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{{toc_right}}<onlyinclude>The [[Kidan]] Race Name: Kidan (Singular) Kida (Plural). Are ant-like creatures who posses an exoskeleton.
{{Rewrite|reason=Under review by lore team, slated to be rewritten completely}}


== Mechanics ==
{{Template:LoreTableMain}}
* They do not posses their own unique language.


* All Kida have claws, and will scratch with them instead of punching, dealing extra damage.


* Kida cannot wear glasses.
<div style="display: grid; float: right;">


* Kida have natural armor, roughly equivalent to a riot shield.
{{SpeciesInfo
| name      = Kidan
| image      = Kidan4.png
| homeworld  = Aurum
| system    = Alpha Indus
| language  = Chittin (:4)
| height    = 190cm
| lifespan  = 55 years
| breathes  = Oxygen
}}
{{SpeciesMechanics
| features =


* They can consume Diona Nymphs, alive or dead.
* Bio-luminescence (costs nutrition).


* 30 Karma cost to unlock
* Can consume Diona Nymphs.


== Overview ==
* Can scan for minerals similarly to a mining scanner with the *click and *clack emotes.
=== Naming ===
Heraldry naming scheme (used by nobles for flashy entrances and other such dramatic things):
Individuals are generally named according to ancient conventions. That is, names consisting of syllables given in layers, starting first with the occuption, then the name of their family, or, 'house', then their given name, and finally their private name. Their private name was more of a nickname and only known to close working buddies or friends. The name went as follows. Occupation > House > Given > Nickname; -- in recent years, this is used as a brevity code for identifying themselves via their banner, over radio.


Peasant/everyday naming scheme:
| boons    =
A sort of 'buggy' sounding name like 'Koz' or 'Zaz' or 'Zhar' with a corresponding pheromone signature, optionally represented by describing the smell of such in either flavor text or as a surname, for example: 'Zaz [light, fruity]'
(note that not everything is one big culture over in Bugtown, so names can and will sound vastly different from eachother across planets and even in different regions of the homeworld.)


===Biology===
* Claws (unarmed is sharp).
Kida DO have blood, and organs, though a slightly more distributed vascular system with several smaller hearts throughout the body, which means internal damage may be less likely to kill them, but bleeding out may be more of a danger. Most medicines work similarly on them as with other species, exempting Inaprovaline.


Inaprovaline and every drug with inaprovaline as a component have been known to produce a euphoric high, causing access to Inaprovaline while working for Human companys or in Human space to be generally restricted, to the point Nanotrasen forbids them to carry it on their person unless their job requires it. Addictions and general recreational usage of Inaprovaline has become common on the Homeworld and Colonies, due to it having no known side effects.
* -20% brute damage.


Physically speaking, they are about 1.5-2.5 meter-tall hard-shelled arthropods, generally with a dull-colored carapace, though bright splotches are not uncommon depending on colony. They have large, compound eyes and long, segmented antenna with which they sense things. They have two long, upper limbs which serve as arms, and two long lower limbs which serve as legs, though their third set of limbs are generally neatly tucked away against their carapce, as they've become vestigial over time. Wings are uncommon but not unheard of, and are always able to be folded away. The ability to actually fly is rare, however.
* +50% alcohol tolerance.


Kidan eyesight is extremely sensitive, from across the room, they will be able to count pores on a human, or see fleas in a dog's fur. As you leave the front of them, they quickly lose resolution and drop off until something standing to their side will be an indistinct blur. Kidan eyes are also highly sensitive to bright lights, preferring to keep their homes and workplaces slightly dimmer than humans prefer, and bright flashes causing great pain. Military Kida and Kidan workers tend to wear protective films over their eyes in most situations.
| maluses =


Kidan eyes are too large and sensitive to wear anything to the effect of glasses, goggles or HUDs.
* Pest-spray is fatal.


Their native language is a series of clicks, buzzes, head, antennae movements, and pheromones, however they can mimic human speech (barely) using clicks and buzzes drawn out into words, with antenna use for emphasis and indicating emotion, this causes Human speech to appear rather blunted to them, due to the lack of olfactory and movement use. Due to them being mostly unable to use tone, their speech appears almost perpetually friendly, dispite what they may mean to say. -- this causes Z, and V noises to be slightly elongated, as well as a general buzzy tone. S sounds are difficult to seperate from Z noises, as well as C noises.
* +50% more hungry.


