Xelayan

Lieutenant Alara Kitan, a Xelayan Chief of Security on board the USS Orville.

> *"Don't you guys have, like, super strength?"
> "Xelaya's gravitational pull is high compared to the planetary average, so, yes, in Earth's normal gravity, my physical strength is elevated.*— Alara Kitan explaining the science of her species notorious enhanced strength to Gordon Malloy.
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**Xelayans** were a space flight-capable, humanoid species from the planet Xelaya. They were an important member species of the Planetary Union, known for their devotion to the sciences and humanities and respected for their extreme physical strength. In the 25th century, a Xelayan male was the chair of the Planetary Union Council.

As Xelaya's gravitational pull was higher than most planets, Xelayans possessed elevated strength and resilience in environments with an Earth-like gravity. Despite their formidable power, most Xelayans, though not all, were an intellectual species, well-versed in the arts and sciences, who considered the military and physical pursuits as less "evolved".

## Biology

Xelayans were humanoid in appearance with pointy, indented ears, and ridges on their foreheads and the bridges of the nose. They were anatomically different from humans, lacking livers or appendices.

Due to the comparatively high gravity of their home planet, Xelayans enjoyed exceptional strength outside of Xelaya. In these alien environments, their strength surpassed that of Moclans and possibly even Kaylons. Xelayan skin was very durable, resilient enough even to stop bullets from piercing vital organs. Their durability allowed them to remain conscious after a stun blast, though they would still experience discomfort,  and survive being struck by Kaylon head cannons, though they would require immediate medical attention afterwards.

Young Xelayans who remained in lower-gravity environments such as Earth for long stretches of time could begin to lose bone density and muscle mass, a condition known as *gravity sickness*. Gravity sickness could become a permanent affliction if the individual did not return to a Xelaya-like environment or undergo physically difficult gravity treatments in an Environmental Simulator.

Xelayans suffered to some extent from at least two diseases, *Mellara* and *Torin's syndrome*, and they vaccinated themselves against Mellara.

## History

The origins of the Xelayans are shrouded in mystery. They bore a strong physical semblance to the Okudum and some scholars hypothesized the two species shared a common evolutionary ancestor.

The ancient Zankon empire may have included Xelaya in its territory. The Zankon enslaved 37 other alien species until they revolted 3.4 million years ago, but it is not clear whether the Xelayans were one of those species. Xelayan researchers later discovered legends on Xelaya about the Zankon and a lost spaceship fleet.

The Xelayan people made contact with and joined the Planetary Union sometime before the 25th century. Because most Xelayans were interested in intellectual careers, few actually joined the Union's military; when one of them did, the Union usually fast-tracked them. Some Xelayan families such as the Keyalis, however, had served in the military for generations.

In 2421, a Xelayan served as the speaker of the house of the Union Council.

## Culture

    Island beaches were popular holiday getaways in high season. "You can actually see sand and water," Cambis Borrin commented. "Instead of umbrellas and towels."

Evidently, Xelayans had no concept of astrology as the term was wholly unfamiliar to Talla Keyali.

The *pelpifa* was a Xelayan musical instrument which combined musical tones with holographic patterns. Youth sometimes learned the instrument. "My parents forced me to learn it when I was in school," Talla remarked. "It's pretty much the whole reason I never got laid."

### Education

Xelayan civilization was decidedly academic, placing a heavy emphasis on knowledge and education. Children attended school prior to higher education such as university or Union Point.

At least two universities are known: an unnamed school where the professor Ildis Kitan taught and the University of Xenara. The University of Xenara Medical School boasted a "beautiful" and "lovely campus." Associate professor Galdus Harona taught there at the prodigious young age of 21 until his death, and Professor Kitan did "a few stints" as a visiting lecturer as well.

One peer-reviewed journal was called the *Xelayan Journal of Science*, which "a few years" before 2419, published "The Mellara Vaccine and Its Effects on the Risk of Torin's Syndrome: A Formal Dispute" by Professor Kitan.

### Cuisine

* Xelayans enjoyed sweetened gupsela when sad, similar to how humans ate ice cream as comfort food.
* Trivalve sauce, according to Ildis Kitan, was a "delicate thing" which should not be eaten before completely boiled.
* The Union credited Xelayans with the creation of many popular alcoholic beverages: Xelayan tequila, which could be ordered as a single or double shot; Xelayan rum; and Xelayan blossom whiskey.
* Frizzian champagne, a "wonderful" prestige drink enjoyed by "higher class company."
* Xelayan chocolate trusses were enjoyed by humans, as seen when Chief of Security Talla Keyali shared a box that her mother made with her crewmates aboard the *Orville*. Captain Ed Mercer described them as the most dense chocolate that he had ever tasted, with Talla observing that that Xelaya's heavy gravity made for heavy desserts.

