Twila (A1-0): Difference between revisions

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  '''OOC Note''' - Some of the information in this wiki page may not be public knowledge IRP.
  '''OOC Note''' - '''This page is out of date'''. Some of the information in this wiki page may not be public knowledge IRP.
{{Infobox scifi species
{{Infobox scifi species
| image_size          = 300
| image_size          = 300
Line 9: Line 9:
| native_name        = <!-- Name of the species in the species' tongue -->
| native_name        = <!-- Name of the species in the species' tongue -->
| designation        = Sapient
| designation        = Sapient
| classification      = Mixed-species group, Humanoid
| classification      = Humanoid
| ancestral species  = <!-- Species from which this species may have evolved from -->
| ancestral species  = <!-- Species from which this species may have evolved from -->
| races              = Dresk, Daw
| races              = Dresk, Daw
Line 15: Line 15:
| related subspecies  = <!-- Subspecies biologically related to this species which evolved from the ancestral species -->
| related subspecies  = <!-- Subspecies biologically related to this species which evolved from the ancestral species -->
| related species    = <!-- Subspecies that is too different on a genetic level so that interbreeding with ancestral species MAY result in viable off-spring, but off-spring AREN'T fertile. -->
| related species    = <!-- Subspecies that is too different on a genetic level so that interbreeding with ancestral species MAY result in viable off-spring, but off-spring AREN'T fertile. -->
| average height      = 1.83 meters
| average height      = 1.96 meters
| skin colour        = Black
| skin colour        = Black
| eye colour          = White
| eye colour          = White
| hair colour        = Lighten White
| hair colour        = White
| breathe            = Oxygen
| breathe            = Oxygen
| lifespan            = Original Strain: 90 years
| lifespan            = 90 years
| maturity            = Original Strain: 15 years
| maturity            = 15 years
| sexes              = Three
| sexes              = Male, Female, Hermaphrodite + Nonbinary
| distinctions        = Black and White appearance, only seen by outsiders within their suits
| distinctions        = Black and White appearance, only seen by outsiders within their suits, lack of vocal cords or any other construct that allows for speech
| notable abilities  = Bioluminescence, heightened resilience, faster healing
| notable abilities  = Bioluminescence, heightened resilience, faster healing
| place of origin    = Auren
| place of origin    = Auren
| star nation        = Twilight Ascendancy
| star nation        = Twilight Ascendancy
| total population    = 19 Trillion
| total population    = 27 Trillion
| key worlds          = Auren, Argris
| key worlds          = Auren, Argus
| languages          = Twila Light Language
| languages          = Civil Twillum
Worm Tongue (modified Morse Code)
| religion            = <!-- Religion(s) name(s) -->
| religion            = <!-- Religion(s) name(s) -->
| marital customs    = Polygamous
| marital customs    = Polygamous
| notable individuals = <!-- Insert important individuals -->
| notable individuals = Jun Lucio
}}
}}


== Biology and Appearance ==
== Biology and Appearance ==
The Twila are a heterogeneous group made up of any individual who's undergone the genetic modification known as Ascencion. While an unsuited Twila's black and white appearance may hint at the nature of their changed biology, it only serves to scratch the surface.
The twila are an unatural race made when an unknown starter species was uplifted and forced to undergo the process known as ascension. While a twila's black and white features may hint at the nature of their changed biology, it only serves to scratch the surface.


Through Ascencion, the water in one's body is replaced with Null, the water-equivalent created by mixing Lighten (a strong base equivalent) and Darken (a strong acid equivalent), over the course of a year. As these substances are foreign to realspace, genetic alterations must be made to limit the trauma done to one's body. After the process is complete, the individual will be permanently made into a Twila, capable of breeding with any other Twila and producing Twila offspring, assuming they've been spared the common side effect of infertility.
During the delicate process of ascension, null--a mixture of the extra-dimensional substances lighten (a strong base equivalent) and darken (a strong acid equivalent) that cancels out their more dangerous qualities--is integrated into a subject's body, filling the role water used to hold. In order to prevent the body from rejecting these substances, sujects also undergo precise genetic modification, giving them a greater fortitude and speeding up their natural healing. Any species that undergoes ascension will be permanently made into an olekun, capable producing viable offspring with any other null-based lifeform, regardless of what they started as, assuming they've been spared the common side effect of infertility.


