Xandilu

Zephala

Zephala Xenos

Veilborn Legions

Basilisks

Other Zephala Divisions

*Some music for you to enjoy while you read, by Gaston Larrouy aka La Rouille*

Map of the Xandilu Homeworld: Xa-Yemaya

* ɠIku
 Type
 Nature
 Status
 technology
 Location
 Lifespan
 Colour

The Xandilu, a sentient reptilian species hailing the oceanic planet of Xa-Yemaya, have an immense capacity to learn and retain information. Their technological progress was constrained by the perilous conditions of their environment until the arrival of Kufyndrak explorers who shared advanced technology. Harnessing their newfound knowledge, the Xandilu have ingeniously adapted technology to align with their unique physiology, overcoming the challenges that once hindered their development. Since their awakening, they have pushed the boundaries of genetic sciences, helping the Zephala Syndicate create its own Legion to push back against the forces of Chaos surrounding their home.

## History

What is known of the collective history of the Zephala Xenos can be found in the Zephala System

## Xandilu Body Types

Through millions of years of evolution, the Xandilu have diverged into two subspecies, one larger and one smaller. By having individuals with different physical attributes, the Xandilu can optimize their collective survival. This division of labour promotes a balanced society where each member contributes their unique strengths to the well-being and prosperity of the Xandilu.

### ɠIku

Individuals of the larger body type among the Xandilu, the ɠIku, tower over their !Xo counterparts.

The ɠIku excel in physically demanding activities that require sheer strength and endurance. They can navigate dangerous terrain with relative ease. These Xandilu are entrusted with protecting their kin and the territories they inhabit. Their physical strength and combat skills make them natural defenders, standing as the first line of defence against the beasts that lurk in the untamed wilderness of Xa-Yemaya.

Equipped with natural and constructed weapons, the ɠIku are capable of fighting on equal footing with a space marine. With the use of biomancy, they can even overpower Astartes in their power armour.

### !Xo

The smaller body type of the Xandilu is known as the !Xo are characterized by their relatively slender physique. These individuals possess remarkable speed and enhanced dexterity, making them adept at evading detection and maneuvering through challenging terrain. The !Xo play a crucial role in the Xandilu society, excelling in tasks that require stealth and finesse.

In the dense jungles of Xa-Yemaya, the skills of the !Xo are particularly valuable. Their agility allows them to climb trees and navigate through tangled foliage, making them highly effective in scouting and reconnaissance missions. Equipped with acute senses, the !Xo possess heightened sensory perception, allowing them to detect subtle signs of danger and track elusive prey.

The proficiency of the !Xo's hunting, foraging, and tracking skills enable them to secure vital resources for their communities. Their ability to move swiftly and silently through the jungle grants them an advantage in stalking prey, while their inherited knowledge aids in locating edible plants and other valuable resources.

## Xandilu Physiology

The physiology of the Xandilu is remarkably flexible, thanks to their innate mastery of biomancy. Almost every aspect of their bodies can undergo near-instantaneous transformations in shape and size, granting them incredible adaptability in many situations. Though the species is split into two subspecies, each group has the same general body characteristics. Evolution is effectively a species-wide process, including those that came before. When a new trait is found in a new generation, the previous generations can change their anatomy to include this change if they deem it beneficial.

### Body Plan

The Xandilu have a bipedal posture, standing on two strong hind legs. This adaptation allows them to move swiftly and efficiently through their environment while holding tools. They have long and muscular tails that serve multiple purposes to complement their nearly upright stance. Their tails help them maintain balance while moving and can be used for quick turns and manoeuvres. Additionally, the tail can be wielded as a defensive weapon. The Xandilu possess two upper limbs with three-fingered hands and an opposable thumb. Their hands are dexterous and capable of manipulating small objects with precision. Their claws are sharp and versatile, aiding in climbing, hunting, and self-defence. These claws might hinder more fine hand control, but the Xandilu can control the size of said claws precisely and individually.

### Physical Apperance

The Xandilu possess scaly skin covering their bodies, protecting them against external threats and environmental hazards. Their scales are chameleonic, allowing them to change colours, textures and patterns, aiding in threat displays and allowing them to blend into their surroundings. As well as changing colours, the Xandilu can emit light in the ultraviolet, visible and infrared wavelength ranges. This light-emitting property allows them to disguise themselves from the vision of creatures that use these wavelengths to see. Weaver spiders, which use ultraviolet to see, cannot detect a Xandilu cloaked in this manner.
Xandilu individuals have spikes, crests and horns on various parts of their bodies. These structures can be changed based on personality. The larger these parts are, the more aggressive the Xandilu is, as they use their spikes to intimidate animals on Xa-Yemaya.

### Vision

Xandilu have multiple pairs of highly developed sensory organs. Their eyes are remarkable, providing exceptional visual acuity even in low-light conditions. They also possess a nictitating membrane, a transparent protective layer that can be drawn across the eye to shield it from harm. The Xandilu are able to change the properties of their eyes to see different wavelengths of light, including infrared and ultraviolet.

### Heightened Intelligence

The Xandilu possess a highly sophisticated brain structure, contributing to their advanced cognitive abilities and intelligence. This allows them to process information, learn rapidly, and retain knowledge effectively. Their intelligence is a vital factor in their cultural development and technological advancement.

### Respiratory System

Xandilu have specially evolved respiratory systems to allow for survival in the jungles of Xa-Yemaya. These adaptations allow them to extract oxygen more efficiently from the air, even in environments with low oxygen levels or high levels of toxins. This enables them to navigate regions with poor air quality or limited oxygen supply. They are even able to breathe in dense clouds of leaping mushroom spores. In situations where there is no oxygen, the Xandilu can survive without breathing for an extremely long time. This time depends on the level of physical exertion. The Xandilu are also able to create gills to breathe underwater.

### Biological Resilience

Another remarkable feature of the Xandilu is their incredible resilience. The Xandilu have a physiology that enables them to withstand the challenging conditions of a diverse set of environments. They can tolerate extreme temperatures, toxins, and other environmental hazards.

### Vocalization

The Xandilu have evolved tools to create various sounds, such as clicks, bellows and chirps. The Xandilu possess hollow cavities in their skulls and horns, which they utilize to create resonating calls. Xandilu can modify their vocal cords, significantly changing the sounds they can create allowing them to mimic the vocal patterns of animals in the jungle. This process stops them from being able to communicate in their traditional language, so it is only done when necessary and often for short periods. They even used this ability to speak in the language of other species, but this process was different. After testing multiple body modifications, they settled on small air sacs in their mouth, which can inflate and deflate depending on the noise they must make. These air sacs allow them to make noises in other languages, especially those spoken by humanity. As a species, the Xandilu collectively made this change, allowing the entire population to speak in High Gothic without limiting their ability to speak their own language.