Alcohol is a little bit like drinking water; their bodies can break it down very easily and it doesn't intoxicate. Something about chocolate, however, does cause intoxication, not unlike alcohol causes it in humans. Caffeine is dangerous in large quantities, the amount of caffeine in one cup of shipboard coffee (it being super-charged as it is) is legitimately dangerous if consumed and not treated right away, but a cup of soda, or tea, or any number of other traditionally caffeinated beverages might only cause damage over the long term.
* +70% toxin damage.
}}
</div>
'''Kida''' (ᴋᴇᴇ-dan, plural ᴋᴇᴇ-da) are ant-like creatures who possess an exoskeleton. They originate from the world of Aurum, a harsh world with a poor atmosphere.
==Kidan and YOU==
Greetings, esteemed crewmember!


Feet are plantigrade, but with two claws coming out of the front and one on the back, giving their feet the ability to grasp like hands, though without anything comparative to thumbs. They are able to fit these into shoes, though uncomfortable. Sandals and boots are more common.
In an effort to encourage inter-species cooperation and workplace efficiency, NanoTrasen has compiled a series of helpful guides on the various species that you may be working with!


As far as temperature tolerance, very cold temperatures cause them to become sluggish, eventually just laying down to die. Very high temperatures cause them to work faster and faster until their bodies cease to function from exertion or overheating.
(NOTE: If you are a member of the species this guide pertains to, please give it to the nearest crewmember of another species)


=== Language ===
This particular guide refers to the species known as the Kida (singular: Kidan).


Their native language is a series of clicks, buzzes, head, antennae movements, and pheromones, however they can mimic human speech (barely) using clicks and buzzes drawn out into words, with antenna use for emphasis and indicating emotion, this causes Human speech to appear rather blunted to them, due to the lack of olfactory and movement use. Due to them being mostly unable to use tone, their speech appears almost perpetually friendly, dispite what they may mean to say. -- this causes Z, and V noises to be slightly elongated, as well as a general buzzy tone. S sounds are difficult to seperate from Z noises, as well as C noises.The Kidan written language consists of woven strands of fabric of various colors, which come together to form words.
== Kidan Naming Schemes ==
Generally, Kidan names describe both their lineage, as well as their social caste, in addition to a unique word, serving as a sort of a first name. In Galactic Common, such a name might, for example, have the following translation: Zaxx, Noble of Clan Trentis. It’s commonplace for Kida of the lower classes to use only their first name.


Due to the naming scheme being fairly hard to work with for most other species, Kida often simply use their first name and their clan name, in a similar fashion to most of the galaxy.


=== Culture ===
As a rule-of-thumb, Kida names tend to be multi syllabic and possess sounds that are rather difficult to pronounce for species that do not have a speaking apparatus comparable to the Kidan. Luckily, most crewmembers of this species are more than happy to use a shortened version of their name (usually the first two or three syllables) as a nickname or quick reference in the workplace. It is, however, considered polite to ask before doing so!
Important ships and structures are generally named after large historical events that have happened to the people as a whole. Slightly less important ships and structures may be named after more local events. For example: Exploration ship named, "First Contact", or an infrastructure project named, "That Party; Last Tuesday"


Planets are generally named after the first noble that has arrived upon it. Unnamed planets are marked with a letter, and star systems are named by a compound name of every settled planet, as well as the number of planets total. Unnamed planets are named with a lowercase letter, similar to how unnamed moons are handled in certain settings. EX: "Qraz III a" would be the gas giant on the edge of the Kidan home-system.
===Kidan Physiology===
Much like earthly insects, Kida possess an open circulatory system filled with hemolymph - a form of plasma analogous to blood in other species. The nature of their open-circulatory system has lead to them having a robust immune system, with additional internal adaptations to protect their tissues and organs from shock. However, despite the advantages Kida enjoy in the efficacy of their immune response, their open circulatory system means bleeding out becomes a much bigger threat. Apart from their circulatory system, the biological pathways involving Kidan physiology are quite similar to that of other known sapient humanoids. Chemists and Doctors will be happy to know that medication works just as well for them as for most other crewmembers!


