Eridanus Culture Guide
For my OC based off William Joyce’s Golden Age
Name: The Eridanus Empire People: Stellarus (ruling species), Eridanus (general name), other species and people Languages: Stellius, Celestial, local dialects Currency: Bartering (internal affairs), Gold Coins (external affairs) Political System Stratocracy Capitol: Hmmna (teal), Ang Suba (Celestial); Uumina (teal), Sa Ubos (Celestial) Current Leaders: Iota Eridani Emblem: Two gold stars on a light blue background with wavy dark blue stripes (Constellation), A red spear through a gold star on a field of black (Acting Empress) Motto: Walay kauswagan kon walya inantusan (There is no success if there is no sacrifice) Songs: Real Life Inspiration: Constellation Geography & Environment: The habitable planets of Eridanus are largely made up of planets with high levels of water. A number of these planets are covered completely in water, while others have marshes and island for land dwelling species. The surface of the capitol planet of Ang Suba (translated for Celestial ease) is 75% water. What land is present consists of mangrove swamps and small mountainous islands. Ang Suba is apart of the Ulo solar system. The Ulo solar system orbits around the Cursa star and has the highest number of military bases in the empire. The ruling species of Eridanus, the Stellarus, originated from the planet Ang Suba. The other capitol planet, Sa Ubos, orbits the star Archenar in the Dolang solar system. Sa Ubos boasts some of the largest museums in the Empire; including the Great Historical Museum which covers ⅓ of Sa Ubos’ third moon, Isda. The driest habitable planet in the constellation is the planet of Na which orbits the star Rana. Na originally created the crystal coins used within the constellation today. As that technique is lost, Na is now responsible for the minting of new coins for intergalactic trade. The Eridanus Supervoid is found near the stars Angetenar and Pi Eridani. The Supervoid is nearly 1 billion light years across. Planets near the supervoid are heavily fortified and have some of the most advanced military bases and armories in the Empire. Planets orbiting Angetenar and other nearby stars also hold the only slave trade found within the constellation. All trade is heavily monitored and is only allowed on planet and by registered citizens. Politics: Eridanus is a military run constellation. High ranking members of the Empire are military officers, oftentime members of the Stellarus, the ruling species of the Empire. The rules and regulations of the Empire, as well as military movement, is decided by the ruling Empress. The role of Empress may only be filled by the strongest of the Stellarus females with extended life expectancy. The Empress is accompanied by a council of officers. These officers are some of the most powerful and respected generals in the Eridanus military. These generals act as advisors to the Empress, though the decision is ultimately hers to make. The Heiress of the empire has varying ranking based on age and where the acting Empress places her in the ranks. The Heiress is a female Stellarus with extended life expectancy, usually related to the acting Empress, who is personally trained by the Empress or her council and is next in line to rule. The Heiress is the second most powerful officer in the constellation unless otherwise stated by the Empress. The Empress may not exile or persecute the Heiress in any way without due cause. The Heiress is one of the most well traveled individuals in the constellation and is often accompanied by her own council. This council is typically smaller than that of the Empress’ and can consist of 1 to 4 officers. When the Heiress takes power from the acting Empress, this council will often replace some or all of the former council. The constellation is divided into regions and within each region, there are a set number of fortresses. Captains and ranks higher that command these fortresses are also required to rule over the surrounding planets. Commanding officers rotate through the fortresses based on need. Some may only stay at an outpost for a few months while others will stay for several years. These commanding officers are only allowed to enforce Stellarus law. Local laws are to be enforced by inner planetary governments. Involvement in local politics is strictly prohibited unless it goes against Stellarus law or is otherwise stated. Involvement with local politics will result in the striping of rank, removal from the military, and, up to and including, imprisonment. All members of the Eridanus Empire are required to participate in two years of military training upon reaching adulthood. Exceptions to this rule are individuals expecting offspring, are raising offspring too young to be left unattended or offspring that do not have proper supervision during the expected training period, and individuals who are crippled or ill. Those who may later be capable are expected to complete the training at the nearest availability. Individuals who refuse to participate in training are considered traitors to the empire and will be punished, up to and including capital punishment. Those who chose to remain in the military beyond the initial training period have the opportunity to reach the rank of captain and may receive rewards similar to that of Stellus captains. At any given time, members of the Eridanus Empire are expected