Species:

Elleghastan/Elleghasta: (EL-leh-GAST-an)/ (EL-leh-GHAST-ah):

Proper name for the three-legged, four-armed, one eyed, gilled, and vaguely insectoid species known to many as ‘Ballastians.’. They possess an eloquent organ called a ‘ventrum’ on their chest which effuses color corresponding to emotional states. The species primarily communicates with sign and tactile language, however have developed near-telepathic communicators which employ ‘orators’ built into their neural interfaces to translate and produce speech in foreign tongues. They do not capitalize their proper title in written word, in order to further affirm a commonly held belief by elleghastan traditionalist that their people’s role and purpose is to exist in service to the Galaxy. The elleghasta terraformed their harsh homeworld into a paradise planet over the course of roughly ten-thousand years, then successfully defended that world against foreign aggressors during the First and Second Helitian Invasions. They possess high-grav physiology, which gifts them remarkable strength, resilience, and durability when in lower/null gravity. They are, however, incredibly dependant on their nutrient dense atmosphere for survival. They display sexual polymorphism, possessing three distinct morphs, two mating morphs (Sexers, he/she/him/her) and one non-mating morph (Clonic, they/them).

Ballastian: (bal-LAST-tea-anne):

Of the planet Ballasta, homeworld of the elleghasta. Often used by other species in favor of the proper ‘elleghast’ or ‘elleghastan’.

Helitian/Helit:(hel-LEASH-ian)/(hel-LEET):

Avianomorphic aliens and would-be conquerors of the elleghasta. First species to make contact with the Ballastian homeworld. A winged, bipedal species with grasping appendages at the apex of their wings, strong keel bones for gliding flight, and large, dinosaur-like talons. Their beak, feather anatomy, and coloration vary with class/caste/royalty, with commoners possessing larger, Shoebill-like beaks, and higher class individuals possessing parrot or owl-like features. Despite being generally larger in body than elleghasts, (with the exception of Clonics,) they are considerably weaker by comparison, due in part to lesser bone density. They fly in ritualistic mating flights which often involve dangerous aerial maneuvers, and utilize a gliding form of locomotion when on land/in proper gravity.

Indetivan/Indetiva: (in-debt-TEA-ven)/(in-deh-TEA-vaa): 

The Indetiva are highly advanced Cephalopoid aliens and the de facto leaders of the largest sentient alliance in the Large Magellanic Cloud, the Interstellar Galactic Collective (IGC). A single Indetivan individual can easily broach 10-15 times the mass of a typical elleghast. Little is known about their species, other than that they’ve dysonized a number of star systems, and, like the elleghasta, come from high gravity. They are extremely secretive in their dealings, often using proxies or representatives from other species, and are accused of orchestrating the Fall of the Elleghastan Empire.

Oriate: (ORE-ee-at):

The mysterious, enigmatic species found on the Smith World, Oria. They are self-professed ‘pacifists,’ and are the creators of both The Beacon and the Indetivan Communication Array. Each individual possesses the size and scale of a small mountain, along with numerous tendrils and paired ‘kilotendrils,’ which, as the name suggest, extend over a kilometer in length. They are amorphous, blob like entities, and use static electricity as their primary method of interacting with the environment. They are rumored to have existed for over a billion years in total isolation on Oria. They were subsequently enslaved and brought to the brink of extinction by the Indetivans. It is believed that they interact naturally with at least four spatial dimensions, given their highly advanced topological constructs and mastery of gravitational and waveform mechanics.

Folioid: (FOE-lee-oid):

Creators of the ‘LeafShip’, a photosynthetic bio-mechanical spaceship. The Folioid are the most recent inductees to the IGC in the wake of the Ballastian Fall. While they are only slightly larger in body than the Elleghasta, their bizarre, asymmetrical anatomy grants them a unique formidability in close quarters combat. They are non-cephalic, possessing a large, globular eye centered in their ‘torso,’ and a pivoting joint beneath their midsection which permits near 360° rotation around its axis. They have one eloquent, ciliate ‘limb,’ which doubles in function as a digestive organ, and a second ‘arm’ ending in a large claw reminiscent of a crustacean’s pincer. They employ a ‘scuttling’ form of locomotion, with four leading limbs and a dozen trailing limbs, exhibiting a form of carcinization. Although Folioid bioships and shielding are considered extremely formidable, historically, the Folioid are not considered key players in the Galactic Hierarchy. Their longstanding conflict with the Helit has been ongoing for nearly two decades in Galactic Standard Cycles.

