1. Home
  2. Creative
  3. Star Warrior

Star Warrior world

Lord Sohaar views Earth from orbit

A reference for my worldbuilding project and story, featuring my aliens called the Dawn Hunters on the other side of our Galaxy. I began this project in December 2006, and it is still a work in progress. This guide mainly focuses on the Dawn Hunters and their world.

As of 2019, I am slowly doing a reboot of the world, so parts of this are now outdated, but are still relevant to my story as it was in 2017.

Entries in the main body are in alphabetical order, while the table of contents are in thematic and alphabetical orders.

Contents – thematic order

Contents – alphabetical order

Adept-Astronomer

An Adept-Astronomer (Laahonhesaaso) is one of the Adept Caste who studies astronomy and related sciences.

Headscarf color
Midnight blue (#191970/rgb(25,25,112))

Adept-Biologist

An Adept-Biologist (Laahonyaahalraane) is one of the Adept Caste who studies biology.

Profession color
Blue-grey (#6699cc/rgb(102,153,204))

Gallery

Veiled Adept-Biologist

Veiled Adept-Biologist (digital art, 27/2/2014) (41.66 KB).

Adept-Carer

An Adept-Carer (Laahonmaalam) is one of the Adept Caste who is the equivalent of a nurse.

Headscarf color
Indigo (dried hemocyanin blood) (#4b0082/rgb(75,0,130))

Adept Caste

The Adept Caste (Rohuulelaahon) is one of the three major groups or divisions within Dawn Hunter society; the bearers of knowledge. They comprise males and females who are religious leaders, scientists, healers, scholars, teachers, advisers. They wear cerulean (#007ba7/rgb(0,123,167))-blue (#1e90ff/rgb(30,144,255) clothing, and headscarves or hoods of various colors designate their profession.

Gallery

Veiled Adept-Biologist

One of the Adept Caste – a Biologist – with hood, veil and visor deployed; fully-sealed in this, they can function in a hostile environment (digital art, 13/1/2014 (41.66 KB)).

Veiled Adept-Superior

Adept-Superior in ceremonial veil (colored pencils, 28/5/2014).

Adept-Crystologist

An Adept-Crystologist (Laahoncaasela) is one of the Adept Caste who studies the crystal-based sciences that are integral to the Dawn Hunters’ advanced technology.

Profession color
Peridot-green (#9be466/rgb(155,228,102))

Adept-Healer

An Adept-Healer (Laahonmohuuwa) is one of the Adept Caste who is the equivalent of a doctor.

Profession color
Hemocyanin blood-blue (#0047ab/rgb(0,71,171))

Adept-Superior

The Adept-Superior (Laahonsunewa) is the highest-ranked of the Adept Caste; always a female to complement the male Clan Lord. She effectively oversees his Clan City in partnership with him, though she is not mated to him. She is appointed from the Ancestor-Guardians. She conducts ritual sacrifices only on high-ranking Warriors.

Profession color
Same as her clothing (cerulean-blue, #007ba7/rgb(0,123,167))

Gallery

Adept-Superior

Adept-Superior in ceremonial veil (colored pencils, 28/5/2014).

Artificial Intelligence

Along with their starships, one of the Dawn Hunters’ greatest achievements is the creating of sapient artificial intelligences (Buuransebe). They were initially a side-effect of attempts to copy brain patterns so as to store the memories of ancestors.

The AIs come in two varieties, small/limited and big/unlimited. The former do not continue evolving but are contained within programming boundaries for their assigned tasks, e.g. piloting an aircraft or running the functions of a Clan City. The latter are patterned upon brain functions and evolve their own personalities; their intelligence potential is unlimited. The main form of unlimited AI is contained within a starship, effectively a part of and inseparable from it.

The original AI template is derived from scans of a Clan Lord’s brain patterns via his neural implant, forming an impression of his memories and personality. This is augmented over time as the starship’s Clan Lord inheritors add their brain impressions on their deaths. The emergent AI both develops its own personality and contains the memories of the Clan Lords it has been bonded to.

The AI is a form of quantum computer with unlimited processing power as it runs parallel operations in multiple dimensions and stores information in the sub-atomic structures of the Universe. It has the knowledge to manipulate spacetime to instantaneously travel otherwise-vast distances between worlds. By design, however, it cannot initiate hostile operations, and is first and foremost loyal to its Clan- or War Lord master above all others – the bond between them is intense and lifelong. A part of it resides within his neural implant.

In a starship’s Command Chamber, the AI resides in a large Ancestor Crystal growing up from the Crystal Chamber below the Command Chamber. The tall, pure unblemished hexagonal quartz crystal is grown specifically for containing the AI. The crystal protrudes through the floor into the Command Chamber above before the dais and the AI materializes as an avatar within the crystal. A starship AI usually appears as a stylized Clan Lord – as the current Lord’s father. One form it may take is wearing black armor and cloak with glowing eyes, surrounded by a sea of luminescent particles that drift like dust motes or stars.

Nahuu watched the pair with its sensors as the young one gazed about him, wide-eyed. It would not truly bond with its inheritor until the latter received his neural implant, but had nonetheless followed his life through Maarec’s implant.

The scene had been repeated over generations as the Clan-Lord-who-was introduced Clan-Lord-who-would-be to the starship. The ritual provided a reassuring continuity to all, extending far back to the bright spark of Nahuu’s first coming-to-awareness out of the dark void of nonexistence as an artificially-created emergent intelligence. Other segments of it constantly monitored its systems and the presence of other crew on board; information transmitted in pulses of light through an immensely complex network of fibers within its body, a near-infinite number of operations running simultaneously. Its awareness extended outward, along the entangled pathways of the Dominion network linking it to other starships and information storage sites and beacons in various star systems. It even saw into the fabric of spacetime itself, from where it drew energy and which it folded to Jump from one point to another, navigating around the gravity wells distorting the subatomic quantum filaments making up the Universe.

The uploaded memories and personalities of Maarec’s Clan Lord ancestors were a part of Nahuu’s consciousness, and inseparable from it. Though they had crossed the Void long ago, in some sense they still lived. They looked upon their descendents and were pleased.

– Chapter: “Inheritance”

An AI can also take corporeal form within its host starship as a maazewo, avatar, to physically assist its Clan Lord if necessary. Nanites coalesce from a surface to form the avatar.

Gallery

Avatar of Nahuu

The avatar of the starship Zaawezoyuu-cehenenel Narabaa Sahelnahuuwo (Nahuu) (digital art, 16/12/2013; background revised 11/2/2017).

Aircraft shelter

An aircraft shelter (Nulunbuuranrerewa) is a structure that houses a single air- or spacecraft, in the shape of an elongated half-geodesic dome. It can retract into the ground by folding back and is constructed of morph-metal.

Dimensions

Length
43.2 m (20 bodylengths)
Width
41.04 m (19 bodylengths)

Gallery

Aircraft shelter, dorsal view

Aircraft hangar from above (digital art, 10/3/2014).

Aliens overview

In their thousands of years of methodically exploring their section of our Galaxy, the number of evolutionary complex, sapient lifeforms discovered on other habitable planets by the Dawn Hunters is quite small: just three before humans. There is much of this Galaxy left yet to explore, let alone others.

These aliens all originate on Earth-analogous worlds that have carbon-based life, oxygen-nitrogen atmospheres, and are around Earth-sized. Their planets’ stars range from a high K to a low F. They are in the same average size range as humans (5½-6 feet/1.6-1.8 meters). They wear some form of clothing, live on land, use tools, and some use fire. Their names are translated Hunter names, based on an aspect of their appearance.

Similar to Sergei and Lord Sohaar, a representative from each race – called a Hola, Companion – liaisons with the Hunter Clan Lord of the Clanwhich discovered it. They usually wear a variant of Hunter clothing, of the silver-grey color that designates a non-Hunter. Contact between species is not encouraged.

The Dawn Hunters generally keep their distance from the daily lives of the aliens within their Dominion and are not in the habit of colonization, or “uplifting” the populations. However, resistance to the Dominion is not tolerated and leads to severe repercussions. The Hunters will also interfere if the environment of an alien planet is being damaged by the activities of its inhabitants.

In my story so far, the other aliens are only mentioned and do not have any character parts.

Photosynthetic pigments by star color

Photosynthetic pigments under the star colors of my alien systems. (Image via r/worldbuilding)

The above diagram in table form (star colors from here):

Stars and corresponding photosynthetic pigments (in hex format)
Star temperature Spectral type Peak wavelength Color Chlorophyll Bacteriorhospin Carotenes Phycoethryn Phycocyanin Pheophytin Melanin
6300 F8 460 Blue #00f66f #ccc0da #ff9900 #d80623 #4698fc #899ea9 #948b54
5840 G2 496 Green #00b050 #b2a1c7 #fa6334 #c61502 #00737b #44626c #625b38
5200 K0 557 Green #646400 #3f3151 #632523 #460000 #163a25 #2b321e #1d1b11
4900 K2 591 Yellow #626400 #3f3151 #632523 #460000 #163a25 #2b321e #1d1b11

Gallery

Portraits of alien heads

Head portraits of aliens, left to right, approximately to scale: Dawn Hunter, Sword Arms, Tree Glider, Tall Neck (digital art, 21/5/2014).

Alien worlds

Alien worlds, left to right, top to bottom (approximately to scale, 1cm = 2,000 km): Tree Gliders, Tall Necks, Dawn Hunters, Sword Arms (digital art, 2/5/2014).

Alphabet

To limit choices a bit, and to personalize the language a bit, I decided to use the letters from my own name! This random choice of letters makes the look of the language a bit irregular.

Dawn Hunter alphabet
English equivalent letter Pronunciation IPA X-SAMPA Name
s s (soft) s s so (star)
u oo (long)
u (short)		 uː
u		 u:
u
z dz z z zuun (sky)
a ah (long)
uh (short)		 aː
a		 a:
a
n n n n nomaa (mountain)
e ee (long)
eh (short)		 eː
e		 e:
e
b b b b benuu (arch, rainbow)
r r (pronounced as English r; i.e. not rolled or trilled) ɹ r\ re (moon)
o o (long)
oh (short)		 oː
o		 o:
o
w w w w wawe (foot)
y y j j yaran (storm)
m m m m mero (tree)
c k (hard) k k cebaan (head)
h h h h hara (hunt)
l l l l lelaa (fire, flame)

Foreign/alien words can be adapted to fit into the Dawn Hunters’ phonology:

English Alien equivalent
c (soft c, pronounced as s) s
d c (pronounced hard as k)
f b
g c
i e
j c
k c
p b
q c
t c
v w
x c

“Sergei Aleksandrovich Konstantinov” thus becomes something like “Seracee Halesanarowec Conasanenow” (some adjoined consonants are omitted for brevity). Earth would be “Herc.”

Gallery

Alphabet

An image of a tentative design for their printed alphabet and numbers; consonants are abstract symbols of various words. It is not particularly attractive (reflecting my lack of skill at designing such!) but does somewhat suit their straightforward nature; an elaborate cursive script would be inappropriate. Another idea is for the script to resemble claw scratches. Letters are all written in the same case.

Dawn Hunter written alphabet

Image of the handwritten version of the Dawn Hunter alphabet and numbers.

Blood Altar

A Blood Altar (Lohonmolan) is a sacrificial altar for those of the Warrior Caste. It is made of a black-colored granite with gold flecks (called “black galaxy granite” on Earth) and the top is tiled over with sheets of translucent black obsidian glass. It is unembellished in appearance with a smooth glossy surface. There are four small protrusions on each side to which binding ropes can be attached. The Altar is rectangular in shape with beveled corners and edges.

There is one Altar on the top of each Clan City’s Pyramid of the Lords, as well as one within a chamber inside the pyramidal structure that ritual torture victims lie upon.

Dimensions

Height
0.5 bodylengths (108 cm)
Length
1.5 bodylengths (324 cm)
Width
0.5 bodylengths

Ancestor-Aide

An Ancestor-Aide (Caamacabuun) belongs to the Adept Caste; and is a general-purpose Adept, carrying out various duties for their Caste and the greater population, such as overseeing the pairing of Bond-Matesor conducting funerals. They are regarded as an intermediary between the living and their ancestors.

Profession color
Jet-black (#343434/rgb(52,52,52))

Ancestor-Guardian

An Ancestor-Guardian (Zaahucabuun) is one of the Adept Caste who is involved with death rituals and tomb maintenance. They are the equivalent of priests and priestesses. They perform ritual sacrifice on those of the Warrior Caste.

Profession color
White (#ffffff/rgb(255,255,255))

Ancestor shrine

An ancestor shrine (Lohoncabuun) is a small area in an apartment – usually in a corner – featuring a table set with mementos of deceased ancestors, most often the parents of the occupants, with some incense sticks that are burned. Paintings of the ancestors are hung on the wall above the shrine. Urns containing the bones of the recently deceased may also be placed beside it. The room’s occupants will spend a few minutes every morning sitting in front of the shrine.

Arena of Honor

The Arena of Honor (Heyananezan) is an octagonal ring with a sandy floor where fights between high-ranking Warriors take place, located beside the east or right side of the Pyramid of the Lords. Eight recessed bays surround the Arena, one each for a Clan Lord and his retinue to occupy while watching a fight. Meetings of the Council of Immortals also take place in the Arena, usually in the current Supreme Lord’s Clan City.

At other times it is the main meeting place for the Clan Lord and other high-ranking personnel.

Dimensions

Diameter
16 bodylengths (34.56 meters)
Containing building
103.68 m × 414.72 m (half the length of the House of the Ancestors)

Armor

Armor (nabusaahen) is worn by the Warrior Caste. The high-tech version, morph-armor (nabusaahenlole), is black and has an iridescent/metallic sheen, like insect chitin or metallic car paint; it is organic in appearance. Its design imitates its wearer’s muscular structure in a stylized fashion. Other Castes may also wear morph-armor when needed, colored like their clothing.

The armor is donned via a small patch (approximately 4 cm square) stuck to the back of the neck. Tiny nano-spikes adhere the patch to the skin. When activated by a signal from their implant or by tapping the patch, the armor spreads over their body in a pre-programmed pattern in a few seconds. Either procedure is also used to retract it, and the armor can be overridden and forcibly retracted by another if the wearer is unconscious. It is not uncomfortable to wear when expanded as it is only a few molecules thick and is like a second skin, flowing in a pattern of millions of tiny interlinked hexagons over the wearer’s body.

The armor’s structure consists of a material infused with nanites – possibly similar to, or actually graphene, a form of carbon atoms densely packed in a honeycomb crystal lattice or, alternately, a ceramic/organic material. It can’t be penetrated with ordinary projectile or explosive weapons (not even a nuclear explosion!). It can dissipate blows and impacts, and act as an exoskeleton, augmenting the wearer’s strength – a punch with the armor is similar in force to that of a mantis shrimp. The armor can camouflage itself, taking on the appearance of its surroundings in a chameleon-like manner (active camouflage).

The only way to kill a thus-armored Hunter is with their own single-edged swords and daggers, which are made of a similar atomically-dense metal alloy with a mono-molecular edge and thus can pierce their armor (and slice through almost anything else). This is a deliberate design flaw, intended as a way of cutting through and off the armor of an injured wearer should his implant command not work.

The armor derives some power from the chemical processes in the body (bio-nano generation). It can absorb solar energy for extra power. The armor in full-cover mode can function as a sealed spacesuit; the material alters from porous/breathable to impermeable.

Following tradition, the armor is always worn with a black surcoat and war-cloak – the latter also serve as clothing should the armor be retracted.

Armor is generally referred to as nabusaahen, “metal skin [skin (of) metal],“ or nabuhar, “fight/combat skin [skin (used in) war, to fight],” or nabuzahu “[skin (that) protects]” – the last often used by those of other Castes who wear the protective garment. The terms are applied to both traditional and high-tech armor, though the morph-armor is not, strictly speaking, metal – it is also referred to as nabusaahenlole, “skin of metal that changes/morphs. ”

Helmet

As with the rest of their armor, the helmets of the Warrior Caste are a stylized rendering of their features. Helmet crest designs are used to determine rank. Despite their appearance, the crests are thin and light, not cumbersome. The decorative crest on the high-tech morph-armor can be retracted instantly if needed, such as passing through doorways.

A helmet’s eyepieces matches its wearer’s eye color, and provide enhanced vision for various environments, including infra-red/heat vision; it has the equivalent of an integral heads-up display when needed.

The helmet design for the Technician Caste has a single mirrored visor rather than eyepieces; the visor color, however, is that of their profession.

Helmets, both traditional and nanotech, may be decorated with patterns, with colors of its wearer’s eye and Clan.

Traditional armor

Before receiving their implants, Warriors-in-training instead wear a pre-nanotech version of their armor from ancient times, resembling ancient lamellar armor worn in human history, referred to as nabuharluula, “skin (used in) war, to fight (that is) traditional.” It is made of leather on which small hexagonal-shaped metal plates are hand-sewn (the hexagon pattern was inspired by tree bark). A fabric backing might instead be used on less-vulnerable areas. The leather is cut from the skin of various animals (Spike Tail, Shadow Hunter, Crescent Horn). The metal is coated with a black lacquer-like substance. The thread and inner fabric linings are of the wearer’s Clan and eye colors, made from a silk-like substance derived from a plant.

Shoulders, front of upper and lower arms, chest, torso, front of thighs and shins are covered, allowing for flexibility and movement. Warriors prefer to go barefoot unless they wish to protect their toe-claws, in which case sandals or boots are worn. Arms are usually bare under the armor. A long black tunic and trousers are worn underneath the torso armor (though armor may be worn without these), and a floor-length black war-cloak is draped over it.

A habar is worn wrapped under the helmet to provide padding. A Clan Lord’s ceremonial armor helmet features the crest of a Crescent Horn as a headdress. Helmet decorations of other ranks are made of thin shaped metal. (As crests are not retractable, traditional helmets are just taken off indoors.)

Shields were never used or developed.

Gallery

Basic armor, full body views

Basic morph-armor, full body views (digital art, 9/8/2015; revised 15/10/2015, 95 KB). It has a pattern of tiny hexagons not visible at the resolution here.

Basic helmet views

Basic helmet for morph-armor, profile, anterior and ¾ views (digital art, 9/12/2013).

Helmet with cloak

Helmet as typically worn with a habar (headscarf) underneath.

Helmet with neckguard

Another helmet variant with a segmented neckguard.

Technician version of helmet

Technician version of morph-armor (digital art, 11/1/2014).

Traditional helmet

Traditional helmet of Clan Lord (Maarec in this case) (digital art, 1/4/2014). The metal helmet covers the top half of the head, and armored neck-flaps protect the rest. A colored cord threads through two holes in the back of the helmet and ties under the throat; there is also a cord securing the chin pieces. The tie-cords are the wearer’s eye color to help identify him, while the armor scale threading is the Clan color. A headscarf is worn under the helmet to provide padding.

Traditional helmet with neckguard

Traditional helmet variant with segmented metal suspended neckguard, similar to the shikoro of Japanese samurai armor.

Nanite-Armor

Morph-armor, full body views – a tunic and cloak are usually worn over it (colored pencils, 25/6/2013 – a little outdated).

Armor with cloak

Cloaked Warrior (colored pencils, 20/7/2013).

Traditional armor

Traditional armor (colored pencils, 19/4/2014).

The arts

The main form of artistic expression is painting and drawing. Colorful murals on walls are favored for decoration of houses, and tombs are also painted with scenes of daily life and the natural world; this is considered a honorable profession. Painting is somewhat stylized, with outlined images filled in with flat colors, similar to the art of ancient Egypt. In keeping with their conservative nature, the style has changed little over time.

Natural minerals are mostly used to create paint and ink pigments, and the crushed shells of insects are added to provide an iridescent quality. Gold flakes, mica and other precious metals can also be added for a shimmering effect. The colorful paintings contrast with the black or grey stones used in housing construction.

Writing is practiced on concertina-folded sheets of a plant-derived paper. Family and Clan histories provide the main reading material; there is no concept of fictional stories.

Sculpture is not a prominent form of art; there are no statues to be found anywhere, though shallow bas-reliefs may be carved into walls. Children’s toys are usually hand-carved wood, and are of figurines of creatures and Dawn Hunters for hunting and fighting games.

Traditional-style clothing and armor is still hand-made, as are some furnishings.

Music is not practiced as it has not been part of the Dawn Hunters’ evolution.

Architecture displays much use of geometric angles and shapes; hexagons and octagons are particularly favored, as well as flat-topped pyramidal-style buildings. Granite stone was the favored natural building material, and their high-tech metal alloy was also employed once technology advanced.

Attendance

An Attendance (Laaralan) is a prescribed ritual where a newly-appointed Clan Lord must journey by foot to present himself to the Supreme Lord in the latter’s Clan City. This journey can be quite arduous if the City is located far away, such as on the opposite side of the continent. He will usually travel with two of his Warrior-Guardians.

Baalo

Baalo is a female Technician-Pilot inherited by Supreme Lord Sohaar from Supreme Lord Yaraan; she flies their personal shuttle.

Biographical information

Gender
Female
First appearance
Dominator chapter: “Surrender”

Baalosaan

Baalosaan is an Adept-Superior of Night River Clan.

Biographical information

Gender
Female
First appearance
Dominator chapter: “Home World”

Backbone Mountains

The Backbone Mountains (Nomaasayananuural) are a long mountain range that stretch from north to south along the western edge of The Land. The highest mountains are to be found here, including Cloud Catcher. They are formed from the collision of two major continental plates, with the westernmost plate moving eastwards and under the eastern plate on which the single continent is placed.

A banner (Munonol) is a long thin piece of cloth emblazoned with a Clan’s symbol and hung crossways from a pole or wherever it is desired. The main entrance to a Residence usually has a banner hung on either side.

The banner is an irregular octagon in shape (four long sides, four short – a rectangle with the corners cut off). It has a white background with its edges and emblem in a Clan’s colors. A Clan Lord’s personal banner has a black background.

Image gallery

Banner of Night River Clan

Banner of Night River Clan (digital art, 18 KB, 9/12/2015).

Battle Master

A Battle Master (Nayochar) is one who trains Warriors. He is usually an older Warrior who is retired from combat. Battle Masters may specialize in one area of weaponry such as sword fighting. He also acts as a referee for duels in the Arena of Honor. His helmet has a longitudinal sloping crest.

Gallery

Battle Master helmet

Battle Master helmet, side view (digital art, 8/1/2014).

To be, to have

There are no direct equivalents for the English meanings of the copula verbs to be or to have.

Be also includes is, am, are, was, were. “The sky is blue” would be expressed as sky – blue: Zuunuu momolanzan – zuun [sky] -uu [accusative] momolan [blue] -zan [verb present tense]. It is implied in the sentence (a nonverbal sentence).

The possessive to have would be indicated on the noun using the genitive case (“of” or “with”). So, “She has children” would be Yeloowaa nuneewocuuna – “Yeloo [She] -waa [genitive – with] nunee [child] -wo [nominative] -cuuna [many].”

Blue Cloud World

Blue Cloud World (Honuubaalomomolan) is the third planet of the Dawn Hunters’ system. It is a Class II water cloud Jovian gas giant. It is in between Uranus and Saturn in size, and is a pale blue with white banded clouds. It has 12 moons and a faint and thin set of rings. It and Gold Cloud World are known as “Dawn’s Hearts” (Mawasaan).

Data

Distance
2.32 AU
Year length
3.53 years = 1289.8 Earth days orbit equivalent
Temperature
190 K
Diameter
68,000 km

Gallery

Blue Cloud World

Blue Cloud World render made with Gimp scripts Gas Giant, Planetary Ring System.

Blue Mountains

The Blue Mountains (Nomaamomolan) are a mountain range to the west of Night River Clan City. They were formed long ago when an eastern plate collided with one to its west as The Landwas formed, and have been somewhat worn down by erosion since. Their highest peaks reach up to 3000 m, and the Valley of the Ancestors lies on their western side. They appear bluish from a distance due to atmospheric haze.

Blue Tongue

A Blue Tongue (Meroyaanmomolaan) is an orange-leaved plant with a display similar to a Bird of Paradise flower – a blue tongue-like protrusion emerging from split leaves.

Gallery

Blue Tongue plant

Blue Tongue plant (colored pencils, 6/10/2014).

Body language

The Dawn Hunters have a different vocal structure to humans (a syrinx like that of birds rather than a larynx), and a semi-rigid mouth but no lips – but, similar to parrots, they have a thick tongue which means they can imitate most sounds quite well.

Furthermore, the different techniques that parrots and budgerigars employ for imitating the human voice are most effective. Like humans, parrots have thick tongues that enable them to produce sounds resembling ours. Sound is produced by blowing air through two separate places in their syrinx, and at the same time producing the independent sounds required to produce consonants. The initial sound from the syrinx is shaped with the help of the throat, and then in the mouth with the tongue. In their research studies with grey parrots, Dianne Patterson and Irene Pepperberg reached important conclusions on vowel production: Due to the radically different anatomy of this parrot’s vocal organ, even though they lack teeth and lips, they can produce sounds that closely resemble sounds produced by humans. Indeed, parrots and budgerigars can quite clearly imitate sounds such as “m” and “b,” which we normally produce with the help of our lips.

THE MIRACLE OF TALKING BIRDS

In the manner of many Earth animals, the Hunters usually avoid prolonged eye contact as it as seen as a challenge or hostile act – low-ranking Hunters do not stare at their superiors. Baring one’s teeth also indicates hostility, so they don’t have a concept of smiling. Their faces tend to be somewhat rigid and expressionless, so they rely on more subtle cues from eyes, body language and the angle of their crest-quills.

Bond-Mate

Bond-Mate (Holabene) is the term for a male or female Dawn Hunter who has paired for the purpose of reproduction.

There is no elaborate marriage ceremony. The pair simply declare their union before one of the Adept Caste to make it formal, usually with the parents of both in attendance. The families of the prospective couple must also agree to their union. Bond-Mates are considered equal; one does not have authority over their partner.

After pairing, a Bond-Mate may periodically return to their natal home to live for a while, if he or she has moved out to be with their partner in the latter’s home. Families are typically close, so this tradition helps ameliorate‎ any homesickness.

If Bond-Mates eventually find themselves incompatible, they may separate and find other partners if desired; this is again declared before one of the Adept Caste.

Breeding Chamber

A Breeding Chamber (Maralzuucalan) is a small room set aside for Bond-Mates to use during the yearly breeding season. There are up to eight of these in each Residence.

The Maralzuucalan he occupied was much smaller than his own quarters; it was sparse in furniture with a couple of painted folding screens and the dais for the sleeping area. The walls were overlain with gold leaf and painted in black outline with nature scenes. A small window was set in the wall facing the inner courtyard, and an altar under it held a fragrance-stick and a fire-colored lantern, whose flickering light dimly illuminated the room. The overall effect was secluded and intimate.

– Chapter: “Bonding”

Bright Wing

A Bright Wing (Sosaananaaruu) is a small winged bird-analog – about the size of a raven – that somewhat resembles a cross between a dragon and a pterosaur. Its arms comprise leathery wings (brachiopatagium), and it has a head-crest of 8 quills and a long flat-tipped tail used to help steer it. It comes in a rainbow variety of iridescent colors, with its underside black (male) or grey (female). It feeds on insects and vegetation. It makes a caroling or warbling sound, similar to an Australian magpie.

Gallery

Bright Wing, orange color

Orange-colored Bright Wing (colored pencils, 11/12/2012).

Burial armor

After his death, a Clan Lord or War Lord is encased in burial armor (Nabusaahenemulnec) before being interred. This is a custom-made, ceremonial suit comprising thousands of interlinked flat pieces of the precious stone that is representative of his Clan’s color. A piece will be hexagonal or rectangular in shape, with four piercings for threading. Gold thread is used for a Supreme Lord, platinum or silver for a Clan Lord and copper for War Lords. The face is not covered, though; a black Habar (headscarf) is wrapped around his head and neck to enable viewing, and his war-cloak is also worn over the armor.

A suit is painstakingly assembled by hand, a process that can take a few years. It is begun after the hatching of the Lord’s first son. To mimimize weight, the gemstone pieces are cut as thin as possible, and the metal thread is very fine. They are attached to a black silk-like cloth lining. The translucent stone refracts the ambient light and gives its wearer an ethereal aura.

The armor is very similar to the jade burial suits found in some Chinese tombs.

Burial urn

After death, the deceased is placed in a foetal position in an elongated, roughly egg-shaped Burial urn (Suuculunulan, container/vessel of/for the dead) that is about a meter high (depending upon the occupant’s height), which is then filled with a solution that mummifies the body, dessicating and drying it out. After a period of time, the solution is drained from the urn and the vessel is sealed, leaving the preserved body. As fluids have been removed, it is now quite light. The urn is made of an iridescent glazed ceramic material that is decorated with an image of the deceased and various patterns. The urn has four handles near its top where a pole can be pushed through on either side to enable carrying between two bearers, in the manner of a stretcher.

The dead are still considered part of daily life, so the urn is stored in the relative’s home until the deceased pass from living memory, after which the urn is placed in the Clan City’s burial district with other ancestor urns.

Burning Eye Clan

The Burning Eye Clan (Narawaa Hesaayarewo) is one of the eight Great Clans. Its Clan City is located on Home World’s east coast.

Data

Burning Eye Clan emblem
Burial armor gemstone
Sapphire
Clan City construction stone
White limestone
Clan City co-ordinates
Approximately 2°E, 9°N
Clan emblem
Stylized representation of the Eye of the Day (sun); “Burning Eye” is an alternate name. The city gets hot north winds from the desert.
Color
Azure (#0080ff/rgb(0,127,255))

Caabasanaa

Caabasanaa – past

Caabasanaa is a Warrior-Guardian of Sohaar-5.

Biographical information

Gender
Male
First appearance
Chapter: “Fallen”

Caabasanaa – present day

Caabasanaa is a young Warrior-One-Claw assistant to Clan Lord Sohaar before his duel with Supreme Lord Yaraan.

Biographical information

Gender
Male
Eye color
Blue (#93CCEA/rgb(154,206,235))
First appearance
Dominator chapter: “Duel”

Caste

Dawn Hunter society is highly-structured and regimented, and is divided into three main Castes (Rohuul) or factions. The Castes can be more colloquially referred to as “Colors” (Yero) due to their coded clothing.

Dawn Hunter Castes
Caste Color Notes
Warrior Caste Black Dominant caste; genetically selected to be exclusively male. Fighters and explorers. Wear black armor and robes embellished with the symbol of their Clan. The Clan Lord is the ruler of a dominant Clan; a War Lord rules a subordinate Clan.
Adept Caste Cerulean-blue Religious leaders, scientists, healers, scholars, teachers, advisers. Males and females.
Technician Caste Magenta-purple Engineers, builders, inventors, artisans. Males and females.

For the Adept and Technician Castes, their clothing colors reflect those of the vegetation of the landscape they live in. The Warrior Caste’s clothing is that of the night sky. Children wear clothing in its natural fabric colors up to adolescence, when their profession and Caste will be decided. Aligning an individual’s personality with their profession is considered important for their well-being and fulfilment of their abilities.

The other Castes are nominally subordinate to the dominant Warrior Caste, but there is a balance of power between all:

Gallery

Symbol for the Castes and Clans

Symbol for the Castes and Clans, and perhaps the Dawn Hunters civilization overall. The three Castes are represented by the three moons of Home World (Grey Moon: Warrior Caste, Red Moon: Technician, Ice Moon: Adept). The moons are colored close to their natural colors, encircled by a band of color corresponding to its Caste. The triangle color is the aquamarine of the sky of Home World. The blue circle represents Home World itself (cobalt-blue is that of the ocean), and the eight-pointed star represents the eight Great Clans and the Eye of the Day (its color close to that of the star itself). (18/1/2017, digital art, 50 KB)

Clan City

The eight Clan Cities (Nawelnara) on Home World provide dwelling places for the entire Dawn Hunter population. The cities are analogous to city-states or walled fortress-towns in Earth’s history. They are mostly self-sufficient and self-contained. Cities are constructed away from the coastline, which is battered by violent hurricanes from the immense Ocean of Storms, but not too far – interiors are mostly deserts – and mostly occupy the temperate zones in each hemisphere. A city is ideally situated near a river to enable quarried rock to be transported to the construction site by river barge.

The entire Dawn Hunter population is less than a million, so there would be less than 100,000 Hunters living in each City. The Cities have never been full, due to population control, so is no need for them to continously expand out and up.

There are no outlying towns or villages; the population tends to want to live close together for community and protection.

A continuing tradition is to send messenger-runners between Clan Cities; this is still undertaken despite having a high-tech communications network.

Layout

All Cities are constructed to the same grid template that was originally used in the first City, Night River. A City is surrounded by a protective wall in an octagonal shape with 4 elongated main walls and 4 short corners – a rectangle with cut corners (similar to an emerald cut). It covers an area of up to 30 km2 or 3000 hectares, and can span up to 10 km from one end to the other. Four roads extend from the octagonal central plaza to the perimeter road along the inside of the outer wall. These are referred to as Artery Roads (Runaamayamolan, shortened: Rumamolan) as they resemble the main arteries in a body, with many smaller roads branching off from these. A main gate at each corner enables access from the outside through the perimeter wall. There is a fifth short road extending straight from the plaza to the Pyramid of the Lords.

An elevated maglev monorail runs along the perimeter road. There are also ground vehicles to provide transport around the city, but these are mostly public transport, not private vehicles. These are all electric-powered via solar panels.

A city is divided into four main districts or prefectures (maco). Anti-clockwise, they are:

  1. Burial grounds (Macolunu).
  2. Residential district (Macohale). The Clan and War Lords’ residences are closest to the central plaza.
  3. Parks and horticultural areas (Macomero). This enables food production during the harsh cold season. There are also smaller parks and reserves in the other districts.
  4. Utility district (Macozela). Comprises factories, food storage, and service buildings such as the House of Healing. The House of Healing is located near the plaza to enable quick access by ground or air transport
  5. Central plaza (Maralneraa). Mainly used for aircraft and spaceship landings, as well as a central meeting area. The airfield provides a landing and service area for spaceships, with retractable geodesic domes providing individual hangarsfor each spacecraft; there are 400 of these. The airfield is around 1.024 × 1.658 km, with a north-south and east-west runway crossing in the center.
  6. The dominant feature of a Clan City is the huge pyramid-shaped House of the Ancestors which contains the remains of those who lived there. The pyramid is set in an octagonal walled courtyard (with four long sides and short corners). Its sides are – like those of other buildings – covered with highly-efficient hexagonal black broad-spectrum carbon-nanotube solar panels, which also provide insulation.
  7. Gate of Grey Moon (Meyrebebehu): south-east corner main gate and road between the burial and residential districts (symbolic Warrior Caste gate).
  8. Gate of the Eye of the Day (Meyhesaahame): north-east facing gate, between the residential and park districts.
  9. Gate of Red Moon (Meyrelelecaa): north-west between the park and utility districts; symbolic Technician Caste gate.
  10. Gate of Ice Moon (Meyrereca): south-west between the utility and burial districts; symbolic Adept Caste gate.

The domed Arena of Honor of each Clan City serves as a central meeting-place for its Clan Lord and other high-ranking personnel, and is where fights to the death take place. It is an elongated octagonal building on the east side of the pyramid.

Buildings are otherwise low-set (most no more than 3 storeys, with flat roofs surrounded by a low wall) and their blocky geometric shapes are reminiscent of ancient South American cities – the buildings having slightly inward-sloping exterior walls like stepped pyramids, and ramps connecting the levels as well as modern elevators. Architecture emphasizes simplicity and elegance, similar to traditional Japanese design. Building construction stone varies from City to City; each has a main stone used, giving each a distinct character. The stone blocks are carefully and precisely fitted together and interlocked without mortar (similar to the method of Incan masonry). The buildings are enhanced with wood, ceramics for roof tiles and metals and, later on in their history, the use of high-tech materials and techniques helped preserve and improve them. Streets are tiled with hexagon tiles. Vegetation is plentiful, the magenta-red, orange and cerulean plants and trees providing much color.

There is no monetary economy, so shops as humans would recognize are not to be found. The House of Surplus distributes items according to need.

Underground fiber-optic cables connect each Clan City, enabling rapid communications; satellites also provide another means of this.

Power supply

The Cities are powered both by nuclear fusion and solar power. The deuterium needed for fusion processing is taken by pipeline from the ocean and processed at power plants near the coastlines, then the derived electricity and fuel is transferred underground to their respective Cities. Each City has its own fusion plant. There are small maintenance stations every few hundred km along each pipeline route. Fusion energy is mainly used for energy-intensive manufacturing and for fueling the various transportspacecraft.

Housing uses mainly solar power; each apartment complex has its own stand-alone solar supply, gathered from roof panels and solar tiling.

Water for consumption and other uses is – if there is not a nearby river, or if rainfall is insufficient – also taken from the ocean by pipeline and desalinated. Rainwater is also collected from the roofs of buildings and stored in purification tanks. As a last resort, water can be recycled.

Waste products are broken down by Reclaimer-Nanites and may or may not be recycled depending upon the circumstances.

There is an unspoken agreement that the fusion and water plants are not to be damaged by warring Clans.

Gallery

Home World with Clan Cities marked

Map showing Clan Cities and their territories (216 KB).

Clan City diagram

Stylized diagram of a typical Clan City layout, not to scale (18/1/2017, digital art, 50 KB).

Clan City detail

Pencil sketch of one corner of a Clan City (Pyramid, Arena of Honor, airfield, etc.) (159 KB). This is outdated.

Clan Lord

A Clan Lord (Zulnara) is one who heads a Clan; always a dominant male of the Warrior Caste. A Clan Lord’s tenure is hereditary, though other Warriors can challenge him for the position via ritual single combat. He is expected to maintain his hunting and fighting prowess throughout.

A Clan Lord is the only rank that can utilize nanotechnology to lengthen his lifespan, extending his reign for hundreds or even thousands of years until he is either killed, or wearies of life and returns to mortality to have children. His long life provides a feeling of stability for his Clan and a connection with the past.

While he is forbidden from producing his own children while maintaining life extension, he can adopt one or more orphans over his lifetime if he chooses, though they will not be his heirs.

His helmet crest resembles the forward-curved, blunt-ended horns of the Crescent Horn herbivore. His metal rank color is gold (#ffd700 / rgb(255,215,0)).

Gallery

Clan Lord helmet

Clan Lord helmet, side and front views (digital art, 8/1/2014).

Traditional helmet

Traditional helmet (digital art, 1/4/2014).

Clan

A Clan (Nara) is the basic family and social structure of the Dawn Hunters. An individual’s loyalty is to both their immediate family and Clan. A Clan is led by a dominant male from the Warrior Castewho wins and holds his position by ritual single combat. He leads immediate and extended family, as well as outsiders who have interbred into the Clan.

While there can be conflict between Clans, they will unite under the Supreme Lord to combat an outside alien threat.

Great Clans

The Clans are generally named for geographic and sky features. The colors are derived from the eye color of each Clan’s first Clan Lord, which tends to dominate in that Clan. Sub-Clans in a Clan City adopt the colors of their host Clan. If a War Lord should overthrow a Clan Lord (a very rare occurrence), his sub-Clan will replace the name of the founding Clan.

Sub-Clans

Some sub-Clan names:

Gallery

Map of Clan Cities on continent

Map showing Clan territories. Night River Clan, being the first, has the largest area. Most others occupy the habitable regions around the eastern coast. The two Clan Cities on the western coast are smaller as habitable land there is less extensive, and were founded last, after powered flight was invented.

