Difference between revisions of "Kidan"

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{{toc_right}}<onlyinclude>The [[Kidan]] are ant-like creatures who posses an exoskeleton.
|assign = Lore Team}}
Kidan (Singular) Kida (Plural).
{{toc_right}}<onlyinclude>The [[Kidan]] (ᴋᴇᴇ-dan, plural ᴋᴇᴇ-da) are ant-like creatures who posses an exoskeleton. They originate from the world of Aurum, a harsh world with a poor atmosphere.</onlyinclude>


== Mechanics ==
= Mechanics [[File:Wrench.png|32px]]=
* 30 Karma cost


* '''30 Karma cost'''
* Kida can speak a unique language - Chittin. Use this in game by typing say :j


* They posses their own unique language, Chittin, which can be spoken using :4.
* All Kida have claws, and unarmed damage done by them is applied as sharp.


* All Kida have claws, and will scratch with them instead of punching, dealing extra damage.
* Kida cannot wear glasses. This means that they must receive implants to use HUDs.  
 
* Kida cannot wear glasses.
 
* Kida have natural armor, roughly equivalent to a riot shield.
 
* Due to their natural armor, attempts to grab and shake a kidan awake can fail.


* They can consume Diona Nymphs, alive or dead.
* They can consume Diona Nymphs, alive or dead.


== Overview ==
= Kidan and YOU =
=== Naming ===
Greetings, esteemed crewmember!
Heraldry naming scheme (used by nobles for flashy entrances and other such dramatic things):
Individuals are generally named according to ancient conventions. That is, names consisting of syllables given in layers, starting first with the occuption, then the name of their family, or, 'house', then their given name, and finally their private name. Their private name was more of a nickname and only known to close working buddies or friends. The name went as follows. Occupation > House > Given > Nickname; -- in recent years, this is used as a brevity code for identifying themselves via their banner, over radio.
 
Peasant/everyday naming scheme:
A sort of 'buggy' sounding name like 'Koz' or 'Zaz' or 'Zhar' with a corresponding pheromone signature, optionally represented by describing the smell of such in either flavor text or as a surname, for example: 'Zaz [light, fruity]'
(note that not everything is one big culture over in Bugtown, so names can and will sound vastly different from eachother across planets and even in different regions of the homeworld.)
 
===Biology===
Kida DO have blood, and organs, though a slightly more distributed vascular system with several smaller hearts throughout the body, which means internal damage may be less likely to kill them, but bleeding out may be more of a danger. Most medicines work similarly on them as with other species, exempting Inaprovaline.
 
Inaprovaline and every drug with inaprovaline as a component have been known to produce a euphoric high, causing access to Inaprovaline while working for Human companys or in Human space to be generally restricted, to the point Nanotrasen forbids them to carry it on their person unless their job requires it. Addictions and general recreational usage of Inaprovaline has become common on the Homeworld and Colonies, due to it having no known side effects.
 
Physically speaking, they are about 1.5-2.5 meter-tall hard-shelled arthropods, generally with a dull-colored carapace, though bright splotches are not uncommon depending on colony. They have large, compound eyes and long, segmented antenna with which they sense things. They have two long, upper limbs which serve as arms, and two long lower limbs which serve as legs, though their third set of limbs are generally neatly tucked away against their carapce, as they've become vestigial over time. Wings are uncommon but not unheard of, and are always able to be folded away. The ability to actually fly is rare, however.


Kidan eyesight is extremely sensitive, from across the room, they will be able to count pores on a human, or see fleas in a dog's fur. As you leave the front of them, they quickly lose resolution and drop off until something standing to their side will be an indistinct blur. Kidan eyes are also highly sensitive to bright lights, preferring to keep their homes and workplaces slightly dimmer than humans prefer, and bright flashes causing great pain. Military Kida and Kidan workers tend to wear protective films over their eyes in most situations.
In an effort to encourage inter-species cooperation and workplace efficiency[a], NanoTrasen has compiled a series of helpful[b] guides on the various species that you may be working with!


Kidan eyes are too large and sensitive to wear anything to the effect of glasses, goggles or HUDs.
(NOTE: If you are a member of the species this guide pertains to, please give it to the nearest crewmember of another species)


Their native language is a series of clicks, buzzes, head, antennae movements, and pheromones, however they can mimic human speech (barely) using clicks and buzzes drawn out into words, with antenna use for emphasis and indicating emotion, this causes Human speech to appear rather blunted to them, due to the lack of olfactory and movement use. Due to them being mostly unable to use tone, their speech appears almost perpetually friendly, dispite what they may mean to say. -- this causes Z, and V noises to be slightly elongated, as well as a general buzzy tone. S sounds are difficult to seperate from Z noises, as well as C noises.
This particular guide refers to the species known as the Kida (singular: Kidan).