Anchor: (AANK-khore):

The Anchor civilization is considered a ‘Smith World’ by many in the Galaxy for their highly advanced knowledge of both endogenous and exogenous genetics. They have managed to suspend their own natural aging process indefinitely, and have achieved similar results in a small but growing number of other allied species, rending them functionally immortal. They are, however, not without controversy, as their eugenic methodologies are considered by most to constitute war crimes of the highest order. This, however, has not stopped them from achieving IGC induction. They exhibit strong radial symmetry, possess iridescent, multicolor flesh, and are remarkably uniform in appearance, often described as ‘land-walkng jellyfish’ in relation to their overall body form.

Venyan/Venyanic: (VEN-yan, ven-YAN-nick [eg pertaining to Venyans]):

The etiology of the worm-like Venyans is poorly studied; however, they are hunted by many species throughout the Galaxy for sport, particularly non-allied species, largely due to misconceptions that they are a subsentient species. The Venyanic name-sake gems, called K’hy awy’lk (KAI-uh-WALL-kuh),which are worn to aid in distinguishing between individuals of their species, are considered highly coveted accessories. They are often (though not always) sold and obtained through illicit trade markets. The Venyans possess a ring of globular eyes that define a cephalic demarcation, and locomote with thousands of ciliated legs moving in metachronal polyrhythmic motion. They also possess a hidden crown of grinding circular rows of dentine that function both as a mouth and defensive structure. This grinding appendage is also used for speech production, which makes their vocalization grating and course in nature. Many Venyans are lured into indentured slavery aboard mixed crew-vessels with enticing promises of achieving notoriety, only to be used instead for menial labor.

Important Systems/Places

Ballast System:

Single Star System (HomeStar) in open cluster NGC 2070 in the center of the Tarantula Nebula, a compact region dense with life. Ballastian territory extends through the majority of Tarantula, with some notable exceptions, such as VFTS 352 Invictus, the Indetivan controlled and dysonized Contact Binary, and the Helitian Home System.

1. Ballasta: (bal-LAST-ta): Tidally locked Homeworld of the elleghasta, and first planet of five in the Ballast Star System. No permanent moon. Hydrostatic Lithospheric Cavern System which connects to a large, subsurface ocean, and interfaces through to the Dwelling Caves, a series of more superficial structures in which the elleghasta evolved.

2. Muae: (mew-aye): Second planet of the Ballast System, often called the ‘Sister World’ of Ballasta. Possesses one large permanent moon: Heu (hue). Both planet and moon were largely converted after the first Helitian Invasion into industrial mining complexes. Their mining operations provide much of the ore and minerals used within the Ballastian Armada and the Ballast System. Both worlds also feature raging, deadly century storms outside of demarked ‘habitable zones.’

3. Yian: (yee-awn): Third planet of the Ballast System. A ringed gas giant, roughly the size of Saturn, possessing three permanent rocky moons: Tiyann (TEA-yawn), Khylosa (khy-low-sah), and Riv. Yian is the primary source of atmos outside of Ballasta’s domestic production, and features earth-sized electrical storms. It is host to a number of floating colony worlds and atmos enrichment facilities. Tiyann is totally uninhabitable, although beginning stages of terraforming initiatives have begun across its surface. Khylosa is large by comparison to its sister moons (roughly the size of Earth), and is densely populated. A blue world with liquid water oceans, Khylosa possesses many indigenous species that bear a remarkable similarity in form to Ballastian pre-terraformation flora and fauna, suggesting panspermia throughout the system. Riv, similar to Tiyann, is uninhabitable, however due to its miniscule size and lack of critical ores, no operations have yet begun on its surface.

4. Xepho: (zye-pho): Fourth world of the Ballast System. 0.8x Earth’s mass. No true moons, however possesses a number of satellite moonlets which have no formal designations. Xepho possesses extremely aggressive animal life, with many species of both fauna and flora across the surface growing to comparatively monumental size due to Xepho’s lower gravity, including a record setting land-dwelling carnivore that can reach approximately 4- times the size of a schoolbus. Xepho was used as a battleground during the Second Helitian Invasion, in which elleghast ground troops maintained significant physical advantages against the Helit’s invading forces, in spite of Xepho’s gravity being nearer to Hel’s than Ballasta (a factor largely cited as critical for the First Invasion’s failure). The planet has also been used for deep weapons testing, and is a planetary ethics deadzone often used as a blacksite for prisoners. It proved essential in refining the design of the military-grade Seismic Distorters employed on Ballasta.

5. Setinnia: (Say-TIN-nia): Fifth planet of the Ballast System. Named after the ancient elleghastan Goddess of Ice. A small, rocky world roughly the size of Earth. Has not yet been colonized with permanent settlements, but automated mining operations across its surface provide water ice to the Armada. There are a number of terraforming initiatives in progress, particularly in the Southern Polar Region, where conditions are more suitable for atmos production due to the presence of large, hollow mountains.