== History ==
== History ==
The Twila are the ultimate successors to the Old Kind, a genetically engineered cult species who were destroyed, perhaps mercifully, by the Alchemists. As they searched through the aftermath before joining their species in death, the Alchemists stationed on Auren stumbled upon the Twila, a new experiment from the Old Kind's creators that had been left untouched by the attack, but still trapped in the throngs of unaided Ascencion. Rather than die, these Old Kind decided to become the guardian mentors, the first Alumai, of this new life, eventually gathering many of their secrets in their sacred Grimoire.
The twila were the last creations of the Old Kind, being the forcibly uplifted and ascended form of some favored pet species. While they would have been destined for lives of servitude, a xenocidal slave revolt would hit as the twila were gestating, leaving them their heirs of a territory filled with the ruins of a dead society. While the twila were found by the first Alchemists two years after their emergence, they would be left with a lasting cold disposition that would endure for thousands of years.  


After the death of their mentors, the Twila would slowly begin to spread out into the ruins of a civilization both familiar and unknown to them. While the technology they found could be repaired or reverse engineered, problems began to rise with the population. There simply wasn't enough Null stockpiled to be distributed to everyone, and so two races emerged: the Dresk and the Daw. The Dresk, having an unbalanced Null, had higher sensitivity to light levels, to the point of potential death, and the faster loss of what little Null they had. They would become feared and persecuted after some took to the "vampirism" of the Daw's Null to sustain their own, causing most of them to be exiled to Drellun during the Cruxus Null.
Though the influence of the Alchemists would leave its own lasting trauma on twila leadership, they nonetheless gave a massive head start to the young species. During the Trials of Vezun, the first efforts to colonize another planet, the twila's signiture love of merit-based leadership was developed. Conversely, the Cruxus Null would tear the nation appart and result in the development of distict cultural identities.  
 
This problem would eventually be alleviated after the creation of the Twila's signature suit, which was designed to maintain the proper amount of light for its wearer. The Alumai would eventually pass a mandate on these suits while in public, stemming the tide of hatred and fear. The terror would finally be squashed after the rediscovery of The Transmutation in 2981 BBT, and the ability to now produce Null independently of reserves.


== Society and Culture ==
== Society and Culture ==
The Twila live in a federalist meritocratic oligarchy in which a council of the most experienced, skilled, and competent lead the Federal Government, or the Upper Alumai. To protect the individual regions from experiencing a brain drain as their best are taken to "more important" locations, or a takeover by an "invading genius", all members of a Local Alumai must be a native of the system, or otherwise naturalized, and are directly elected by the populace. A representative assigned to the area by the Upper Alumai clears candidates to run.
TwAs is divided into 3 distinct societies, each with their own array of local cultures, but there are a handful of things that define a twila no matter where they hail from. The first is a fervent belief in the ideals of merit-based leadership, along with the idea that anyone, through hard work and effort, can grow to be a leader in their field. The second is a passion for knowledge and a desire to piece together shadowed pasts. The final is a generally cold disposition towards any who do not know them, having reached the stars only to find the decaying remnants of a long-gone empire.
 
The Grimoire is the most important book in the entire nation, which may only be read in its entirety by the Upper Alumai. Distributed sections of it, which are jealously guarded, can contain knowledge such as how to safely preform Ascencions or the locations of Old Kind technology. Unauthorized reading or copying of the Grimoire will earn a Twila life imprisonment without parole; for an outsider, violation of the Grimoire is the one place where the death sentence still applies.


