Faulfenza: Difference between revisions
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The Faulfenza live around 800 of Qufiil's years. In their 30s they are considered a child, and once they reach 60ish, a young adult; most Faulfenza are operating as independent adults by their 80s. Since they do not mature sexually until encountering their lifemates, they don't have the same assumptions about adult thresholds as species with a puberty that proceeds on schedule, regardless of physical age. | The Faulfenza live around 800 of Qufiil's years. In their 30s they are considered a child, and once they reach 60ish, a young adult; most Faulfenza are operating as independent adults by their 80s. Since they do not mature sexually until encountering their lifemates, they don't have the same assumptions about adult thresholds as species with a puberty that proceeds on schedule, regardless of physical age. | ||
It's | It's common for Faulfenza to find their lifemates between their mid-first century and their fourth, with the greatest number clustering around the 200-year mark. At this point they become reproductive adults, and the next 250 years are their most fertile/virile, though they remain capable of reproduction (both male and female) until the end of their lives. The average Faulfenzair couple produces 4-5 children. | ||
While rare, a late Entwining (for individuals older than ~600 years) is still capable of producing young, and late Entwinings tend to add years to a Faulfenzair's lifespan... the younger they are, the longer. So a Faulfenzair who Entwines at 600 might see another 100 years added to his life, but one who entwines at 800, maybe 20-30. | |||
There are no records of Faulfenza who reach adulthood failing to Entwine. This phenomenon is known as Faulza's Magnanimity, and is casually accepted by Faulfenzair scientists in a way the Pelted would probably find crazy-making. | |||
=== Coloration === | === Coloration === | ||
Revision as of 11:54, 19 January 2024
The true aliens, technologically advanced and deeply religious. See also Faulfenzair Religion, Faulfenzair Language.
Vital Statistics (At a Glance)
Pronounced 'fall-FEHN-zah'. Singular is Faulfenzair. Possessive is Faulfenzair. Plural is Faulfenza.
- Species Type: True alien
- Origin: Evolved
- Frame Type: Bipedal, digitigrade, heavy gravity-worlder
- Average Height: 5'8" to 6'3" (with outliers: 5'5" to 6'5")
- Average Lifespan: 800 years, Alliance-standard
- Gravity Preference: heavy; Qufiil is Mediger 9
- Homeworld: Qufiil (formerly, Quzen)
- Native Language: Faulfenzair
Appearance and Physiology
The Faulfenza are heavy-gravity worlders, bipedal with powerful, dense bodies, digitigrade legs, a long tail, partially prehensile and 3-4 feet in length. The tail is separated into two "bodies", a long fringe near the spine and a hairless/short-haired segment, followed by a second, long tuft. They have six digits (toes and fingers) and these toes and fingers have no nails or claws, nor toe beans. The bottoms of their feet, and the palms of their hands, are hairless. Their faces have long, narrow muzzles with vaguely deer-like nose pads. Eyes are forward-facing with round pupils. The ears are hemispherical fans with two points that sweep back and have significant range of motion: not forward, but sideways. (Like a rolltop desk.)
They are omnivores.
While they are bilaterally symmetrical, they tend to grow things in sextuples rather than pairs; so their hearts have six chambers, their largest thigh muscles have six strands, their hands and feet have six digits, etc.
Lifespan
The Faulfenza live around 800 of Qufiil's years. In their 30s they are considered a child, and once they reach 60ish, a young adult; most Faulfenza are operating as independent adults by their 80s. Since they do not mature sexually until encountering their lifemates, they don't have the same assumptions about adult thresholds as species with a puberty that proceeds on schedule, regardless of physical age.
It's common for Faulfenza to find their lifemates between their mid-first century and their fourth, with the greatest number clustering around the 200-year mark. At this point they become reproductive adults, and the next 250 years are their most fertile/virile, though they remain capable of reproduction (both male and female) until the end of their lives. The average Faulfenzair couple produces 4-5 children.
While rare, a late Entwining (for individuals older than ~600 years) is still capable of producing young, and late Entwinings tend to add years to a Faulfenzair's lifespan... the younger they are, the longer. So a Faulfenzair who Entwines at 600 might see another 100 years added to his life, but one who entwines at 800, maybe 20-30.
There are no records of Faulfenza who reach adulthood failing to Entwine. This phenomenon is known as Faulza's Magnanimity, and is casually accepted by Faulfenzair scientists in a way the Pelted would probably find crazy-making.
