wastelands of Moghes saw thousands of streaks descend from the skies - a beauty not commonly seen in the horrific conditions known to most. What was in fact not shooting stars, but thousands of Dionae seeds entering the atmosphere. Whilst some theorise that they hitchhiked a meteorite, others have speculated that other species across the Orion Spur delivered the payload to assist in pushing back the immense expanse of continued growth across Moghes - The Wasteland.

===Unathi Discovery===

Several months after the supposed meteorite shower, an area previously just a crater spanning over two kilometres in diameter, had become an Oasis. No longer did an irradiated lake ruminate within the centre, but a source of freshwater that allowed its surroundings to once again bloom with biodiversity.

The nomads of the wastes stumbled upon the ever-growing number of these areas - all previously deemed uninhabitable, but now sprouted full of life. Many ‘colonising’ these areas, and settling their tribes within the now flourishing segments of the Wastelands.

[[File:Reclaimation.png|thumb|alt=Dionae Unathi.|The Dionae have since been used by various Unathi - even Reclaimers.]]

Upon further investigation, these miracles were in fact not just miracles. It was discovered that hundreds of little worm-like creatures would cement themselves within the most irradiated segments of the wastes, leaving the area only once the radiation levels dropped. The Unathi slowly came to understand that these creatures were in fact behind the restoration of the wastes - leading many to capture them in hopes of focusing their effort. It wasn't until communication was established between the species (thanks to assimilating the corpses of the Unathi). The relationship prospered - the Dionae extracted the radiation within the Wastelands, in return for being cared for by the Unathi. A symbiotic relationship, where each relied on another for further prosperity.

===Unathi Aftermath===

The two live in a state of symbiosis - With Unathi that are confined to the wastes relying on the species in order to expand their influence, and means of agriculture, through the radiated areas. Some Dionae have even been inducted into various tribes, being treated as equals in the eyes of the Unathi. Sk’akh followers have even hailed them as blessings from Sk’akh, allowing for Dionae to easily integrate within Unathi society.

==Recent History==
In recent times, the species has undergone massive advancements. Not only have they integrated into most societies across the Orion Spur - but have even begun expanding their reaches and colonising planets themselves. The most recent of which is [[Epsilon Ursae Minoris]], an underdeveloped colony of Dionae that have since managed to reach levels equivalent to an industrial level.

Dionae

2021-04-19T00:34:00Z

Lmwevil: /* Reproduction */

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<center>[[File:DionaeMainpage.png|1000px|The cold, desolate void of space, the only home Dionae have always known.|link=]]</center>

==Overview==
Enigmatic witnesses to various events through the centuries, the Dionae are an inquisitive species with a pacifistic disposition after gaining sentience. Their origins, behaviour and functions are never alike - with each being as unique as the next. The Dionae are capable of great intellectual, biological and physical feats going above and beyond what was considered possible for millennia. Dionae are similar to both plant and animal, however, they primarily survive off of the electromagnetic spectrum coinciding with a diet of biological matter to supplement their growth. Their lack of ability to adapt to lack of radiation can lead to death, if not exposed to at least efficient lighting. Dionae have been seen across the Orion Spur, each with a unique [https://wiki.aurorastation.org/index.php?title=Dionae_History#History history] and [https://wiki.aurorastation.org/index.php?title=Dionae_Clusters personality].

{{Infobox Diona
|Species = Dionae
|Scientific = D. Primis
|Image = Dionae410x320.png
|Language = Rootsong
|Factions = [https://wiki.aurorastation.org/index.php?title=Notable_Dionae_Factions Mult.]
|Location = [https://wiki.aurorastation.org/index.php?title=Notable_Dionae_Systems_and_Locations Mult.]
}}
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==Occupational==
Dionae can explore numerous employment opportunities, even that of Command Staff in the ranks of NanoTrasen. Although they are limited, Dionae '''''can''''' be found as [https://wiki.aurorastation.org/index.php?title=Research_Director Research Directors], [https://wiki.aurorastation.org/index.php?title=Chief_Engineer Chief Engineers] and [https://wiki.aurorastation.org/index.php?title=Chief_Medical_Officer Chief Medical Officers]. They, however, '''''cannot''''' be First Responders due to their severe slowness, risking the life of the patient.

==Mechanics==

*Access to the species' 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 *mchirp.
*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.
*Can be stunned with a flash, causing them to fall down for a few seconds.

==Biology==
Biology is the natural science that studies life and living organisms, including their physical structure, chemical processes, molecular interactions, physiological mechanisms, development and evolution. The Dionae, by virtue of being a unique lifeform, features an anatomy seen almost nowhere else. Each Dionae is unique to the next, none being alike.

===Physiology===
Dionae come in a myriad of [https://wiki.aurorastation.org/index.php?title=Dionae_Forms forms], all different in terms of their sizes. Nymphs are highly adaptable and are capable of living in various environments deemed uninhabitable for other species. Their worm-like appearance 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 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 century 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 can 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’s low frequency range will cause minor amnesia while they're apart. The low frequency singing has a relatively long range, allowing two way information transfer during this time. The nymph may consider itself still part of the gestalt, or an individual. But it is still intrinsically linked to the primary gestalt as long as the low frequency signal continues.

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 in such perfect conditions.

This comes at a great cost -- Their metabolism, while an incredible feat of Biology, is coupled with the Nymph undergoing a process which forces them to be almost sedentary. Their speed and activity decreasing as they age - with many becoming completely unable to move after a few centuries due to increasing weight, formation of thorns and hardening of joints after which they are often forced to root into a greater gestalt at this point, or risk slowing the younger Nymphs that they merge with to a halt and in the worst cases being left to die in relative isolation.

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 concentrated biomass 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 biomass 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 sufficient biomass tend to find the nymphs produced to wither soon after being disgorged.