Their history is maintained not only through normal methods (books, written accounts, electronic storage) but also culturally through songs and tapestries, as with humans. Families are responsible for their own records, generally, and will make their own tapestries and keep their songs written either on hard copies or electronically someplace in the home. It's considered a pretty huge blow to lose your house histories, and the oldest ones have items dating back hundreds of years. Generally, tapestries will be imprinted with perfumes or pheromones as an olfactory component.
Kida typically stand between 1.8 and 2 meters tall, and possess a hard, carapace-like exoskeleton that offers minor protection against blunt force trauma (Security personnel, take care!). The Kida exoskeleton tends to be dull-coloured (brown and dark orange hues are the most common), but bright splotches of colour patterning the exoskeleton are not unheard of.


Kidan art generally consists of either drawn, painted, or woven art pieces with an olfactory and sound component, or large performance pieces somewhere between an opera and a play, with loud music, strong smells, lots of movement and many, many performers involved at once in an intricate display.  
Perhaps the most distinctive aspect of Kidan physiology is a pair of long segmented antennae on the top of their head, which play a vital role in communication in their native language. In addition to this, Kida possess large, compound eyes. This means that Kidan eyesight - while having a higher degree of clarity - suffers from poor peripheral vision, with objects becoming blurrier as they leave their narrow field of view.


Religion varies wildly between colonies, due to long periods of seperation, however they can all be traced down to the original myths on the homeworld, in which a group of spirits embodying various elements came together and pooled their power, building the world from nothing and creating everything in it. The names of these spirits vary wildly, between cities, planets, and systems. The names are almost never constant, but generally similar. Some myths even have the parts of the spirits filled by historical figures, or great leaders. This shows best the very healthy respect that the populace has for their ancestry.
While Kida do possess multiple pairs of “arms”, all but one of them have become vestigial, and are usually tucked away underneath clothing. The same can be said for wings, which, while not unheard of, are very rare and functionally useless for the purpose of actual flight. Their legs are notably plantigrade, with two claws coming out of the front and one on the back, allowing some grasping ability with their feet. Due to this particular quirk of Kida biology, large boots and sandals are preferred over shoes.


=== Home Planet ===
Kida are very sensitive to temperature variations; colder temperatures cause them to become sluggish, while higher temperatures increase their metabolic rate. It is actually possible for Kida to overheat or overexert themselves to death if exposed to high temperatures for a sufficient amount of time. Please handle thermostats with care when around Kida coworkers.
The main government is largely controlled by a restricted cabal of nobles. Early in their history, the Kida have utilized observation of primitive insect hives with clearly defined hierarchies to build their own system of government with the nobles at the top. As a result of this, only the offspring directly produced by the nobility are considered worthy of any redeeming social value. Through the many years this system has been in place, it has strengthened and become the core, causing for non-noble larvae to generally be shunned by the nobility.


Under this government, the population of the home world is mostly subjugated. The organized leadership and strong loyalty has caused a sort of willing serfdom, though relating more so to a form with cities, where the non-nobility work upon the land and pay the land-owners, who are usually nobles, for the privilege. The majority of the race is controlled by this fashion.
===The Chittin Language===
The Kidan language is as fascinating as their naming conventions utilizing not only their vocal apparatus, but also subtle head and antennae movements in addition to clicking, buzzing and even the controlled release of pheromones. This is all done via fine-tuned control of intracranial muscles and specialized glands, the exact mechanisms of which are at this point, unknown.


Asteroid mining is widespread within the homeworld system, with the previous colonial ships mostly being refitted for the purpose. As for the homeworld planets, the luxury goods and industrialism is what fuels the majority of the output, processing these raw goods into fine ones.
While they can speak Galactic Common using these mechanisms (and rather efficiently) their mechanism of speech creates some slight idiosyncrasies; Kida tend to use exaggerated antennae movements to denote emotion when speaking to crewmembers belonging to other species, in addition to elongating Z and V noises. S and C noises are also often indistinguishable from Z noises, and their speech is constantly intersected by a slight buzzing tone.


=== Technology ===
Due to these subtle mechanisms involved in Kidan communication, non-Kidan languages may appear to sound blunt to them, and Kidan coworkers may appear to sound friendly regardless of their current state of spirit. Non-Kidan personnel are urged to not assume that their tone matches their mood.


The technology of the Kida race is slightly behind that of the human one, barring specific advancements in space-faring technology. Most notable among these is cheap Faster Than Light travel, which warp gates are capable of replicating but not perfecting. Bluespace is an exciting, unheard of new field to Kida researchers.
The Kidan written language is also very curious, being based on the use of colours to represent individual sounds. It is highly advised not to ask Kidan coworkers about their artistic prowess unless one is absolutely certain something is not actually a simple written note.