The Outer Rim:

This roughly belt shaped region around the periphery of the Great Ballastian StarLine is home to the newest of the elleghastan colony worlds. There are eight star systems that comprise the Outer Rim. Many, though not all, lay at the outer fringe of contested territory along the Great Ballastian StarLine in high-conflict areas. Also hidden within the Outer Rim are two fortresses of the elleghastan Armada, Kygehellem and Tempest.

1. Kygehellem (KYE-geh-hell-lum): [System] M-Class Red Giant: elleghastan military stronghold. Three planets, including one which is the system’s namesake.

a. Bethellem (beth-THELL-em): A hell world, inhospitable to life due to its proximity to the Red Giant.

b. New Yian: [Gas Giant] Second of the four planets, New Yian is still in the beginning stages of preparation for industry. As its name suggest, the world is being primed to supplant Yian as the largest atmos producer (outside of Ballasta) to feed the Outer Rim’s growing requirements.

c. Defensive Outpost III: [DOIII] A tidally locked planet of which much of the surface has been converted for defensive purposes. This world was the first military settlement of the Outer Rim, and was heavily mined to provide natural resources to fuel the rest of the system’s initiatives. Aside from its bristling arsenal of atomics and other planet-grade weapon systems, DOIII is characterized by irregular mining craters, empty, barren plains, and a thin, toxic, brownish atmosphere.

d. Kygehellem: [Planet] Outermost world of the system. This world possesses two minor moons which have been near-entirely converted into military industrial complexes. Its surface is mottled purple-blue, and brimming with an assortment of native lifeforms, most of which is docile/placated. There are a number of asteroid-sized detector arrays surrounding the planet. Home to Kygehellem High Command, the Armada’s main locus of coordination for the outer rim. Located between the third and fourth worlds of the system is the Armada Reserve Fleet, an entire regiment of Ballastian Destroyers, along with crewed supportcraft.

2. Tempest: WOH G64 Hyper Giant: One of the largest known stars in existence, this star was selected for scientific observation due to its unusual interactions with a cannibalistic parasite star. The scientific L-Observatory Research Station (short for LaGrangian) was constructed to study the cannibalism of the G64 Hyper Giant and document its subsequent supernova. The L-Observatory Research Station was designated as the Armada’s reserve strategic stronghold, largely due to its unorthodox location. The Hyper Giant has formed a toroidal dust cloud of stellar debris as it sheds its outer layers, largely driven by its binary interaction, which provides the Tempest system a level of security and secrecy. WHO G64 is quickly accelerating into the end stages of its life. The L-Observatory’s location is therefore extremely dangerous and unstable, and was only meant to be used as a last resort. Following The Fall, the surviving elleghastan Tribunal have since fulfilled the Observatory’s secondary purpose

Helitian System:

Single star system (Zil), a G-type main-sequence star, located within the outer fringe of Tarantula.

1. Hel (hell): Sole planet of the Helitian Star System. One moon, Calacyn (cal-a-SIN). Large swathes of the Helitian homeworld are inhospitable due to radiation from nuclear fallout. Its sole moon, Calacyn, was once lush and colonized by the Helit. However, the moon’s surface was rendered uninhabitable by a nuclear civil war called the Great Schism, which obliterated the Calacyn colonies. The moon’s oceans still hold some life, although the lifeforms that remain have been heavily mutated from their predecessors. Many pockets of civilization survived the Schism, although social structures in more isolated communities have regressed into hunter/gatherer lifestyles. The more populous communities are tasked with providing support and resources to the Helitian Legion, which remained largely intact following the Schism. Many of these communes were coerced into service under threat of further regression by nuclear bombardment. However, a highly successful propaganda campaign has convinced most commoners that the Helitian Legion, referred to as simply ‘Legion’ by the Helit, is one of the Galaxy’s most feared adversaries, and an unstoppable force. In reality, Legion has become less of an ‘empire’ and more of a ‘nomadic fleet’ which seeks to capture new habitable worlds by way of conquest, often from attacking developing civilizations still in their stellar infancy. Legion has not yet successfully captured a new homeworld. Both Hel and Calacyn are the subjects of many traditional Helitian songs due to their apparent ‘dance’ in the sky, although this dancing precession no longer exists as a result of Calacyn’s heavily altered orbit from nuclear strikes.