===Colouring Schemes===
Whilst Diona bark is always brown, Diona are capable of being grown with differing shades and hues of bark. This is primarily affected by their age and the conditions in their growth site such as temperature and the type of radiation they were exposed to.

The following is a rough idea of what conditions would affect their bark’s shade:
*Default: Generally grown in a pressurized space station or temperate planet, and being exposed to a mixture of stronger and weaker radiation types.
*Lighter: Generally grown on warm planets, and being primarily exposed to weaker forms of radiation such as light.
*Darker: Generally grown in space or colder planets, and being exposed to stronger forms of radiation such as cosmic rays.
*Green: Younger Diona will generally have a greenish hue to their bark, although this will fade with time.

== Social ==

===Language===
These cryptic creatures are capable of comprehending hundreds of languages if exposed to the correct amount of genes, however, their physical limitations restrict them to only being able to speak a handful. The typical Dionae will likely speak Tau Ceti Basic and Rootsong - but can emulate other languages such as Freespeak and Tradeband, albeit slowly to annunciate the words correctly. [https://wiki.aurorastation.org/index.php?title=Unathi Sinta'Unathi] is also amongst the languages easily emulated, but Dionae will tend to fall flat when speaking Siik'Maas as the translation is sometimes lost due to their inability to do imitate the same gestures as the [https://wiki.aurorastation.org/index.php?title=Tajara Tajaran].

====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.

===Communication===
While Dionae gestalts can utilize a myriad of ways to communicate with other lifeforms, the majority will speak either slowly, pausing between some words, or speak quickly, extending their words.

Dionae who speak slowly will generally only use one nymph to communicate, having to pause to decide amongst the gestalt what to say next (an example being “We… are a… dionae”). These Dionae will generally be much older and contain a larger amount of nymphs in their gestalt. The speaker in this instance is usually seen as an elected leader, trusted to speak only what the gestalt agrees upon.

Dionae who speak quickly are generally using multiple nymphs to communicate, their words seemingly extending as multiple are speaking (an example being “Wee aarre aa dioonaee.”). These dionae will generally be much younger and contain a small number of nymphs in their gestalt. A majority of the nymphs will speak at once, rather than just utilize one nymph. The nymphs will still generally agree upon what to say, sometimes causing pauses similar to the other method.

'''Note that while these two methods are generally the way dionae will communicate, it does not mean the only ways they will. You're free to make up your own ways and reasons. You’re free to contact the Dionae loredev team with questions'''

===Psychology and Emotions===
Dionae differ incredibly to other species in terms of their emotions and psychology; primarily in how it affects each nymph and how it would be displayed in a gestalt. Dionae feel a myriad of diverging reactions to certain issues - which is what set them apart from others. When a Nymph first becomes sentient, and the ability to grasp more intricate and complicated ideas becomes easier, there is a rare chance for complications to arise which are deemed ‘Cognitive Obstacles’ and can easily be seen as mental disorders.

‘Cognitive Obstacles’ parallel mental illnesses that frequently find themselves rooted within other species across the Orion Spur. These ‘Cognitive Obstacles’ affect Dionae uniquely in the sense that each nymph can experience these differently to another. Dionae can form ‘Cognitive Obstacles’ similar to that of PTSD, Anxiety and Tourettes. It can be expected that Dionae that fall into this category of ‘Cognitive Obstacles’ will have bursts of unintended chirps, additionally coinciding with spasms. Some have noted that they have intense bouts of paranoia, and periods where they will experience an existential crisis.

Dionae can also form ‘Cognitive Obstacles’ similar to that of various depressive disorders. These are often seen as a mortal danger - where if an individual nymph begins to feel symptoms similar to the depressive disorders, such as intense periods of feeling impending doom or simply feeling lifeless, will eventually spread these thoughts through a gestalt which will eventually perish. Nymphs that are deemed ‘a hazard to the entire gestalt’ are cast and left to find treatment or will perish if they do not.

Splitting Disorder is a temporary disorder which occurs in gestalts that have split off into smaller forms, usually for work purposes (an Argus splitting into Cyclops forms to work in an office). The disorder is characterised by increased anxiety within the Dionae at being apart from each other and an intense fear that harm might befall one of the split forms, getting worse the longer the gestalt is split. This fear of danger varies for gestalt to gestalt, with some split forms being “braver” than others. Splitting Disorder can temporarily be relieved by brief re-merging via physical contact. This usually appears to other species as close hugs or hand-holding followed by happy chirping of the nymphs within the gestalt. It can be permanently cured by a full re-merging or after a long period of separation through long periods of separation can instead turn into a Depressive Disorder. The death or injury of a split partner tends to be extremely traumatising for the other partners, with the level and manner of the trauma dependent on each nymph, with some being “braver” than others.

==Out-of-Character Information==
With so much confusion on the Dionae, and the mysteries behind them, we've gone ahead and created a page dedicated to helping you! Of course, you can contact the Dionae team on discord for any additional questions.

It can be found at the [[Dionae Out-Of-Character]] page.
[[Category:Pages]]
[[Category:Lore]]
[[Category:Species]]
[[Category:Dionaea]]

Notable Skrell Systems and Locations

2021-04-14T22:52:47Z

Lmwevil: /* Qar'Jarq Ga'na-scuz - "The Sea Sluggers" */

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=Skrell Systems and Locations=
[[File:FJYLO (1).png|500px|thumb|Nralakk, depicted by an infographic designed in the early days of the Skrell.]]
The Jargon Federation exerts control over some 1236 planets spread across 800 star systems, representing billions of Skrell citizens. Of those 1200+ planets, only about 500 are colonized with permanent settlements, the rest being used mainly for a mix of mining (of metals and gases), and scientific research. A good portion of Skrell are concentrated in the core system of '''Nralakk'''.