Kida robotics and cybernetic technology has become especially advanced within the last fifteen years, due mostly to the Faezh IX colony's advancements in automation, and sentient machines imported from this colony oversee and perform most production and labor work outside of the homeworld and loyalist colonies.
===The Kidan Homeworld===
Aurum (pronounced Ah-rum) was once a rich world teeming with life, but is now a largely desolate wasteland drained of resources. Extensive industrial activity and aggressive strip mining have rendered non-terraformed parts of the planet uninhabitable. Extensive and barren mudflats devoid of minerals and complex life cover much of its surface, which are often referred to as the "shallow oceans of Aurum". However, there are multiple hives in which the atmosphere is perfectly viable for supporting life. Nonetheless, despite these difficulties a major segment of the Kida population still lives on their homeworld.


The kida, lacking a proper system of simple Faster Than Light travel, use mostly propulsion engines or a few sets of warp gates that have been constructed in order to travel between the worlds.
==A Brief History [[File:Kidanflag.png|32px]]==
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin-left:10px;"
|[[File:Aurum.png]]
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|<font size="2">Aurum</font>
|}The Kida entered what can be called their own “modern” era around the year 2100, with the emergence of the first sapient Dionae on their planet. Current scientific consensus in the Galactic community posits that Dionae arrived on Aurum when a gestalt mass impacted with the planet in prehistoric times, but for most of Kidan history the Dionae on their planet never managed to regain a gestalt state. For millennia, a major part of the Kidan diet had been Larval Dionae (or Nymphs, as they are usually known). These specimens were bred in massive numbers and served as the main pillar of the Kida diet, allowing the Kida population and civilization to boom.


Ten colonies have been formed so far, but there is a current ongoing program to form more. Sleeper ships, preceded by long-range sensor ships, have been sent out from the home system and a few of the auxiliary systems. The goals of expanding are mostly for monetary gain for the home worlds and the governing body, so that they may get even more lavish treatment.
However, for reasons not yet understood Diona began to gather into what are now classified as “Gestalt Diona”, attaining sapience in the process. As the Gestalts began demanding the right to be treated like ordinary members of Kida society, they became impossible to farm. With their major source of food now gone or in active revolt, Kida civilization rapidly collapsed. Billions died in the ensuing chaos, and nearly every major hive was left severely depopulated.
r
Most of their transportation of peoples and goods is done through an extremely inefficient system. Mass drivers shoot materials and cargo into orbital stations around the planets, and then are transported between planets and gates with carefully measured solid fuel rockets. While it is precise, it isn't quite precise enough, and so as a result quite a few of the planetary bodies are in danger of Kessler Syndrome from the spent stages. This is where the debris in space is too thick to properly pass into it. There are ongoing discussions within the homeworlds on how this may be rectified.


Ship to ship combat tends to be long and tedious, performed at long and close ranges with heavy rail cannons and swarms of unguided rockets, timed or proximity. Boarding is entirely impractical, due to Kidan shipwrights not being skilled enough to design hulls capable of withstanding the force of crashing into another ship. As a result of this, the preferred result of any combat within space is complete and utter destruction to the enemy.
Technological progress quickly halted due to the chaotic conditions and famine on Aurum. However, in the year 2170 a small team of miners struck plasma inside a local mine. This soon revealed a massive vein of the precious and rare element; indeed, most of Aurum appeared to be rich in it. A lack of adequate safety standards lead to the accidental exposure of elemental plasma to the female population of Aurum, causing rampant mutations. Sadly, many of these mutations seemed to induce a state of heightened aggressiveness toward other females likely due to pheromonal inhibition. Millions of deaths ensued in the span of mere weeks, leaving few females left alive across the entirety of Aurum.


Defensive tech tends to be overlooked, not going much more advanced than simple point defense cannons to counteract the long range missiles, as well as inert chaff fired off to intercept via kinetic force any missiles coming in.
Some of these remaining females however had mutated beyond recognition. Prolonged exposure to plasma had caused them to develop extremely powerful psionic abilities, in addition to a nigh-perfect genetic memory spanning the entirety of Kida civilization. With their newfound powers these self-proclaimed “Empresses” began leading the Kida towards the stars, and in a mere fifty years their civilization had progressed from a pre-industrial state to sending satellites into orbit around Aurum.