Alcohol is a little bit like drinking water; their bodies can break it down very easily and it doesn't intoxicate. Something about chocolate, however, does cause intoxication, not unlike alcohol causes it in humans. Caffeine is dangerous in large quantities, the amount of caffeine in one cup of shipboard coffee (it being super-charged as it is) is legitimately dangerous if consumed and not treated right away, but a cup of soda, or tea, or any number of other traditionally caffeinated beverages might only cause damage over the long term.
== Kidan Naming Schemes ==
Generally, Kidan names describe both their lineage, as well as their social caste, in addition to a unique word, serving as a sort of a first name. In Galactic Common, such a name might, for example, have the following translation: Zaxx, Noble of Clan Trentis. It’s commonplace for Kida of the lower classes to use only their first name.


Feet are plantigrade, but with two claws coming out of the front and one on the back, giving their feet the ability to grasp like hands, though without anything comparative to thumbs. They are able to fit these into shoes, though uncomfortable. Sandals and boots are more common.
Due to the naming scheme being fairly hard to work with for most other species, Kida often simply use their first name and their clan name, in a similar fashion to most of the galaxy.


As far as temperature tolerance, very cold temperatures cause them to become sluggish, eventually just laying down to die. Very high temperatures cause them to work faster and faster until their bodies cease to function from exertion or overheating.  
As a rule-of-thumb, Kida names tend to be multi syllabic and possess sounds that are rather difficult to pronounce for species that do not have a speaking apparatus comparable to the Kidan. Luckily, most crewmembers of this species are more than happy to use a shortened version of their name (usually the first two or three syllables) as a nickname or quick reference in the workplace. It is, however, considered polite to ask before doing so!


=== Language ===
== Kidan Physiology ==
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin-left:10px;"
|[[File:Kidan4.png]]
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|<font size="2">A typical Kidan</font>
|}
Much like non-sentient insects, Kida possess a vascular circulatory system. This means that while internal organ damage may be more forgiving for them, bleeding out becomes a much bigger threat. Apart from their circulatory system, Kidan physiology is quite similar to that of other known sapient humanoids. Chemists and Doctors will be happy to know that medication works just as well for them as for most other crewmembers!


Their native language is a series of clicks, buzzes, head, antennae movements, and pheromones, however they can mimic human speech (barely) using clicks and buzzes drawn out into words, with antenna use for emphasis and indicating emotion, this causes Human speech to appear rather blunted to them, due to the lack of olfactory and movement use. Due to them being mostly unable to use tone, their speech appears almost perpetually friendly, dispite what they may mean to say. -- this causes Z, and V noises to be slightly elongated, as well as a general buzzy tone. S sounds are difficult to seperate from Z noises, as well as C noises.The Kidan written language consists of woven strands of fabric of various colors, which come together to form words.
Kida typically stand between 1.8 and 2 meters tall, and possess a hard, carapace-like exoskeleton that offers minor protection against blunt force trauma (Security personnel, take care!). The Kida exoskeleton tends to be dull-coloured (brown and dark orange hues are the most common), but bright splotches of colour patterning the exoskeleton are not unheard of.


Perhaps the most distinctive aspect of Kidan physiology is a pair of long segmented antennae on the top of their head, which play a vital role in communication in their native language. In addition to this, Kida possess large, compound eyes, which impede the use of regular glasses (and usually require cooperation from Science and Medical teams for HUD Implant installation). This also means that Kidan eyesight - while having a higher degree of clarity - suffers from poor peripheral vision, with objects becoming blurrier as they leave their narrow field of view.


=== Culture ===
While Kida do possess multiple pairs of “arms”, all but one of them have become vestigial, and are usually tucked away underneath clothing. The same can be said for wings, which, while not unheard of, are very rare and functionally useless for the purpose of actual flight. Their legs are notably plantigrade, with two claws coming out of the front and one on the back, allowing some grasping ability with their feet. Due to this particular quirk of Kida biology, large boots and sandals are preferred over shoes.
Important ships and structures are generally named after large historical events that have happened to the people as a whole. Slightly less important ships and structures may be named after more local events. For example: Exploration ship named, "First Contact", or an infrastructure project named, "That Party; Last Tuesday"


Planets are generally named after the first noble that has arrived upon it. Unnamed planets are marked with a letter, and star systems are named by a compound name of every settled planet, as well as the number of planets total. Unnamed planets are named with a lowercase letter, similar to how unnamed moons are handled in certain settings. EX: "Qraz III a" would be the gas giant on the edge of the Kidan home-system.
Kida are very sensitive to temperature variations; colder temperatures cause them to become sluggish, while higher temperatures increase their metabolic rate. It is actually possible for Kida to overheat or overexert themselves to death if exposed to high temperatures for a sufficient amount of time. Please handle thermostats with care when around Kida coworkers.