The majority of the planets in Skrell space have been terraformed to suit their nature. A typical Skrell planet is covered in swamps, jungles, and the occasional large body of water. On planets where this kind of extreme terraforming is not possible due to natural preservation laws or extreme terraformation cost, the Skrell construct large biodomes and habitat structures to live alongside the xenoflora and fauna.

Almost all planets have accompanying '''observation posts''' on their moons or in low orbit, which monitor various things from biodiversity changes to civil unrest. Those on planet are required to send status reports to this observation post, which then determines if any issues are worthy of being sent further up to system-wide management for response. It is expected of the communities on planet to simply solve the problem before sending up this report - including the issue and how they resolved it.

== The Core System : Nralakk ==

Considered the origin of the Skrell, Nralakk is largely renown for being the jewel of the Jargon Federation. Historically, it has served as the centre of the Federation, but also as a home for almost a quarter of the Orion Spur's Skrell population. Soon after first contact with humanity, Nrallak gained the colloquial name of "Jargon". Roughly twice the size of Sol - the Blue Giant gives off a vibrant green-teal on Qerrbalak, a dazzling turquoise on Qerr'Malic and finally dashing celeste on Aloise when observed from within the respective atmospheres (if there is one) of the various planets. Closer to the star, there litters thousands of Glorsh-era orbital factories powered by its rays, now left behind to slowly dissipate into the giant star they orbit.

=== Fjylo ===

Fjylo is the smallest and closest planet to Nralakk. The scorched planet currently has an orbital period of 67 days, and has been noted to have a decaying orbit - proved due to its orbital period being 74 days when it was first recorded by Skrellian astronomers. It is named due to its small, violently burning composition that often leaves a trail of celestial material that has been known to create beautiful patterns before finally being drawn into Nralakk. It was named after a species of flora on Qerrbalak known in Tau Ceti Basic as the "Firevine" - reddish vines curling around one another, with thorns awaiting to sting despite their beauty.

=== Meyk ===

Meyk is the second planet in orbit from Nralakk. It orbits Nralakk every 121 days, and rotates on its axis every 179 days - in terms of percentages, Meyk takes considerably longer to rotate on its axis than any other planetary body within the system. Similar to Fjylo, Meyk is without any satellites, and was discovered during the early days of the Skrell. For millennia, Meyk wasn't considered to be a planet but instead a dwarf planet and it wasn't until 523 AD that it was finally recognised as a planet, and eventually nicknamed the "Trivial" due to its small stature. It was stripped bare by mining endeavours shortly after the Skrell began off-world operations.

=== Toqli-Fet ===

A binary set that are the third, and sometimes debated, fourth planet from Nrallak. They lie in Qerrbalak's orbit, and can be seen directly west in the twilight phases of the Homeworld's rotational phases, the original reasoning for their nickname due to appearing as eyes that seemingly 'watch' the Skrell. Bearing no atmosphere, low gravity and close orbits, Toqli and Fet were primarily considered to be inconsequential to any greater purpose than mining until the establishment of observation outposts, and now the planet only operates as observation outposts for the rest of the system, staffed by a few hundred workers that ensure the safety of the system through various bureaucratic measures.

=== Qerrbalak ===
See: [[Qerrbalak]]

Qerrbalak is the origin of the Skrell. One of two habitable planets within the system, comprised of various climates ranging from taigas to tropical rainforests. Qerrbalak is 1.8 times the size of Earth, and sports an atmospheric composition of 82% Nitrogen, 17% Oxygen and 1% other. Qerrbalak is currently undergoing slow terraforming efforts to reduce the damage inflicted by the Skrell during unenlightened times.

=== Qerr’Malic ===
See: [[Qerr'Malic]]

Qerrbalak has only one moon, Qerr'Malic. It has a surface area of roughly 17 million square kilometres, with an abundant amount of minerals found both close to the surface and deeper within its mantle. Akin to most moons, Qerr'Malic is without liquid water and an atmosphere - however, one notable difference is the effect it has on the tidal activity on the Homeworld. Its elliptical orbit generally comes closest to Qerrbalak during Xepus-qog, which results in most of the coastal regions becoming submerged by the various oceans down below.

=== Aliose ===
See: [[Aliose]]

Aliose has a heavy atmosphere of cold nitrogen, requiring internals and heated clothing to survive outside. To combat the planet’s much colder temperature, early colonies were subterranean, and heavily utilised geothermal energy for cooling and power production. As it gradually became dotted with cities and laboratories as much of Qerrbalak’s scientific elite sought to take part in the first planetary colonization by the Skrell and over time gradually resulted in Aliose becoming the scientific powerhouse of the Federation.

= The Elemental Systems: The First Waves =

When Skrell finally ventured beyond their solar system, they did so with great enthusiasm, scouting out the perfect worlds to colonize. In the 1000s BCE, the first waves of colony ships expanded beyond Nralakk into these systems, building up highly populous planets with well-developed infrastructure and healthy trade routes. With the Federation's strict colonist-recruitment systems and idealistic view on exploration, there was only a small amount of crime in this golden age of colonialism. The majority of these planets are composed of more advanced technology.

=== Aweiji ===

See: [[Aweiji]]

In 983 BCE, Aweiji became the first planet outside of Nralakk to have a permanent Skrell colony. The planet was rockier, drier, and more mountainous than the settlers’ home planet of Qerrbalak, but advances in biodome technology gave settlers adequate shelter while early terraforming technology made the planet’s atmosphere habitable. The first settlers landed on a plain between two mountains, an area which would become the city of Tresja. Because of its history as the first Skrell colony outside of Nralakk, Aweiji would eventually be chosen as the location of the largest political meeting in the Jargon Federation’s history, the Tresja Agreement.