Coloration
The Faulfenza are furred in a tricolor pattern: one dark body color, and two accent colors, a pale (usually white or light gray or cream) and a reddish hue. Base pelt colors from most usual to rarest:
- black
- dark brown
- medium brown
- dark gray
- light brown
- medium gray
- slate gray-blue
- light gray
- silver
- white
- red, or russet (only three have been this color; they were known as the Fireborn. It is believed children born this color were forged in Faulza's cauldron and are messengers from Him.)
Black with white and red (as opposed to grayish or orange) is called the Qudii's colors. (Sometimes in text called the 'classic' colors.)
- Normal eye colors: blue, red, violet, orange, amber, green
- Rare: brown, gray, cream
Esper Powers
They are born with the ability to direct heat through their skin (commonly through the hands, though any body part will do, with practice), something they call the Mindfire. This is classified by the Alliance as an esper power, though the Faulfenza consider it a divine gift.
History
They were born to the world Quzen; a global famine was relieved by the embrace of farming technologies championed by the first Fireborn, Qufal. These technologies eventually destroyed the world's ecology. The messiah Faullaizaf was sent to lead them off Quzen and to a new home.
They later settled on the double world Qufiil and became wiser custodians of their environment. Historically, one week after their landing at Liiza, Jiizel led the Faulfenza who would become the Lost Kin off the world, to return for the Faulfenza who had stayed on Quzen to sing its death dirge, and from there to go as a larger group to seek the Others of prophecy. This event is recorded in the Scroll of Leave-Taking.
Not long afterwards, the decision to administrate the planets differently was made, a decision overseen by Faullaizaf, and that saw the two proponents for the winning instated as the first OverDancer of the Preserve and the first WorldDancer of the Seeker's Side: Jenai and Niidza, respectively. This event is recorded in the Scroll of the Stewards.
- See also: Faulfenzair Language and Faulfenzair Scrolls
Society
Faulfenza are inherently nonviolent and do not deliberately cause harm to sapient species; they were unable to conceive of that as possible until after first contact with aliens. Regarding killing: "This is against Faulfenzair beliefs in a way I have difficulty describing. We do not have a history of war or violence; we die of natural causes, and of accidents, but we do not willfully cause one another harm. To inflict harm on others is... not even anathema, because that requires the act to be conceivable," [1]
Fostering
If fostering is done at all, the children are sent in their thirties, and spend thirty years on Quafiirla. The end of this period is known as last-mark.[2] Fostering is not done in reverse, to Quapendai; Quafiirla adolescents, however, may choose to spend their new adulthoods on the Seeker's Side as their equivalent to fosterage. In this way, Faulfenza have a solid, pre-technological childhood and the opportunity to participate in a modern society as adults, if they choose, after that foundational period.[2]
Stereotypes
Religion
See Faulfenzair Religion and Faulfenzair Scrolls.
Common Family Structures
Native or Common Dress
Faulfenza often go without clothing at all, considering fur alone an appropriate covering ("We have fur, why do we need anything else? [3]. Clothing is used for utility only and is named for what it does (keep-warm, shelter-wrap, shield-toes, etc.).[3]
Naming Conventions
Historically, Faulfenza names were typically "First name – name of birthplace", and if the Faulfenzair fostered on another world, and felt that site became a second home, they would ask permission to append a third name, the name of foster city/village/place. After Zafiil, fosterage/second-homes became a way to honor the Fireborn messiahs, and it is now rarer to meet someone who hadn't fostered and taken a third name than otherwise. Almost all the Faulfenza who leave Qufiil for the Alliance, or who spend significant time off-planet in other endeavors, will have third names.
Cultural Norms
This is a section for little details that might get lost until I find a better place to put them.
- While the Faulfenza have the concept of takeout, they don't do disposable containers. The delivery person will have restaurant containers, permanent, for delivery, and will serve from them into the person's dishes/bowls. If someone is staying in an overnight-house that accepts delivery, they will accept it into their own tableware and send it up to the room.
Technology
Famous Figures
- Qudii, the First-Mother
- Qufal, the first Fireborn, and his Voice Efaulii
- Faullaizaf, the second Fireborn, and his Voice Narelu
- Zafiil Paidiiza Qodii, the third Fireborn, and her Voice Daqan
Characters
See also List of Minor or Background Characters.