## Xandilu Biomancy

The Xandilu, like most creatures on Xa-Yemaya, share a connection to the warp. They have an innate link to the power within living beings, allowing them to tap into this energy and channel it. Through the practice of Biomancy, the Xandilu can manipulate the fundamental building blocks of the cellular structures of living things. Their powers of biomancy are so deeply engrained into the creature's biology that using most of these powers is second nature. To any non-psyker, the feats these xenos can achieve would look like an impressive but natural process. The Xandilu still do not use the term biomancy; to them, it comes as naturally as breathing.

### Self Regeneration

The Xandilu's cellular regeneration ability goes beyond the natural healing processes found in other species. As natural biomancers, they can tap into the raw energies of their cells, channelling their power to accelerate their cellular rejuvenation and repair damaged tissues at an astonishing rate. Even grievous wounds or injuries that would be fatal to other creatures can be mended and restored by the Xandilu's biomancy.

When a Xandilu is injured, their psychic potential awakens, and they instinctively draw upon the energies within their bodies. This connection automatically initiates cellular regeneration, mending tissues and regrowing lost limbs or organs. This ability is at work constantly, keeping the individual perpetually in the physical state of a mature adult, eliminating the possibility of dying from old age.

### Seal Wounds

In addition to their remarkable regenerative powers, the Xandilu have the extraordinary ability to extend their healing capabilities to others. The Xandilu can focus their regenerative powers on the affected areas when confronted with wounded or sick individuals. By channelling their own regenerative capabilities and manipulating the cellular composition of others, they can accelerate the healing process, repair damaged tissues, and even reverse specific ailments or conditions. The Xandilu are especially good at curing diseases caused by poisons and venom.

### Warp Speed

Through their natural connection to the warp, the Xandilu can tap into the swirling energies of the Immaterium and channel them into their bodies, unlocking incredible swiftness and reflexes. When activating warp Speed, their movements blur as they accelerate to extraordinary velocities. This particular ability can only be sustained for a short amount of time. If this limit is exceeded, the regenerative ability of the Xandilu is greatly diminished.

### Mimicry

The Xandilu can change their vocal cords, allowing them to create a range of sounds they could not produce with their natural biology. They use this power to mimic noises in the Xa-Yemayan jungles, luring prey and predator animals. This power allowed them to permanently speak in fluent High Gothic, though they still preferred to speak in their native tongues.

The Xandilu also can imitate the pheromones released by Xa-Yemayan creatures, which they use to ensnare prey or ward off the animals that inhabit the jungle.

### Shape Shifting

To adapt to any situation, the Xandilu can change the shape of their bodies to better suit the environment they find themselves in. If water traversal is necessary, they can create webbing between their fingers and toes and increase the width of their tails, using it for steering and propulsion. The Xandilu can change several things, both internally and externally, including but not limited to:

* Organ function
	+ Vision wavelength
	+ Heart Rate
* Body toughness and strength
	+ Bone strength
	+ Scale hardness
	+ Muscle density and size
* General appearance
	+ Crest size
	+ Spike size
	+ Horn dimensions
Their shapeshifting abilities are limited. The Xandilu cannot manipulate their body plan by adding extra limbs, wings, or the like. They cannot switch body plans either, so an !Xo cannot change into an ɠIkulu or vice versa.

## Xandilu Reproduction

The Xandilu possess a method of asexual reproduction unique to their species, which involves the utilization of their scales as polyps. When the individual triggers the process, the scales of the Xandilu, ordinarily smooth and rigid, become soft and pliable. These budding scales house the genetic material of the parent Xandilu. Upon release from the Xandilu's skin, the scales can bury themselves in the jungle soil. The scales then combine and grow into a single polyp.

The parent's scales are imbued with a fragment of their own consciousness. This implanted knowledge includes skills and learned information accumulated over the parent's lifetime. Along with knowledge, the parent passes down its memories, giving their offspring a fondness for individuals their parent was close to. The sharing of memories provides the newborn with an effect similar to that of an Imperial Hypnomat. The individual knows the memories are not theirs, but they benefit from having them nonetheless. Skills practice becomes a matter of training the body rather than the mind. These scales can also be stored and used to share information and memories with other Xandilu. This practice is used to safeguard information from the latest generation. Scribes are tasked with copying any new information onto physical mediums, further protecting the shared knowledge of the species.

When formed, a polyp can feed on insects and even small animals while it grows, but it is more commonly provided by its parent, who also protects it from predators. When the polyp reaches the stage of producing juvenile Xandilu, it will immediately do so before withering away. The produces, on average, only three juvenile Xandilu in the three Xa-Yemayan months in which the polyp is alive. The Xandilu believe that the fewer offspring are created, the greater the being yielded will be.

Each offspring has its own genetic material. While born from the same parent, each juvenile produced will have a genetic code distinct from its parent and siblings. This keeps the diversity of the species high, even though only a few elder individuals produce the offspring for the entire community.

The whole process for a colony of scales to create a set of adult Xandilu takes one Xa-Yemayan year. This is equal to roughly 4.5 Terran standard years. During growth, the juveniles, while sharing the knowledge and memory of their parent, will develop strengths and weaknesses in different fields. By maturity, each individual from the litter will have an established specialty and enter a career that best suits them. Elder parents of specific fields will have a much higher likelihood of producing offspring who are skilled in the parent's specialty.

ɠIkulu and !Xo can only be birthed by parents of that subspecies.

## Planetary Culture

Through the millennia, Zephala culture has become an amalgamation of cultural influences from all across the system. With so many distinct species, one might expect a culture clash, but seemingly, the peculiar creation of the system has also led to convergent cultural practices. Despite evolving on planets separated by millions of kilometres, each species' civilization is built upon a love of the arts, especially music. After all the xenos finally assembled under the Zephala banner, what should have been a discordant mess was a harmonious symphony of art and culture.

The culture of the Xandilu is deeply rooted in their history, the challenging environment of Xa-Yemaya, and their close interaction with the human colonists and the forces surrounding the Black Fangs Legion. With a strong focus on knowledge, cooperation, and adaptability, the Xandilu have developed a rich and vibrant culture.

### Vegitation Forming

The Xandilu possess a form of visual art that involves manipulating vegetation to grow in specific shapes. Using their understanding of biology and plant growth knowledge, they cultivate artworks that are awe-inspiring and integrated with their natural surroundings. By carefully coaxing the growth of vines, leaves, and branches, the Xandilu artists shape intricate sculptures, living tapestries, and immersive arboreal installations.