=== Waughai ===

Waughai was one of the first planets outside of Nralakk, alongside Aweiji, to be colonized by Skrell. From the start, colonization in Waughai was intended to create permanent, livable settlements rather than temporary living conditions for mining operations. After Glorsh, the planet rose to prominence as Skrell began using mining as a form of art - carving craters into the other planetary bodies within Waughai's system, writing out whole poems that could only be read from space. The most renowned piece is a twenty-mile long-phrase sliced into its moon by an unknown author using mining lasers that reads, '''''"In longing, there is a future."'''''

= The Contingent Systems: The Second Waves =

As the core of the Jargon Federation grew, smaller settlements sprouted to support them. This second wave of colonization efforts saw the spontaneous rise of many colonies with single purposes, like mining outposts and farming operations. Some of these systems would go on to become thriving, if not modest, communities of varying levels of self-reliance, often with highly specialized citizens. Now, the Contingencies serve as manufacturing giants that provide the inner-worlds of the Jargon Federation with much-needed luxuries. Technological advances within the Contingent Systems lag, but are not too far behind.

=== Xaqixal ===

Xaqixal considered to be the biggest provider of minerals to the Jargon Federation. It consists of a single noteworthy planet, a few other planetoids and a massive asteroid field comprised of numerous resources. A colony was subsequently established on Xaqixal I after the discovery of the bountiful system, a planet covered by frozen seas, with approximately 12% of its surface being actual land. The colony remain relatively small in size until 1755 CE, when seismic activity caused exposed various hot springs that were buried deep beneath its permafrost. It has since become a popular destination for tourists, which much of its economy based on the commerce it gains from the hot springs, but mining initiatives continue to produce at healthy rates.

=== Glorashi ===

A small five-planet system, Glorashi is considered crucial for a variety of different reasons. Whilst the planet closest to the star are considered far too hot for any meaningful operations to occur, Glorashi III (Akerliim) rests within the "Goldilocks" region of the star and has subsequently developed into a dazzling planet with a climate similar to Qerrbalak. It hosts the High Queen of the C'thur hive, and has the highest population in the system, it is nearly exclusively residential and commercial property, with little industrial areas on the planet as most companies go to its moon, Diulszi, to access its resources for cheaper. Glorashi V, or Jaqvas, is a small ice giant with two moons. Kyeqil, the larger of the two, houses the governmental body for the system and is primarily devoted to act as an Observation Outpost of Glorashi. The smaller moon, Oyepiit, is a military establishment that is shrouded in mystery. One could only hazard a guess for what the Jargon Federation could hold within, or the operations that the institution carries out.

= The Trichotomous Systems: The Traverse =
The frontier of the Jargon Federation is known as The Traverse, with the name itself is meant to convey the importance Skrell culture has historically placed on the stars. Many believing it is a Skrell’s duty to traverse the stars. Whilst settlements across the Traverse vary drastically, most will have common trends within the categories they are within: the Tributaries, Distributaries and Estuaries. Depending on the category a settlement is situated within the Jargon Federation will offer boons and even protection but the further one gets from the Tributaries, the more common will it become to be preyed upon by malicious shadows lurking within the Traverse.

== Tributaries ==
The Tributaries are the innermost set of Traverse planets, which tend to have closer ties to the Jargon Federation. Majority of the colonists find themselves pushes to the Tributaries - a method devised by the Skrell to hide their true intentions of preventing secessionist sentiments from reaching the core worlds. These systems also act as insurances for the Federation's core, providing resources whilst also preventing independence movements and insurgents from creeping too close. Technology within the Tributaries lags, but is comparable to that of the Contingent Systems.

=== Pluat ===
An extremely hot planet. Mostly desert but with some small seas in the northern and southern hemispheres. The equatorial regions are too hot for most species, and so the only settlements are situated in the extreme polar regions. Despite the harsh conditions of Plaut, it has seen tremendous success. Miles and miles of the planet has been converted into automated facilities that in turn manufacture goods for the core worlds of the Jargon Federation. It was during Glorsh-Omega's reign that the planet was retrofitted to instead become a haven for robotics. Thousands, upon thousands, of different machines were created including that of mining drones, observation drones and more. Glorsh-Omega would often work the Skrell station on Pluat beyond their abilities, and subsequently almost destroyed the workforce. Today, Pluat remains active and overseen by a few thousand Skrell that have since devised various systems to ensure that no other individual is pushed beyond what they can handle.

== Distributaries ==
The Distributaries connect the Tributaries and Estuaries whilst also containing most of the Traverse's coordination hubs, providing a link whilst being at the forefront of exploration. Secessionists find their greatest foothold here; quality of life rapidly rising, increasing unrest across the Orion Spur and less dependency on the Jargon Federation than the Tributaries allows the movement to thrive within the sector. Technology within the Distributaries is comparable to that of an information age society.

=== Yui'qui'gliop ===

The moon to a large gas giant with an atmosphere mostly composed of hydrogen, Yui'qui'gliop was scarcely inhabited before the rise of Glorsh-Omega. designated as a 'cesspool' in which the Jargon Federation sentenced criminals to repay their debt to society. It was abandoned by the tyrannical intelligence shortly after it rose to power, with the penal colony essentially being left to die out, where it remained abandoned for over a century until rebels rediscovered the planet, and converted it into a base-of-operations to fight against the intelligence. The gas giant in which the moon orbited allowed for easy access to refuel, but also a cunning way to disguise the Skrell's true intentions when veering towards Yui'qui'gliop. Today, it stands as a converted massive communications hub, where it controls a large portion of the Nlom Relays scattered throughout the Traverse.

