Lithon (species)

The Lithon (pl. Lithoi) are an intelligent species that inhabit the planet Lithos, in the Andromeda Galaxy. Extensive accounts of the species, its origins, and its anatomy have been given by the Two. The Lithon are an artificial species, created on assembly lines from separate components. Yet they do have biological origins.
==Anatomy ==
===Physiology===
There are three main components to a Lithon body:
*Riphala or dynamon is a mysterious fluid that forms the core building blocks of Lithon biology.
* Smagái or nanoparticles are tiny organisms just 250nm across, giving them the consistency of smoke. They are icosahedral and possess immense strength and durability, enduring up to 4 million PSI of pressure before breaking open. Most Lithoi have 50-100 quadrillion nanoparticles, but the Theon can have up to 4 times that many.
**Smagái consist of a icosahedral shell, an interior made of Riphala
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*The second is a central Dynamo, which functions as a combined brain and heart.
Nanoparticles would be unable to form a coherent individual without the central dynamo, but with it an individual can control the movement of every nanoparticle with incredible accuracy. As such, Lithoi can change the color, texture, and shape of their bodies in just about any conceivable fashion.
===Reproduction===
Modern Lithoi as created by the Theon are non-biological. They are not born but created in laboratories.
The creation of a Lithon involves the pairing of a dynamo with nanoparticles. These come from unbound, uncoordinated clouds of nanoparticles called "Quarries", so-called because like carving stone from a quarry on Earth, whole individuals are "carved" from them. Though many quarries still exist on Lithos, production in the modern day is slowing down. Producing Lithoi that are smaller or less numerous has become a "cost"-cutting measure.
===Language===
Lithoi have language, the Lithon languages, but produce speech in a slightly different way from humans. They speak through a) the pure tonal vibration of nanoparticles, and b) the creation and manipulation of cavities (to modify the pure tones into various other sounds) in their body. Though this sounds in principle like human speech, their anatomy allows for many more varied sounds.
To create these cavities, they must expel or rearrange mass. Those who do this recreationally (for example to create internal organs) sometimes choose an object that fits with their personality or even create a whole other individual. For example, Smenaer normally manifests a book or multiple books (usually unopenable).
===Fusion ===
Lithoi can also choose to merge with other individuals, combining into a single mind and body. This process is called by many names such as fusion, agglomeration, coalescence, etc. Óasmae is one such individual, being a fusion of the individuals Óassos and Maeos.
==the Phelithon==
It is not known exactly how long ago the first Phelithoi came to be, but by 100 thousand years ago they had built a great empire on Lithos and throughout the Porios system, with aspirations to go beyond.
One day, a great war happened between the Phelithon. Of many thousands only a few survived. All these survivors scattered across the cosmos except for one: Modêsh.
=== Modêsh===
Modêsh was a brilliant inventor and well-known among her people. She was working on anatomical enhancements and light-speed travel when the war happened. When it was over the other survivors used her technology to flee far away.
However, Modêsh could not let go of Lithos. Out of her grief and loneliness, she created the Theon; 6 beings based on Phelithon biology but enhanced with her inventions. Soon Modêsh grew mad with power and tasked the Theon with re-creating her people's empire in her own image. To assist her further, the Theon created a whole society of weaker, lesser beings and ensnared them in a caste system upheld by fear and violent displays of power.
As far as this whole story and canon goes, she is the most powerful being of all, above Smenaer and Oásmae and all the Theongorai. In a way she is a god, worshiped by the inhabitants of Lithos and feared by those who betrayed her.
==Evolution==
The primary ancestor species to Lithoi were the Smagái (singular Smaga). Initially simple, unintelligent microorganisms, they grew intelligent over eons. Alongside them another species diverged, the Dynamoi (singular Dynamo), that grew in size and intelligence over time.
For both species, their primary anatomy consisted of a hard outer shell and an interior consisting primarily of a mysterious fluid substance called Dyname, thought to contain intelligence in its very essence.
The two species lived together and benefited from each other, eventually evolving into symbiotic organisms known today as a Phelithoi (literally "Pre-Lithoi").
Despite Smagái and Dynamoi individually possessing roughly the intelligence of a dog, Phelithoi were far more intelligent than the sum of their parts.
==Culture==
Today, Lithos operates under a very strict caste society led by a council of 6 known as the Theongorai. These Theoi are treated as godlike and dictate society to a hair’s breadth. Each controls a different aspect of society, from the military to Lithon production, and each represents specific emotions and personalities.
===Theongorai===
*Vukéah (Vukhia) - The oldest; assists in the oversight of all operations.
* Oratah (Oretha) - Manages the colonization of new worlds.
*Qeteh (Gethe) - Manages production of new Lithoi.
*Làvarah (Luvara) - Manages caste separation and propaganda.
*Levèsàqah (Lephoga) - The youngest; Created specifically for the colonization of Earth once it was discovered that life resided on its surface, she assisted the other Theoi with this unusual situation.
Above them all is Modêsh, the queen of all Lithoi. Far older than even the oldest Theon, her influence runs deep among Lithoi and even the Empresses fear her. One rumor is that parts of her reside on every Lithon colony, even Earth, always watching.
The castes on Lithos are arranged generally from those of the highest "caliber" to those of the lowest. Those who are low live to serve those above them, and those who are higher live to serve both those above and be served by those below. From the moment of their creation, Lithoi are conditioned to follow these rules without question. The punishment for free thought, insubordination, or behaving in any way unintended for their caste is death.
==Thuphagos==
Thuphagos is a "group mind" that arose from the ability of Lithoi to communicate telepathically with each other. This communication isn't words but rather thoughts, feelings, memories, and other information.
These communications can be in a chain or in a network, with each individual representing a "node" in that network. One is able to choose to close or open a connection to a single node, several nodes, or the entire network.
When a Lithon's dynamo is destroyed, the nanoparticles become unbound. However, they continue to emit a constant "noise" of information to the network. This information is extremely hard to contain once transmitted but will lose its strength as it's passed around. Even the echoes of noise from eons past can be heard by Lithoi as "whispers" in the background of Thuphagos.
Category:Lithos