The art of shaping vegetation requires immense patience, something this long-lived species has in abundance. The plant's growth can be quickened with bromance, but this is generally frowned upon unless used for architecture.

### Xandilu Opera

Xandilu opera is a captivating art form that combines various elements to create a truly unique sensory experience. Xandilu performers utilize their chameleonic scales to create mesmerizing displays of colour while dancing, enhancing the visual storytelling of the opera. The interplay of vibrant hues and intricate designs adds depth to the performance through their use of The Shifting Tongue.

Instrumental music forms the backbone of Xandilu opera, utilizing a wide array of instruments. From rhythmic drumbeats to haunting melodies played on wind instruments, the music sets the tone and pace of the performances, guiding the audience's emotional journey. The compositions range from grand and majestic to delicate and introspective. The rhythm section of these performances often uses Yánda code as a base rhythm, further adding to the communication aspect of the performance.

The Xandilu are known for their deep, resonant vocalizations, which express emotion and convey the intensity of the narrative. Bellowing is an integral aspect of Xandilu opera, providing melodic undertones that add richness and texture to the overall musical experience. The harmonious humming complements the instrumental music and enhances the atmosphere of the opera, creating a symphony of sounds that captivates the audience. These vocalizations create a primal connection between the performers and the audience, evoking emotions and immersing the listeners in the story being told.

To fully enjoy Xandilu opera, other species must wear special hearing devices which allow them to hear a broader range of frequencies. With this, Xa-Yemayans could appreciate the lowest registers of Xandilu's musical performances.
The Xandilu opera is the foundation of the Xa-Yemayan musical culture and, in turn, is the base of the Black Fangs' musical culture.

### Body Modification

        Body modification is a large part of A Xandilu's self-expression. Like human clothing, the Xandilu cover themselves in layers of beads, rings, necklaces, and other accessories to complement their appearance. In some groups, wearing jewellery is not feasible. These Xandilu, notably those in the Maroon combat form, have a different way of modifying their bodies. Instead of using foreign objects to pierce or cover their colour-changing scales, they form them into shapes like the jewellery they wear. With this form of body modification, the natural camouflage is maintained while allowing for personalization of appearance. The below body modifications can be done with the described materials, but they can also be done with the scale shaping method.

#### Piercing

Xandilu individuals may choose to adorn their bodies with various types of piercings. These piercings can be seen on different parts of their bodies, such as the snout, frills, or along the ridges of their scales. The piercings are typically crafted from durable materials found on Xa-Yemaya, such as polished stones, wood, and bone. Each piercing holds symbolic meaning, representing important life events, achievements, or aspects of the individual's personality.

#### Scale Capping

Scale capping is a unique practice among the Xandilu, where specific scales on their bodies are carefully capped with ornamental pieces. The capped scales are meticulously crafted to fit over the natural scales, adding a touch of personal flair. These scale caps can be made from various materials, including precious gems and intricate wooden or bone carvings. Like piercings, scale capping holds symbolic significance, often representing a connection to their ancestral heritage, guild affiliations, or personal achievements.

## Xandilu Beliefs

### Yent̪ʘazəħas cʎ̝̊ʼa cʎ̝̊ʼu r̥ʌʈʂʌ

The Zephala people maintain a monotheistic religion centred around the Yent̪ʘa, which they believe exists in physical form as the Bounty Trees, which lay at the center of their cities. This religion is called Yent̪ʘazəħas cʎ̝̊ʼa cʎ̝̊ʼu r̥ʌʈʂʌ, or Yent̪ʘa for short. The religion is also followed by Zephala humans, who call it Yentha's Bounty. Central to this religion is the concept of interconnectedness with the plants and animals of their home planets. Yent̪ʘa teaches all to appreciate the gifts received from the world and never to waste a gift received. The practitioners of Yent̪ʘa understand that Zephala provides everything they need to survive; therefore, they must take care of the system in turn. When the god Yent̪ʘa revealed its presence to the Zephala xenos in their time of need, the belief in the religion strengthened. Yent̪ʘa, as a religion, is highly adaptable, changing with the times. Flexibility is present even in some of the most restrictive tenets. These tenets are common in each world, with variation depending on the practicing species and planet. The Xandilu were the first species to formally declare the principles of this religion, and their beliefs form the base tenets of Yent̪ʘa. These six tenets are:

#### Protect the Yent̪ʘa Tree

The Bounty Trees, or Yent̪ʘa trees, are the foundation of the entire religion. The ancient Bounty Trees have existed longer than the Xandilu have been sentient, and Yent̪ʘa teaches that they should be respected above all else. The Yent̪ʘa trees are the leading providers for both the jungle and the Xa-Yemayan people. These trees give the Xandilu food and parchment, which they use to safeguard knowledge. Sharing knowledge is the most critical part of Xandilu culture, making the parchment and, in turn, the trees holy.

The Xandilu have a house that harvests bark from the great Bounty Trees for food and parchment. These scribes also specialize in the care and maintenance of these majestic giants.

#### A Good Burial

The followers of Yent̪ʘa believe in a good burial. Regardless of the nature of one's death, at least part of the body must be recovered. In the beginning, this had an exclusively practical reason. The Xandilu scales store memory which other Xandilu can access and record. If a scale of the deceased can be found, their cause of death and the memories of the death can be recovered. The memories of the fallen are necessary to uncover hidden dangers in the already treacherous jungle. Throughout the Xandilu's evolution, this tenet became one of religious importance. The drive to receive the bodies leads to a problem with disposal. Long-term burial grounds are impossible due to the invasive property of the underground Yent̪ʘa root system. Any burial results in the quick decomposition of the body. Quickly, every particle of the corpse is absorbed by the jungle's plant life, even bone. The Xandilu embrace this process, seeing it as the planet's way of recollecting the resources it used to create the individual. Now, as a function of the religion, the practitioners of Yent̪ʘa try to recover at least a partial corpse when possible. Even a finger, if found, is enough for the burial process.

To accompany the burial, the living celebrate the life of those who passed. This is usually glorified with a feast.

#### Limit City Growth

City expansion is controlled to limit the damage done to the delicate jungle ecosystem. Before the Veiled Serpents arrived on Xa-Yemaya, the size limit prescribed by Yent̪ʘa was much smaller than it is now, but when given the chance to make a real difference in the fight against Chaos, this belief shifted. Larger cities were necessary to facilitate the production of weapons of war, but even then, only a certain amount of development was allowed. Cities are intentionally underpopulated, allowing room to fit a surplus number of citizens. Before the number becomes too great to fit the current city limits, population control is enacted, limiting the births allowed within a specific time. In a death world, overpopulation is usually not an issue, so this practice is rarely implemented, especially because of Zephala recruitment rates.

