[Xenos] Cyani

[Apologist]

I've been scouring the forum and site for mentions of the Cyani, and this is what I've come up with:

Cyani
The aquatic Cyanis race is one of the youngest xenos threats in the Anargo sector, having only recently made the transition to interstellar warfare. As most of the Cyani colonies are located deep under water, even under thick layers of ice, the Cyani homeworlds have proved extremely difficult to locate and destroy, and while the Imperium still holds a technological advantage, the continued warfare is allowing the Cyani to learn and adapt.[/b]

I'm a big fan of relatively minor xeno species, so exploring the background of the Cyani sounds like a lot of fun. In addition, they seem to be the most 'normal' of the xeno species – essentially, a blank slate that offers a lot of potential.

I hope I'm not treading on any toes here, but here's a basic layout of how I see the Cyani at the moment. I've used a template cribbed from the Spirians:

UWP needs editing (I'm afraid I couldn't find the relevant notes on how to go about constructing it).

Home/Capital planet: Puccian
World-Class: Xenos
Population: 10,000,000,000+
Tech Level: 0
Tithe Grade: Adeptus Non
Aestimare: Z666

Orbital Distance: XXX (presumably fairly distant from the star)
Equatorial Diameter: XXX (Larger rather than small)
Gravity: 2.4 G
Orbital Period: 7302 Terran days
Length of Day: 49 Terran hours
Atmosphere: Argon-Chlorine
Surface Atmospheric Pressure: 4.20 atm [Originally 0.88 atm]
Base Mean Surface Temperature: –2.1º
Hydrosphere: 40%
Indigenous Lifeforms: Numerous. Notably, the Cyani.
Satellites: 12

Index Xenos – The Cyani Monoglot

Physical traits
The Cyani are an awkwardly tripedal race, squat and unlovely in appearance. Resembling nothing so much as a semi-crystalline and foreshortened grub, they represent the most highly evolved of the Puccian native species; sentient, belligerent and dangerous.

Like almost all of the Puccian fauna, the Cyani demonstrate three-sided radial symmetry. Standing no more than four foot in height, they have three stumpy 'legs', which are actually bunched and reinforced tentacle groups. These stem from a thick and rotund torso, from which four limbs sprout; one of which demonstrates limited cephalisation. They have two primary limbs, which are dextrous, with three stubby finger-analogues each; and one secondary limb, longer and with loose folds, which is used mainly for signal and display. The remaining limb bears three limited eyes mounted in a loose triangle on the top, with a gummy, loose maw below. This serves both olofactory and digestive systems.

Cyani are silicon-based, and have a structure based on fluid crystal. Their core is a wet, alcoholic jelly, over which grows overlaid frangible layers of a gel. This remains supple and loose in the chlorine oceans, but rapidly hardens into a protective carapace in other atmospheres. Uniquely, the carapace does not become brittle, but maintains limited fluid qualities, allowing the Cyani both protection and movement outside of their native liquid environment. Because the crystal is air-tight, and due to the low metabolic demands of their bodystructure, the Cyani are able to survive in nearly any gaseous environment for a limited time.

This allowed the aquatic proto-Cyani to survive and colonise the wind-whipped tundra of their homeplanet, and makes them well adapted to hostile environments without the benefit of atmospheric suits.

Cyani typically weigh five-hundred to six hundred pounds. Typically orange in colour, their bulbous, layered appearance and wet palps and eyes give them a revolting, slovenly impression quite at odds with their fierce intellects and obsessive martial abilities. The secondary limb oozes a thick cyan gel; as do areas of the slidcrystal carapace that have dried and cracked. This gel is a suspension similar to plasma in humans, providing the argon and copper transport seemingly necessary to the Cyani's respiration. It is believed that temporary rifts and hollow coppershunts are formed to distribute the argon and copper in live Cyani (rather than a permanent circulatory system), but since these rifts and shunts collapse after death, a dissected Cyani corpse will simply dissolve like an overripe apricot.

Gender is a complex

Psychological traits
[To come]

Society
[To come]

Religion
[To come]

Civilisation
[To come]

Technology
[To come]

Culture
[To come]

Military
[To come]

Psykers and chaos
[To come]

Spirian timeline
[To come]

[CELS]

Took me a while to understand what just happened here. I started reading your post and thought you'd found this information on our forum. Then I thought "when the hell did I write that? Wow, my English in this text is superb! I don't remember having such a great vocabulary..."
Then I realised I didn't write it after all 

Well, the Cyani weren't a blank slate at all, I'm afraid. But to be fair, they weren't really developed very far, so I'm very open to new input and other ideas. The Cyani were inspired by the 'Snakemen' in the old 90's computer game UFO: Enemy Unknown. In the game, if you kill some 'Snakeman' aliens and do an autopsy, you will learn that they have no bones, but rely on a hydraulic system to stay upright. (Incidentally, this is the same as the less scary alien "Kif Kroker", lieutenant to Captain Brannigan, in Futurama)

Without further delay, let me post what I wrote back in the day;

History
Age of Imperium
In M31, Imperial scouts mapping the Anargo sector reached the previously uncharted system AN-57/23/40, not far from the Dorvastor subsector. Surrounding its fierce yellow sun, a number of planets were in orbit, and the largest of these was a large water world coloured a greenish blue. The Imperial cartographers dubbed the system ‘Cyan’ after this beautiful water world. Soon after their arrival, the Imperial scouts detected a sleek unknown vessel from the water world, Cyan IV. The unknown vessel proved hostile, and had so powerful armament that the fragile Imperial scout ship barely had time to send an astropathic signal to the naval base in the Toshanden system before it was annihilated.