Malus (malice) System:

Known by the Oriates as the Zenith. VFTS 243: Type O7V main sequence star with a dormant black hole companion within an Indetivan controlled section of the Tarantula Nebula. This system, colloquially dubbed ‘Malus’ by the Helit and a number of other lesser species, is renowned for its mysterious x-ray quiet black hole, thought to be in a state of dormancy. The system exists in a ‘void’ of positively curvature, making it reachable only by High Transitor-enabled vessels. This means that the system is poorly studied by the majority of species within the LMC. Many lesser species call the system ‘cursed’ due to their inability to access it for closer study. While Malus has been cataloged by a number of more advanced species, such as the elleghasta, only few have detected the gravitational anomaly hidden within the system.

1. Oria: (oh-RYE-ah): Homeworld of the Oriates. A gas giant hidden within the Malus system, detectable only by a sinusoidal gravitational waveform roughly in the expected magnitude of a planetary mass. The world is hidden from most commonly used planetary detection methods, including visible light, through a complicated technique of high dimensional superposition and phase cancellation , and is inextricably tied to the x-ray quiet black hole at the heart of the system. The planet is purplish beige, predominantly hydrogen and helium in composition, and features massive storm pillars that extend for hundreds of kilometers, and brim with a fluid-like static that is reminiscent of molten lightening. Wind speeds can easily broach thousands of kilometers per hour.

Characters:

Cyrrus Magnus Reyalta: (SEER-us mag-nus rey-ALL-tah): Goes by Cyr (see-er) for short. Male elleghastan. Ecogeologist and Scientific Consultant to the EFFIT Board. Gaming expert across most Galax disciplines. 126 years of age. In a relationship with Eldrid. Average height for a male Sexer at 152 centimeters. Bright viridian iris. Often wears traditional Helitian and Venyanic adornments, colloquially dubbed ‘CityDweller garb’.

Eldrid Leteya: (EL-drid leh-TAY-ah): Goes by Elda for short. Female elleghastan. Senior Design Consultant of EFFIT. 145 years of age. In a relationship with Cyr. Olive green iris with speckles of honey. Considered tall for a female Sexer at 145 centimeters. Conventionally attractive features. Cerulean smile.

Rhetta Krin: (RHETT-ah KER-in): Male elleghastan. Head Developer for EFFIT, 160 years of age. Part of Senior Leadership. Average height 151 cm. Sand gold iris, known for a blank, apathetic stare. Thin figured.

Mayna Meyst: (MAY-nah MAY-st): Female elleghastan. 1st lieutenant of Ballok’s Coalition. Former Armada Pilot. 353 years of age. Leader of Mayna’s Squadron. Deserter. Sister of Khayleid. Slightly above average female height at 140 centimeters. Muscular but lean build, slim but strong. Deep viridian iris. Dyes her frills violet. Known for an intimidating daggered glare.

Khayleid Meyst: (KHAY-leed MAY-st): Goes by ‘Kiddo’ (begrudgingly). Female elleghastan. Former Armada Engineer. 120 years of age. Member o Mayna’s Squadron. Expert in optical mechanics, metamaterials, stealth cloaking, transformation optics, and visual quantum mechanics. Sister of Mayna. Bright viridian iris nearly the same color as Cyr’s. Slightly below average female height at 135 centimeters.

Trajetz Hidago: (tra-jets hih-DAH-go): Male elleghastan. 285 years of age. Former Armada Grunt. Member of Mayna’s Squadron. Disgraced PitFighter. Expert in hand to hand combat. Slightly above average male height at 155 centimeters. Crimson iris. Known for his brash demeanor, flaxen yellow smile, and damaged, bent, and otherwise missing spinous processes.

Garz Mylin: (gars MY-lin) Male elleghastan. Former Armada Transit. Engineer. Deserter. 455 years of age. Member of Mayna’s Squadron. Below average height for male at 145 centimeters. Pale gray iris. Expert in superfluidity, coding/cryptography, engineering, topology, especially in relation to Transit Drives.

Hayfied: (hay-feed): Clonic elleghastan. Just barely a hundred years of age. No military service. No known family. Surname unknown. Member of Mayna’s Squadron. Tall for a Clonic at nearly three meters, 289 centimeters. Deep ocean blue iris.

Ziy: (Z): Male elleghastan. Former Armada Demolitions and munitions expert. Skilled Offworlder. 304 years of age. Surname unknown. Member of Mayna’s Squadron. Below average height at 132 centimeters. Maroon iris. Known for his manic zeal, broken accent, and shaky hands.

Gilead Amotta: (GILL-e-add ah-MOTT-tah): Male elleghastan. Former Armada Pilot and Navigations Expert. Permanently Grounded. 389 years of age. Member of Mayna’s Squadron. Below average male height at 133 cm. Slicked back frills, dyed black. Midnight iris. Known for his affinity for metallic rings.