The arrival of the biologist Teluul Mosswood created a moment of temptation for Xa-Yemayans. The biologist was allowed to create his research facility as long as it fell within the guidelines set by Yent̪ʘa. As an assurance, the Xandilu have personnel working in that very outpost. Not only to help with the creation of new biological weapons but also to ensure there is no unsanctioned expansion.

Another allowance was given to the Black Fangs upon their creation. The new Legion, warriors sworn to fight Chaos, were given a city location near the center of the world's land masses. This location was the hub for the Xandilu' Xas and the species' collection of knowledge, a forbidden zone where only the most influential Xa-Yemayans could go. As a sign of reverence, the Legion was given a larger lot than any that existed on Xa-Yemaya for millennia. The extra land was used to establish the first capital of Xa-Yemaya, which was established around the Black Fangs' fortress-monastery, The Brood. The city was then named Brood City, with the Brood and the Xandilu's grand repository at its center.

#### Use All of What You Take

The Xandilu have lived with the land as one for countless generations. This connectedness to such a dangerous world has made them, and their religion, value the use of all that they receive from the planet. Every resource must be used to survive. This principle has shaped Yent̪ʘa, and even though life on Xa-Yemaya has gotten easier thanks to technology, the tenet remains.

#### Limit Damage to the Planet

The Xandilu had no concept of pollution for millennia before interacting with the Kufyndrak, as all of their crafting processes used natural resources. When told of the dangers of the new technology and its production, the Xandilu people immediately and vehemently opposed pollution. A new tenant was introduced into Yent̪ʘa. This rule saw all pollution above a certain level as a sin. For a long time, this rule made the creation of most manufacturing facilities impossible, as most of them released pollutants. Even if manufactorum were allowed, there was no means of easily receiving the materials necessary.

Mining is strictly prohibited as that would be outside the bounds set for settlements. Above that, it would significantly damage the precious root system that provided the bounty trees. The planet's dependence on Jahzara's mining and production capabilities slowed technological development. Still, after only decades of growth, humans regained most of what made their lives comfortable with the addition of renewable electricity and goods from off-world.

For millennia, the population of Xa-Yemaya has lived with this tenant, as violations are punishable by death. The arrival of the Veiled Serpents and the creation of the Black Fangs had no impact on this rule, as production was increased offworld rather than making new, more harmful facilities on the planet.

#### Combat Chaos

The Zephala Syndicate was created to combat the forces of Chaos, and as one of the founding species, the Xandilu vehemently opposed the forces of Chaos. While they provide the forces of the Zephala Syndicate with biological weapons, they also fight directly on the frontlines of the push against Chaos.

Xandilu exploration ships roam the wider galaxy, looking for xenos technology to bring back to Zephala territory for study.

## Tool Crafting

### Greensmithing

When the newly arrived human colonists proposed the idea of mining to the Xandilu people, the idea was immediately rejected, as the Xandilu were religiously against the destruction of the planet. Instead, they offered a way to produce the tools they needed using a renewable resource provided by Bounty Trees. Wood. For countless generations, the Xandilu used green-smithing to create durable tools and even buildings, and they taught this process to their brothers in arms readily.

To begin the process, a minor Bounty Tree is cut down and moved immediately away from where it left a hole in the jungle canopy. The wood is cut, bent and carved into the desired shapes before it undergoes the next step. When the wood of a bounty tree is removed from the tree network, it stays completely saturated with water until the light of the suns dries it. The wood in this state is flexible and can be formed into complex shapes. When dried, the wood hardens, approaching the strength of adamantium depending on how long it is exposed to the suns. The wood can then be treated with a unique mixture of poisons, which protects it from the effects of the sun, locks in the moisture, and sets the strength of the piece.

If a tool made from this material is ever damaged, the poisoned outer coating can be removed, allowing the wood to reabsorb moisture. When submerged in water, bounty wood heals itself. Appropriate pieces of wood are then spliced onto the locations of damage, allowing the pieces to heal together, becoming one seamless whole.

### Bone Carving

When a Kufre shark is hunted, the Xandilu waste no part of the creature. The bones, in particular, are collected and prepared for use in Bone Carving. The process begins with removing the flesh and sinew, followed by a meticulous cleaning and drying of the bones.

Once the bones are ready, the Xandilu shape and fashion them into various weapons and tools. The only way to carve Kufre bone is by using a special mixture of poisons, which softens the bone, allowing for the removal of material using hand-carving tools. The resilient bones allow for the creation of sturdy blades, spearheads, arrowheads, and other cutting implements. The weapons crafted from these bones exhibit exceptional sharpness, reaching monomolecular sharpness. They are capable of piercing through tough hides and armour. The bones' strength and resilience make them ideal for such applications, ensuring longevity. Many of these tools have seen thousands of years of continued use without needing repair. If a blade ever reaches the end of its life, it is buried in the jungle, returning it to the cycle of life as it disintegrates and is absorbed by plant life and insects.

Beyond weaponry, the Xandilu also utilize Kufre shark bones in artistic carving. Through dedicated work, the Xandilu can carve ceremonial ornaments, and intricate carvings that depict historic events and celebrations. Often artistic carving and practical carving are one and the same, with some axes and knives having engravings worthy of not using the blades at all.

## Xandilu Society

The social structure of the Xandilu is built upon principles of cooperation, respect, and communal harmony. They value their species' collective well-being and prioritize the community's needs over individual aspirations. A blend of egalitarianism, specialization, and a deep sense of interconnectedness characterizes their social structure.

At the core of Xandilu society is the concept of the r̠oʘ, each headed by their elder, or Xas. All Xas are located in or around the Xandilu Grand Repository in Brood City. This large underground structure is where the Xandilu store all their accumulated information. While not the only place such information exists, the Grand Repository is the most complete collection of such knowledge. With the Xas in such close proximity, the Grand Repository is the first location to receive new knowledge and memories provided by the Xandilu both on Xa-Yemaya and waging war throughout the sector.

r̠oʘ are guilds with job specializations that form the foundation of social organization. Each r̠oʘ is composed of multiple generations, with Xas playing a vital role in imparting wisdom and training the younger members. The community's roles and responsibilities are divided based on these talents and inclinations. Xandilu display a remarkable aptitude for learning and retaining information, allowing them to excel in various fields, though the r̠oʘ they come from will always influence their eventual place in society. Human presence has profoundly affected the guild system, creating new guilds or adding to the work of those already created. The guilds have also expanded to include human workers.