The Twila strongly value the pursuit of happiness and new truths. Science and exploration are favored careers, but the arts are promoted and protected as well. Twila tend to be very curious, but modest, and archiving various details about the universe is not an uncommon job for a Twila to have. No matter what career a Twila chooses, they can count on the government providing their basic living needs while they put their money towards enhancing their craft and living a fulfilling life. While they make use of genetic modification and AI, they do so sparingly and are wary of their use in excess.
'''The Eye of Aesis''' - the Aesis Twila are what many refer to as the "Pale Standard," which, while harsh, us not exactly untrue. Having gone through the Cruxus Null comparatively unchanged, Aesis Twila remain closest to the original culture and traditions of the first Ascendency. They are the most quiet and withdrawn, valuing efficiency as one of their core tenants, which has proved useful in producing the highest number of leaders out of all the Eyes. They also commonly view themselves as the "big siblings" of TwAs, believing that it's still their responsibility to mediate all the quandries that arise in the other Eyes, much to their amusement.


In an individual Twila's life, they may take multiple spouses, a tradition spurred on by the low fertility rate post-Ascencion. Twila are protective of and loyal to their families, and protective laws are in place to prevent abuse or inheritance scandals.
'''The Eye of Drellun''' - the Dresk-kin Twila are the most radically different of the three Eyes, having developed a distinct culture for themselves during the Chemical Wars. They value the pursuit of science, recklessly so in the opinions of others, and their achievements in that regard remain marred by the unusually high number of injuries sustained in the process. The Dresk-kin are very community-oriented, but have been known to place great power in the hands of the few in order to benefit the many. The crucial lack of resources at the proto-Eye's founding also resulted in the establishment of Great Houses that have persisted into contemporary times. The Dawn Barons and their families receive the highest quality educations, allowing them to remain as experts in their fields, so long as they use the boons of their success to benefit the people. Many a great leader has gotten their start in the tutelage of a Dawn Baron, including those from outside of Drellun.


In most regions of TwAs, it is expected, or even legally required, that a Twila wear their suit out in public, a tradition started in the days of the Dresk Crisis. In doing so, all Twila are reminded that despite their differences, they are all one. From this, a population of those who choose to remain Dresk have flourished, although their predecessors more violent tendencies have fallen to the wayside in favor of Null supplements.
'''The Eye of Arc'hana''' - The Alchemic Twila came out of the Chemical Wars horrified by what they had become, and are almost unrecognizable after centuries of cultural reform. The Alchemic Twila deeply value courage, honor, and self-sacrifice, and have sworn to never again fail in their duties to protect their fellow twila. They continuously work to better fortify the nation, never beleieving the job to be finished. They deeply value the arts as a creative and emotional outlet, and have been the biggest advocates for expanding the Lexia Corthis to include key cultural fields as well. Perhaps the greatest thing to come out of Arc'hana is the Alchemic Order, an almost religious order that has, through its works across the nation, risen to have an authority only second to the Lexia Corthos itself. It is the Alchemists who now administer and protect the Transmutation, for no singular Eye should be trusted with so great a task.


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Latest revision as of 18:29, 14 October 2025

OOC Note - This page is out of date. Some of the information in this wiki page may not be public knowledge IRP.
Twila
Biological Classification
DesignationSapient
ClassificationHumanoid
RacesDresk, Daw
SubspeciesOlekun
Physical characteristics
Average height1.96 meters
Skin colourBlack
Eye colourWhite
Hair colourWhite
BreatheOxygen
Lifespan90 years
Maturity15 years
SexesMale, Female, Hermaphrodite + Nonbinary
DistinctionsBlack and White appearance, only seen by outsiders within their suits, lack of vocal cords or any other construct that allows for speech
Notable abilitiesBioluminescence, heightened resilience, faster healing
Sociocultural characteristics
Place of originAuren
Star nationTwilight Ascendancy
Total population27 Trillion
Key worldsAuren, Argus
LanguagesCivil Twillum
Marital customsPolygamous
Notable individualsJun Lucio

Biology and Appearance

The twila are an unatural race made when an unknown starter species was uplifted and forced to undergo the process known as ascension. While a twila's black and white features may hint at the nature of their changed biology, it only serves to scratch the surface.