Remma Singhe: (REMM-mah SIN-ghe): Male elleghastan. Former Prime Navigations Expert and Armada Pilot. Permanently Grounded. 177 years of age. Abnormally tall for male sexer at 190 centimeters. Midnight iris. Known for his atypical gaunt figure. Member of Mayna’s Squadron.

Ganymede Gali: (GAN-ah-mead gal-EE): Goes by Gany for short. Male elleghastan. 123 years of age. Former Armada Transit Engineer, primarily as an apprentice. Deep blue iris rimmed with gold. Average height for male at 140 centimeters. Knowledgeable in aerospace engineering, Transit Drives, and a number of adjacent disciplines. Member of Mayna’s Squadron.

Ballok Parsi: (bal-lock par-see): Clonic elleghastan. Famed ecogeologist and seismologist. 498 years of age. Expert in harmonic oscillation and seismic wave propagation. Discovered the deep cavern system beneath the Dwelling Caves, and pioneered visualization techniques for assessing Ballasta’s composition. Shimmering bronze iris. Above average height for Clonic at 275 centimeters. Former head of development on Seismic Distortion for Sative International. Leader of the Coalition. Traditionalist. Known for their trademark sardonic pink smile.

Lucide Siloss: (lucid sigh-loss): Goes by ‘The Warmonger.’ Clonic elleghastan: Commander of the elleghastan Armada Clonic Brigade during the initial Helitian/Folioid Conflict. General of the Armada. 500 years of age. Light honey colored iris. Abnormally tall for a Clonic at 305 centimeters. Expert painter and champion exobotanist and exozoologist.

Tyl of Orin: (teal of or-rin): Male Helitian. 15 years of age. Former Legion Grunt. Umber brown feathers, with a large, downturned beak much like a shoebill. Deserter. Average height for male Helitian at 183 centimeters. Newest member of the Commander’s Renegades. Mate of Myli. Father. Skilled Diji Player.

U’un: (oou-OOU-N) Male Venyan. Age unknown. Lead Engineer of the Starbird Tybalt. Member of the Renegades. Sole survivor of the Moth. Average size for a Venyan at roughly six meters in length and one meter in circumference. Really enjoys tree bark.

Myli Regalis Miszin of Ornith: (My-lee re-GAL-lis MIS-zinn of OR-nith): Female Helitian. Jet black feathers. 14.5 years of age. Average height for female Helitian at 172 centimeters. Mate of Tyl. Daughter of Aurelius Miszin of Ornith. Mother.

Aurelius Regalis Miszin of Ornith: (Auh-RAIL-ee-us re-GAL-lis MIS-zinn of OR-nith): Male Helitian. 30 years of age. Father of Myli. Bridge General of the Levantor of Legion. Most highly decorated General of Hel. Below average height for male Helitian at 173 centimeters. Possesses pale white facial feathers surrounded by crimson feathers and a black oval frame. Of saurian lineage.

Rhiza of Ornith: (RHEE-za of OR-nith): Female Helitian. 31 years of age. Bridge General of the Carnasus. Oily black feathers with soft reflective luster, with elaborate ornamental tailfeathers indicating high royalty. Average height for female Helitian at 155 centimeters. Direct descendant of the bloodline of Solix Ornith.

Commander: Male Helitian. Hatchling name unknown. 25 years of age. Founder and Commander of the Helitian Renegades. Of saurian lineage. Possesses pale white facial feathers surrounded by crimson feathers and a black oval frame, with deepset eyes like an owl. Numerous scars that are poorly covered over with tattoos. Sharp, downturned, pointed beak. Large bodied and tall for male Helitian at 205 centimeters.

Jhixi (jehh-HIX-ee): Oriate. Gender Unknown. 2 billion years of age. Keeper of the Zenith and the Sacred Creations. Discoverer of the Artifact. Paired kilotendrils, with innumerous globular pits spread across its surface. Soft, translucent flesh. Roughly the size of an average mountain.

Kha (khh-aah): Oriate. Gender Unknown. Age Unknown. Kwakili of Jhixi, brother and child. Ciliated, with rust-colored patina. Creator of the Lens Space.

Lesser Characters:

Nhil (nh-ill) Mayna’s squadron,

elleghastan

Harok (har-rock) Mayna’s squadron, elleghastan

Kheely (key-lee) Mayna’s squadron elleghastan

Jarra (jar-ah) Mayna’s squadron elleghastan

Thaka Fheraza (THAW-kah ferr-AH-za) Clonic Engineer at MagMetics, elleghastan

Durham (DER-ham) Thaka’s female partner, elleghastan

Sayid (sigh-YEED) engineer at MagMetics elleghastan

Kiran (KEY-ran) Second in command of the Starbird Tybalt under Commander, Helitian

Q’uyte’l (Q-you-tee-el) Indetivan of the Array, Master of Invictus

Mallic (mal-lick) Subordinate, Folioid

Terminology:

StarLine: Pathway of negative curvature in spacetime which allows travel at near-null energy consumption. Major StarLines can extend nearly the length of a galaxy, while lesser lines encompass multiple star systems.