Leadership within Xandilu society is based on merit and respect earned through experience and wisdom. While there is no formal hierarchical structure, influential figures emerge naturally within the r̠oʘ and the broader community. These individuals help inform decision-making processes, mediate conflicts, and provide guidance based on their accumulated knowledge and understanding. The fact that each Xandilu has access to the knowledge and memories of the elder that birthed them means that all elders are replaceable. This is an accepted truth in the species, so when three former Xas decided to join the Black Fangs in their fight against the Archenemy, little ceremony was observed. These elders left Xa-Yemaya, shedding their titles to become what was necessary for the war effort. These individuals are the Xas of the foraging, security and beast communing r̠oʘ.

* Diplomats: ɬˤʼu
* Engineers: ɬˤʼa
* Caretaking: tsʼu & tsʼa
* Scribes: t̪ʼa
* Art: tʼu & tʼa
* Fishers: k'o
* Foragers: kʼa
* Security: kʼu
* Building: kʼɨ
* Healing: ʘʼa
* Beast Communing: k'ɶ

**Diplomat: ɬˤʼu**

Originally created in the days when war between tribes was common, the diplomats were specialists in negotiation during such disputes. Now, as a unified species, their role has changed to that of emissaries when contacting different spacefaring civilizations. They can learn languages faster than the rest of their species. The diplomats have also perfected the ability to change their vocal cords to speak the languages they learn more naturally.

**Engineer: ɬˤʼa**

Engineering is a new concept to the Xandilu, only appearing upon the introduction of Kufyndrak technology to the world. The ɬˤʼa was the group that helped Forgeworld Skriark create the Veiled Marines. They gave, and continue to provide, specially created Xandilu to the xenobiologists of the forge world. With the ability to birth Xandilu without consciousness, ɬˤʼa can provide test subjects that do not need to be lobotomized. Engineers also work closely with the Black Fang Fòjron to uncover the mysteries of xenos technology.

**Caretaking: tsʼu and tsʼa**

tsʼu and tsʼa caretakers raise the young of the species. Since knowledge is hereditary, the caretaker's main job is to ensure the health of the Xandilu in their care. Secondarily, the caretakers conduct the training of the newborns, ensuring they are ready to enter their field by the time they reach maturity. After humans came to the planet, the caretakers also spend time helping humans raise their children. The curriculum includes everything needed to succeed as a dedicated servant of the God-Emperor, including specialized training in survival skills and combat training.

In recent times, the use of caretakers has increased to compensate for the increased need for human and Xandilu warriors in the ongoing war effort.

**Scribes: t̪ʼa**

The scribes are some of the most critical people in Xandilu society. The species is genetically programmed to seek out and collect information, and the Xandilu scribes are the individuals who are responsible for this. The t̪ʼa analyze the memory scales produced by the elders who aggregate the knowledge for their r̠oʘ. During the analysis, they mark the important updates and store the scales for safekeeping. The updates, in the form of scrolls, are then copied and stored in separate locations to protect the information from being lost all at once. Scribes make up all stages of information storage, starting at collecting tree bark to make parchment.

The t̪ʼa also creates the written curriculum used by the caretakers in their education of humans and Xandilu. t̪ʼa representatives accompany the Black Fangs both to collect information from the corpses of the fallen and document their acts during war.

t̪ʼa on Xa-Yemaya conduct funeral rights for the deceased of both species.

**Art: tʼu & tʼa**

Artistry is a universal talent within Xandilu culture, even their language is heavily influenced by music. Within the Xandilu, the tʼu & tʼa are especially talented, making use of the full array of musical instruments used by the species. They are also skilled actors and dancers who make up the cast and crew of Xandilu opera houses across the planet. They also accompany the Black Fangs and help with musical relief during void travel. The artists also create stunning works of visual art.

**Fishers: k'o**

Members of the fisher guild are adept at navigating the lakes, rivers and oceans of Xa-Yemaya. They utilize their knowledge of the animals of the sea to bait and hunt even the largest of creatures. Along with catching fish for commercial use, the k'o use their massive size to hunt and kill kufre sharks of all sizes. These animals carry precious materials for the war effort.

**Foragers: Security: kʼa**

The k'a gather resources from the lush jungles of Xa-Yemaya. Comprised of foragers and gatherers, this guild plays a critical role in sustaining the Xandilu by procuring food, medicinal plants, and other valuable materials needed to service. Equipped with sharp blades, woven baskets and backpacks, and weapons for protection, these foragers venture deep into the jungle. They carefully harvest resources while respecting the delicate balance of the ecosystem, ensuring their practices remain sustainable. Many of the foragers still go out into the jungle to hunt the most deadly animals, keeping their hunting and tracking skills sharp. The hunters are the best of the Xandilu at using their camouflaging scales, blending into the jungle at all light spectrums and striking out with bows and javelins from the shadows.

Many foragers strike out and join the hunt with the Black Fangs Maroons.

**Security: kʼu**

kʼu are the guardians of Xa-Yemaya. They are battle-hardened warriors entrusted with maintaining order and ensuring the safety of their fellow Xa-Yemayans. The guild safeguards settlements, important sites and valuable resource locations. They often accompany builders when they need to leave the city walls to retrieve something. Though every Xa-Yemayan can defend themselves, it always helps to have a protector with intimate knowledge of the various dangers that can be encountered. The beasts of Xa-Yemaya are dangerous and intelligent, but the k'u understand their behaviour better than anyone else on the planet.

Also entrusted to the k'u is defence of the population from within. Xa-Yemaya is usually of one mind, but on occasion, there are those that seek to take advantage of the situation within the world's settlements. If the tenets of Yent̺ʘ are ever broken, the security guild gives judgement in the case.

These combat specialists are the Xandilu force that works with the Vanguard company, sending a portion of their members to fight the war against Chaos.

**Building: kʼɨ**

The kʼɨ are skilled craftsmen and architects. The guild is responsible for resource collection, design and construction of various projects. They incorporate their knowledge of the environment to build, using the renewable resources of the jungle. With expert carpentry and joinery skills, they can bend, shape and carve bounty trees into elaborate shapes to make anything from weapons and tools to furniture and even the houses themselves. Because city expansion is such a rare occurrence, and with the durability of these structures, the need for architects is limited. Occasionally, they are recalled to this duty to repair structures or tools they've created in the past, but that is no longer their main job. The building guild is an institution with relatively few members, many of whom spend most of their time greensmithing and bone carving, doing their part to support the ongoing war against Chaos. The remaining builders continue to make tools and weapons for their communities on Xa-Yemaya.

**Healing: ʘʼa**

ʘʼa are dedicated to improving the health and wellness of the species. They possess extensive knowledge of Xandilu, human anatomy, and the medical properties of Xa-Yemayan flora. Through this and their specialization in using biomancy to heal others, they can employ physical and psychic means to heal their patients.

