Finally decided to make a Tumblr for my sci-fi project that's been languishing on Amino for literal years.
The City
Astar City sits in the heart of the Atlantic, an artificial island that breaches the boundary of earth and the greater reaches of space. I is here that the greatest minds are trained, taught and cultivated to carry humanity forward in the pursuit of betterment--and to avoid the mistakes of the past. Guiding them are our allies and friends from beyond the stars, each bringing to the table something unique that enriches the lives of those living with and without gravity keeping them on the ground.
At the northernmost point stands the base of the great Gravern-Tybbs Space Elevator, the hub of planetary travel and resource management for Astar City and the very reason for the island to be built. The city itself consists of three 'rings' with the outermost zone being subdivided at the cross-quarters:
Northeast: the docks that import and export goods from the elevator to the rest of the world.
Northwest: the factories that shop materials used in the city itself or to be exported.
Across the midline is the Elgiss Channel that separates the industrial zone from the rest of the outer ring.
Southeast: Glassgow Park, a touch of nature to greet the incoming visitors and new citizens of Astar City.
Brightside amusement park lies at the southern tip of the island, full of neon and fiber optics.
Southwest: Elysium Square, named for the fields of heroes, this part of the outer ring is a type of nature reserve where festivals, recreation and camping occurs.
The secondary ring is the widest and most densely populated, hosting the library, museum, businesses, apartments, the university, etc. Different zones have developed based on local population and need, with various cultures carving out corners of the city for themselves, each connected by the monorail that covers the middle ring.
The inner ring is also known as Pillar Place and hosts only three buildings the locals refer to as "the ladies of Astar City" for their nicknames: Astrid, Ingrid and Ester.
Astar Technology, Research & Development (AsTReD) is the jewel of the city where the greatest minds of all species bring their skills together to move forward. There is a direct landing zone for small ships on the roof of the building which stands the tallest at 123 floors.
The Inter-Global Resource Department (InGReD), or “trade center”, manages the accounts and resources of Astar City, regulating repairs, jobs, money and relationships between earth and the colonies. Boasting 119 floors, it is the second tallest building in the city.
The third building is colloquially called “the ambassador apartments” but it's legally named the Exo-Endo Suites for Terran Relations (EESTeR) which are somewhere between a hotel, a timeshare and an apartment block for political figures to stay and to house the ambassadors of the Kuana which handle the translations and interactions on behalf of their patrons. The Lofted Gardens sit atop the spire, capping it at 115 floors.
No building in the city is allowed to exceed 100 floors as to not conflict with The Ladies.
The digital currency of the city is the kibb, which has an exchange rate of 100KBB=1.25 USD (kibb are counted like Japanese yen with no decimals or fractional dollars).
The Citizens
Boasting a colorful array of denizens, Astar City boasts not only the greatest diversity of new-earth cultures in one place, but also the most non-earth cultures as well. In the wake of The War for Change (also dubbed WWIII or the Eco-War), many cultures and countries on earth were fractured, lost or sub-divided as populations were deposed and borders redrawn. In an effort to preserve history and their memories, surviving groups were approached to document their culture and struggles post-war; some of these survivors eventually migrated to Astar City for work, settling in the new districts and reshaping their identities into what they are today.
Of the races/species represented, there are:
Humans, both Enhanced (robotic) and Modified (gene spliced)
Robots, the smallest faction, consisting of pure synthetic 'life' developed from rapidly advancing AI made by humans
Viispaa, currently majority Primes, some Curantis and Puer, a few Inimicus and Artifex (other subtypes coming soon)
Aska'a Thani, the second most common non-human under Viispaa
Kuana, though they remain in orbit and rarely come to the surface
Ravulcaba Mercs and Merchants, the most recent inclusion to the roster having appeared after responding to distress caused by stray Miscreant activity
Lem'iran, a single individual currently in hyper sleep with an unknown wake date
The System
By the onset of the 3030s, earth (also known as Terra, Geos or Gaia) and its resident sapient species, the humans, have touched the corners of their solar system and set up stations of one kind or another on most available surfaces. In 2375, the three races agreed that all space within 40 AU of Sol/Helios (our sun) would belong to humans by right and thus determined by them how it would be distributed and moderated. [dates are temporary and under reconsideration]
Moon/Luna/Selene: colonization of the moon started in 2260 as the first major unification project between the Kuana, Aska'a and humans. However, political and bureaucratic policies on earth forced the colony to declare independence in 2269, dubbing themselves the Greater Alliance Lunar Commonwealth, later dubbed Galuc. They celebrate the birth of the first off-world infant which opened the filed of psionics in 2272, with the colony town developing into something of a college-town. The University of Galuc is the only facility in the system greater than Astar University in terms of academic scope, with focus on the study of psionics, low-gravity survival and colonization of hostile landscapes, and deep-space communications and observation through the use of Arecibo II. Sim chambers are a staple of the lunar economy, with the short ride from the space elevator to the docking bay being little more than a train ride for citizens of Astar City.