During the delicate process of ascension, null--a mixture of the extra-dimensional substances lighten (a strong base equivalent) and darken (a strong acid equivalent) that cancels out their more dangerous qualities--is integrated into a subject's body, filling the role water used to hold. In order to prevent the body from rejecting these substances, sujects also undergo precise genetic modification, giving them a greater fortitude and speeding up their natural healing. Any species that undergoes ascension will be permanently made into an olekun, capable producing viable offspring with any other null-based lifeform, regardless of what they started as, assuming they've been spared the common side effect of infertility.

History

The twila were the last creations of the Old Kind, being the forcibly uplifted and ascended form of some favored pet species. While they would have been destined for lives of servitude, a xenocidal slave revolt would hit as the twila were gestating, leaving them their heirs of a territory filled with the ruins of a dead society. While the twila were found by the first Alchemists two years after their emergence, they would be left with a lasting cold disposition that would endure for thousands of years.

Though the influence of the Alchemists would leave its own lasting trauma on twila leadership, they nonetheless gave a massive head start to the young species. During the Trials of Vezun, the first efforts to colonize another planet, the twila's signiture love of merit-based leadership was developed. Conversely, the Cruxus Null would tear the nation appart and result in the development of distict cultural identities.

Society and Culture

TwAs is divided into 3 distinct societies, each with their own array of local cultures, but there are a handful of things that define a twila no matter where they hail from. The first is a fervent belief in the ideals of merit-based leadership, along with the idea that anyone, through hard work and effort, can grow to be a leader in their field. The second is a passion for knowledge and a desire to piece together shadowed pasts. The final is a generally cold disposition towards any who do not know them, having reached the stars only to find the decaying remnants of a long-gone empire.

The Eye of Aesis - the Aesis Twila are what many refer to as the "Pale Standard," which, while harsh, us not exactly untrue. Having gone through the Cruxus Null comparatively unchanged, Aesis Twila remain closest to the original culture and traditions of the first Ascendency. They are the most quiet and withdrawn, valuing efficiency as one of their core tenants, which has proved useful in producing the highest number of leaders out of all the Eyes. They also commonly view themselves as the "big siblings" of TwAs, believing that it's still their responsibility to mediate all the quandries that arise in the other Eyes, much to their amusement.

The Eye of Drellun - the Dresk-kin Twila are the most radically different of the three Eyes, having developed a distinct culture for themselves during the Chemical Wars. They value the pursuit of science, recklessly so in the opinions of others, and their achievements in that regard remain marred by the unusually high number of injuries sustained in the process. The Dresk-kin are very community-oriented, but have been known to place great power in the hands of the few in order to benefit the many. The crucial lack of resources at the proto-Eye's founding also resulted in the establishment of Great Houses that have persisted into contemporary times. The Dawn Barons and their families receive the highest quality educations, allowing them to remain as experts in their fields, so long as they use the boons of their success to benefit the people. Many a great leader has gotten their start in the tutelage of a Dawn Baron, including those from outside of Drellun.

The Eye of Arc'hana - The Alchemic Twila came out of the Chemical Wars horrified by what they had become, and are almost unrecognizable after centuries of cultural reform. The Alchemic Twila deeply value courage, honor, and self-sacrifice, and have sworn to never again fail in their duties to protect their fellow twila. They continuously work to better fortify the nation, never beleieving the job to be finished. They deeply value the arts as a creative and emotional outlet, and have been the biggest advocates for expanding the Lexia Corthis to include key cultural fields as well. Perhaps the greatest thing to come out of Arc'hana is the Alchemic Order, an almost religious order that has, through its works across the nation, risen to have an authority only second to the Lexia Corthos itself. It is the Alchemists who now administer and protect the Transmutation, for no singular Eye should be trusted with so great a task.