Seismic Distorter: Seismological weapon of mass destruction initially developed as a visualization tool for use in deep Ballastian studies. The weapons detect resonant and harmonic frequencies and subsequently generate devastating seismic waves within a medium. They are capable of generating waves within many different substrates, including in atmosphere, underground, and underwater. The tools were first created by Ballok within Sativics, subsidiary of Sative International, but were subsequently weaponized by the Coalition. Initial iterations of the Distorters were not considered super-weapons, due to their inability to achieve profound harmonic resonance; however the elleghastan Armada developed their own, more efficient versions of the weapons, which are smaller, linkable, and capable of autopropagating for a greater range of military applications. These versions can achieve planetary resonance.

Great Ballastian StarLine: Largest Omnidirectional StarLine in the LMC, covering the main bar of the Tarantula Nebula. The Ballast Star System is centered in the StarLine. Heavily policed by the elleghasta.

Interdimensional Transit: The bridging of n-dimensional spacetime and encoding of higher dimensional vectors which allows active fermionic phase cancellation in three-space vector-fields and, subsequently, travel along non-euclidean flows (StarLines) at many multiples of the speed of light. Requires a complex host of closely guarded technologies, theory, and methodologies, known collectively as ‘Secrets of the Transit’.

Transitor: General term for any device or engine that bridges higher dimensional spacetime and enables faster-than-light travel along StarLines. Also allows for Alcubierre style warping outside of StarLines by funneling negative energy densities from non-euclidean geometries with a Transitor Coil, the fundamental block of a Transit Engine

EFFIT: Acronym for ‘Energy Forward Foundation of Interstellar Technology’, the largest corporate conglomerate of Ballasta. Their great initiative is to Dysonize the Ballastian HomeStar

Geet: (gee-eet) Slang for ‘old’, much like ‘geezer’ or ‘coot’

Zero: elleghastan slang. Many elleghastans use the term with an almost godlike reverence. Zero is also often used as an expletive, both in praise and in frustration. It is also used to express awe or surprise. Some fringe groups of worship the concept of zero with religious fanaticism, which has lead to the term being widely adopted in common language, especially in CityDwellers.

Dwelling Caves: Isolated, subsurface caves of Ballasta in which the elleghasta initially evolved. They possess a unique, self-contained ecological system of flora and fauna which comprise the ‘cavernosphere’ that is rich with a dense, fluid-like substance called atmos. Some are still used for living; however, many were converted for industry during the First and Second Helitian Invasions, then subsequently abandoned, including the outskirts of Mycostrena (myco-STREN-nah, subsurface companion to Darc (dark) Providence.

Atmos: (at-mos): The nutrient dense ‘atmosphere’ within the dwelling caves that makes up the cavernosphere. It possesses most of the amino acids necessary to sustain elleghastan metabolic processes. Ballok theorized that the atmos of the Dwellings was initially enriched in hypothesized Deep Cavern Systems that interact with numerous hypothesized subsurface oceans within the Ballastian lithosphere, which maintain a form of hydrostatic equilibrium. Because it is essential for elleghastan survival, it is a vital resource, and requires much work to create. Atmos is created by enrichment of the native, oxygen-helium dense Ballastian atmosphere, a complex ecological process which involves both mycological and microbial farming. This is done on a number of planetary bodies throughout elleghastan-controlled territory, but occurs primarily on Ballasta and Yian, and is the primary export of both worlds.

LynkSystem: A versatile neural interface installed into every PlanetBorne elleghastan in mid to late adolescence. It allows for near instant telepathic communication across vast distances by interfacing directly with the elleghastan auditory cortex and brainstem. It can be used to send and receive visual and auditory messages, broadcasts, and can be used for entertainment within Galax. The Lynksystem also enhances elleghastan vision, both by correcting for visual defects within the visual pathways, as well as by artificially enhancing natural eyesight. It also allows for the visual perception of a wider range of wavelengths than are naturally perceived. They can also be used to discriminately filter certain frequencies of light to create areas of secrecy accessible to only certain optical filter settings. The elleghastan Lynksystem also natively records all incoming sensory data, allowing elleghasts to replay memories or relive events they’ve witnessed before. These data are maintained in massive databanks both on- and off-world.