Mercury: around 2380, in response to changes in the judicial system of earth, a high-security "reformation" station was built on Mercury though everyone knows its a prison. Intended to 'make use' of those who failed to contribute to society, the station ensures escape is impossible due to the harsh terrain of Mercury and its abysmal climate. Considered a one-way trip, the facility doubles as a factory for manufacturing and refining certain materials while utilizing a system similar to the moon's for being solar powered. After a failed uprising by inmates cause massive losses around 2600, the guards were replaced in majority with AI.
Venus: despite rovers surviving for upwards of 36 hours on the surface, in 2400 Venus was deemed "still hell" and quarantined as a waste dump for materials that don't decay, such as plastics; lack of terraforming technology has made planets like Venus "unsuitable" for colonization. Some materials such as radioactive waste are ejected into the sun for removal.
Mars: in 2375, after the Galuc colony debacle settled, Mars was considered for a new base of operations. The founding colony was established as a terraforming research facility, however as they gained space and samples, our alien allies began bringing embryos from other planets to help diversify our resources and fill niches that had not been needed on earth. While the technology for proper terraforming hit wall after wall, advancements in robotic AI allowed for opportunities to better mine asteroids for material. The Mars colony itself turned its focus to conservation and study of exotic animals, becoming the system's largest wildlife preserve and only place currently allowing the display of non-Sol species.
Belt: under control of the InAMi Corporation (Inner Astroid Mining Corporation) since 2727
Jupiter: with the onset of gravity-assist launching methods becoming standard practice and trial runs of quantum radio broadcasting, the year 2572 saw the beginning of Jovian lunar colonization to help facilitate asteroid mining. By 2586, the Jovian Lunar Bases dominate the field in terms of mining exports and AI development for industrial workplaces.
Saturn: while Saturn's moons were under observation for colonization since 2586, the first bases weren't established until 2601 due in part to the fuel requirements and resource limitations, but also from the mysterious, radioactive wreck found floating between Saturn and Uranus in 2590. The make of the ship was not familiar, life signs were absent and no race claimed a missing ship, thus it was hauled to an asteroid base for study and dubbed The Shell. High levels of radiation and no comparisons for deciphering the salvage brings the study to a crawl.
Uranus: 2697 saw the first attempt to colonize Uranus, however energy requirements caused major hiccups along the way, forcing the orbital station to be shut down until alternatives are found. Inami Corp funds a smaller station to facilitate the development of electro-magnetic generators while supplying fossil fuels to the station. A gamble is taken on whether or not Neptune's moon, Triton, has liquid water which could be used for hydro-electric power. After the prototype solar-powered hypercells are perfected, the colony station comes back online on restricted power in 2836 with a focus on using magnetic fields for energy.
Neptune: in 2735 the gamble paid off and a team was sent to try and establish a power facility in the back half of the system. Despite this, tensions arose between the sentient races regarding the withholding of technology, creating The Frozen Period where advancement and colonization effectively stopped until 2825. Proper colonization of Triton begins in 2862, growing it into a power station and foothold to the Kuiper belt by 2870.
Pluto: In 2881, a unknown signal from outside the solar system is detected; origins are unknown and unclaimed, but the possibility of more life on their level existing encourages a project for converting Pluto and the other demi-planets to be fitted with signal transmitters to boost and detect further broadcasts. In 2891, after siphoning most of the unstable radiation from The Shell and spending a considerable amount of time breaking down the remnant of a language, it's discovered the console received a signal whose imprint matched the mysterious signal from a decade prior, which had previously been written off as interference from sunspots. In 2913, the Exo-Solar Communications Station (ESCoS) comes online.
Kuiper belt: under control of Inami Corp's sister company, OKAMi (Outer-Kuiper Asteroid Mining) since 2878.
During the first 50 years after landfall, the Kuana had noticed the hesitation humans felt when confronted with their beloved creations, the Viispaa, despite the general understanding the man-sized wasps were harmless unless provoked. This made initial greetings very tense, and they deemed it necessary to earn better trust and favor with something new that would be less intimidating to their new friends—and their children.