== Estuaries ==

The Estuaries are the final frontier, and connect the Jargon Federation to the greater Orion Spur. Mostly comprised of developing settlements, termed by many as "Boundary Worlds" or "Boundaries" for short, with dismal qualities of life - its almost the perfect location for independence movements to take hold and flourish. Patrols are far between, and usually only noted when there is a spewing of conflict seeping into the Estuaries - some Skrell even admitting to have never seen a Federation Spacecraft with their own eyes. The Estuaries are the least dependant on the Jargon Federation, with most of the settlements within having to adopt "generalist" instead of "specialist" societies to facilitate trade and survival. Technology within this segment varies, but is comparable to that of an atomic age society.

=== Xrim ===

See: [[Dionae_Clusters#The_Overgrown_Labs_of_Xrim_-_Jargon_Federation| Xrim]]

Xrim is a flourishing planet with thriving jungles and tropical rainforests. It is filled with billions of different hostile exobiological species. From giant sloth-like lizards to tiny, bone-eating slugs, almost every part of this planet is eager to kill. Initially federation research posts dotted this planet in the early colonization efforts, bordering giant preserves where the then peaceful wildlife was kept for scientific study. During the Era of Synthetic Oppression, the organisms of Xrim were subject to esoteric scientific experiments of unknown purpose carried out by Glorsh Omega, seeding the planet with a variety of mutagenic flora and fauna that swiftly came to dominate the world. After the fall of Glorsh, the planet itself was left largely uninhabited by the Skrell mainly due to the now hostile ecosystem the planet supported. The planet was not completely devoid of sapient life, however, as during the second seeding by Glorsh Omega a series of Dionae nymphs where placed upon the world. The Second Federation then discovered the Dionae world and was once again reintegrated into the Federation as a whole. Still extremely inhospitable to skrellian life, the small number of Skrell scientists and citizens that dwell upon Xrim tend to live within structures produced by the local Dionae, working to study the local flora and fauna.

=== Genners ===

==== Qar'Jarq Ga'na-scuz - "The Sea Sluggers" ====

Qar'Jarq Generation Ship, or just the Qar to its contemporaries, was a generational ship originally designed for transit between the Skrellian homeworld and a small, tropical planet. It was the task of the Qar to colonize the planet using the features of the generational ship, including its state-of-the-art vertical hydroponics bay, it's permanent nerve centre, and it's prefab-drones. The Qar was filled with common citizens, but was also known to carry a large surplus of astronomers, who sought to take advantage of the high vantage points of the tropical planet to establish observatories and listening posts. Aside from these points, the Qar was known to be a fairly redundant generational ship and carried no other bells or whistles.

At some point during its second generation, the Jargon Federation lost contact with the Qar. No distress signal was launched, nor were there any other celestial occurrences to explain this communication blackout. The Federation feared the worst, and over the next few years various attempts to replot the Qar's course was made to find it and communicate with it via long-wave radio. Eventually, five and a half years after it's disappearance, scouts were able to find radio-signatures matching the Qar, and further investigation allowed military vessels to locate and make contact with the Qar ship.

Accounts regarding this location report that the Qar's hull was covered in bright blue paint, and various geometric sigils and angled shapes were drawn about the bow and the stern. Prefab drones had erected a large, flat, and oval-shaped stature idolizing what appeared to be a slug. Further communication proved that the command-staff of the Qar had been overrun by the crew who, according to the Qar representative, had been 'enlightened' by the teachings of Ga'na-scuz, a Skrellian astronomer. Ga'na-scuz was reported to commune with the stars and the cosmos during their voyage, and gave compelling arguments in favour of 'The Great Slug', whom enveloped the universe in it's gamma-mucous and brought about a rebirth of power, psionics, and 'beauty'.

The Qar refused any boarding or disembarking, and threatened to turn their prefabbed turrets on the military ship if intervention was threatened. The scouts invariably backed off, and the Jargon Federation decided it would not be worth the trouble, or the bad press, to retake the spacecraft. Still, the Qar travels with a tailing military scout to ensure it doesn't get into trouble.

==== Lu'Qyu - "The Abyss Trinity" ====

The Glosa, Blenq and Qrinq Generational Ships were the first of its kind, spacecraft designed to barely breach faster-than-light levels to allow the Skrell aboard to be taught in the various fields required for colonising another planet. Filled with thousands of Skrell, it eventually launched on '''March 21st 2208'''. The spacecraft were observed by the Jargon Federation from afar - before eventually losing contact mere months after it was dispatched. The Jargon Federation, still recovering from the effects of Glorsh-Omega, launched the largest manhunt ever known to the Skrell. Thousands, upon thousands, of manhours were invested in attempting to recover the vessels with little success. The trio were missing with no explanation.

For centuries, the spacecraft were immortalized in the Jargon Federation. Memorials dedicated to those lost, and annual remembrance days. Unbeknownst to the Skrell, the trio had been pulled into the clutches of massive wormhole generated after catastrophic failure of their warpdrive. They had been transported dozen of light-years away from their intended destination, with engines barely capable of breaching faster-than-light levels needed to reconnect with other members of their species. There was only one thing that they could do; attempt to find their way back home using sublight speeds. Their journey back perilous, and could only be accomplished through strict regulations implemented by the command staff of the three spacecraft.

It took approximately two-hundred-and-thirty-two years for the trio to make their way back to the edges of the Jargon Federation. They made contact on '''June 3rd 2440''', sending shockwaves across the Orion Spur. No longer did Skrell mourn its loss, but instead celebrated its recovery. Despite their welcome back into the Jargon Federation, many remained aboard the spacecraft and chose to continue traversing the stars as they had before.