Approximately twenty days later, a squadron of Imperial destroyers arrived in the Cyan system to investigate the possible destruction of the scout ship. Again, an unknown hostile ship was encountered, but the combined firepower of five Cobra-class escort swiftly incapacitated the unknown ship. The Imperial ships sent a combined boarding party to investigate the identity and allegiance of the enemy ship. The boarding party was surprised to say the least as they entered their quarry, and found the ship full of water. Weird aliens, previously unknown to man, lay floating in the water. Guessing that the aliens came from the nearby waterworld, the Imperial boarding party dubbed the alien lifeform ‘cyanis’ (pl. ‘cyani’). As the mapping of the Anargo sector continued, the cyani were found in five more systems.

The Xenos Wars
During the 32nd millennium, the Imperial forces in Anargo had assembled a grand war fleet with the sole purpose of liberating xenos-infested human colonies and exterminating xenos homeworlds. The war against the cyani proved a daunting task, as the aliens possessed both high technology and several dozen warships. The war ended in an epic fleet engagement in the Juno system, where a total of fourteen cyani capital ships and three Imperial capital ships were destroyed. After this climactic battle, the original homeworld of the cyani was destroyed by Exterminatus, the awesome powers of which vapourised the oceans and burned the atmosphere, leaving Juno III as a scorched rock, orbited by a ghost-yard of space hulks.

As all identified cyani homeworlds had been destroyed, the cyani were declared extinct and the Imperial fleet moved on to deal with other threats, such as the jovans, spirians and orks. However, three cyani colonies remained undiscovered in wild space, and so the cyani were left to lick their wounds for the following years.

Dark Millennium
In 098.M41, the free trader Abraham von Rynn accidentally rediscovered the cyani when his ship was thrown off course during warp travel, arriving in the AN-55/34/29 system and detecting a lone alien transport. The cyani immediately identified von Rynn’s fleet as human, opened fire and made to exit the system, but the free trader’s small fleet was easily able to immobilise the transport and render it incapacitated. With no choice other than to accept whatever fate the humans had planned for them, von Rynn found the cyani much more open to business proposals, and so began an era of secret trade between humans and the presumed extinct cyani.

Centuries later, in 382.M41, Inquisitor Hanley of the Ordo Xenos discovered an unknown xenos species on the monitor station Litus in the Castellan subsector, and although he was unable to capture or kill them, he was later able to identify them as being cyani. The cyani race was soon declared as still being a threat to the Imperium, and with their presence on Imperial worlds, the Inquisition feared that the aliens would soon be making a reprisal against the Imperium of Man. Since then, Imperial scout ships have been scouring the sector for signs of cyani civilisations, but have come up empty. Due to the fact that the cyani have colonies deep underwater, detecting them from space has proven to be a difficult task indeed.

Physiology
The cyani are quite dissimilar from humans in terms of physiology. Externally, their aquatic origin is easy to recognise. Their body is covered in a dull grey skin, covered by a slimy membrane, except for their belly region, which has a leathery bright yellow skin. Having evolved from an eel-like organism, the cyani have a snake-like body, but with two arm-like limbs. The snake-like body allows the cyani to swim underwater with tremendous speed, although it puts them at a disadvantage on land. The arms of the cyani do not have hands with digits as humans and many other evolved xenos. Instead, their limbs have flippers with complex layers of muscles that give them incredible dexterity, with which to manipulate tools and various objects. These flippers have a fan-like structure, allowing the cyani to spread them like a human might spread its fingers, or clench the flipper, like a human might make a fist.

Internally, there is much dissimilarity from humans. The cyani have very few bones except for their cranium, and are instead held up by a hydrostatic skeleton, composed of thousands of small bladders filled with liquid. These bladders use hydraulics to move the cyani’s bodies, substituting both bones and muscles as in the human body. The unique hydraulic organs, combined with the lack of bones, give the cyani a tremendous agility, comparable to that of Terran snakes. Although the cyani are typically around three or four meters long, and up to two meters tall when standing on firm ground, they are extremely powerful for their size.

The mouth of the cyani doubles as a respiration organ, as their mouth contains thin plates of tissue that exchange gas through their thin membranes, thus picking up oxygen from water. The eyes of a cyanis have fantastic sensitivity to colour, but are dependent on high light intensities to respond, which gives the cyani poor night vision, but excellent vision in well lit conditions. Furthermore, the position of the eyes on the cyani’s heads gives them nearly three-hundred-and-sixty degrees of vision. The cyani have extremely acute hearing, compared to humans that, combined with their ability to produce sounds from special organs in their cranium, allows the cyani to communicate over vast distances underwater.

The cyani also have electric receptors and transmitters in their head, with which to communicate through water over short distances. Electric signals sent between cyani can have great importance in communication, conveying emotions and physiological state, both consciously and unconsciously.