Human offspring fascinated the Kuana in both the idea they were blank slates and also completely reliant on their caregivers during their early years. Compared to their own biology, it was puzzling and unique, but what endeared them the most was the way smaller human children behaved around adults of various moral dispositions; case studies and testimonies concluded that human children had the same sensitivities as animals did to whether someone had good or bad intentions often enough to be an acknowledged phenomenon.
Because of that, the kuana determined if they could win the favor of the children, then perhaps the adults would follow, thus they turned to their genetic blueprints and began to tweak them, understanding that using a template that was proven true would be the best option, rather than risk losing time on probable failures. New insects had been gifted to them to study, offering many options to appeal to the infants and toddlers without compromising their functionality or usefulness as practical companions, thus the bumblebee-based Puer breed was crafted.
Taking a female Viispaa volunteer named Lizinnia, the Kuana adapted her genome slightly and then introduced modified eggs to her body to be fertilized, producing the first collection of Puer.
Biology
In most aspects, the Puer are similar to classic Viispaa, so this section will focus primarily on traits that do not carry over; if something is not confirmed to be altered, assume it is identical to the classic Viispaa (Prime) or inquire with a genetic professional (staff).
Please check in frequently for any changes or updates.
Viispaa Puer are broken into a kind of hierarchy that consists of a breeding queen and her drones, modeled on the original generation born from a modified speedster named Lizinnia; queens are sometimes referred to a Viispaa Puer Zinnia in reference to this (or just short handed to “zinnia” like the flower). While both are of the same genotype (genetic code), the phenotypes (visible traits) are vastly different between the two and will be explained alternately.
Puer drones are the majority (85-95%) of all Puer subjects and stand between 3’3” and 4’2” (height may change soon) when fully grown, making them on average, the same size as young children. They possess chitin plating but are also majority covered in a layer of downy fuzz, particularly on their bodies, thighs, upper arms and abdomens that is noted to feel either fluffy or silky and is often warm to the touch. As drones, they have an androgynous appearance and are often registered as “nonbinary” though they have been known to adapt both names and pronouns to better accommodate the children they accompany, as their temperaments are adjusted to be protective but sweet and caring, becoming an “ideal” protecting companion for young children as “nanny-bugs”. Drone wings are shorter and rounder than classic Viispaa and they possess only one set, however they vibrate fast enough to pick the drone up from the ground—though they lack the speed and aerodynamics of a classic; many drones are seen hovering and fluttering and they stay near the ground, unable to sustain flight for long periods.
Zinnias look strikingly like classic Viispaa by comparison, and are always female, though some may gain unique coloration from a pigment mutation that carries over to their drone offspring, making “designer nannies” a profitable market. Built like a speedster but much daintier, Zinnias are most easily identified by their long, thin wings that do not function, and their oversized abdomens that are adapted for larger birthing groups. As a queen bee, a Zinnia can form in a 1:1,000 chance from a clutch and flies off after fully developing to take residence somewhere, usually a small city or other area several miles in diameter, to begin making drones; once settled, their wings shrivel and their abdomens swell and this remains so until the Zinnia abstains from egg making for 6 months, allowing the hormones to change back and giving her a chance to move elsewhere. On average, they stand between 7’6” and 8’9”, and have thick, crescent-shaped stingers that they often do not use unless needed, as the toll on their bodies is different from their classic cousins.
Neither version of a Puer is as strong as a classic, but proportionately, drones are still stronger than the average adult human while queens are about the same as a healthy female. A queen can live an average lifespan (usually 80) and is fertile until about 65-70 but drones typically only live up to 40 years, though most average at 30.
Puer drones are not only non-binary by birth, they are fully sexless and asexual, possessing no genitalia and expressing no breeding desires of their own right (drones showing sexual behavior are taken in for mental assessment as that is usually a sign of sexual abuse and manipulation), having only a tract for dispelling waste from their abdomens. These features were encouraged early on to protect the children from inappropriate behaviors as well as protect the drones from any “mishandling” by their keepers (the parents of their assigned child); this is further aided by many “nanny-bug services” requiring check ups and physicals with their drones at intervals determined by the service to ensure the safety of their nannies, and by extension, the children.