Their history is maintained not only through normal methods (books, written accounts, electronic storage) but also culturally through songs and tapestries, as with humans. Families are responsible for their own records, generally, and will make their own tapestries and keep their songs written either on hard copies or electronically someplace in the home. It's considered a pretty huge blow to lose your house histories, and the oldest ones have items dating back hundreds of years. Generally, tapestries will be imprinted with perfumes or pheromones as an olfactory component.
== The Chittin Language ==
The Kidan language is as fascinating as their naming conventions utilizing not only their vocal apparatus, but also subtle head and antennae movements in addition to clicking, buzzing and even the controlled release of pheromones. This is all done via fine-tuned control of intracranial muscles and specialized glands, the exact mechanisms of which are at this point, unknown.


Kidan art generally consists of either drawn, painted, or woven art pieces with an olfactory and sound component, or large performance pieces somewhere between an opera and a play, with loud music, strong smells, lots of movement and many, many performers involved at once in an intricate display.  
While they can speak Galactic Common using these mechanisms (and rather efficiently) their mechanism of speech creates some slight idiosyncrasies; Kida tend to use exaggerated antennae movements to denote emotion when speaking to crewmembers belonging to other species, in addition to elongating Z and V noises. S and C noises are also often indistinguishable from Z noises, and their speech is constantly intersected by a slight buzzing tone.


Religion varies wildly between colonies, due to long periods of seperation, however they can all be traced down to the original myths on the homeworld, in which a group of spirits embodying various elements came together and pooled their power, building the world from nothing and creating everything in it. The names of these spirits vary wildly, between cities, planets, and systems. The names are almost never constant, but generally similar. Some myths even have the parts of the spirits filled by historical figures, or great leaders. This shows best the very healthy respect that the populace has for their ancestry.
Due to these subtle mechanisms involved in Kidan communication, non-Kidan languages may appear to sound blunt to them, and Kidan coworkers may appear to sound friendly regardless of their current state of spirit. Non-Kidan personnel are urged to not assume that their tone matches their mood.


=== Home Planet ===
The Kidan written language is also very curious, being based on the use of colours to represent individual sounds. It is highly advised not to ask Kidan coworkers about their artistic prowess unless one is absolutely certain something is not actually a simple written note.
The main government is largely controlled by a restricted cabal of nobles. Early in their history, the Kida have utilized observation of primitive insect hives with clearly defined hierarchies to build their own system of government with the nobles at the top. As a result of this, only the offspring directly produced by the nobility are considered worthy of any redeeming social value. Through the many years this system has been in place, it has strengthened and become the core, causing for non-noble larvae to generally be shunned by the nobility.


Under this government, the population of the home world is mostly subjugated. The organized leadership and strong loyalty has caused a sort of willing serfdom, though relating more so to a form with cities, where the non-nobility work upon the land and pay the land-owners, who are usually nobles, for the privilege. The majority of the race is controlled by this fashion.
== The Kidan Homeworld ==
Aurum (pronounced Ah-rum) was once a rich world teeming with life, but is now a largely desolate wasteland drained of resources. Extensive industrial activity and aggressive strip mining have rendered non-terraformed parts of the planet uninhabitable. Extensive and barren mudflats devoid of minerals and complex life cover much of its surface, which are often referred to as the "shallow oceans of Aurum". However, there are multiple hives in which the atmosphere is perfectly viable for supporting life. Nonetheless, despite these difficulties a major segment of the Kida population still lives on their homeworld.


Asteroid mining is widespread within the homeworld system, with the previous colonial ships mostly being refitted for the purpose. As for the homeworld planets, the luxury goods and industrialism is what fuels the majority of the output, processing these raw goods into fine ones.
= A Brief History =
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin-left:10px;"
|[[File:Aurum.png|120px]]
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|<font size="2">Aurum</font>
|}The Kida entered what can be called their own “modern” era around the year 2100, with the emergence of the first sapient Dionae on their planet. Current scientific consensus in the Galactic community posits that Dionae arrived on Aurum when a gestalt mass impacted with the planet in prehistoric times, but for most of Kidan history the Dionae on their planet never managed to regain a gestalt state. For millennia, a major part of the Kidan diet had been Larval Dionae (or Nymphs, as they are usually known). These specimens were bred in massive numbers and served as the main pillar of the Kida diet, allowing the Kida population and civilization to boom.


=== Technology ===
However, for reasons not yet understood Diona began to gather into what are now classified as “Gestalt Diona”, attaining sapience in the process. As the Gestalts began demanding the right to be treated like ordinary members of Kida society, they became impossible to farm. With their major source of food now gone or in active revolt, Kida civilization rapidly collapsed. Billions died in the ensuing chaos, and nearly every major hive was left severely depopulated.