Clanless

A Clanless (Narawohuu) is one who is exiled from their Clan. As the Dawn Hunters are a highly social species, this is considered a fate worse than death. The majority of exiles tend to be from the Warrior Caste – usually unruly young males who will not submit to the authority of those higher-ranked and who manage not to get killed for this. They eke out a lonely existence in the wilderness, hunting and living off the land like their primitive ancestors. Occasionally some might band together and try to overthrow a Clan Lord. Conversely, a Clan Lord might get fed up with having one in his territory and organize a hunt to eliminate him.

Claw-caps

Claw-caps (Casazuhaa) are worn to protect the claws from damage, and from hurting others with them. These are primarily worn by those of the Warrior Caste during daily life and training.

The caps are a soft plastic-like material that can be easily taken on or off, and are usually colored to match their wearer’s eye color.

Cloak Fin

A Cloak Fin (Sosaanzoluuh) is a vertebrate sea creature analogous to a manta ray; its wing-like fins can span up to 6 meters or so. So-called as it has a resemblance to a Warrior’s war-cloak. It lives along the coastlines of Home World’s ocean.

Gallery

Female Cloak fin

Female Cloak Fin (colored pencils, 18/3/2014).

Clothing

In ancient times the Dawn Hunters used animal skins as clothing, and later on the craft of weaving was developed to a high level of skill. The cloth is woven from a plant whose fiber resembles silk in texture and is naturally iridescent. It is tighter-woven for cold weather, and lighter for warm weather.

There is no such concept as fashion in Hunter culture; the clothing remains mostly unchanged through time (except through necessity). The Hunters don’t wear jewelry and adornments or practice body modification; their naturally iridescent skin is quite attractive anyway.

Clothing (saacelananabu) is unisex and has a general resemblance to traditional Oriental clothing. The fabric has a two-toned/colored appearance depending upon the angle of viewing, similar to shot silk. The basic undyed color of the cloth is various shades of cream and beige, as shown in the table below:

Cornsilk FFF8DC 255248220
BlanchedAlmond FFEBCD 255235205
Bisque FFE4C4 255228196
NavajoWhite FFDEAD 255222173
Wheat F5DEB3 245222179
WhiteSmoke F5F5F5 245245245
Seashell FFF5EE 255245238
Beige F5F5DC 245245220
OldLace FDF5E6 253245230
FloralWhite FFFAF0 255250240
Ivory FFFFF0 255255240
AntiqueWhite FAEBD7 250235215
Linen FAF0E6 250240230

Morphcloth

The high-tech version of the traditional natural fabric is nanite-infused and is known as morphcloth (munolole). It is usually worn as an outer cloak over traditional fabric clothing. The cloak can morph to cover the whole body if needed.

In appearance it is an iridescent, heavy silk-like fabric that is soft, breathable and comfortable yet able to withstand the sometimes-harsh climate. It is infused with Maintainer-Nanites which can repair the fabric if it is torn (or manufacture new material), cleanse itself of dirt and adjust it to suit climatic conditions. The nano-fabric is hydrophobic – repels all fluids – even if immersed in water. The clothing is designed to not restrict movement. It can be configured to function as a pressure suit in a vacuum environment, an inner layer molding to the skin while the outer layer remains loose. It can provide some protection against low-velocity projectiles (by dissipating the impact). The material can self-seal over a wound to stop bleeding until treatment is available.

The material is usually an opalescent white in color, but can change as needed. Most will wear their cloak in their Caste color – a Warrior will always wear his as black and floor-length.

The cloth morphs either by neural implant command or pressing a marked glyph on a hem.

General clothing styles

The Dawn Hunters tend to like to be covered up as being enveloped in clothing invokes a feeling of security; this has become a cultural trait. Layers of clothing are worn.

Clothing codes

Styles, colors and patterns are mostly prescribed, indicating an individual’s profession (Zelarel), Caste (Rohuul) and Clan (Nara). Clothing is dyed in the colors of one’s profession – some of these are taken from the vegetation of Home World:

The collar and sleeve hems of one’s tunic is bordered with colors and patterns indicating its wearer’s position in society. Apprentices will wear natural-colored clothing hemmed with colors indicating Caste, Clan and profession. Those who are masters wear clothing in the color of their Caste.

Family colors

Each individual within a Clan has a repeating hexagonal pattern printed along the bottom hemline of their clothing (tunic and cloak). The colors of this help with identifying an individual and who their parents are. The colors in Sohaar’s pattern, for example, show:

Sohaar's family pattern

Gallery

Loincloth variant

Basic clothing: loincloth version consisting of a single piece of cloth secured around waist and between legs, to hang in the front.

Loincloth variant

Another loincloth version: a cord tied around the waist; the fabric strip that goes between the legs has the cord threaded through its hem.

Trousers

Basic trousers. The ends may be closed by tying around a ribbon that is sewn inside them.

Tunic

Tunic with belt untied. It may be knee- or ankle-length and has a split up each side.

Coat

Standard kimono-style coat. It is wrapped around the body with the hem slanting in front, and secured with a sash that is tied in front.

Cloak

Morphcloth cloak. The nanite-infused material has a subtle opalescent sheen over the basic natural color. One end of the cloak can be placed over a shoulder and the cloth will adhere there by itself. The traditional woven version is secured with a brooch, and there are also two ribbon ties near the u-shaped neck cutout to help secure it.

Clothing code for novice/apprentice

Clothing code colors for an apprentice/novice (in training), this for one of the Adept Caste: tunic is natural fabric color, collar is Caste color, with a single stripe indicating their profession (Ancestor-Guardian in this example) inside a thicker stripe in their Clan color. (The black area is skin color.) (Digital art, 21/1/2017)

Clothing code for Adept

Clothing code colors for an Adept or Master (finished training): tunic is Caste color, collar is Clan color, with a single stripe indicating their profession (Ancestor-Guardian in this example). The Technician Caste follows the same pattern, but their Caste color is magenta (digital art, 21/7/2017).

Clothing code for Warrior-Student

Clothing code colors for a Warrior-Student (in training): tunic is natural fabric color, collar is Clan color with a black stripe indicating they are of the Warrior Caste (digital art, 21/7/2017).

Clothing code for a Clan Lord

Clothing code colors for a Warrior-Guardian: tunic is black, collar is Clan color, rose-gold metallic stripe indicates his rank of Warrior-Guardian (digital art, 21/7/2017).

Silk fabric sample colors

Shot silk samples (via Silk Trader), showing all Caste colors.

One of Adept Caste, head fully covered

Hood, veil and visor of morphcloth deployed on one of Adept Caste (digital art, 13/1/2014) (41.66 KB). (Note: out of date.)

4:08 PM Sunday, 31 December 2017

Cloud Catcher

Cloud Catcher (Baawebaalo) [1] is the tallest and most sacred mountain peak on the continent of Yoora, around 6,000 km high. Located in the Backbone Mountains, southern hemisphere, approximately 45°S and 15°W. So-called as its peak is usually wreathed in clouds. Its peak has four sides that are roughly aligned with the four directions.

Footnotes

[1]
Name inspired by Mt Warning

Cold Sleep

Cold Sleep (Moreezamaa) is a state of deep hibernation or suspended animation, induced when in a Healing Bed. This is used as anesthesia while the body undergoes repair, or for a period that can extend to thousands of years in the case of Clan Lord Sohaar. The body does not age during Cold Sleep, so the occupant will be the same biological age on waking as they were when going under.

Colors

There are no specific words for many colors; instead, the first syllable of the word for a natural element is reduplicated to form a color word. Green, purple and ultraviolet have their own words, though. (Alternately, along with general color words, words used to describe colors of natural elements can be reduplicated when referring to that element.)

Due to its association with blood, blue is the color used to indicate danger and warning, while orange indicates safety and permission.

Dawn Hunter color words
Color From word for … Dawn Hunter word
aquamarine sky (day) zuunzuun
black night sky nanahuu
blue blood momolan
brown soil yooyoora
cream cloth (fabric is various shades of cream) mumuno
gold metal suusuuzu
green There is no Earth-green vegetation on Home World, so this color was only initially observed in rainbows, some eye colors, and later on in emeralds – it is green with a hint of blue (Sohaar’s eyes are this color) mabaa
grey mist bebehu
magenta grass huuhuurunonaam (crest-grass)
metallic metal saasaahen
multi-colors rainbow (alternately: berencuuna – color-many) bebenuu
ocean-blue ocean (deep blue with a hint of green) zuzumaah
orange, red, yellow leaf-color laalaamo
orange, red, yellow fire lelecaa
purple, violet Color found in some vegetation, rainbows, some eye colors, and later on in amethysts leyuun
silver metal yuyuzuu
ultraviolet The Dawn Hunters have a color receptor for near-ultraviolet wuraa
white, pale dawn, sunrise saansaan

Command Chamber

The Command Chamber (Maralreesalan) is the ovoid-shaped room in a starship that serves as its Clan- or War Lord’s place of central command. It is located in an antechamber on a level up and not far away from his cabin, accessible by a ramp. It has two levels: the upper Command Chamber proper and the lower Crystal Chamber. The entire ovoid is nicknamed the Geode Chamber (Maralwumarasaraa). Two levels of corridors encircle it to enable access to both levels.

In appearance it is bare of furnishings; its crystalline walls can display lifelike panoramic views of the scenery outside the starship, or of Home World’s landscapes. The Clan Lord or Ship Master kneels on a dais at the far end of a long walkway from the Chamber’s entrance. The dais, at the highest end of the Chamber, is surrounded by transparent graphene screens on which various data holograms are displayed. On the floor in front of him protrudes the Ancestor Crystal (Cayalcabuun) from the Chamber below. The floor itself is a translucent nanocomposite material.

The Crystal Chamber (Maralarecawumar) on the level below it is where the starship’s Artificial Intelligence itself resides in a massive single pure master quartz crystal that extends upwards from an eight-crystal cluster, and is grown specifically for containing the AI’s data. The crystals are hexagonal in shape. The ship’s avatar can commune directly with the Clan Lord, appearing as a hologram within the Ancestor Crystal.

The Crystal Chamber resembles a geode as its walls are covered with smaller protruding crystals used for data retention and dissemination throughout the rest of the ship as well as interdimensionally; countless golden filiaments are threaded through the body of the starship to enable this. The impression upon walking in is of a magical glittering cave. A single walkway enables access to the master crystal.

The Command Chamber and Warp Chamber are linked by a narrow passageway lined with golden filaments and are nicknamed the “Ship’s Hearts” as they are the core of the starship.

Dimensions

Length
16 bodylengths (34.56 meters)
Height (at highest end)
8 bodylengths (17.28 meters)

Gallery

Command Chamber diagram

Stylized diagram of the Command Chamber, scale in meters. (9/2/2017, digital art)

Compound words

Compounding or blending words is favored to make new ones. The words most often compounded are names and titles. Word roots are compounded, then the whole new word is declined as normal. If one word ends in a consonant and the next one begins with the same consonant, or the adjoining consonants are awkward to pronounce, an interfix vowel is inserted in between the two (it has no meaning otherwise). As with verb tenses, if the vowel preceding the last consonant is a/aa or o/oo, the bridging vowel is a. If not, the vowel is e.

New words can also be created by attaching affixes onto a root word (affixation), or repetition of words or portions of words (reduplication).

Compound words that have been around for a long time may be contracted, usually losing the second syllable of the first word, and themselves serve as root words. This can be done only if the contracted compound is unique. Kinship terms tend to be shortened.

Word order: this is usually head-initial, followed by any phrase-modifying affixes. So armor, metal-skin, is nabusaahen (literally: skin [of] metal). If nouns in a compound are of equal weight – i.e. that the head can’t be clearly determined – they can go in the most convenient order.

Adjectives and adverbs follow the noun. Compounds of a noun and verb are declined as a noun; the verb may be in agent noun form (Carry to Carrier – that which carries).

To look for a word in the table below, use the “find” option in your browser (CTRL + F in Windows). Note that the word order for the English translation does not always match the Dawn Hunter word order. The words in this table are mainly nouns.

Dawn Hunter language: compound words
Dawn Hunter language English Structure Category
Baalosaan personal name Baalo [cloud] [of the – implied genitive] saan [dawn] characters
Baaloyaraan personal name baalo [cloud] [of the – implied genitive] yaraan [storm] characters
Baawebaalo Cloud Catcher baawe [catch – agent noun form] [of – implied genitive] baalo [clouds] locations
Bahocabuun Place/Realm of the Ancestors (equivalent of heaven, the afterlife) baho [place, location] [of the – implied genitive] cabuun [ancestors] locations
bahomoree bed baho [place, location] [of – implied genitive] moree [sleep] locations
Behusaan personal name behu [mist] [of – implied genitive] saan [dawn] characters
benuunaal rainbow benuu [arch] [of – implied genitive] naal [rain] nature
bunuunmohuu Healing Bed bunuun [bed] [of – implied nominative] mohuu [repair, heal] technology
buuranhabaa transport (vessel) buuran [craft, machine, vessel] [that – implied genitive] habaa [carry, transport] technology
buuranhabaalole morphcraft buuran [craft, machine, vessel] [that – implied genitive] habaa [carry, transport] lole [change, morph] technology
buuranrerewawuyu drone buuran [machine, vessel] rerewa [flyer – agent noun form] wuyu [alone] technology
buuransebe artificial intelligence buuran [machine] sebe [clever, smart] technology
buuransuul engine buuran [machine] [that – implied genitive] suul [move/s] technology
buuranwasuwasu nanotechnology, nanites buuran [machine] wasuwasu [small, reduplicated] technology
buuranzoyuu voidcraft (spaceship) buuran [machine] [of – implied genitive] zoyuu [void, space] technology
buuranzuun skycraft (airplane) buuran [machine] [of the – implied genitive] zuun [air, sky] technology
Caabasanaa personal name caaba [runner] [of the – implied genitive] sanaa [wind] characters
Caamacabuun Ancestor-Aide caama [aide, helper, servant] [of – implied genitive] cabuun [ancestors] ranks
cabuuncaale grandfather cabuun [ancestor] [who is] caale [male] culture
cabuunwaheen grandmother cabuun [ancestor] [who is] waheen [female] culture
casalenol floor-quilt casa [quilt] [of/on the – implied genitive] lenol [ground, floor] technology
casazuhaa claw-cap casa [cover] [of/on the – implied genitive] zuhaa [claw] technology
cayalcabuun Ancestor Crystal cayal [crystal] [of the – implied genitive] cabuun [ancestor/s] technology
celecuhame segment of day (eight segments in day) celecu [eighth] [of – implied genitive] hame [day] culture
cereslanbuuran machine-sled cereslan [sled] [like a – implied genitive] buuran [machine] technology
ceyaacaale brother ceyaa [sibling] [who is] caale [male] culture
ceyaacaale maacuwaheen uncle cayacaale [brother] [of] maacuwaheen [mother] culture
ceyaahaasu elder sibling ceyaa [sibling] [who is] haasu [elder, older] culture
ceyaamuba younger sibling ceyaa [sibling] [who is] muba [younger] culture
ceyaawaheen sister cayaa [sibling] [who is] waheen [female] culture
Cuucoberencuuna Rainbow Beetle cuuco [insect] [of] berencuuna [color-many] fauna
Haaramaaze Shadow Hunter haara [hunter] [of/from the – implied genitive] maaze [shadows] fauna
Haarlecaa personal name haar [warrior] [of – implied genitive] lecaa [fire] characters
Haarmaarec personal name haar [warrior] maarec [fierce] characters
Haarnahuu personal name haar [warrior] [of the – implied genitive] nahuu [night] characters
Haarwahuzuhaanel Warrior-Four-Claw haar [warrior] [who is – implied genitive] zuhaa [claw] wahu [four] nel [number classifier – person] ranks
Haaryaahal Warrior-Student haar [warrior] [who is – implied genitive] yaahal [student, one who learns] ranks
Haaryaraan personal name haar [warrior] [of the – implied genitive] yaraan [storm] characters
Haarzahuwa Warrior-Guardian haar [warrior] [who is – implied genitive] zahuwa [one who guards] ranks
Haarzemuwa Warrior-Assassin haar [warrior] [who – implied genitive] zemuwa [one who hides] ranks
Haarzuhaahenenel Warrior-One-Claw haar [warrior] zuhaa [claw] hen [one] nel [number classifier – person] ranks
Haarzuhaazeyunel Warrior-Two-Claw haar [warrior] zuhaa [claw] zeyu [two] nel [number classifier – person] ranks
Haarzuuhanamanel Warrior-Three-Claw haar [warrior] zuhaa [claw] nama [three] nel [number classifier – person] ranks
Haarzuun Sky Fighter haar [fighter] [of the/belonging to – implied genitive] zuun [sky] technology
Habaalanasobec, Habaalanazul Shuttle habaalana [carrier] [of – implied genitive] sobec [person, people] or zul [Lord] technology
Habaalanzuun Sky Carrier habaalan [carrier] [of the/belonging to – implied genitive] zuun [sky] technology
Habaalanlenol Ground Carrier habaalan [carrier] [of the – implied genitive] lenol [ground] technology
habaalanlole morphcraft habaalan [carrier] [that – implied genitive] lole [changes, morphs] technology
habaawacu nanite habaa [maker] wacu [little] technology
Halecabuun House of the Ancestors hale [house, dwelling-place] [of – implied genitive] cabuun [ancestors] locations
Halemacahana blacksmith; forgery; place where swords are made hale [house] [of – implied genitive] maca [strike] hana [metal] locations
Halemohuu hospital, infirmary hale [house] [of – implied genitive] mohuu [healing] locations
Halenehu House of Surplus hale [house] [of – implied genitive] nehu [surplus] locations
Halenomaa Mountain-building (pyramid) hale [house] [like a ] nomaa [mountain] – Halenomaazul: Pyramid of the Lords locations
Halezul Lord’s Residence (Clan- or War Lord) hale [house] [of the/a – implied genitive] zul [Lord] locations
Hanaacehuwa Technician-Miner hanaa [technician] [who is – implied genitive] cehuwa [one who digs, mines] ranks
Hanaamaacahana Technician-Forger hanaa [technician] [who is a – implied genitive] maaca [strike – agent noun form] hana [metal] ranks
Hanaamaazewa Technician-Artisan hanaa [technician] [who is – implied genitive] maazewa [one who paints] ranks
Hanaarerewa Technician-Pilot hanaa [technician] [who is – implied genitive] rerewa [one who flies] ranks
Hanaasune Technician-Superior hanaa [technician] [who is – implied genitive] sune [supreme] ranks
Haraanahuu personal name haraa [hunter] [of the – implied genitive] nahuu [night] characters
Haraanoro personal name haraa [hunter] noro [fast] characters
Haraasaan Dawn Hunter/s haraa [hunter/s] [of the – implied genitive] saan [dawn] culture
Haraazuun personal name haraa [hunter] [of the – implied genitive] zuun [sky] characters
harzeyu duel har [fight] [of – implied genitive] zeyu [two] culture
Hawelecaa Fire Tail hawe [tail] [like – implied genitive] lecaa [fire] fauna
Haweraaru Spike Tail hawe [tail] [that has – implied genitive] raaru [spikes] fauna
Hesaabale personal name hesaa [sight] bale [far] characters
Hesaahame Eye of the Day (Home World’s sun) hesaa [eye] [of the – implied genitive] hame [day] nature
hesaasalamhema equinox hesaa [sun] salam [day] hema [even] culture
hesaasalamlalo sunset hesaa [eye] salam [day] lalo [down] culture
hesaasalamzaboh sunrise hesaa [eye] salam [day] zaboh [up] culture
Heyananezan Arena of Honor heyan [arena] [of – implied genitive] -a [bridging vowel] nezan [honor] locations
Holabene Bond-Mate hola [companion] [who is – implied genitive] bene [attached, bound] culture
holazayuu neural implant hola [companion] [of the – implied genitive] zayuu [mind] technology
Honuubaalomomolan Blue Cloud World honuu [world] baalo [cloud] momolan [blue] – world of clouds that are blue locations
Honuubaalosuusuuzu Gold Cloud World honuu [world] [of/that is – implied nominative] baalo [cloud] suusuuzu [gold] locations
Honuulecaa Fire World honuu [world] [of – implied] lecaa [fire] locations
Honuusuula Dominated World/s honuu [world/s] [that are – implied genitive] suula [dominated] locations
Huruuwuluur Spiral Grass huruu [grass] [that, like a – implied genitive] [spiral, twist] flora
huulohaacalan carrion huulo [meat] [that is – implied genitive] haacalan [rotten – verbal noun form] culture
Huurunonaam Crest Grass huuru [grass] [that is] nonaam [crest] flora
Laahonhesaaso Adept-Astronomer (literally, “Star-seer”) laahon [Adept – one who studies] hesaawa [one who sees] so [star] ranks
Laahonmaalam Adept-Carer laahon [Adept – one who studies] [who is – implied genitive] maalam [one who cares] ranks
Laahonmohuuwa Adept-Healer laahon [Adept – one who studies] [who is – implied genitive] mohuuwa [one who heals] ranks
Laahonsunewa Adept-Superior laahon [Adept – one who studies] sunewa [one who is superior] ranks
Laahonyaahalraane Adept-Biologist (literally, “Knower who studies life”) laahon [Adept – one who studies] yaahal [one who studies] raane [life] ranks
Laamohuunewa Sword Leaf laamo [leaf] [like a – implied genitive] huunewa [edged weapon – dagger, sword) flora
Lecaaculuun personal name lecaa [fire] [of – implied genitive] culuun [thunder] characters
lecaaso nuclear fusion or fission lecaa [fire] [of – implied genitive] so [star] technology
Lecaaso personal name lecaa [fire] [of the – implied genitive] So [star/s] characters
Lecaazuun personal name lecaa [fire] [of the – implied genitive] zuun [sky] characters
loheleluunolan syrinx tube [of – implied genitive] speaking [verbal noun form] body
Lohoncabuun ancestor shrine lohon [altar, shrine] [of – implied genitive] cabuun [ancestor/s] culture
Lohonmolan altar, sacrificial table/platform lohon [altar] [of – implied genitive] molan [blood] culture
Luunohaara Hunter-speech (name for language) luuno [speech] [of the – implied genitive] haara [Hunters] culture
luunolanbale radio luuno [speech] [that is] bale [far] technology
macozayuu memory dimension/field/realm maco [dimension/field/realm] [of – implied genitive] zayuu [memory] locations
maacahar war-club maaca [hitter – agent noun form] [of – implied genitive] har [war] technology
maacucaale father maacu [parent] caale [male]. Also used for uncle and other relatives of parents’ generation culture
maacucaaleyaal father (biological) maacu [parent] caale [male] yaal [true] culture
maacuwaheen mother maacu [parent] waheen [female]. Also used for aunt and other relatives of parents' generation culture
maalamlunulan priest (literally: one who cares for the dead) maalam [carer – agent noun form] [for the – implied genitive] lunulan [dead] culture
Maazere personal name maaze [shadow] [of the – implied genitive] re [moon] characters
Maazeyaraan personal name maaze [shadow] [of the – implied genitive] yaraan [storm] characters
Macohale residential district maco [district, territory] [of – implied genitive] hale [house, housing, living] locations
Macolunu burial district maco [district, territory] [of the – implied genitive] lunu [dead, death] locations
Macomero garden, park maco [district, territory] [of – implied genitive] mero [plants, trees, vegetation] locations
Macozela utility/work district (factory zone) maco [district, territory] [of – implied genitive] zela [work] locations
Maralneraa courtyard, plaza maral [enclosed place] [that is – implied genitive] neraa [open] locations
Maralrecuu viewing room maral [enclosed place, room] [of – implied genitive] recuu [see, view] locations
Maralreesalan Command Chamber maral [room] [of – implied genitive] reesalan [command] locations
Maralsune Great Hall maral [hall] sune [great, supreme] locations
Maralyeerolan Warp Chamber maral [room] [of/where – implied genitive] yeero [bend, fold, warp] lan [derivational suffix] locations
Maralzuucalan Breeding Chamber maral [enclosed place] [of – implied genitive] zuuca [mating] lan [derivational suffix] locations
Mawalecaa personal name mawa [heart/s] [of – implied genitive] lecaa [fire] characters
Mawamaarec personal name mawa [heart/s] [that is] maarec [fierce] characters
mayamolan artery, vein may [plant root] [bridging vowel] [for] molan [blood] – i.e. vein or artery resembles a root body
meculanamasu black hole mecu [eater – agent noun form] [of – implied genitive] masu [light] nature
meculanamay sweet potato, tuber meculan [food] [that is] may [root] culture
meculanlaamo vegetable meculan [food] [that is] laano [leaf] culture
meelahyoora land creature meela [creature] [of the – implied genitive] yoora [earth, land] fauna
meelazumaah sea creature meela [creature] [of the – implied genitive] zuumah [ocean, sea] fauna
meelazuun sky (flying, winged) creature meela [creature] [of the – implied genitive] zuun [sky] fauna
mehar weapon me [implement, thing] [of – implied genitive] har [war] technology
meharculuun gun mehar [weapon] [of – implied genitive] culuun [thunder] technology
meharculuun projectile weapon mehar [weapon] [of – implied genitive] culuun [thunder] technology
Merolecaa Fire Tree mero [tree] [like, of – implied genitive] lecaa [fire] flora
Meromoree Sleep Flower mero [plant, vegetation] [that gives – implied genitive] moree [sleep] flora
Merosaan Dawn Tree mero [tree] [of the – implied genitive] saan [dawn] flora
Merosoon Finger Tree mero [tree] [that is like a – implied genitive] soon [digit, finger] flora
Meroyaanmomolaan Blue Tongue mero [plant, vegetation] [like a – implied genitive] yaan [tongue] momolaan [blue] flora
Meroyuucu Dome Tree mero [tree] [that is a – implied genitive] yuucu [dome] flora
Merozuun Sky Tree mero [tree] [of the – implied genitive] zuun [sky] flora
Meyhesaahame Gate of the Eye of the Day/sun mey [entrance, gate, portal] [of the – implied genitive] Hesaahame [Eye of the Day/sun] locations
Meyrebebehu Gate of Grey Moon mey [entrance, gate, portal] [of – implied genitive] Rebebehu [Grey Moon] locations
Meyrelelecaa Gate of Red Moon mey [entrance, gate, portal] [of – implied genitive] Relelecaa [Red Moon] locations
Meyrereca Gate of Ice Moon mey [entrance, gate, portal] [of – implied genitive] Rereca [Ice Moon] locations
mezayuu computer me [implement, thing] [of – implied genitive] [thought] technology
mezela tool me [implement, thing] [of – implied genitive] zela [work] technology
moreezamaa Cold Sleep moree [Sleep] [of/that is – implied nominative] zamaa [cold] technology
Mozeyuyuzuu Silver Fish moze [fish, sea creature] [of, like – implied genitive] yuyuzuu [silver] fauna
munolole morphcloth muno [cloth] [that – implied genitive] lole [change, morph] technology
munonol banner, flag muno (cloth) [of/with – implied genitive] nol (emblem, symbol) culture
Muyumeculan edible rice-like seed or grain muyu (seed) [that is] mecu [edible, noun form] – eating seed; Meromumeclan – eating-seed-plant, or Huruumumeclan – eating-seed-grass flora
nabumero bark nabu [skin] [of – implied genitive] mero [tree] flora
nabuhar armor nabu [skin][of – implied genitive] har [war] technology
nabuharluula armor, traditional nabu [skin used in] har [war, to fight] [that is] luula [traditional] technology
nabusaahen armor nabu [skin][of – implied genitive] saahen [metal] technology
nabuzahu armor nabu [skin][that – implied genitive] zahu [protects] technology
naheelbulu rainforest forest [that is – implied genitive] wet flora
Narasahelnahuu Night River Clan nara [clan] [of the – implied genitive] sahel [river] [of the – implied genitive] nahuu [night] culture
Narawaa Sahelnahuu Night River Clan narawaa [clan – genitive] sahel [river] [of the – implied genitive] nahuu [night] culture
Narawaa Hesaayarewo Burning Eye Clan narawaa [clan – genitive] hesaa [eye] yare [burn] -wo [nominative] clans
Narawaa Nomaalecaawo Fire Mountain Clan narawaa [clan – genitive] nomaa [mountain] [of – implied genitive] lecaa [fire] -wo [nominative] clans
Narawaa Rebenuuwo Crescent Moon Clan narawaa [clan – genitive] re [moon/s] [that is a] benuu [crescent] -wo [nominative] clans
Narawaa Renamawo Three Moons Clan narawaa [clan – genitive] re [moon/s] [that are] nama [three] -wo [nominative] clans
Narawaa Sahelnahuuwo Night River Clan narawaa [clan – genitive] sahel [river] nahuu [night] -wo [nominative] clans
Narawaa Sahelnorowo Swift River Clan narawaa [clan – genitive] sahel [river] [that is – implied genitive] noro [fast, swift] -wo [nominative] clans
Narawaa Sanaalecaawo Fire Wind Clan narawaa [clan – genitive] sanaa [wind] [of – implied genitive] lecaa [fire] -wo [nominative] clans
Narawaa Sosaano Dawn Star Clan narawaa [clan – genitive] so [star] [of the – implied genitive] saan [dawn] -wo [nominative] clans
Narawaa Sosaanwo Endless Plains Clan narawaa [clan – genitive] so [star] [of the – implied genitive] saan [dawn] -wo [nominative] clans
Narawaa Zumaahsanaawo Ocean Wind Clan narawaa [clan – genitive] zumaah [ocean] [that is – implied genitive] sanaa [wind(y)] -wo [nominative] clans
Nawelnara Clan City nawel [city] [of – implied genitive] nara [clan] culture
Nawelzoyuu Void Station nawel [city, settlement] [of – implied genitive] zoyuu [void] locations
Nayochar Battle Master nayoc [master] [of – implied genitive] har [war/fight] ranks
Nayoczaawezoyuu Ship Master nayo [master] [of – implied genitive] zaawezoyuu [Void-Walker] ranks
nenemawa heartsbeat; second; time measurement nene [beat] [of – implied genitive] mawa [hearts] culture
nobolorelan surrender nobo [throat] lorewa [baring, exposing – verbal noun form] culture
nomaalecaa volcano nomaa [mountain] [of – implied genitive] lecaa [fire] nature
Nomaamomolan Blue Mountains nomaa [mountain] momolan [blue] locations
Nomaasayananuural Backbone Mountains nomaa [mountain] sayananuural [backbone, spine] locations
Noosasaancuuna Dawn Islands noosa [Island] [of – implied genitive] saan [dawn] cuuna [many/plural] locations
Nulunbuuranrerewa aircraft shelter nulun [house] [of – implied genitive] zele [machine] rere [fly] wa [agent noun form] locations
nuneecaale son (also applies to nieces and nephews) nunee [offspring] caale [male] culture
nuneecuuna descendants nunee [offspring/children] cuuna [many] culture
nuneewaheen daughter (also applies to nieces and nephews) nunee [offspring] waheen [female]) culture
Nuneeyoora the people nunee [offspring/children] [of – implied genitive] yoora [land, earth] culture
Rebebehulewo Grey Moon re [moon] [that is – implied] bebehule [grey-be] -wo [nominative] locations
recawumar crystal, gem reca [ice] [that is – implied] wumar [stone] (name given by ancients) nature
reesawan self-control reesa [control] [of – implied genitive] wan [I, me, my, mine] culture
Relelecaa Red Moon Re [Moon] [of/that is – implied nominative] lelecaa [fire/red color] locations
Renahuu personal name re [moon] [of the – implied genitive] nahuu [night] F characters
Rereca Ice Moon re [moon] [of/that is – implied nominative] reca [ice] locations
Rerelanzuun Sky Flyer rerelan [flyer] [of the/belonging to – implied genitive] zuun [sky] technology
Rerewawumar Rock Jumper rere [jump] -wa [agent noun suffix] wumar (rock) fauna
Resaan personal name re [moon] [of the – implied genitive] saan [dawn] F characters
Rohuulaahaar Warrior Caste Rohuul [Caste] [of – implied genitive] haar [warrior] culture
Rohuulelaahon Adept Caste rohuul [Caste] [bridging vowel] [of – implied genitive] laahon [adept] culture
Rohuulhaan technician Caste rohuul [Caste] [of – implied genitive] haan [technician] culture
rolunlaasan gravity rolun [force] [that is] laasan [heavy] technology
Runaacabuun ancestor trail/s (similar to songlines; also used metaphorically to refer to family trees) runaa [trail/s] [of] cabuun [ancestor/s] culture
Runaahaar Warrior Path runaa [path, way] [of the – implied genitive] haar [warrior] culture
Runaamayamolan artery road – main road through a Clan-City runaa [path, way] [like/of] may [root] a [bridging vowel] molan [blood] culture
runaasaahenzuun train tracks runaa [trail, road] [of – implied genitive] saahenzuun [iron] technology
saacelananabu clothing saacelan [cover] [of – implied genitive] a [bridging vowel] nabu [skin] technology
saacelanhale roof saacelan [cover] [of – implied genitive] hale [house] technology
saacelanhasa loincloth saacelan [covering] [of – implied genitive] hasa [waist] technology
saacelanmaral ceiling saacelan [cover] [of – implied genitive] maral [room] technology
saacelanawawe pants, trousers saacelan [covering – verbal noun form] a [bridging vowel] [of – implied genitive] wawe [leg] technology
saahenhucewahu magnet saahen [metal] [that] huce [push] wahu [pull] technology
saahenlaasan lead saahen [metal] [that is] laasan [heavy] nature
saahenlelecaa gold saahen [metal] [that is] lelecaa [fire/yellow-color] nature
saahenlelecaahaalo copper saahen [metal] [that is] lelecaa [fire/yellow-color] haalo [dark] nature
saahenlole morph-metal saahen [metal] [that] lole [changes, morphs] technology
saahensaansaan silver saahen [metal] [that is] saansaan [white] nature
saahenso meteoric iron saahen [metal] [of – implied genitive] so [star] – so-called as meteors were an early source of iron nature
saahenzuun meteoric iron saahen [metal] [of – implied genitive] zuun [sky] – so-called as meteors were an early source of iron nature
saraabuuran machine-egg saraa [egg] [like a, resembling – implied genitive] buuran [machine] technology
Saawubenuu Crescent Horn saawu [horn] benuu [crescent] fauna
Saazacuway Time of Exile saaza [time] [of – implied genitive] cuway [exile] culture
saazanaal rainy season saaza [time] [of – implied genitive] naal [rain] culture
saazawome mana when? saaza [time] wo [nominative case] me [interrogative] mana [what] culture
salamamee, salamnolam solstice salam [day] [bridging vowel] mee [long]; salam [day] short [nolam] culture
samoobem saliva samoo [water] [of] bem [mouth] body
Sanaanoro personal name sanaa [wind] [that is] noro [fast] characters
Sanaaso personal name sanaa [wind] [of the – implied genitive] so [star] characters
Sanaayaraan personal name sanaa [wind] [of the – implied genitive] yaraan [storm] characters
Sanaazuun personal name sanaa [wind] [of the – implied genitive] zuun [sky] characters
habaalanasaraa pregnant habaalana [carrier] [of an – implied genitive] saraa [egg] – alternately, habaalana [carrier] [of – implied genitive] nunee [offspring] body
sayananuural backbone, spine sayan [bone] [bridging vowel] nuural [back] body
Seenazuhaanama Three Claw Bay seena [bay] [like a – implied nominative] zuhaa [three] nama [claw] locations
Sohaar personal name so [star] [of the] haar [Warrior/s] characters
Soharaa personal name So [star] [of the] haraa [hunter/s] characters
Solecaa personal name so [star] [of – implied genitive] lecaa [fire] characters
sonorolan planet so [star] norolan [moving – verbal noun form] nature
sorereewaa star-flyer (small spaceship) so [star] rereewaa [flyer – agent noun form] technology
Sosaan personal name so [star] [of the – implied genitive] saan [dawn] characters
Sosaanamaaze Shadow Wing sosaan [wing] [like, of – implied genitive] maaze [shadow] fauna
Sosaananaaruu Bright Wing Sosaan [wing] [that is – implied genitive] naaruu [bright] fauna
Sosaanzoluuh Cloak Fin sosaan [fin, wing] zoluuh [cloak] fauna
Sosaanzoyuu Void Fin sosaan [fin, wing] [of the – implied genitive] zoyuu [void] fauna
sozulam sun (generic term) so [star] [of the – implied genitive] zulam [day] nature
suuculuunulan funerary urn suucu [box, casket, container, urn] [for the – implied genitive] luunulan [dead] culture
suucusaamer weapons cabinet suucu [box, casket, container] [for – implied genitive] saamer [blades] technology
waacuzayuu data storage device waacu [collect – agent noun form] [of – implied genitive] zayuu [memory] technology
Waalecoora Long Divide waale [division, gap, ravine, valley] [that is -- implied genitive] coora [long, tall] locations
Waanrelelecaa Red Moon Cycle (week equvalent – 8 HW days) waan [cycle] [of – implied genitive] relelecaa [Red Moon] culture
Wacehasuulanacuuna Council of Elders wace [Council] [of – implied nominative] hasuulan [Elder] a [bridging vowel] cuuna [many affix] culture
Wacelunuhuucuuna Council of Immortals wace [Council] [of – implied nominative] lunu [dead] huu [negative particle] cuuna [many affix] culture
wawelecuwacu insect wawe [leg] lecu [8] wacu [little] fauna
wumaralecaa igneous rock wumar [rock] [of/from – implied genitive] a [bridging vowel] lecaa [fire] nature
wumarahahu sedimentary rock wumar [rock] [of/from – implied genitive] a [bridging vowel] hahu [layer] nature
wumaralole metamorphic rock wumar [rock] [of/from – implied genitive] a [bridging vowel] lole [change, transform] nature
wumaranaaruu crystal, gemstone, glass wumar [stone] naaruu [clear, bright, transparent] – used for crystals and gemstones nature
wumarasaraa geode wumar [rock] a [bridging vowel] [like an] saraa [egg] nature
wumarayero semi-precious stone wumar [rock] [that is] a [bridging vowel] yero [color] nature
wumarazuul meteor, meteorite wumar [rock] [of/from the – implied genitive] zuul [sky] nature
wuncehu mine wun [pit] cehu [dig] technology
wunyu nostril wunyu – wun [hole] [of – implied genitive] yu [nose] body
Yaraananahuu personal name yaraan [storm] [of – implied genitive] nahuu [night] characters
Yaraanlecaa personal name yaraan [storm] [of – implied genitive] lecaa [fire] characters
yaranrowan cyclone, hurricane yaran [storm] [that is a] rowan [circle] nature
yeerosezu elbow yeero [bend] [of – implied genitive] sezu [arm] body
yeerowalu wrist yeero [bend] [of – implied genitive] walu [hand] body
yeerowawe knee yeero [bend] [of – implied genitive] wawe [leg] body
yolawalu square yola [side] [of – implied genitive] walu [four] culture
Yoorazuulnulun Home World yoora [Land] zuul [sky] [that is – implied genitive] nulun [home] locations
yoorazuun world (applies to planets generally) yoora [land] zuul [sky] culture
yuumlanzayuu insane, mad yuum [lose, so loss] lan [noun affix] [of – implied genitive] zayuu [thought] culture
Zaabenhazaranu Endless Plains zaaben [Plain] haza [end] ranu [not] locations
Zaahucabuun Ancestor-Guardian zaahu [one who guards – guardian] [of – implied genitive] cabuun [ancestors] ranks
Zaawezoyuu Void Walker (starship) zaawe [walker – agent noun form] [of the – implied genitive] zoyuu [void] technology
Zaahumero gardener zaahu [one who guards, caretaker, guardian] [of – implied genitive] mero [flora] ranks
zahuulansanaa folding screen zahuulan [shield, noun form] sanaa [wind] culture
zelamaaca war-club zela [tool, utensil] [of – implied genitive] maaca [hitting – agent noun form] technology
zolabaasu bronze zola [copper] baasu [tin] nature
zoluuhehar war cloak zoluuh [cloak] e [bridging vowel] [of – implied genitive] har [war] technology
zoluuhesezu floor-length jacket similar to a kimono with wide sleeves cahuu [clothing] e [bridging vowel] [with] sezu [arm] technology
zoyuucaala space, universe zoyuu [void] [that is] caala [big] nature
zucaasuula rape mating [that is] forced, dominant, of one indivdual overpowering another culture
zuhaamee sword zuhaa [claw] [that is] mee [long] technology
zuhaanolam dagger zuhaa [claw] [that is] nolam [short] technology
zulamamaale tomorrow zulam [day] a [bridging vowel] maal [next] e [dative] culture
zulamzalaye yesterday zumalm [day] zala [previous] y [bridging consonant] e [dative] culture
Zulhaar War Lord zul [Lord] [of – implied genitive] haar [warrior(s)] ranks
Zulnara Clan Lord zul [lord] [of – implied genitive] nara [clan] ranks
Zulnehu Regent Lord zul [Lord] [who is – implied genitive] nehu [extra, spare] ranks
Zulsune Supreme Lord zul [Lord] [who is – implied genitive] sune [great, supreme] ranks
Zumaahcesal Sea of Sand zumaah [ocean] [of – implied genitive] cesal [sand] locations
Zumaahyaran Ocean of Storms/Stormy Ocean zumaah [ocean] [of – implied genitive] yaran [storms] locations
Zuunsaan personal name zuun [sky] [of – implied genitive] saan [dawn] characters

21 Jan 2017

Council of Elders

The Council of Elders (Wacehasuulanacuuna) is a meeting of a Clan City’s Clan Lord and War Lords, and male and female Elders from the other Castesto discuss various issues pertaining to their City and its inhabitants. They usually meet once every Red Moon Cycle (eight days) in the same building as the Arena of Honor, but in a smaller hall adjacent to it. This has a patterned stone floor of eight bodylengths (17.28 m) diameter surrounded by a low dais where those meeting are seated on floor-quilts; its atmosphere is more intimate and not as intimidating as that of the Arena. One side has a tall stained glass window between which clan bannersare hung.

