The Xian

## Overview

The Xian are a prominent insectoid species within the Mission, known for their luxurious and often gaudy lifestyles. They have a complex relationship with the Sora, as well as with other species within the Mission. Despite their reputation for duplicity and excess, their unique cloaking technology and seats of power in the Mission make them a force to be reckoned with.

They originally evolved on Xil 4.

## Physical Characteristics

Xian possess yellow to green skin naturally, but with advanced gene manipulation technology, they can be found with different skin colors, most commonly purple. They traditionally walk on six legs but have increasingly made the transition to bipedalism, with varying degrees of success.

For centuries, the Xian were an obese species. However, their access to gene manipulation technology within the Mission has allowed them to become slender. They have attempted to alter their appearance to resemble the Sora, but with limited success.

## Society and Culture

The Mission's founding is generally considered to be when they uplifted and assimilated the Xian in -2160C. As the first species brought into the Mission by the Sora, the Xian are often referred to derisively by other species as "The Preferred Race." This is due to the preferential treatment they receive from the Sora, who often employ them as assistants, bureaucrats, lawyers, accountants, and more. Consequently, the Xian have developed a reputation for duplicity, accused of manipulating power and control behind the scenes while hiding behind the Sora when confronted.

The Xian are known for their love of hedonism and excess, with much of their technological growth geared towards that end. Their lack of a strong cultural identity has left many Xian feeling lost, leading to problems with addiction and other vices. Detractors of interventionism will often point to the Xian as an example of what can go wrong when a culture is prematurely assimilated into the galactic scene.

## Cloak & Chalice

Cloak & Chalice is an immersive live-action role-playing game, prominent within Xian culture for its intricate scenarios and potential for societal critique. With sessions ranging from a few hours to several weeks, the game provides players with a complex web of subterfuge, power struggles, and occasionally heartfelt sincerity, often taking inspiration from high fantasy or sword-and-sandal genres. Despite the occasional occurrence of a rare psychological phenomenon known as Reality Disintegration Syndrome, the game has gained widespread popularity among the Xian and beyond, recently becoming more popular with other species like the Bendonites. Amid ongoing debates surrounding its recognition as a cultural "exceptional," Cloak & Chalice stands as a vibrant symbol of Xian identity in the galactic scene.

## Hivism

The Xian's native religion, Hivism, is based on their ancient cultural and biological practices. It revolves around the use of queens for breeding, a practice now rendered obsolete due to modern technology. However, most Xian feel compelled to follow Hivism, as it was deemed the "correct" religion for their species by the Council of Elders in the Soran Order, meaning many Xian see practicing Hivism as a political necessity.

Many Xian have no genuine religious beliefs, with some holding Created-type beliefs or secretly expressing interest in other faiths. Hivism imposes severe restrictions on Xian freedom, particularly in the areas of romance and breeding. As a result, many Xian engage in secret romantic relationships outside of the Hive system. Sora who have a vested interest in the Soran Order, including Grand Ambassador Corteal, generally ignore these relationships as long as they remain discreet and do not interfere with the Xian's duties or religious observances.

## Cloaking Tech

The Xian are the only known species on the galactic scene with effective active cloaking technology. Although some suspect the Frex may have access to something similar, the Xian are the only ones who use it openly. This has also led to some Xian becoming involved in more clandestine operations, such as smuggling.

The Xian's refusal to turn over this tech without condition to the Mission has long been a point of contention. Some in the galactic scene, especially among the Union, are impressed that the Xian are able to show a little backbone at least in this regard. It is the one concession the species has never made to the Sora. The Mission can use the cloaking tech, but it must always be controlled and maintained by a Xian who has been sworn to secrecy about the specifics of its use.

## Relations with other Factions

The Xian remain an influential species within the Mission, despite their lack of a strong cultural identity. Their technological prowess and their power in the Mission makes them formidable, but their reputation for duplicity and excess has earned them derision from other species within the Mission.

During the formation of the Red Mission, all Xian collectively refused to join the Red, resulting in their total absence from Red Mission space today.