[CELS]

By the way, I found the physiology section you wrote quite interesting. I do like silicon-based species. Reminds me of the Silicoids from the computer game Master of Orion. Anyway, perhaps we can find a compromise between the two completely different ideas? Might result in something very unique indeed.

[Apologist]

Sounds great to me – and thanks for posting the established background. It's always much easier to develop something with hints than it is to start from scratch.

I really like the history; so I'll go away and have a think about what tweaks I'd like to make, and then we can discuss 'em.

[CELS]

Excellent. Come to think of it, maybe we should change the name as well? I actually didn't name them after a colour, I just thought 'cyani' sounded cool and the whole "colour of their homeworld" thing sounded plausible. But in retrospect, naming an alien species after a colour seems perhaps too simple. Same as naming an alien species after a letter in the greek alphabet (tau)

[Apologist]

Oh, I don't know – I rather like the name; it's rather distinctive, and avoids the usual sci-fi tropes of Ks and Xs and Zs. 

I names their homeworld Puccian for that reason (not knowing there was one established): Puccian; Puc Cian; the Cian of Puc; the Cyani.

That said, I'm not too fussed if we'd like to change it. Perhaps giving them a 'group' name – the the Imperium of Man, the Tau Empire etc. The Cyani Conclaves?

Having had a look around the forum, I notice that there was a bit of resistance to more aquatic species, so I had a think on how the Cyani could be retrofitted to keep the cool background bits, but move them away from a straight water-dwelling species.

So – the aim: create a liquid-dwelling species with hydrostatic musculo-skeletal system that has achieved interstellar capabilities in the recent history of the Imperium (ca. M30–M40). The species should provide a credible threat to Imperial interests in the sector, but due to the small and scattered nature of its colonies, and their very different habitation requirements, they rarely contest similar worlds.

+++
Concept:
I think a real alien feel would be a great benefit, and what better than a world where there are multiple layers of liquid/dense gas, in a similar manner to thermoclines in the ocean? As a thought exercise, imagine that billions of tonnes of oil are poured onto the Earth. In addition to the thin gaseous atmosphere of the air, the liquid atmosphere of the oceans and the solid atmosphere of the landmasses, we'd have a liquid atmosphere of oil, which would sit between the water and the air.

You rapidly see that by pouring on liquids with different relative densities, you could create a 'layer cake' of a planet – perhaps with liquid copper oceans topped by deep chlorine seas, then nitrogen seas, then argon seas, then an atmosphere of noble gases. Now imagine that the gravity is roughly three or four times that of earth. Each layer might only be a few hundred metres or so thick – so there's a real benefit to a species if it can get between them – either to avoid being predated upon; or to increase your targets.

Another way of looking at this concept is clouds – while all of our clouds are composed of water, there's no reason that a planet with the correct chemical make-up couldn't have multiple different types of clouds, all operating at different levels.

If the atmosphere were sufficiently dense, then each layer would be compressed closer together, and could support a complete ecosystem within each layer – much as we have fish, mammals and birds all occupying different clines.

In the copper/chlorine/nitrogen/argon/noble gases example I give, each cline would be virtually inimical to species from another cline, just as birds can't survive for long in water. If a species evolved a way to exploit the various clines, such as a protective slime or carapace layer, then that would be a great spur to sentience; encouraging a three-dimensional awareness and tool use. Such a creature is also likely to be predatory and aggressive.

+++
Using what we've got
A world of dense liquids/gases is very different  to the sort of worlds the Imperium typically colonises, and relatively difficult for them to explore; meaning that the species could remain undetected for quite long enough to develop interstellar capabilities and form a small empire of colonies and outposts.

The above idea also covers settlements below sea ice, so it's certainly not excluding the ideas of the original conception.

Similarly, the idea of a hydrostatic musculo-skeletal system would be perfectly adapted to moving through atmospheres with different properties – as the vesicles could adjust in size to maintain the individual's specific gravity (so they don't float or sink in a liquid environment). Adjusting what's in the vesicle would also help to offset the pressure of whatever medium the atmosphere is made of; preventing the species being crushed – or exploding!

I really like the idea of a slide-gel – a fluid crystal that can become more or less rigid depending on pressure (try mixing cornflour with a little water and squeezing it in your hand; it becomes rigid, but once pressure is released, it reverts to being liquid); so if we gave the species an outer coating or carapace of a biological substance like this, it would allow the creature to alter the rigidity of its surface, further increasing its ability to move in different mediums: even gaseous ones like Earth (though they'd generally be restricted to standing on the land, like us).

+++
What I'd like to use
I like the idea of a tri-lateral species; both because it's weird and gribbly and alien, and also because it'd be well-suited to a liquid-based life. Imagine a three-armed starfish as being the 'base species'; much as a bilateral worm is the 'base species' for a human.

This easily leads to either of the body shapes we've already discussed; the tripedal version, or the eel-version.

A starfish-based lifeform could easily lengthen into an eel shape; with a Y-shaped mouth on one end – in which case the 'arms' would become ridges along the flanks and back. Muscular development could allow buds to form on the flanks, allowing limbs to develop; while the back 'arm' becomes a crest, perhaps containing most of the vesicles and controlling the creature's vertical movement. It'd also give a cool place for signalling.