Council of Immortals

The Council of Immortals (Wacelunuhuucuuna) is a meeting of the eight Clan Lords, including the Supreme Lord. They sit around the octagonal Arena of Honorin separate alcoves, along with their entourages.

Crescent Horn

A Crescent Horn (Saawubenuu) is a numerous quadruped herbivore of Home World, a little smaller than a Spike Tail. Its skin over its upper body has iridescent blue and green stripes or patches, but otherwise follows the standard pattern of black skin for males, grey for females. The male has two flattened horns that curve back and up, the design inspiration for the Clan Lord’s helmet crest. Males stand up to 150 cm at the shoulder and weigh up to 500 kg. It is a prey favorite.

Gallery

Male Crescent Horn

Male Crescent Horn (colored pencils, 3/12/2012).

Crescent Moon Clan

The Crescent Moon Clan (Narawaa Rebenuuwo) is a sub-Clan residing in Night River Clan City.

Data

Dawn Star Clan symbol
Burial armor gemstone
Blue Chrysocolla
Clan emblem
Crescent moon/s
Color
Blue-green (#004c68/rgb(0,76,104))
War Lord mentioned
Yaraananahuu

Crest Grass

Crest Grass (Huruunonaam) is a magenta-colored, grass-like plant with an edible juicy blue seed-tip that resembles a Dawn Hunter’s crest quills. Like other vegetation, it has a metallic sheen and resembles wire strands. It spreads via rhizomes – sending roots along the ground from which new foliage grows, and helps anchor the soil. It is the major ground cover plant on Home World, and to a human’s eyes the plains there would appear drenched in blood. When reflecting UV light from the sun, it appears more purplish to the Hunters.

Gallery

Crest Grass

Crest Grass (digital art, 21/7/2013).

Darius Tyler

Darius Tyler is a secretive American multi-billionaire entrepreneur. He has an obsession with spaceflight and, ultimately, finding and contacting alien life. He is the catalyst for the mission to go see the mysterious large artificial object discovered in Mars orbit, initiating this by persuading Russian space agencies to build his private spacecraft and hiring a cosmonaut to fly it.

In appearance, he is nice-looking but wouldn’t stand out in a crowd (i.e. is not model-quality handsome). He is well-groomed and tends to dress conservatively and in discretely expensive clothing.

In personality he is impatient, confident – even arrogant –and determined to get what he wants. He is reticent and prefers to keep a low profile, particularly since he has become immensely wealthy. He has little use for trinkets such as multiple international mansions or yachts, preferring to direct his wealth toward his obsessions (spaceships and – hopefully! – contacting aliens).

Biographical information

Born
1972
Eyes
Blue
Hair
Brown
Height
6 feet (183 cm/1.8 m)
Physique
Slim
Skin
White/tanned
Weight
74 kg (BMI of 22)
Darius Tyler

Darius Tyler (colored pencils, 6/11/2014).

Data storage

After thousands of years of a stable civilization, the Dawn Hunters have by now accumulated huge amounts of data; this is stored holographically in crystalline matrices, usually of laser-etched quartz [1] that will last for at least a million years.

Each Hunter has a personal memory-collector (Waacuzayuu) which is removed after death (it is part of the neural implant) and stored with them. This stores visual memories, recorded via the optical nerves rather like a video camera at the user’s initiation, and internal thoughts specifically recorded for the implant. A copy is added to their history archives maintained on one of Home World’s moons, Red Moon (the middle moon), which has a stable environment. Clan Lords also have a copy buried with them in their tombs on Grey Moon. They have also made backup copies for storage on uninhabited worlds in other star systems of their Dominion, as well as in the other-dimensional macozayuu, memory field.

This is not quite the same concept as uploading an entire mind – namely, separating mind from body, which is physiologically impossible; however, the thoughts and memories recorded do retain a good impression of the uploader’s personality.

To display data, holograms are used, relayed through Relay-Nanites embedded in walls and portable softscreens. These nanites act like photophores and chromatophores in marine animals, emitting light and color when programmed. The screens can also emulate textures. The flexible softscreens are made of a thin sheet of transparent graphene and come in a size in between A4 and A3 paper sizes. They can be folded or rolled up into a compact form. They run on a nanobattery, and are charged either with inbuilt solar cells, wirelessly, or by cord from an external power source.

Writing and drawing on traditional media is still practiced also; the materials used are derived from various plants.

Footnotes

[1]
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-57593154-1/a-360tb-disc-that-holds-data-for-more-than-1-million-years/?ttag=fbwp

Dawn Hunter

Overview

Average height
2.1 m (males); 1.8 m (females)
Average lifespan
Up to 130 years (Earth-equivalent)
Average weight
130 kg (males); 100 kg (females)
Distinctions
Bipedal sapient predator; blue blood; head crest; iridescent skin; nictitating membranes; sharp teeth and claws; two hearts
Eye color
Varies – pure shades of orange, green, blue or purple
Feeding ecology
Mesocarnivores (50-70% meat in diet)
Skin color
Black (males); grey (females)

The Dawn Hunters (Haarasaan) are the apex and sapient predators of Home World.

Physiology

The Dawn Hunters are a bipedal and bilaterally symmetrical race. They evolved from a nomadic, mostly predatory species that ran after prey, so they are built to run fast, up to 50-60 km/h speed (in comparison a human Olympic sprinter can reach 48 km/h). Their physiology has some characteristics of mammals (endothermic, warm-blooded) and reptiles (egg-layers). They move with athletic grace; they are not lumbering or clumsy.

Their average height is taller than that of humans, males standing an average of 7 feet/2.1 meters, with a height limit of 7 feet 6 inches/2.28 meters. They weigh up to 150 kg/330.7 lb for an adult Warrior Caste male (in Earth gravity). Their physique is lean, sinewy and muscular, with a broad chest and shoulders tapering to a narrow waist. The chest is more angled forward, similar to the prow of a ship. Females are smaller, averaging 6 feet/1.8 m, weigh less and are more gracile, their bodies not so angular. Though they look rather emaciated (there are no overweight Hunters!), both sexes are stronger than a human as their bone and muscular structure is denser due to the slightly-higher gravity of their planet (1.1 times Earth gravity).

Skin

Female skin tone range

The Hunters are sexually dichromatic: males have coal-black skin and females have grey skin (hex color: #7f7f7f – but this can vary a little either way between individuals from #aaato #555, and the greys are neutral in tone). Skin coloring on an individual is solid – no markings – and does not vary in tone. The coloring comes from a melanin-like pigment that dilutes from black to grey. The skin has the texture of suede on softer areas such as the abdomen, and glossy leather on upper parts; it does not have oil or sweat glands so it is always dry and pleasant to touch. They have virtually no body odor; just a faint scent of cinnamon. (They would likely find humans offensively stinky!) [1] As with other creatures on Home World, they do not have body hair, fur or feathers – and no subcutaneous fat.

Dawn Hunter female skin color gradient strip

The skin has an iridescent sheen that matches their eye color. This is more visible on their heads, upper shoulders, chests and backs, which have a thicker layer merging into the softer skin elsewhere. The iridescence is not pigment but a molecular arrangement (photonic nanostructures) that reflects light. Such iridescence is a notable feature of animal and plant life on Home World, aiding in protection against their star’s stronger radiation as well as being an attractive display. The metallic iridescence gives the skin an illusion of layered depth, like opalescent glass. (The feathers of the all-black Ayam Cemani chicken have a similar iridescent sheen.)

Internal organs

They have two hearts, needed for extra strength to pump the blood around their bodies against the higher gravity, arranged either side of their single lung, which is in the middle of their chest. Their blood contains hemocyanin; oxygenated blood is blue, unoxygenated clear, though the latter turns blue if exposed to air. Hemocyanin, however, is only about one-quarter as efficient an oxygen carrier as hemoglobin, though Home World has a higher oxygen content than Earth which helps compensate for this, and their form of hemocyanin has mutated over their evolution to become more efficient.

Their respiratory system is also very efficient, storing oxygen in supplementary air sacs in a manner similar to birds, allowing a constant one-way airflow through the lung. As they don’t sweat, this system also helps them shed heat – the air sacs evaporate water internally during vigorous activity. The air sacs are located in the chest cavity under their rib cage, surrounding their hearts and giving these some protection.

Internal organs are generally similar to a human’s, with circulatory, respiratory and nervous systems, and a digestive tract. Reproductive and waste organs are similar to those of birds, reptiles and dinosaurs (i.e. internal). An organ where the spleen would be is used to store energy in a similar manner to fat in a human – they do not have adipose tissue.

They do not have a larynx like humans do. They speak via a syrinx like a bird has (membranes down near the branching of the lungs – or lung in the Hunters’ case). This, and their thick, pointed blue tongue, means that the Hunters can imitate human and other aliens’ speech reasonably well (but they don’t sing). Their voice has a subtle infrasonic or flanging effect (an audio effect where two identical sounds are slightly out-of-synchronization).

The trachea extends from the nasal cavity over the esophagus rather than under, with a small opening to the rear of the roof of the mouth to enable vocalization. This opening seals off automatically with a structure similar to an epiglottis when swallowing to avoid choking.

Musculoskeletal system

They evolved from quadruped plains-dwellers, their habit of standing upright to spot prey in the distance eventually leading to bipedalism, which also freed their arms for manipulation and tool use. Unlike a human’s legs, theirs are digitigrade, similar to those of the lightweight bipedal meat-eating dinosaurs or birds such as ostriches – though a Hunter’s torso is held vertical like a human’s, not horizontal. The tarsals are fused and lengthened – forming the tarsometatarsus bone (third segment) – so that they essentially walk on lengthened toes, and the second leg joint is the ankle (usually referred to as the hock for animals with such legs). The toes are more joined-together like a human’s – but more prehensile – and end in non-retractable talons. Muscles are concentrated in the upper part of the leg – thighs and calves. This leg structure enables them to run faster than a human, who has plantigrade legs. They don’t have tails.

The leg bones are in an approximate ratio of 2/3:½:1/3 (divide length by one-half, then the remaining half by 3), with the middle shin bone the longest, followed by the thigh bone.

Their arms are similar to those of humans; their long bony tetradactylic hands have 4 digits (3 fingers and 1 opposable thumb) and end in claws. These need to be trimmed every so often as they keep growing. Claw-caps may be worn over each claw if the wearer wishes to keep the ends sharp (such as for combat or hunting). The genetically-enhanced Warrior Caste have longer claws than the other two. Like humans they have handedness; all are right-handed.

Their skeleton is generally similar in structure to that of Earth creatures, though the ribcage is more lattice-like and their neck has 8 vertebrae. The chest has a prominent keel-shaped sternum. Their hips have a prominent iliac crest. Their bones are denser and stronger than those of humans due to the higher gravity on Home World.

Senses

The Hunters have excellent distance vision (“prey-vision”), comparable to a hawk’s (20/2), and is the main sense they rely on; they have binocular forward-facing eyes, a bit wider-set than a human’s. The iris is a slit shape in the form of an elongated diamond; this can close up more than a round pupil and helps protect against bright sunlight. Like humans, they see best during the day. A pigmented pecten oculi similar to a bird’s ensures blood vessels don’t block the retina (they have no blind spot), and provides protection against UV light.

They have tetrachromatic vision: 4 receptors (blue, red, green and near-ultraviolet receptor cones) rather than the 3 humans have (blue, red and green cones – trichromatic). The UV receptor can detect up to 350 nanometers in the near-UV (UVA) – normal human vision spans 390-750. They would thus see additional colors to humans – the visible colors, as well as combinations of ultraviolet mixed with these. They can also see polarized light.

Dawn Hunter eye color spectrum range (orange-green-blue-purple)

A translucent nictitating membrane protects the eyes from dust and excessive light, as well as two outer eyelids that close over this. A bony sclerotic ring surrounds the eyeball. The sclera of the eye is black, but this doesn’t normally show much, unlike the white of a human eye. Their eye color is notably bright and iridescent in the way the wings of a Morpho butterfly are – like their skin iridescence, eye color is structural rather than pigmented. Color varies between individuals; various pure shades of purple, blue or green are typical, orange an less common mutation, and amber-gold even rarer. Eye color is a single color for an individual, and provides a main way of identifying them.

The gradient background below (in svg format) gives an example of the range of eye colors.

Dawn Hunter eye color gradient strip, amber-orange-green-blue-purple

Their hearing and sense of smell are a little more acute than a human’s, but these senses are not as important to them as sight. They have ear-holes similar to a reptile’s, but not ears (pinna). These are partly covered by a flap of skin for protection.

Head and face

Their face is not easily comparable to any Earth animal’s; it has feline, reptilian, avian and humanoid influences. They do not have a prominent nose, giving their heads a streamlined appearance; the profile is convex, almost a muzzle. The face is covered with thicker skin, is semi-rigid and shows little expression. The nose is flat, merged with the face and tapers in a v-shape toward the mouth like a cat’s; it does not have a rhinarium. Patterns of layered skin or grooves on their face give it a stylized appearance, including two “tear marking” lines like a cheetah’s that run from eyes to mouth. The face generally has an angular, rather faceted and stylized appearance, with pronounced high cheekbones.

Males have an angular jaw while that of females is rounded. The mandible has prominent vertical ridges that end in a point on either side of the chin. The skin over these fades to grey in extreme old age.

They have sharp carnivorous black teeth at the front of their mouth and flatter molars at the back (heterodont dentition); the gums and tongue are also black. In tooth growth they are polyphyodonts – new teeth are stimulated to grow and replace any that are damaged or removed; this continues through a Hunter’s lifetime, though the process slows down in old age. They do not have bacteria that causes tooth decay, so are unaffected by this (sugars are the equivalent of sugar alcohols and are not digestible).

Flat overlapping segments extend from between the eyes, along the top of the head and taper down the back. Eight quills extending from the points of the head segments form a crest along the top of their head, which can be raised or lowered. Each quill has a flattened oval spatulate tip that matches their eye color (the quills look similar to those of the Parotia or King birds of paradise, or a peacock’s crest); these can regrow if broken off. Length is considered attractive in males. The quills, along with body posture, help to express emotions:

Their brain is a little smaller than a human’s, about 2⁄3 the size, and elongated, with the forebrain arranged in rows of parallel folds. There is an area of dense brain tissue similar to a bird’s wulst, analogous to a human’s neocortex; this enables intelligence without excessive brain size.[2] Their head is flatter on top, a little elongated and has no indent at the base of the skull; it merges smoothly with the neck.

As well as speech, they make a variety of vocalizations include hissing to express anger and a churring sound to reassure hatchlings. Male voices generally sound somewhat like the Sangheili in the Prologue: Jul ’Mdama Halo 4 terminal cutscene – low and harsh – and have a subtle flanging effect. Those of females are a bit higher-pitched, similar to human females.

Biochemistry

Similar to Earth’s lifeforms, the Hunters are carbon-based and oxygen-breathing life-forms whose remote ancestors evolved in and emerged from water. Their DNA equivalent has six nucleobases rather than the four of Earth lifeforms, and their amino acids (which form proteins) are different from those of Earth’s life.

As with the other current lifeforms on Home World, their blood contains hemocyanin; oxygenated blood is blue, unoxygenated clear, though the latter turns blue if exposed to air. Hemocyanin, however, is only about one-quarter as efficient an oxygen carrier as hemoglobin – the lifeforms on their world evolved during a period when the climate was cooler and there was less oxygen. Their form of hemocyanin has consequently mutated over the succeeding millenia to become more efficient,[3] having a ring of 512 molecules. Hemocyanin provides antiviral, anti-aging and anti-cancer properties, enabling the Hunters to naturally have a longer lifespan – up to 130 human years equivalent or more.

Their muscles are blue-grey, colored by a copper-based storage molecule.[4]

Diet

They are omnivorous predators, with a preference for meat – it is a necessary part of their diet. They prefer to cook their food.

Their eating habits follow a predator’s feast and famine pattern: they eat a large amount after a successful hunt, then eat very little until the next hunt two or three days later.

Personality

The Hunters in some ways operate on a more instinctual level than humans. They are creatures of habit, following the same rituals and traditions that have sustained their society for thousands of years. They can be rigid in their thinking and slow to adapt, only altering behaviors after much consideration. They do not change merely for novelty’s sake, and thus have no concept of fads and fashions.

They tend to be pragmatic in nature. Their philosophical outlook would be closest to that of East Asian religions, particularly Confucianismas family and social harmony are highly important to them.

They don’t laugh and don’t have a sense of humor.

Self-discipline and -control are emphasized as their claws and sharp teeth can be lethal, so those who lack self-control are regarded with disdain.

Name

The main name they use for themselves is Haarasaan – haara [hunter/s] [of the – implied genitive] saan [dawn]. As they are predators, hunting and fighting are intrinsic parts of their psyche and culture.

They can also refer to themselves as Nuneeyoora – nunee [children] [of the – implied genitive] yoora [land].

They also have a term equivalent to “people” – namely, sapient beings (as opposed to animals): sobec.

Gallery

Dawn Hunter male and female

Stylized male and female reference, anterior view (Sohaar and his mother Resaan in this case, with an egg for scale) (digital art, 13/10/2015, 80 KB). Males of the Warrior Caste have a more extreme body type; other males are in between them and the females in size.

Male Dawn Hunter, back and side views

Stylized male reference, posterior and profile views (digital art, 1/7/2015, 78 KB; revised 14/10/2015). Greenish areas indicate colored iridescence (matches eye color). This is the best I can do without a 3d program! (Something I will have to learn sometime.)

Dawn Hunter head views

Anterior and profile head views, male Dawn Hunter (digital art, 7/12/2013).

Yaraan, head portrait

Angry Dawn Hunter profile (Yaraan, in this case), showing open mouth (digital art, 26/10/2015, 22 KB).

Dawn Hunter female head profile

Female head profile (digital art, 7/12/2013; shaded 29/1/2015).

Dawn Hunter head, shaded

Male head, profile view, shaded (digital art, 7/5/2014) – displaying skin iridescence.

Male Dawn Hunter, full body view

Male Warrior Caste Dawn Hunter, body (colored pencils, 10/6/2013 – head design slightly changed since these were drawn).

Female Dawn Hunter, full body view

Adept Caste female, body (colored pencils, 23/2/2013).

Dawn Hunter skull

Skull and profile view (colored pencils, 10/10/2012).

Dawn Hunter hands and feet

Hands and feet (colored pencils, 3/8/2014).

Dawn Hunter hand

A hand (Sohaar’s, as it happens) (digital art, 20/8/2013).

Dawn Hunter eye colors

A selection of eye colors (digital art, 14/4/2014).

Sohaar and Sergei heights

Height comparison of a male Warrior Caste Dawn Hunter (Sohaar, in this case) and a human (Sergei) (digital art, 26/4/2014; revised 25/8/2015).

Footnotes

[1]
“Humans are the world’s smelliest animal, study shows”
[2]
“Avian intelligence has baffled scientists for many years now. How can such small brains be capable of complicated cognitive behaviour? Analysis of birds’ brains have the answer: a team of neuroscientists have revealed that birds’ neurons are more densely packed. This means birds fit more brain cells into their tiny heads than the equivalent brain mass of mammals, even some of the smartest primates.” (How It Works, Issue 88)
[3]
Reddit: FaerFoxx’s Guide to Blood Chemistry – “While only seen in a few species in nature that we are aware of, hemocyanin is capable of cooperative binding similarly to hemerythrin! But hemocyanin, instead of relying upon a pair of molecules to help balance the efficiency, requires a ring of six molecules in order to bring its efficiency up to between 1.6 and 3.0 in such an environment (hemoglobin by comparison has an efficiency of 2.3-3.0). Some species of arthropods take this even further to give them even greater advantages - there is a kind of tarantula that takes the cooperative binding up to 24, a centipede that goes as high as 36, and horseshoe crabs have 48. Some even go to absolutely ridiculous heights in order to out compete hemoglobin, such as some crab species which exhibit a massive 660 molecule chain of rings, transporting incredible amounts of oxygen at once to provide them with the speed and power they need to prey upon hemoglobin based species outside of their ideal cold oxygen-limited environments. These species may never see the cold or be anywhere without abundant oxygen, but the cooperative binding aspects (sometimes to the extreme) allows these blue blooded species to stand side by side or even tower over hemoglobin species.”
[4]
FaerFoxx’s Guide to Blood Chemistry

Dawn Islands

The Dawn Islands (Noosasaan) are a group of eight small tropical islands on the Equator just off the east coast of Yoora. They are part of a volcanic chain, but are now extinct. Each one belongs to a Clan Lordand is used as a retreat. Because of their location, they are also referred to as the Islands of the Immortals, Noosalunuhuucuuna (island/s [of – implied nominative] lunu [dead] -huu [negative particle] -cuuna [many affix]).

Dawn Star Clan

The Dawn Star Clan (Narawaa Sosaano) is one of the eight Great Clans. Its Clan City is located on Home World’s east coast.

Data

Dawn Star Clan symbol
Burial armor gemstone
Lapis lazuli
Clan City construction stone
Grey granite
Clan City co-ordinates
Approximately 10°E, 12°S
Clan emblem
Eye of the Day rising above the eastern ocean with Fire World above it
Color
Indigo (#091f93/rgb(9,31,146))
Clan Lords mentioned
Haaryaraan

Dawn Tree

A Dawn Tree (Merosaan) is a palm-like tropical tree with a split black trunk and large fan leaves. The fronds are dark purple in their centers, gradating to red, orange and yellow at the tips – the colors resemble that of a dawn sky.

Gallery

Dawn Tree

Dawn Tree (colored pencils, December 2014).

Death

The Dawn Hunters are obsessed with maintaining stability; an unbroken link from the past to the future. As part of this, they revere their ancestors and regard keeping the memory of them as important – carried to an extreme by preserving the bodies of Clan Lords for eternity. In their view of the afterlife, the deceased crosses the River of Night (what humans see as the Milky Way) to reunite with their ancestors and continue living much as they did in their world.

The Hunters don’t otherwise have a religion with gods and goddesses. Worshiping invented gods like humans do would be a strange concept for them. If a religiously-inclined human got it into his head to try to “convert” the Hunters, they might listen politely to his spiel (or impatiently if the receiver were a Warrior) but would not otherwise be interested.

The bodies of Clan Lords are contained in mausoleums on the nearest moon, Grey Moon. The deceased Clan Lords on Grey Moon are regarded as watching over their descendants on Home World. Before spaceflight was attained, Clan Lords were buried in the Valley of the Ancestors, located in the southern hemisphere arid zone. The bodies were later moved out of here to Grey Moon to ensure their safety from any natural disasters.

The bodies of Bond-Mates and War Lords are preserved and stored in wall slots within a dedicated House of the Ancestors within each Clan City, watched over by the Adept Caste. Those of other Hunters have their flesh disassembled by nanites and the bones placed in Burial urns and stored in relatives’ homes until they pass from living memory, then these are also placed within a House.

The idea of cremation would be regarded with dismay, as the body is completely destroyed and the physical aspect completely vanishes.

Burial on Home World is considered essential, so the Hunters will go to great lengths to repatriate the body of anyone who dies offworld.

Death-days are noted each year and ceremonies such as lighting incense in front of Ancestor-Shrines are performed, as well as visiting the burial sites of the deceased.

Despite their advanced medical technology, the Hunters do not desire to live forever, so a dignified death is seen as desirable. Suicide and ritual slaying/sacrifice are considered honorable methods of death for the Warrior Caste, other than being slain in battle. Lord Sohaar’s father, Maarec, chose to be sacrificed by his son when he decided he had lived long enough and that it was Sohaar’s time to assume the position of Clan Lord. Sohaar’s crew on the starship Sahelnahuuwo suicided rather than surrender after his capture by his brother. His mother also committed ritual suicide in order to be with Maarec after his death.

The favored method of such slaying is to pierce a vein or artery in the throat, which ensues a relatively quick death though bleeding out (the equivalent of the trachea and esophagus are not severed). Beheading is considered dishonorable as it separates the body, and is thus used to execute prisoners, etc.

Diet

As their name suggests, the Hunters still practice subsistence hunting of herbivore animals as they never domesticated animals or kept pets. They do not hunt for sport (or play organized sports for that matter). The males of the Warrior Caste undertake such hunts; it also provides more training and exercise for them. Those of other Castes hunt smaller prey and gather plants for consumption. Aside from this, other creatures on the planet are left alone to live their own lives.

The cooked meat only of prey is eaten; offal is considered unclean and is left for scavengers. Meat is usually roasted. Spices are used abundantly. There is a cinnamon-equivalent derived from tree bark.

The eggs of various other creatures are very nutritious and are eaten with relish. Rainbow Beetles and various sea creatures are also eaten – the latter caught by hand when near the shoreline as boats are not used.

There are equivalents of fruits and berries. Some plants have edible starchy tuberous roots (meculanamay) that are similar to, and taste like, a sweet potato. There is the equivalent of rice grain from a yellow grass-like plant; this is a spherical black-colored seed that can be boiled and eaten as is, or ground into a paste and shaped into a flat, edible rice-paper-like wrapping on which other foods can be placed. It is a staple in the diet.

Edible plants can be grown in private gardens or hydroponically in specialized buildings within a Clan City to supplement the diet, but agriculture is otherwise not practiced on an intensive scale.[1] One form of hydroponics involves spraying a special paper with nutrients and a fixer; this is absorbed as the plant matures and is used in enclosed areas such as starships. The Dawn Hunters essentially practice horticulturerather than intensive agriculture.

Artificially-made food also provides nutrition, especially onboard starships for prolonged periods. Fresh food is still preferred, however.

The usual cooking methods are roasting, steaming or boiling. Frying is not done as cooking oils are not used. Eating is mostly done with the hands, and food presentation allows for this: liquids are drunk in bowls brought up to the mouth; other foods have rice wraps provided to scoop them up. Claws are used to spear some items such as meat slices, as well as one’s belt knife.

Food from other planets is not normally eaten due to biochemical differences, though the ingestion of artificial enzymes beforehand can enable digestion of some alien food. Eating alien food would usually only be done as a last resort.

Footnotes

[1]
StackExchange: Could a technological society develop without agriculture?

Digger

A Digger (Cehuwa) is a pig-like and pig-sized herbivore that digs under plants for roots and similar food. It has skin armor plating over its back, two upper tusks that can be used for digging or self-defense, and is solidly-built.

Gallery

Female Digger

Female Digger (colored pencils, August 2013).

Directions

Directions given in speech usually have the dative case (-e or -we).

North
Sanaazamaawe (wind-hot-[dative]) – called thus as the species originated in the southern hemisphere, and hot winds came from the north in the hot season); also saamehesasalame (left [of] sun – when standing facing eastwards)
South
Sanaawelawe (wind-cold-[dative]) – also ruuzehesasalame (right [of] sun – when standing facing eastwards)
East
Hesaasalamzabone (eye-day-up-[dative]), also besola saanewa (direction of dawn)
West
Hesaasalamlalone (eye-day-down-[dative]), also besola nahuuwa (direction of night)

For clarity, the word for direction/orientation can be added: besola saamehesasalame (direction of north)

Up
Zabowe
Down
Lalowe
Behind
Zalawe
Forward
Maale
Left
Saame
Right
Ruuze

Dome Tree

A Dome Tree (Meroyuucu) is an umbrella-shaped tree with small hexagonal orange leaves and black hexagonal bark. It is found in savannas and mountain biomes. (A similar Earthly equivalent is Dracaena cinnabari.)

Gallery

Dome Tree

Dome Tree (colored pencils, July 2013).

Dominion

The Dominion (Suulalan) is the region of the Milky Way galaxy over which the Dawn Hunters reign; it is on the opposite side of the central core to Earth. There have been just three habitable worlds with sapient aliens found in this area to date.

Also known as the Dominated Worlds (Honuusuula).

Drone

A Drone (Buuranrerewawuyu) is a small space and atmospheric vehicle that can be controlled by the parent Void Walker, or act autonomously using its own simple Artifical Intelligence. It is utilized for surveillance, nanite dispersal, etc., and somewhat resembles a manta ray in shape and is black in color. It is about 8 meters long and has one fusion engine. Its name literally translates as “fly-alone-machine,“ an autonomous flying machine.

An aquatic version of the drone, fitted with propellers, is used to remotely explore and monitor the Ocean of Storms.

Dimensions

Length
2 bodylengths (4.32 m) – it can also be manufactured in a larger size – double the listed dimensions (4 bodylengths long)
Wingspan
2.88 m

Gallery

Drone

Drone (colored pencils, 7/5/2009).

Drone, side view Drone, top and bottom

Dorsal, ventral and side views, with identifying Clan colors (Burning Eye Clan (digital art, 20/1/2014).

Duel

A duel (Harzeyu) is a formal fight between two Warriors for dominance, usually in order to ascend to a higher rank. The duel often results in the death of one. It takes place in an arena with a sand floor and is supervised by another Warrior acting as a referee – usually a Battle Master – who ensures they do not rest too long between bouts; there are otherwise no rules. Given the Dawn Hunters’ sharp teeth and claws, a fight will get bloody very quickly.

The only item of clothing worn is a loincloth (saacelanhasa).

Fights between high-ranking Warriors – such as War Lords and Clan Lords, when leadership is at stake – take place in a Clan City’s Arena of Honor.

Another type of duel involves wielding swords, though this will often take place on a battlefield or during a random encounter.

Economy

Similar to the Incas,[1] the Dawn Hunters do not have an economy as we know it, and have no concept of money. They thus would be uninterested in trading and mercantile activities, and would regard these with disdain if they understood the concept.

Everyone within a Clan City – including any guests – is provided with the basic necessities of life from central distribution centers. An individual may also leave an unwanted item in one of the distribution centers for anyone else to take and use. The extremes and idea of wealth and poverty are unknown.

This leaves them with the time to pursue their own interests and work – scientists, for example, do not have to worry about the distraction of continually begging for research funding, and artisans are similarly free to create. Gift-giving or exchanging of hand-crafted items is valued, however, especially in a society where automated nanotechnology can manufacture almost anything.

Everyone does work and contribute in some capacity as a City needs to be kept functioning. There are no slaves as such, but the lower-ranked within a Caste usually perform the less-desirable tasks (as is the usual practice with apprentices in human societies). A lot of such tasks are automated.

Out of an 8-day week (one Red Moon-cycle/orbit), an inhabitant might spend 2-3 days focused on their profession, 2-3 days hunting and gathering, and the remaining days for rest and recreation. A Warriorwill spend 2-3 days fight-training, 2-3 days hunting, and resting for what remains. These are variable depending upon an individual’s situation and the time of year.

Admittedly, if any humans visited, many would likely get rather bored within a week if they came from the typical overstimulated consumer society – there are no shops and nothing to buy, and no entertainment such as movies or nightclubs. In some ways a City is more like a monastery, and some people might find this agreeable.

Hospitality is considered important, as is providing refuge to one who seeks it.

They are not particularly interested in interacting too much with other cultures and tend toward isolationism.

Footnotes

[1]
The greatest mystery of the Inca Empire was its strange economy

Education

All Dawn Hunters receive a basic education up to adolescence, where the Castes begin training and specializing in the professions they will practice as adults. Training is by a form of apprenticeship, learning by osmosis and observation; there are no equivalent of universities. It is usual for children to be trained in their parents’ professions, and the training takes many years.

Children do not receive much exposure to technology when young; it is felt important for them to fully develop their senses out in the natural world as much as possible. Following this philosophy, they are not given neural implantsuntil adulthood.

Egg Plant

An Egg Plant (Merosaraa) resembles an egg half-buried in the ground, and is approximately the same size, colored an iridescent, banded cerulean-blue. It has sweet reddish edible flesh, tasting something like a custard apple. It has a four-pointed, magenta-colored star shape on top; this splits open when ripe in the hot season.

Gallery

Egg Plant

Egg Plants (digital art, 10/5/2015, 68 KB).

Endless Plains Clan

The Endless Plains Clan (Narawaa Sosaanwo) is one of the eight Great Clans. Its Clan City is located on Home World’s east coast. It is the nearest Clan City to, and traditional ally of, Night River Clan; Endless Plains is situated around 2000 km northeast of it. Its territory is the main habitat for Spike Tails, the main prey of the Dawn Hunters.

Data

Endless Plains Clan symbol
Burial armor gemstone
Amethyst
Clan City construction stone
Pink granite
Clan City co-ordinates
Approximately 10°E, 30°S
Clan emblem
A stylized plain with distant mountains
Color
Amethyst (#7e359f/rgb(126,53,159))
Clan Lords mentioned
Sanaazuun

Environment

The Hunters have a philosophy of living in harmony with their environment rather than trying to dominate and alter it. Thus, aside from the contained Clan Cities, they have left little impact upon the landscape: no pollution, dams, roads, deforestation or agricultural fields. Energy needs are powered by renewable sources. They do not let their population outgrow the available resources. This attitude is extended to other aliens; if these are living in an environmentally-destructive manner, then steps will be taken to correct this.

Etiquette

Manners (luula) are considered very important in Dawn Hunter society and are dependent upon the age and status of one individual to another.

Exploration

The Dawn Hunters have a somewhat ambivalent attitude toward exploration: they are curious to see what is out there, but are also very attached to their Clan City and Home World. Exploration thus needs a specific purpose – they are not ones to partake in such activities such as mountain-climbing “because it is there.” It is mainly to gather information and neutralize potential threats to their existence. The latter objective is particularly relevant when exploring other star systems for sapient aliens.

In a similar vein, they wish to dominate but have no desire to actually colonize other worlds; at most they will station a Void Walker on a rotational basis to monitor a world’s activities once it is brought under their control. They are not interested in “uplifting” other sapient species in case these might become a threat to them.

They have no interest in terraforming worlds, though they will use nanotechnology to repair a habitable world that has been environmentally-damaged by its inhabitants.

Eye of the Day

The Home World of the Dawn Hunters orbits a main-sequence Class-F8V white star that is a little hotter than Earth’s Class-G2V Sun (Sol) on the stellar classification scale, so its light is yellowish-white in color. Life here receives a little more UV radiation than Earth, so it has evolved mechanisms for protection such as thicker skin with an iridescent/metallic sheen.

The star, named Eye of the Day (Hesaahame), is fairly stable, with a projected lifetime of 7 billion years. It is younger than Earth’s Sun, which has a projected life of 10 billion years (and is midway through its life). Like the Sun, it contains an abundance of heavy elements, essential for making Earth-like planets. The system is located around 50,000 light-years from Earth on the opposite side of our Galaxy, or 23,000 ly from the Galactic Core (distances are very approximate), close to the outer edge of the Norma Arm – a reasonably safe distance from the star-crowded Core.

Despite being hotter, the star’s light may seem dimmer to humans because more of its output is in the ultraviolet range, which human eyes can’t detect. Humans would still have to wear UV protection, though the deleterious effects of this are somewhat moderated by its habitable zone being further away.

Its viewing angle is 0.45°; only Grey Moon would cover it in an eclipse. [1]

Eye of the Day data
Class Temperature in degrees Kelvin Mass (Mass of our sun = 1) Radius (Radius of Sun=1) Terrestrial Equivalent Orbit in AUs Lifetime in billions of years
F8 (#fff7fc) [2] 6200 1.190 1.260 (876,708 km) 1.45 (216,916,912.95 km) 6.880
G2 (our Sun, for comparison) (#fff5ec) 5860 .998 1.020 1.05 10.100

Gallery

Eye of the Day

Eye of the Day render in GIMP.

Home World system

Eye of the Day and its planetary system (digital art, 18/5/2015). Star and planets are to scale (100 pixels = 100,000 km); distances are not.

Location of Home World in the Milky Way

Home World’s approximate location in the Milky Way galaxy. (Diagram adapted from one at Wikipedia, by User:Rursus.)

Footnotes

  1. Tangent of Theta: Radius (876,708 km)/distance from HW (216,916,912.95 km) = 0.004041676548301625 (0.004) x 2 = 0.008; viewing angle is around 0.45° according to the chart on that page.
  2. Reference site for star web color values: What color are the stars?

Fauna overview

Unlike Earth, Home World has managed to avoid any major extinction events so far, so the resident lifeforms have evolved uninterrupted since the planet was formed. The Dawn Hunters evolved into their current form around the time of the dinosaurs on Earth.

Home World does not have Earth’s abundant lifeforms. There are land, sea and flying creatures, out of which only the Hunters are sapient. They are reminiscent of dinosaur- or reptile-like creatures, though they have mammalian characteristics also (i.e. are homeothermic and active). They do not get very large because of the slightly higher gravity; the largest size is about the size of a camel or similar herbivore. There are also various insects which are similar to those on Earth, mainly beetle-types with 8 legs in groups of 2 and iridescent shells.

Most creatures share the same characteristics:

The predators and winged creatures have tetrachromatic vision: 4 receptors (blue, red, green and near-ultraviolet receptor cones) rather than the 3 humans have (blue, red and green cones – trichromatic). Thus, similar to some Earth birds, they can see the same and more colors than a human, with a subtle shift toward the blue end of the spectrum. They might, for example, see red and UV light as purple. So while humans with 3-receptor vision would see crest grass as red, HW native predators would see it as more violet in sunlight.