Additionally, Talla made an unidentified beverage that caused both Captain Mercer and First Officer Kelly Grayson to vomit.

Alara's dinner.Drenala's dinner.Alara Kitan takes a shot of Xelayan tequila.Xelayan blossom whiskey is notable for containing a colorful cloud of smoke before consumption.Two Xelayan blossom whiskeys come into contact.A pot of boiling trivalve sauce.Cambis Borrin holding a bottle of Frizzian champagne.Talla Keyali with a glass of Xelayan rum.
## Notable Xelayans

* Alara Kitan
* Cambis Borrin
* Chairman of the Planetary Union Council in 2421
* Drenala Kitan
* Floratta Borrin
* Galdus Harona
* Ildis Kitan
* Serris
* Solana Kitan
* Speria Balask
* Talla Keyali

## Trivia

* The endings of Xelyan names seem to divided by gender:
	+ First names ending in *-is* and *-us* are masculine: Cambis, Ildis, Serris, Terlus, and Galdus.
	+ First names ending in *-a-* plus consonant (or geminate consonant) plus *-a* are feminine: Alara, Solana, Drenala, Floratta, and Talla.
	+ No exceptions have yet been found.
* In the original script, the name *Xelayan* was spelled *Seleyan*.
	+ The original name is likely a reference to *Star Trek*'s Mount Seleya, a mountain sacred to the Vulcans, a strong and intellectual humanoid species with pointed ears much like the Xelayans.
* Creator Seth MacFarlane first describes the Xelayans as "a race of academics."
* During a March 20, 2018 Season 2 sneak-peak of *The Orville* to members of the Academy, drinks of "Xelayan tequila" were served (in reality a margarita). The ingredients were tequila, squeezed lime juice, and Triple Sec with a salted rim and lime garnish.
* As yet, Xelayans have appeared in every episode of *The Orville* with the exception of *Episode 2x04: Nothing Left on Earth Excepting Fishes*, the interim episode between the departure of Alara Kitan and the debut of Talla Keyali.
* Despite their disdain for physical professions, Xelayans maintain a police force.
* Second-hand Xelayan books from 1900 to 2300 and rare antiquities were sold at Outpost 47 in 2421.
* Xelayans were susceptible to alcoholism.
* When engaged in sexual intercourse in alien environments, Xelayans have been known to accidentally kill their partner.

## References

1. ↑ Episode 1: Old Wounds
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Episode 1x01: Old Wounds
3. ↑ Solana Kitan. Episode 2x03: Home
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Episode 2x01: Ja'loja
5. ↑ Episode 2x05: All the World is Birthday Cake
6. ↑ Episode 1x03: About a Girl
7. ↑ Episode 1x10: Firestorm
8. ↑ Episode 1x04: If the Stars Should Appear
9. ↑ Blood of Patriots
10. ↑ Identity, Pt. 2
11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 Episode 2x03: Home
12. ↑ Episode 2x14: The Road Not Taken
13. ↑ Episode 2.5x03: Heroes, Pt. 1
14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Artifacts, Pt. 1
15. ↑ Episode 2x07: Deflectors
16. ↑ Episode 2x12: Sanctuary
17. ↑ *Episode 2x05: All the World is Birthday Cake*
18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 *Episode 2x10: Blood of Patriots*
19. ↑ Floratta Borrin. Episode 2x03: Home
20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Ildis Kitan. Episode 2x03: Home
21. ↑ Cambis Borrin. Episode 2x03: Home
22. ↑ *Episode 1x04: If the Stars Should Appear*
23. ↑ *Episode 2x03: Home*
24. ↑ Episode 1x02: Command PerformanceEpisode 2x01: Ja'loja
25. ↑ *Episode 1x02: Command Performance*
26. ↑ *Episode 2x10: Blood of Patriots*
27. ↑ *Episode 2x02: Primal Urges*
28. ↑ Cambis Borrin. Episode 2x03: Home
29. ↑ *Episode 3x03: Mortality Paradox*
30. ↑ Episode 2x08: Identity, Pt. 1
31. ↑ MacFarlane, Seth. The Orville 1x01 - Pilot. Fox.
32. ↑ "Inside Look In 360° | Season 1 | THE ORVILLE". Fox. Sept. 1, 2017.
33. ↑ u/MrHelloOperator. "Good to know...". *Reddit.com*. June 1, 2018.
34. ↑ Ildis Kitan: "If we don't hear from him by tomorrow morning I'm calling the police." Episode 2x03: Home
35. ↑ Alara acknowledges that drinking too much Xelayan tequila makes her a "lush" and Ed later calls the both of them alcoholics. Episode 2x01: Ja'loja
36. ↑ From Unknown Graves