Alternatively, the proto-starfish could broaden into a ray-shaped creature, with its mouth remaining in the centre. Taking the ray-shaped creature, if one of the limbs (or end) then developed sensory organs (and thus cephalisation), the other two are likely to be used as ambulatory or manipulative limbs. If we then expand the central mouth (and stomach) so that it produces tentacles (much as we have a tongue); it's entirely possible some (or all) of the tentacles could contain some of the hydrostatic (or pneumatostatic) vesicles, allowing them to become rigid – and providing three (or more) rigid legs, allowing movement on land.

In fact, if the tentacles remained multiple and separate, they could be used individually in water, or bunch together for support (like a braided piece of hair) to create fewer, stronger and less flexible limbs.

Personally I prefer the latter idea, as it allows the Cyani to move on land.

+++
Conflict
So why would they fall into conflict with other species?
1) Agriworlds based on fisheries would be a prime target.
2) Natural aggression and belligerence
3) Species-wide superiority complex

[CELS]

Oh, I don't know – I rather like the name; it's rather distinctive, and avoids the usual sci-fi tropes of Ks and Xs and Zs. 
I names their homeworld Puccian for that reason (not knowing there was one established): Puccian; Puc Cian; the Cian of Puc; the Cyani.
That said, I'm not too fussed if we'd like to change it. Perhaps giving them a 'group' name – the the Imperium of Man, the Tau Empire etc. The Cyani Conclaves?

Alright cool. Who do you see naming their homeworld though? They might have called it by that name, but then again, we've no idea what kind of language they have.But the Cian of Puc reminds me of how Saudi Arabia was named. I like the idea of coming up with a name for their government. 'Conclave' is a word I love, but I think it's been used enough in the ASP. We could call it the Cyani Syndicate, as if a Cyani hyper-corporation eventually grew so powerful that it basically took over the whole race. As if Coca Cola eventually grew so big that it took over the world. Which it probably will.
It might make a nice change to have a government with commercial origins instead of the typical sci-fi aliens whose society revolves around castes, clans, religious groups or a monarchy. It would make the Cyani a bit similar to the Hutts in Star Wars, I suppose.

Having had a look around the forum, I notice that there was a bit of resistance to more aquatic species, so I had a think on how the Cyani could be retrofitted to keep the cool background bits, but move them away from a straight water-dwelling species.

Actually, the cyani are part of the reason this resistance came.

Concept:
I think a real alien feel would be a great benefit, and what better than a world where there are multiple layers of liquid/dense gas, in a similar manner to thermoclines in the ocean? As a thought exercise, imagine that billions of tonnes of oil are poured onto the Earth. In addition to the thin gaseous atmosphere of the air, the liquid atmosphere of the oceans and the solid atmosphere of the landmasses, we'd have a liquid atmosphere of oil, which would sit between the water and the air.

Actually, I love this idea. It reminds me of (you guessed it, another computer game) Little Big Adventure 2, where the oceans of an alien world are actually just clouds covering a hidden world underneath. It's actually this game that inspired me to create the world Tsarevna, which is a world with a dual-layered atmosphere.

Now, I like your idea, but I'm wondering if it's actually feasible. I know gas giants have a structure with different layers, but I wonder if a planet with a more complex composition will lead to the gases mixing and creating a uniform atmosphere over time. Other than that, I quite like your idea.

Using what we've got
A world of dense liquids/gases is very different  to the sort of worlds the Imperium typically colonises, and relatively difficult for them to explore; meaning that the species could remain undetected for quite long enough to develop interstellar capabilities and form a small empire of colonies and outposts.

Indeed difficult to explore, but have you read the Gaunt's Ghosts novel featuring the world called Phantine? It's a world with a split atmosphere where the heavier gases are harvested. One might imagine a similar colony on a world already colonized by the Cyani, which would lead to a confrontation. So... cool

Similarly, the idea of a hydrostatic musculo-skeletal system would be perfectly adapted to moving through atmospheres with different properties – as the vesicles could adjust in size to maintain the individual's specific gravity (so they don't float or sink in a liquid environment). Adjusting what's in the vesicle would also help to offset the pressure of whatever medium the atmosphere is made of; preventing the species being crushed – or exploding!

Well, sounds nice. But would it work? I don't really know enough about biology to imagine how it would.

I really like the idea of a slide-gel – a fluid crystal that can become more or less rigid depending on pressure (try mixing cornflour with a little water and squeezing it in your hand; it becomes rigid, but once pressure is released, it reverts to being liquid); so if we gave the species an outer coating or carapace of a biological substance like this, it would allow the creature to alter the rigidity of its surface, further increasing its ability to move in different mediums: even gaseous ones like Earth (though they'd generally be restricted to standing on the land, like us).

But wouldn't such a substance need some kind of kinetic force to become rigid? How would the cyani regulate this without hitting themselves with clubs?

I like the idea of a tri-lateral species; both because it's weird and gribbly and alien, and also because it'd be well-suited to a liquid-based life. Imagine a three-armed starfish as being the 'base species'; much as a bilateral worm is the 'base species' for a human.
This easily leads to either of the body shapes we've already discussed; the tripedal version, or the eel-version.

Sounds good.

A starfish-based lifeform could easily lengthen into an eel shape; with a Y-shaped mouth on one end – in which case the 'arms' would become ridges along the flanks and back. Muscular development could allow buds to form on the flanks, allowing limbs to develop; while the back 'arm' becomes a crest, perhaps containing most of the vesicles and controlling the creature's vertical movement. It'd also give a cool place for signalling.

