Non-Humanoids

Non-humanoid life is any form of larger organism composed of natural matter which is not humanoid in shape (resembling a human being) or humanoid derived (with arms and legs with structures similar to a human in any extruded or altered form such as a chimera or monster).

Non-humanoids in many cases alter or adapt themselves to take a form similar to humanoids in order to socialize and act with humanoids, though themselves are not humanoid due to the need to cooperate with other species. This process can in some cases be incredibly painful psychologically and physically and is often thought of as humiliating - though the needs of diplomacy often exceed personal preference.

• Structol - A naturally forming crystalline mineral metalloid with self-replication and adaption properties similar to those of organic micillium. Structol is widely cultured into a variety of different forms including programmable crystals, polymorphic alloys and complex moving protective materials. In 'the wild', a given colony is only a single form but in technical application a machine or tool can consist of many very different strains either cultured, bred, engineered or manufactured for a wide variety of different purposes.

• Phaeus - An often symbiotic parasite, maesus is a sort of naturally formed crystalline with structures similar to diamond or other advanced carbon allotropes. It is especially noteworthy for its computer-like function, acting very similar to neural networks or living brains - though elements can be transplanted from one to another provided an instruction-axiom-decoder is present to render the differing standard of information readable. Naturally, they tend to infest organic life, bonding with central nervous systems in “heavy ocean” deuterium seas in gas-giants or the massive compression forces of deep water based oceans. In doing so, they grant limited neurological enhancement and the capability to socialize and network akin to bees.

• Maesus - An advanced form of phaeus, Maesus is a type which concentrates and replaces the brain in the organism it occupies. It is capable of very skilled genetic manipulation of its host organism and is usually quite large, around the size of a fist or larger. Maesus is generally regarded as capable of cognizance and reasoning similar to that of humans. Civilizations of maesus are commonly regarded to be insular Happiness Boxes, acting as a single large often city sized interconnected minds with physical bodies only to serve the exterior needs of this form.

• Pricora: A highly adaptable colony of multicellular microscopic organisms, pricora can be thought of as a hive of bees acting as a single animal with animal like functions not unlike an octopus or man-o-war. Like dogs, they have a very high genetic plasticity and are able to shift forms dramatically. Pricora is particularly noteworthy for its natural state - an orange slime filled milky white fibrous bag with extrusions which resemble a jellyfish.

• Sourcians: A symbiotic organism, Sourcians domesticate pricora, structol and themselves are maesus. A wide variety of different forms are known, with the majority as described referred to as 'generics'. They are often very large, highly intelligent and while capable of great violence, take great pride in understanding other species.

• Aeolium: A primative cousin of the Sourcian, Aeolium are formed from Phaeus rather than Maesus and use a very simplified form of pricora to manipulate complex hydrocarbons, sulphur and carbon based compounds rather than a primarily pricora body. They often contain large quantities of zooplankton and algae as well as conventionally dangerous chemical compounds. They are sometimes known as “crudes”.