Galax: (gal-lax): Part of the Lynksystem initiative following the Second Helitian Invasion, Galax was installed natively into every Lynksystem, with the intention of being used as a military training and assessment tool. Galax has since expanded for entertainment purposes, including for gaming. Many games can be played without need for external hardware; however, the use of Recreation Cradles enhance the sensory fidelity of the games to near-reality. Sims can be episodic, like movies or television, but can also be more abstract. Some games employ perception-altering modifiers, allowing users to experience higher dimensional states. Games often use physical sensations, such as pain, to create higher stakes and greater immersion.

Immersion Room / Immersion Gala: Immersion rooms interface with the elleghastan Lynksystems to create total immersion. Some operate as ‘space rooms’, which simulate other worlds to near-reality, while others, such as the Rosalida, create entirely novel experiences by hijacking somatosensory pathways to create novel visceral perception loops. They can code new colors/sensations/sounds/scents that don’t exist naturally. They often make use of live music, magnetically levitated platforms, and ’immersioners’ which feed sensory data to patron’s Lynksystems. They are often described as a mix of amusement park, virtual reality simulation, hallucinogenic trip, concert, and escape room all in one experience.

Smith World: (when referring to a species: ‘Smiths’): A Smith World is a planet that has achieved hyperspecialization not accomplished elsewhere in the Galaxy. This is often out of extreme evolutionary pressure, necessity, or dire circumstances. Smith worlds are uncommon by definition, and are not typically known as prominent forces within the Galaxy, making them rare and difficult to find. Examples include the Oriates, the Anchor Civilization, and by some definitions, the elleghasta. Smith Worlds are highly coveted by those that know of them. Often, the discovery of a new Smith heralds significant upheaval of the Galactic ecology. While the term is used more freely in modern usage, true Smiths are few and far between.

Clonic:(CLONN-nick) Non-sexing morph of the elleghasta. Considered a separate gender. Clonics can give rise to sexers, but cannot give rise to clonics due to a fatal recessive allele. Sexers, meanwhile, can have any iteration of the three; however the ratio always skews towards Clonic. They reproduce through a unique clonal reproductive process. Clonics are on average 3-4 times the size of sexers. Traditionally Clonics were highly sought after for military service for their size, strength, and formidability, with many coerced into service as their only viable means of achieving status and financial stability. However, in modern times, many Clonics have achieved success in art, science, and many other careers. Historically, they have been oppressed, disenfranchised, enslaved, and exterminated. This culminated in an attempted genocide during the Gender War, referred to by some as the Clonic War.

grag: (GR-aag) Slur for’ Clonic’ that has been adopted as a general pejorative term. Defined as ‘Bastard’ or more accurately, ‘one born without a father’, in reference to the Clonic’s clonal reproductive process. The term was co-opted from the old tongues, originally meaning ‘First Mother,’ ‘LifeGiver,’ and ‘Bringer of Life’. The term was co-opted into a derogatory term in a concentrated effort to bury the history of the first elleghasts, who were all Clonic.

frag, slag: Fuck, eg. ‘Frag it’, ‘slag this’

Diji: (dee-hee) A four-stringed Helitian instrument similar to a violin. The instrument is played with a bow rosined with Gilfi fat oils (large mammothine creature of Hel) and made of its innards. It is cacophonous in unskilled hands, known for its brash harshness in its native atmosphere.

Starbird Tybalt: The name of the Helitian Commander’s Renegade vessel. It was part of a provisional trade deal with the Folioid military which allowed them to evade defeat during a key military struggle with the Helition Legion.

Interferometer: Gravitational wave detector. Size varies widely, from the size of a star system to the highly advanced ‘pocket interferometers’ employed by the elleghasta.

Edije: (eh-DEE-jay) A small species of skittish Ballastian beetle with a comical, lopsided gait and warbling pattern of locomotion. The species is also a direct genetic remnant of the Fenegastre species. The name ‘Edije’ was bestowed by Khayleid upon the EFFIT RepairCraft commandeered by Mayna’s Squadron, much to Mayna’s lament.

The Ango: (taang-go) The Warmonger’s personal Destroyer-Class warship.

Fenegastres: (FEH-neh-GAS-ters): (of lore) Ancient mythological figures of primordial strength that were said to punish elleghastan transgressors for venturing from their homes within the Dwelling Caves to the surface. They are regarded with an almost religious reverence, and used as status symbols. (In reality) The fenegastres were a species of advanced eusocial insects that survived along the terminator line of Ballasta’s surface and predated on elleghasts that wandered too close to the surface. They were thought to be sentient, and were eliminated during the Terraformation of the Surface World.

Ventrum/Ventrumal:(ven-trum/ven-TRUE-mal): eloquent elleghastan organ that effuses color related to emotional states located between the signing hands on the chest. It is often covered with a Bividium, a traditional woven adornment which has been adopted into many different materials. Ventrumal: Pertaining to- or of the- ventrum, often used in the context of Ventrumal Expression, eg. expression via the ventrum.