Dionae Forms

2021-02-28T04:42:40Z

Lmwevil: haha changelog mess, yonnimer format request

Dionae Forms

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Lmwevil: formatting moment

Dionae Forms

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Lmwevil: spacing

Dionae Forms

2021-02-28T04:23:03Z

Lmwevil:

Dionae

2021-02-28T04:21:58Z

Lmwevil: lmwevil mind rework implement

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{{Navbox Lore}}
{{Navbox_Dionae_Lore}}

<center>[[File:DionaeMainpage.png|1000px|The cold, desolate void of space, the only home Dionae have always known.|link=]]</center>

==Overview==
Enigmatic witnesses to various events through the centuries, the Dionae are an inquisitive species with a pacifistic disposition after gaining sentience. Their origins, behaviour and functions are never alike - with each being as unique as the next. The Dionae are capable of great intellectual, biological and physical feats going above and beyond what was considered possible for millennia. Dionae are similar to both plant and animal, however, they primarily survive off of the electromagnetic spectrum coinciding with a diet of biological matter to supplement their growth. Their lack of ability to adapt to lack of radiation can lead to death, if not exposed to at least efficient lighting. Dionae have been seen across the Orion Spur, each with a unique [https://wiki.aurorastation.org/index.php?title=Dionae_History#History history] and [https://wiki.aurorastation.org/index.php?title=Dionae_Clusters personality].

{{Infobox Diona
|Species = Dionae
|Scientific = D. Primis
|Image = Dionae410x320.png
|Language = Rootsong
|Factions = [https://wiki.aurorastation.org/index.php?title=Notable_Dionae_Factions Mult.]
|Location = [https://wiki.aurorastation.org/index.php?title=Notable_Dionae_Systems_and_Locations Mult.]
}}
{{toc_right}}
==Occupational==
Dionae can explore numerous employment opportunities, even that of Command Staff in the ranks of NanoTrasen. Although they are limited, Dionae '''''can''''' be found as [https://wiki.aurorastation.org/index.php?title=Research_Director Research Directors], [https://wiki.aurorastation.org/index.php?title=Chief_Engineer Chief Engineers] and [https://wiki.aurorastation.org/index.php?title=Chief_Medical_Officer Chief Medical Officers]. They, however, '''''cannot''''' be First Responders due to their severe slowness, risking the life of the patient.

==Mechanics==

*Access to the species' 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 *mchirp.
*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.

==Biology==
Biology is the natural science that studies life and living organisms, including their physical structure, chemical processes, molecular interactions, physiological mechanisms, development and evolution. The Dionae, by virtue of being a unique lifeform, features an anatomy seen almost nowhere else. Each Dionae is unique to the next, none being alike.

===Physiology===
Dionae come in a myriad of [https://wiki.aurorastation.org/index.php?title=Dionae_Forms forms], all different in terms of their sizes. Nymphs are highly adaptable and are capable of living in various environments deemed uninhabitable for other species. Their worm-like appearance 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 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 century 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 can 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’s low frequency range will cause minor amnesia while they're apart. The low frequency singing has a relatively long range, allowing two way information transfer during this time. The nymph may consider itself still part of the gestalt, or an individual. But it is still intrinsically linked to the primary gestalt as long as the low frequency signal continues.

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 in such perfect conditions.

This comes at a great cost -- Their metabolism, while an incredible feat of Biology, is coupled with the Nymph undergoing a process which forces them to be almost sedentary. Their speed and activity decreasing as they age - with many becoming completely unable to move after a few centuries due to increasing weight, formation of thorns and hardening of joints after which they are often forced to root into a greater gestalt at this point, or risk slowing the younger Nymphs that they merge with to a halt and in the worst cases being left to die in relative isolation.

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.

===Colouring Schemes===
Whilst Diona bark is always brown, Diona are capable of being grown with differing shades and hues of bark. This is primarily affected by their age and the conditions in their growth site such as temperature and the type of radiation they were exposed to.

The following is a rough idea of what conditions would affect their bark’s shade:
*Default: Generally grown in a pressurized space station or temperate planet, and being exposed to a mixture of stronger and weaker radiation types.
*Lighter: Generally grown on warm planets, and being primarily exposed to weaker forms of radiation such as light.
*Darker: Generally grown in space or colder planets, and being exposed to stronger forms of radiation such as cosmic rays.
*Green: Younger Diona will generally have a greenish hue to their bark, although this will fade with time.

== Social ==

===Language===
These cryptic creatures are capable of comprehending hundreds of languages if exposed to the correct amount of genes, however, their physical limitations restrict them to only being able to speak a handful. The typical Dionae will likely speak Tau Ceti Basic and Rootsong - but can emulate other languages such as Freespeak and Tradeband, albeit slowly to annunciate the words correctly. [https://wiki.aurorastation.org/index.php?title=Unathi Sinta'Unathi] is also amongst the languages easily emulated, but Dionae will tend to fall flat when speaking Siik'Maas as the translation is sometimes lost due to their inability to do imitate the same gestures as the [https://wiki.aurorastation.org/index.php?title=Tajara Tajaran].

====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.

===Communication===
While Dionae gestalts can utilize a myriad of ways to communicate with other lifeforms, the majority will speak either slowly, pausing between some words, or speak quickly, extending their words.

Dionae who speak slowly will generally only use one nymph to communicate, having to pause to decide amongst the gestalt what to say next (an example being “We… are a… dionae”). These Dionae will generally be much older and contain a larger amount of nymphs in their gestalt. The speaker in this instance is usually seen as an elected leader, trusted to speak only what the gestalt agrees upon.

Dionae who speak quickly are generally using multiple nymphs to communicate, their words seemingly extending as multiple are speaking (an example being “Wee aarre aa dioonaee.”). These dionae will generally be much younger and contain a small number of nymphs in their gestalt. A majority of the nymphs will speak at once, rather than just utilize one nymph. The nymphs will still generally agree upon what to say, sometimes causing pauses similar to the other method.

'''Note that while these two methods are generally the way dionae will communicate, it does not mean the only ways they will. You're free to make up your own ways and reasons. You’re free to contact the Dionae loredev team with questions'''

===Psychology and Emotions===
Dionae differ incredibly to other species in terms of their emotions and psychology; primarily in how it affects each nymph and how it would be displayed in a gestalt. Dionae feel a myriad of diverging reactions to certain issues - which is what set them apart from others. When a Nymph first becomes sentient, and the ability to grasp more intricate and complicated ideas becomes easier, there is a rare chance for complications to arise which are deemed ‘Cognitive Obstacles’ and can easily be seen as mental disorders.