Erm, I'm afraid I don't follow. Would you care to illustrate this with a simple sketch?

In fact, if the tentacles remained multiple and separate, they could be used individually in water, or bunch together for support (like a braided piece of hair) to create fewer, stronger and less flexible limbs.
Personally I prefer the latter idea, as it allows the Cyani to move on land.

I'd rather move away from having too many tentacles, as then the Cyani become more typical as far as sci-fi aliens go. In classic sci-fi, 80% of aliens are humanoid, the other 20% have multiple tentacles. Well, not precisely, but you get the idea

And the Cyani would be able to move on land using a single arm/tentacle. Just like the Snakemen from UFO.

Conflict
So why would they fall into conflict with other species?
1) Agriworlds based on fisheries would be a prime target.
2) Natural aggression and belligerence
3) Species-wide superiority complex

Well, I wouldn't go for any of those, personally. There's no shortage of water worlds in the Anargo sector (or anywhere else in the galaxy, I imagine). It wouldn't be a problem unless the Cyani had very poor interstellar travelling abilities, in which case they would be confined to nearby systems, like the tau.
Natural aggression or simple rivalry between species are also classical scenarios in sci-fi. If the Cyani were indeed a very materialistic and economy-driven civilisation, then perhaps they would be driven to fight humans and other aliens simply for the valuable technology that might be salvaged from such encounters. Better warp drives, better weapons... more money.

I rather like aliens to be driven by economical goals, because most sci-fi aliens are typically just crazy warlords who want to destroy everyone.

[Studio Colrouphobia]

Not reading through all of your posts in here (sorry, packed schedule) but the description of Cyani by apologist sound VERY close to that of the description of the physiology of my own Tsa-phizee (Ticks).

Three legs, jellylike body, 40-50 cm in height. Three to five tentacles on each side of the body.


Not saying I hold the "patent" on that look or anything, but it feels a bit...too close.
Also, I do remember reading through the descriptions of all xenos described on here when I started to think out the Ticks and can't remember any other zeno having that look.

CELS also pointed out "snake-like body" ad since I don't have the tme to read through the posts (nor write lengthy posts myself ) let me just mention the similarities in physical appearence like that

[CELS]

Well, at the risk of being too direct.... do you have any plans what so ever to finish your work on the Tsa-phizee, to the point where we have an article on our website? Because the progress on them has been rather.... constant. Well, I don't recall reading anything new about them for a year. And it does appear as if you're quite busy these days.

A few more points;
- I wouldn't necessarily limit the ASP to having a single tentacled / snake-bodied alien. There seems to be no limit on the number of bipedal humanoid aliens in the galaxy.

- The Cyani were created in 2006, as can be seen in the old archives. From what I can see, you started posting about the Tsa-phizee in early 2007. It is possible that you have overlooked something, or that you considered their physiology to be sufficiently different that it wasn't a problem.

[Studio Colrouphobia]

Well, at the risk of being too direct.... do you have any plans what so ever to finish your work on the Tsa-phizee, to the point where we have an article on our website? Because the progress on them has been rather.... constant. Well, I don't recall reading anything new about them for a year. And it does appear as if you're quite busy these days.

yes, I intend on finishing them. Just as much as you intend on finishing weaponry I asume? No worries about being blunt, but it sounds a little more then blunt.

A few more points;
- I wouldn't necessarily limit the ASP to having a single tentacled / snake-bodied alien. There seems to be no limit on the number of bipedal humanoid aliens in the galaxy.

Neither do I.

- The Cyani were created in 2006, as can be seen in the old archives. From what I can see, you started posting about the Tsa-phizee in early 2007. It is possible that you have overlooked something, or that you considered their physiology to be sufficiently different that it wasn't a problem.

My point being:

YOUR description is rather far from my description of the Ticks.
Snakelike body makes a huge distinction between the cyani and the Ticks.

Apologists description, on the other hand, could have been taken directly from a post on the physiological description of the Tsa-Phizee.
Three legged, 3-5 tentacles in one spot on each side of the body.

And I wasn't saying it was bad, I meerely pointed out the similarities.

As for finalizing the article on the Ticks, I have asked, several times, for aid with the format. About a year ago I stopped asking. (edit: let me also state here, that it is pretty difficult to make any progress in a locked topic that isn't to be found on the boards and that I was lucky to have saved as a bookmark /edit.)

Please give Apologist the help he asks for so the Cyani can be developed. I'd like to see it happend.

[Apologist]

Not reading through all of your posts in here (sorry, packed schedule) but the description of Cyani by apologist sound VERY close to that of the description of the physiology of my own Tsa-phizee (Ticks).

Three legs, jellylike body, 40-50 cm in height. Three to five tentacles on each side of the body.

The image I had of the Cyani was 'no more than four foot in height' (roughly three or four times the height of the Tsa-phizee); a mobile cystalline shell containing gel for the body, and one limb on each side (all of which are jointed like an arthropod).

Aside from having three legs, I don't really see the connection.