Zinnias, on the other hand, are quite the opposite at times, having opportune breeding windows every 4-6 weeks that can be rather stressful to deal with if a male is not readily available, as some humans liken the mental state of a fertile queen to that of human PMS—moody, full of cravings, and emotionally unstable to a degree (though this is not always the case). Possessing no male counterpart, Puer queens are intended to be able to breed with classic males (even hornets on occasion, as their genes do not seem to affect drones in any noticeable way), making use of the overabundance of male Viispaa. Mating and egg laying are identical to the classic, however Puer clutches can number up to 50 per clutch at times; queens with no contracted services usually continue to breed until they have at least one queen of their own before retiring to fulfill other goals.
Queens that become infertile with age will lose their original abdomen after their last birth and regrow a new, smaller one much closer to that of a classic but leaner and stingless, after 1-2 months.
Lewd information: Queens are notorious for being hormonal and needy, even when not fertile, and will seek company from any willing participant, regardless of species and gender; in some areas, it is encouraged for queens to have male Viispaa on hand for this, forming a kind of royal harem, but in other cases where there are strict breeding regiments, male humans can pay or be paid to satisfy a needy queen when required.
Zinnias are rather delicate as far as Viispaa are concerned, being very close to humans in terms of durability and injury recovery, but drones are a different case. Because they were created to protect others, particularly children, drones have highly reinforced armor chitin that can resist crushing and velocity based damages far greater to that of a classic (getting hit by a car or being shot for example), having taken from a special bug the Kuana acquired called the “diabolical ironclad beetle” which caused their secondary wings to mutate into a specialized, durable layer under their chitin. It also explains their density and may be one reason they cannot lift off from the ground very high despite being smaller and assumed to be lighter. Because of this trait and the breeding habits of the queens, the regenerative traits were sacrificed in drones to make way for durability, to preserve balance in the web of life (the Kuana web that is), thus drones do not recover from injury in the same way classics do, though any damage done to actually harm a drone in that way would typically be fatal to humans, and egregious to classic Viispaa.
Zinnias and drones have similar color changing eyes to classics, but tend to be brighter or more pastel in hue.
Both forms of Puer have advanced speech ability, with Zinnias being on par with speedsters, or even better, while drones can range from permanently child like vocal patterns to mature and articulate based on the needs of their family and the education they received growing up. Vocal patterns are not an indication of cognitive ability; childish-sounding drones have the fully developed, rational minds of an adult but often match vocal ability to what children can understand or prefer.
Coloration on Puer subjects is often majority yellow-black with red and white patterns but damselfly genes allow some color variety the classic Viispaa don’t receive, allowing them to come in nearly any color and pattern per the desire of the family hiring them. These patterns and colors often determine the success of an individual queen and subsequently her market viability.
Zinnias and their drones can all recognize each other and drones can identify clutch-mates due to imprinted scent; Zinnias are almost always maternal toward their drones and can decide to remove a drone from a hostile environment.
Genome Inclusions
(*) shared with Prime
>Bombus lucorum, the white-tailed bumblebee; common throughout Europe and lends itself to climate tolerance and regional adaptability that made it perfect for a widespread species; this variety also has shorter a proboscis, opting instead for a sharp cone to pierce flowers for nectar and avoiding pollination, which was favored to correct any remnant foraging instincts that may distract from necessary duties, though it often means Puer drones will drink from plastic cups and cans the “wrong” way
>Xylocopa sonoria, the valley carpenter bee; chosen due to their regimented and habitual patterns of food finding and territory claiming, which give the Puer their protective instincts; well cared for Puer nannies become territorial and very protective of their families and the children around them, both actively and passively ensuring the safety of the family over their own; the unique colorations of this bee are not normally predominant, however on occasion a “golden” bee with green-tinted eyes will be born and become something of a “designer” nanny, though these individuals will never develop into Zinnias
>Camponotus consobrinus (*), the banded sugar ant; same as classic, used for a sense of community, strength enhancement, and a sugar-efficient diet
>Nosoderma diabolicum, the diabolical ironclad beetle; as referenced, this insect was included to give the Puer drones durability to make up for their smaller sizes and lack of weaponry; because of this, they lack a set of wings and have limit flight, but are unafraid to put themselves in danger to protect the more vulnerable, often hurling themselves at enemies or in the path of oncoming vehicles to protect others (vehicles have “incidental Puer insurance” in the event of an overzealous drone mistaking rush hour for danger and falsely damaging a vehicle)
>Calopteryx virgo, the beautiful demoiselle; a damselfly with jewel-like wings chosen to match wing size to the body type of a drone (darner genes produced wings too large for drones to use), as well as reinforce territorial behavior to ensure drones imprinted on and felt the need to protect house and home correctly; the jewel wings occasionally come through as a recessive trait and boost the desirability of the drone to the market, much like the “golden” trait, and are highly desired on Zinnias (referred to as “jewel wings”); multiple pigmentations and lesser damselfly strains were included in this sequence to provide a sense of “fun” (customization, according to the humans) as children responded well to the colorful patterns that appeared on some subjects; the hardiness and adaptability of damselflies paired well with carpenter bee genetics, ensuring region and climate would not bother them
>Homo sapiens (*), human beings; same as with the classic, there were many benefits with including human DNA in this project
>Ambystoma mexicanum, the axolotl (*); this gene is more pronounced in Zinnias to recover from their intense birth cycles, than it is drones, but generally it is more passive in this variety of Viispaa
>Externatus adstrum sapiens lovecraft (*), the Kuana; same as classic
Humans have often launched animals into space to examine the effects of vacuum and zero gravity on the eggs and organs of various species, and along those lines, in 2032, a satellite (named DSREB-1112* or “The Enterprise”) containing various species of insect and other samples ranging from egg to tissue to preserved specimens was launched, intended to loop around the moon, then the sun, and back before being studied. However, the propulsion system malfunctioned and misfired, sending the probe into deep space, unable to return; it was deemed a loss and NASA moved on, forgetting it for some time.