The technology of the Kida race is slightly behind that of the human one, barring specific advancements in space-faring technology. Most notable among these is cheap Faster Than Light travel, which warp gates are capable of replicating but not perfecting. Bluespace is an exciting, unheard of new field to Kida researchers.
Technological progress quickly halted due to the chaotic conditions and famine on Aurum. However, in the year 2170 a small team of miners struck plasma inside a local mine. This soon revealed a massive vein of the precious and rare element; indeed, most of Aurum appeared to be rich in it. A lack of adequate safety standards lead to the accidental exposure of elemental plasma to the female population of Aurum, causing rampant mutations. Sadly, many of these mutations seemed to induce a state of heightened aggressiveness toward other females likely due to pheromonal inhibition. Millions of deaths ensued in the span of mere weeks, leaving few females left alive across the entirety of Aurum.


Kida robotics and cybernetic technology has become especially advanced within the last fifteen years, due mostly to the Faezh IX colony's advancements in automation, and sentient machines imported from this colony oversee and perform most production and labor work outside of the homeworld and loyalist colonies.
These remaining females however had mutated beyond recognition. Prolonged exposure to plasma had caused them to develop extremely powerful psionic abilities, in addition to a nigh-perfect genetic memory spanning the entirety of Kida civilization. With their newfound powers these self-proclaimed “Empresses” began leading the Kida towards the stars, and in a mere fifty years their civilization had progressed from a pre-industrial state to sending satellites into orbit around Aurum.


The kida, lacking a proper system of simple Faster Than Light travel, use mostly propulsion engines or a few sets of warp gates that have been constructed in order to travel between the worlds.
Soon enough, the Kida began strip mining their local solar system for any materials they could use for their frenzied expansion, developing a rudimentary warpgate technology (a primitive precursor to Bluespace Drives) soon after and initiating a daring exploration of the galaxy proper. Throughout this entire segment of their history, the principal challenge was still finding an adequate food source to replace the Dionae, who - at this point - had either disappeared into the blackness of space or taken up residence in the barren wilds of Aurum.


Ten colonies have been formed so far, but there is a current ongoing program to form more. Sleeper ships, preceded by long-range sensor ships, have been sent out from the home system and a few of the auxiliary systems. The goals of expanding are mostly for monetary gain for the home worlds and the governing body, so that they may get even more lavish treatment.
First contact between Humanity and Kida was made in the year 2411, between a human exploration vessel charting the Pleiades-Taurus (Seven Sister) star cluster and what appears to have been a Kidan military frigate (or an adequate analogue). While the exact details are unknown, what is certain is that the Kidan vessel captured the human ship and utilized its databanks to gain knowledge on the current state of the galaxy.
r
Most of their transportation of peoples and goods is done through an extremely inefficient system. Mass drivers shoot materials and cargo into orbital stations around the planets, and then are transported between planets and gates with carefully measured solid fuel rockets. While it is precise, it isn't quite precise enough, and so as a result quite a few of the planetary bodies are in danger of Kessler Syndrome from the spent stages. This is where the debris in space is too thick to properly pass into it. There are ongoing discussions within the homeworlds on how this may be rectified.


Ship to ship combat tends to be long and tedious, performed at long and close ranges with heavy rail cannons and swarms of unguided rockets, timed or proximity. Boarding is entirely impractical, due to Kidan shipwrights not being skilled enough to design hulls capable of withstanding the force of crashing into another ship. As a result of this, the preferred result of any combat within space is complete and utter destruction to the enemy.
Following this incident, the Kida proceeded to raid a series of outlying human colonies, amassing weapons, supplies and above all, knowledge of the galaxy and its known species. In an effort to curtail further expansion, the Human-Skrellian Alliance (HSA) rapidly amassed and deployed a combat fleet and sent it toward the Kida raiding grounds. This military action would culminate in the Battle of Argos, fought over the planet of the same name. The combined might of the Human-Skrellian Alliance’s navy made quick work of the comparatively minuscule Kida fleet, forcing their retreat in a decisive victory for the HSA.


Defensive tech tends to be overlooked, not going much more advanced than simple point defense cannons to counteract the long range missiles, as well as inert chaff fired off to intercept via kinetic force any missiles coming in.
The Battle of Argos was only the beginning of the war, however. The HSA navy chased the routed remnants of the Kida fleet back to their home system of Aurum, leading the latter to execute increasingly desperate and often suicidal, attacks in order to delay an invasion of their homeworld (up to and including directly ramming vessels). These tactics - though seen as noble by other Kidan - would prove largely ineffectual against the numerical superiority of the HSA, and the Kida defeat was soon sealed with the death of its last Empress during the Siege of Aurum.