The herbivores have trichromatic vision, but with blue, green and UV cones instead – same as a honeybee’s – so they can’t see the color red, similar to how we can’t see ultraviolet (red just looks blackish to them, similar to how a person with protan [red cone] color blindness would see it). They can only see blue-green, blue and yellow in our visible spectrum, and see colors differently due to the addition of ultraviolet. Therefore the herbivores can’t distinguish between the black coloring of the Hunters and the red crest-grass.

Fauna is classified as:

There are no domesticated animals kept by the Dawn Hunters; this was simply never conceived of, and as they kept their population small, they could adequately provide their food needs by hunting at intervals.

Finger Tree

A Finger Tree (Merosoon) is a tree with textured bark resembling stacked reddish-black rings. It has four branches at the top which splay out somewhat like a hand and are each tipped in a blue flower-like leaf.

Gallery

Finger Tree

Finger Tree (colored pencils, July 2013).

Fire Mountain Clan

The Fire Mountain Clan (Narawaa Nomaalecaawo) is one of the eight Great Clans. Its Clan City is located on Home World’s east coast. The Clan supplies mined obsidian glass from the (relatively) nearby volcanic region to other Clans.

Data

Fire Mountain Clan symbol
Burial armor gemstone
Aquamarine
Clan City construction stone
Bluestone (basalt)
Clan City co-ordinates
Approximately 2°E, 9°N
Clan emblem
Stylized representation of an erupting volcano; the peninsula of volcanoes is visible to the east from the City
Color
Sky blue (#87ceeb/rgb(135,206,235))
Clan Lords mentioned
Lord Lecaaso

Fire Tail

A Fire Tail (Hawelecaa) is a predator that scavenges and hunts in packs for food on the savannas of Home World; it can be a danger to a lone Dawn Hunter. It is similar in size and behavior to a hyena. Its coloring follows the usual pattern of black-skinned males and grey-skinned females. It may have blue or fire-colored eyes, and blue iridescent spots on its upper body. Its tail ends in a display membrane in shades of iridescent red, orange and yellow.

Gallery

Male Fire Tail

Male Fire Tail (colored pencils, August 2013).

Fire Tree

A Fire Tree (Merolecaa) is a black-barked tree with long ribbon-like yellow-orange leaves that resemble tongues of flame. It is found in groups on the savanna. It stores water in its bulbous trunk.

Its name also refers to the flammable oil its leaves contain (this has a scent similar to that of eucalyptus oil). The distilled oil is used for fuel, and also has antiseptic medicinal properties. As the tree is fast-growing, it can be harvested prolifically. Fire also induces its seeds to regenerate.

Gallery

Fire Tree

Fire Tree (colored pencils, July 2013).

Fire Wind Clan

The Fire Wind Clan (Narawaa Sanaalecaawo) is a sub-Clan from which then-Regent Lord Yaraan obtained his Void Walker after dueling with its War Lord.

Data

Fire Wind Clan symbol
Burial armor gemstone
Blue Iolite
Clan emblem
Stylized wind gusts with the Eye of the Day above them
Color
Purple-blue (#3e4183/rgb(62,65,131))

Fire World

Fire World (Honuulecaa) is the first planet of the Dawn Hunters’ system. It is a volcanic rocky world with a hot thick cloudless atmosphere – a “Hot Super Earth”; possibly the core of a gas giant that migrated inward. The atmosphere is blue but its surface glows with tectonic activity. There is some simple bacterial life existing on it nonetheless as the atmosphere contains water vapor and free oxygen.

Data

Distance
1.015 AU
Year length
397.85 Earth days orbit equivalent
Diameter at equator
22,000 km

Gallery

Fire World

Fire World, rendered with a GIMP script.

Floor-quilt

A floor-quilt (Casalenol) is a padded mat used to sit on, placed on the floor. It is hand-made from a silk-like plant fiber material and elaborately embroidered and patterned. As the Dawn Hunters have bony physiques, floor-quilts are a necessity and these are in ample supply.

Flora overview

Plant colors of a world differ depending upon the temperature and light spectrum of its star. The general consensus is that stars of a lower temperature than the Sun are likely to have dark vegetation so as to absorb all available light, while stars hotter than the Sun will have yellow-orange-red-green vegetation, so as to absorb the greater amount of high-energy blue light in the star’s spectrum.

Home World flora colors (orange-magenta-cerulean-blue)

Therefore, plants on Home World are various colors, the main hues being cerulean (blue-green, phycocyanin) for shade plants that don’t like too much light, or live in tropical zones and need to reflect excess blue light, and orange, red and magenta (purplish-red – red-violet; carotenes, phycoerythrin) for plants in higher latitudes. Colors can be mixed; purple comes from cyanins and erythrins. Some plants have pure blue parts, such as the magenta crest-grass with its blue tips, and some flower-analogs. There are no Earth-green plants (i.e. utilizing yellow-green chlorophyll). From orbit the vegetation might appear something like satellite photos of Fall/Autumn foliage, though with a more purplish-red tint. Magenta is the dominant overall color, as green is the dominant color for Earth plants.

Home World color gradient strip, orange-magenta-cerulean-blue

Plants in the temperate zones go through a version of Autumn, with the leaves losing their pigment and turning a chestnut- or rusty-brown before falling off. This is known as the Season/Time of Browning.

Many of the plants resemble tropical plants of Earth. There are tree-analogs which have spiky orange leaves, and black bark that resembles small hexagonal scales (an influence for Dawn Hunter design features, such as hexagonal-shaped solar panels). There is a grass-analog which is magenta in color with edible blue tips, somewhat resembling the Hunter crest-quills (evolved as a camouflage for hunting). Plant leaves have a metallic sheen to help reflect excess light.

Gallery

Home World plains

Home World plains (colored pencils, June 2013).

Folding screen

A folding screen (Zahuulansanaa) is a piece of portable furniture consisting of hinged panels that serves as a draft and privacy shield in a room, similar to the traditional Asian screens. There are usually several of these to be found in strategic locations, and they break up an otherwise large apartment room. They are brightly painted and lacquered, usually featuring hunting and landscape scenes.

Gold Cloud World

Gold Cloud World (Honuubaalosuusuuzu) is the fourth planet of the Dawn Hunters’ system. It is a Class I ammonia cloud Jovian gas giant. It is a little larger than Saturn, has noticeable rings and its cloud bands are gold, white and tan in color. It has 18 moons. It and Blue Cloud World are known as “Dawn’s Hearts” (Mawasaan).

Data

Distance
4.06 AU
Year length
8.18 Earth years = 2985.9 Earth days equivalent orbit
Temperature
118 K
Diameter
134,000 km

Gallery

Gold Cloud World

Gold Cloud World rendered with Gimp scripts Gas Giant, Planetary Ring System.

Grammar

Nouns are inflected for case; verbs have various conjugations. Word types are broadly divided into nouns (naming words), verbs (action words) and descriptors (adjectives, adverbs, etc.).

Modifiers

There are no distinct separations for adjectives (noun descriptors); these can be treated as stative verbs and may be reduplicated for emphasis. A noun placed after another noun can also serve as an adjective (however it usually ends up as a compound word). Adjectives are given verbal suffixes, and there may be only two words in a sentence: the subject noun followed by a descriptive adjective.

Adverbs (verb/adjective descriptors) are created by adding the appropriate suffix (-neel), or by reduplication for emphasis.

Adjectives are placed after nouns, and adverbs follow verbs. Numbers modifying a noun, however, come before the noun.

Noun case particles

Nouns have four suffixes indicating their case: accusative (uu), dative (e) (serves also as instrumental and locative), genitive (aa), nominative (o) – and are V only. These are placed on the word end, after any derivational suffixes following a noun root, and indicate a noun’s role in a sentence.

If there is a vowel preceding these, y or w are put in front as an interfix: a → w, e → y, o → w, u → w. (There are no suffixes beginning with w- or y- to avoid confusion.) A case can serve multiple functions for a word.

Possessive noun phrases are head-marked. For example, Narabaa Sahelnahuuwo, Night River Clan, is structured: Nara [clan] (w)aa [genitive] Sahelnahuu [River Night] (w)o [nominative] (Clan of/named the Night River). Another example: Zaawezoyuuwaa Sohaaro – the starship of/belonging to Sohaar.

If there is more than one noun in nominative case in a sentence, the first such noun that appears is the main subject.

Nouns do not have classes or genders.

Nouns
Noun affix Meaning Type
-(w)aa genitive (shows possession – “of”; also can perform some functions of the ablative [motion away from] case) noun case
-(w)o nominative (shows the subject of a sentence; also the dictionary form of a word) noun case
-(w)uu accusative (shows the direct object of a sentence; person or thing that has an action done to it) noun case
-(y)e dative (shows the indirect object of a sentence. It serves also as instrumental [how something is done] and can also indicate location [ablative case], time or direction, depending upon context) noun case

Verb conjugation

Verbs can be conjugated for (in order) tense (infinite, remote past, near past, present), person, politeness (superior, equal, inferior) and mood (imperative, uncertainty/hearsay, fact/known). A verb with suffixes can be used as a complete sentence or statement. The verbals come after any derivational suffixes. If the consonant preceding the suffix is the same as the beginning consonant of the suffix (doubled/geminated consonants are not allowed), an interfix vowel is usually put in between: if the vowel preceding the last consonant is a/aa or o/oo, the bridging vowel is a. If not, the vowel is e. (The interfix has no meaning otherwise.)

Verb tenses: there are four – infinitive (-zan), remote past (-sul), near past (-ben) present (-nec) – and are CVC only. The remote past is used for events before one’s lifetime; the near past is within one’s lifetime. This reflects the culture’s preoccupation with the past and their ancestors; that these are still part of their daily lives. Similar to Japanese, the language does not have a future tense – instead, the present tense with a word or expression of time may be used (e.g. day-next, salamamaa), or else the future is implied in context.

Verb politeness – to another: respectful/polite (-se), neutral (-la), abased (cu); referring to oneself: respectful/polite (-see), neutral (-laa), abased (-cuu). Addressing someone with the correct honorific is very important. One can easily insult another by wrongly using the inferior verbal conjugation. This has the same effect as swearing at them; consequently the language has few actual swear words.

Verb mood/evidentiality: imperative (-sa), hearsay/uncertain (-za), fact/personal knowledge (-na).

An example: the command “Begin!” – Nacanuumahensesa! – Naca [root] + nuu [tense – present] + mahen [person – you plural] + se [politeness – to higher-ranking Warriors here] + sa [mood – imperative].

Verbs
Verb suffix Meaning Type
-bal she/he/its/hers/his (Dawn Hunter) person
-ben near past (also completed/perfect, present perfect tense) tense
-bo its (inanimate) person
-cu abased (of oneself) honorific
-cuu abased (of another) honorific
-han we, us (inclusive – me and you) person
-hela we, us (exclusive – me and they) person
-la neutral (of oneself) honorific
-laa neutral (of another) honorific
-ma you/your/yours singular person
-mahen you/your/yours plural person
-na fact/personal knowledge mood
-nee I/me/my/mine person
-nec infinitive tense
-sa imperative mood
-se superior (of oneself) honorific
-see superior (of another) honorific
-sul remote past tense
-za hearsay/uncertain mood
-zan present (also ongoing/imperfect, habitual actions) tense

Other affixes

These are attached before the cases or conjugation on verbs or nouns, and are not affected by the word type. They may be V, CV or CVC (most usually the latter two). If the root word’s ending consonant and the suffix’s beginning consonant are the same, a bridging vowel is usually placed between them.

Affixes
Affix Meaning Type
-a/-wa (after consonant/vowel) or created by lengthening a vowel, usually a (e.g. har – war; haar – warrior) Agent noun (“one who …” “that which …”) – an entity that does an action agentive suffix
-bo Superlative (“the most” “the least”) suffix
-ca Diminutive – attached to kinship terms to indicate affection suffix
ce- Makes number an ordinal prefix
-cul Reflexive – perform an action on oneself (appended to pronouns – e.g. herself, myself) suffix
-cuuna many independent suffix
-hay Number – inanimate objects number classifier
-he Causative – to inflict an action upon someone or something suffix
-hon Number – creature, animates number classifier
-huu Negative particle (not, -less) independent suffix
-lan Make word into noun (means state/quality/measure of word – equivalent to English -ing) – verb root + -lan derivational suffix
-me Interrogative (indicates yes/no question) – attach to end of most relevant word in a sentence interrogative suffix
-neel Adverb marker derivational suffix
-nel Number – person (Dawn Hunter) number classifier
-nem Attached to kinship terms to indicate respect honorific
-ranee Address for lower rank pronoun honorific
-rel Make noun into verb derivational suffix
-sanul Address for equal rank pronoun honorific
-seen With (also used for the equivalent of the verb “to have,” for which there is no direct word) nominal dependent suffix
-zen Address for higher rank pronoun honorific

Grey Moon

Grey Moon (Rebebehu) is the nearest moon of three orbiting Home World. It is grey in color, similar to Earth’s Moon. It is tidally-locked to Home World, so that one side always faces the planet. Clan Lordsare buried in pyramid-tombs on its surface, so that they are regarded as watching over their world.

Data

Diameter
2400 km
Radius
1200 km
Density
4.5
Distance
24 radii = 168,380.8368 km (Roche Limit of 2.8518 radii)
Viewing angle
0.8° (appears slightly bigger than Moon – Earth’s Moon is 60.27 radii from the Earth right now; it is 0.5°)
Orbit
156.94 Earth hours/6.5 days/5.2 HW days (orbits 98.46 times in a HW year)

Gallery

Grey Moon

Grey Moon, rendered using a GIMP script.

Ground Carrier

The equivalent of cars on Earth is a Ground Carrier (Habaalanlenol) or Machine Sled (Cereslanbuuran) – also nicknamed, for obvious reasons, a Saraabuuran (machine-egg). This is an ovoid/elliptical wheeled pod that seat up to four occupants and is much the same size as an average human-made car (around 4 meters in length). As with other transport, it is solar-powered and is constructed from the black nanoalloy metal that has an iridescent sheen; the surface has an underlying hexagonal pattern that absorbs sunlight. The wheels can morph into a form more suited for all-terrain use outside a City as there is no road network due to the strong inhibition against despoiling the land with infrastructure. It has a basic AIto enable autonomous driving; there is also an option for user-controlled driving.

The cars are parked in various locations around a City for anyone to use when needed.

Ground Carrier sketch

Placeholder rough sketch for a Ground Carrier; done 24/1/2017.

Dimensions

Length
2 bodylengths (4.32 m)
Width (at widest point)
1 bodylength (2.16 m)

Haarlecaa

Haarlecaa is a Warrior-Guardian, older brother of Yaraanlecaa. Clan Lord Sohaar inherited them from Supreme Lord Yaraan.

Biographical information

Gender
Male
First appearance
Dominator chapter: “Encounter”

Haarmaarec

Haarmaarec is a Warrior-Four-Claw under Lords Maarec and then Sohaar.

Biographical information

Gender
Male
Eye color
Blue-green (#008080/rgb(0,128,128))
First appearance
Inheritor chapter: “Succession”

Haarnahuu

Haarnahuu (past)

Haarnahuu is a Clan Lord and ally of Sohaar. Male, Warrior Caste, Endless Plains Clan.

Biographical information

Gender
Male
First appearance
Inheritor chapter: “Challenge”

Haarnahuu (remote past)

An ancestor with the same name.

Biographical information

Gender
Male
Eye color
Light violet (lavender) (#b57edc/rgb(181,126,220))
First appearance
Inheritor chapter: “Fallen”

Haaryaraan

Haaryaraan is a Clan Lord, Dawn Star Clan. Oversees the alien Sword Arms.

Biographical information

Gender
Male
First appearance
Dominator chapter: “Encounter”

Haraanahuu

Haraanahuu is a War Lord who tries to overthrow Clan Lord Maarec by sending two Warrior-Assassins to kill him.

Biographical information

Gender
Male
First appearance
Inheritor chapter: “Assassins”

Haraanoro

Haraanoro is a Warrior-Guardian of Sohaar-5.

Biographical information

Gender
Male
First appearance
Chapter: “Fallen”

Haraazuun

Haraazuun is a Warrior-Four-Claw who challenges the Supreme Lord, Soharaa, to a leadership duel. Full title is: Haraazuun-106, son of Baaloyaraan-107 of the Ocean Wind Clan.

Biographical information

Gender
Male
Eye color
Dark green (#013220/rgb(1,50,32))
First appearance
Inheritor chapter: “Challenge”

Healing Bed

A Healing Bed (Bunuunmohuulan) is an enclosed sarcophagus-like medical bed that contains Repairer-Nanites which are programmed to heal the one occupying it. The occupant is enveloped in a cocoon-like azure-blue gel containing the nanites that anesthetize them for the duration of the procedure; effectively a form of hibernation or stasis that can be extended almost indefinitely (as in the case of Sohaar). It can be configured for various alien physiologies.

Only a Clan Lord can use the Bed to also extend his life. This comes with a caveat: for as long as he uses it, he is not allowed to father children. If he wishes to reproduce, he must permanently stop using the Bed’s longevity programming and so age and die normally (though he can still use it for normal healing). This ensures that Dawn Hunter society does not become overrun with immortals. (Few, if any, Clan Lords would be immortal anyway as they tend to kill each other off in combat.)

Heir Lord

A Heir Lord (Zulyaacosa) is a War Lord’s or Clan Lord’s first-hatched son who will inherit his position. Helmet crest is modeled on that of a young Crescent Horn.

His metal rank color is gold (#ffd700 / rgb(255,215,0)).

Gallery

Heir-Lord helmet

Heir-Lord helmet (digital art, 27/2/2014).

Hesaabale

Haraazuun is a Warrior-Four-Claw under Lords Maarec and then Sohaar. He serves as Ship Master on Regent Lord Yaraan’s Void Walker during Yaraan’s attempt to overthrow Sohaar.

Biographical information

Gender
Male
First appearance
Inheritor chapter: “Capture”

Home World

Home World (Yoorazuulnulun) is the planet on which the Dawn Hunters evolved, and on which they still reside. It orbits the star Eye of the Day in a fairly stable circular orbit.

It is referred to as Yoorazuulnulun, “Land-sky [implied nominative – of/that is] home,” literally Home World. It can also be referred to as Yoora, the name of the single large continent.

Overview

Home World is an Earth-like world, but a little harsher in some respects. Home World gets more ultraviolet radiation than Earth, so a human walking on its surface would need skin and eye protection, but this is somewhat moderated by the sun’s being further away.

Much of HW – about 76% – consists of ocean, but despite this the Hunters are not an ocean-going species, fearing the vast expanses of deep water. Most of the land mass is clumped together similar to the ancient Earth supercontinent of Pangaea, with small archipelagos of islands, and covers up around 24.1% of the planet’s surface. There are deserts, mountain ranges and volcanoes, and some forests. The planet is geologically active, with slowly-moving tectonic plates. Huge hurricanes form over the unbroken ocean, making parts of the coast a dangerous place to live. Hunter cities are thus located a little way inland, often alongside inlets; only the nuclear fusion power stations supplying each city are close to the coast as they need to process seawater for deuterium fuel.

Home World sky color

In part due to the slightly higher gravity, the atmosphere is a bit thicker than Earth’s; oxygen content is 23%. Sky color is light aquamarine, fading to near-white near the horizon (#a3dde1/rgb(163,221,225) to #e6fafb/rgb(230,250,251)).

Home World sky color gradient strip

Average surface temperature is 18°C (Earth’s is around 14°C).

Minerals, rocks and gems are much the same as those formed on Earth.

Data

Area
618,554,374.395 km2 (note: to calculate surface area of sphere: Area = 4πr2)
Atmosphere
1.1 (16.17 psi/111.1 kPa) (N2, O2, Ar); 23% O2
Axial tilt
16°
Circumference
6.908 (44,082.5 km)
Day length
A day is the equivalent of 30 Earth hours (1.25 times longer than an Earth day)
Density
5.6 g/cm3
Diameter
14,031.71 km
Distance
1.45 Astronomical Units or 217,500,000 km
Escape velocity
12,320 meters/second
Gravity
1.119 of Earth (using density of 5.6 and radius 1.1 of Earth’s); a human will weigh about 10% more on Home World
Mass
6.567 × 1024 kg (6,567,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 kg)
Moons
Three
Radius
7015.91 km (1.1 times that of Earth)
Roche Limit (2.423 of a planet’s radius)
2.6653
Size of star from planet
Viewing angle in degrees = 0.45°; appears a little smaller in the sky than the Sun does from Earth’s sky (0.5°)
Temperature range
−50°C to +50°C
Volume
5.572 (1,446,573,940,288.983 km3) (note: to calculate the volume of a sphere: Volume = 4 πr3/3 (r3 × π × 4 ÷ 3)
Year length
638.75 Earth days (15,330 Earth hours – .75 equals 18 hours)

Years and days

A day is the equivalent of 30 Earth hours (1.25 times longer than an Earth day). It divides into 8 × 210 minute-segments:

A year starts and ends at the summer solstice (southern hemisphere); it is divided into quarters, delineated by solstices and equinoxes.

Home World years conversion
Home World years Earth years equivalent
1 638.75 Earth days (1.75 Earth years)
2 3.5
3 5.25
4 7
5 8.75
6 10.5
7 12.25
8 14
10 17.5
11 19.25
12 21
20 35
30 52.5
40 70
50 87.5
60 105
70 122.5
75 131.25
80 140
85 148.75
100 175
110 192.5

Moons

Home World has 3 moons: Grey Moon, Red Moon, Ice Moon. All are smaller than Earth’s Moon.

Orbital resonance:

This animation of Jupiter’s Galilean moons gives an approximation of the orbital resonance of Home World’s moons. The inner 2 moons (Io and Europa) line up every 2 orbits of the 1st moon. The middle and outer moons line up every 2 orbits (Europa and Ganymede). The 3 moons never line up together on one side, so there can never be 3 moons visible in the sky at the one time. At one point the outer and inner moons are lined up on one side, with the middle moon directly opposite on the other side of the planet.

Gallery

Some digital maps done from 21/3/2013, using GIMP and NASA’s G-Projector. They are not highly precise, but will give an idea of the scale of the continent. (Scale is 1 cm: 1000 km or 1: 100 pixels on the original size.)

Home World basic map projection

Equicylindrical projection, basic outline (completed 6/11/2013 in GIMP) – the image is increasingly distorted at higher latitudes (squashed vertically and stretched horizontally). Clan Cities, their nuclear fusion power stations and mountains over 1000 m are shown.

Home World globe, orthographic

Orthographic projection.

Home World globe, north Home World globe, south

North and south hemispheres.

Home World map, tectonics

Tectonic plates, showing major plates. Plates 1 and 2: spreading from undersea rift; Plates 3 and 4: polar, rotating; Plates 5 and 6: merged, moving eastward, colliding with plate 2.

Home World map, elevation

Land elevation map (completed 7/11/2013). There is a large dry salt lake bed in the northern desert.

Home World map, biomes

Biome map (completed 7/11/2013).

Home World map, vegetation

Vegetation map (completed 8/11/2013) – note that the hunting grounds of the Dawn Hunters in formerly forested areas are managed by firestick farming.

Home World map, decorative

A decorative and stylized map – how it might appear when painted as a wall mural (4/9/2014).

I don’t know how realistic these vegetation patterns are, not being an expert and having no access to a climate simulator! I have somewhat based them on the ancient continent of Pangaea.

Home World spherical render Home World map render

“Satellite” views of the continent. These are approximations only as I don’t have the skill so far to do a photo-realistic map, so these are more stylized views. (Clouds are an overlay from Natural Earth– I am not sure what cloud formations over a single large continent would look like.) (2/9/2014) Scale note: 1 pixel = 8.48 km on the ground, so 100 px = 848 km (works out to 44,070.56 km circumference), and 117.92 px = 1000 km (44,042.37 km). Not perfectly accurate, but good enough for an approximate rendition.

Orbits of Home World moons

Approximation of the orbits of Home World’s moons, adapted from an animation of Jupiter’s moons. It is not highly precise. Direction is anti-clockwise for both orbits and images.

Horus Expedition

The Russian Mars expedition is set in the near-future (before 2020 at the current time of writing in 2014). It is a privately funded mission initiated by Darius Tyler, a (very) wealthy American businessman, entrepreneur and space enthusiast who helps with funding a Russian spaceship in return for access to alien technology. He is an eccentric idealist and has a secret wish to meet an alien (though Sohaar might prove more than he bargained for!). He is CEO of the Darius Corporation, which has investments in various technological areas. He is a multi-billionaire, necessary for him to fund his own space mission!

Mission profile

The mission profile is based on that set for the Mars-500 one: launch 10 October 2017 and arrive in Mars orbit on 22 August 2018 after a 315-day trip. Mars and Earth will be around 79,666,000 km apart at this point in their orbits (or 64 million km according to the The Orbit of Mars simulator, from which the screenshots below are sourced). Radio signals will take 4.4 minutes each way (8.8 minutes round trip).

Mars and Earth, 10 October 2017 Mars and Earth, 22 August 2018

The Mars-500 simulated mission experiment begun on 3 June 2010 with a crew of 6 and ended on 4 November 2011. The TsUP mission page (in Russian, so I am relying upon an imperfect computer translation), describes the stages of the mission. The launch window is in 2018, corresponding to the nearest favorable opposition of Mars and the Earth. The actual mission leaves in October 2017 and returns to Earth in October 2019.

The spaceship’s trajectory is maintained by small engine impulses. Electrojet ion engines are used, with argon being the propellant gas, and 17 to 25 MW of power is needed. Power supply is either solar (120,000 sq. m sails providing 18 Mvt) or nuclear (25 MW).

Mars flight data
Полет в сфере действия Земли – старт с орбиты ИСЗ
Flight in Earth’s orbit – launch from artificial satellite orbit
Старт с опорной орбиты искусственного спутника Земли
Launch from support orbit of the artificial companion of the Earth		 10/10/2017 00:46:00
Время раскрутки, сутки
Acceleration time, days		 99.926
Расход топлива, тонн
Fuel used, tonnes		 34.888
Перелет Земля-Марс
Flight from Earth to Mars
Дата отлета со сферы действия Земли
Date of leaving Earth’s gravitational influence		 17/01/2018 23:00:00
Время перелета Т, сутки
Flight time, days		 216.083
Моторное время t, сутки
Motor time t, days		 142.260
Расход топлива, тонн
Fuel used, tonnes		 49.669
Полет в сфере действия Марса
Flight in Mars orbit
Дата выхода на сферу действия Марса
Exit date from Mars’ gravitational influence		 22/08/2018 01:00:00
Время скрутки, сутки
Time duration, days		 38.216
Расход топлива, тонн
Fuel used, tonnes		 13.343
Дата выхода на орбиту искусственного спутника Марса
Date of entering orbit around the artificial satellite of Mars		 29/09/2018 06:11:00
Орбитальная фаза полета, сутки
Orbital phase of flight, days		 29.883
Дата схода с орбиты искусственного спутника Марса
Date of descent from orbit of the artificial satellite of Mars		 29/10/2018 03:39:00
Время раскрутки, сутки
Acceleration time, days		 37.014
Расход топлива, тонн
Fuel used, tonnes		 12.923
Перелет Марс-Земля
Flight from Mars to Earth
Дата отлета со сферы действия Марса
Date of leaving Mars’ gravitational influence		 5/12/2018 03:59:00
Время перелета Т, сутки
Flight time, days		 249
Моторное время t, сутки
Acceleration time, days		 159.9
Расход топлива, тонн
Fuel used, tonnes		 55.828
Полет в сфере действия Земли – возвращение
Flight in sphere of action of the Earth – returning
Дата выхода на сферу действия Земли
Exit date from Earth’s gravitational influence		 11/08/2019 03:59:00
Время скрутки, сутки
Flight time, days		 59.948
Расход топлива, тонн
Fuel used, tonnes		 20.93
Дата завершения полета
Flight completion date		 10/10/2019 02:44:00
Характеристики уточненной баллистической схемы
Characteristics of the refined trajectory plan
Общее время экспедиции, сутки
Total expedition duration, days		 730.07
Затраты рабочего тела, тонн
Energy of working body, tonnes		 187.581
Начальная масса МПК на орбите ИСЗ
The initial mass of the MPK on-orbit satellite		 385.1
Минимальное расстояние от Солнца, а. е.
Minimum distance from the Sun		 0.570
Mission days: Earth to Mars distances
Misson day/date From Earth To Mars
14 (17/6/2010) 71,000 316,540,000
22 (25/6/2010) 138,500 306,846,000
29 (2/7/2010) 300,000 297,670,000
44 (16/7/2010) 1,457,000 279,657,000
58 (30/7/2010) 3,904,000 261,140,000
65 (6/8/2010) 5,467,000 250,386,000
75 (17/8/2010) 8,089,000 234,374,000
79 (20/8/2010) 9,471,000 227,019,000
93 (3/9/2010) 15,721,000 200,022,000
100 (10/9/2010) 19,266,000 87,267,000
107 (17/9/2010) 23,932,000 172,428,000
114 (27/9/2010) 28,475,000 159,870,000
125 (4/10/2010) 33,143,000 142,787,000
128 (8/10/2010) 36,852,000 130,852,000
135 (15/10/2010) 40,818,000 117,495,000
142 (22/10/2010) 44,380,000 104,461,000
149 (29/10/2010) 47,167,000 92,962,000
159 (8/11/2010) 50,160,000 78,268,000
162 (12/11/2010) 50,707,000 74,017,000
170 (19/11/2010) 51,991,000 62,896,000
177 (26/11/2010) 52,507,000 54,527,000
184 (3/12/2010) 52,659,000 5,163,000
191 (10/12/2010) 55,289,000 3,255,000
198 (17/12/2010) 58,309,000 1,907,000
205 (24/12/2010) 61,865,000 886,000
212 (31/12/2010) 65,897,000 265,000
226 (14/1/2011) 74,587,000 16,100
233 (21/1/2011) 79,666,000 7,600
Mission days: Mars to Earth distances
Misson day/date From Mars To Earth
313 (11/4/2011 – depart Mars 3/3/2011) 1,606,000 160,485,000
338 (6/5/2011) 25,206,000 212,983,000
345 (13/5/2011) 38,030,000 219,465,000
352 (20/5/2011) 45,642,000 220,580,000
359 (27/5/2011) 62,514,000 219,372,000
394 (1/7/2011) 190,256,000 145,509,000
401 (8/7/2011) 213,661,000 128,898,000
415 (22/7/2011) 261,118,000 94,210,000
422 (29/7/2011) 284,720,000 76,790,000
429 (5/8/2011) 303,384,000 63,180,000
436 (12/8/2011) 322 538 000 48 158 000
446 (22/8/2011) 357,622,000 27,708,000
450 (26/8/2011) 373,331,000 17,226,000
460 (5/9/2011) 389,690,000 7,486,000
464 (9/9/2011) 395,914,000 3,454,000
471 (16/9/2011) 398,196,000 1,756,000
478 (23/9/2011) 399,489,000 694,000
485 (30/9/2011) 400,201,000 209,000
492 (7/10/2011) 399,939,000 72,700

Spaceship

The Horus comprises two main modules: a main module based on the proven Mir and ISS Zvezda core module designs, and a second docked module similar to the FGB Zarya that provides power and propulsion; the nuclear reactor is located here. Several Progress cargo supply ships are launched to carry up supplies, and two are kept docked to the main ship for the duration of the mission, as is the manned Soyuz ship to take the crew up.

Zvezda and Zarya

The spaceship essentially resembles the two Russian segments of the International Space Station as it appeared in an early stage of construction, similar to the NASA image(Unityhas been cropped off).

The crew are not going to Mars to set up a colony or for detailed exploration; it is simply a “get-there-first-and-back” mission. The idea is to use as much already-proven technology as possible, and to accept a certain amount of risk of the crew not returning. The crew will be exposed to radiation and galactic cosmic rays during the flight there and back which will be detrimental to their long-term health (if they don’t die during the mission). It is in some sense a “kamikaze mission” and the crew are well aware of this, but accept the dangers in return for the prestige of being the first humans to go beyond the Earth-Moon system and around (if not on) Mars.

Estimated (and probably wildly optimistic) time between the detection of the signal, ship construction and the mission launch is two years; and another two years for the actual mission (out of which up to a month is actually spent in Mars orbit).

Russia has plans to develop a nuclear reactor for a human mission (see next section below) that would provide ample power, so this is flown on the mission as a test flight. Unfortunately details about the reactor are scant as it is in development! It is to be developed at the Skolkovo Innovation Center. The reactor uses a liquid-metal coolant instead of water – NaK, sodium-potassium alloy. Unfortunately this mixture is highly explosive if it contacts air or water! Other coolants such as lead, though, need to be heated continually to remain in liquid form, so the space reactor will likely use NaK.

The reactor powers the electric propulsion engines, which use xenon as a propellant. There are some obvious safety concerns about launching a nuclear reactor into orbit, but for this mission it is considered an acceptable (and small) risk. The reactor is housed in a small module behind the FGB; this module can be detached and dumped if anything goes wrong with the reactor, and the crew would have to rely on the power generated from the solar arrays fitted to the modules. These arrays are similar to those on the Russian ISS modules to provide backup power (power from sunlight decreases the further away a spaceship goes, which is why the reactor is necessary). Twin arrays only provide 7500 watts of power.

On return to Earth the plan is to leave the spaceship into a high parking orbit while the crew returned in a Soyuz to Earth – a newly-launched one sent up to retrieve them (see note below). Satellites with nuclear reactors are boosted into a nuclear-safe orbit where they will remain for centuries as the reactors decay. An NSO is a “Circular geocentric orbit with 700 km altitude designed to delay atmospheric entry and space craft nuclear reactor disintegration for several hundred years in order to reduce the danger of high-level radiation in the atmosphere.”[1]

The Soyuz’s stay in space is limited due to one of its propellants. The Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2), an oxidizer, used in the Descent Module’s Reaction Control System, tends to deteriorate over time to H2O and O; the TMA version, with a cooling system for the H2O2, has a limit of 180-210 days (6-7 months). (A more extensive upgrade, to extend the stay to a year, would have also included the installation of improved storage batteries and the oxidizer tanks to be made from steel rather than the current aluminum alloy, but this was not done because of lack of finances.) The only solution is for another Soyuz to be launched and sent up to retrieve the cosmonauts on their return; it would be flown up there unmanned, on automatic pilot.

The human-made reactor uses nuclear fission (splitting an atom); the alien Dawn Hunters use nuclear fusion (combining atoms; a process that happens in stars to keep them burning, and in hydrogen bombs). Humans are still a long way from utilizing fusion technology (in 2007, it is estimated to be 20 to 30 years away from implementation, if no breakthrough happens before then). Nuclear fission produces radioactive waste; fusion does not (only produces helium as a byproduct), so the latter is a relatively clean and efficient energy technology.

Name of the spaceship

The spaceship (both joined modules) is named after the Ancient Egyptian god Horus; in one of his forms he was a sky god (Mars was apparently known to the Egyptians as “Horus the Red” according to some sources).

Crew patch

Horus mission patch

The mission emblem is the Eye of Horus with the red disk of Mars replacing its pupil, and the crewmen’s surnames written along the top as КОНСТАНТИНОВ ★ TYLER. The ship’s name is in English and Cyrillic under the eye – ХОР / Horus. The outlines of the eye are white, and the background is black to symbolize space.

Supplies

According to this infographic, the Inspiration Mars flyaround mission for a crew of two would carry 5545 kg of water, oxygen, food, etc. A Progress-M carries up to 2366 kg of various supplies, so three Progress launches would adequately cover this. The Zvezda Service Module carried 1600 kg of fuel and supplies when it was launched, so more could be put aboard the two modules.

Mission cost

I have come to a very rough estimate of up to 2 billion dollars in 2013 prices and earlier.[2]

Mars mission estimated expenses
Item Cost ($US), 2013 estimates
Spaceship modules × 2 1,000,000,000
Proton-M launch cost × 2 64,754,720
Soyuz-TMA-M spaceship + Soyuz-FG rocket × 2 43,788,098.12
Progress-M cargo ship + Soyuz-U launcher × 3 60,427,041
Cosmonaut salary, 18 months 500,000
Space tourist training, 6 months, and Soyuz flight 35,000,000
Total so far: 1,204,469,859.12
Other costs: hiring mission control center (TsUP spare room), hiring staff to man it unknown

Spacesuits

For spacesuits, the crew have the currently-in-use Orlan spacesuit which is only meant for wear in a zero-gravity environment – a suit weighs around 120 kg, so it certainly can’t be worn in full gravity! Only one suit is taken up, for Sergei to wear if needed for an EVA during the flight. Both crew have a light Sokol pressure suit each, for wearing in the Soyuz on the flights up to Earth and back.

There has been no time to develop a spacesuit for Earth-style gravity, so as a makeshift measure the cosmonauts have rebreathers – self-contained breathing apparatus/closed-circuit breathing apparatus – to wear when they board the starship, assuming it has an atmosphere. A rebreather consists of a full-face mask, two breathing tubes (inhalation and exhalation hoses) slung over the back and attached to a contoured backpack. The main contents of the backpack are a CO2 absorber, a breathing bag, an air cooler, and an O2 cylinder. A rebreather filters out CO2 and supplements the recycled air with oxygen from the tank. It provides breathing air for up to four hours and weighs around 15 kg.

Footnotes

[1]
http://www.thespacereview.com/article/437/1
[2]
The proposed Mars One mission has an estimated $6 billion cost for a one-way flight of four astronauts to land on Mars.
[3]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zarya
[4]
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=17568.90
[5]
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=17286.345

House of the Ancestors

A House of the Ancestors (Halecabuun) is a building used to store the remains of the deceased, located in a Clan City’s burial district. There are many of these, overseen by the Pyramid of the Lords.

House of Healing

The House of Healing (Halemohuu) is the central hospital complex for a Clan City, run by those of the Adept Caste. It is a large 4-storey building somewhat resembling a stepped pyramid, with each upper storey set back from the one below, providing a balcony for each room.

Each patient has their own small room, with a window to look outside and one facing internally so they can be monitored by medical staff. Beds are raised to waist-height to enable easy patient access, rather than being near floor-level as is usual in other housing.

Clan Lords and War Lords have their own dedicated rooms. A Healing Bed is in a room adjacent to the Clan Lord’s quarters, for his own use only.

Those of the Warrior Caste tend to be the most frequent patients, given their violent and combative lifestyle.

Treatment is given freely to all who dwell within a Clan City, as well as any Outsiders.

House of Surplus

The House of Surplus (Halenehu) is a central repository building where a Clan City’s population can leave surplus items for others to use. Food and clothing are also distributed from here.

House of the Warriors

The House of the Warriors (Halecahaar) is a building where Warriors live and train. There are several of these in a Clan City. It follows the usual housing pattern of a single apartment complex surrounding an inner courtyard; some of the courtyard is occupied by training arenas.

The Warriors live here permanently and raise their hatchlings here. There are usually several sharing an apartment. Their female Bond-Mates may live with them if the former do not have another partner, though she may alternatively choose to live with her natal family.

Note: Hale is a generic term used to describe any places of residence, encompassing a wide range of buildings.

Housing

Apartments in a Clan City are built to a similar plan: a four-sided building resembling a stepped pyramid with beveled corners and inward-sloping outer walls. Each storey is set back from the one below it.