*Deep Space Radiation Effects on Biological specimens
Unbeknownst to them, an advanced race of beings known as the Kuana came across the pod when it exited the solar system. They took a fascination with the objects inside and returned to their corner of the galaxy where they began to work on the samples, breaking down the genomes and studying the life present on the curious little rock they'd been monitoring since the planet unfroze itself [thousands of years ago by earth time]. Among the samples, they were very fond of the angry, flying needles and determined them to be worthy of the status as a core genome sample.
Wasps became the majority focus of the gene manipulation and they incorporated aspects of their own DNA, as well as pieces from other samples that were on the satellite, and even certain amounts of bio-enhanced technology to create a sapient race of wasp beings to serve as companions, soldiers and living weapons. Human mental evolution fascinated the Kuana, and with the organ tissues of humans being present from which to derive the genome they sought, they made sure to give their wasp beings most of the emotional capacity found within humans, allowing them rational thought, free will and expression, wrapped in a roughly humanoid shape that would seem familiar. From them, the Kuana gave them advanced light sensitivity and organelles within their eyes that would indicate mood and status with colors, even those in ultraviolet and infrared spectrums that humans cannot detect on their own. Finishing their project off, they enhanced some of the natural aspects of wasps themselves by lacing carbon into their chitin to enhance its strength, giving them advanced mental processes for being able to quickly assess stimuli, boosting their immunity and antibodies to make them disease and toxin resistant, and equipping them with rechargeable stingers in their abdomens.
Biology
Viispaas stand roughly anywhere between 6’7” to 10’3” at full height when standing (add about 6-9” if their legs are stretched to full) and are predominantly male (60% male, 40% female). They have 6 limbs and 2 sets of wings: one set of proper arms with hands tipped with two fingers and a thumb, a vestigial set of arms that are weaker but just as functional, and digitigrade legs tipped with two claw-like toes which are sensitive to vibration and chemical traces. Their wings are able to vibrate fast enough to displace air like a rotor and lift them off the ground, however their flight performance is affected by air density; on earth, most Viispaa can fly above most buildings, ranging from 2-4 stories off the ground, but above 6 stories they expend more energy than is deemed worth the result, as falling from that height from exhaustion can cause injuries.
Female Viispaa rarely pass 8’7”, are thinly built and deemed “speedsters”, equipped with long stingers for swift actions. Male Viispaa are rarely under 7’8”, are broadly built and deemed “tanks”, equipped with smaller stingers but are capable of moving forces up to 5x their mass and can deadlift things 3x heavier than what most humans can generally accomplish. Most Viispaa can live between 90 and 110 years old, close to that of humans.
Both sexes have genitalia reminiscent of humans respective to their biological sex and reproduce in a manner familiar to humans as far as positions are concerned, however Viispaa cannot readily reproduce with humans. Male Viispaa produce soft, fertilized egg-like pods about the size of a goose egg they can insert into a female Viispaa where her muscles carefully tuck the pods into a womb-like part of her abdomen; the pods attach and the second half of the genes are introduced, fertilizing the pods and turning them into proper eggs. The embryos develop in the safety pods for about a month before the female seeks out a safe area to lay her clutch, producing anywhere from 5-15 fist-sized eggs which are expelled through a cloaca near her stinger. Over the course of a month, the eggs hatch into larva and then metamorphose into young Viispaa with features like human preteens. They reach adult size within a year.