EVA tech has been developed, but is not fairly advanced. The Kida are capable, however, of wearing human soft-suits so long as they are of the proper size. Hard-suits, on the other hand, tend to be very uncomfortable. The race's own native suits are essentially body-gloves, insulating them from pressure and heat while managing to allow for excellent maneuverability. Said suits, however, are completely lacking in armor.
Soon enough, the Kida began strip mining their local solar system for any materials they could use for their frenzied expansion, developing a rudimentary warpgate technology (a primitive precursor to Bluespace Drives) soon after and initiating a daring exploration of the galaxy proper. Throughout this entire segment of their history, the principal challenge was still finding an adequate food source to replace the Dionae, who - at this point - had either disappeared into the blackness of space or taken up residence in the barren wilds of Aurum.


Ground combat is performed in a similar method to the humans WWI, trench warfare, artillery, and mass infantry charges, though this seems rather primitive at first, it has been proven to work for the Kida. Orbital strikes are unheard of, as their current weapons are unable to perform accurate Space to Ground strikes.
First contact between Humanity and Kida was made in the year 2411, between a human exploration vessel charting the Pleiades-Taurus (Seven Sister) star cluster and what appears to have been a Kidan military frigate (or an adequate analogue). While the exact details are unknown, what is certain is that the Kidan vessel captured the human ship and utilized its databanks to gain knowledge on the current state of the galaxy.
 
Following this incident, the Kida proceeded to raid a series of outlying human colonies, amassing weapons, supplies and above all, knowledge of the galaxy and its known species. In an effort to curtail further expansion, the Solar-Central Compact (SCC) rapidly amassed and deployed a combat fleet and sent it toward the Kida raiding grounds. This military action would culminate in the Battle of Argos, fought over the planet of the same name. The combined might of the Solar-Central Compact’s navy made quick work of the comparatively minuscule Kida fleet, forcing their retreat in a decisive victory for the SCC.
 
The Battle of Argos was only the beginning of the war, however. The SCC navy chased the routed remnants of the Kida fleet back to their home system of Aurum, leading the latter to execute increasingly desperate and often suicidal, attacks in order to delay an invasion of their homeworld (up to and including directly ramming vessels). These tactics - though seen as noble by other Kidan - would prove largely ineffectual against the numerical superiority of the SCC, and the Kida defeat was soon sealed with the death of its last Empress during the Siege of Aurum.
 
This death would reverberate throughout the entirety of the species, who up until this point had considered the Empresses to be living goddesses. Their disappearance sent a shockwave through the collective consciousness of the Kida, which hastened their complete and unconditional surrender to the occupying SCC forces. Since 2416, all Kida military vessels are forbidden from leaving their home system, and the size of their military is strictly controlled and under sanctions enforced by the SCC.
 
== Kidan Culture ==
Kida live in families comparable to those of humans, although having more than two children is generally frowned upon due to the cultural stigma associated with previous famines. Kida education and upbringing is largely dependent on their social caste, but generalized education (enough for basic literacy and mathematical knowledge) is available to all members of society. Typically, Kida are taught the same profession as their parents.
 
While possible to break free from the constraints of one’s social caste and aspire to take up professions outside of it, such an act is largely seen as an affront to the accepted social hierarchy. Those who successfully strive to seek out a higher caste are typically treated as social outliers, though the additional civil benefits and allowance are often worth the cost and effort.
 
Religion varies wildly between different colonies, mostly due to the long periods spent separated from one another during the war. However, common elements are present, allowing offshoots to be traced back to the original creation story: that a group of spirits embodying various elements came together, pooling their powers and building the world of Aurum and everything on it, from nothing but the ether. The names of these spirits vary immensely depending on planet, region, and sometimes even city, but the central concepts remain the same.
 
===Present Day===
Despite their poor first impression, the Kida government maintains good standing with the rest of the galaxy, having begrudgingly respected the limitations and sanctions placed on them. The present government is largely controlled by a cabal of nobles and oligarchs, remaining functionally inaccessible to lower castes.
 
Existing castes are quite comparable to the system found in - appropriately enough - regular ant colonies. Hierarchy is defined by caste, and caste is defined strictly by birth. Barring exceptional circumstances (see above), only the offspring of the nobility are considered to have any redeeming social value, which explains their prevalence in the diplomatic corps and the high echelons of the government and military. This has also lead to a system where non-noble larvae are often shunned by the ruling classes and effectively locked in place on the social ladder.
 