Not saying I hold the "patent" on that look or anything, but it feels a bit...too close.
Also, I do remember reading through the descriptions of all xenos described on here when I started to think out the Ticks and can't remember any other zeno having that look.
CELS also pointed out "snake-like body" ad since I don't have the tme to read through the posts (nor write lengthy posts myself ) let me just mention the similarities in physical appearence like that

Fair do's. I've only just joined the project, and am struggling to find the older descriptions – there're lots of references to various things, but I'm getting the impression they're stored on various older forums – and my search-fu is weak!

Given the fairly limited methods of movement that would allow both ambulation (ground walking) and swim-floating; I'm at a bit of a loss. A snake or eel-like body is fine in lateral movement (like a snake), but it'd be extremely awkward if you wanted to move on solid ground while upright and carrying anything.

I realise that tentacles are a bit of a sci-fi cliche, but I think the concept of 'leg bundles' is pretty new. No reason there'd need to be three – any multiple of three would work. If that's still treading on the toes of the Tsa-phizee, there's no reason the Cyani couldn't be bilaterally symmetrical (though that'd bring 'em back to being essentially humanoid).

I'd like them to remain based on threes. Perhaps a compromise might be to make them snake-like, but with multiple tails? Imagine a camera tripod made out of eels.

+++

Now, I like your [layered planet] idea, but I'm wondering if it's actually feasible. I know gas giants have a structure with different layers, but I wonder if a planet with a more complex composition will lead to the gases mixing and creating a uniform atmosphere over time. Other than that, I quite like your idea.

Removing the different elements and replacing them with a single element with different properties would work – just like thermoclines in the ocean. It's all water, but differences in pressure and temperature have 'tipping points' – so there are layers of water with different salinities*, markedly different temperatures and very difference flora and fauna.

If you then ramped this up with permanent geological phenomena (similarly to the Gulf Stream), and a higher gravity; you could make the differences between clines striking; and very close together.

+++

Who do you see naming their homeworld though? They might have called it by that name, but then again, we've no idea what kind of language they have.

Returning to the idea of colour, I rather like the idea that the Cyani communicate mainly visually – the limb I suggest on their back could easily cycle through a range of colours (a little like a squid, or chameleon), and be a 'flag-limb'. Relying on colours and patterns would reduce the problem of communication between the different mediums of the atmosphere of their homeworld, and remove any need for psychic or sonic communication. It's an idea that's been used in Xenology with the Thyrrus.

In fact, the Thryyus are a pretty good example of how I originally saw the Cyani. If you remove two of their arms and thicken the others; and replace the tentacles with three muscular but unjointed legs; and place a head between the arms, you've got a pretty cool-looking alien.

The Cyani Tincture is quite a fun name – the name being given by Imperials; and the Cyani themselves referring to themselves by a specific shade and shape; perhaps differing subtly (or not subtly!) for personal names; groups and associations.

But the Cian of Puc reminds me of how Saudi Arabia was named. I like the idea of coming up with a name for their government. 'Conclave' is a word I love, but I think it's been used enough in the ASP. We could call it the Cyani Syndicate, as if a Cyani hyper-corporation eventually grew so powerful that it basically took over the whole race. As if Coca Cola eventually grew so big that it took over the world. Which it probably will.
It might make a nice change to have a government with commercial origins instead of the typical sci-fi aliens whose society revolves around castes, clans, religious groups or a monarchy. It would make the Cyani a bit similar to the Hutts in Star Wars, I suppose.

I like this idea – and wonder if it could be extended to the idea that the prehistoric Cyani were a variety of related species (like Neanderthal man and Homo Sapiens co-existing; but with seventeen or more species in the Cyani version) who competed with each other, and gradually drove each other to extinction (much as with Neanderthal man and Homo Sapiens). The difference being that the rate of technological development outstripped the competition; so that there were a dozen or so species remaining by the time the Cyani reached a blackpowder level equivalent.

This might lead to modern trade between similar species (rather than nations as we know them) – until eventually one species became more influential than the others and outcompeted them over the course of a few generations; leading to large-scale warfare competitively researched by a dozen powerful and intelligent species. This would explain the relatively high military level, and also the reason they've only recently headed into space – the eventual winners (modern-day Cyani) being sure of their manifest destiny as a species.

The idea of a plutocratic species is definitely very interesting – and would be doubly reinforced if the method of reproduction was through cloning. With no drive to protect their offspring (since they're genetically identical to the 'mother/father'; it is always possible to produce more), more experienced and older Cyani could simply use their offspring as economic drones to increase their wealth.

A culture that reinforced this idea might lead to exploration by the drones – borrowing wealth from their parent to find more wealth; which is then sent to the parent and a small amount skimmed off. This continues until the drone-child can buy freedom and become free to start reproducing and profitting.

Breeding while a slave would simply increase your personal burden; since you'd have no capital with which to set up your drones – and conversely, having plenty of capital exponentially increases your earning power: a perfect pyramid scheme if the lowest level is allowed to explore and generate wealth.

This scenario would rely on Cyani having little emotional connection to their children/parents: I'd see Cyani treating their offspring as mercenary workers – with the exception that Cyani would never work for an unrelated 'family firm' since they're genetically different.

A stable genetic structure would be essential – mutants would be abhorred pariahs; making the species antagonistic to Chaotic or radioactive etc. forms of mutation.