Bividium: (bih-VID-ee-yum) A traditional elleghastan adornment worn over the chest to cover one’s ventrum. Old-fashioned Bividiums were often woven/made of cloth, and worn as part of a necklace and draped over the chest. Modern styles include leather clasps, plated armor chest pieces, or even forgoing them entirely, as is common amongst CityDwellers in the surface cities of Ballasta.

Ventrivi: A phenomenon in which two or more elleghast’s ventrums match each others in sync, indicating empathy, understanding, or powerful emotional connection, positive or negative. It is typically shared between two or three individuals, however can be shared between larger numbers.

Ecogeology: An elleghastan specialty field that focuses on ecology as it pertains to geological history, both for practical and historical context. This includes study of ancient ecosystems and how they shaped modern geological structures and vice versa. The study often involves the Dwelling Caves.

Amphichirality: (of a structure) able to be deformed into its own mirror image. Topologically equivalent. E.g. Not chiral.

TIME:

One IGC Standard Cycle = 0.4 elleghastan ‘Days’ = 50 Earth Hours (Also called elleghastan ‘Cycles’)

NOTE: One elleghastan ‘Rest’ Cycle equates to one elleghastan ‘Active’ Cycle. Together, an Active/Rest Cycle span a full elleghastan ‘Cycle’, referred to colloquially as a Ballastian ‘Day,’ despite Ballasta’s tidal lock with its star.

A Ballastian ‘Cycle’/Ballastian ’Day’ equates to one rolling spin of Ballasta around its vertical axis in the direction of its orbital pathway.

One Human Day = 0.5 elleghastan ‘Days’

One Cycle Standard (also referred to as One Galactic Standard, not to be confused with IGC Standard Cycle)= 0.5 Helitian Year = (roughly) 4 Ballastian Years = (roughly) 1 Human Year = 0.00617 Indetivan Year

One Megannum = 1 Million Cycles Standard = 1 Million Human Years = 4 Million Ballastian Years

1 Oriate Year = 8 Earth Years = 32 Ballastian Years

1 Indetivan Year = 162 Earth Years = 648 Ballastian Years

DEVELOPMENTAL AGES (in each species’ relative clocks)

INFANT:

1-2 y.o. elleghastan = 1-2 y.o. Human = <0.5 y.o. Helitian

CHILDHOOD/YOUTH:

2-20 y.o. elleghastan = 2-11 y.o. Human =0.5-3 y.o. Helitian

EARLY ADOLESCENCE:

20-80 y.o. elleghastan = 11-15 y.o. Human = 3-4 y.o. Helitian

MID- TO LATE ADOLESCENCE:

80-100 y.o. elleghastan = 15-18 y.o. Human = 4-5 y.o. Helitian

YOUNG ADULTHOOD:

100-180 y.o. elleghastan = 18-25 y.o. Human = 5-8 y.o Helitian

PRIME ADULTHOOD:

180-300 y.o. elleghastan = 25-30 y.o. Human = 8-13 y.o Helitian

MIDDLE AGE:

300-500 y.o elleghastan = 30-55 y.o Human = 13-25 y.o Helitian

GOLDEN YEARS:

500-800 y.o. elleghastan = 55-80 y.o. Human = 25-35 y.o. Helitian

ELDER:

800-1000 y.o. elleghastan = 80-120 y.o. Human = 35-50 y.o. Helitian

CENTURIAN:

1000-1200 y.o. elleghastan (rare) = 120-150 y.o. Human (not currently achievable) = 50-55 Helitian (not currently achievable)

VENTRUMAL EXPRESSION:

The elleghastan ventrum expresses colorful indicators of emotional states. It is also used for visual communication.

The organ is capable of flashing with patterns, stripes, and creating illusory movement. Many elleghastans possess or adopt certain colors/patterns as personal trademark characteristics.

Lavender:Amusement, often disarming

Vermillion:Embarrassment

Scarlet:Rage, often with violent intent

Gold: Remorse

Orange: Frustration

Tangerine:Confusion, often in momentary slips

Black: Primal Fear

Pink: Sardonic

Cerulean: Bittersweet

Amarinth:Cautionary, a warning

Violet: Disquet/Discomfort

Bone White:Mourning and sorrow

Birch: Shame and embarrassment

Ginger: Softness, gentle comforting

Viridian: Joy

Magenta: Betrayal of the painful sort

Gray: Fear and unease

Velvet: Relief

Helitian Artwork by Katie Bolte

Cyr the Destroyer© 2025 by Anthony Lewis

Ellimist® LLC est 2021, All Rights Reserved