Prophaniti (Species)

The Prophaniti Species are a Crustacean species native to the planet of the same name in the Luminatar System. They have varied in appearances very drastically over the courses of many years, and their position has also changed a lot as well.

Appearance, abilities and physical traits.
There are many sub variants of Prophaniti, such as the main red skinned Prophaniti, the fair blue skinned Prophaniti and ferocious looking dark red Prophaniti with blood red eyes.

The Prophaniti are tall, about a shoulder length taller than a regular human. Most are first of all, very very red, like burnt crimson or rust that has been in the sun for too long. They have a slender body and two what we would call “legs” but they looked more sharp talons grasping the ground. They have 4 arms. 2 on each sides, all which end in 4 long sharp pincer like fingers. What is most peculiar are their faces. They have an oval shaped head with 4 large eyes encased in a shell like exoskeleton. Their eyes are usually large, (The shape of a pinball) bright, hypnotically beautiful and are constantly observing. Their eyes can be each of a different color, which are usually very diverse. They shine like gemstones when they reflect in the light. They don't blink often. Their “mouths” are mere slits. The flexible part of the shell opens to reveal rows of serrated teeth. Quite a terrifying sight. But most of the time these slits are nearly invisible when shut. Only when eating do they open. The more mature ones have tentacles growing on the front of their faces forming a tentacle “moustache or beard”.

Their heads end in in horn like protrusions. These can vary from straight regular horns to mere stubs. Others grow these horns into long ornate shapes decorated with shiny jewels and gems. Though these practices are mostly done by the wealthier Prophaniti. Finally, their “hair” is not hair at all, but long fleshy tentacle like appendages. These tentacles are thick and are thought to hold fat reserves for periods of starvation. Their blood is a thick dark blue substance.

Physically they are very strong and resistant able to take heavy blows for extended periods of time without flinching. due to their tough exterior. they are extremely athletic and can climb vertical walls using their strong limbs.

Some key traits include

- Highly Advanced Eyesight. The Prophaniti have near absolute omnidirectional view. They can move their 4 highly advanced eyes in multiple separate directions. Their eyesight is highly advanced and they can spot objects and figures from far away with minimal effort. They have an excellent vision in the dark. An adaptation that has let them survive the harsh and often dark underground conditions.

- High reflex abilities. The Prophaniti has an intricate and unique nervous system. The closest comparison that can be made is that of cephalopods. Despite their crustacean appearance. Their limb systems function more like that akin to a cephalopod. with nervous systems connecting to the brain, allowing each limb to move independently from the other. This allows them to manipulate multiple objects with ease and increased dexterity.

- Increased strength. Higher than a human but lesser than a fully grown Nirexorem. Their grip is very strong, capable of crushing bone and their claws are sharp enough to decapitate a human with a single swipe. They are capable of puncturing certain metal materials if given enough force and precision.

- Increased athleticism, nimbleness and high speed. They can turn their heads 360 degrees. They can crawl on 6 limbs and climb vertical surfaces and enter tight nooks and crannies. They are faster than a human. able to reach high speeds with ease using their strong legs, they can go even faster on 6 limbs.

- Increased defense offered by their though exoskeleton. A Prophaniti can take on multiple blows even while unarmored for a prolonged period of time and keep going. This means they can put up quite a fight even while unarmed and are a tough opponent to take down. They are also resistant to radiation damage due to their adaptation to prolonged exposure to their scorching sun.

-The ability to breathe underwater and increased speed in water due to their affinity with water. Though they are less adept with this element compared to water centered races such as the T'wuli and Karr.

- High intelligence. The Prophaniti, being a long lived sentient race, enjoys a high natural intelligence. They are quick learners and adapt quickly to their environment. Their unique, strange and alien technology and great and often ancient architecture is a testament to their brilliance.

Predecessors to the Modern Prophaniti
The origin history of the Prophaniti is shrouded in mystery. The ancient ancestors of Prophaniti are simply known as "The Predecessors", but are also referred to in the modern days as the Progenitors. They looked similar to the modern Prophaniti but they even taller, stronger, were a purplish color and technologically more advanced by an extreme margin, some sources say they were capable of warping the space around them. These Herculean figures have been a source of much inspiration of the Prophaniti who yearn to achieve such glory. The Predecessors were a race of being under the service of the Elden Ones, mysterious amorphous eldritch beings of great power which came from the deepest darkest depths of space.