EVA tech has been developed, but is not fairly advanced. The Kida are capable, however, of wearing human soft-suits so long as they are of the proper size. Hard-suits, on the other hand, tend to be very uncomfortable. The race's own native suits are essentially body-gloves, insulating them from pressure and heat while managing to allow for excellent maneuverability. Said suits, however, are completely lacking in armor.
This death would reverberate throughout the entirety of the species, who up until this point had considered the Empresses to be living goddesses. Their disappearance sent a shockwave through the collective consciousness of the Kida, which hastened their complete and unconditional surrender to the occupying HSA forces. Since 2416, all Kida military vessels are forbidden from leaving their home system, and the size of their military is strictly controlled and under sanctions enforced by the HSA.


Ground combat is performed in a similar method to the humans WWI, trench warfare, artillery, and mass infantry charges, though this seems rather primitive at first, it has been proven to work for the Kida. Orbital strikes are unheard of, as their current weapons are unable to perform accurate Space to Ground strikes.
== Kidan Culture [[File:Kidanflag.png]]==
Kida live in families comparable to those of humans, although having more than two children is generally frowned upon due to the cultural stigma associated with previous famines. Kida education and upbringing is largely dependent on their social caste, but generalized education (enough for basic literacy and mathematical knowledge) is available to all members of society. Typically, Kida are taught the same profession as their parents.


=== Ancient History ===
While possible to break free from the constraints of one’s social caste and aspire to take up professions outside of it, such an act is largely seen as an affront to the accepted social hierarchy. Those who successfully strive to seek out a higher caste are typically treated as social outliers, though the additional civil benefits and allowance are often worth the cost and effort.


To this date star cartographers debate the correct name of the Kidan and Dionaea home world.Aurum, as the Kidan call it, has been the sight of over one hundred thousand years of primordial conflict. From natures first inception, before even the spark of sentience graced either of them; The Kidan have preyed upon the Dionaea and the Dionaea have adapted. This endless pull of active evolutionary stimuli ultimately led to the Dionaea evolving their Gestalt Biomasses, a singular entity that could ultimately escape into space, away from the Kidan, true apex predators of Aurum.
Religion varies wildly between different colonies, mostly due to the long periods spent separated from one another during the war. However, common elements are present, allowing offshoots to be traced back to the original creation story: that a group of spirits embodying various elements came together, pooling their powers and building the world of Aurum and everything on it, from nothing but the ether. The names of these spirits vary immensely depending on planet, region, and sometimes even city, but the central concepts remain the same.


As the Dionaea fled to the stars in their exodus the Kidan slowly grew to master what was now their planet. Yet the loss of the Dionaea was not without effect. Billions died as nearly every hive soon collapsed upon itself from pressures outside and within. During this dark age technological progress was all but halted yet a discovery would herald a golden age for their entire species. Around 2173 Plasma was discovered within the depths of Aurum. Historical geographic data would eventually reveal that during the planets creation in the fiery crucible of  the solar system, a small, plasma-rich moon collided with Aurum, seeding the planet with the valuable mineral. Accidentality exposed, the hives females soon showed signs of sever mutation and heightened aggression towards other females. Leading to many of their deaths.  
== Present Day ==
Despite their poor first impression, the Kida government maintains good standing with the rest of the galaxy, having begrudgingly respected the limitations and sanctions placed on them. The present government is largely controlled by a cabal of nobles and oligarchs, remaining functionally inaccessible to lower castes.


Yet those that survived were forever changed into hulking leaders of their people, leading to the emergence of the first Kidan Empresses, extremely powerful psionics who possessed perfect genetic memory of uncountable epochs before them steered their species towards the stars to escape the doom that would find them if they stayed. Within twenty years of this discovery the Kidan went from a barely industrialized species to leading their space programs in their infancy. Meticulously they consumed their star system before finally developing rudimentary warpgate space drives and casting themselves to the unknown voids of space for ever more resources to sustain their massive populations.  
Existing castes are quite comparable to the system found in - appropriately enough - regular ant colonies. Hierarchy is defined by caste, and caste is defined strictly by birth. Barring exceptional circumstances (see above), only the offspring of the nobility are considered to have any redeeming social value, which explains their prevalence in the diplomatic corps and the high echelons of the government and military. This has also lead to a system where non-noble larvae are often shunned by the ruling classes and effectively locked in place on the social ladder.


=== First Contact ===
The subjugation inherent to this system of government has created a form of semi-willful serfdom, where the non-nobility operate the lower level jobs and are subservient to the noble-born landowners and industrial barons. Asteroid mining is still widespread in the Kidan home system, with many of the previous colonial and military ships that survived the war retrofitted to serve as industrial vessels.