to fight and possibly give up their lives to defend the Empire, if not for the sake of the Empire itself then for their home and the protection the Empire provides. Economy: The Eridanus Empire has two major methods of exchanging goods. The Empire produces a certain number of gold coins every year for the sole purpose of trade outside the Empire’s borders. These coins are stamped with the Empire’s emblem as well as the current Empress’ emblem. As the constellation imports very little, these coins are made sparingly. Items that may be imported include: Broken glass, scrap metal, and other small trinkets. These items are considered a luxury for high ranking members of the military and are often used to build and embellish buildings created by the Stellarus. Common exports include: weaponry, military power, sculptures, and exotic sea food. The Stellarus make an incredible amount of 3D art each year which is highly coveted by museums and art collectors throughout the Golden Age for it’s unique use of shape and color. Within the constellation though, the gold coins are practically worthless. Instead, the people of the Eridanus Empire still rely heavily on a bartering system. It is much more common to see goods being traded between individuals rather than coins. The Empire has enforced a standardized currency throughout the constellation, for ease in large purchases and for foreign visitors to use. Instead of using metal however, they used crystal coins. These coins were created by the people of Na even before the Empire formed. These crystals are artificially processed from real crystals that grow on Na. The process creates sturdier crystals that will not break or dull over time. The crystals are sliced into thick cylinders and rods. Originally, the crystals had the Na emblem carved onto one side, however, since the unification of the Empire, the Empire’s emblem has been added as well. These coins are no longer produced as the crystals used to create them were depleted. New crystals are being found today, but are still illegal to harvest until such a time as the planet has created enough to be able to sustain manufacturing again. As a result, there is a set number of coins within Eridanus. This means there is also a very high exchange rate for visitors who wish to use these coins and they may only be acquired through normal trade or through the Stellarus Imperial Bank. Smuggling coins outside the constellation is a punishable offence. Different planets may also have other forms of currency used only on that planet, however the coins will be accepted no matter where you go. Culture: The culture within Eridanus is very diverse as planets within the constellation are allowed to keep their traditions. There are no two planets within the constellation that observe the same customs. One idea that is shared between several of the planets within the constellation is the religion Modagadiism. This is the belief that all life flows along The River. When one joins life, they become a part of The River and serve a purpose within The River. Some are meant to clean The River of harmful bacteria and debris. Others are meant to maintain the population within The River so that all have something to eat. Other still are meant are meant to live as parasites within The River and keep the predators in check. While it is not always considered the most kind way to observe the world, it is used to explain the way individuals act as well as how to world works. Believers of this faith don’t see any roll as less than another. If The River only has bottom feeders, there would not be enough food. If there were only predators, The River would clog with algae and parasites. It is the duty of all within the river to fulfill their roles within The River so that it may flow healthy and uninterrupted. Only The River knows an individual’s role and it is up to the individual to discover what that role is. Tragedies and trouble are simply debris within The River to ensure that those who live within it are strong. And when someone passes on, they are simply moving on to a new role within The River. This religion has made people within the constellation compliant with the Stellarus rule. They believe the Stellarus hold a powerful role in maintaining The River and respect them for that, especially since the Stellarus allow them to continue their believes and customs relatively uninterrupted. As the Stellarus are the one who formed the Empire, they are also the most widespread species within the constellation. The Stellarus have an interesting culture themselves as their society is not built on family bonds as most other societies are. Instead, the Stellarus culture is held together by pride. Members of the Stellarus are typically xenophobic in a very prideful manner. They often times view members of other species as lesser lifeforms or simply just stupid. As a result, they are not very well liked and tend to be very private in their culture and what they do. If they don’t understand something within another culture, they typically won’t try to unless they believe something is to be gained from it. They have been known to use the bonds between members of other species to their advantage before, whether it is ensuring loyalty from the members of the Empire or using pack bonding instincts to protect explorers while out on missions. Since the species lacks the ability to bond with