The subjugation inherent to this system of government has created a form of semi-willful serfdom, where the non-nobility operate the lower level jobs and are subservient to the noble-born landowners and industrial barons. Asteroid mining is still widespread in the Kidan home system, with many of the previous colonial and military ships that survived the war retrofitted to serve as industrial vessels.
 
With galactic culture and modern technology making its way into many hives, many Kida have chosen to pursue their luck in the stars.
 
'''Remember, if you see a Kidan, embrace them as your equal in both the pursuit of profit and knowledge!'''
 
==Gallery==
[[File:Kidan4.png|frameless|250x250px]]


{{Species}}
{{Species}}


[[Category:Fluff]][[Category:Species]]
[[Category:Lore]][[Category:Species]]

Latest revision as of 22:04, 5 September 2024

This page needs to be rewritten
REASON:
Under review by lore team, slated to be rewritten completely
Lore
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HumansTajaranUnathiSkrellSlime PeopleVoxDraskGreyDionaIPCKidanPlasmamanVulpkaninNian


Goldpin.png
Kidan
Goldpin.png
Kidan4.png
Basic Information
Homeworld: Aurum
Language: Chittin (:4)
System: Alpha Indus
Physiology
Height: 190cm
Lifespan: 55 years
Breathes: Oxygen
Game Mechanics
  • Bio-luminescence (costs nutrition).
  • Can consume Diona Nymphs.
  • Can scan for minerals similarly to a mining scanner with the *click and *clack emotes.
Boons
  • Claws (unarmed is sharp).
  • -20% brute damage.
  • +50% alcohol tolerance.
Maluses
  • Pest-spray is fatal.
  • +50% more hungry.
  • +70% toxin damage.

Kida (ᴋᴇᴇ-dan, plural ᴋᴇᴇ-da) are ant-like creatures who possess an exoskeleton. They originate from the world of Aurum, a harsh world with a poor atmosphere.

Kidan and YOU

Greetings, esteemed crewmember!

In an effort to encourage inter-species cooperation and workplace efficiency, NanoTrasen has compiled a series of helpful guides on the various species that you may be working with!

(NOTE: If you are a member of the species this guide pertains to, please give it to the nearest crewmember of another species)

This particular guide refers to the species known as the Kida (singular: Kidan).

Kidan Naming Schemes

Generally, Kidan names describe both their lineage, as well as their social caste, in addition to a unique word, serving as a sort of a first name. In Galactic Common, such a name might, for example, have the following translation: Zaxx, Noble of Clan Trentis. It’s commonplace for Kida of the lower classes to use only their first name.

Due to the naming scheme being fairly hard to work with for most other species, Kida often simply use their first name and their clan name, in a similar fashion to most of the galaxy.

As a rule-of-thumb, Kida names tend to be multi syllabic and possess sounds that are rather difficult to pronounce for species that do not have a speaking apparatus comparable to the Kidan. Luckily, most crewmembers of this species are more than happy to use a shortened version of their name (usually the first two or three syllables) as a nickname or quick reference in the workplace. It is, however, considered polite to ask before doing so!

Kidan Physiology

Much like earthly insects, Kida possess an open circulatory system filled with hemolymph - a form of plasma analogous to blood in other species. The nature of their open-circulatory system has lead to them having a robust immune system, with additional internal adaptations to protect their tissues and organs from shock. However, despite the advantages Kida enjoy in the efficacy of their immune response, their open circulatory system means bleeding out becomes a much bigger threat. Apart from their circulatory system, the biological pathways involving Kidan physiology are quite similar to that of other known sapient humanoids. Chemists and Doctors will be happy to know that medication works just as well for them as for most other crewmembers!

Kida typically stand between 1.8 and 2 meters tall, and possess a hard, carapace-like exoskeleton that offers minor protection against blunt force trauma (Security personnel, take care!). The Kida exoskeleton tends to be dull-coloured (brown and dark orange hues are the most common), but bright splotches of colour patterning the exoskeleton are not unheard of.

Perhaps the most distinctive aspect of Kidan physiology is a pair of long segmented antennae on the top of their head, which play a vital role in communication in their native language. In addition to this, Kida possess large, compound eyes. This means that Kidan eyesight - while having a higher degree of clarity - suffers from poor peripheral vision, with objects becoming blurrier as they leave their narrow field of view.

