Alien Species

[Lassooed on onna's blog]
Well, I guess I could go Saiya-jin if you would like, but it may be interesting to go toward a type of Neko-jin, perhaps in a VERY general Pride of Chanur way. So take the basics of the hani, the furry ears with earrings (in the books each earring stands for a successful voyage) and mutate the race from there. Maybe a mixture of hani and my Neko-jin pic and your own imagination.

OHkay... (rolls up sleeves and gets serious)

Right - these are very basic first ideas that will doubtless develop as the thread is interwoven into the main narrative. For now, let me introduce the Hyoujin, natives of Zaisan, soon to request membership of the Saiya-jin Empire. A hi-tech society, particularly noted for their advances in interstellar travel, their homeworld is on the edge of Karilun space and threatened by the Karilun Empire: becoming a member of the Saiya-jin Empire both protects them and allows the Saiyans an observation point closer to the elder Empire than any so far gained.

Description

The Hyoujin evolved from cats. Bodies lean and sleek, covered with short, dense fur (lighter and sparser on belly and face), long arms and legs, long expressive tails. Walk is a graceful lope, leaning forwards slightly, tail outstretched for balance. Rectractable claws on hands and feet, star shaped pupils in large eyes, voluntarily controlled nictating eyelid. High cheekbones, large cat-like ears, small noses (more human looking than the average cat, I think), mouths mobile, upper lip less 'split' than a true cat, lower lip more human than cat. Pelts are patterned according to clan and family (see below)

It's a matriarchal society split into large 'clans' - the Raionu (lions), Torai (tigers), Hyou (leopards) - each of which is split further into families. Generally speaking, the Raionu tend towards admin and business, the Torai comprise the manual workers (which includes the military), while the Hyou are the academics and scientists. (Yes, I know it's predictable and all been done before but it fits with my continuum...) They are all luxury-loving and appreciate art.

Onna, I'd like for your character to have the larger, heavier tail and markings of a terrestrial snow-leopard, colouring pale but not necessarily white. Do you have any preference? I see her as not having any sort of mane, just slightly thicker fur over her head and neck, but I really don't mind if you want something longer and heavier (if she (I assume you want a female chara?) is from the colder lands she could quite legitimately have a luxurious mane). She's a researcher seconded (somewhat reluctantly - she doesn't want to be here) into the diplomatic mission (I'll work out why later).

She needs a name. Native language is soft and purring/mewing - do you want to devise one or shall I?

She'll make an appearance soon...

Deliberate tease... Lutra and I are planning a Gravitation pwp, with Lutra writing one character and me another (not going to tell you who, though!) The basics are mostly worked out: we just need some space and time to write it...

The Ai no Kusabi pwp went well last night. I'm hoping to finish it tonight for perusal by the usual. Assuming I can type around the Saiyan and neko curled up in my lap, that is...

And yes - chuffed means 'happy' in a quiet sort of 'big beaming grin and hugging yourself' sort of way. A step up from simply 'pleased', but not quite as OTT as 'ecstatic'. A more cuddly form of 'delighted'. Shall I shut up now? >8-D

It's coming up to redecorating time. I've been putting it off for the last couple of years, but I really can't wait much longer. The lounge needs doing (think I'll go for old gold this time), our bedroom, the bathroom (which will stay blue and gold), and Kai wants a new mural on his bedroom walls: he's tired of mountains. Thinks Waterfall City (from Dynotopia) would be a good idea, as long as it has Zippo in it. And he wants a cabin bed, one of those metal framed ones with a desk underneath and a futon that folds out for overnighting friends. I'm toying with the idea of Waterfall City on his room's 'outside' wall, and Canyon City on the 'inside' wall, then he can pretend his bed is one of the Canyon dwellings and look down on Waterfall City. (Inaccurate geography but who cares?) I'll have to calculate the coverage and price up paint (for all my ineptitude with numbers, I've never had a problem when it comes to geometry!) If it works, I'll post photos here...

Heh - better go throw dinner in the oven...

Labels: Alliance Chronicles, decorating