each other, it can sometimes raise the question of why the species lives together and how they created such a powerful empire. The answer is very simple: need. The Stellarus are neither large or powerful predators on their home planet. They are slow in the water, smaller than almost all the predators that prey on them, and have few defences beyond their camouflage ability. As a result, the Stellarus tend to stay together as it makes them more powerful, both on their homeworld and within the Golden Age. Their xenophobic tendencies only tie them closer together. Also because of their inability to bond, they have close to no concept of loyalty. Instead they value strength. While they would never bow to a member of another species if they managed to overpower them, they also will not follow a leader of their own kind if they believe that leader is weak or stupid. The Stellarus desire to be the most powerful within the Golden Age, or at the very least be strong enough that no one will mess with them without thinking twice. To achieve this, they must remain together where they have the most power in numbers. The only loyalty they have is to their empire and to the strongest member of their species, the Empress. Outside of that, the Stellarus have a bright and vibrant culture. Face and body painting is a very common practice, for a variety of reasons. In the military, face paint is used to identify members and to define rank. Ranks are often painted beneath the right eye (or closest equivalent). All members of the military must wear this face paint, regardless of species. The only members of the military allow to go without this face paint is the Empress and the Heiress as these two have other identifying markers during battle. Among the Stellarus themselves, it is used as decoration to embellish features, similar to makeup used by other peoples. The paint is also used to indicate where a Stellarus has been hurt in battle. Thanks to their regenerative abilities, the Stellarus do not scar. Instead, they paint themselves where they were injured as to commemorate their victory and show off their prowess in battle. In more recent years, the paint has taken on more uses than just looks. Thanks to Stellarus exploration into nanotechnology, specialized paint is created to increase certain aspects, such as one’s ability to feel vibrations underwater or to hear what a member of another species is saying. The paint used by the Stellarus only comes in two colors and is actually a very thick paste that can be applied in or out of water. Gold is used for the Stellarus themselves (primarily for its reflectiveness in water), while black is reserved for members of other species. Non-Stellarus individuals may be allowed to wear gold paint if it is a specialized paint to help with communication or other factors between the Stellarus and that respective species. Despite the production of advanced technology by Stellarus scientists and engineers, this technology is not used by many Stellarus. Technology is typically only used in the workplace if it is needed. Most homes owned by the Stellarus do not have electricity. Members of the artisan class often do not use any technology in making their creations even though it could increase productivity. The largest class that does use technology on a daily basis is the warrior class. The military has access to all the most advanced technology, though it is only used while on duty. Scientists and engineers meanwhile are in almost constant contact with technology. The more respected a scientist or engineer is, the closer they are to their respective labs. While their homes are often without electricity as well, all science workers have access to their labs 24/7 and it is not uncommon to see a scientist swimming to work in the middle of the night. The most respectable members of the science community may live at their workplace full time. This class is also the only class to have their meals brought to them as it is not uncommon for scientists to spend months on end without leaving the lab. It is still common practice to hunt for food rather than grow or raise food as other civilizations do. It is considered far more respectable and honorable to catch one’s food rather than kill it off after it has been domesticated. As a result, while there are some farmers among the Stellarus people, they are largely looked down on by the rest of their society. The Stellarus have very little by way of culinary traditions. Table manners and dining etiquette is non existent. In the rare instances in which a Stellarus must host a member of another species, especially one that does not hunt as they do, either there will be no food offered, all food will be raw, unseasoned fish, or they will borrow another culture’s culinary habits to satisfy their guests. When visiting another constellation, it is very rare to see a Stellarus eat even when their dietary needs are accommodated. If pressed, they may eat a bite or two but nothing beyond that. Meanwhile, being invited to join a Stellarus hunting party is considered the highest honor a Stellarus can offer as hunting parties are only comprised of those who work together very well. Music is also very important within the constellation. Drums, harps, chimes, and other instruments are commonly used in their music. The size of these instruments are also much larger than those used by other cultures