When not having sex for breeding, males can release a semen-like fluid at climax instead of insert fertile pods, and females experience pleasure much like human females do. Viispaa male genitals have unique muscles that allow them to adjust within their partner and some more experienced lovers can simulate friction through penile muscles alone, without thrusting or grinding, which works well when paired with a smaller partner.
Humans and Viispaa can have sex with each other, but those unions will be sterile without intervention from Kuana genome technology.
Viispaa bodies are insectoid in appearance with milky blood-like fluid that starts mostly clear in the body and becomes opaque when exposed to air; their muscle tissues are reminiscent of cables and the matte black “skin” on parts of their bodies is rough, not unlike a coarse fabric mesh. While generally very tough creatures, Viispaa skin can still tear and the Kuana developed this mesh-like growth to facilitate quick repairs that stitch together easily. The chitin parts of the Viispaa body appear like polished metal or plastic but are also formed from a kind of pseudo-solid fiber not unlike a non-newtonian liquid developed specifically by the Kuana which is flexible and pleasing to the touch but extremely resistant to impact damage, though generally fairs better against high velocity, small surface area projectiles and angled blades over broad-coverage blunt force. Naturally reinforced with carbon fibers for durability, Viispaa chitin doesn’t restrict their movements or range of motion and protects most of their vulnerable areas from everything short of a long fall or being hit by a semi truck.
This soft armor feature is why Viispaa can create facial expressions without excessive plates.
Viispaa eyes are large and compound and have a visible spectrum that touches both infrared and ultraviolet hues humans cannot see but which they use to communicate with each other at a distance. The Kuana have similar faculties, which is where they derived the trait from, as they communicate in light and color more than sound, thus by watching the colors of the Viispaa’s eyes, they were able to determine their status. Hiding their emotions is difficult, as the color change is prompted by hormones and other chemicals from the brain, thus any change in mood can alter the visible hue of the lens, even if it’s only slightly. The colors appear solid and sparkle as light reflects off of the facets, but when changing it happens rapidly; using slow motion, one can see how individual facets of the eye lens act like pixels, changing color individually and starting at the outside edge before moving inward in a rough spiral, making the transition appear as a swirl in a majority of specimens though bursts (inside to outside) and fades (inner to outer or outer to inner sweeps) have been found as well. Complex feelings can produce interesting chromatic palettes such as gradients, flowing color rotations, and other things but these are usually accompanied by outbursts from the Viispaa due to distress.
UV and IR light patterns are activated by specific modified color changers in the eye lens that add specific layers to their emotional hue; UV flashes can be detected at range and used to communicate messages in a way similar to morse code (Viispaa on earth actually learn morse code to be able to click and blink in a way that can be decoded by human companions) while IR readings only appear in response to high stress and physical damage; IR signatures are uncommon on Viispaa due to their naturally low body temperatures with most hot spots on the body being a result of sunlight and black patterns. The eye lenses showing fields of intense IR activity are a sign the Viispaa has been injured or is in need of immediate assistance, even if they can’t communicate directly otherwise.
Viispaa have eyelids, however not for blinking; the translucent lid is used for high speed flight, rain and closed for sleeping because they cut out light signatures coming in and out so they aren’t distracted but can still see somewhat if they’re awake. It’s the only method of hiding their light signatures but is suspicious on its own so not really effective for that purpose.
Viispaa stingers are mostly retracted into their abdomens with males only leaving the tip exposed while females tend to have several centimeters visible at all times; when needed, Viispaa can contract muscles to unsheathe their stingers fully, which are black, curved and occasionally have rear-facing barbs to make removal much harder if they’re left in the target. A male’s stinger is generally 1-1.5 inches per foot in height while females can be twice to three times as long and are coated in a fluid that numbs the flesh around the stinger so it doesn’t cause pain if it’s ripped out during attack, but also can numb the wound of the target, making the sting undetectable for a certain period and thus likely to cause blood loss or worse injury. Unlike common bees, Viispaa will not die from losing their stingers; they rarely lose them unless they are at full draw when used, allowing them to use their stingers rather indefinitely unless they break off. At this point, there is another stinger stored within the abdomen that slides into place within an hour; at any time, a Viispaa has three stingers, one at the ready and two on standby, and they naturally replenish used stingers within about a month. During that time, they tend to crave things rich in iron, carbon and calcium.