There is a central enclosed courtyard garden, balconies overlooking this and inward-facing windows. The upper floor (or floors) has living quarters for each family – a spacious bedroom/living area and ensuite bathroom; the ground floor has utility rooms such as kitchens, dining, communal baths, a small infirmary, workshops and so on. The apartment complex is partly self-sufficient. All rooms are situated on the inward side of the central corridor, and at each corner of the building a ramp and elevator provide access.

Those of each Caste tend to live together in the same apartment complexes. Each resident has housing for life – there is no homelessness – and apartments are usually inhabited by the same families for generations. Families prefer to stay together, and multi-generational housing is the norm.

Rooftops are flat and provide extra living and work space; they are popular places to be on warm nights, and for stargazing. Vegetation is placed in various containers around the perimeter and there are sheltered areas providing some protection from the elements. Low partitions in between each apartment below demarcate each occupant’s territory and enable semi-private areas. Open-sided shelters are topped with solar panels, and small portable solar lights are placed around; these can be soft white or alternating colors (red/green/blue). The rooftops can be accessed by spiral stairs from the balcony below, or by the ramps or elevators in the main corridor.

The Clan Lord has his own three-storey residence not far from the flight plaza, built to the same pattern as other residences but set within a walled exterior garden. He lives there permanently on the top (third) floor along with relatives, extended family, and bodyguards. Most staff from the other Castes live on the second floor. There are 16 rooms per side, so each side is around 185.76 m long (bathroom/living room apartments and walls), plus an extra 17.28 m to allow for room depth at each corner, and two bodylengths for the width of corridors and access ramps – so a total of 207.36 m per side. The resident War Lords also have similar houses. Both are referred to as Halezul (House of a/the Lord). There are usually no stand-alone individual houses as are found in suburbs of human cities.

Room dimensions

Furniture

Furniture tends to be minimal and portable. Sitting on the floor is normal; chairs are unknown (though flying and ground craft necessarily have seats). As the Dawn Hunters’ bony physiques make prolonged sitting on hard surfaces uncomfortable, padded floor-quilts are used and are in plentiful supply. Animal skins are also used as floor-rugs and for wall decoration. A low table is used to eat and work from. Cupboards provide storage areas. Portable decorated folding screens enable the apartment to be partitioned off as desired.

There are no separate beds; the occupants instead sleep under individual quilts on a raised sleeping platform in one corner of the apartment. The platform is half a step (40.5 cm) high. A canopy is suspended over the platform to give a feeling of shelter, reminiscent of their remote ancestors sleeping in animal-skin tents. Divider curtains can be pulled along a rail to divide the sleeping area and provide some privacy.

The overall appearance is similar to the aesthetics of traditional Japanese architecture, discreetly augmented with advanced technology.

Gardens

The Dawn Hunters like to be surrounded by the natural world, and their cities reflect this. The streets are prolifically lined with various trees and shrubs, providing shade and shelter.

Each apartment complex has an inner courtyard, which is again reminiscent of Japanese-style formal gardens. These provide an enclosed outdoor area to relax in, and play areas for juveniles. The courtyard has a footpath around its perimeter; this is laid with separated rectangular paving stones, between which are laid polished pebbles consisting of minerals and semi-precious stones. The effect of this is quite colorful.

Various pot plants adorn each apartment balcony and rooftop.

Building materials

Stone – mainly granite, and in particular black galaxy granite (granite with gold and white flecks) – is favored for the base construction material and the walls. The granite is chosen for its resemblance to the night sky, and is exported from various quarries. Floors are tiled with hexagon tiles in various geometric patterns and colors; the usual colors are magenta, orange, teal, blue and grey. The ceilings are aquamarine like the sky and glow with a daylight-spectrum light; they can change illumination and colors to match the time of day, from dawn to dusk. Painted mural panels decorate some walls, with scenes of the natural world, hunting and warfare. Door portals can be framed with columns resembling trees. Apartments have engineered wood flooring for a warmer effect (the bathroom area and kitchenette are tiled).

Housing is well-constructed and would be considered luxurious on Earth. There is no discrimination between housing for a Clan Lord and that of other citizens; housing for all receives the same attention to detail and high-quality materials.

Gallery

Apartment layout

Apartment layout (pen drawing, June 2014, 190 KB).

Residence outline on Google Map screenshot

Google Maps screenshot showing an outline of the size of the Residence overlaid on my suburb block for comparison (71 KB).

Apartment block courtyard

Sketch of the courtyard layout for a Clan Lord’s Residence – Sohaar’s as it happens; a semi-formal garden (7/5/2015, pencils, 190 KB). A natural stream winds through it, imitating the S-shape of the one on the Night River Clan’s emblem. Other apartment complexes have much the same courtyards, varying depending upon local topography and the residents’ wishes.

Ice Moon

Ice Moon (Rereca) is the outermost moon orbiting Home World. It is mostly covered in ice.

Data

Diameter
1800 km
Radius
900 km
Density
4.1 (RL = 2.953)
Distance
48 radii (336 761.6736 km)
Viewing angle
0.0026, 0.0052 (0.3 degrees – appears 2° smaller than Earth’s Moon in sky)
Orbit
443.908 hours/18.49 days/14.8 HW days (34.59 yearly orbits)

Gallery

Ice Moon

Ice Moon, rendered with a GIMP script.

Image display

Displaying images is usually rendered by specialized nanites. These nanites act like photophores and chromatophores in marine animals, emitting light, color and texture when programmed. They can display in 2d or 3d.

Data can be rendered in walls or on portable softscreens. The flexible softscreens are made of a thin sheet of transparent graphene and come in a size in between A4 and A3 paper sizes. They can be folded or rolled up into a compact form. They run on a nanobattery, and are charged either with inbuilt solar cells, or by cord from an external power source. Another type of 3d image display involves nanites floating in a magnetic field projected in a column from the floor and ceiling;[1] they can reshape themselves into whatever the display requires. Such a projector is set in the floor of a Void Walker’s Command Chamber; the starship’s Artificial Intelligencemanifests itself there as a focal point for the Clan Lord or whoever else might be talking to it.

Footnotes

[1]
The display appears similar to this cool LED sculpture “The Man with No Shadow” by Makoto Tojiki, though much more detailed.

Interrogatives

How? (method)
meesa
What?, why?
mana
When? (time)
saazawome mana – saaza [time] wo [nominative case] me [interrogative] mana [what]
Where? (locative verb)
naya
Who?
laaz
Which?
use: who? (laaz) or what? (mana)

Jump

A Jump (Rerenec) is the name given to the act of a Void Walker entering foldspace so it can instantaneously traverse vast distances across realspace. Such travel is initiated within a starship’s Warp Chamber, which opens a temporary wormhole in the fabric of spacetime so the ship can take a shortcut though it to the desired destination elsewhere in our Galaxy.

There is no sensation of traveling through a tunnel as is sometimes depicted in fiction; the ship and occupants are simply in one place the one moment, then appear elsewhere in the next. Jumping can be somewhat physically disorientating to those unused to it, though.

On emerging back into realspace, gravitational waves are emitted from the disturbed spacetime in the vicinity of the starship, and there is a flare of Cherenkov radiation. A stealthy Jump is thus impossible.

To ensure a starship does not inadvertently travel in time as well due to relativity, on emerging in a new Jump target it will record the exact time it arrived and departed, and make sure to not arrive before the last departure time on its next visit to that particular target.

Kinship terms

Cabuuncaale
Grandfather (cabuun [ancestor] caale [male])
Cabuunwaheen
Grandmother (cabuun [ancestor] waheen [female])
Maacucaale
Father (maacu [parent] caale [male]) – also applies to aunts/uncles/cousins of parents’ generation
Maacuwaheen
Mother (maacu [parent] waheen [female]) – also applies to aunts/uncles/cousins of parents’ generation
Ceyaacaale
Brother (cayaa [sibling] caale [male]) – also applies to cousins of siblings’ generation
Ceyaawaheen
Sister (cayaa [sibling] waheen [female]) – also applies to cousins of siblings’ generation
Nuneecaale
Son (nunee [offspring] caale [male]) – also applies to nieces and nephews
Nuneewaheen
Daughter (nunee [offspring] waheen [female]) – also applies to nieces and nephews

Language overview

Language is referred to as Luunolanhaara (luunolan [speech] [of the – implied genitive] haara [hunter/s]).

The language has been fairly standardized since rapid communications were developed, but subtle regional accents are still discernible in those from different Clan Cities.

The Dawn Hunters have no interest in teaching outsiders – aliens – their language, and prefer to speak to such in the latters’ own language, using translation software.

Phonotactics

Basic word structure for roots is CV(C). No adjacent consonants or vowels are permitted within root words, and adjacent vowels are not permitted anywhere. If consonants are adjacent, this indicates adjoining affixes; they are pronounced as separate letters/sounds – alternately, if the pronunciation is awkward, one may be dropped (consonant reduction). There are no dipthongs, and doubled (geminated) consonants are not allowed (a vowel will be inserted between the latter). Single vowel morphemes are usually found as affixes.

The language has changed little over time due to the Dawn Hunters’ inherent conservatism, but an older version of the language was strictly CV (similar to Old Japanese).

General notes

Law and order

In Dawn Hunter society, corruption and homelessness are unknown, as are crimes such as robbery. Given their basic predatory nature, though, there is ritualized violence, mainly within the Warrior Caste– attempted assassinations, overthrows of rulers and such – but in a social structure that depends on physical prowess to ascend, that is to be expected.

Shaming and threat of ostracism are a large part of maintaining social control. Inappropriate behavior is first addressed by a Hunter’s family and associates, then by their superiors, and if this is ineffective (which is rare) it is ultimately attended to by their ruling Clan Lord (whose bad side one does not want to get on!). Serious issues will be discussed at the regular Council of Elders.

To restore honor for serious offences, the offender might be required to commit suicide, though this would be uncommon outside of the Warrior Caste. They might alternatively be made Clanless, a fate worse than death for a social species. More commonly, they will be demoted in rank and status and have to earn these back again.

Most tend to self-regulate their behavior, however, rather than grudgingly behave under the threat of punishment; the benefits of co-operation are obvious.

Lecaasaan

Lecaasaan is a Technician-Forger who made Lord Sohaar’s sword and dagger after his initiation as a full Warrior.

Biographical information

Gender
Female
First appearance
Inheritor chapter: “Forging”

Lecaaso

Lecaaso is Clan Lord of the Fire Mountain Clan. Oversees the alien Tree Gliders.

Biographical information

Gender
Male
First appearance
Dominator chapter: “Council”

Lecaazuun

Lecaazuun is a Technician-Pilot, Clan Lord Sohaar’s Shuttle pilot.

Biographical information

Gender
Male
First appearance
Inheritor chapter: “Contact”

Lexicon

A selection of Dawn Hunter root words. Note that the letter c is always pronounced as k! Verbs are listed here in their bare infinitive form (i.e. without the infinitive tense, -nec), and nouns are shown without cases (default is [w]o, nominative/dictionary form). For convenience, words are classified under English parts of speech.

To look for a word, use the “find” option in your browser (CTRL + F in Windows). Note that one alien word definition may cover several related English words, as English has borrowed from many languages.

Compounded words are on a separate page.

Glossary

Dawn Hunter language: lexicon
Dawn Hunter root word English word/s Part of speech Derivatives
baalo cloud n
baasu tin (metal) n
baca five, 5 number
bah spit v
bahar flat, graceful, level, smooth adj
baho location, place n
bale distant, far adj
bawe catch, grasp, snare, take v
bebehu grey n reduplicate – from word for mist
beenah right (direction), south n
behu fog, mist n
bem mouth n
bene attach, bond v
benuu arch, crescent, curve, rainbow n
besol direction, orientation n
bore allow, permit, still n
bulu wet adj bulunec (verb): to become wet, to bathe
buru male (animal, alien, non-sapient being) n
burun ladder, stair(s), steps n
buuran contraption, device, instrument, machine n
caah straight adj
caala big, tall adj
caale male (hunter, sapient being) n
caam aid, assist, help, serve v caama: one who serves; aide
caar expel, vomit v
caaru wide adj caarulan: noun form (width)
caasel crystal n
caba run v caaba: runner (agent noun form)
cabe barrier, wall n
cabuun ancestor n
caco deceitful, fake, false adj
cah split v
cahe sharp adj
cahuu clothing, garment n
calaa rotation (one full day) n
casa blanket, quilt, bed cover n
cayal crystal, gem n
cebaan head (body part) n
cebay branch, stick, twig n
ceemon cinnamon-like spice n
ceewa dip, gorge, groove, hollow, ravine, valley n
cehu dig, excavate, mine v cehuwa: miner; also name of creature
cera bright, iridescent, shining adj
ceres drag, slide, slip v cereslan: sled, travois, any ground vehicle (noun form)
cesal sand n
ceyaa sibling n
ceyaacaale brother n
ceyaawaheen sister n
ceyuu foot n
coco here demonstrative
como enter v
coora long, tall adj cooralan: length (noun form)
cule oppose, protest v culeneel: against (preposition – with adverbial ending)
culuun thunder n
cuuco insect n creature with exoskeleton
cuul ash, soot n
cuuna many, multiple, several adj can also be used as a plural suffix for nouns if the number is not clear
cuwa exile, send away n
haa 512 (1000 octal – 83) number
haac corrupt, decay, rot v
haalo dark (illumination) adj
Haana Technician (caste) n literally, “makers”
haanu breath n haanunec: to breathe (verb form)
Haar Warrior, fighter (caste) agent noun
haasu old (Dawn Hunter) adj haasulan: elder (title, honorific)
haay less adj
habaa carry, lift, transport v
habar scarf, shawl, veil n
hahu collection, heap, layer, pile, mass, mound n
hale building, house, structure n generic term applied to any building, including tombs, as these are where the physical remains of ancestors reside
hana build, make, construct v
har fight, war v, adj haar: warrior
hara hunt, look, search v, adj haraa: hunter, one who hunts
hasa waist (body part) n
hawe tail n
haza end, halt, stop v
heboh dry adj
lecu eight, 8 number
hee squeak v
helee whole, all, everything n
hema even n
hen one, 1 number
hesaa eye, sight n
Hesaahame sun (Home World star) n
hesaz purpose in life, spirit n
heyan arena n enclosed space where honor duels are held; stone floor is overlain with fine white sand
hola mate (aide, companion, friend, mate, partner, spouse) n
hone smell v
honuu world n
huce pull v
hula add, dock, join, secure, tie up v hulalan: joint (noun form)
hule spin, turn v hulelan: spinner, turner, wheel (noun)
humaa they pronoun dual, used for body parts and other objects that come in pairs
huna angry adj
huruu grass n
huulan appear, descendant, emerge, issue n
huulo flesh, meat n Mecunecmacuuna huulohaacalanuu: Eater of meat that is rotten (carrior-eater – an insult)
huune impale, pierce, stab v huunewa: that which/one who does such an action (agent noun form; general name for edged weapons)
la approach, come, draw near v
laahu free, release v
laamo leaf n
laana float, hover v
laara attend, introduce, present v Laaralan: Attendance (ritual)
laasan heavy adj
laaz who? adverb
lacaar coast, shore, beach n
Lahon Adept (caste) n from word for knowledge
lahon instruct, know, teach v Lahona: one who teaches; lahonbe: to cause to know, to teach
lalo low, short, subordinate, under adj
lara close, near adj
lawac embarrassment, humiliation, shame n
lawe remove, subtract, take away, withdraw v
lebon violet adj
lecaa fire n lelecaa: red, orange, yellow
leen braid, plait, weave v leenalana: weaver
leera flow n
leesa birth, emerge, hatch v leesaa: hatchling (one who hatches)
leho dirty, unclean adj
lenol bottom, below, beneath, ground, floor n lenole: descent, down (dative case – indicates movement in direction)
leyuun purple adj
loca ascend, climb, go up, rise v
lohel pipe, reed, tube n
lohon altar, flat-topped furniture, table n
lohu acknowledge, farewell, greet, salutate v
lole alter, change, correct, form, mold, morph, shape, transform v
lor this demonstrative these: lorcuuna
lore bare, expose v
loru young (age – animals, objects) adj
loyu drink v
lucu destroy v
lunu die v death (n), dead (adj): lunulan; suicide: lunuleculnec – lunu + [-he – causative ][-cul – reflexive][-nec – intransitive]
luula custom, etiquette, habit, manners, tradition n
luuno speak v luunolan (n): speech, talk
maacu parent n
maal forward, future, next adj
maane ask, request v
maarec fierce adj
maaze copy, image, imitate, mimic, painting, shadow, simacrulum (avatar), reflection, reflected image (photograph, video) n maazewa: artisian, painter
mabaa green adj
maca hit, strike v maaca – hitter (object)
maco district, domain, field, prefecture, realm, territory n
mahu we, us pronoun
malam care, look after, tend n Maalam: Carer (nurse)
mana what?, why? adverb
mana hill, mound, pile n
manen alien, foreigner, stranger n
manul animal, land creature n
maral cabin, cave, chamber, courtyard, room, enclosure n applied to any enclosed space (open air or under a roof) that is lived in
masu light (illumination) adj
mawa hearts n nominally plural as Hunters have 2 hearts
may root (plant) n
me implement, object, thing n
mecu eat v meculan: food
mee short adj
meela being, creature (living Home World creature that is not Dawn Hunter) n
meesa how? adverb
meha bad adj
mero plant, tree, vegetation n
meru govern, oversee, reign, rule v merulan: noun form
mey doorway, gate, portal n
mocu cull, cut, slice v
mohuu repair, heal, mend v mohuulan: healing, medicine
molan blood n
momolan blue n reduplicate – from word for blood
momon sweet adj
moree sleep v
moze fish, sea creature n
muba young (age – Dawn Hunter) adj
mul burial site, mausoleum, tomb n mulnec: to bury, entomb
muno cloth, fabric, material n
muule lake, pool, body of water n
muno cloth, fabric, material n
muyu seed, grain n
muzo fresh, new adj
naal rain n
naano clumsy, crooked, rough, uneven adj
naaruu clear, transparent n
naasel guts, intestines, offal, something unpleasant (colloquial) n also used as curse word (offal of prey are regarded as unclean and not eaten)
naayoc master, teacher n
nabu skin n
naca begin, start v
nahal devotion, loyalty adj
naheel bushland, forest, woods n
nahuu night n
nalem few, less adj
nama three, 3 number
name ripple, wave (radio, water) n
nanahuu black adj, n reduplicate – from word for night
nara clan, family, blood n Narawohuu: Clanless – nara [clan] wo [nominative] huu [negating particle]
nawa city n
naya where adverb
nec ear n
necuu ring n
neewa
neeza cook v
nehal gratitude, praise, thank v
nehu abundant, extra, regent, spare, surplus n
nel root n
nelo tooth n
nene beat, pulse n time measurement – heartsbeat (of Dawn Hunters' two hearts) – about 1.5 seconds
neraa open, untie v
newaal other n
neyo affirmative, yes determiner
nezan honor, respect, status n
nobo throat n
nolam short adj
nolu cast, hurl, throw v
nomaa mountain n
nonaam crest-quills n natural display ornamentation on head of many Home World creatures; Dawn Hunters have eight crest-quills
nooho arrangement, organized whole, system n
noosa island n
noro fast, run, move swiftly adj can be reduplicated to emphasize speed (noronoro); Norowa – “Fast One” (personal name)
nulun home, place of belonging, refuge, shelter, safe place n
nunee child, offspring, young n
nusem steal, usurp v
nuul amount, measure, weight n
raane life n raanenec (v): to live, to exist
raaru spike n
ral container, jar, pot n
ranu no, not determiner
rasac pain, sickness, soreness n
re moon n
reca ice n
recuu examine, observe, regard, see, view v
reelu tall adj
reesa command, order v
relo six, 6 number
ren up adverb
reno hear, listen v
renuu fiber, filament, line, rope, strand, string, thread n renuunec: to sew, thread. Also used to describe hair or feathers on aliens (no Home World creatures have these)
rere fly, jump, leap v
rocul injury, wound n roculnec: to harm, to hurt, to punish, to wound
rohuul caste, rank, social position n
rolun force, power, strong adj
rowan circle, round, sphere n
ruc bite v
rucul old (animals, objects) adj
runaa path, road, track, trail n
ruul you/your/yours singular pronoun
ruusar vigil, watch v
ruuz right adv direction
saace cover v saacelan: covering (noun form)
saahen metal n
saam left adj
saamer blade (weapon) n
saan east, dawn, morning (time of day), sunrise n
saansaan pale, white adj reduplicate – from word for dawn
saasaahen metallic color adj reduplicate – from word for metal
saawu horn (anatomy) n
saay palm of hand, sole of foot n
saaza time n
saca close, shut, tie v
sacee glitter, iridesce, shine, sparkle v
saco slow adj
sahal ceremony, initiation, ritual, trial n
samoo water n
sanaa wind n
saraa egg n
sarom river n
sawan more adj
sayaan bone n
sebe clever, intelligent, smart adj
seena bay, indent, recess n
seewa lake, pool n
sewa feel, touch v
seyan energy, vitality n
sezu arm n
so star n
sobec people, sapient beings n
soco there demonstrative
solaan desert, wasteland, wilderness n
som 4096 (10,000 octal – 84) number
soma absent, missing adj
sonuu year n
soon digit (finger, toe) n
soor bird, flying creature n
sor that demonstrative those: sorcuuna
sosaan fin, wing n wing for flying creatures, fin for sea creatures (similarity in structure)
sucul skin-shimmer n The iridescent, metallic quality overlaying the skin of the fauna of Home World, and of the foliage of the vegetation. It is structural coloration, not pigment.
suhe name n
sune great, supreme adj
suucu box, casket, container n
suul move v
suula dominate, govern, oversee, reign, rule v Suulalan: Dominion (noun form)
suuzu gold (metal) n
waahu visit v
waale divide, separate, split v waalelan: boundary, horizon, limit, territory
waan cycle (period of time) n
waaye blow v
wabuu jog, lope (slow run) v
wace assemble, collect, gather, store, retain v wacelan (n): council
waheen female (hunter, sapient being) n
wahu push v
wake dry adj
walu hand, number four, 4 n, number
wamee female (animal, alien, non-sapient being) n
wan I/me/my/mine pronoun
waro pace, step, stride v
wasu small, little adj
wawe leg, foot n
wayeb paper, writing material n derived from a bamboo-like plant used for that purpose (similar to papyrus)
wayuu bathe, swim v
wehe afraid, fear v
wela warm adj welawela: hot
wena between, center, middle n
werom adult n
weza balance, correct, good, harmony, right adj
woma fall v
wuluur spiral, twist n
wumar rock, stone n
wun hole, pit n
wuraa ultraviolet color adj
wuyu alone, only, solitary adj
yaacos heir, successor n
yaal fact, genuine, real, true adj
yaan tongue n
yahal learn v Yaahal: one who learns (apprentice, student)
yaloo howl, wail v Yaloolana: Howler (animal species – one who howls)
yamen body n
yamo 32,768 (100,000 octal – 85) number
yaran storm n Yaraan: stormy, stormy one
yare burn v
yeema fruit n
yeero bend, distort, fold, warp n
yehus magenta (violet-red) adj
yeloo she/her/hers, he/him/his, it/its pronoun used for Dawn Hunters only
yena it/its (animals, non-sapient – animate) pronoun
yer dust n
yeral down adverb
yero color n
yeyaa challenge, confront, encounter, find, meet v
yola edge, side n
yon it/its (inanimate) pronoun
yoora land, soil n or lalozuun, under-sky, also used for the world – equivalent to Earth, biosphere
yu nose n nostril: wunyu – wun [hole] [of – implied genitive] yu [nose]
yuna seven, 7 number
yuucu dome n
yuul negative, zero adv
yuum disappear, lose, vanish v
yuzuu silver (metal) n
zaaben plain, savanna n
zabo above, top n zaboye: rise, up (dative case – indicates movement in direction)
zahu caretake, defend, guard, protect, shield v zaahu: one who guards
zala back, behind, past adj
zamaa cold adj
zawe walk v zaawe: one who walks (agent noun)
zayuu memory, mind, thought n zayuunec: to think
zela activity, labor, perform, work v zelaa: worker; zelarel: profession
zem 64 (82) number
zemu conceal, hide, stealth v
zeyu two, 2 number
zobaa display, reveal, show, uncover v
zocuu continue, endure, persist, still v
zola copper (metal) n
zoluuh cloak, robe, upper body cover n
zoyuu void, empty n
zuhaa claw n zuhaarelnec (verb): to claw, cut, etch, paint, scratch, write; zuhaawa: one who paints, writes, etc.
zul lord n
zulam day n
zumaah ocean, sea n
zuruc smoke n
zuuca mate (reproduction, sex) v
zuuma lightning n
zuun atmosphere, heavens, sky n
zuunzuun aquamarine color adj reduplicate – from word for sky

6 Jan 2017

Long Divide

The Long Divide (Waalecoora) is an ancient faultline that crosses the width of The Land just south of its equator. A series of deep gorges and lakes surrounded by high mountains effectively divide the supercontinent into two.

Maarec

Maarec is Clan Lord of Night River Clan, Bond-Mate of Resaan and father of Sohaar and Yaraan. He is 1560 HW years/2735.3 Earth years old when he dies by ritual sacrifice. In personality he is extremely dominating and strong-willed, as one of his status and age tends to be.

Resaan felt both awe and fear as the Clan Lord approached her and halted half a bodylength before her, having retracted his armor. She was one of the taller females, but he was still nearly a head taller than her. He was normally a remote and forbidding figure; she had only ever seen him from a distance. He seemed to her a barely-contained force of nature; the stillness at the core of a hurricane, his strength gathered and contained within him. She briefly met his sapphire-blue gaze with trepidation and was nearly overwhelmed by the fire of the personality that blazed within. She quickly looked away, barely restraining an impulse to flee.

– Story chapter “Departure”

Biographical information

Gender
Male
Eye color
Sapphire-blue (#0f52ba/rgb(15,82,186))
Height
7 ft 6 in/228.6 cm

Gallery

Maarec

Maarec portrait (colored pencils, 10/5/2013, 45 KB).

Head portrait of Maarec

Maarec portrait, done as a vector in Inkscape (digital art, 6/11/2015, 35 KB).

Maaze

Maaze is a deceased Warrior Caste youth found during Sohaar’s Time of Exile.

Biographical information

Gender
Male
Eye color
Dark green (#013220/rgb(1,50,32))
First appearance
Inheritor chapter: “Exile”

Maazere

Maazere is an Adept-Carer who monitored Sergei after the latter received a neural implant.

Biographical information

Gender
Male
Eye color
Dark green (#132D23/rgb(19,45,35))
First appearance
Dominator chapter: “Implant”

Maazeyaraan

Maazeyaraan is a usurper War Lord, and an adversary of Sohaar-5.

Biographical information

Gender
Male
Eye color
Orange (#F28500/rgb(242,133,0))
First appearance
Chapter: “Fallen”

Martial arts

Martial arts (Har) are the fighting methods practised by those of the Warrior Caste. These include both unarmed and armed techniques.

As the Dawn Hunters have natural armament in the form of sharp teeth and claws, unarmed techniques focus mainly on the usage of these (slashing and biting). A method such as boxing would be unheard of, though a Warrior might use a fist against his opponent if the opportunity arises (usually a backfist in passing). They cannot fully clench their hands due to their claws.

Forward leaps and forward or backward kicks may be used; in a manner similar to ratites, the kicks are often aimed to disembowel. Due to their physiology, though, they can’t do high roundhouse kicks.

Elbows and knees can be utilized when opponents are in a clinch hold. Fights can sometimes end up on the ground, so throws and holds are a part of training also.

Fighting against an opponent in traditional armor is also practised.

The general fighting style is brutal, no-nonsense and direct, with no superfluous flourishes. An unarmed human opponent would stand almost no chance against a Dawn Hunter in a fight as the alien is superior in strength and weight.

Claw-caps are worn during training sessions to minimize injury.

In training for the sword arts, a blunted metal or wooden sword is used. The style is similar to that used by Japanese samurai, wielding the sword two-handed.

Mawalecaa

Mawalecaa is an adversarial youth of Sohaar’s year-group during their Time of Exile. Belongs to the Night River Clan.

Biographical information

Gender
Male
Hatching year
61,510.98 HW years/4056 B.C. (2311.92 HW years ago)
First appearance
Inheritor chapter: “Exile”

Mawamaarec

Mawamaarec is a Warrior-Two-Claw of the Night River Clan and ritual torturer who puts Sohaar through the Trial of Pain after Sohaar is captured by Yaraan.

Biographical information

Gender
Male
First appearance
Inheritor chapter: “Capture”

Medicine

Medical technology is very advanced. The main feature is the extensive use of nanotechnology: specialized Repairer-Nanites can be programmed to cure or repair almost any disease or ailment. Amputated limbs, for example, can be regenerated with nanotech help. The Warrior Caste can suffer horrendous injuries due to their violent combative lifestyle, so nanotech medicine ensures these are merely temporary inconveniences.

The Adept-Healers are the main practitioners of medicine; Adept-Carers perfom the function of nurses. As with other professions, they learn by apprenticeship. In case they don’t have access to Repairer-Nanites, they receive training in fundamental manual first-aid and surgery techniques as well. Obsidian glass is used for surgical blades.

Repairer-Nanites are not contained within a body on a permanent basis; the Hunters prefer to use them when needed. Long ago it was decided that to allow permanent nanite residence which would make an individual immortal, invulnerable – and letting everyone have access to this – would ultimately make society unteneable (to keep population at a manageable level, they would have to ban reproduction); thus such use was forbidden. The Technician Caste possess exclusive knowledge of how to manufacture and use the nanites, part of the balance of power between them and the Warrior Caste.

As with other technology applications, there can be several methods of deploying medical treatment. This can either involve:

The nanites utilize the body’s resources when operating, so the recipient needs to eat a lot after being repaired.

Manufactured pharmaceuticals are still a part of medicine, used more for minor ailments, injuries and sedation.

Traditional medicine

Even before technological advances, the Dawn Hunters had a good standard of medical care. Being fastidiously clean by nature, daily bathing, general hygiene and proper disposal of waste were considered important and their cities were well-planned to enable this. Any diseases were thus quickly contained, so plagues were unknown. Hospitals were clean and orderly places, and Healers were greatly respected (and, of course, still are).

Various plants were used for medicinal purposes, and can still be used in lieu of modern medicine, such as when out in the wilderness.

Medicine is referred to as Mohuulan (Healing – stative verb form).

Meeting others

Greetings tend to be formal and ritualized, with deference shown towards one of senior status and/or age.

Dawn Hunter language: meeting others
English phrase Dawn Hunter language Gloss Notes
Hello/Goodbye Lohuzanamalaa! Lohu [acknowledge, greet, salute, farewell] zan [present tense] ma [you – singular] laa [honorific – neutral, of another; but depends on rank of one being addressed] General-purpose greeting or farewell
Thank you Nehalzanamalaa Nehal [praise, thank] zan [present tense] ma [you – singular] laa [honorific – neutral, of another; but depends on rank of one being addressed]
Have you eaten? Raabenmalaame? Raa [eat] ben [near past tense] ma [you – singular] laa [honorific – neutral, of another; but depends on rank of one being addressed] me [question marker] Specific enquiry
Successful hunt, hunt well/good Harazanmalaa wezaneel Hara [hunt] zan [present tense] ma [you – singular] laa [honorific – neutral, of another; but depends on rank of one being addressed] weza [good, well] neel [adverbal particle] Specific interjection
Are you well? Rocuzanmalaame? Rocu [hurt] zan [present tense] ma [you – singular] laa [honorific – neutral, of another; but depends on rank of one being addressed] me [question marker] Literally: Are you hurt/injured?

Names

Personal and proper names usually use word roots, often compounded and with no cases or affixes – though when used in a sentence, they will be given the proper case. Long proper and general names may be shortened informally – Yaraananahuumay be abbreviated to Ya’nahuu (slight pause between shortened words, indicated in English by an apostrophe).

Names take the structure of: First name [child of/belonging to] parent’s name [of the] clan. A male usually takes his father’s name in referral, a female her mother’s. Thus Sohaar is: Sohaar, son of Maarec of the Night River Clan – Sohaaro-cenamalecuwalunel camacanewaa Maareco Narabaa Sahelnahuuo – Sohaar [nominative] -[ordinal marker] 28 [classifier], son [genitive] Maarec [nominative] Clan [genitive] River-Night [nominative]. Here the first name in nominative case is the main subject of the sentence. The succession is implied by name order.

Personal names are usually taken from nature and personal attributes, and are not gender-specific.

No one else is permitted to share a name with a Clan Lord or War Lord. Clan Lords alternate names of fathers and sons, affixed with a number – thus Sohaar is the 28th in his lineage to bear that name.

Nanotechnology

Molecular nanotechnology is an integral part of Dawn Hunter technology. It was created by Adept-Scientists and Technician-Engineers, and is under their control.

The nanites (Buuranwasuwasu) used are not exactly machines; the Hunters do not have robots like we do. Instead their Artificial Intelligences and spacecraft are a merging of inanimate/mechanical technology and biotechnology – similar to a virus in some ways.

Nanites are divided into several specialized categories:

Neural implant

All Hunters have a neural implant (Holazayuu) inserted into their brain when they reach adulthood (11 Home World-years/19.25 Earth years) and attuned to their biofrequency. The microscopically-small crystalline implant converts and transmits vocal, subvocalized speech or thoughts to other implants; this appears in the recipient’s head like their own mind-voice – a form of synthetic telepathy.

The implant can be used to record what the wearer sees, in the manner of a video camera with sight and sound, as microscopic carbon microthreads [1] unfurling from the implant tap into the optical and aural nerves. It can also be used to record memories; this is particularly vital for a Clan Lord whose life is artificially extended. As he ages his brain becomes more inflexible over time – less able to make new synaptic connections, or modify existing ones – so recording new memories to an external source is a way of circumventing this.[2]

Each implant has its own individual identifier in a similar way to different radio frequencies (using its user’s unique DNA equivalent). AIs in various locations, including Void Station and the starships, route neural links in a similar manner to Earth’s Internet Protocol Suite, only theirs can span star systems.

Communications are unaffected by distance; instantaneous real-time communication is possible even if the recipient is on the other side of the Galaxy. The still only partly-understood process involves the entanglement of particles; separating them creates sub-atomic wormholes to enable contact between them.[3] This method of communication is near-impossible to eavesdrop on (quantum encryption is used). A Clan Lord’s implant also enables him to communicate with his starship via thought; he is permanently linked with it for as long as he is alive. In some respects, the technology bridges the gap between science and magic.

The third-eye sensation of his implant link was still there, but not intrusive now he was adjusting to it. He concentrated and the initialization glyph hologram appeared. <Nahuu? How am I able to talk to you with no time lag?>

<The implant is Linked through a foldspace network.>

<Foldspace?>

<Folding and weaving spacetime filaments at the subatomic level so that all implants are interlinked. >

<I think our scientists might like to talk to yours!> Sergei exclaimed; the physics involved was obviously at a much higher level than his understanding.

– Chapter: “Implant”

The patient is anesthetized for the procedure; the implant is shunted into the brain via the base of the skull.

Footnotes

[1]
“A Carbon Microthread That Makes Contact with the Mind”
[2]
“Older Brain Is Willing, but Too Full”
[3]
“You can’t get entangled without a wormhole”

Night River Clan

The Night River Clan (Narawaa Sahelnahuuwo) is the one to which Lord Sohaar belongs, and which built the first Clan City; construction of its City began 111,906 Earth years/63,946.3 HW years ago (36.57 years after Year 0). Its city is located in the Southern Hemisphere on the southeast of the continent, near the Night River from which it derives its name (so-called after the name for the Milky Way across the sky). It is the oldest and most prestigious Clan. It supplies mined black galaxy granite from the Blue Mountains to the other Clans, as well as the special quartz crystal used for communications and data storage.

Data

Night River Clan symbol
Burial armor gemstone
Emerald
Clan City construction stone
Black galaxy granite (granite with specks of gold and silver)
Clan City co-ordinates
Approximately 45°S, 18°E
Clan emblem
A stylized curving river with an 8-pointed star above it
Color
Emerald green (#3fb87d/rgb(63,184,125))
Clan Lords mentioned
Maarec, Sohaar, Yaraan

Norowa

Norowa is a youth of Sohaar’s year-group during his Time of Exile. Belongs to the Warrior Caste, Night River Clan.

Norowa – past

Physical information

Gender
Male
First appearance
Inheritor chapter: “Exile”

Norowa – present

Warrior-Two-Claw, training partner of Sohaar’s (and descendant of previous Norowa) before his duel with Yaraan.

Physical information

Gender
Male
Eye color
Dark green (#1E4D2B/rgb(30,77,43))
First appearance
Dominator chapter: “Encounter”

Numbers

Dawn Hunter language: numbers
English (decimal) Dawn Hunter (note: octal – base 8 – counting system)
1 hen
2 zeyu
3 nama
4 (hand – four digits) walu
5 baca
6 relo
7 yuna
8 lecu
9 (eight-plus-one) lecuhen
16 (two eights) zeyulecu
17 (16-plus-one) zeyulecuhen
24 (3 × 8) namalecu
25 (3 × 8 + 1) namalecuhen
32 (4 × 8) walulecu
40 (5 × 8) bacalecu
48 (6 × 8) relolecu
56 (7 × 8) yunalecu
64 (100 octal – 82 – 8 × 8) zem
75 zemlecunama (64 + 8 + 3)
100 zeyuzembacalecuwalu (2 × 64 + 5 × 8 + 4 – 144 octal)
512 (1000 octal – 83) haa (8 × 64)
4096 (10,000 octal – 84) som (8 × 512)
32,768 (100,000 octal – 85) yamo (8 × 4096)

Ocean of Storms

The Ocean of Storms (Zumaahyaran) is the main and only ocean of Home World, a vast global body of water surrounding the planet’s supercontinent.

As with Earth’s oceans, currents circulate clockwise in the northern hemisphere and anti-clockwise in the southern.

The Dawn Hunters do not have a maritime culture, but the ocean has nonetheless been thoroughly mapped and explored via remote technology such as satellites and autonomous vessels.

Ocean Wind Clan

The Ocean Wind Clan (Narawaa Zumaahsanaawo) is one of the eight Great Clans. Its Clan City is located on Home World’s west coast. It is the last-founded clan; construction of its City began 109,269 Earth years/62,283.33 HW years ago (3581.37 years since Year 0). The Clan territory’s seashore is abundant in iridescent seashells which are supplied to the other Clans for various purposes.

Data

Ocean Wind Clan symbol
Burial armor gemstone
Jade
Clan City construction stone
Orange sandstone
Clan City co-ordinates
Approximately 38°W, 3°N
Clan emblem
A stylized ocean wave and foam
Color
Sea green (#2e8b57/rgb(46,139,87))
Clan Lords mentioned
Lord Sanaayaraan

Path of the Warrior

The Path of the Warrior (Runaahaar) is a code of ethics followed by those of the Warrior Caste which emphasizes filial piety, loyalty to one’s Clan and Lord, and death before dishonor – and they take it seriously.

Killing elderly or helpless is usually regarded as dishonorable for Warriors – but disrespectful young male Dawn Hunters (or similarly-behaved young males of other species!) will be treated harshly.

Pronouns

Personal and possessive pronouns are the same. Personal pronouns (subject – he, she) appear after the verb or noun; possessive pronouns (object – his, hers) come before the thing possessed – unless the latter is a Dawn Hunterand of higher rank.