+++

Indeed difficult to explore, but have you read the Gaunt's Ghosts novel featuring the world called Phantine? It's a world with a split atmosphere where the heavier gases are harvested. One might imagine a similar colony on a world already colonized by the Cyani, which would lead to a confrontation. So... cool

I imagine conflicts with research outposts, listening posts and other low-grade Imperial/non-Imperial worlds would be possible.

*Could be wrong about the salinities!

[Studio Colrouphobia]

Not reading through all of your posts in here (sorry, packed schedule) but the description of Cyani by apologist sound VERY close to that of the description of the physiology of my own Tsa-phizee (Ticks).

Three legs, jellylike body, 40-50 cm in height. Three to five tentacles on each side of the body.

The image I had of the Cyani was 'no more than four foot in height' (roughly three or four times the height of the Tsa-phizee); a mobile cystalline shell containing gel for the body, and one limb on each side (all of which are jointed like an arthropod).

Aside from having three legs, I don't really see the connection.

Not saying I hold the "patent" on that look or anything, but it feels a bit...too close.
Also, I do remember reading through the descriptions of all xenos described on here when I started to think out the Ticks and can't remember any other zeno having that look.
CELS also pointed out "snake-like body" ad since I don't have the tme to read through the posts (nor write lengthy posts myself ) let me just mention the similarities in physical appearence like that

Fair do's. I've only just joined the project, and am struggling to find the older descriptions – there're lots of references to various things, but I'm getting the impression they're stored on various older forums – and my search-fu is weak!

Given the fairly limited methods of movement that would allow both ambulation (ground walking) and swim-floating; I'm at a bit of a loss. A snake or eel-like body is fine in lateral movement (like a snake), but it'd be extremely awkward if you wanted to move on solid ground while upright and carrying anything.

I realise that tentacles are a bit of a sci-fi cliche, but I think the concept of 'leg bundles' is pretty new. No reason there'd need to be three – any multiple of three would work. If that's still treading on the toes of the Tsa-phizee, there's no reason the Cyani couldn't be bilaterally symmetrical (though that'd bring 'em back to being essentially humanoid).

I'd like them to remain based on threes. Perhaps a compromise might be to make them snake-like, but with multiple tails? Imagine a camera tripod made out of eels.

Like said in my later post- I do not mind at all, I just saw them as so close in looks that it felt, well..
Let me put it like ths- so far the ASP has put down several notes on trying to make things different. CELS can claim what he wants ( ) but I got told several times when I started to ask around wether my ideas on a new xeno species was okay that they where "too close to other xeno species allready existing". Refferences to both Spirians and Jovans where given, both of which are not GW species.

My main objection had nothing to do with that they would be similar to the Ticks though, but rather that there was already a description of the Cyani and that description comes nowhere near the ticks.


I like how you are developing them though. And it is nice to see both description of planet and race coming along very well

[Apologist]

Like said in my later post- I do not mind at all, I just saw them as so close in looks that it felt, well..
Let me put it like ths- so far the ASP has put down several notes on trying to make things different. *snip* I got told several times when I started to ask around wether my ideas on a new xeno species was okay that they where "too close to other xeno species allready existing". Refferences to both Spirians and Jovans where given, both of which are not GW species.

Hey, no worries – and apologies if I came across sounding a little combative. The ticks sound really interesting – any links? It'd be great if I could do a bit of research on 'em and avoid any duplication.

I like how you are developing them though. And it is nice to see both description of planet and race coming along very well

Cheers! It's a lot of fun as a thought experiment – now, back to the lab... 

[Studio Colrouphobia]

http://anargo-sector.net/newforum/viewtopic.php?t=122

Above are Tsa-phizee. They're in an archived part of the forums. I have been writing on them continuously for about a year though and plan on (prodded by CELS in this very topic) posting them anew, in a more proper fascion later this month (maybe I'll do it later today even, but the it won't be as complete as I was thinking).

Below is another xeno race I was developing, Aphex Centipod. Also continuously developed and also archived. read both and don't worry about duplication from my point of view, instead, think of it as inspiration!

http://anargo-sector.net/newforum/viewtopic.php?t=127

[CELS]

yes, I intend on finishing them. Just as much as you intend on finishing weaponry I asume? No worries about being blunt, but it sounds a little more then blunt.

Then there has been a misunderstanding. I was simply curious, because it was relevant for this discussion. Do you not sympathize with my worries that we have many members who claim certain parts of the project as their own and then never actually complete them? It is always unfortunate when creativity is stifled in respect for the work of more senior members, when the senior members end up never finishing their work.

I do apologize if I have offended you, but to compare your contributions to the project with mine is a little unfair, I think. There are some areas that I have not completed, perhaps never will, but I do think you'll find that I have produced quite a lot of material for our website. And I haven't really stopped anyone from working on weaponry because it conflicted with my own plans.

As for finalizing the article on the Ticks, I have asked, several times, for aid with the format. About a year ago I stopped asking. (edit: let me also state here, that it is pretty difficult to make any progress in a locked topic that isn't to be found on the boards and that I was lucky to have saved as a bookmark /edit.)

I don't really recall your requests, but then again it's quite hard to keep up with the progress of all our members at times. If you are intent on working more on the Ticks, why don't you start a thread on this forum and I'll help as best I can? If formatting is the only obstacle, then it should be rather easy to sort out.

