Vidiplanians

### **Biology and Culture**

Vidiplanians are a quadrupedal, semi humanoid and chlorophyll-based species from the planet of Vidipla. Vidiplanians are a mysterious lifeform, in the sense that their biological functions are not well understood. It is known their muscles are composed partly of chlorophyllous material and their bones made of cellulose fibrous material. Their blood is composed of phloem/xylem, and although they have no nervous system they can move by controlling the volumes of water in their veins. There is sexual dimorphism represented by not only a number of foliage on the shoulders of females, but also the presence of a large bulb on their abdomen, meant to give birth to new Vidiplanians. Once the female is inseminated by the use of a being called Pidilin, the female's bulb generates a fruit-like egg that feeds on the proteins of the soil once planted and hatches within a couple months. Males are overall more resistant and mobile due to their lack of a bulb (but still possible presence of flowers), and therefore are recognized as soldiers and guards. Vidiplanian biology mildly varies with their native hemisphere, with southern specimens having more vine-like hair, and reproducing in a much more productive manner, with the females having an inflorescence that gives birth to dozens of small berry-like eggs. Their faces are insect like, with many mandibles hidden within the shade of their hair. Their muscles are segmented and resemble tree vines tied up in straws. Their large abdomen houses several vital organs, and is protected by an internal skeleton. Vidiplanians have both external and internal skeletons, adding up to their resistance and maneuverability.

### **Society and Technological Advancements**

Vidiplanians are very connected to nature, naturally. The more foliage a Vidiplanian has, the more admired they are. Village elders and Shamans wear leaves to make their position clear for the tribes, although not having these leaves biologically. Gender is a very different part of Vidiplanian culture, as they do not use the concept of male and female, but instead breeder/defender. Breeders can have both male and female qualities, both having flowers, but they are socially expected to make more children and pass on the genes, opposed to defenders, who don't breed: Instead of flowers they have vines and small spikes. Defenders are seen as an evolutionary tool made to protect colonies and communities. For their reproduction, a being called a Pidilin is needed to pass the polen from one breeder to another. They tend to keep these tiny creatures as pets, and giving one to someone as a gift is seen as a sign that the person giving the gift holds the one receiving it in very high esteem. Vidiplanians hunt flesh-based lifeforms to use their body parts as not only fertilizer for their holy forest and children, but also to make tools using leather and bone. Vidiplanians identify each other by the unique shapes of their exoskeleton, and the southern specimens like to customize their head vines with different styles.

During the Etherian galactic exploration campaign, they discovered Vidipla and saw it as an easy picking for a colony, composed of only simple savages, nothing different from the hundreds of other colonized planets they had dominated. However, once arriving in the surface, they saw themselves in a harsh situation. When starting to disturb the nature of Vidipla, the local Vidiplanian tribes decided to wage war against the strange invaders. This resulted in an incapability for the Empire of Etheria to settle in the planet, as any Etherian sent down to establish anything was killed, and the soldiers sent to track down the natives were also eliminated with the use of guerrilla tactics and the much better understanding of the terrain the Vidiplanians had. The attempt to colonize Vidipla took over 2 years, and at the end they decided to pull off the operation, leaving the savage Vidiplanians to their own. By that time, around 1.500 Etherian lives had been taken. This severely crushed the morale of the Empire, something that would play up during the Federo-Etherian War, further destabilizing the imperial stability and command.

In recent years, the Federation has learned with the Etherians and tried a more peaceful approach to the Vidiplanians by sending diplomats. This has seen a shaky balance, and it has not assurred any long-lasting peace with the Vidiplanians, although some tribes have been friendly towards the diplomats and even offered temporary housing for them. Hopefully in future years the Known Galaxy can have the Vidiplans as part of its people.

### **Mentions**

* The Vidiplanians have not yet been mentioned in any Everdream work.