as the larger sizes create lower sounds that the Stellarus and other members of the Eridanus constellation can hear. The primary source for materials in making these instruments come from a large air-breathing creature found on Ang Suba. Vocal cords from this creature are used to make large harp like instruments. The hide of the animal is specially cured and used to make special drums. The bones are often used to make the bodies of each instrument. Parties of musicians, regardless of what they play, will often go out together to catch and break down this animal. Apprentices are expected to make their own instrument at the end of their apprenticeship. Thanks to the size of these animals, they are in no danger from over hunting for the resources they provide. Typically, only one or two is killed each year and a large number of instruments can be made from the carcass. One of the more notable instruments found in the Stellarus culture is a large instrument called an Ubos. The Ubos is built on site by the apprentice and is carved into large branches of coral or crystal. This is the only instrument in which a master may help the apprentice in making as it is incredibly difficult to make. Each branch must be cut to a specific length then carved from the inside out to make a tube. The thinner the walls of the pipe are, the higher quality the instrument is. Some made of carved crystal are transparent. This instrument requires at least two musicians when playing and masters may partner with each other depending on the song. These are also constantly being built as the instrument does not hold up well to its surroundings. For those who cannot hear the music played in the Eridanus constellation, there is often a visual show performed at the same time. Sometimes the music is accompanied by a story and other times there is a more abstract performance. The Stellarus have a particularly colorful performance. Artists will dress themselves in a specific color and use specialized ink to create shapes and designs above the crowd. The ink is weighted and can be moved independently within water. Every color of ink is also weighted differently so that they can be mixed and later pulled apart during a show. The artists who perform using this technique specialize in an alternative form of the primary fighting style found in Stellarus culture. They also tend to use only one color of ink throughout their career. Apprentices of this art form are expected to practice for years in technique and color theory before being allowed to use or even make the ink. Large performances can consist of over a hundred different artists at the same time. Sometimes it is a hundred different artists using the same color and sometimes the performance can consist of over one hundred different colors. Unfortunately, these large performances are rarely seen or heard by visitors from outside Eridanus as they are primarily performed underwater. Regardless, each performance takes hours of preparation and practice before coming to the stage. Another musical tradition is performed by the other species found on Ang Suba. This species relies heavily on oral history and hold celebrations to tell their history. Some of the largest festivals can consist of several days of almost non stop singing, music, and dancing and attract members of their own species from all corners of Eridanus as well as cultural enthusiasts. Of all the art forms, architecture is the most popular among the Stellarus. Even when young, the Stellarus create sculptures and buildings. Sculpture gardens are very common in Stellarus cities, regardless of what planet. Even the lowest ranking Stellarus and prisoners build these gardens as much as possible. Statues are build with whatever is available including rocks, broken shells, and up to concrete and expensive baubles. Building supplies are very easy to come across throughout the constellation. Young Stellarus will often build their own homes, and may even build more than one home as they grow older. As a result, there are numerous unoccupied buildings throughout Stellarus cities. There may be large unoccupied areas within the city before more coming to a highly populated area. Some of the larger cities sell statues left behind by deceased members of the society and cause controlled demolitions to clear out the unused buildings. It’s unclear why the Stellarus engage in this behavior as none of the species is actually taught to make these structures. Young Stellarus learn unaided through trial and error and most Stellarus are arguably master architects by the time they die. As a result, every building in a Stellarus city is completely different and there are no two statues exactly the same. The Stellarus encourage architectural experimentation in other cultures within the constellation and will often help rebuild in disaster areas regardless of their occupation. Though, the residents might not like the building styles the Stellarus use. The Stellarus are very visual people and all lessons are taught through visual learning. The history of Stellarus is recorded on a large winding wall found only on Ang Suba. This wall is completely covered by mosaics which illustrate the history of the Stellarus in detail. There are no written letters on the wall. The wall is also under constant construction as parts are constantly being restored and newer parts are being added. It is not