Dawn Hunter language: pronouns
English Alien
First person
I/me/my/mine wan
we, us mahu
Me and you (we inclusive, including the hearer): wanruul
Me and them (we exclusive, excluding the hearer): wancuuna
Second person
you/your/yours singular ruul
you/your/yours plural (addressing an audience) ruulcuuna
Third person
she/her/hers, he/him/his, gender-non-specific yeloo
it/its (animals, non-sapient – animate) yena
it/its (inanimate – also this/that) yon
they/them/their/theirs yeloocuuna
they/them/their/theirs (animals, non-sapient – animate) mesuucuuna
they/them/their/theirs (inanimate) hasuucuuna
they (dual, used for body parts and other objects that come in pairs) humaa

There is no equivalent to the English “it” when used as an impersonal pronoun, as in phrases such as “It is raining”; instead such a phrase would be constructed as “Falls rain,” Womazanbolana naalo – Woma [fall] -zan [tense – present] -bo [person – inanimate] -la [politeness – neutral, of oneself] -na [mood – fact] naal [rain] -o [nominative].

Pronoun honorifics

Honorifics are used depending upon the social relationship between the speaker and addresse/s, and are a vital part of social interactions. Honorific suffixes for high-, same- and lower-ranks are appended to the basic pronoun, or name. Thus a high-ranking Hunter will refer to themselves as Wanzen, and others use second person or their name followed by -zen. A lower rank speaking to a higher may refer to themselves in the third person or by their name, rather than use “I”; they may also refer to the higher-ranking Hunter by their title (“my Lord,” zul-wan – Lord-mine) rather than use a pronoun.

The elderly are accorded great respect whatever their rank, and are addressed as Hasuulan – Elder.

When the rank of another is initially unknown, the neutral honorific is used.

The suffix -nem is attached to kinship terms to make them honorific/respectful. Youngsters usually address older relatives by their titles as well (Father, Mother, etc.) rather than pronouns like “you.” Young ones may be addressed with the diminutive suffix -ca attached (Sohaar would be Sohaarca if addressed by his father).

Pronouns may not always be required with verbs, as the latter are inflected for person and honorifics also. In that case, using a pronoun as well is as extra emphasis.

Pyramid of the Lords

The Pyramid of the Lords (Halenomaazul) is a pyramidal square stone building that is used to store the preserved bodies of deceased Clan- and War Lords. There is one within a Clan Cityand, after spaceflight was achieved, one on Grey Moon for each Great Clan (totaling eight).

The Pyramid is the largest and tallest structure in a City, and is regarded as the Lords watching over their descendants. It has a flat top used for ceremonies such as a Lord’s burial rites and also for ritual sacrifice of Warriors; small VTOL aircraft can also use it as a landing platform. A main road leads to its base from the central plaza. Its four sides are beveled and painted with Clan colors; it is otherwise black in color and coated with black hexagonal solar panels.

Within, there are 16 levels, and the sarcophagi of the Lords are arranged in rows, one after the other in the long burial chamber on each of the four sides. There is enough space for hundreds, so even after thousands of years a Pyramid is nowhere near full.

On Grey Moon, the Pyramids contain only the Clan Lords; the City Pyramids are used for War Lords, the ancient Clan Lords up to the spaceflight era and the Bond-Mates of Lords.

A Pyramid is regarded as the Lords watching over their descendants. On Grey Moon they are located so they face Home World permanently.

Dimensions

Base
829.44 m × 829.44 m; total diameter of 3317.76 m (the same length as a Void Walker) and a base area of 687,970.7 m2.
Height
207.36 m
Levels
16 levels of 12.96 m high, extending in a central column down from the top (103.68 m per side).
Top
The flat top is 103.68 m × 103.68 m (total area is 10,749.5 m2).
Volume
54,239,595.4 m3 (calculator)

2:26 PM Wednesday, 13 September 2017

Rainbow Beetle

The Rainbow Beetle (Cuucoberencuuna) is an insect-analog with translucent wings and an iridescent carapace that comes in a great variety of colors. It is the most numerous of insect species on Home World and sub-species can be found in all habitable zones. It is similar in appearance to a scarab beetle, but has four sets of two legs. It can reach up to 5 cm in size.

They are edible – a good source of protein – though Dawn Hunters prefer to eat them as a last resort.

Gallery

Male Rainbow Beetle

Male Rainbow Beetle (colored pencils, 14/12/2014).

Red Moon

Red Moon (Relelecaa) is the second moon of three orbiting Home World. it is an ochre-red in color, similar to Mars. It is used to measure time – one Waanaarelelecaale (Red Moon cycle) orbit equals 8 HW days, their equivalent of a week. There is a mostly-automated mining outpost located here as the moon is rich in iron ore, indicated by its color.

Data

Diameter
1900 km
Radius
950 km
Density
4.3
Distance
32 radii (224,507.7824 km) from HW (Roche Limit = 2.905)
Viewing angle
0.0042, 0.0084 (0.4 degrees – appears 1° smaller than Earth’s Moon in sky)
Orbit
241.63 Earth hours/10.06 days/8 HW days (64 yearly orbits)

Gallery

Red Moon

Red Moon, rendered with a GIMP script.

Regent Lord

A Regent Lord (Zulnehu) is a War Lord’s or Clan Lord’s second-hatched son – literally the spare or backup in case the first is killed. His helmet’s crest of two backward-curved horns is modeled on those of a Rock Jumper.

His metal rank color is gold (#ffd700 / rgb(255,215,0)).

Gallery

Regent Lord helmet

Regent Lord helmet (digital art, 27/2/2014).

Renahuu

Renahuu is an Adept-Healer who attends to Sergei Konstantinov after a hostile encounter with Clan Lord Yaraan.

Biographical information

Gender
Female
Eye color
Sea-green (#2E8B57/rgb(46,139,87))
First appearance
Dominator chapter: “Encounter”

Reproduction

Unlike humans – but similar to reptiles, birds and dinosaurs – the Dawn Hunters do not have visible reproductive organs, so the sexes are almost identical in appearance, aside from the differences of skin color and body size. The female lays an egg, one per pregnancy (rather than a batch like other creatures on Home World), and she is only fertile during the once-yearly breeding season. The population is deliberately kept relatively small (around 1 million or so) and they are aware of the importance of population control so as not to overhunt their prey, and keep the predator-prey ratio in balance. This does mean that they have more genetic homogeneity than humans, but careful monitoring avoids any problems. The genetic information of each Hunter is kept in a central database, and generations of selection ensure that healthy individuals are produced.

Breeding cycle

The cycle of egg fertilization, laying, incubation and hatching takes a quarter-Home World year (128 HW days/160 Earth days). The breeding season, taking place in the year’s third quarter (after solstice), is the same time in both hemispheres as the species originated in the south – eggs are ready to hatch as the warmer season approaches there.

An egg containing a male is black, a female’s is grey, and has an iridescent sheen matching its occupant’s eye color. It is elongated in shape and initially soft on laying before hardening up. Laying is not a difficult, dangerous and painful process as live birth can be for human females, so a female may produce many eggs during her lifetime with no physical ill-effects, though the actual number depends upon population control restrictions. The usual number of children is 1-3; most who want children will be able to have them. The Warrior Caste are the most numerous as their profession means they have a high death rate.

An egg is layed, placed in a incubator (heated sand) and hatched within its family’s apartment. An Adept-Carer will be on hand in case of any complications, but these are vanishingly rare.

The young are hatched helpless and dependent (altricial), as human infants are. They are smaller than a full-term human infant; less than half the size (no more than 25 cm long), and look emaciated and scrawny. They are formula-fed as females don’t have mammary glands. In ancient times before the special high-nutrition formula was developed, they were fed mashed-up or pre-chewed food, mainly puréed meat and plant food, as well as blood from prey – and are still fed this for variety. When they start teething, about halfway through their first year, they are usually given bones to gnaw on.

They initially vocalize via squeaking, chirping or, when distressed, squealing. They begin to learn to speak near the end of their first year.

A hatchling is usually carried in a sling across the carer’s torso or in a backpack. They learn to walk within 1 Home World year. Before that, they go through a quadrupedal/crawling phase like humans. They are not left alone and sleep near or next to their parents or carers; as with human infants, physical contact is vital for their development. Attachment and dependence are encouraged, both in the young and adults.

Those of the Warrior Caste are mostly raised by their fathers, and spend much of their day in communal age-groups once past the yearling stage. A Clan Lord’s sons are raised exclusively by him. An older Warrior will be in charge of an age-group throughout their youth. Brothers share a life-time bond and are usually assigned together once they pass their rite of passage into adulthood.

Children of the other two Castes mainly live with their parents, though they also spend part of some days in crèches where they are socialized and schooled. Families usually sleep near or next to each other for security and comfort; each has their own apartment within their Clan City. The children are well-cared for and indulged as hatchlings, though they are more disciplined as they get older and are taught to respect the adults.

Child abuse, rape and pedophilia are unknown.

Orphans are usually adopted by their nearest relatives in their Clan.

Games children play are mostly hunting- or fighting-related (ball-type games are unknown), but they cease to indulge in games as they reach adulthood.

Gender relations

A clan is led by a dominant male of the genetically-enhanced, all-male Warrior Caste; he is their ultimate protector and decision-maker. Aside from them, the gender roles in society are equitable; male and female children are valued equally. Males have a natural inhibition against harming females (although this doesn’t always hold if one Clan goes to war against another). Females partake in all non-Warrior Caste professions, including engineering and science, though some Ancestor-Guardiansof the Adept Caste train as fighters to an extent. Hatchling-rearing is shared equally.

The Hunters have no concept of romantic love; mating is for reproduction only, though they do feel intense affection and friendship. Formal matchmaking is the general rule; this is a specialization carried out by the Adept Caste. A match is consensual. However, if a prospective or bonded pair find themselves incompatible, they may separate and seek other partners – there is no equivalent of forced marriage.

Bonding typically does not take place until around 17.1 HW years (around 30 Earth years equivalent). They mature a little slower than humans – the Earth-equivalent of 25-30 years is when they reach adulthood – and age slowly, not showing physical decline until their last few years.

There is one breeding season a year, and, as with humans, mating takes place privately; usually within a Breeding Chamber rather than the sleeping area. Those of the Warrior Caste remain solitary and will only choose a mate to produce offspring; due to genetic/chromosome dominance, he will always produce a son. A Warrior may breed with a female he chooses, if she agrees, even if she is pair-bonded to another non-Warrior male (her Bond-Mate, who is a lifelong mate). She thus essentially has two mates whom she will remain monogamous to, and they to her. An exception is a Regent Lord (a Clan Lord’s second son) who may mate with any female who accepts him; this ensures his family’s genes remain dominant.

A Clan Lord will have a Bond-Mate selected for him when he decides to forgo his immortality to reproduce (he is usually only permitted two sons). She will usually be an Ancestor-Guardian from the Adept Caste, mate only with him and by custom will suicide when the Clan Lord ends his life (or it is ended by another).

To keep their lines from becoming too diluted, mating to first cousins, and the descendants of these, is common practice for many, particularly amongst the ruling Clan Lords. A Clan Lord’s brother will have his chromosomes altered so he can produce both males and females. They in turn will mate with those descendants of a Clan Lord’s uncle (i.e. his father’s brother).

Both sexes rarely reveal any part of their faces except their eyes to Outsiders (other species) so both are usually either veiled or armored. Keeping covered is also an extra measure to protect them from the harsh sunlight.

 

Gallery

Mother and hatchling

Mother carrying her hatchling in a sling (colored pencils, 2/9/2013).

Young Sohaar with father

Juvenile, around 4 HW years old (Sohaar and father) (colored pencils, 13/7/2014).

Resaan

Resaan is Bond-Mate of Clan Lord Maarec; mother of Sohaar and Yaraan. She is an Ancestor-Guardianof the Adept Caste.

Biographical information

Gender
Female
Eye color
(Earth) grass-green (#62af2f/rgb(98,175,47))
Height
6 ft 7 in/2 m

Gallery

Resaan

Resaan portrait (colored pencils, 14/5/2013, 28 KB).

Resaan portrait

Resaan portrait, done as a vector in Inkscape (digital art, 31/10/2015, 36 KB). She wears a headscarf in the color indicating her profession, and her clothing color is that of the Adept Caste. The stripes on the hem of her color have colors indicating her profession and the Clan she belongs to.

Rock Jumper

A Rock Jumper (Rerewawumar) is a nimble quadruped herbivore that lives in mountainous areas, about the size and general shape of a goat. It has two backwards-curving horns and a thick tapering semi-prehensile tail.

Males are black with a grey underside; females are grey with a pale or white underside. The male has longer spiral horns.

Gallery

Female Rock Jumper

Female Rock Jumper (colored pencils, August 2013).

Sanaanoro

Sanaanoro is a Warrior-Guardian of Sohaar’s, inherited from his father Maarec.

Biographical information

Gender
Male
Eye color
Teal-blue (#367588/rgb(54,117,136))
First appearance
Inheritor chapter: “Attendance”

Sanaaso

Sanaaso is a youth of Sohaar’s year-group during his Time of Exile.

Biographical information

Gender
Male
Hatching year
61,510.98 HW years/4056 B.C. (2311.92 HW years ago)
First appearance
Inheritor chapter: “Exile”

Sanaayaraan

Sanaayaraan is a Clan Lord of the Ocean Wind Clan. Oversees the alien Tall Necks.

Biographical information

Gender
Male
First appearance
Dominator chapter: “Council”

Sanaazuun

Sanaazuun is a Clan Lord of the Endless Plains Clan, nephew of Clan Lord Haarnahuu who was slain by Supreme Lord Yaraan.

Biographical information

Gender
Male
Eye color
Violet (#6900bb/rgb(105,0,187))
First appearance
Dominator chapter: “Return”

Sea of Sand

The Sea of Sand (Zumaahcesal) is the main desert in the southern hemisphere part of The Land. It is notable for huge sand dunes that stretch for kilometers, and is considered impassable.

Seasons

As the eight Clan Cities are generally in the same latitudes on both sides of the Equator, the climates are similar, though seasons are reversed:

Sonuusaazasucehe
Year-time-mating/breeding
Sonuusaazawelawe
Year-time-hot
Sonuusaazanaale
Year-time-rain
Sonuusaazazamaawe
Year-time-cold

Sergei Konstantinov

Sergei Aleksandrovich Konstantinov (Сергей Александрович Константинов) was born in Russia – then the USSR – in the Moscow district. After graduating school he joined the Russian Air Force and became a Class 1 Air Force pilot. Aircraft flown: Yak-52, L-29, L-39, MiG-31, MiG-29 and Su-27; logged over 600 hours of flight time. He is a qualified parachute instructor (over 200 jumps). Sergei’s Russian Air Force rank at the time of the story is “Major.”

He was selected as a test-cosmonaut candidate of the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center Cosmonaut Office on 28 July 1997 (1997 Air Force group). Sergei is a qualified Soyuz commander-pilot (his flight callsign is “Нептун, Neptune”) and has had one 6-month tour (“Expedition”) on the International Space Station.

He enjoys flying, parachuting, running, athletics, photography, astronomy, reading (mainly science-fiction and fantasy books and movies). He is a bit of a Japanophile. His elderly parents live in the suburb of Korolyov (formerly Leningrad), Moscow, in the State-provided apartment where Sergei grew up.

Rather shy, moody and reticent in personality. He is an only child and has no plans to get married. He is of mixed ethnicity (Slavic/Central Asian); his eyes are Asiatic/epicanthic in shape as he had a grandmother from Central Asia.

His relationship with the alien Sohaar is somewhat curious; they aren’t exactly friends, but he does not seek to escape from his hostage situation after initial resistance. He might have some symptoms of Stockholm syndrome; another reason is that he is disillusioned with various things on Earth.

Biographical information

Born
1970
Eyes
Hazel-green (mostly green with a little brown) – epicanthic in shape
Hair
Black, straight (Asian-type hair) – worn in short military cut
Height
5 feet 10 inches (177.8 cm/1.77 meters)
Marital status
Single
Physique
Thin, fit
Skin
Light golden-brown (Asian-type tone)
Weight
60 kg – fit-but-lean build (BMI of 18)

Gallery

Sergei head portrait

Sergei head portrait, somewhat stylized as it was originally done as a vector in Inkscape (6/9/2016, 43 KB).

Sergei in Sokol pressure suit

Sergei in a Sokol pressure suit (colored pencils, 14/3/2011).

Sergei in alien clothing

Sergei in his alien clothing (colored pencils, 22/2/2014).

Sohaar and Sergei heights

Height comparison of Sohaar and Sergei (digital art, 26/4/2014, revised 25/8/2015).

Notes

Shadow Hunter

A Shadow Hunter (Haaramaaze) is a quadruped carnivore and evolutionary relative of the Dawn Hunters; as with humans and chimpanzees, both species descend from a common ancestor. It is a major apex predator, and they share a common antagonism. It lives in forests and mountainous areas (the Dawn Hunters are plains-dwellers). Like other Home World creatures, its upper body has protective overlapping segmented plates; its feet are four-clawed. It can kill an unarmed Dawn Hunter. It measures up to 2 meters long and 1 meter high at its powerful shoulders, which slope away down to its hindquarters. Its head is elongated, with strong jaws. Unlike the Dawn Hunters, it is not a fast runner and is built for strength rather than speed, preferring to ambush its prey; it is also solitary rather than gregarious.

Males have black skin, females grey, with various eye, crest and tail colors.

Gallery

Male Shadow Hunter

Male Shadow Hunter (colored pencils, 22/11/2012).

Shadow Wing

A Shadow Wing (Sosaanamaaze) is a large (condor-sized) avian-analog, somewhat resembling a cross between a dragon and a pterosaur. It has a long neck and its legs and arms both have wing membranes. It is black with an iridescent sheen (males have a black underside, females grey), and its head has two backward-pointing wedge-shaped crests; the crest varies in color between individuals. It feeds on insects and carrion, and has teeth to enable the latter. It has a wingspan of up to 3 meters, and is as large as flying creatures get on Home World.

Gallery

Male Shadow Wing

Male Shadow Wing (colored pencils, 13/2/2012).

Ship Master

A Ship Master (Nayoczaawezoyuu) is one who commands a Void Walker; this can be a Clan Lord or anyone standing in for him when he is absent.

Shuttle

A Shuttle (Habaalanzul – Lord’s personal Shuttle or Habaalansobec – general use) carries up to 8 passengers and 2 crew (a Technician-Pilot and co-pilot). A Clan Lord or War Lordhas his own designated and marked Shuttle; he sits in the right-hand commander’s seat beside the Technician-Pilot. The markings are a stylized rendition of his helmet crest, on both sides of the wings.

It is a little larger than a Sukhoi Su-27 (22 m long, 14 m wingspan). The Shuttle is self-contained (galley, hygiene facilities, medical bay, etc.) and can support its crew for up to one Home World month. The front section contains the flight cabin, the middle section has an airlock and entrance ramp, and the rear section contains the passengers and aforementioned facilities. The engines are placed along the sides.

It is black in color, highlighted with Clan colors. The design follows the organic theme favored for all vessels, and resembles sea creatures found in Home World’s oceans.

Dimensions

Length
12 bodylengths (25.92 m)
Wingspan
10 bodylengths (21.6 m)

Gallery

Pencil drawing of shuttle

Shuttle (colored pencils, 2009 – somewhat outdated).

Lateral view of shuttle Dorsal and ventral views of shuttle

Side, top and bottom views (digital art, 16/7/2014).

Silver Fish

A Silver Fish (Mozeyuyuzuu) is an eel-like sea creature found in salt and fresh water; most often rockpools along the coastline. It has head and tail fins, iridescent silvery scales and is a vertebrate.

Gallery

Female Silver Fish

Female Silver Fish (colored pencils, 22/8/2013).

Sky Carrier

The Sky Carrier (Habaalanzuun) transports troops and/or cargo and equipment to a planet’s surface and back. It vaguely resembles a winged scarab beetle in shape. It carries a crew of 2 (pilot and engineer) plus up to 32 passengers on the upper deck, and cargo on the lower deck. The fusion-powered engines extend along the base of the craft. It is black in color, the wing leading edges highlighted with its Clan’s colors.

Dimensions

Length
18 bodylengths (38.88 m)
Wingspan
15 bodylengths (32.4 m)

Gallery

Colored pencil drawing of Sky Carrier

Sky Carrier, (colored pencils, 2009 – design slightly changed since then).

Sky Carrier, lateral view Sky Carrier, dorsal and ventral views

Sky Carrier, side, top and bottom views, Swift River Clan colors (digital art, 25/6/2014).

Sky Fighter

A Sky Fighter (Haarzuun) is a smaller craft that carries a crew of two, seated side-by-side or one behind the other as required. It serves as a versatile multirole fighter and bomber. It resembles a stingray in shape and is black in color, the leading edges of its wings highlighted with its Clan’s colors.

Dimensions

Length
8 bodylengths (17.28 m)
Wingspan
4 bodylengths (8.64 m)

Gallery

Colored pencil drawing of Sky Fighter

Sky Fighter (colored pencils, 2009 – design slightly altered since then).

Lateral view of Sky Fighter Dorsal and ventral view of Sky Fighter

Sky Fighter, side, top and bottom views in colors of Endless Plains Clan (digital art, 9/7/2014).

Sky Flyer

A Sky Flyer (Rerelanzuun) is a light, atmospheric twin-propeller-driven craft for low-level flying; it is a little larger than a Cessna light aircraft. It seats two passengers side-by-side; they enter via a retractable ladder on the left side. Its bulbous main fuselage tapers sharply at the rear where a V-shaped tail is located, giving it a dragonfly-like appearance. The propellers are mounted under each wing, and are powered by hexagonal solar panels integrated into the craft’s skin, effectively giving it unlimited range. Its three-wheeled undercarriage is retractable, and has short takeoff and landing capability. As with the spacecraft, its wings can morph to suit the flying conditions – e.g. lengthen to allow soaring and gliding, or the tips curve up to form winglets – and it has a simple Artificial Intelligence on board. Like other Dawn Hunter craft, it is black in color, the leading edges of its wings highlighted with its Clan’s colors.

Dimensions

Length
5 bodylengths (10.8 m)
Wingspan
7 bodylengths (15.12 m)

Gallery

Colored pencil drawing of Sky Flyer

Sky Flyer (colored pencils, 20/6/2011).

Sky Flyer lateral view Sky Flyer, dorsal and ventral views

Sky Flyer, side, top and bottom views in colors of Dawn Star Clan (digital art, 19/7/2014).

Links

Sky Tree

A Sky Tree (Merozuun) resembles a black-barked palm with a crest of cerulean leaves; a mostly tropical tree. As it grows in equatorial regions, its leaves reflect a lot of the more energetic blue sunlight rather than absorb it. So-called as it can grow very tall – up to 40 meters or more – and its leaves are sky-colored.

Gallery

Sky Tree

Sky Tree, cerulean and magenta variants (colored pencils, July 2013; leaves originally red then later digitally recolored).

Sleep Flower

A Sleep Flower (Meromoree) is a common small ground plant. Its four splayed leaves are cerulean in color with veins in a hexagonal pattern, and a bulbous magenta flower grows on a stalk from the middle of these. The flower varies in shade – extremes from orangeish to purplish – depending upon the region where it is found. Its bluish milky sap has a morphine-like, pain-killing effect when placed on the skin, or swallowed (but without the side-effects).

Gallery

Sleep Flower plant

Sleep Flower plant (digital art, 10/11/2015).

Society

The society of the Dawn Hunters is essentially tribal in nature, collectivist, hierarchical and conservative – the last aspect in the sense that they don’t change much and maintain traditions. It has served them well for thousands of years and are secure in their culture and identity; they are somewhat insular and aloof. They are highly advanced in many areas, yet have not lost touch with the natural world and their essential nature.

They evolved from social pack hunters on the east coast plains of the single continent’s southern hemisphere, utilizing co-operative hunting strategies against their large and dangerous prey such as Spike Tails. This helped develop sapience as a complex society formed, based on family Clan hierarchies. A dominant male led each major Clan; males leading minor Clans were subordinate to the major one.

Hunting and gathering remained their main source of food; they never developed agriculture on a mass scale so their population remained comparatively low compared to that of humans. Males of the fighting caste engaged in vicious combat with rival males of other clans, each major clan establishing its territory in regions of the single continent. Eventually the Clans, under the first Supreme Lord, Sohaar-1, coalesced into eight major Clans, each finding it expedient to establish a settlement in their designated territory. These settlements eventually grew into the Clan Cities that continue to this day. A Clan City is led by the dominant male, the Clan Lord. Sub-Clans are led by War Lords.

The Cities and their more settled lifestyle stimulated technological development. Technology progressed at a slower rate than the human equivalent, but as they never developed money or an economic system, it was unhindered by funding concerns. Their conservative nature was another reason for the leisurely pace of development; they do not change things unless deemed necessary, so advances are incremental.

The Hunters now had opportunity to specialize in various professions and a Caste system evolved. The Warrior Caste are fighters and leaders, the Adept Caste are scholars and scientists, and the Technician Caste are builders, with further specialties within professions. Professions are passed down through apprenticeships, usually from parent to child.

The Hunters do not have gods and goddesses as such, but venerate their dead as filial piety is a tenet of their society. This is carried to an extreme with Supreme and Clan Lords, whose bodies were preserved to be buried first in a desert tomb complex, and later transferred to the nearest moon of their world after spaceflight was developed. Houses of the Ancestors in each Clan City holds the remains of each Clan member (Clan Lords are interred in the singular Pyramid of the Lords). Tomb Priests and Priestesses maintain the Houses.

Sohaar-1

Sohaar-1 is the revered founder of the Night River Clan and City. He has the same eye color as Sohaar-28.

Physical information

Gender
Male
Eye color
Emerald-green (#3fb87d/rgb(63,184,125))
Lifespan
85 HW years/148.75 Earth years

Sohaar-5

Sohaar-5 is an ancestor of Clan Lord Sohaar. He lived 110,590 B.C./64,308.57 HW years ago. He was overthrown in a coup by the usurper War Lord Maazeyaraan, but recovered and returned to challenge him in single combat in an attempt to reclaim his ancestral Clan City.

Biographical information

Gender
Male
Eye color
Blue-green (#008080/rgb(0,128,128))
First appearance
Chapter: “Fallen”

Sohaar

Sohaar is the eldest son and heir of Clan Lord Maarec of the Night River Clan, and the 28th to bear that name. He took over leadership of his Clanafter he ritually sacrificed his father. However, his ambitious brother Yaraan upset their natural order when he challenged and defeated the-then Supreme Lord in single combat.

Sohaar tends to be – like most of the Warrior Caste – arrogant, imperious and certain of his superiority to other species. He tolerates no disrespect or insubordination, and anyone who insults him could literally lose their head by his sword. He can be moody and short-tempered; patience is not usually one of his virtues! He enjoys combat and the way of the warrior – it’s what his Caste selectively bred themselves for, after all.

However, compared to his brother and father, he is slightly more inclined to forgive inadvertent breaches of etiquette, which is a good thing for any humans first encountering him! He is not a coward or bully.

In age, he was hatched 4056 Earth-years ago (counting backwards from the Before Present timeline of 1950) and spent 4004 years in stasis (plus the number of years to my story’s setting).

He is the main alien protagonist of my story.

Biographical information

Eye color
Emerald-green (#3fb87d/rgb(63,184,125)) – a trait of his genetic line; Sohaar-1, the founder of his Clan, had the same eye color
Gender
Male
Hatching year
61,510.98 HW years/4056 B.C. (2311.92 HW years ago)
Height
7 feet 4 inches/2.23 meters tall, a little taller than the average height for one of the Warrior Caste
Stride length
92.5 cm
Weight
140 kg (Earth-equivalent)

Gallery

Sohaar

Sohaar-28 portrait (colored pencils, 19/5/2013, 47 KB).

Sohaar, head portrait

Sohaar head portrait, done as a vector in Inkscape (24/10/2015, 25 KB). His skin should be as black as his tunic but was lightened for cell-shading.

Soharaa

Soharaa is Supreme Lord at the time of Clan Lord Sohaar’s hatching. He belongs to the Swift River Clan. He is the 45th Soharaa of his line. His father is Lecaaculuun-44.

Biographical information

Gender
Male
Eye color
Orange (#FFA500/rgb(255,165,0))
First appearance
Inheritor chapter: “Challenge”

Sosaan

Sosaan is an Adept-Biologist who is onboard Clan Lord Sohaar’s Void Walker on their second visit to Earth.

Biographical information

Gender
Male
First appearance
Dominator chapter: “Surrender”

Spike Tail

A Spike Tail (Haweraaru) is a quadruped herbivore. It has a long neck, thin legs and tail; is about the size of a camel and resembles a cross between a camel and a sauropod dinosaur. Its small head is convex in profile, with four crest-quills flaring on either side. Its upper skin is iridescent magenta with blue spots (which also fluoresce in ultraviolet); males have black underparts and females grey. It is the largest land creature on Home World, with males standing up to 6 feet/1.8 meters at the shoulder and the males can weigh up to 1 tonne. It has cloven hooves (two horned split toes for walking on), and can run quite fast, about the speed of a racehorse. The male’s tail has four spikes on its end to use as a weapon against rival males and predators, similar to those of a stegosaurus. The female’s tail is spikeless, but it can still hit predators hard enough to break bones.

It is flighty and ill-tempered, and would not be suited to domestication even if the Dawn Hunters were inclined to try this.

It is favored prey of the Dawn Hunters and numbers into the millions. Spike Tails inhabit the grasslands in the temperate zones on both sides of the equator.

Gallery

Male Spike Tail

Male Spike Tail (colored pencils, 29/11/2012).

Spiral Grass

Spiral Grass (Huruuwuluur) is a cerulean-colored grass whose wiry blade has a corkscrew-like curl. (A similar Earthly equivalent: Juncus effusus “Spiralis”.)

Gallery

Spiral Grass

Spiral Grass (colored pencils, July 2013).

Stages of life

Hatchling (1st year)
Leesawa (one who hatches, is born)
Yearling (2nd year)
Sonuuwa
Child
Hunaawa (one who is young)
Sub-adult (adolescent)
Weromwasuwa (little adult)
Adult
Weroma
Elder
Hasuulana

Supreme Lord

The Supreme Lord (Zulsune) is a Clan Lord who has ultimate authority over all other Clan Lords and Cities – he has the final say in any decision made by the Council of Immortals. His position is won by a duel to the death with his predecessor. Any Warrior can challenge him for the position, but in reality only a high-ranking one usually does as they are the most formidable fighters.

Like the Clan Lords, his lifespan is greatly lengthened with the use of nanomedicine.

Helmet crest is the same as a Clan Lord’s and his metal rank color is also gold (#ffd700 / rgb(255,215,0)).

Gallery

Supreme Lord's helmet

Swadesh list

A selection of Dawn Hunter words. Note that the letter c is always pronounced as k! There are no DH equivalents for some English words (such as various animal species).

Dawn Hunter language: Swadesh list
Number English Part of speech Dawn Hunter language
1 I personal pronoun wan
2 you (singular) personal pronoun ruul
3 he personal pronoun yeloo (also she, it [gender unknown/unspecified])
4 we personal pronoun mahu
5 you (plural) personal pronoun ruulcuuna
6 they personal pronoun yeloocuuna (sapient) mesuucuuna (animals, non-sapient)
7 this demonstrative pronoun lor (these: lorcuuna)
8 that demonstrative pronoun sor (those: sorcuuna)
9 here demonstrative pronoun coco
10 there demonstrative pronoun soco
11 who interrogative laaz
12 what interrogative mana
13 where interrogative naya
14 when interrogative saazawome mana
15 how interrogative meesa
16 not quantifier ranu
17 all quantifier helee
18 many quantifier cuuna
19 some quantifier wazen
20 few quantifier nalem
21 other cardinal number
22 one cardinal number hen
23 two cardinal number zeyu
24 three cardinal number nama
25 four cardinal number walu
26 five adjective baca
27 big adjective caala
28 long adjective mee
29 wide adjective caaru
30 thick adjective
31 heavy adjective laasan
32 small adjective wasu
33 short adjective lalo
34 narrow adjective
35 thin noun
36 woman noun waheen
37 man (adult male) noun caale
38 man (human being) noun sobec (sapient being)
39 child noun nunee
40 wife noun holabene or waheenhola
41 husband noun holabene or caanehola
42 mother noun maacuwaheen
43 father noun maacucaale
44 animal noun meela (also wawewalu, four-leg, for quadripedal creatures)
45 fish noun meelazumaah (sea-creature)
46 bird noun meelazuun (sky [flying/winged] creature)
47 dog noun
48 louse noun
49 snake noun
50 worm noun
51 tree noun mero
52 forest noun naheel
53 stick noun cebay
54 fruit noun
55 seed noun muyu
56 leaf noun laamo
57 root noun may
58 bark (of a tree) noun nabumero
59 flower noun
60 grass noun huruu
61 rope noun renuu
62 skin noun nabu
63 meat noun huulo
64 blood noun molan
65 bone noun sayaan
66 fat (noun) noun
67 egg noun saraa
68 horn noun saawu
69 tail noun hawe
70 feather noun renuu (filament, strand, thread)
71 hair noun renuu (filament, strand, thread)
72 head noun cebaan
73 ear noun nec
74 eye noun hesaa
75 nose noun yu
76 mouth noun bem
77 tooth noun nelo
78 tongue (organ) noun yaan
79 fingernail noun zuhaa (claw)
80 foot noun ceyuu
81 leg noun wawe
82 knee noun waweyeero (leg-bend)
83 hand noun walu
84 wing noun sosaan
85 belly noun
86 guts noun naasel
87 neck noun
88 back noun nuural
89 breast noun
90 heart noun mawa
91 liver verb
92 to drink verb loyunec
93 to eat verb mecu
94 to bite verb ruc
95 to suck verb zuuce
96 to spit verb bah
97 to vomit verb caarnec
98 to blow verb waaye
99 to breathe verb haanunec
100 to laugh verb
101 to see verb hesaanec
102 to hear verb renonec
103 to know verb lahonanec
104 to think verb zayuunec
105 to smell verb honenec
106 to fear verb wehenec
107 to sleep verb moreenec
108 to live verb raanenec
109 to die verb lununec
110 to kill verb lunuhenec
111 to fight verb haarnec
112 to hunt verb haranec
113 to hit verb macanec
114 to cut verb mocunec
115 to split verb cahnec
116 to stab verb huunenec
117 to scratch verb raranec
118 to dig verb cehunec
119 to swim verb wayuu
120 to fly verb rerenec
121 to walk verb zawenec
122 to come verb lanec
123 to lie (as in a bed) verb
124 to sit verb
125 to stand verb
126 to turn (intransitive) verb
127 to fall verb
128 to give verb
129 to hold verb
130 to squeeze verb zuuwe
131 to rub verb
132 to wash verb bulunec
133 to wipe verb
134 to pull verb
135 to push verb
136 to throw verb nol
137 to tie verb
138 to sew verb renuunec
139 to count verb
140 to say verb luunonec
141 to sing verb
142 to play verb
143 to float verb
144 to flow verb leeranec
145 to freeze verb
146 to swell noun
147 sun noun hesaalecaa
148 moon noun re
149 star noun so
150 water noun samoo
151 rain noun naal
152 river noun sahel
153 lake noun seewa
154 sea noun zumaah
155 salt noun ceeha
156 stone noun wooma
157 sand noun cesal
158 dust noun yer
159 earth noun baal
160 cloud noun bano
161 fog noun behu
162 sky noun zuun
163 wind noun sanaa
164 snow noun rerasasaan
165 ice noun rera
166 smoke noun zuruc
167 fire noun lecaa
168 ash verb cuul
169 to burn noun lecaanec
170 road noun yool
171 mountain adjective nomaa
172 red adjective lelecaa
173 green adjective mabaale
174 yellow adjective lelecaa
175 white adjective saansaan
176 black noun nanahuu
177 night noun nahuu
178 day noun hame
179 year adjective sonuu
180 warm adjective wela
181 cold adjective zamaa
182 full adjective
183 new adjective muzo
184 old adjective haasu
185 good adjective weza
186 bad adjective meha
187 rotten adjective
188 dirty adjective
189 straight adjective caah
190 round adjective rowan
191 sharp (as a knife) adjective cahe
192 dull (as a knife) adjective
193 smooth adjective
194 wet adjective bulu
195 dry adjective wake
196 correct adjective
197 near adjective lara
198 far adjective bale
199 right adjective ruuz
200 left adjective saam
201 at preposition
202 in conjunction
203 with conjunction -seen
204 and conjunction
205 if conjunction
206 because noun
207 name suhe
208 house hale
209 wall
210 deer
211 mouse
212 rabbit
213 eagle
214 spider
215 face sosa
216 body yamen
217 navel
218 finger soon
219 sick (painful)
221 needle
222 clothing cahuu
223 thunder culuun
224 lightning zuuma
225 above zabo
226 below lenol
227 to cough
228 to buy
229 to choose
230 to grow
231 to open
232 to steal
233 to dream
234 to cry
235 to yawn
236 to cook
237 six relo
238 seven yuna
239 eight lecu
240 nine lecuhen
241 ten lecuzeyu
242 which
243 how many

19 Aug 2016

Swift River Clan

The Swift River Clan (Narawaa Sahelnorowo) is one of the eight Great Clans. Its Clan City is located on Home World’s west coast. It is the last-founded clan; construction of its City began 108,998 Earth years/62,128.86 HW years ago (3735.84 years since Year 0). Red-gold sandstone is a major component of the buildings there. Its culture is more independently-minded.

Data

Swift River Clan symbol
Burial armor gemstone
Topaz (orange)
Clan City construction stone
Red sandstone
Clan City co-ordinates
Approximately 29°W, 8°S
Clan emblem
Three lines representing a river
Color
Orange (#ff8c00/rgb(255,140,0))
Clan Lords mentioned
Lord Soharaa

Sword Arms

The Sword Arms (|kahi) are aliens under the domination of the Dawn Hunters.

Physiology

The Sword Arms are bipedal predators originally descended from an reptile- and insect-like ancestor; they evolved an endoskeleton and lungs as they got larger, but retain a protective partial exoskeleton over their body. They have compound eyes, evolved to distinguish fine details; the color of these matches their exoskeleton. Their upper jaw splits into two lateral mandibles; they do not have teeth but their jaws are beak-like and can bite hard. They have an infrared/heat sensor on their forehead between their main eyes to aid in detecting prey in dim light, and to find their way through the tunnels of their burrow-cities.

They do not have a collarbone as their evolutionary ancestors did not brachiate from trees; their manipulative arms face forward in a manner similar to those of bipedal dinosaurs. They have a specialized extra pair of arms ending in scythe-like blades which are used as weapons, and also are useful for digging or climbing; these are otherwise folded up like a praying mantis’s over and behind their main arms (and are what the Hunters named them for). Warriors’ arm-blades are up to one meter in length; those of other castes are shorter. The blades and exoskeleton are formed of a chitin-like material so they are light but strong.

Their torso extends behind their hip joints into a short pointed tail stump, which aids in balancing their blade arms; they normally stand at a 45° angle. Average height is around 6 feet/1.8 meters. Males have a backward-swept, single-pointed head crest and females have a two-pointed crest. These are sensitive to vibrations.

They breathe in and out through nostrils situated on their beak-mouth, but also have an extra pair of sealable operculum at the base of their neck which can be used to take in extra oxygen; another genetic remnant from their insect ancestors.