While Kida do possess multiple pairs of “arms”, all but one of them have become vestigial, and are usually tucked away underneath clothing. The same can be said for wings, which, while not unheard of, are very rare and functionally useless for the purpose of actual flight. Their legs are notably plantigrade, with two claws coming out of the front and one on the back, allowing some grasping ability with their feet. Due to this particular quirk of Kida biology, large boots and sandals are preferred over shoes.

Kida are very sensitive to temperature variations; colder temperatures cause them to become sluggish, while higher temperatures increase their metabolic rate. It is actually possible for Kida to overheat or overexert themselves to death if exposed to high temperatures for a sufficient amount of time. Please handle thermostats with care when around Kida coworkers.

The Chittin Language

The Kidan language is as fascinating as their naming conventions utilizing not only their vocal apparatus, but also subtle head and antennae movements in addition to clicking, buzzing and even the controlled release of pheromones. This is all done via fine-tuned control of intracranial muscles and specialized glands, the exact mechanisms of which are at this point, unknown.

While they can speak Galactic Common using these mechanisms (and rather efficiently) their mechanism of speech creates some slight idiosyncrasies; Kida tend to use exaggerated antennae movements to denote emotion when speaking to crewmembers belonging to other species, in addition to elongating Z and V noises. S and C noises are also often indistinguishable from Z noises, and their speech is constantly intersected by a slight buzzing tone.

Due to these subtle mechanisms involved in Kidan communication, non-Kidan languages may appear to sound blunt to them, and Kidan coworkers may appear to sound friendly regardless of their current state of spirit. Non-Kidan personnel are urged to not assume that their tone matches their mood.

The Kidan written language is also very curious, being based on the use of colours to represent individual sounds. It is highly advised not to ask Kidan coworkers about their artistic prowess unless one is absolutely certain something is not actually a simple written note.

The Kidan Homeworld

Aurum (pronounced Ah-rum) was once a rich world teeming with life, but is now a largely desolate wasteland drained of resources. Extensive industrial activity and aggressive strip mining have rendered non-terraformed parts of the planet uninhabitable. Extensive and barren mudflats devoid of minerals and complex life cover much of its surface, which are often referred to as the "shallow oceans of Aurum". However, there are multiple hives in which the atmosphere is perfectly viable for supporting life. Nonetheless, despite these difficulties a major segment of the Kida population still lives on their homeworld.

A Brief History Kidanflag.png

Aurum.png
Aurum

The Kida entered what can be called their own “modern” era around the year 2100, with the emergence of the first sapient Dionae on their planet. Current scientific consensus in the Galactic community posits that Dionae arrived on Aurum when a gestalt mass impacted with the planet in prehistoric times, but for most of Kidan history the Dionae on their planet never managed to regain a gestalt state. For millennia, a major part of the Kidan diet had been Larval Dionae (or Nymphs, as they are usually known). These specimens were bred in massive numbers and served as the main pillar of the Kida diet, allowing the Kida population and civilization to boom.

However, for reasons not yet understood Diona began to gather into what are now classified as “Gestalt Diona”, attaining sapience in the process. As the Gestalts began demanding the right to be treated like ordinary members of Kida society, they became impossible to farm. With their major source of food now gone or in active revolt, Kida civilization rapidly collapsed. Billions died in the ensuing chaos, and nearly every major hive was left severely depopulated.

Technological progress quickly halted due to the chaotic conditions and famine on Aurum. However, in the year 2170 a small team of miners struck plasma inside a local mine. This soon revealed a massive vein of the precious and rare element; indeed, most of Aurum appeared to be rich in it. A lack of adequate safety standards lead to the accidental exposure of elemental plasma to the female population of Aurum, causing rampant mutations. Sadly, many of these mutations seemed to induce a state of heightened aggressiveness toward other females likely due to pheromonal inhibition. Millions of deaths ensued in the span of mere weeks, leaving few females left alive across the entirety of Aurum.

Some of these remaining females however had mutated beyond recognition. Prolonged exposure to plasma had caused them to develop extremely powerful psionic abilities, in addition to a nigh-perfect genetic memory spanning the entirety of Kida civilization. With their newfound powers these self-proclaimed “Empresses” began leading the Kida towards the stars, and in a mere fifty years their civilization had progressed from a pre-industrial state to sending satellites into orbit around Aurum.