Their services extend beyond the Xandilu and humans, as they willingly offer aid and healing to the domesticated animals on Xa-Yemaya. They also act as medicae for hire to the less xenophobic factions.

**Beast Communing: k'ɶ**

The k'ɶ spend their time communing with the beasts of Xa-Yemaya. They are able to communicate their feelings and intentions to the creatures of the Xa-Yemayan jungle through their language. Some animals are more responsive to one or the other language. These Xandilu capture many of those creatures, taming them in order to have a steady supply of the venom they produce. In more modern times, many of the k'ɶ have transitioned to full-time ranch hands. They work with domesticated plants and animals on all Yemayas. Many k'ɶ work with the Black Fangs Maroons, using their tamed beasts as troops to harass, distract and confuse their enemies. As Xandilu, Astartes, and human lives are considered more valuable, this practice protects them and frees their time for other operational objectives.

Other species can communicate with these tamed animals through visual and audio devices, but it is less effective than the Xandilu k'ɶ. It is not unheard of for a non Xandilu to step too close to a "tamed" animal just to be struck with a venomous stinger or bitten.Xandilu Combat Doctrine

The Xandilu combat doctrine is centred around stealth, ambush tactics, and exploiting their natural advantages to gain the upper hand in battle. This approach was initially used exclusively to hunt large prey animals. The Xandilu's close collaboration with the Black Fangs Legion has further refined this approach to warfare, combining their unique abilities and knowledge with that of the Astartes.

Utilizing their natural agility and excellent camouflage abilities, the Xandilu excel at guerrilla warfare. They use dense vegetation, rugged terrain, and other obstacles to launch stealthy assaults on their enemies. Their ability to blend into their surroundings makes them incredibly difficult to detect, enabling them to strike swiftly and vanish without a trace.

In collaboration with the Veiled Marines, the Xandilu have learned to coordinate their movements and attacks with the Astartes, enhancing their effectiveness on the battlefield. They have developed intricate communication systems and combat strategies that capitalize on the unique abilities of both forces. The two species work together with shared languages and training to make a fluid fighting team.

### Xandilu Combat Forms

When leaving Xa-Yemaya, all Xandilu change their appearance in preparation for battle. The Xandilu combat forms all have a similar shape, regardless of the guild the Xandilu were originally. Even though there is still variation in the appearance of all individuals, this helps streamline some of the armour production, as there is less need to compensate for a large variety of body shapes and sizes.

#### Maroon Combat Form

The Maroon combat form is named after the Maroon division of the Black Fangs. Those of the Xandilu !Xo assume this form before they leave Xa-Yemaya. The Maroon combat form is an extension of the form used by the k'a foragers who are already combat-focused in their own ways. This form excels in stealth combat, using the Xandilu camouflage ability best. It sacrifices armour plating for more developed, thicker chameleonic scales. This added depth allows the Xandilu to change the texture of their scales more drastically, further adding to their ability to blend into the environment. They also can create bioluminescent displays and change appearance in spectrums of light far beyond that of human vision. This is not without its drawbacks, as the scales of the Xandilu in this form are dedicated to concealment rather than defence. To compensate, these combatants make use of a special type of armour. This armour is different than the armour worn by the Vanguard combat form. Instead of being placed outside the Xandilu's bodies, it is taken under a layer of scales. Held in place by these scales, the armour plates serve as protection while the scale layer is free to change texture and colour, as well as if the individual was unarmoured. When necessary, the scales can harden, losing the camouflage ability but adding protection during a fight.

Xoliswa in the Maroon Combat Form. Stealth Scales (left) and Hardened Scales (right)#### Vanguard Combat Form

As with the Maroon combat form, the Vanguard combat form is named after a company of the Black Fangs. The Vanguard combat form largely focuses on being as heavily armoured as possible without limiting their speed. All of these individuals have hardened scales which lose their ability to change shape and texture while keeping the ability to change color. This color change is nowhere near as precise as the Maroon combat form, as it can only change colour in the visible light spectrum. Even then, the skill is so limited that it is only able to fool the eye from afar. Because the Vanguard company is more used to swarming than outright stealth, this is not as detrimental. Instead of using hidden plates under their scales, the Vanguard combat form uses more traditional power armour that covers most of their bodies. The armour provides protection that enhances their already resilient scales and allows for applying chameleonic coatings.

## Ungelo in the Vanguard Combat FormXandilu Weapons and Equipment

The Xandilu are equipped with advanced technology designed to suit their reptilian physiology and complement their stealthy, ambushing combat style. Their equipment results from collaboration with the other species of the system and the technology shared by the Headless. Close combat weapons are lightweight yet durable, enabling the Xandilu to engage in melee combat when necessary. Ranged weapons are compact and focused on stealthy use.

### Melee Weapons

* Scale Blades
* Xandilu Power Whips
* Gron'zara power staff

Scale Blades

Scale blades are one-handed curved swords and serve as the signature melee weapons of the Xandilu. They are a remarkable fusion of their natural attributes and carefully crafted weaponry. This pair of razor-sharp blades are meticulously fashioned from the unique scales of the Xandilu themselves and are wielded one in each hand. The Xandilu wishing to make their own scale blades grow two spikes, one out of each elbow, which they then craft into swords. As they are made of their own scales, these weapons can change colour and texture, cloaking alongside their Xandilu wielder.

Xandilu Power Whips

Xandulu power whips are multiheaded whips used by the more stealthy of the Xandilu kind. They are crafted using resilient but lightweight Weaver webs with sharpened Xandilu scales affixed to the end. The power whips are typically long, extending several meters in length. This extended reach enables the Xandilu to engage their foes from a distance, keeping them at bay. With the ability to produce a power field at the tips, this weapon's lethality is further increased. Often, the enemy will attempt to get into closer range, only to be met with the Xandilu's claws.

These weapons are not only formidable in combat but also serve as versatile tools outside of battle. The Xandilu utilize the whips for climbing, navigating treacherous terrain, and manipulating objects at a distance.

Gron'zara Mim|ara

The Gron'zara Mim|ara is a wooden staff used by the ɠIku. They are crafted using the wood of the sacred Xa-Yemayan Bounty Trees. The staff is carved from the trunk of these trees before being hardened and treated with poison. As a tool, it is used for tasks such as sheep herding. In addition to this use, the Gron'zara is often used as a weapon by the Guardians. In this case, the staff has a spiked or bladed head with a power field generator, which adds to the weapon's lethality.