As their journey of the stars unfolded first contact was made roughly 150 years prior to the present day. A human exploratory craft charting the Pleiades-Taurus or Seven Sisters star cluster detected a unknown vessel basking in the Class-B star’s radiation field. Excitement saw to the demise of caution for the would-be explorers as no sooner had they revealed their presence did the awesome weight of that hives Empress’s mind press upon them. In a span of hours their will was broken, twisted to fit the hives agenda of ever greater expansion.The Empresses learned much from the explorers including the existence of the old enemy, the ones who by their absence nearly wiped out their entire species, the Dionaea. A singular thought echoed across across time and space, across every Kidan that ever lived within the Empresses interwoven genetic consciousnesses, revenge. Drawing forth from this unquenchable rage the Empresses moved their colonization fleets towards Argos IV, the nearest system that held Dionaean life. Other than the budding Gestalt, only a humble research outpost existed upon the moon of a gas giant in the otherwise unremarkable system.  
With galactic culture and modern technology making its way into many hives, many Kida have chosen to pursue their luck in the stars.  


Comprising of less than a two hundred staff they were unprepared for the hungry eyes that befell them. The now joined Kidan fleet razed the outpost in their vengeance and slaughtered the pubescent Gestalt but not before picking through the minds of every man women and child among their number. Slow and calculating the Empresses leading the fleet took time unweaving each mind.
'''Remember, if you see a Kidan, embrace them as your equal in both the pursuit of profit and knowledge!'''
They were unprepared for the counterattack that met them two weeks later above Argos IV as nothing they obtained from the humans or skrell hinted much upon their military capabilities. What followed was the first and last documented interspecies stellar conflict. With a defence force of nearly fifty ships The mostly human armada decimated the Kidan positions above the burning skies of Argos.Mentally the Empresses counterattacked causing hysteria and mayhem aboard enemy ships though ultimately the superior weapons and tactical positions of their aggressors caused all Empresses within the fleet but one to perish.


As their numbers dwindled the desperate and despaired Kidan took unconventional methods to protect the remaining Empress. They opened unsecured warprifts into bluespace within the enemies positions, launching their own ships into the enemy causing mass destruction of a scale never seen sense, though even this only delayed their defeat. Eventually the last Empress fell causing a discordance among the Empress’s collective consciousness and indeed the Kida as a whole who until then saw the Empresses as living deities. Some saw this new war as a repeat of history and desired to acquiesce to the aliens they faced, some craved for war, hearkening to the primal genetic echos of the primitive Kida before them and still others desired to escape the system all together, to disappear into the void of space, away from danger and conflict. Separated in thought for the first time since their emergence a great division occurred, with most of the remaining Empresses agreeing to come to peace with the hesitant races of the galaxy. In 2432 at a DMZ across inner Kidan Space a unconditional surrender pact was accepted. Severely limiting Kidan fleet strength and instituting strict population control of their species, allowing the Kida only a dozen colonies, as well as controlling the number of Empresses ever allowed at one time.


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[[Category:Fluff]][[Category:Lore]][[Category:Species]]
[[Category:Fluff]][[Category:Lore]][[Category:Species]]

Revision as of 12:46, 22 November 2016

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This article or section is a Work in Progress.
Assigned to:
Lore Team
Please discuss changes with assigned users. If no one is assigned, or if the user is inactive, feel free to edit.

The Kidan (ᴋᴇᴇ-dan, plural ᴋᴇᴇ-da) are ant-like creatures who posses an exoskeleton. They originate from the world of Aurum, a harsh world with a poor atmosphere.

Mechanics Wrench.png

  • 30 Karma cost
  • Kida can speak a unique language - Chittin. Use this in game by typing say :j
  • All Kida have claws, and unarmed damage done by them is applied as sharp.
  • Kida cannot wear glasses. This means that they must receive implants to use HUDs.
  • They can consume Diona Nymphs, alive or dead.

Kidan and YOU

Greetings, esteemed crewmember!

In an effort to encourage inter-species cooperation and workplace efficiency[a], NanoTrasen has compiled a series of helpful[b] guides on the various species that you may be working with!

(NOTE: If you are a member of the species this guide pertains to, please give it to the nearest crewmember of another species)

This particular guide refers to the species known as the Kida (singular: Kidan).

Kidan Naming Schemes

Generally, Kidan names describe both their lineage, as well as their social caste, in addition to a unique word, serving as a sort of a first name. In Galactic Common, such a name might, for example, have the following translation: Zaxx, Noble of Clan Trentis. It’s commonplace for Kida of the lower classes to use only their first name.

Due to the naming scheme being fairly hard to work with for most other species, Kida often simply use their first name and their clan name, in a similar fashion to most of the galaxy.

As a rule-of-thumb, Kida names tend to be multi syllabic and possess sounds that are rather difficult to pronounce for species that do not have a speaking apparatus comparable to the Kidan. Luckily, most crewmembers of this species are more than happy to use a shortened version of their name (usually the first two or three syllables) as a nickname or quick reference in the workplace. It is, however, considered polite to ask before doing so!