The Elden Empire
The Predecessors at this time had telepathic, telekinetic, psionic, psychological and space-time bending abilities among others. Among their technology were their non-euclidean architecture, various mysterious artifacts crafted by them or taken from some faraway long gone civilisation. It is still debated if they fully created the Predecessors on their own or uplifted an already existing local lifeform to serve as a workforce for them. what is certain is is that these Predecessors conquered the stars under the guidance of The Elden Ones using Elden technology, physical and psychological "gifts". This brought an era of prosperity for Prophaniti. This era would end however after a series of military failures against the early Atlanteans whom managed to fend off the Predecessor's Elden war machine. The war was brutal with many casualties on both sides but ultimately the Predecessors would withdraw from Atlantean space. There they would fall into civil war ending with a large rebellion against the Elden Ones. Fighting ensued and the Elden Ones fled the planet. However victory wouldn't last long as the Planet's parent star, Luminatar has started to bloat to a critical level and a devastating solar flare decimated the planet's surface. The Predecessors fled into the underground mining systems and bunkers for protection, guided by the Predecessor and future Saint, Y'thilia. Her group would go into refuge into the largest bunker under the great subterranean mountain, which would later be known as Mons Ordovicia. There they would splinter off into new groups and communities. Slowly but surely they would divert not only in culture, but also in appearance. After many years the dispersed Prophaniti communities were once again united and conquered by a legendary Karkosi Prophaniti called Xan'tar the conqueror.

Xan'tar the Conqueror's Empire
Xan'tar wss known as the first ever recorded Underlord and is the founder of the complex Underlord system which exists until today. Xan'tar would centralise power in Ordovicia, the former bunker settlement and extend his authority over the entire planet. The two main religious branches, The Seekers and the early Church of Y'thilia, the future Church of the Crimson Shell would be put under the fold and forced to reconcile. With the planet secured, his power consolidated, he would launch a campaign of interstellar conquest securing much of the former planets held by the former Elden Empire. Internal troubles would brew however and shortly after Xan'tar would pass away and his short lived interstellar empire would go with him. However the system he created would live on until today.

Fall and Isolation
After Xan'tar, Prophaniti would cease to play a role in pre-Movian galactic afairs, paving way for the Dlanian conquests in the future. Prophaniti would remain an isolated planet with limited contact with foreign powers. The only exception being the Tskerers who enjoyed a greater degree of relations with the now isolated Prophaniti. Prophaniti would fade into obscurity until the Movian Civil War again revealed their existence and with that their spirit of exploration and adventure.

The Styggian Invasion
While still an almost totally Isolated species, and the trading route with the Tskerers had barely begun, a Hostile and extremely vicious and infectious race known as the Styggian Swarm began to invade several prophaniti cities, so the prophaniti prince Gene-Six Xalaxarian formed an alliance with the Tskerer ambassador Tokka Danmab-bi and the Tske-V Army to not only protect the cities but also, after several years of war, to successfully hunt down the Styggian Swarm, preventing them for attacking anymore. While at first the Invasion caused a bad response and hatred from the prophaniti towards the alien races, the constant help and support of the Tskerer Pantheonate towards the Prophaniti survivors, and their critical role on the Styggian hunt made them gain more and more public trust, letting the doors open for prophaniti to interact with more species and reduce their Isolated status.

Today
After the Movian occupation and a brief civil war. the Prophaniti have once more opened up to the wider galaxy and are keen on having their presence known once again in this new and interesting galactic age, focusing on diplomacy, colonisation and trade.