uncommon to find other large mosaics in cities throughout the constellation illustration the history of that specific city. Scientists and members of the military are also known to leave mosaics behind if they feel a specific event is important enough to be remembered throughout history. Miscellaneous Information: The Stellarus are renowned for their language, which is nearly impossible to learn unless a member of the Stellarus. This is because the Stellarus language is largely nonverbal and instead relies on their color changing ability. Shifts in color and gestures are their primary form of communication; sounds produced by the Stellarus are helpers for the language but are often dropped by users of the language. This is seen as an advantage by many Stellarus as it allows them to communicate soundlessly on the battlefield and prevents other species from understanding them without a translator. Thanks to physical disadvantages, it is incredibly difficult for a Stellarus to learn another language. Some who are around other species constantly may learn how to read lips but that’s typically as much as they can do. There are two main reasons that they cannot learn another language. The first is their hearing. The Stellarus can only hear sounds far below the hearing of an average Celestial Human. Since they cannot hear what another species is saying, they cannot replicate it. Even if they could hear the sounds produced by another species, they would not be able to create sounds loud enough for the other species to hear. Sounds created by Stellarus are created by a large swim bladder in their bodies. Muscles around the swim bladder make the organ vibrate which produces the humming tones used by the Stellarus. However, due to the size of the swim bladder, these sounds are very low and often times quiet as well. To combat this problem, the Stellarus have produced very sophisticated translators. Visitors to the constellation are required to wear these translators at all times unless alone or meeting with members of their own species. The translators are still a bit less than ideal and sometimes mistranslate things depending on the wearers dialect but they work well enough nine times out of ten. The Stellarus also have translators that high ranking officials may wear when attending events outside of the constellation. These translators may be turned off while being worn while translators given to visitors of the constellation may not be. Translators come a variety of sizes to fit all sorts of species. The Stellarus also have a written language, which while it can be learned, it is not very easy to do so. The written alphabet consists of only ten letters, however, over 30 colors are used when writing it and each color changes the meaning. The written language was only recently developed for use in battle situations in which their ordinary means of communication is not applicable. Only high ranking officials and most scientists know and use the written language. Another interesting aspect about the Stellarus is the ranking system within their people. This is because the hierarchy is only divided into four levels. Empress: At the top of the hierarchy is of course the Empress. The Empress is the one and only ruler of the entire Empire. The Empress’s word is law. Everyone within the Empire is expected to show her the utmost respect in whatever way that is shown in their culture. Failure to do so may result in punishment, however that is up to the Empress and her personal preference. Military Officers: Directly below the Empress is the officers. Only those who have achieved the rank of captain or higher are granted respect by other Stellarus. This ranking is not dictated by the Empress. Instead, it is given by the people as a sign of respect for what they have done. Everyone Else: With the exception of a few, all other members of society fall within one category. Artists are not seen as less than a scientist and merchants are not worth more than a private in the military. The Stellarus show an incredibly respect for another’s career choice. Young Stellarus who may comment negatively comment on the skill required for a specific job are often scolded by older members of the species. The Stellarus are surprisingly intolerant of any disrespect for members of their own species. Criminals & Farmers: The few who fall outside of this respect are criminals and farmers. Farmers are often seen as less of a Stellarus for their farming. Other Stellarus see the practice as weak and will treat farmers with a certain level of disdain. Criminals meanwhile are seen negatively because they are believed to be unable to control themselves properly, which means that to many Stellarus, they are no better than animals. Criminals often times consist of female Stellarus who have survived mating season. There are a few exceptions to this ideology. Serial killers are often viewed with some level of respect, if only for their strength and ability to kill as many fellow Stellarus as they did. These kinds of criminals are often granted an opportunity to return to society through a series of three special Challenges. First against a guard at the prison, then against the warden, and finally against a member of the military while the Empress observes. These are one of the only Challenges in which neither opponent is allowed to kill the other. Should the criminal kill his opponent