### Ranged Weapons

* Xandilu Firearms
* Xandilu Gauntlet Needle Gun
* Xandilu Bow

Xandilu Firearms

Xandilu Gauntlet Needle Gun

The Xandilu Gauntlet Needle Gun is a specialized weapon used by the Xandilu warriors. The Gauntlet Needle Gun fires specially designed needle-like projectiles that are capable of penetrating armour and delivering a potent toxin directly into the target's bloodstream. The toxin is engineered to incapacitate or kill the target swiftly and silently. The gun itself is integrated into the Xandilu's gauntlet, providing ease of use and quick access during combat, even if the individual is holding something else. Its compact size and efficient design make it a favoured ranged weapon among the Xandilu for its ability to dispatch enemies swiftly and discreetly.

Xandilu Bow

The Xandilu bow is a specialized weapon that combines traditional archery principles with advanced technology. As hunters, before the species was introduced to more advanced technology, the Xandilu's most advanced weapon was the bow and arrow. Building upon this tool, the Xandilu Bow is a sleek and compact weapon designed for silent long-range engagements.

With a variety of arrowheads, the Xandilu are able to approach any situation with the correct amount of lethality. The Xandilu bow is most used when a statement is required. A large arrow protruding from the chest of an enemy is often a good way to begin a terror campaign. Along with venomous tips, the arrows can be fitted with explosive tips for use against armour, or to completely obliterate an unarmoured foe.

### Armour

To complement their natural bodies, which are already far beyond those of humans, the Xandilu use armour to increase their effectiveness further. Xandilu armour is separated into two variants, used by different combat forms. Though each set of armour is customized to fit the user, armour of the same type is similar enough to simplify the manufacturing process. This is partially the point of having species-wide Xandilu combat forms.

* ɠIku Power Armour
* !Xo Armour Plates

ɠIku Power Armour

ɠIku power armour is a technologically advanced exoskeleton composed of mostly ceramite. It uses Kufyndrak and Space Marine technology but is tailored to fit Xandilu ɠIku. It provides enhanced protection, agility, and strength, allowing the Xandilu warriors to excel further in combat. It features a helmet with a tactical display, providing vital battlefield information to the wearer. The power armour also includes built-in power systems and silent servo-assisted limbs, augmenting the Xandilu's physical capabilities and allowing them to perform even more impressive feats of strength and agility. ɠIku power armour is covered in cameleoline material, allowing them to blend into their environment similarly to how they use their scales.

Each individual's armour is unique to them, accommodating any spikey growths which might be protruding from them. Any such growths have an airtight seal around them to prevent foreign materials from entering. The ɠIku share in the practice of marking their armour with honour marks and patterns to commemorate certain victories.

!Xo Armour Plates

Each suit is made of separate plates. These plates, as a whole, differ significantly from armour worn by any other species as it is worn inside of the Xandilu's skin. Each plate is applied to the Xandilu's body and fastened with a growth of their own scales, which grow across the plate's surface and tightens, holding it in place. These ceramite plates provide protection the Maroon Combat form lacks during stealth engagements. This scale layer can change texture and colour and emit light as if the individual were unarmoured. When in a more direct battle, the Xandilu harden their scales around their armour, adding another layer of protection. The layer of battle scales is similar to that used by the ɠIku under their power armour, but not as thick. In this state, their scales lose the ability to change texture and colour quickly. When changing, the scales revert to the predecided colour and shape, giving the appearance of an external suit of armour in whatever colours they desire. For example, a Xanildu !Working with the Black Fangs, Xo would have a battle appearance that features the Legion's colours, along with the scarification on their battle plate.

The electrical cabling that connects the armour pieces is also concealed with a layer of scales. This supplies power to the armour's weapon systems, helmet and servo-motors in their legs. Weapons attached to the armour plates, namely the needle gauntlets, are also covered in a layer of scales, rendering them undetectable when the Xandilu is camouflaged. When necessary, holes can be made to allow the needles to move unobstructed out of the barrel. This opening breaks the camouflage around the barrel for a short period of time, allowing the weapon to be seen by a keen observer.Xandilu Languages

The Xandilu can understand any language if given enough time, and through biomancy, they can speak fluently in whatever language they learn. As they live with humans, they have collectively evolved the necessary parts to speak in High Gothic without changing their physical appearance. Despite this ability, Xandilu prefer to use either of their native languages to communicate with one another and the Black Fangs.

### The Shifting Tongue

The Xandilu language is a truly unique and captivating form of communication, utilizing the special properties of the species' scales. These creatures manipulate the colour of individual scales and the light they emit, allowing them to create intricate and ever-changing displays in the ultraviolet, visible, and infrared light spectrum. These chameleonic changes are a form of visual expression and a means of communication. The Xandilu can use their scales to convey a wide range of messages, from simple greetings and expressions of emotion to complex concepts and ideas.

This combination of light and colour changes creates a language that is only possible for humans to see and understand with specialized equipment. This harmonious fusion of visuals enables the Xandilu to convey complex messages and engage in meaningful exchanges without traditional spoken words.

### Yánda Code

Yánda Code, the Xandilu's sung language, relies on growls, bellows, roars, chirps, clicks, and humming. It is a language born from the unique physiology of the Xandilu, allowing them to convey complex messages through a combination of sounds.

Sung melodies serve as the foundation of the language, accented by clicks and chirps, which produce rhythmic patterns that combine to form the base of communication. The Xandilu possess specialized palates, ribbed cheeks, and hard, split tongues. This enables them to produce a wide variety of sounds, each with its own designated significance. These rhythms can vary in speed, intensity, and sequence, creating a rich tapestry of linguistic expression. The melodies are executed through humming, roars and bellows. After failing to decipher Yánda Code, a human linguist and musician chose to associate the noises with scales in 12 equal temperment. Said scales are an excellent way to identify the general tone of the Xandilu speaking.

Yánda Code can also be played instrumentally, incorporating extra rhythmic and melodic elements. The language can be orchestrated harmoniously and melodically, maintaining the original meaning while creating music that transcends simple communication and becomes a form of artistic expression.

This language is impossible for humans to learn as human physiology cannot hear many of the sounds, falling under or over human hearing range. As Yánda Code is a sung language, it can take advantage of notes humans cannot differentiate between. Even if humans could tell the difference between the notes, they would not be able to mimic most of the sounds created. Humans can still use Yánda Code with the help of a device made specifically for this purpose, though they will always sound like they are speaking with an accent. This device translates written words into Yanda Code, and was created by the engineer Xas, ǃXonaɬˤʼa.

The Astartes of the Black Fangs are the only non-Xandilu to speak the language, as their vocal mimicry ability gives them access to most of the necessary noises. This lets the Black Fangs communicate using Yánda Code at the level of a Xandilu speaker.