Society and technology
Prophaniti have developed a strict hierarchy due to their harsh environment. As such resources trickle down from the top to bottom. It’s in a sense a Aristocratic Feudal society in human terms. Wealthy Prophaniti of noble birth enjoy a higher quality of life and have access to the larger sections of the tunnel works. Sometimes they control entire sectors or even cities. Some just control small mines but still can be considered nobles for owning a piece of land or tunnel. The noble houses often feud with each other over the ownership of tunnel works and in many cases the smaller tunnel systems are victims to large scale underground wars. In some cases the surface entirely collapses due to the sheer scale of the war itself. To avoid this unnecessary damage the larger houses usually avoid direct confrontation with each other choosing other more covert ways of securing victory, such as blackmail and assassination. But they won’t hesitate to crush any smaller house which threaten their influence. The most powerful House is the house of Xalasaris of the Xalaxarian dynasty. They own the largest city, The highest mountain, Mons Ordovicia, and vastest tunnel system on the planet called "the great expanse". They also hold the planet’s religious centre, The previously named “Primordial Lake” and The Great Cathedral of the Sunken Saint. They pretty much control the birth rights of other Prophanitians through the priesthood (which we will also elaborate further) This heads of family of this house also holds the title of "Underlord”. The other social classes include “Hive Dweller” (citizens and freemen) “Mine dweller”(Specialized mine workers) "Crop Dweller" (farmers and game keepers) and Surface Dweller (those who have chosen to live on the surface as caravan masters and nomads, usually also freemen). A priestly caste and scientific caste exists. So it is much akin to humanity's medieval and renaissance societies. They have very strong convictions which may make foreigners believe they are hardheaded (pun intended) and stubborn. Indeed the Prophaniti is not the easiest swayed and are very sceptic of foreigners. They also have a tendency to be greedy and move everywhere where a profit can be made. So many Prophaniti also function as merchants. The main financial and economic body is called The Vault. a vast market system that oversees the currency, trade, bank system, the markets, Investments, government spending and both private private and business ventures. The capital of Prophaniti is Ordovicia. The economic and cultural center of the planet. Other great cities and known settlements on Prophaniti include:

- Siluria

- Karkosa

- Burning Kadath

- The Boreal City of Yar'Yhill

- Guiltimus

The Prophaniti have a vast array of technologies. Some are considered so bizarre and and alien that they are in a class of their own. Prophaniti technology is full of interesting surprises. They posses excellent mining technology befitting of the race's mostly subterranean environment. From simple digging tools to large and advanced mining machines. As such they have managed to build a vast network of mines and underground settlements and of course the mineral riches of the planet such as valuable ores and gems used for various purposes. Some purposes unique to Prophaniti, such as the weaponization of certain crystals. They have also managed to harness the power of their own sun to their advantage through technology and use this power for various aims such as energy, equipment and light.

Religion, Science, Priesthood and Scholars
The Prophanitians believe in the ancient Elden Ones. They claim these beings came from beyond and created them and then left long ago. They thought them the use of advanced technology and advanced thinking. This is when Prophaniti was still a green, humid and lush planet. Their monuments and remaining architecture can still be found on the surface though threading them gives a feeling of dizziness and paranoia possibly caused by the non-Euclidean geometry present there and the mysterious mind numbing aura these places seem to have. Some of these structures are large portal like structures which may suggest teleportation through space or dimensions through these structures. But their function remains unknown and their purpose forgotten in time as many of the artifacts and structures they left behind. The Prophanitians have built an organized religion based around these beings. It is split among two major factions. The Order of the Crimson Shell consider them God like beings with divine powers rather than just higher lifeforms. Their main patron saint is called Saint Y'thillia. A major figure in Prophaniti religion and lore and founder of what would become The Church. The priesthood sometimes holds intense discussions on the nature of the Elden Ones with another faction, The Collegium of Seekers. The Collegium of Seekers is another ideological faction within the Prophaniti belief system. They profess that to understand the Elden Ones scientific research and advancement is necessary if they even want to make contact with them. The Prophaniti must not only evolve technologically but also physically and psychically through scientific research and biological experimentation. Though they admit the superior nature of the Elden Ones they reject any sort of divinity attributed to them. Their main patron saint is called Saint Yath'enei, the first Seeker. Another important figure in Prophaniti religion and founder of the Order of the Seekers. In the end both participate in the same religious rites as to maintain the status quo and to prevent civil strife among the populace. The truth may lie somewhere in between. Their main center of worship is the Temple of the Crimson Shell. Situated at the shores of the Primordial Lake in who’s midst lies a giant spiral shell nearly 30 meters tall and approximately 40 meters wide. It is believed these are the remains of a deceased Elden One. There is a splinter religion called the Order of the Red Shades which reject the divinity but also any authority of the Elden Ones but attribute praise to the rebellious Predecessor Xanemus Hohlbane who drove out the Elden Ones from Prophaniti space in the archaic age of the Elden Empire.