during these Challenges or commit a murder after freedom has been granted, they will be executed within a short amount of time. Those who betray the Empire through espionage are also granted a certain level of respect. This is because the Stellarus have an incredibly hard time lying because of their color changing abilities. These kinds of traitors may be given a certain level of respect in the short period before they are executed. Within the Stellarus culture, Challenges are incredibly important. Challenges are fights between two Stellarus that take place at a designated area and must be observed by at least one other member of the species. These fights are used to resolve certain issues and are fights to the death. Challenges are primarily used by the military to resolve issues within the military. Unless discharged or returning to Ang Suba for mating season, this is the only way a Stellarus can move up within the military beyond the rank of Seaman. Challenges within the military often occur when the higher ranking officer issues orders that a lower rank disagrees with. Challenges are taken very seriously however and it often takes more than one occurrence for a Challenge to be issued. Should the lower ranking Stellarus win during a military related Challenge, they hold the right to appoint their replacement themselves. Outside of military use, Challenges are also used to solve territorial disputes or if a Stellarus feels as though another member of the species is cheating him in some way. In these instances, Challenges must be brought to the appropriate personnel to be approved. If the Challenge is not approved, the situation will be solved for them by the personnel contacted. If a Challenge is not approved, does not have the appropriate witness, or one opponent is cheating, it is considered murder and is punished accordingly. Challenges must take place underwater in an arena or closest available area. Neither opponent is permitted to wear anything indicating rank nor are the allowed weapons of any kind. Other than that, there are no rules. Opponents are allowed to fight as dirty as they wish and it is understood that how they fight may reflect on how peers see them. Once the Challenge is completed, the winner will receive medical treatment if needed and the results will be reported to the next highest ranking officer. Anyone may Challenge anyone. This even means that the acting Empress herself could be Challenged by an artist. It should be noted that no one has been dumb enough to do that yet. The largest observed Challenge is that between the Empress and the Heiress. The Heiress is granted only two chances to defeat the Empress. The first Challenge often goes unnoted as the Empress is not allowed to kill the Heiress. This is because typically the Heiress is young and cocky and does not fully understand what the Challenge means. The second Challenge has a three day wait period before the fight actually takes place. During this time, the news is spread and Stellarus, and even other members of the constellation, travel to Ang Suba from all over. Often times high ranking officers will leave their posts for a short time to watch the Challenge while those beneath them cover their post. The Challenge takes place in the Palace Arena which is actually too small for the crowd that gathers most of the time. Challenges in which the Heiress was under prepared often only last a few minutes. If the Heiress has had adequate training, the fight can last up to hours. The longest lasting Challenge was recorded to last 18 hours before a winner was decided. Members of the crowd will often take bets and cheer for their favorite of the two. If the Heiress wins, the results are then released to the rest of the Golden Age to let them know that the head of the Empire has changed. Not only is this the largest Challenge witnessed, it is also the largest event within the Eridanus Empire. Warning: Mention of Slavery The Eridanus Empire does allow slavery within its boards and is one of the few constellations within the Golden Age to do so. However, the slave trade is contained to only two planets within the system. Due to distance from the capitol, these planets have been the only planets within the constellation allowed to continue the practice. However, there are strict rules in place to ensure that slaves found on the planet remain in good health and keep certain basic rights. Slaves must be paid a certain rate for the work they do, the price of freedom is not flexible and may not be raised or lowered. They must be fed a specific number of times per day depending on species requirements and must have the appropriate food. There is a set number of hours that a slave may work and punishments are strictly outlined depending on crime. Punishment may not be issued by owners. Slave trade must only take place on planet and may is only allowed by registered citizens with a permit to own slaves. Permits are given sparingly and each applicant goes through a thorough background check to ensure that they will be reliable, rule abiding owners. All slave related operations are overseen by Stellarus officers. These officers undergo some of the most intensive training in the constellation. Those who break the rules are punished severely. The Stellarus officers who oversee cases hold the right to take away anyone’s license if they feel the need to. Slaves of those who have