Soon enough, the Kida began strip mining their local solar system for any materials they could use for their frenzied expansion, developing a rudimentary warpgate technology (a primitive precursor to Bluespace Drives) soon after and initiating a daring exploration of the galaxy proper. Throughout this entire segment of their history, the principal challenge was still finding an adequate food source to replace the Dionae, who - at this point - had either disappeared into the blackness of space or taken up residence in the barren wilds of Aurum.

First contact between Humanity and Kida was made in the year 2411, between a human exploration vessel charting the Pleiades-Taurus (Seven Sister) star cluster and what appears to have been a Kidan military frigate (or an adequate analogue). While the exact details are unknown, what is certain is that the Kidan vessel captured the human ship and utilized its databanks to gain knowledge on the current state of the galaxy.

Following this incident, the Kida proceeded to raid a series of outlying human colonies, amassing weapons, supplies and above all, knowledge of the galaxy and its known species. In an effort to curtail further expansion, the Solar-Central Compact (SCC) rapidly amassed and deployed a combat fleet and sent it toward the Kida raiding grounds. This military action would culminate in the Battle of Argos, fought over the planet of the same name. The combined might of the Solar-Central Compact’s navy made quick work of the comparatively minuscule Kida fleet, forcing their retreat in a decisive victory for the SCC.

The Battle of Argos was only the beginning of the war, however. The SCC navy chased the routed remnants of the Kida fleet back to their home system of Aurum, leading the latter to execute increasingly desperate and often suicidal, attacks in order to delay an invasion of their homeworld (up to and including directly ramming vessels). These tactics - though seen as noble by other Kidan - would prove largely ineffectual against the numerical superiority of the SCC, and the Kida defeat was soon sealed with the death of its last Empress during the Siege of Aurum.

This death would reverberate throughout the entirety of the species, who up until this point had considered the Empresses to be living goddesses. Their disappearance sent a shockwave through the collective consciousness of the Kida, which hastened their complete and unconditional surrender to the occupying SCC forces. Since 2416, all Kida military vessels are forbidden from leaving their home system, and the size of their military is strictly controlled and under sanctions enforced by the SCC.

Kidan Culture

Kida live in families comparable to those of humans, although having more than two children is generally frowned upon due to the cultural stigma associated with previous famines. Kida education and upbringing is largely dependent on their social caste, but generalized education (enough for basic literacy and mathematical knowledge) is available to all members of society. Typically, Kida are taught the same profession as their parents.

While possible to break free from the constraints of one’s social caste and aspire to take up professions outside of it, such an act is largely seen as an affront to the accepted social hierarchy. Those who successfully strive to seek out a higher caste are typically treated as social outliers, though the additional civil benefits and allowance are often worth the cost and effort.

Religion varies wildly between different colonies, mostly due to the long periods spent separated from one another during the war. However, common elements are present, allowing offshoots to be traced back to the original creation story: that a group of spirits embodying various elements came together, pooling their powers and building the world of Aurum and everything on it, from nothing but the ether. The names of these spirits vary immensely depending on planet, region, and sometimes even city, but the central concepts remain the same.

Present Day

Despite their poor first impression, the Kida government maintains good standing with the rest of the galaxy, having begrudgingly respected the limitations and sanctions placed on them. The present government is largely controlled by a cabal of nobles and oligarchs, remaining functionally inaccessible to lower castes.

Existing castes are quite comparable to the system found in - appropriately enough - regular ant colonies. Hierarchy is defined by caste, and caste is defined strictly by birth. Barring exceptional circumstances (see above), only the offspring of the nobility are considered to have any redeeming social value, which explains their prevalence in the diplomatic corps and the high echelons of the government and military. This has also lead to a system where non-noble larvae are often shunned by the ruling classes and effectively locked in place on the social ladder.

The subjugation inherent to this system of government has created a form of semi-willful serfdom, where the non-nobility operate the lower level jobs and are subservient to the noble-born landowners and industrial barons. Asteroid mining is still widespread in the Kidan home system, with many of the previous colonial and military ships that survived the war retrofitted to serve as industrial vessels.

With galactic culture and modern technology making its way into many hives, many Kida have chosen to pursue their luck in the stars.

Remember, if you see a Kidan, embrace them as your equal in both the pursuit of profit and knowledge!

Gallery

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Species on Paradise Station