Kidan Physiology

Kidan4.png
A typical Kidan

Much like non-sentient insects, Kida possess a vascular circulatory system. This means that while internal organ damage may be more forgiving for them, bleeding out becomes a much bigger threat. Apart from their circulatory system, Kidan physiology is quite similar to that of other known sapient humanoids. Chemists and Doctors will be happy to know that medication works just as well for them as for most other crewmembers!

Kida typically stand between 1.8 and 2 meters tall, and possess a hard, carapace-like exoskeleton that offers minor protection against blunt force trauma (Security personnel, take care!). The Kida exoskeleton tends to be dull-coloured (brown and dark orange hues are the most common), but bright splotches of colour patterning the exoskeleton are not unheard of.

Perhaps the most distinctive aspect of Kidan physiology is a pair of long segmented antennae on the top of their head, which play a vital role in communication in their native language. In addition to this, Kida possess large, compound eyes, which impede the use of regular glasses (and usually require cooperation from Science and Medical teams for HUD Implant installation). This also means that Kidan eyesight - while having a higher degree of clarity - suffers from poor peripheral vision, with objects becoming blurrier as they leave their narrow field of view.

While Kida do possess multiple pairs of “arms”, all but one of them have become vestigial, and are usually tucked away underneath clothing. The same can be said for wings, which, while not unheard of, are very rare and functionally useless for the purpose of actual flight. Their legs are notably plantigrade, with two claws coming out of the front and one on the back, allowing some grasping ability with their feet. Due to this particular quirk of Kida biology, large boots and sandals are preferred over shoes.

Kida are very sensitive to temperature variations; colder temperatures cause them to become sluggish, while higher temperatures increase their metabolic rate. It is actually possible for Kida to overheat or overexert themselves to death if exposed to high temperatures for a sufficient amount of time. Please handle thermostats with care when around Kida coworkers.

The Chittin Language

The Kidan language is as fascinating as their naming conventions utilizing not only their vocal apparatus, but also subtle head and antennae movements in addition to clicking, buzzing and even the controlled release of pheromones. This is all done via fine-tuned control of intracranial muscles and specialized glands, the exact mechanisms of which are at this point, unknown.

While they can speak Galactic Common using these mechanisms (and rather efficiently) their mechanism of speech creates some slight idiosyncrasies; Kida tend to use exaggerated antennae movements to denote emotion when speaking to crewmembers belonging to other species, in addition to elongating Z and V noises. S and C noises are also often indistinguishable from Z noises, and their speech is constantly intersected by a slight buzzing tone.

Due to these subtle mechanisms involved in Kidan communication, non-Kidan languages may appear to sound blunt to them, and Kidan coworkers may appear to sound friendly regardless of their current state of spirit. Non-Kidan personnel are urged to not assume that their tone matches their mood.

The Kidan written language is also very curious, being based on the use of colours to represent individual sounds. It is highly advised not to ask Kidan coworkers about their artistic prowess unless one is absolutely certain something is not actually a simple written note.

The Kidan Homeworld

Aurum (pronounced Ah-rum) was once a rich world teeming with life, but is now a largely desolate wasteland drained of resources. Extensive industrial activity and aggressive strip mining have rendered non-terraformed parts of the planet uninhabitable. Extensive and barren mudflats devoid of minerals and complex life cover much of its surface, which are often referred to as the "shallow oceans of Aurum". However, there are multiple hives in which the atmosphere is perfectly viable for supporting life. Nonetheless, despite these difficulties a major segment of the Kida population still lives on their homeworld.

A Brief History

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Aurum

The Kida entered what can be called their own “modern” era around the year 2100, with the emergence of the first sapient Dionae on their planet. Current scientific consensus in the Galactic community posits that Dionae arrived on Aurum when a gestalt mass impacted with the planet in prehistoric times, but for most of Kidan history the Dionae on their planet never managed to regain a gestalt state. For millennia, a major part of the Kidan diet had been Larval Dionae (or Nymphs, as they are usually known). These specimens were bred in massive numbers and served as the main pillar of the Kida diet, allowing the Kida population and civilization to boom.

However, for reasons not yet understood Diona began to gather into what are now classified as “Gestalt Diona”, attaining sapience in the process. As the Gestalts began demanding the right to be treated like ordinary members of Kida society, they became impossible to farm. With their major source of food now gone or in active revolt, Kida civilization rapidly collapsed. Billions died in the ensuing chaos, and nearly every major hive was left severely depopulated.

Technological progress quickly halted due to the chaotic conditions and famine on Aurum. However, in the year 2170 a small team of miners struck plasma inside a local mine. This soon revealed a massive vein of the precious and rare element; indeed, most of Aurum appeared to be rich in it. A lack of adequate safety standards lead to the accidental exposure of elemental plasma to the female population of Aurum, causing rampant mutations. Sadly, many of these mutations seemed to induce a state of heightened aggressiveness toward other females likely due to pheromonal inhibition. Millions of deaths ensued in the span of mere weeks, leaving few females left alive across the entirety of Aurum.