Yánda Code is also useful for intimidation and can be used to deter predators on Xa-Yemaya. The more intelligent creatures in the jungle of their home planet can associate these sounds with the presence of Xandilu. Even Weaver spiders avoid this, as Xandilu are the greatest threat to this apex predator.

## Notable Individuals

### Former Xas

As a species that prides itself on compiling and sharing knowledge and experience, every member of the mentorship structure is replaceable. No one individual, save the eldest Xandilu, is placed in a position of such reverence that they must be protected at all costs. This even includes the ancient Xas, who have overseen their guilds for generations. Many such Xas have decided to step down from their duties of creating more generations, allowing for younger, but still proven, Xandilu to take their places. These individuals, without the lofty rank of Xas and the title that accompanies it, retake the names they were given at birth. Regardless of the end they meet, these names will forever be remembered in Xandilu history.

Xoliswa

As the previous ǃXorakʼa, Xoliswa is a specialist in stealth, using their mastery of motor control and camouflage to strike from unexpected angles. As a result, Xoliswa operates within the Maroon division of the Black Fangs. A division which they immediately grew fond of for the similarities in their approach to engagements. Xoliswa's personality, in many ways, contrasts with the more sombre division they are attached to. Xandilu are often referred to as cheerful. Xoliswa and their offspring are considered even more joyful than average, much to the chagrin of Kwaku Anansi himself, who is, in contrast, much more reserved. The Black Fangs' ship, the Midnight Vindicator, is not only Xoliswa's new home. It has also become their training ground in more ways than one.

Xoliswa is a natural trickster who spends their free time roaming the decks of the Midnight Vindicator, attempting to hide their presence from all aboard. They stalk the labyrinthine corridors of the voidship, trying to maintain camouflage from all directions in all the main detectable wavelengths of light. Most humans are unable to see the creature until it is too late. When close to whatever target they chose for that hunt, Xoliswa appears directly in their line of sight as if from the air. This usually leads to the target dropping whatever they might have been carrying. Though it may appear to be a childish game created by a creature bored during travel, which it is, this practice is much more than just that. The skill exhibited by Xoliswa in these mock hunts is even enough to confuse the senses of a space marine for a time. This training, which from the outside appears to be an annoying prank, maintains the sharpness of this elder's abilities. Abilities which they use in battle to deadly effect.

As a member of Kwaku's personal guard, the Venomblade, Xoliswa takes part in some of the most important battles fought by the Black Fangs. Using their incredible speed and agility, combined with the biological arsenal that is their anatomy, Xoliswa is a terror in war. Though able to physically overpower the Xandilu, even the Astartes members of this elite formation struggle to maintain the level of cover Xoliswa can achieve. Xoliswa, like in their mock hunts, blends into the environment while on the move. Climbing through trees to attack from above. Burying themselves in mud to attack from below. Nothing is out of the question for this ambush predator. Xoliswa uses the Xandulu's shapeshifting ability to retract any spines and plates which could be seen from afar. Like all k'a, their proficiency is such that they can change the texture of scales to match the environment, further hiding them from sight. When the time is right, Xoliswa will spring from cover, unveiling their actual appearance as they strike.

Before working with the Black Fangs, Xoliswa would not have used such fear tactics, as they would be ineffective against the animals of Xa-Yemaya. On that world, every hunt was conducted in near silence, in hopes that the predators did not become the prey. When hunting off-world, especially when human forces are the target, fear is a tool that can be as deadly a weapon as a sword. Understanding this, Xoliswa and the rest of the kʼa in the Black Fangs have adopted such strategies. This was a natural transition for Xoliswa, as their pastime, even before leaving Xa-Yemaya, was the same mock hunt as the ones conducted in the void. The old Xandilu uses a hunting style perfected through pranking their comrades to terrify and torture enemies. They use their Xenos appearance to strike fear into the hearts of lesser soldiers. With claws and teeth, they rend flesh and remove limbs, ripping through torsos as the enemy fires at ceremite armour and hardened scales with little effect. Any damage from small arms fire is regenerated before the enemy's eyes, further demoralizing them before their inevitable deaths. Where the Black Fangs leave venom-dissolved corpses, Xoliswa and the Xandilu k'a leave the scene as if the corpses were mauled by wild animals. They appear, strike and disappear quickly enough to extract before any reaction comes. Completely in tune with the space marine warriors they work alongside, Xoliswa has proven themselves to be one of the most deadly warriors within the Black Fangs. Beyond that, after several campaigns, they have proven themselves to be one of the most dangerous members of the Xandilu Species.

Ungelo

Ungelo is the single greatest warrior of the Xandilu. As the previous ɠIkurukʼu, they had multiple roles. Their most important function was replenishing the kʼu that worked to protect the Xa-Yemayan people from the dangers of the jungle. While vital to Xandilu society, this responsibility was not Ungelo's favourite task. What most excited them was when a particularly aggressive animal was reportedly drawing close to a settlement. Before Kufyndrak technology was introduced to the world, Ungulo had no way of travelling to meet such threats in time. This limited the challenging combat situations Ungelo was exposed to. With the introduction of long-range communication devices and modes of travel much more advanced than the Xandilu could have imagined, Ungelo could roam across Xa-Yemaya. In the millennia since their hunts began, they have sought to duel every creature of note that appears near a city. With this combat experience, the offspring created by the Xandilu's greatest warrior become that much better. Ungelo's combat experience, through transferring knowledge and memories to newborn and veteran warriors alike. Every new kill with a new weapon, tactic and environment added to the k'u guild's competence. After millennia of such battle, the possibility for further growth began to decrease, much to the dissatisfaction of Ungelo. When the Black Fangs were created, Ungelo was thrilled. Ungelo had a large part in training these new space marines, enjoying the thrill of a battle with new creatures that could match his strength and intelligence.

Ungelo joined the Vanguard alongside Ogun Jabari. With their bulk, the two warriors form the tip of the Black Fangs' spearhead, attacking the largest threats faced by the Black Fangs. Ungelo takes the role of the division champion, seeking out and duelling whomever they deem the greatest obstacle to victory. Using a variety of weapons that Ungelo can use with equal proficiency, they dominate the battlefield, whether with fist, blade or hammer. Clad in thick armour, they stride through the enemy, destroying all who oppose the Legion's goals.

### Warriors

Venomblade Xandilu

The Venomblade is an elite formation within the Black Fangs Legion, which forms the guard that works with Kwaku Anansi. As a squad of 15, the Venomblade is made up of specialists from both the Veilborn Marines and the Xandilu. Excluding Xoliswa, the Xandilu members of the Venomblade are:

* Embela
* Anaxwe
* Omaka
* Amazwi