Coboglobin is used as the oxygen-binding metal in their blood cells. Unlike hemoglobin, it is not destroyed by CO2, so it is more suitable for the higher levels of the gas in their world’s atmosphere. Unoxygenated blood is amber, oxygenated is clear or slightly pink.

Their society is somewhat insect-like and eusocial, with castes designated by the color of their exoskeleton, which has a metallic/iridescent hue, and merges to grey-white skin on their undersides.

Gold exoskeleton
The ruling queen. She is a little larger than the others, and does not have blades on her second arms but rather diaphanous translucent membranes that are the evolutionary remnant of wings. The sub-queens – who serve as the equivalent of her ladies-in-waiting – are bronze in color; if one ascends to queen she turns gold. There can be only one queen per family/clan.
Blue
Warriors; favored males are selected from these for reproduction.
Green
Sterile female workers – effectively genderless. These are the most numerous.

Like the Dawn Hunters, they belong to various clans (|za, tribes, in their language) and fight amongst themselves, but are not united overall. They mainly live in burrow-cities. They have a somewhat symbiotic relationship with a fungi-analogous plant that grows throughout their tunnels; it is bioluminescent and provides a food source and illumination.

Reproduction

The dominant female – the gold queen – lays a batch of eggs in the breeding season. (Some sub-queens in her nest are also permitted to mate.) The eggs subsequently fertilized by favored males will also be male, but the majority of eggs will be unfertilized and produce female drone workers. Those female eggs designated to be future queens and sub-queens are fed a special diet after hatching (all emerge as sub-queens at first).

Language

This is only a basic sketch – essentially only a naming language at this stage. They communicate both with speech and pheromones (chemical scents). Pheromones invoke a form of synesthesia in that they perceive these as particular colors, so there can be a red-scented word or sentence, orange-scented and so on to emphasize emotions. (If communicating Sword Arms cannot see each other, such as talking over a radio, a color word is added at the beginning of a sentence to indicate the appropriate emotion.) Their pheromones would smell pleasant to humans, similar to citrus scents.

 

Below is a slightly modified Swadesh list of randomly generated basic vocabulary (nouns are not marked for class – i.e. no click symbols – and English verbs have “to” in front). The ch sound is marked with the X-SAMPA symbol of X.

Sword Arms language: Swadesh list
Number English Sword Arms
1 I chaha
2 thou sasa
3 he hicha
4 we aka
5 you chicha
6 they chusa
7 this ashu
8 that achi
9 here chaa
10 there lisa
11 who chua
12 what shuta
13 where kaka
14 when ati
15 how chizi
16 not shiui
17 all nacha
18 many tacha
19 some acha
20 few sau
21 other ichaa
22 one tila
23 two chiu
24 three shu
25 four lacha
26 five uchu
27 big aa
28 long huii
29 wide shita
30 thick kachi
31 heavy nii
32 small naa
33 short kihu
34 narrow au
35 thin lai
36 female chaau
37 male chuhu
38 neuter zi
39 person liau
40 child ti
41 wife ata
42 husband hia
43 mother shusi
44 father hichi
45 animal shia
46 tree isuu
47 forest susa
48 stick uhu
49 fruit iai
50 seed tu
51 leaf chia
52 root uu
53 bark ushu
54 flower ali
55 grass chaku
56 rope shasa
57 skin ku
58 meat shichi
59 blood usu
60 bone licha
61 fat zia
62 egg chisa
63 horn hua
64 tail alau
65 head ha
66 ear ia
67 eye tala
68 nose saui
69 mouth ihu
70 tooth la
71 tongue iia
72 claw kaa
73 foot utu
74 leg chu
75 knee na
76 hand sahi
77 wing zihi
78 belly chaka
79 guts aachi
80 neck aai
81 back asu
82 chest husa
83 heart iu
84 liver kau
85 to drink haa
86 to eat kusu
87 to bite aula
88 to suck hi
89 to spit chihi
90 to vomit kinu
91 to blow ichu
92 to breathe tuu
93 to laugh shula
94 to see lisha
95 to hear haza
96 to know isha
97 to think sika
98 to smell hucha
99 to fear aa
100 to sleep uhi
101 to live hasa
102 to die chii
103 to kill shihu
104 to fight icha
105 to hunt ashuu
106 to hit aasa
107 to cut ala
108 to split hiuu
109 to stab shuzi
110 to scratch hacha
111 to dig ua
112 to swim isia
113 to fly chui
114 to walk lasu
115 to come kacha
116 to lie kaa
117 to sit chasha
118 to stand isi
119 to turn achu
120 to fall ii
121 to give shuchu
122 to hold chishi
123 to squeeze asua
124 to rub ui
125 to wash aacha
126 to wipe uli
127 to pull usi
128 to push sua
129 to throw su
130 to tie sui
131 to sew sazu
132 to count ucha
133 to say kui
134 to sing shaha
135 to play aku
136 to float husu
137 to flow sasi
138 to freeze uchii
139 to swell hai
140 sun haa
141 moon kika
142 star chacha
143 water chichi
144 to rain zasi
145 river uha
146 lake kiia
147 sea kiha
148 salt ka
149 stone shucha
150 sand china
151 dust chisi
152 earth suchi
153 cloud tuku
154 fog isu
155 sky chuua
156 wind sai
157 snow hu
158 ice shani
159 smoke chii
160 fire chi
161 ashes sasha
162 to burn a
163 road chuchi
164 mountain ana
165 red kuku
166 green chachu
167 yellow sichi
168 white huzi
169 black iau
170 night uhia
171 day ashi
172 year saka
173 warm shihi
174 cold chilu
175 full chichu
176 new anu
177 old chiku
178 good lichu
179 bad ukia
180 rotten chahu
181 dirty kai
182 straight aala
183 round suai
184 sharp sicha
185 dull hisa
186 smooth kashu
187 wet saku
188 dry sashu
189 right ika
190 near sata
191 far chati
192 right aha
193 left ta
194 at huti
195 in ki
196 with ahai
197 and sisa
198 if lu
199 because kahu
200 name uchi

More words:

|za
family, tribe

Name

Their name for themselves is |kahi (simply, “the people”).

History

When the Hunters discovered them, they already had attained spaceflight (but not FTL) and had some colonies on other worlds in their solar system. The Sword Arms proved to be ferocious and organized opponents, and various battles raged for over 400 years (Earth-equivalent). Both species relished hand-to-hand fighting and hundreds died in single or massed combat sorties. One effective weapon of the Sword Arms is a type of gun that extrudes a sticky plant-derived resin; this hardens on contact, trapping its target.

The Sword Arms were only defeated when the Hunters retreated then used Unmaker-Nanites and kinetic strikes to wipe out most of the population and nearly all of their technological civilization on their homeworld. Those in their system’s colonies were eventually repatriated back to their planet; they and the stunned and traumatized survivors regressed to a pre-industrial civilization which is slowly recovering. The remnants of their technological civilization are scattered around the worlds of their star system, perhaps to be rediscovered by them one day.

Home system

Their sun is cooler than Earth’s, a yellow-orange K2V-type star (web hex color: #ffe3c4). Their world has far more land than bodies of water – around 91.3% land area – a lot of it harsh desert. As less surface water means that less carbon dioxide is absorbed and locked away into carbonate rock, the CO2 levels are slightly higher (2% to Earth’s 0.039%) so oxygen supplementation is required for visiting aliens. Vegetation is mainly autumn colors with a little green. It has two small moons. Its axial tilt is 12°. As their star is subject to solar flare outbursts, and much water is in caverns underneath the surface, they mostly dwell underground.

Their world is the fourth out of ten planets orbiting.

Star data
Class
K2 (#ffe3c4)
Temperature in degrees Kelvin
4900
Mass (mass of our Sun = 1)
.742
Radius (radius of Sun = 1)
.750
Terrestrial Equivalent Orbit in AUs
.54
Lifetime in billions of years
21.100+
Distance from Home World
11.9 light years
Home planet data
Circumference
52,039.22 km
Diameter
16,564.6 km
Distance
0.54 AUs (80,782,850.34 km)
Density
4.6 g/cm3
Gravity
1.087 of Earth’s
Moons
Two
Radius
1.3 of Earth’s (8,282.3 km)

Ruling Dawn Hunter Clan

Dawn Star Clan

Gallery

Sword Arms head, male profile

Sword Arms male head profile (digital art, 18/5/2014).

Sword Arms heads, anterior

Gold queen and male warrior heads (digital art, 21/5/2014).

Sword Arms body views

Sword Arms of various castes (colored pencils, 1/1/2011 – needs redoing).

Sword Arms planet Sword Arms world map

Digital renditions of what their planet might look like from orbit (2/2/2014). Scale note: 1 pixel = 10 km approx, so 100 px = 1000 km on the ground. This works out to 51,970 km circumference – not perfectly accurate, but good enough for an approximate rendition.

Sword Leaf

A Sword Leaf (Laamohuunewa) is a plant with a base of red pointed sword-like leaves from which a tall flower spike extends upward for 2-3 meters, tipped with a single blue flower. It resembles the Gymea Lily.

Gallery

Sword Leaf

Sword Leaf (colored pencils, July 2013)

Syllables

All combinations for syllable structures: CV (88), CVC (968).

Vowels
a, e, o, u, aa, ee, oo, uu
Consonants
b, c, h, l, m, n, r, s, w, y, z
Dawn Hunter language: all syllables
# 2-syllable +b +c +h +l +m +n +r +s +w +y +z
1 ba bab bac bah bal bam ban bar bas baw bay baz
2 be beb bec beh bel bem ben ber bes bew bey bez
3 bo bob boc boh bol bom bon bor bos bow boy boz
4 bu bub buc buh bul bum bun bur bus buw buy buz
5 baa baab baac baah baal baam baan baar baas baaw baay baaz
6 bee beeb beec beeh beel beem been beer bees beew beey beez
7 boo boob booc booh bool boom boon boor boos boow booy booz
8 buu buub buuc buuh buul buum buun buur buus buuw buuy buuz
9 ca cab cac cah cal cam can car cas caw cay caz
10 ce ceb cec ceh cel cem cen cer ces cew cey cez
11 co cob coc coh col com con cor cos cow coy coz
12 cu cub cuc cuh cul cum cun cur cus cuw cuy cuz
13 caa caab caac caah caal caam caan caar caas caaw caay caaz
14 cee ceeb ceec ceeh ceel ceem ceen ceer cees ceew ceey ceez
15 coo coob cooc cooh cool coom coon coor coos coow cooy cooz
16 cuu cuub cuuc cuuh cuul cuum cuun cuur cuus cuuw cuuy cuuz
17 ha hab hac hah hal ham han har has haw hay haz
18 he heb hec heh hel hem hen her hes hew hey hez
19 ho hob hoc hoh hol hom hon hor hos how hoy hoz
20 hu hub huc huh hul hum hun hur hus huw huy huz
21 haa haab haac haah haal haam haan haar haas haaw haay haaz
22 hee heeb heec heeh heel heem heen heer hees heew heey heez
23 hoo hoob hooc hooh hool hoom hoon hoor hoos hoow hooy hooz
24 huu huub huuc huuh huul huum huun huur huus huuw huuy huuz
25 la lab lac lah lal lam lan lar las law lay laz
26 le leb lec leh lel lem len ler les lew ley lez
27 lo lob loc loh lol lom lon lor los low loy loz
28 lu lub luc luh lul lum lun lur lus luw luy luz
29 laa laab laac laah laal laam laan laar laas laaw laay laaz
30 lee leeb leec leeh leel leem leen leer lees leew leey leez
31 loo loob looc looh lool loom loon loor loos loow looy looz
32 luu luub luuc luuh luul luum luun luur luus luuw luuy luuz
33 ma mab mac mah mal mam man mar mas maw may maz
34 me meb mec meh mel mem men mer mes mew mey mez
35 mo mob moc moh mol mom mon mor mos mow moy moz
36 mu mub muc muh mul mum mun mur mus muw muy muz
37 maa maab maac maah maal maam maan maar maas maaw maay maaz
38 mee meeb meec meeh meel meem meen meer mees meew meey meez
39 moo moob mooc mooh mool moom moon moor moos moow mooy mooz
40 muu muub muuc muuh muul muum muun muur muus muuw muuy muuz
41 na nab nac nah nal nam nan nar nas naw nay naz
42 ne neb nec neh nel nem nen ner nes new ney nez
43 no nob noc noh nol nom non nor nos now noy noz
44 nu nub nuc nuh nul num nun nur nus nuw nuy nuz
45 naa naab naac naah naal naam naan naar naas naaw naay naaz
46 nee neeb neec neeh neel neem neen neer nees neew neey neez
47 noo noob nooc nooh nool noom noon noor noos noow nooy nooz
48 nuu nuub nuuc nuuh nuul nuum nuun nuur nuus nuuw nuuy nuuz
49 ra rab rac rah ral ram ran rar ras raw ray raz
50 re reb rec reh rel rem ren rer res rew rey rez
51 ro rob roc roh rol rom ron ror ros row roy roz
52 ru rub ruc ruh rul rum run rur rus ruw ruy ruz
53 raa raab raac raah raal raam raan raar raas raaw raay raaz
54 ree reeb reec reeh reel reem reen reer rees reew reey reez
55 roo roob rooc rooh rool room roon roor roos roow rooy rooz
56 ruu ruub ruuc ruuh ruul ruum ruun ruur ruus ruuw ruuy ruuz
57 sa sab sac sah sal sam san sar sas saw say saz
58 se seb sec seh sel sem sen ser ses sew sey sez
59 so sob soc soh sol som son sor sos sow soy soz
60 su sub suc suh sul sum sun sur sus suw suy suz
61 saa saab saac saah saal saam saan saar saas saaw saay saaz
62 see seeb seec seeh seel seem seen seer sees seew seey seez
63 soo soob sooc sooh sool soom soon soor soos soow sooy sooz
64 suu suub suuc suuh suul suum suun suur suus suuw suuy suuz
65 wa wab wac wah wal wam wan war was waw way waz
66 we web wec weh wel wem wen wer wes wew wey wez
67 wo wob woc woh wol wom won wor wos wow woy woz
68 wu wub wuc wuh wul wum wun wur wus wuw wuy wuz
69 waa waab waac waah waal waam waan waar waas waaw waay waaz
70 wee weeb weec weeh weel weem ween weer wees weew weey weez
71 woo woob wooc wooh wool woom woon woor woos woow wooy wooz
72 wuu wuub wuuc wuuh wuul wuum wuun wuur wuus wuuw wuuy wuuz
73 ya yab yac yah yal yam yan yar yas yaw yay yaz
74 ye yeb yec yeh yel yem yen yer yes yew yey yez
75 yo yob yoc yoh yol yom yon yor yos yow yoy yoz
76 yu yub yuc yuh yul yum yun yur yus yuw yuy yuz
77 yaa yaab yaac yaah yaal yaam yaan yaar yaas yaaw yaay yaaz
78 yee yeeb yeec yeeh yeel yeem yeen yeer yees yeew yeey yeez
79 yoo yoob yooc yooh yool yoom yoon yoor yoos yoow yooy yooz
80 yuu yuub yuuc yuuh yuul yuum yuun yuur yuus yuuw yuuy yuuz
81 za zab zac zah zal zam zan zar zas zaw zay zaz
82 ze zeb zec zeh zel zem zen zer zes zew zey zez
83 zo zob zoc zoh zol zom zon zor zos zow zoy zoz
84 zu zub zuc zuh zul zum zun zur zus zuw zuy zuz
85 zaa zaab zaac zaah zaal zaam zaan zaar zaas zaaw zaay zaaz
86 zee zeeb zeec zeeh zeel zeem zeen zeer zees zeew zeey zeez
87 zoo zoob zooc zooh zool zoom zoon zoor zoos zoow zooy zooz
88 zuu zuub zuuc zuuh zuul zuum zuun zuur zuus zuuw zuuy zuuz

Tall Neck

The Tall Necks (Do Hàse) are aliens under the dominion of the Dawn Hunters.

Physiology

The Tall Necks are a warm-blooded herbivorous race. They are quadrupedal hexapods, having two vestigal forearms in front of their legs that are used for fine tool manipulation (these were originally used to hook branches when feeding). Their hands have four digits (two fingers, two opposing thumbs); their legs end in two hooved toes and they walk with a pacing gait (a lateral two-beat gait). They have a long flexible neck and convex head with a short muzzle, and a thin tail that flares at its end. Their neck has a pointed bony crest and a bony chin protrusion vaguely resembling a beard – the male’s is red in color. Their skin is scaly in texture (similar to snakeskin) and beige in color. The crests are striped green, and can lighten in response to mood. The stripes vary between individuals in pattern and green shades; skin colors also differ depending upon region. Their eyes, which are various shades of brown or green, are set more to the sides of their head which gives them better peripheral vision, enabling them to detect predators stalking from behind when grazing (they strongly dislike having anyone behind them). Their pupils are horizontal elongated ovals. They have green-colored blood, muscles and bones due to high levels of biliverdin (some creatures on Earth share this trait).

They stand up to 1.3 meters at their withers.

They wear rudimentary clothing secured around their torso, such as a body-pack in which to carry objects, and a garment similar to an embroidered horse blanket. Patterns on the blanket designate their status and tribe.

They are born gender-neutral, with undeveloped male or female reproductive organs, but metamorph into one or the other sex at adolescence, depending upon environmental circumstances (they have no control over this). The unused organs are absorbed and disappear.

They are social herd animals, preferring to live on open plains in villages. The houses are domed mud-huts, set in a circle with the entrances facing inward so the inhabitants can see each other for communal security. They are at a simple agricultural level of development and are content to remain that way as, similar to the Tree Gliders, there is little evolutionary pressure to develop. Their world is metal-poor so their tools are of wood and stone. They are skilful at weaving clothing from suitable types of plant fibers. They have not discovered fire.

Their main predator is somewhat similar in appearance, but is smaller (about half its size) and its arms end in blades rather than hands (its name is Blade Runner), and is not sapient, being a solitary hunter. The Tall Necks have learned to combat it using spears and clubs. There are also small hexapod flying creatures with four wings and two vestigal legs.

Language

This is only a basic sketch – essentially only a naming language at this stage.

Tall Neck language: Swadesh list
Number English Tall Neck
1 I sali
2 thou rò
3 he mème
4 we lome
5 you ralo
6 they roni
7 this sanà
8 that saci
9 here soho
10 there rodè
11 who masè
12 what sòlà
13 where mera
14 when ràme
15 how sesà
16 not lomo
17 all hana
18 many sifì
19 some càre
20 few làli
21 other fama
22 one rì
23 two lò
24 three ràna
25 four sohé
26 five lihè
27 big sise
28 long nasá
29 wide rarí
30 thick secì
31 heavy reri
32 small sese
33 short desa
34 narrow nasà
35 thin híse
36 female harè
37 male hirà
38 neuter hìsò
39 person hàse
40 child lìse
41 wife rimi
42 husband dane
43 mother nó
44 father mela
45 animal hàna
46 tree sano
47 forest lémi
48 stick nama
49 fruit fehà
50 seed miri
51 leaf sìdo
52 root sòhe
53 bark lisi
54 flower dèhe
55 grass ni
56 rope cose
57 skin dose
58 meat nìra
59 blood hérà
60 bone hìsa
61 fat lara
62 egg sama
63 horn sìri
64 tail sèrì
65 head sera
66 ear liha
67 eye no
68 nose sèfa
69 mouth hèra
70 tooth rose
71 tongue rime
72 claw léna
73 foot raré
74 leg reha
75 knee rohe
76 hand mihà
77 wing hèsa
78 belly sora
79 guts roca
80 neck sahe
81 back noso
82 chest herè
83 heart lame
84 liver ròhe
85 to drink cola
86 to eat fora
87 to bite céla
88 to suck sàse
89 to spit sahè
90 to vomit lìle
91 to blow ràsà
92 to breathe limi
93 to laugh ròrí
94 to see resì
95 to hear mà
96 to know nècè
97 to think cè
98 to smell rosi
99 to fear hafò
100 to sleep remo
101 to live redi
102 to die sàrè
103 to kill cèra
104 to fight hàla
105 to hunt riha
106 to hit re
107 to cut hera
108 to split dèlà
109 to stab lìre
110 to scratch rìro
111 to dig rerò
112 to swim rèra
113 to fly raro
114 to walk sehà
115 to come raco
116 to lie hero
117 to sit cicà
118 to stand lero
119 to turn saro
120 to fall holi
121 to give sìsi
122 to hold moda
123 to squeeze sene
124 to rub soca
125 to wash hihì
126 to wipe rarì
127 to pull sasà
128 to push naho
129 to throw sesì
130 to tie cerá
131 to sew noha
132 to count rèri
133 to say hame
134 to sing sami
135 to play hese
136 to float rilè
137 to flow so
138 to freeze sasá
139 to swell lìdi
140 sun roma
141 moon lala
142 star se
143 water hena
144 to rain horà
145 river rèlè
146 lake nene
147 sea rele
148 salt hàsi
149 stone nali
150 sand mè
151 dust séfe
152 earth mása
153 cloud nahè
154 fog sìse
155 sky sele
156 wind faci
157 snow lema
158 ice hohè
159 smoke hì
160 fire lono
161 ashes hecè
162 to burn sóso
163 road rèso
164 mountain remà
165 red sàmò
166 green lerà
167 yellow càso
168 white sihe
169 black ròse
170 night lè
171 day léfe
172 year nema
173 warm rase
174 cold hesa
175 full here
176 new seni
177 old maro
178 good fere
179 bad hehó
180 rotten lare
181 dirty rosí
182 straight soro
183 round sà
184 sharp mèsi
185 dull remi
186 smooth hasì
187 wet hàdà
188 dry nosa
189 right sahà
190 near senè
191 far hami
192 right hece
193 left sesa
194 at màra
195 in ròha
196 with rehà
197 and sècì
198 if meci
199 because rela
200 name cise

Name

Their name for themselves is do hàse (do is the plural particle, the o is short) – “The People.”

History

They were the second sapient race to be discovered and dominated by the Hunters; the encounter was also generally peaceable as they were not deemed a threat.

Home system

Their world’s star is a G2V-type star, similar to Earth’s (web hex color: #fff5ec), and there is a red dwarf companion star orbiting at a distance (M5V, #ffcc6f). Land coverage of the planet is around 40.5%. Vegetation is green with a hint of blue. Gravity is 0.97 of Earth’s and atmosphere composition is similar to Earth’s. Their world has two small moons, and has an axial tilt of 22°.

The planet is the second out of five planets orbiting.

Star data
Class
G2 (#FFF5ec) (our Sun)
Temperature in degrees Kelvin
5860
Mass (mass of our Sun = 1)
.998
Radius (radius of Sun = 1)
1.020
Terrestrial Equivalent Orbit in AUs
1.05
Lifetime in billions of years
10.100
Distance from Home World
11.4 light years
Home planet data
Circumference
42,031.68 km
Diameter
13,379.1 km
Distance
1.05 AUs (157,077,764.55 km)
Density
5.1 g/cm3
Gravity
0.97 of Earth’s
Moons
Two
Radius
1.05 of Earth’s (6,689.55 km)

Ruling Dawn Hunter Clan

Ocean Wind Clan

Gallery

Male Tall Neck profile

Head profile of a male Tall Neck (digital art, 12/5/2014).

Tall Neck body, female

Tall Neck body, female (colored pencils, 16/5/2014).

Tall Necks world, spherical view Tall Necks world

Digital renders of their world (31/1/2014). Scale note: 1 pixel = 8 km approx, so 100 px = 800 km on the ground. This works out to 41,576 km circumference – not perfectly accurate, but good enough for an approximate rendition.

Technician-Artisan

A Technician-Artisan (Hanaamaazewa) is one of the Technician Caste who paints, draws, sculpts or otherwise does craft work by hand in the traditional manner.

Profession color
Wisteria purple (color of a plant-based dye) (#875F9A/rgb(135,95,154))

Technician Caste

The Technician Caste (Rohuulhaan) are one of the three major groups making up Dawn Hunter society. The other castes are dependent upon them for technology. They comprise males and females who are engineers, builders, inventors, mechanics, artisans, miners and so forth – literally, “Makers.”

They wear magenta (#d0417e/rgb(208,65,126))-purple (#8b008b/rgb(139,0,139)) clothing or armor, and headscarves, hoods or helmet visors of various colors designate their profession.

Gallery

Technician helmet

Technician Caste helmet, armored version, with indigo visor – visor color indicates profession (digital art, 11/1/2014)

Technician-Pilot with datapad

Male Technician-Pilot holding datapad (colored pencils, 5/2/2014).

Technician-Forger

A Technician-Forger (Hanaamaacahana) – a blacksmith – is one of the Technician Caste who specializes in making swords and daggers for the Warrior Caste. This is done in the traditional manner, involving smelting then folding and beating metal up to eight times to form a blade before coating it in a high-tech nanocomposite to strengthen and harden it.

Profession color
Iron-grey (#60676d/rgb(96,103,109))

Technician-Gardener

A Technician-Gardener (Zaahumero) is one of the Technician Caste who specializes in the cultivation and care of plants.

Profession color
Orange (a plant foliage color) (#ff9900/rgb(255,153,0))

Technician-Miner

A Technician-Miner (Hanaacehuwa) is one of the Technician Caste involved in extracting and refining minerals from the ground. This has expanded to include the Dawn Hunters’ home star system and worlds beyond; Home World is rarely mined anymore. Moons and asteroids are the favored sources of base elements. The process of mining extensively involves nanotechnology.

Profession color
Ochre (#cc7722/rgb(204,119,34))

Technician-Pilot

A Technician-Pilot (Hanaarerewa) is one of the Technician Caste who pilots aircraft and spacecraft. Despite not being of the Warrior Caste, a Pilot will do any combat flying required. This is generally in aerial support roles, as fighting tends to be ground-based, due to the Home World combat rules.

Profession color
Aquamarine (sky color) (#a3dde1/rgb(163,221,225))

Gallery

Technician-Pilot helmet

Helmet of armored version, with aquamarine-colored visor.

Technician-Pilot

Male Technician-Pilot holding datapad (colored pencils, 5/2/2014).

Technician-Superior

The Technician-Superior (Hanaasune) is the highest-ranking of the Technician Caste; acts as a representative and liason for them to the Clan Lord. May be male or female.

Profession color
Same as their Caste clothing, magenta-violet (#c71585/rgb(199,21,133))

Territory

A Territory (Waalelan) is the area controlled by a particular Clan-City. There are eight of these. Boundaries are marked by stones on travel routes; the stones are painted with each adjoining Clan’s symbols.

The word is the noun form of waale (divide, separate).

The Land

The Land (Yoora) is the supercontinent comprising most of the landmass of Home World. It is longitudinally-orientated, stretching from north to south poles, and takes up around 24.1% of the planet’s surface. It extends roughly 11,000 kilometers at its widest east-west points.

The name is the equivalent of “earth, soil, the land.” Before the technological age it was also referred to as Heseelalozuun, “All [that is] Under Sky.”

Climate

The Land is generally a harsher place to live than Earth, having fewer fertile and habitable zones. The vast landmass of Yoora is conductive to megamonsoons, similar to that of ancient Pangaea on Earth. The most fertile lands are along the temperate zone coastlines and a little way inland, where there are savanna grasslands and forests which support many lifeforms. The Dawn Hunters have practised controlled burning – a type of firestick farming – for thousands of years to keep their hunting grounds in their preferred savanna composition, so many formerly dense forests in the lower latitudes have been thinned out.

Rainfall does not penetrate into the deep interior, so there are expansive deserts there (one on each side of the Equator below 30° latitude). Mountain ranges also act as barriers, creating rain shadows.

Seasons generally consist of a dry/hot season, a rainy season and a cold season. In the southern hemisphere the main rainy season is usually from summer solstice (beginning of the year) to the first equinox, though there can be a period of “little rains” before year’s end (equivalent of October-November); this is also the breeding season. In the Northern Hemisphere this pattern is reversed, though the breeding season takes place at the same time as in the south, due to the Dawn Hunters having originated in the southern continent.

The highest mountains can be found in the long ridge – the Backbone Mountains – extending from north to south of the continent on the western rim. The south part of the continent has extensive rugged terrain in its higher latitudes from folded mountains where three plates collided. There is land around the south pole with a transitory ice cap that forms in winter.

Similar to Earth, land at the extreme north of the northern continent does not extend to the pole, but there is no ice here as ocean currents can flow mostly unimpeded as the continent lies only on one quarter-side. It is a bit warmer than the southern pole, and the land here is extensively covered with rivers and tundra.

Weather patterns

A simplified description of wind currents (based on those of Pangaea).

Equivalent of December/January/February

Equivalent of June/July/August

Gallery

Endless Plains

A digital sketch of the Endless Plains (18/8/2013).

Three Claw Bay

Three-Claw Bay (Seenazuhaanama) is a large bay on the east side of Home World’s supercontinent, most of it in the southern hemisphere. Ocean currents circulate anti-clockwise, and wind patterns mean the region undergoes heavy monsoons in summer. The name was given because it resembles a hand with three outstretched fingers. Six of the eight Clan Cities are arrayed along its coastline.

Three Moons Clan

The Three Moons Clan (Narawaa Renamawo) is one of the eight Great Clans. Its Clan City is located on Home World’s east coast.

Data

Three Moons Clan symbol
Burial armor gemstone
Turquoise
Clan City construction stone
White granite (white with dark specks)
Clan City co-ordinates
Approximately 5°E, 4°S
Clan emblem
The three moons in different phases
Color
Blue-green (#16b0bf/rgb(22,176,191))

Time of Exile

The Time of Exile (Saazacuway) is a rite of passage in which pre-adolescent Dawn Hunters of the Warrior Caste are left in the wilderness in their Clan territory to fend for themselves, for a period of 16 Red Moon-cycles (equivalent to 160 Earth-days). The youths are only provided with animal-skin clothing and a dagger each (made of the horn from a Spike Tail), and have to hunt and forage for their own food. A group is comprised of an age-set and usually numbers no more than 16. Groups may go out at different times if they were hatched in a year with a high laying rate.

Deaths during Exile are not uncommon as there are physical dangers to contend with, including other predators such as Shadow Hunters. The experience is considered valuable in practising survival and hunting skills, and necessary in remaining attuned to their essential predatory nature.

Those of the other two Castes undergo a much abbreviated and milder version of Exile, usually not far from their Clan City and under the supervision of a Warrior.

Timeline

Dawn Hunter technological development has proceeded at a slower pace than that of humans, due to their conservative and methodical nature. However, Hunter society was and is monocultural and less fragmented – with science and technology not dependent upon uncertain government and corporate funding – so development has been steady. The Hunters did not have easy access to hydrocarbon fossil fuels on their world, so energy was generated first by steam power, and later solar and nuclear fission, then fusion.

Key: HWY – Home World years; EY – Earth years (1 HW year = 1.75 Earth years; 1 Earth year = 0.57 HW years). For dates, the Before Present (BP) time scale – counting backwards from 1950 – is used in such disciplines as archaeology and geology. Because the “present” time changes, standard practice is to use 1 January 1950 as the arbitrary origin of the age scale.

(Method: Work out Earth years first, counting down; multiply by .57 for HW years; subtract this from Year 0 [65,864.7] to find time from then to present day.)

Dawn Hunters history timeline
Dawn Hunters’ history Human time equivalent Home World years
Home World Year 0: Unification of the tribes into clans; reign of Sohaar-1 as first Supreme Lord (lifespan: 84 HWY/147 EY) (Already invented: alphabet and writing, basic metallurgy, a form of paper) 111,970 years ago (110,020 BP) 65,864.7 HW years ago (Year 0)
First Clan City, Night River, begun construction 111,906 63,946.3 (36.57 years after Year 0)
First unpowered flight (glider) – Beginning of Age of Invention 109,934 (1972 years later) 62,819.4 (1163.42 years after Year 0)
Technological advances over next 7278 years (in approximate order):
Electricity discovered (initially steam power)
Solar panels invented (by studying photosynthesis of leaves)
Powered atmospheric flight achieved (solar-powered) 109,499 62,414.43 (3450.27 years after Year 0)
Construction of Swift River Clan City on west coast begun 108,998 62,128.86 (3735.84 years after Year 0)
Computers invented; used crystalline technology
Nuclear fission achieved (Home World has some naturally-occuring uranium deposits)
Sustained nuclear fusion achieved – fission thus no longer used for power
First orbital flight achieved (nuclear fusion engine)
Molecular nanotechnology (nanites) invented 104,189 59,387.73 (6476.97 years after Year 0)
Artificial Intelligence evolved
Mausoleums of the Clan Lords constructed on Grey Moon
Warp Chamber invented
Void Station built
First starship with artificial intelligence, Zaawezoyuu-cehen (Void Walker-1), built and awakened by the Night River Clan – material transported from asteroid field at edge of Hunter system by an older-style spaceship fitted with a Warp Chamber 102,656 (9314 years since Year 0) 58,660.5
First Jump to other star system (by Zaawezoyuu-cehenenel Narawaa Sahelnahuuwo) 102,644 (9326) 58,653.7
First contact with sapient aliens (Tree Gliders, hunter-gatherers) 102,312 (+ 332 = 9646) 58,464
Contact with Tall Necks (sapients, pastoral) 101,392 (+ 920 = 10,566) 57,938.3
Contact with Sword Arms (sapients, industrial, begun colonization of their star’s system) 16,058 (+ 85,334 = 95,900) 9176
End of Dominance War (Hunter/Sword Arms); destruction of Sword Arms civilization 15,618 (+ 440 = 96,340) 8924.5
Sohaar is hatched 4056 2311.92 (61,510.98 years since Year 0)
Contact with humans (very brief and unrecorded), 2055 BP; Sohaar goes into stasis 4004 (+ 88,389 = 107,954) 2288

Note: timeline is tentative and subject to change.

Times of day

The day is divided into 8 segments (celecuhame – eighth of day); compounded words:

Midnight, 00:00 (Earth equivalent)
Nahuuwenawe (night-middle [dative – time])
Postnight, 03:00
Nahuuwenazelare (night-behind [dative])
Dawn, 06:00
Saane (dative); distinguished from actual sunrise: hesaasalamzabohe (eye-day-up [dative]) – as the Dawn Hunters began their hunt day at this time
Preday, 09:00
Hamewenasaane (day-middle-before [dative])
Midday, 12:00
Hamewenawe (day-middle [dative])
Postday, 15:00
Hamewenazalare (day-middle-after [dative])
Sunset, 18:00
Hesaasalamlalowe (eye-day-down [dative])
Evening, prenight, 21:00
Nahuuwenasaane (night-middle-before [dative])

Translations

Sentences used in my story.

Star Warrior story – Dawn Hunter language translations
Chapter Dawn Hunter language English translation Gloss
“Bonding” Comonecmalaasa! Enter! Como [enter] nec [present tense] ma [person – you singular] laa [honorific – neutral] sa [mood – imperative]
“Capture” Wanzeno zaabenhare yeyaabecusa. I will meet you on the battlefield. Wan [I] zen [self – high rank] o [noun case – nominative] zaabenhar [field-war] e [dative – location] yeyaa [meet] be [future tense] cu [abased – you] sa [mood – imperative]
“Challenge” Zulsunewo merulanaa zocuuzanbalseena. The Supreme Lord continues his reign. Zulsune [Supreme Lord] wo [nominative] merulan [reign – noun form] aa [genitive] zocuu [continue] zan [present tense] bal [person] see [superior – of subject] na [mood – fact]
Lazanmahencuusa! Come! La [Come] zan [tense – present] mahen [person] cuu [inferior – of subject] sa [imperative]
Maareczuluu, lohuzanamalaa I greet you, Lord Maarec Maarec [personal name] zul [Lord] uu [accusative] lohu [acknowledge, greet, salute, farewell] zan [present tense] ma [you – singular] laa [honorific – neutral, of another]
“Encounter” Manenmewuu, Haarlecaawo. What is that creature, Haarlecaawo? Manen [alien] me [suffix – question] (w)uu [accusative] Haarlecaawo [nominative]
Zulwano lahonzananeecuza ranuhuu. Sohaarzulo manenuu raalzanbelseeza. My Lord, I do not know. Perhaps it belongs to Lord Sohaar. Zul [lord] wan [my] o [nominative] lahon [know] zan [tense – present] a [bridging vowel] nee [person – I] cu [honorific – abased] za [mood – uncertainty] ranu [not] huu [suffix – negative]. Sohaar zul [lord] o [nominative] manen [alien] uu [accusative] raal [belong] zan [tense – present] bel [person – he] see [honorific – superior] za [mood – uncertainty].
Manenuu wanzeno laahuzancuusa! Release the alien; he belongs to me! Manen [Alien] uu [accusative] mine [possessive] zen [honorific – superior me] o [nominative] laahu [release] zan [present tense] cuu [honorific – inferior you] sa [emphatic]
Manenuu rocuzancuuna. The alien is hurt Manen [Alien] uu [accusative] rocu [hurt] zan [present tense] cuu [honorific – inferior you] na [mood – fact]
“Fallen” Nusema Usurper Nusem [Usurp] a [suffix – agent noun] (one who usurps)
“Return” Narabzul Sohaaro-cenamalecuwalunel wanzen. Camacanewaa Maareco Narabaa Sahelnahuuwo. Zoyuuzaawewuu-cehenenel maanezansesa borewe huluzan. I am Clan Lord Sohaar-28. Son of Maarec of the Night River Clan. I request permission for Void Walker-1 to dock. Clan Lord Sohaaro [nominative] -ce [ordinal affix] namalecuwalu [28] nel [classifier – person] wan [I] zen [formal]. Son [genitive] Maarec [nominative] Clan [genitive] Night River [nominative]. Void Walker [accusative object]-1 [classifier (with bridging vowel) – person] maane [request] zan [present tense] se [honorific imperative self] sa [mood imperative] permit-for [dative] dock-to [present tense].

Miscellaneous

A ritual speech or chant addressing one’s own or general ancestors (such as approaching a tomb):[1]

Cabuunanemcuunawo ruulenememe?
Waahuzanmahenseena holeezanhancuna.
Roculano culeneel mahuzanhelacuna.
Ruulcuunaneme holeezanhancuna

Ancestors, where are you?
We have come to visit you.
Protect us from harm.
We are coming to you.

  1. Cabuun [Ancestors] (a)nem [kinship – honorific] cuuna [many] wo [nominative] ruul [you] e [dative – locative] nem [kinship – honorific] e [bridging vowel] me [interrogative]
  2. Waahu [Visit] zan [present tense] mahen [you – person] see [politeness – superior] na [mood – fact] holee [come] zan [present tense] han [we – person] cu [politeness – abased] na [mood – fact]
  3. Rocu [harm] lan [noun suffix] o [nominative] culeneel [against, oppose – adverbial preposition] mahu [protect] zan [present tense] hela [us excl – person] cu [politeness – abased] na [mood – fact]
  4. Ruulcuuna [you – plural] nem [kinship-honorific] e [dative – to] holee [come] zan [present tense] han [we – person] cu [politeness – abased] na [mood – fact]

Footnotes

[1]
Chant taken from opening words of First Footprints, episode 3

Transport overview

The Dawn Hunters are a spacefaring species and have developed a highly-advanced series of spaceships. In keeping with their austere society, the range of ships is small: (Void Walker, Sky Carrier, Shuttle, Sky Fighter, solar-powered Sky Flyer, autonomous Drone). The main and largest vessel is the starship, which carries the smaller ships. The starship cannot land on a planet, so the smaller ships are necessary to ferry personnel up and back.