their license revoked are relocated to appropriate housing where they will stay while their owner is under investigation. If the owner is proven guilty, they may either pay the price for freedom in which they will be given temporary housing after being released, or they will be returned to the slave trade after a set amount of time. The Stellarus have been attempting to ease these planets out of slavery for the last several years and have been slowly lowering the price of freedom and giving the slaves more rights. However, a fear of internal conflict has prevented them from taking stronger measures. Warning: Sciency reproduction stuff A very important time during in the Eridanus constellation is the Stellarus mating season. The mating season takes place once every three years and takes about a year to complete. During this time, trade with outside constellation slows and Ang Suba is closed off from all outside visitors and a number of planets within the constellation as well. At this time, all members of the Stellarus who have reached the age of 50 are required to return home immediately. This is for the safety of the Stellarus as well as others. Those who are required to return to Ang Suba are replaced by closest available Stellarus ranked beneath them. This caution is due to the fact that the Stellarus do not reach sexual maturity until the age 50. When they do, they begin displaying erratic and irrational behavior. Both males and females will begin to behave more violently, males even more so than the females. Males will often attack unprovoked and become highly territorial during this. In the past, Challenges were once common practice during the mating season, resulting in a large number of deaths between Challengers. Since the current Empress, Iota Eridani, came into power, Challenges are now strictly prohibited. Killings between sexually mature individuals are allowed, however, if an immature Stellarus is killed, the perpetrator is charged with murder and punished accordingly. For the first six months of the mating season, males will pursue females and present them with genetic material. During this time, males will neglect to eat and sometimes sleep in order to pass on as much genetic material as possible. The males must respect boundaries set by females however. Failing to do so could result in them being badly hurt, killed, or sometimes even eaten. The females will store material given by the male to be picked at a later time. At the end of six months, the majority of males have died from starvation or have killed each other. Those who are still alive are typically weak and killed by the various predators that live in the oceans of Ang Suba. The females then travel to a special nesting spot far from their home city to lay the eggs. These spots are large expanses of poisonous coral that grows in shallow water close to shore. Spots like these can be found all over the planet. The journey to the takes three months to complete when swimming non-stop as the adult females do. Eggs are laid in crevices found between growths of coral and then fertilized. Once this is done, the females turn around and begin the three month trip back. Along the way, many are picked off by predators or die of starvation. The few who successfully return to the city will often eat anything they can get their teeth into, including the scavengers found around the city which are typically not on the menu. The few remaining females are allowed to live within the city but are no longer permitted to exit the planet. If they were apart of the military or were formerly a scientist, their rank is stripped though they may be allowed to practice some habits from their former jobs. When the eggs hatch two years later, the young Stellarus are immune to the sting of the poisonous coral and use the area as hunting grounds until they are strong enough to make the trip back to the nearest city. It takes the fries (young Stellarus) roughly a year after hatching to return to their city where they join society. The exception to this is the members of the royal family. Mating females of the royal family are sent to a private coral patch. Here, each egg in marked with a tracer after fertilization. When they hatch, the fry are then tracked and monitored until they return to the palace. It is not the first one to hatch that becomes the next Heiress, but the first female to return to the palace. After an additional six months to see how that individual is adapting to palace life, the female then has a surgery to prevent her from ever becoming sexually mature. This not only effectively sterilizes her but also removes the majority of hormones that would impede her judgement later in life. At this point, she is technically neither female nor male and other members of the Stellarus can tell the difference by smell. This allows her to be immediately recognized by all other Stellarus regardless of what she looks like or wears. The surgery also allows her to live much longer than other Stellarus as she will not display erratic or irrational behavior as other members of her species does. It is this fact that dictates that only those who have gone through the surgery may be allowed to rule as the Stellarus Empress. Side effects can include growth impediments, abnormal tentacle growth, abnormal or lack of natural skin patterning, and/or malformations found non-essential internal organs.