‘Cognitive Obstacles’ parallel mental illnesses that frequently find themselves rooted within other species across the Orion Spur. These ‘Cognitive Obstacles’ affect Dionae uniquely in the sense that each nymph can experience these differently to another. Dionae can form ‘Cognitive Obstacles’ similar to that of PTSD, Anxiety and Tourettes. It can be expected that Dionae that fall into this category of ‘Cognitive Obstacles’ will have bursts of unintended chirps, additionally coinciding with spasms. Some have noted that they have intense bouts of paranoia, and periods where they will experience an existential crisis.

Dionae can also form ‘Cognitive Obstacles’ similar to that of various depressive disorders. These are often seen as a mortal danger - where if an individual nymph begins to feel symptoms similar to the depressive disorders, such as intense periods of feeling impending doom or simply feeling lifeless, will eventually spread these thoughts through a gestalt which will eventually perish. Nymphs that are deemed ‘a hazard to the entire gestalt’ are cast and left to find treatment or will perish if they do not.

Splitting Disorder is a temporary disorder which occurs in gestalts that have split off into smaller forms, usually for work purposes (an Argus splitting into Cyclops forms to work in an office). The disorder is characterised by increased anxiety within the Dionae at being apart from each other and an intense fear that harm might befall one of the split forms, getting worse the longer the gestalt is split. This fear of danger varies for gestalt to gestalt, with some split forms being “braver” than others. Splitting Disorder can temporarily be relieved by brief re-merging via physical contact. This usually appears to other species as close hugs or hand-holding followed by happy chirping of the nymphs within the gestalt. It can be permanently cured by a full re-merging or after a long period of separation through long periods of separation can instead turn into a Depressive Disorder. The death or injury of a split partner tends to be extremely traumatising for the other partners, with the level and manner of the trauma dependent on each nymph, with some being “braver” than others.

==Out-of-Character Information==
With so much confusion on the Dionae, and the mysteries behind them, we've gone ahead and created a page dedicated to helping you! Of course, you can contact the Dionae team on discord for any additional questions.

It can be found at the [[Dionae Out-Of-Character]] page.
[[Category:Pages]]
[[Category:Lore]]
[[Category:Species]]
[[Category:Dionaea]]

Dionae Forms

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Lmwevil: lmwevil mind rework implement

Dionae

2021-02-11T22:49:47Z

Lmwevil: updated *chirp and *mchirp and fixed first responders from EMT

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{{Navbox Lore}}
{{Navbox_Dionae_Lore}}

<center>[[File:DionaeMainpage.png|1000px|The cold, desolate void of space, the only home Dionae have always known.|link=]]</center>

==Overview==
Enigmatic witnesses to various events through the centuries, the Dionae are an inquisitive species with a pacifistic disposition after gaining sentience. Their origins, behaviour and functions are never alike - with each being as unique as the next. The Dionae are capable of great intellectual, biological and physical feats going above and beyond what was considered possible for millennia. Dionae are similar to both plant and animal, however, they primarily survive off of the electromagnetic spectrum coinciding with a diet of biological matter to supplement their growth. Their lack of ability to adapt to lack of radiation can lead to death, if not exposed to at least efficient lighting. Dionae have been seen across the Orion Spur, each with a unique [https://wiki.aurorastation.org/index.php?title=Dionae_History#History history] and [https://wiki.aurorastation.org/index.php?title=Dionae_Clusters personality].

{{Infobox Diona
|Species = Dionae
|Scientific = D. Primis
|Image = Dionae410x320.png
|Language = Rootsong
|Factions = [https://wiki.aurorastation.org/index.php?title=Notable_Dionae_Factions Mult.]
|Location = [https://wiki.aurorastation.org/index.php?title=Notable_Dionae_Systems_and_Locations Mult.]
}}
{{toc_right}}
==Occupational==
Dionae can explore numerous employment opportunities, even that of Command Staff in the ranks of NanoTrasen. Although they are limited, Dionae '''''can''''' be found as [https://wiki.aurorastation.org/index.php?title=Research_Director Research Directors], [https://wiki.aurorastation.org/index.php?title=Chief_Engineer Chief Engineers] and [https://wiki.aurorastation.org/index.php?title=Chief_Medical_Officer Chief Medical Officers]. They, however, '''''cannot''''' be First Responders due to their severe slowness, risking the life of the patient.

==Mechanics==

*Access to the species' 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 *mchirp.
*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.

==Biology==
Biology is the natural science that studies life and living organisms, including their physical structure, chemical processes, molecular interactions, physiological mechanisms, development and evolution. The Dionae, by virtue of being a unique lifeform, features an anatomy seen almost nowhere else. Each Dionae is unique to the next, none being alike.

===Physiology===
Dionae come in a myriad of [https://wiki.aurorastation.org/index.php?title=Dionae_Forms forms], all different in terms of their sizes. Nymphs are highly adaptable and are capable of living in various environments deemed uninhabitable for other species. Their worm-like appearance 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 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 century 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 can 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 in such perfect conditions.

This comes at a great cost -- Their metabolism, while an incredible feat of Biology, is coupled with the Nymph undergoing a process which forces them to be almost sedentary. Their speed and activity decreasing as they age - with many becoming completely unable to move after a few centuries due to increasing weight, formation of thorns and hardening of joints after which they are often forced to root into a greater gestalt at this point, or risk slowing the younger Nymphs that they merge with to a halt and in the worst cases being left to die in relative isolation.

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.