These remaining females however had mutated beyond recognition. Prolonged exposure to plasma had caused them to develop extremely powerful psionic abilities, in addition to a nigh-perfect genetic memory spanning the entirety of Kida civilization. With their newfound powers these self-proclaimed “Empresses” began leading the Kida towards the stars, and in a mere fifty years their civilization had progressed from a pre-industrial state to sending satellites into orbit around Aurum.

Soon enough, the Kida began strip mining their local solar system for any materials they could use for their frenzied expansion, developing a rudimentary warpgate technology (a primitive precursor to Bluespace Drives) soon after and initiating a daring exploration of the galaxy proper. Throughout this entire segment of their history, the principal challenge was still finding an adequate food source to replace the Dionae, who - at this point - had either disappeared into the blackness of space or taken up residence in the barren wilds of Aurum.

First contact between Humanity and Kida was made in the year 2411, between a human exploration vessel charting the Pleiades-Taurus (Seven Sister) star cluster and what appears to have been a Kidan military frigate (or an adequate analogue). While the exact details are unknown, what is certain is that the Kidan vessel captured the human ship and utilized its databanks to gain knowledge on the current state of the galaxy.

Following this incident, the Kida proceeded to raid a series of outlying human colonies, amassing weapons, supplies and above all, knowledge of the galaxy and its known species. In an effort to curtail further expansion, the Human-Skrellian Alliance (HSA) rapidly amassed and deployed a combat fleet and sent it toward the Kida raiding grounds. This military action would culminate in the Battle of Argos, fought over the planet of the same name. The combined might of the Human-Skrellian Alliance’s navy made quick work of the comparatively minuscule Kida fleet, forcing their retreat in a decisive victory for the HSA.

The Battle of Argos was only the beginning of the war, however. The HSA navy chased the routed remnants of the Kida fleet back to their home system of Aurum, leading the latter to execute increasingly desperate and often suicidal, attacks in order to delay an invasion of their homeworld (up to and including directly ramming vessels). These tactics - though seen as noble by other Kidan - would prove largely ineffectual against the numerical superiority of the HSA, and the Kida defeat was soon sealed with the death of its last Empress during the Siege of Aurum.

This death would reverberate throughout the entirety of the species, who up until this point had considered the Empresses to be living goddesses. Their disappearance sent a shockwave through the collective consciousness of the Kida, which hastened their complete and unconditional surrender to the occupying HSA forces. Since 2416, all Kida military vessels are forbidden from leaving their home system, and the size of their military is strictly controlled and under sanctions enforced by the HSA.

Kidan Culture Kidanflag.png

Kida live in families comparable to those of humans, although having more than two children is generally frowned upon due to the cultural stigma associated with previous famines. Kida education and upbringing is largely dependent on their social caste, but generalized education (enough for basic literacy and mathematical knowledge) is available to all members of society. Typically, Kida are taught the same profession as their parents.

While possible to break free from the constraints of one’s social caste and aspire to take up professions outside of it, such an act is largely seen as an affront to the accepted social hierarchy. Those who successfully strive to seek out a higher caste are typically treated as social outliers, though the additional civil benefits and allowance are often worth the cost and effort.

Religion varies wildly between different colonies, mostly due to the long periods spent separated from one another during the war. However, common elements are present, allowing offshoots to be traced back to the original creation story: that a group of spirits embodying various elements came together, pooling their powers and building the world of Aurum and everything on it, from nothing but the ether. The names of these spirits vary immensely depending on planet, region, and sometimes even city, but the central concepts remain the same.

Present Day

Despite their poor first impression, the Kida government maintains good standing with the rest of the galaxy, having begrudgingly respected the limitations and sanctions placed on them. The present government is largely controlled by a cabal of nobles and oligarchs, remaining functionally inaccessible to lower castes.

Existing castes are quite comparable to the system found in - appropriately enough - regular ant colonies. Hierarchy is defined by caste, and caste is defined strictly by birth. Barring exceptional circumstances (see above), only the offspring of the nobility are considered to have any redeeming social value, which explains their prevalence in the diplomatic corps and the high echelons of the government and military. This has also lead to a system where non-noble larvae are often shunned by the ruling classes and effectively locked in place on the social ladder.

The subjugation inherent to this system of government has created a form of semi-willful serfdom, where the non-nobility operate the lower level jobs and are subservient to the noble-born landowners and industrial barons. Asteroid mining is still widespread in the Kidan home system, with many of the previous colonial and military ships that survived the war retrofitted to serve as industrial vessels.

With galactic culture and modern technology making its way into many hives, many Kida have chosen to pursue their luck in the stars.

Remember, if you see a Kidan, embrace them as your equal in both the pursuit of profit and knowledge!


Species on Paradise Station