As for diets, Viispaa primarily ingest things rich in sugar and simple carbs, and can also consume roots, vegetables and fruits; they enjoy refined sugars in low amounts but avoid meat-based proteins and other things unless they have cravings, such as healing or recharging. Eggs, dairy and other animal byproducts are only as needed, but Viispaa generally will not eat meat of any kind; they also fair well with salt and sugar licks, as the Kuana often provided enriched mineral supplies to ensure they got what they needed while subsisting off of sugar water and nectar for energy. Breeding periods are often punctuated with increased cravings for minerals and vegetables to help the developing embryos while most of the fluid in the egg pods is sugar-based.
Viispaa have jaws and cheeks with tooth-like plates for consuming solid food, but many opt for juices or other liquids just for sheer ease of ingestion and quick intake into their bodies. The mandibles on their faces are for communication primarily, making clicks and hums they communicate in naturally and also helping in the event of eating solid foods. While they generally hum, buzz and click, they are capable of vocal speech dependent on their environment; high engagement and active teaching produce more eloquent Viispaa, as they’re easily distracted and unlikely to pick up on the nuances of language on their own save for key and common phrases. Females tend to develop speech faster than males but males are better at recognizing body language and expressions.
Uniquely, Viispaa have regenerative abilities as well; as long as they aren’t killed outright, have a steady supply of food, and rest, they can recover from most injuries. Cuts and piercing damage close within hours, broken plates and larger injuries can heal within a month, and while they cannot reattach lost limbs, a removed wing or body part will reform fully in about 6 months depending on resources.
Genome Inclusions
Vespula vulgaris, the common wasp; base genome derived from preserved specimens and eggs stored onboard the satellite
Apis mellifera scutellata, the East African Lowland Honey Bee; behavioral patterns were adapted from studying specimens cloned from preserved subjects, prompting the Kuana to change the lethal nature of bee toxin into a numbing agent in order to preserve the aspects of community and group behavior they found useful for their project; some varieties of Viispaa have recessive aggression and mobbing behavior from strong scutellata genes, however they are rare and typically not sent to make landfall unless the location is hostile
Camponotus consobrinus, the Banded Sugar Ant; a social insect to reinforce their sense of community, ability to work together with a purpose, preference for sweets and sugary substances for food, and the foundation of their strength
Anax strennus, the Giant Hawaian Darner; a member of the largest, fastest group of insects, these egg samples were used to derive the wing blueprint for the Viispaa and allows them to fly in all directions, hover, and reach speeds faster than most land vehicles
Homo sapiens, human beings; organ tissue from donated bodies including a liver, stomach and skin grafts, and blood, heart and brain samples from both a male and female cadaver (recently deceased) sent to study the effects of close exposure to the sun provided sequences for regenerating tissue, the extent of the human immune system, and initiated the fascination with human mental evolution; the human genome is the second blueprint used alongside vespula vulgaris to create the base of the Viispaa
Ambystoma mexicanum, the axolotl; preserved whole and partial specimens which were curiosities to the Kuana but ultimately provided the enhanced regeneration genes that allow the Viispaa to regrow limbs and heal from damage; axolotls are also popular pets for the Kuana because of their silly, simple natures
Externus adstrum sapiens lovecraft, the Latinized name for the Kuana; named for their Eldritch appearance and advanced, almost mystical technology evoking a sense of fascination and fear akin to Lovecraft’s tales, the Kuana are peaceful beings and masters of merging technology with biological components; they derived the light sensitivity, skin-respiration and color-changing eyes from their own genetic sequence, as well as a predisposition for friendly relations and curiosity to override the xenophobic and territorial behaviors found in both the insect and human specimens and orbital observations made over the course of human history
Most other features are created through artificial means (Kuana bio-tech) and other trace sequences taken from other species can be found but they are minimal, usually acting as catalysts or binders to ensure the genome is stable
I may have gotten excited about Valentino as a moth variant of my bugs, and now I might color shift him into an OC cuz he looks FINE
Which is also especially morbid if I keep him as a villain/antagonist as his variant (Viispaa Curantis Avalon) are seen as protective, safe and positive. The fact he could lure in people seeking aid just because of what he is makes an amazing “wolf in sheep’s clothing” tale of warning.
But now I gotta figure out if I want him more blue, more purple, or if I should do something else..
Tried a room scene with Zivv with varying amounts of success. I want to fix the lighting of her living room but these backdrops are so involved it's intimidating...