Fair do's. I've only just joined the project, and am struggling to find the older descriptions – there're lots of references to various things, but I'm getting the impression they're stored on various older forums – and my search-fu is weak!

Don't beat yourself up. Our project is, ironically, growing more and more similar to the Imperium itself. It stretches back years and years, it contains vast amounts of information by countless contributors (many of whom are long gone), and it is crippled by constant loss and corruption of data. It's quite amusing, really. And a bit frustrating

Given the fairly limited methods of movement that would allow both ambulation (ground walking) and swim-floating; I'm at a bit of a loss. A snake or eel-like body is fine in lateral movement (like a snake), but it'd be extremely awkward if you wanted to move on solid ground while upright and carrying anything.

Well, awkward, certainly. Then again, humans don't really move too well while carrying large objects in water. I'm not really an expert on serpent locomotion, but it does seem possible to me. It wouldn't be fast, it would require a lot of strength, but it would be possible. Actually, the Cyani would have to be extremely strong anyway, if they come from high gravity worlds. If you want scientific evidence, the best thing I have would be the Naga creatures from World of Warcraft  

I realise that tentacles are a bit of a sci-fi cliche, but I think the concept of 'leg bundles' is pretty new. No reason there'd need to be three – any multiple of three would work. If that's still treading on the toes of the Tsa-phizee, there's no reason the Cyani couldn't be bilaterally symmetrical (though that'd bring 'em back to being essentially humanoid).
I'd like them to remain based on threes. Perhaps a compromise might be to make them snake-like, but with multiple tails? Imagine a camera tripod made out of eels.

A camera tripod made out of eels sounds interesting, but would it still walk like traditional sci-fi tentacle aliens?

Removing the different elements and replacing them with a single element with different properties would work – just like thermoclines in the ocean. It's all water, but differences in pressure and temperature have 'tipping points' – so there are layers of water with different salinities*, markedly different temperatures and very difference flora and fauna.
If you then ramped this up with permanent geological phenomena (similarly to the Gulf Stream), and a higher gravity; you could make the differences between clines striking; and very close together.

I'll take your word for it.  

In fact, the Thryyus are a pretty good example of how I originally saw the Cyani. If you remove two of their arms and thicken the others; and replace the tentacles with three muscular but unjointed legs; and place a head between the arms, you've got a pretty cool-looking alien.

Indeed, I thought of the Thyrrus when I read your description. That said, I don't quite understand what you mean here. Place a head between their arms? Again, a simple sketch would be useful.

The Cyani Tincture is quite a fun name – the name being given by Imperials; and the Cyani themselves referring to themselves by a specific shade and shape; perhaps differing subtly (or not subtly!) for personal names; groups and associations.

What would Imperials call the 'Cyani Tincture'? You mean as a name for their empire?

This might lead to modern trade between similar species (rather than nations as we know them) – until eventually one species became more influential than the others and outcompeted them over the course of a few generations; leading to large-scale warfare competitively researched by a dozen powerful and intelligent species. This would explain the relatively high military level, and also the reason they've only recently headed into space – the eventual winners (modern-day Cyani) being sure of their manifest destiny as a species.

Well, I do like the analogy of homo sapiens vs neanderthals, but the last part about their manifest destiny as a species just sounds like another version of the Imperial creed. Which seems to be common for all the major alien factions in the 40k universe. To me, it's not a given that any interstellar civilisation would automatically see themselves as universally superior.

The idea of a plutocratic species is definitely very interesting – and would be doubly reinforced if the method of reproduction was through cloning. With no drive to protect their offspring (since they're genetically identical to the 'mother/father'; it is always possible to produce more), more experienced and older Cyani could simply use their offspring as economic drones to increase their wealth.

It's an interesting idea, although the relationship between the parent and offspring would have to be explored. Although the inherent genetic stagnation from this method would certainly demonstrate a more cynical, pragmatic view on life, which works well with the plutocratic government and the materialistic view previously mentioned.

Breeding while a slave would simply increase your personal burden; since you'd have no capital with which to set up your drones – and conversely, having plenty of capital exponentially increases your earning power: a perfect pyramid scheme if the lowest level is allowed to explore and generate wealth.

But how would the cyani protect themselves from the dangers of this scheme? In smaller settlements or colonies, a succesful individual might establish itself to the point where 90% of the population have identical DNA. That's a problem when it comes to vulnerability to disease and such. The problem with a free market is that the rich get richer and the poor get poorer, so in an extreme scenario, there might only be a dozen different 'families' in the cyani civilisation. It's kind of interesting, actually... <scratches chin>

Like said in my later post- I do not mind at all, I just saw them as so close in looks that it felt, well..
Let me put it like ths- so far the ASP has put down several notes on trying to make things different. CELS can claim what he wants ( ) but I got told several times when I started to ask around wether my ideas on a new xeno species was okay that they where "too close to other xeno species allready existing". Refferences to both Spirians and Jovans where given, both of which are not GW species.

Well, it's all subjective. I can only offer my own opinion. Some things I think should be unique, other things I'm not too bothered with. It would certainly be ideal if each thread had dozens of members offering their views and resolving issues in a more democratic fashion, but untill more people take interest in creating new aliens, I'm afraid you're stuck with me