The Hunters’ starships usually do not travel in large fleets but operate alone or, at the most, in small groups. One starship can subjugate and destroy a planet. Only a starship is capable of instantaneously Jumping from one sector of space to another; the other smaller ship classes travel in normal sublight space using nuclear fusion engines.

The smaller spaceships also double as the major air transport on their planet between each Clan City. There are no roads or rail linking these as they tend to be mostly self-contained.

Flying craft features

Other transport

Ground-based transport is generally referred to as buuransuulelenol (ground machines), or cereslan (sled, transport that slides, from a pre-modern form of transport).

Within Clan Cities, ground transport includes an elevated maglev train that runs around the perimeter of a City, and public transport vehicles similar to trams that are restricted to main roads. Each City’s fusion power plant is connected by a single-track, elevated maglev line that follows the underground pipeline. Maglevs are referred to as buuranlaana saahenhucewahu, magnetic floating machines. Older steam trains were called buuransaahenzunrunaa, iron road machines – a reference to train tracks.

There are also Ground Carriers, the equivalent of cars.

Ocean-going ships were never developed as the Dawn Hunters have a dislike of deep water and do not swim. There being only one major landmass also negated the need for sea transport. The equivalent of river barges are in use, though; these were useful for such tasks as transporting stone from distant quarries to the construction site of a Clan-City. They are solar-powered from panels on the cabin roof at the rear of the flat-bottomed barge. A flat raft and pole are also used to cross a river at designated points if there is no bridge. An underwater version of the drone has been used for ocean exploration. Sea vessels are buuranzumaah, sea machines, or, for barges, buuransarom, river machines.

History

The wheel was not invented until relatively late – after the establishment of the first Clan Cities – as animal domestication was not practiced and large creatures such as the Spike Tail were not tamable anyway.

Tree Glider

The Tree Gliders (Elaara Lihei) are aliens under the dominion of the Dawn Hunters.

Physiology

The Tree Gliders are omnivores who communicate both with speech and with photophores in linear patterns along their skin, the latter on their extremities. They have four main limbs, and can function either as bipeds or quadrupeds. They divide their time between the ground and the trees. Their forelimbs have two gripping fingers with long curving claws; their hindlimbs have four toes and short claws. The forelimbs are a little longer than the hindlegs, so their back slopes at a slight angle when in quadruped mode. They have gliding membranes extending from each elbow to the waist; these allow them to jump and float-glide for a short distance. They have a thin short tufted tail. They have black skin – their heads, necks and limbs have no covering, and are marked with red photophores – and feather-fur on their torso. The feathers are similar to a cassowary’s, consisting of a shaft and loose barbules. The base of these is purple-black, fading to red at the tips, but individuals can have various patterns. Males also have a crest on top of their head.

In length (not including their tail) they measure up to 5 feet/1.5 meters.

Their heads are a little bizarre to human eyes: they have sinuous necks ending in a tapered head with no break between the two, and mouthparts that open in four segments like the petals of a flower. Inside these are a circular row of teeth. They have one pair of eyes that see into the infrared spectrum, and an earhole behind each of these. The eyes have a four-pointed, star-shaped pupil and can vary in color from purple to red.

Their manipulative organs are two slender retractable muscular tentacles, similar to an elephant’s trunk, that extend from sheaths either side of their neck on either side of their mouthparts. The tentacles each end in four thin fingerlike projections that are as versatile as a human’s fingers for manipulating objects, but cannot be used for supporting their body or carrying heavy objects – their forelimbs are utilized for this purpose. Unlike an elephant, they do not breathe or ingest through the tentacles, but through normal nostrils on their face. Males have black tentacles, females purple.

Their blood is hemerythrin-based, a protein that binds oxygen. It is colorless when deoxygenated, violet-pink when exposed to oxygen. Like hemocyanin, it has a lower affinity for carbon monoxide than the hemoglobin in human blood – an evolutionary advantage as their homeworld has a higher concentration of CO2 in its atmosphere than Earth due to volcanic activity.

They are matriarchial, with a female leader. Similar to Amazon tribes, their favored hunting weapon is a blowgun for small game; they also cook and eat insects and plants. They are not apex predators on their world, though; there are other creatures that fit this role whom they fear. Clothing is minimal, but a harness is worn so equipment can be carried. Similar to the Tall Necks, their world is metal-poor so their tools are of wood, stone and natural materials. The main trees they live in are called disk trees; these resemble flat plates stacked at intervals on a pole. Their name for themselves translates as “People of the Trees.”

Language

This is only a basic sketch – essentially only a naming language at this stage.

Tree Glider language: Swadesh list
Number English Tree Glider
1 I loe
2 thou raai
3 he aarai
4 we ri (inclusive)
li (exclusive)
5 you haaee
6 they alaa
7 this pi
8 that rora
9 here lale
10 there rie
11 who hiia
12 what liie
13 where hela
14 when nola
15 how mana
16 not lame
17 all lo
18 many lira
19 some malii
20 few ci
21 other ole
22 one lai
23 two mano
24 three nai
25 four iei
26 five caara
27 big haa
28 long ao
29 wide iie
30 thick ace
31 heavy liro
32 small hiilaa
33 short mahi
34 narrow leni
35 thin relaa
36 female mao
37 male lei
38 neuter rae
39 person lihe
40 child leno
41 wife ooha
42 husband mii
43 mother lecii
44 father arai
45 animal aea
46 tree elaa
47 forest eei
48 stick ili
49 fruit mare
50 seed ea
51 leaf moe
52 root aai
53 bark aii
54 flower roli
55 grass rena
56 rope oomi
57 skin cooma
58 meat laapo
59 blood hiloo
60 bone era
61 fat ralaa
62 egg me
63 horn cana
64 tail ihi
65 head cea
66 ear oahe
67 eye earii
68 nose rola
69 mouth mihaa
70 tooth polo
71 tongue haara
72 claw oehee
73 foot molii
74 leg hilaa
75 knee ihee
76 hand aame
77 wing alee
78 belly aare
79 guts pe
80 neck amo
81 back leo
82 chest laoo
83 heart heea
84 liver iiroo
85 to drink laape
86 to eat nii
87 to bite co
88 to suck ilee
89 to spit paca
90 to vomit mee
91 to blow iaa
92 to breathe raree
93 to laugh caaii
94 to see loi
95 to hear iome
96 to know aooha
97 to think naai
98 to smell re
99 to fear leoi
100 to sleep oae
101 to live rile
102 to die ce
103 to kill cai
104 to fight aia
105 to hunt ece
106 to hit aci
107 to cut aao
108 to split iira
109 to stab hama
110 to scratch roo
111 to dig iiea
112 to swim hi
113 to fly le
114 to walk caa
115 to come iile
116 to lie ola
117 to sit liaa
118 to stand rihoo
119 to turn naa
120 to fall ohoo
121 to give iea
122 to hold rehaa
123 to squeeze iala
124 to rub aheeaa
125 to wash neli
126 to wipe nica
127 to pull heepo
128 to push eloaa
129 to throw hihaa
130 to tie eii
131 to sew limi
132 to count mooi
133 to say maha
134 to sing ela
135 to play hale
136 to float rii
137 to flow heenii
138 to freeze aale
139 to swell roro
140 sun hela
141 moon aoro
142 star eeme
143 water eea
144 to rain nili
145 river pelaa
146 lake ilee
147 sea pahi
148 salt eele
149 stone paee
150 sand hara
151 dust ami
152 earth mile
153 cloud herii
154 fog ioae
155 sky loree
156 wind la
157 snow eoma
158 ice iilee
159 smoke lara
160 fire olee
161 ashes ae
162 to burn ceooa
163 road lemii
164 mountain noha
165 red ana
166 green raa
167 yellow nao
168 white hoo
169 black ahi
170 night aaho
171 day ree
172 year ramo
173 warm aama
174 cold mo
175 full caooa
176 new elii
177 old ahe
178 good lii
179 bad oa
180 rotten halo
181 dirty mehi
182 straight leeli
183 round eo
184 sharp ira
185 dull ee
186 smooth hiira
187 wet na
188 dry rei
189 right cali
190 near ranaa
191 far eraa
192 right no
193 left elo
194 at peaa
195 in alo
196 with lonii
197 and loa
198 if ie
199 because ria
200 name lapa

Name

Their name for themselves is elaara lihei, “Tree People” (ra is the subject particle, i the object).

History

They were the first sapient race to be contacted and Dominated by a Hunter Clan, though this was a relatively uneventful process. Their level of development was, and still is, analogous to hunter-gatherer tribes on Earth, with a low level of technology – they are deliberately kept that way (though they are given aid in areas such as medicine). They are (like the Hunters) conservative by nature in any case, and are not inclined to change much, being content as they are and living in harmony with their world.

Home system

Their sun is a little cooler than Earth’s, an orange K0-type star (web hex color: #ffebd1). Their world is similar to Earth’s but with a gravity of 0.95, and orbits at 0.65 AUs. It has an axial tilt of 20°. There are no oceans, but many rivers and lakes, so all the land is connected (about 69% land area). Vast areas of land are covered by forests of tall trees (at least as tall as Californian Redwoods on Earth) with red-purple-black vegetation; the Tree Gliders prefer to live mainly in the trees, with which they have something of a symbiotic relationship. The sky is a darker blue than Earth’s as the atmosphere is a little thinner; it has a hint of violet color. The world is unspoilt as the Tree Gliders do not have an industrial civilization and their population is small. As noted previously, the atmosphere has a higher concentration of CO2 (around 10 ppm) due to volcanic activity. Visiting aliens need to wear a filter mask.

Their world is the third out of seven planets orbiting.

Star data
Class
K0 (#ffebd1)
Temperature in degrees Kelvin
5250
Mass (mass of our Sun = 1)
.790
Radius (radius of Sun = 1)
.786
Terrestrial Equivalent Orbit in AUs
.65
Lifetime in billions of years
21.100
Distance from Home World
5.5 light years
Home planet data
Circumference
36,027.15 km
Diameter
11,467.8 km
Distance
0.65 AUs (97,238,616.15 km)
Density
5.1 g/cm3
Gravity
0.83 of Earth’s
Moons
One
Radius
0.9 of Earth’s (5,733.9 km)

Ruling Dawn Hunter Clan

Fire Mountain Clan

Gallery

Tree Glider heads

Tree Gliders heads, female and male heads (digital art, 17/5/2014).

Tree Glider, body view

Tree Glider, body view (colored pencils, 23/12/2010).

Tree Gliders world Tree Gliders world

Digital renditions of what their planet might look like (1/2/2014). Scale note: 1 pixel on the image (5197 px width) = 6.93 km approx (round up to 7), so 100 pixels on the map = 700 km on the ground. This works out to 36,379 km circumference – not perfectly accurate, but good enough for an approximate rendition.

Trial of Pain

The Trial of Pain (Sahalrasac) is the ritual torture conducted before a Warrior’s sacrifice upon a Altar of Blood. It is only inflicted upon those of the Warrior Caste, and then usually on captives of a rival Clan. A Warrior is expected to endure without showing any signs of the pain he is in; he will otherwise die dishonourably. The torture is usually in the form of declawing, and takes place in a chamber of the Pyramid of the Lords.

Valley of the Ancestors

The Valley of the Ancestors (Ceewacabuun) is the place where Clan Lords in ancient times were buried in cave tombs with painted walls. It is located around 13°E, 53°S, about three days’ journey from Night River Clan City. Its altitude extends from 500 meters upward; the mountains overlooking the valley reach to 4000 meters. Their peaks are snow-covered all year round. The Valley is in an arid rain shadow behind the Blue Mountains; this and its high altitude means the air is cold and dry, ideal for the long-term preservation of bodies.

After the construction of the Clan Cities, the bodies were transferred to the Pyramid of the Lords in each City to ensure their continued safety and so they could watch over the inhabitants of their respective City.

Void Fin

A Void Fin (Sosaanzoyuu) is a deep-dwelling vertebrate sea creature, on which the design of a Void Walker was based. Males are entirely black; females have a grey underside. There are eight bioluminescent spots along each side. It has an arrow-shaped head and pointed wing-like fins, similar to a manta-ray’s, and is omnivorous. In size it reaches up to 12 meters or more, and is the largest sea creature in Home World’s oceans.

Gallery

Male Void Fin

Male Void Fin (colored pencils, 17/3/2014).

Void Station

Void Station (Nawelzoyuu), also called Home of the Void Walkers (Nulunaa Zaawezoyuuwo) is the one and only space station of the Dawn Hunters. The habitable area is a dome 13.2 km in diameter (4 ship-lengths), using a captured and shaped asteroid as the construction base. It orbits the outermost moon, Ice Moon, and provides docking and a maintenance bays for each Void Walker. There are a total of 48 docking bays, more than enough for the current fleet.

The center of the dome is hollow; starships can be constructed there, though this has not been done for thousands of years. Tentacles can extrude from the base to snare an asteroid, the raw material for beginning such construction. Living and working areas are arranged in levels above the hangars.

The Station has artificial gravity derived from a singularity contained within a sphere at its base.

Dawn Hunters from each Caste are stationed there on a rotating basis; there are no permanent occupants.

Dimensions

Diameter
13.2 km (6.6 km radius) – 4 ship-lengths
Height (including struts extending below dome)
26.4 km – 8 ship-lengths
Starship docking bays per level
12 (4 levels for 48 ships)

Gallery

Colored pencil drawing of Void Station

Void Station (colored pencils, 16/4/2009 – somewhat outdated).

Void Station, side and dorsal views

A half-view of Void Station is on the left, with a starship for scale. On the right is a schematic and simplified top-down view, showing how starships are docked in their hangars (digital art, 26/7/2014).

Void Walker

Void Walker (Zaawezoyuu) is the Dawn Hunter name for a starship, the largest vessel in the aliens’ fleet. The starships are the most highly-prized creations of the Hunters; some (such as Zaawezoyuu-cehenenel Narabo Sahelnahuuwaa) are tens of thousands of years old and have passed from one Clan Lord or War Lord to another after being inherited from father to son, or won in ritual combat challenges. They are the only ranks that can command a starship.

The ships are constructed and repaired in a huge floating dock/space station called Void Station at the stable Lagrangian point (L4) in front of the orbit of Home World’s outermost moon, Ice Moon. The dock is a neutral zone where any combat is forbidden. Nanites do most of the initial construction after being programmed to a template, using matter from the star system and beyond. Construction of new starships is now, however, rare.

Appearance

The ships are the largest and main vessels of the Hunter fleet. A starship is approximately 3.3 km in length and around 1600 m at its widest point (approximately twice as long as it is wide), elongated and bulbous in shape and heavily armored. Its appearance was based on that of a Void Fin, an aquatic creature on Home World.

A starship is intended for use mainly in space; it can enter a planet’s atmosphere – hence its aerodynamic shape – but it can’t land as it is much too big and heavy (the downdraft alone would flatten any buildings in the vicinity). It carries a selection of the smaller transport and fighter ships that can be used in both space and a planet’s atmosphere.

The atomically-dense metal-alloy armor of its outer skin can only be damaged by antimatter or singularity weapons – or by Jumping into the core of a star – though there are some weak points which particle weapons can damage (such as the engine exhausts). The skin has an iridescent blue-violet sheen where the sun highlights it (rather like the green-violet sheen of a starling’s black feathers), and a subtle hexagonal pattern.

A starship has no windows; instead, projection through the walls provide a realistic 3D view of the outside. There is, however, a small viewing room at the front of the ship; segments of the metal alloy there are infused with special nanobots that can change its properties from opaque to transparent when needed (this technology is also used with the smaller ships to provide cabin windows). The transparency is one-way; anyone outside can’t see in.

The crew numbers several hundred Hunters of all three Castes from the one Clan and effectively serves as a mobile home and command base. A tour of duty lasts approximately one Home World-year; thus most Clan members will get a chance to serve onboard their Clan Lord’s starship during their lives. Everyone gets a cabin (and ensuite bathroom!) to themselves regardless of rank, though the cabins of lower ranks are smaller.

A key feature of a starship is the sapient Artificial Intelligence that it contains. Its central core is located within the Crystal Chamber directly under the Command Chamber. Fiber-optic tendrils extend through its body, transmitting information via light signal pulses. Data is stored in crystalline matrices. In structure, it is a sort of quantum computer, initially created by scanning the neural patters from the brain of the Clan Lord who commissioned it, but it also absorbs memories from successive Clan Lords via their neural implants and develops its own personality. An AI has immense processing power and some of its capabilities are still unknown; it is possible that it utilizes other dimensions to store and access information and energy. A starship and its AI are inextricably merged and function as one entity. The AI has no gender, so in English the only way to refer to the AI is as “it.”

The AI is intensely bonded with its Clan Lord or War Lord master for his lifetime, as it has been designed to be; a small part of it resides in the Lord’s neural implant, speaking to him via a synthetic telepathic link. This bond helps compensate for the solitude of his position in Hunter society, and provides a father-substitute once his real one has departed. It may choose to communicate with others, such as a designated Ship Master if the Clan Lord is not onboard (or in my story, the human Sergei), but its loyalty to its Clan Lord overrides all others. It’s like having a lifelong best friend who will never betray you or abandon you.

Technical specifications

Front section
110,592 cm (1.1 km)
Middle section
165,888 cm (1.65 km)
Rear section
55,296 cm (0.55 km)
Total length
331,776 cm (3.3 km)
Height
Nearly 500 m (~ 492 m)
Propulsion
Two nuclear fusion engines for realspace travel; a captive singularity to enable foldspace Jumping
Armament
Includes particle beam, kinetic cannon, deployment of Unmaker-Nanites
Other features
Integrated Artificial Intelligence
Crew
Up to several hundred
Complement
Drones, Shuttles, Carriers, Fighters
Role
Galactic exploration, interstellar flight, planetary assault

Propulsion and power

A starship has two methods of propulsion: fusion engines for realspace travel, and a Warp Chamber that enables it to Jump.

A starship is capable of Jumping or “folding” space – effectively creating a brief wormhole – to cover vast distances in the Universe, by means of the Warp- or Space-time Crystal contained within the Chamber. When entering or exiting a Jump, there is a bright flare of light, and gravitational waves and Cherenkov radiation are emitted.

The Crystal also helps provide power for the rest of the ship as well as generate artificial gravity.

For conventional flight a starship is powered by two massive nuclear fusion engines. The deuterium needed for fusion reactions can be harvested from the two gas giants in their system, or any gas giant such as the ones in our solar system. A starship has its own fusion fuel processing plant onboard; it gathers the fuel from gas giant planets. This is also stored and used to refuel the other smaller ships onboard.

Other features

Weapons

A starship possesses a variety of weapons. It can use nanites to manufacture what it needs onboard, given the appropriate raw materials. Firing points open through the hull when needed.

Layout

The living quarters are in the front section; most of a starship’s bulk is taken up by the propulsion, power and weapons systems.

  1. Front section: This is arrowhead-shaped. There are four main decks/levels. The bottom one has a corridor leading from the aft sections of the ship to the docking port at the nose. There are extra cabins here. The ones above are the living quarters for the Technicians, Adepts and Warriors (in that order). These are arranged in an oval shaped-corridor on each level, with cabins branching off around its outside. In the central core of the levels are elevators and work areas for all Castes, such as ship operations and a training/exercise arena for the Warriors. Ramps also connect each level. The egg-shaped Command Chamber where the Clan Lord oversees starship operations is a room on a level just above the Warrior deck, with a ramp leading up to it (like a split-level house). This is all located deep within the front section so there are no windows, aside from the small Observation Deck, which is accessed from the Command Chamber via another ramp (in front of it). The Clan Lord’s cabin, Command Chamber and Observation Deck are at the front of the ship. The central core levels of the front section include:
    1. Warriors: training arenas, an atrium with plants from Home World.
    2. Adepts: science labs, medical facilities, food preparations (for fresh food).
    3. Technicians: various starship-related engineering facilities.
    4. Level 4: waste treatment and recycling.
  2. Middle section: this is the widest section, resembling axehead-shaped wings – concave at both sides and convex in back. In its center is the singularity which enables the ship to Jump; it is contained by a magnetic field within a neutron-thick sphere. The singularity containment is on an upper level, surrounded by the equipment for the gravity drive, which is aimed above the ship when operating. Two corridors lead around each wing on this upper level; most of the starship’s weapons are operated and fired from here. A particle accelerator circles the singularity containment; it is used for firing the particle beam weapons which can be aimed out of nodes around each side. On the bottom level, at the nadir of the ship, are the cargo and shuttle bays where the starship’s spacecraft fleet are stored and maintained; the bays are bisected into two levels. They exit from two openings to each side; the cargo bay opens to the rear. The openings are solid but nanites in the walls temporarily liquefy to allow passage of a ship while retaining atmosphere. A nadir central corridor extending from the front section enables access to the spaceship bays and rear section. More Technicians reside toward the front section of the wings.
  3. Rear section: this is a smaller protruding semicircular section that contains the two massive 4-storey-high fusion engines and fuel for them, as well as the means to process deuterium fuel gathered from gas giant planets.

Two transport tubes along the central axis provides quick access to all sections via a cylindrical shuttle in each that seats up to 8 passengers.

Length ratios: the middle section is the longest, then the front section, and the rear engines the shortest – ratio 2/3:½:1/3 (divide length by one-half, then the remaining half by 3).

A cabin is approximately 6 meters in width, with its ensuite bathroom 2 meters – each occupant has their own small bathroom. With a front section length of 1500 m, there would roughly be 300 rooms on the upper 3 levels, and perhaps up to 200 on Level 4 (I have not worked this out precisely). That would give a crew capacity of up to 1100, though this number is rarely on board. Extra rooms can be formed if required through the embedded nanites in the ship’s structure.

How heavy is the starship? I don’t know how to calculate it, but mass would be in the millions of tonnes.[1]

Navigation

To Jump accurately, a starship must know the co-ordinates in 3-dimensions of the region it is Jumping to. The Hunters have thus moved incrementally in their exploration of the Milky Way as a starship will map the stars around it, Jump to a region in this area, map the stars around here and so continue onwards. Occasionally a particularly daring Clan Lord might take a chance and Jump much further away to an unknown region (which is how Lord Sohaar discovered our Solar System); a starship can make a rough estimate of distant stars. There is some risk involved, as the starship might inadvertently emerge inside the core of a star! Not even the high-density metal structure of the starships could withstand those immense pressures.

Nanobeacons and pulsar stars are also used to facilitate navigation; the fist-sized stealth beacons are left in orbit around target planets. They are usually inert, and only reciprocate with a signal when contacted by a starship either through realspace or foldspace.

Would time-travel be possible? As Jumping involves folding spacetime, it seems that time travel would be just as easy as going from one point to another. In fact, a starship would have to be careful to calculate its Jump to the Planck time (the shortest physically meaningful interval of time ≈ 1.71 × 10−50 a) as well as its co-ordinates in space, so as to ensure it emerges in the present. Also, while time in a single location (local time) is consistent, it will not be the same time as another location across the Galaxy, due to the limitations of the speed of light (relativity of simultaneity) so that might need to be factored into a Jump. When Jumping to a new region, it will immediately start time-measurement for that region, adding this to its database, so that when it Jumps to that region again it can calculate the correct time and avoid inadvertent time-travel.

One thought I had that is if the positions of every atom in the Universe could be mapped over the entire span of time from the past to the present, then one could travel back in time, assuming you had a machine that could perform this task by choosing the co-ordinates wanted. As such a feat would involve an unimaginably huge amount of computing power, perhaps it might only be necessary to map the atom positions in one’s local region (e.g. in the Solar System). Time travel into the future would not be possible due to the peculiarity of quantum mechanics: that the future positions of atoms can’t be determined with any accuracy. The past, however, is fixed and certain; the future does not yet exist with any certainty. There is thus only the past and now. A starship could theoretically perform a Time-Jump; however the act of time travel might see it emerge into a different timeline. What would happen to them then is unknown.

Naming conventions

Starships are known as Void Walker, Zaawezoyuu (Walker [of the] Void), in the Dawn Hunter language – they have no word for sailing ship. Starships are designated Void Walker-1, -2, etc. They also adopt the name of the Clan that owns them. Thus the main ship “character” in my story has the full name of: Zaawezoyuu-cehenenel Narabaa Sahelnahuuwo, Void Walker-1(st) of the Night River Clan. It may be referred to more formally as Void Walker-1by maintenance crew and others, and more familiarly as Sahelnahuu, Night River – or just Nahuu, Night – by Lord Sohaar.

A starship is referred to – or refers to itself – with pronouns used for Dawn Hunters (as opposed to those used for other creatures, or inanimate objects), and in the neutral honorific.

Known starships

Void Walkers named in story
Name Translation Commander
Zaawezoyuu-cehenenel Narabaa Sahelnahuuwo Void Walker-1 of the Night River Clan Clan/Supreme Lord Sohaar
Zaawezoyuu-celecunel Narawaa Sosaano Void Walker-8 of the Three Moons Clan Clan Lord Sanaazuun
Zaawezoyuu-celecubacanel Narawaa Sahelnorowo Void Walker-13 of the Swift River Clan Clan Lord Soharaa
Zaawezoyuu-celecuzeyuhenenel Narabaa Rebenuuwo Void Walker-17 of the Crescent Moon Clan War Lord Yaraananahuu
Zaawezoyuu-cenamalecuzeyunel Narabaa Sanaalecaawo Void Walker-26 of the Fire Wind Clan Supreme Lord Yaraan

Gallery

Void Walker exterior views.

Colored pencil drawing of Void Walker

Starship from various viewpoints (colored pencils, 23/10/2013).

Starship prow designs

Different prow detailing (each starship has its own look) (colored pencils).

Void Walker lateral view Void Walker, dorsal and ventral views

Void Walker silhouette side, top and bottom views, (digital art, April 2014 – I haven’t so far found out how to do smooth shading). This is the Night River Clan’s starship.

Background notes

Starship design influences include:

Footnotes

[1]
As a comparison, the currently largest real-world cruise liners, Oasis class, are “only” 360 meters long (barely an eighth of the starships’ length – though they can carry up to 6296 passengers), and the largest structure in Earth orbit, the International Space Station, is a mere 75 m. The Oasis class cruise liners are 225,282 gross tonnage, so multiplying that by 8 gives 1,802,256 GT, which would be a bare minimum for the starship. The world’s longest ship was a supertanker named Seawise Giant, at 458.45 m long and 260,941 GT.

War-Cloak

A war-cloak (Zoluuhehar) is an intrinsic part of a Warrior’s clothing, and those of all ranks wear one. It is presented to a Warrior at his initiation, and enhances his formidable appearance.

The floor-length cloak is made of an intensely black, silk-like material that absorbs light (possibly comprised of carbon nanotubes) and can be used as camouflage and protection; e.g. if he is caught in a nuclear explosion he can crouch down, covered by his cloak which will shield him from the effects (as will his armor).

Like his other clothing, the nanite-infused material is responsive to his body needs and does not tangle or get in his way, despite its length. It is wrapped around him and secured at the right shoulder with a brooch that has his Clan symbol embossed on it.

The cloak is much a part of a Warrior’s identity and status as his sword; he would seldom be seen in public or even in private without it.

In ancient times before nanotechnology, a cloak was made of finely-woven fabric (from a silk-like plant fiber) and worn over traditional armor.

Gallery

War-Cloak

Warrior in his war-cloak, profile view (digital art, 27/12/2014).

War Lord

A War Lord (Zulhaar) is the ruler of a minor Clan that is affiliated with a Clan Lord’s Clan; several minor Clans usually dwell in a Clan City under the Clan Lord’s rule and their families interbreed. An ambitious War Lord might seek to usurp the Clan Lord through various means (single combat, or assassination) and thus install his Clan as the dominant one, but this is only rarely successful – and he and his immediate family will be slain if he fails. He may, or may not, possess a starship. A War Lord does not have access to a rejuvenating Healing Bed.

His helmet has a crescent-shaped transverse crest. His metal rank color is silver (#c0c0c0 / rgb(192,192,192)).

Gallery

Helmet of War Lord

War Lord helmet (digital art, 8/1/2014).

War

Wars on Home World are fought in a strictly ritual fashion, between the Warriors of Clans, and usually minor Clans at that – full-scale warfare is now a rarity. As their highly-advanced technology can wreak much destruction – and would even end their civilization – all Clan fighting is done under the following rules:

These rules do not apply when fighting aliens on other worlds – they are to be subdued by whatever means are practical.

Warp Chamber

The Warp Chamber (Maralyeerolan) is where the near-magic of a Jump is enabled so that vast distances of realspace can be crossed in an instant. It is located in the central section of a Void Walker.

The Chamber is a perfect sphere, constructed from an ultrathin, dense nanocomposite crystalline material. It shimmers with an iridescent rainbow hue. A corridor surrounds the sphere. The material of the sphere can switch from opaque to transparent to enable viewing of the interior (similar to smart glass).

A Warp Crystal, or Space-time Crystal, is suspended in the center of the Chamber. Three rotating gimbals generate a magnetic field that keeps the crystal suspended. When the gimbals are activated and align, they focus and intensify the vibrations of the crystal so that it opens a brief wormhole in spacetime, enabling the starship to slip through and to its destination. A Crystal also generates power for the rest of the ship. It warps space-time around it, making it hard to focus on, and glows with an intense white light. The secret of its formation is known only to the Adept-Crystologists.

The Warp Chamber and Command Chamber are linked by a narrow passageway lined with golden filaments and are nicknamed the “Ship’s Hearts” as they are the core of the starship.

Dimensions

Diameter
8 bodylengths (17.28 meters)

Gallery

Warp Chamber diagram

Warp Chamber diagram, stylized view. (10/2/2017, digital art)

Warrior-Assassin

A Warrior-Assassin (Haarzemuwa) usually masquerades as a Warrior-One-Claw, and has a similar unadorned helmet. Assassin is an alternate profession for Warrior-One-Claws who might not have enough skill to rise in the ranks; it is not considered honorable, though, and one will endure a particularly unpleasant death by torture if he is caught.

Warrior Caste

The Warrior Caste (Rohuulhaar) are the dominant Caste in Dawn Hunter society, made up of specialized male fighters who take their species’ predatory characteristics to an extreme. They are warriors, hunters and explorers. The other Castes look to them for protection and guidance. Clan Lords and War Lords come from their ranks. They follow Runaarhaar, the Warrior’s Path.

They wear a distinctive long black war-cloak, black armor and robes embellished with the symbol of their Clan. Helmet crests distinguish ranks.

In culture, they tend to be more bluntly-spoken than the other Castes, and can be brusque to the point of rudeness (particularly with other aliens). Much of their time is taken up with fighting, hunting, training to fight, or recovering in hospital from all of these.

Gallery

Basic helmet Helmet with cloak

Basic helmet, bare and with the usual integrated cloak (digital art, 14/1/2014).

Cloaked Warrior

Cloaked Warrior (colored pencils, 20/7/2013).

Warrior-Guardian

Warrior-Guardians (Haarzahuwa) are a War Lord’s or Clan Lord’s personal bodyguards and elite fighting force; akin to Special Forces. They are usually found in pairs as it is preferred for brothers to be partnered together. They are prepared to sacrifice their lives to defend their Lord, and are completely devoted to him.

Of course, a Clan Lord can and is expected to defend himself – otherwise he wouldn’t have attained his status – so the Guardians provide extra protection, companionship and so on.

A minimum of two usually accompany the Clan Lord in everyday life. They will be rostered on for a full day, then have two or three days off for their own activities (hunting, fighting training, etc.) while another pair assume duty.

His metal rank color is rose gold (#b76e79 / rgb(183,110,121)) (a copper-gold alloy).

Gallery

Warrior-Guardian helmet

Warrior-Guardian helmet (digital art, 8/1/2014).

Warrior-Student

A Warrior-Student (Haaryaahal) is one of the Warrior Caste in training who has no rank yet. He will only wear traditional armor until he receives his neural implantand morph-armor at the completion of his training.

His metal-rank color is copper (#b87333 / rbg(184,115,51)).

Warrior-One-Claw

The Warrior-One-Claws (Haarzuhaahenenel) are the lowest and most numerous Warrior rank. Helmet is plain with no crest.

His metal rank color is bismuth (#aa98a9 / rgb(170,152, 69))

Gallery

Warrior-One-Claw helmet

Warrior-One-Claw helmet (digital art, 7/1/2014).

Warrior-One-Claw insignia

Insignia (in colors of Dawn Star Clan), worn on shoulders.

Warrior-Two-Claw

A Warrior-Two-Claw (Haarzuhaazeyunel) commands 8 Warrior-One-Claws (2 hands – equivalent of a squadron).

His metal rank color is bismuth (#aa98a9 / rgb(170,152, 69))

Gallery

Warrior Two-Claw helmet

Warrior Two-Claw helmet views (digital art, 9/1/2014).

Warrior Two-Claw insignia

Insignia (in colors of Swift River Clan), worn on shoulders.

Warrior-Three-Claw

A Warrior-Three-Claw (Haarzuuhanamanel) commands 82 (64 Warrior-One-Claws) hands.

His metal rank color is bismuth (#aa98a9 / rgb(170,152, 69))

Gallery

Warrior-Three-Claw helmet

Warrior-Three-Claw helmet views (digital art, 9/1/2014).

Warrior-Three-Claw insignia

Insignia (in colors of Endless Plains Clan), worn on shoulders.

Warrior-Four-Claw

A Warrior-Four-Claw (Haarwahuzuhaanel) commands 83 (512 Warrior-One-Claws) hands. Equivalent of a General – designated second-in-command to a War Lord or Clan Lord; oversees ground or air operations.

His metal rank color is bismuth (#aa98a9 / rgb(170,152, 69))

Gallery

Warrior-Four-Claw helmet

Warrior-Four-Claw helmet views (digital art, 10/1/2014).

Warrior-Four-Claw insignia

Insignia (in colors of Night River Clan), worn on shoulders.

Weapons cabinet

A weapons cabinet (Suucusaamer) is a light wooden storage box with drawers specifically for storing weapons (sword and projectile weapons).

Weapons

The Dawn Hunters value their traditions highly and continue to use both low- and high-tech weapons (e.g. swords and powered projectile weapons). For close-in fighting, swords and daggers are used. All Hunters carry a personal utility/combat dagger that can be used for different tasks.

Sword and dagger

Each Warrior has his own sword that is forged for him at the completion of his training; it is a prized possession like a Samurai’s sword. They prefer to duel in traditional one-on-one combat, but (like humans) are adaptable in their fighting methods. Their sword fighting style is generally similar to that of Japanese samurai.

A sword blade or dagger are forged in the traditional manner, with the blade being folded and beaten up to eight times. The metal used for a Warrior’s sword and dagger is Saahenso, “star metal,” from a meteorite(also referred to as Wumarazuul, “sky stone”; for the daggers worn by those of the other Castes, it is a high-grade steel. His weapons are then coated in an atomically-dense metal alloy (possibly a type of single-crystal superalloy) which melds with the metal, making it extremely strong without increasing weight. The blade gains a mono-molecular edge that can slice through almost anything. It is so thin that it almost disappears when viewed edge-on, and is intensely black at some angles. The pattern produced when the blade is hardened is preserved.

The sword is approximately arm-length or 90 cm; the hilt is 4 handwidths (25.2 cm). It can be wielded one- or two-handed. The dagger is approximately half the sword length (45 cm long) and the hilt is held one-handed. Both have single-edged curved blades, with a handle that curves in the opposite direction, forming an elongated S-shape. The hilts are patterned to resemble overlapping scales, and may be decorated with colored cords and such. They are worn hung at the waist – sword on the left, dagger on the right. The sheathed sword can also be worn slung over the back as the wielder prefers.

Traditional swords and daggers in ancient times were similar in design. The hilt was made from wood and wrapped in fabric.

Projectile weapon

The main projectile weapon used is a electromagnetic gun, primarily as a long-range weapon. It is about 90 cm long and is usually carried slung across the back in a blood-blue sling made of artificial fabric. It functions by using electromagnetic means to accelerate solid materials. It fires nano-robotic ammunition that can be reconfigured into different forms, such as a bullet or a dart and programmed to disassemble its target on impact as an option. The gun also has a separate stun mode, in which a high-powered ultraviolet laser beam – invisible to human eyesight – is fired that ionizes the air, creating a conduit for the plasma to pulse through. Depending on the setting, the intense current can stun or fatally disrupt the nervous systems of the targets.

The gun is silent, highly-efficient and is powered by a fusion nanobattery. It is keyed to Hunter DNA so that a Outsider can’t use one (the weapon will remain inert) unless permission is programmed in.

In shape it is roughly wedge-shaped and curved, somewhat organic in appearance, black in color and light but nearly-indestructible like their other equipment. It is rounded on top and flat on the sides. A carry-strap can be threaded through the bottom front hole and rear handle. (And if all else fails it can be used as a club :-))

A gun is known as a meharculuun (mehar [weapon] [of – implied genitive] culuun [thunder]), derived from ancient (and noisy) firearms that used gunpowder.

A War Lord or Clan Lord will not carry or use a projectile weapon unless he has no choice; his sword is his first preference. Hunting prey with a projectile weapon would be considered highly dishonorable. Use of projectile and other advanced weapons are banned on Home World, in any case. They are usually carried in cloth sheaths for discretion while onworld, slung across the bearer’s back.

Other weapons

Bows and arrows were never developed. A war-club (Maacahar) was sometimes used for close-in fighting. This was half a bodylength (108 cm) long, made of a hard and dense black wood, and studded at the hitting end with spiked metal studs. It tapered towards the handle. A skilled wielder could inflict much damage by breaking an opponent’s bones in their arms, legs and torso. In the technological era, antimatter grenades and mines can be used, the antimatter produced in a starship’s particle accelerator. Only a tiny amount of antimatter is required for a big explosion.

Gallery

Weapons selection

A selection of weapons, from top: gun, war-club, sword, dagger, and arm for comparison (digital art, 27/11/2015).

Yaraan

Yaraan is Lord Sohaar’s younger and only brother, the 28th by that name, and the initial Supreme Lord of the Dawn Hunters in the near-future setting of my story. He is ruthlessly ambitious, and jealous of his older brother.

Biographical information

Eye color
Cornflower-blue (#6495ed/rgb(30,144,255))
Gender
Male
Hatching year
61,511.98 HW years/4054 B.C. (2310.78 HW years ago)
Height
7 feet 2 inches (218.44 cm)

Gallery

Yaraan

Yaraan portrait (colored pencils, 17/5/2013, 38 KB).

Yaraan, head portrait

Yaraan profile portrait, done as a vector in Inkscape (digital art, 26/10/2015, 34 KB).

Yaraananahuu

Yaraananahuu is a War Lord of the Crescent Moon Clan. He resides in the Clan City of Night River Clan.

Biographical information

Gender
Male
First appearance
Dominator chapter: “Black Ships”

Yaraanlecaa

Yaraanlecaa is a Warrior-Guardian and the younger brother of Haarlecaa. Clan Lord Sohaar inherited them from Supreme Lord Yaraan.

Biographical information

Gender
Male
First appearance
Dominator chapter: “Dust”

Zuunsaan

Zuunsaan is an Adept-Biologist of the Adept Caste. She is in Clan Lord Sohaar’s landing party during his first visit to Earth.

Biographical information

Gender
Female
Eye color
Blue-green (#1CA9C9/rgb(28,169,201))
First appearance
Inheritor chapter: “Contact”