Turned out better than the first one though, I don't like the set up at all or that the dress blends in so much
Vaivron on the other hand, is very photogenic. Despite Zivv having the much more involved backstory and narrative, Vai is probably my favorite because he's fun to draw and is just a dude living his best life.
Himbos are simple things.
I'm fond of this image as it really helped me figure out my preferred coloring style, even though it doesn't work well on a small scale for things like charms and prints... At least I think so. The green shines really make it pop imo.
Also, he isn't great at English and needs that ear piece to translate himself. He understands English just fine, it's speaking where his natural accent comes through which is mostly unintelligible buzzing.
Grayscale is probably my favorite thing to do tho, it's so much easier and faster, and looks so nice 👌😩
Just a Zinnia doing her due diligence and helping a lost child. She may be old (seen by her lack of a giant abdomen) but she still has maternal instincts.
The project I'm MOST proud of so far though is Astar City, and that extended universe. Currently I'm trying my hand at a scientifically minded spec-bio project for one of the aliens featured there, the Aska'a Thani, but I don't have any details yet.
Instead, I'm going to gush about my bugs ♥️
The Viispaa species were made artificially by the Kuana as a means of interacting with humans early on; they have traits primarily taken from wasps and bees with human, Kuana and some other DNA snippets thrown in to make them intelligent and emotional, sentient creatures.
Viispaa Primes are the default, original variant, standing between 5-8 feet tall with heavy gender dimorphism and moderate coloration that sticks to the yellow and black scheme of most bees. In recent years, newer generations have gotten more colorful with new pigments being added in.
From this mold are many variations, some of which haven't been fully figured out yet. Above are the current examples of the standard: Vaivron (left) and Zivv (right), who are due to get a redesign to simplify their patterns a bit.
From them is a specific mutation only referred to as a "hornet".
Hornets are easy to spot because of their sharper features and reddish-brown or black-blue coloration and are, well...
Angry lil bastards. The aggression that was dormant in the Primes becomes much more prominent in the Inimicus mutations, making them unpredictable; many of them are required therapy and stimulation to provide safe outlets for their anger, and often end up in labor jobs or in the military to help curb that behavior in a useful way.
They are not mindless, always raging beasts though, and tend to dislike that label. Many are fully aware of their triggers and how they feel and behave when set off, they don't always lose themselves to the anger, it's simply how they are and they take measures to control themselves. Usually.
Some are just assholes and want to get away with it because it's "how they are".
After them are the Puer.
Puer are the honeybee drones of the Viispaa species, majority of them being small, child-looking, genderless individuals who exist as safe companions to actual children. Called "nanny bugs", Puer drones are stingless and extremely hardy, meant to play with children and be able to go with them where they want to be when parents can't or won't follow. They come in an array of colors that make them popular and easy to spot amongst kids and parents alike, making it easy to find them in crowds and for little ones to identify their "safe bug".
While made for children, Puer are intelligent and can reason like adults in order to explain things as needed when kids can't communicate well, but often come off as childish themselves as they naturally know how to age regress to match the demographic they're part of.
Being genderless though, and sexless, Puer have to be bred from a Queen, much like a beehive.
Queens are called Zinnias and have a chance of morphing from a clutch of eggs at a rate of roughly 1:1,000. They can breed with any standard male wasp (including hornets) and are integral in the care of Puer drones, as well as being social safe zones. Zinnias are well protected and often sought for safety by children and young women, as where there is a Zinnia, there's likely one male wasp eager to protect her.
They can be spoiled rotten as well, as Zinnias with favorable color genes tend to be better off than regular ones.
After them are the Curantis, the fluffiest of the Viispaa.
Being the first to fully deviate from the wasp body plan, Curantis were developed for a handful of reasons but mostly as not only an inverse of the Zinnia variant, but also as caretakers for non-children. With inherently friendly, positive dispositions, Curantis's ended up gravitating to mostly customer service and retail spaces, as they enjoy helping and chatting with others.
Astar City's customer service scene is very mindful of the well-being of the Curantis and thus customers don't get away with nearly as much nonsense as they do elsewhere, though you wouldn't catch a moth mouthing off to someone for no reason. Except the males.
Avalons are similar safety beacons to Zinnias and very easy to spot with their wings, but tend to be more crass and direct, as they're very protective by nature and dislike their wards being picked on by others.
Stay tuned for more bugs! There's quite a few variants left to go, including the Artifex (ants), a few military grade versions, and some spoopy Bois meant to do the dirty work :)
Astar City @celestial-coordinates - Tumblr Blog | Tumgag