===Colouring Schemes===
Whilst Diona bark is always brown, Diona are capable of being grown with differing shades and hues of bark. This is primarily affected by their age and the conditions in their growth site such as temperature and the type of radiation they were exposed to.

The following is a rough idea of what conditions would affect their bark’s shade:
*Default: Generally grown in a pressurized space station or temperate planet, and being exposed to a mixture of stronger and weaker radiation types.
*Lighter: Generally grown on warm planets, and being primarily exposed to weaker forms of radiation such as light.
*Darker: Generally grown in space or colder planets, and being exposed to stronger forms of radiation such as cosmic rays.
*Green: Younger Diona will generally have a greenish hue to their bark, although this will fade with time.

== Social ==

===Language===
These cryptic creatures are capable of comprehending hundreds of languages if exposed to the correct amount of genes, however, their physical limitations restrict them to only being able to speak a handful. The typical Dionae will likely speak Tau Ceti Basic and Rootsong - but can emulate other languages such as Freespeak and Tradeband, albeit slowly to annunciate the words correctly. [https://wiki.aurorastation.org/index.php?title=Unathi Sinta'Unathi] is also amongst the languages easily emulated, but Dionae will tend to fall flat when speaking Siik'Maas as the translation is sometimes lost due to their inability to do imitate the same gestures as the [https://wiki.aurorastation.org/index.php?title=Tajara Tajaran].

====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.

===Communication===
While Dionae gestalts can utilize a myriad of ways to communicate with other lifeforms, the majority will speak either slowly, pausing between some words, or speak quickly, extending their words.

Dionae who speak slowly will generally only use one nymph to communicate, having to pause to decide amongst the gestalt what to say next (an example being “We… are a… dionae”). These Dionae will generally be much older and contain a larger amount of nymphs in their gestalt. The speaker in this instance is usually seen as an elected leader, trusted to speak only what the gestalt agrees upon.

Dionae who speak quickly are generally using multiple nymphs to communicate, their words seemingly extending as multiple are speaking (an example being “Wee aarre aa dioonaee.”). These dionae will generally be much younger and contain a small number of nymphs in their gestalt. A majority of the nymphs will speak at once, rather than just utilize one nymph. The nymphs will still generally agree upon what to say, sometimes causing pauses similar to the other method.

'''Note that while these two methods are generally the way dionae will communicate, it does not mean the only ways they will. You're free to make up your own ways and reasons. You’re free to contact the Dionae loredev team with questions'''

===Psychology and Emotions===
Dionae differ incredibly to other species in terms of their emotions and psychology; primarily in how it affects each nymph and how it would be displayed in a gestalt. Dionae feel a myriad of diverging reactions to certain issues - which is what set them apart from others. When a Nymph first becomes sentient, and the ability to grasp more intricate and complicated ideas becomes easier, there is a rare chance for complications to arise which are deemed ‘Cognitive Obstacles’ and can easily be seen as mental disorders.

‘Cognitive Obstacles’ parallel mental illnesses that frequently find themselves rooted within other species across the Orion Spur. These ‘Cognitive Obstacles’ affect Dionae uniquely in the sense that each nymph can experience these differently to another. Dionae can form ‘Cognitive Obstacles’ similar to that of PTSD, Anxiety and Tourettes. It can be expected that Dionae that fall into this category of ‘Cognitive Obstacles’ will have bursts of unintended chirps, additionally coinciding with spasms. Some have noted that they have intense bouts of paranoia, and periods where they will experience an existential crisis.

Dionae can also form ‘Cognitive Obstacles’ similar to that of various depressive disorders. These are often seen as a mortal danger - where if an individual nymph begins to feel symptoms similar to the depressive disorders, such as intense periods of feeling impending doom or simply feeling lifeless, will eventually spread these thoughts through a gestalt which will eventually perish. Nymphs that are deemed ‘a hazard to the entire gestalt’ are cast and left to find treatment or will perish if they do not.

Splitting Disorder is a temporary disorder which occurs in gestalts that have split off into smaller forms, usually for work purposes (an Argus splitting into Cyclops forms to work in an office). The disorder is characterised by increased anxiety within the Dionae at being apart from each other and an intense fear that harm might befall one of the split forms, getting worse the longer the gestalt is split. This fear of danger varies for gestalt to gestalt, with some split forms being “braver” than others. Splitting Disorder can temporarily be relieved by brief re-merging via physical contact. This usually appears to other species as close hugs or hand-holding followed by happy chirping of the nymphs within the gestalt. It can be permanently cured by a full re-merging or after a long period of separation through long periods of separation can instead turn into a Depressive Disorder. The death or injury of a split partner tends to be extremely traumatising for the other partners, with the level and manner of the trauma dependent on each nymph, with some being “braver” than others.

===Dionae Farming===
Whilst killing and consuming a Dionae nymph is illegal in most systems, the preparation and consumption of still born malformed nymphs grown without ambergris is not. Consequently Dionae Cookery, though very specialised, is a popular culinary study in modern gastronomy. A versatile plant "meat", Dionae can be cooking into stews, roasts, soups and cold cuts. Dried Dionae can also been ground into a powder and added to other dishes as a lively but delicious condiment. Cooked Dionae flesh has a slightly tart but meaty, succulent flavor and is very high in protein. Similar to the fugu fish, Dionae requires special preparation during and after cooking. Dionae gestalts themselves are divided on the issue of nymph consumption, with opinions ranging from total acceptance and even taking part in the practice to abhorrence depending on their own experiences and upbringing.

==Out-of-Character Information==
With so much confusion on the Dionae, and the mysteries behind them, we've gone ahead and created a page dedicated to helping you! Of course, you can contact the Dionae team on discord for any additional questions.

It can be found at the [[Dionae Out-Of-Character]] page.
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[[Category:Lore]]
[[Category:Species]]
[[Category:Dionaea]]