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Mychas

The Masked Ones

or

The Forest Folk of Old

Contents

Original Home

Myconitha

Geography

Diversity

General Xenobiology

General

Appearance

Skeletal Structure

Muscular Structure

Digestive System

Circulatory System

Reproductive System

Senses

Intelligence

Structures

Speech

Apparel

Courtship

Social Structure

Timeline of Events

Pre-Earth

Earth

Original Home

I. Myconitha

The Mychans originate from the moon Myconitha of Ilkior III in the Thubinian Star System. The moon being a warm 19 to 32 degrees Celsius, and retaining a humidity factor of about 15-25%. This leads to certain sections of land to be overly consumed by rampaging fungal growth. The atmosphere is a relatively similar to earth's except with a lower O2 count due to the large amount of oxygen need to sustain the large fungal colonies that scatter across the warmer hemisphere of Myconitha. Because of the percent of O2 being so much less than earth's (approx. two percent less) there are no true flying species on the planet as the oxygen requirement cannot be fulfilled for sustained flight.

II. Geography

The Geography of the planet is very complex, ranging from harsh mountainsides to open and vast flatlands. However, due to the high amounts of carbon dioxide and high rainfall annually nearly fully around the moon, the plant species have nearly taken over ever square acre of the moon's surface. The planet, Ilkior III, that Myconitha is surprisingly void of all life. It's reflective surfaces give Mychonitha a stable, global temp that is nearly like on all sides. This leads to Myconitha being heavily tropical.

III. Diversity

This caused bird-like species to evolve side-by side on land with mammals and reptiles. Eventually, because of over-competition, mammals were forced to become similar to insects in terms of ecological niche and bird-likes became the dominant species of Myconitha. There are, as of last count, 2,590 major families of bird-likes, 1,203 major families of reptiles and 341 major families of mammal-likes. The bird-likes have evolved in both resemblance of feathered dinosaurs of earth as well as resembling large mammals in appearance. Most of the bird-likes anatomy has evolved significantly for terrestrial locomotion as long-distance flight is impossible. Because of the lack of focus on flight, feathers have evolved to basically fulfill the same role as fur on earth mammals. The average feather of a Myconithian bird-like is a long rachis about the same flexibility of hair. The rachis is covered with down-like fuzz, this gives every bird-like the same feel of a downy earth bird even as an adult. There are primary-like feathers, but these feathers are used only for attracting mates and flashing warning signs to other animals.

Mychan Xenobiology

I. General

The Mychas of Myconitha are bird-likes, roughly humanoid standing at about 165 to 193 cm. They are covered from head to middle of the tail with lengthy, white plumage of about 7 to 12 cm in length. The plumage only goes as far as the knees or elbows on their limbs exposing scaly skin. Their tail is uniquely forked which is a major evolutionary advantage to be discussed about later. Their head and face are decorated with a stark change in feather length and color. Their facial plumes are pure white and roughly only two centimeters long giving their faces a very smoothed, dome-like appearance. The backs of their heads as well as upper necks are covered in very long (about 25-30 centimeters in length) black feathers that resemble the primary plumes of earth birds. These feathers are usually close to the head or neck, lying down in a semi-folded fashion, unless certain emotional stimuli is provoked. Then the feathers will either shoot outwards or fold even further in, practically lying on the skin, giving the Mycha a streamlined shape. More on emotional response further in the article.

Appearance

There is little difference in males and females of the Mychan race. The only real difference between males and females is the length of the crest and the color of the crest plumage. Males tend to have a very dark shade of gray, nearly black, for their crest color as females tend to have a ghostly pale shade for their crest. However, when the female is receptive or showing strong positive emotion towards a potential mate her facial "mask" feathers begin to shift to an interesting violet color. The color is caused by a surge of blood flow to the face. The color just shows through the white of the mask feathers.

Skeletal Structure

The skull of the Mycha leaves plenty of room for cranial development as well as the development of a complex neo-cortex. Their skeletal structure is unique in the aspect that their bone structure honeycombs slightly as an evolutionary advantage for terrestrial bird-likes. This gives them a lot of impact tolerance. Their cartilage is also very shock absorbent and in greater quantity than most animals on the planet earth. The greater cartilage percentage allows for them to avoid arthritis-like decay later in their lives as well as greater flexibility. The bones in the hand of the Mycha are sturdy and thick. They have two, thick fingers and one thumb on each forehand. Their hind feet splay some when walking to evenly distribute pressure across their three thick toes. The pelvis of the female Mycha shows that their species indeed gives live birth.

Muscular Structure

The muscular system of the Mycha is complex in a sense that Mycha can move in both a quadruped and biped fashion. Because of this, advanced muscular care was given to the backs, tail, legs, hands and feet of the Mycha giving them a very good amount of strength as well as sturdiness. The extra care equivalents to the combined strength of two, average, adult, human males. The added muscle structure of the Mycha also gives them a standing vertical of about 185 cm. With a forceful tail-swap they can effectively break a horse's humerus.

Digestive System

The digestive system of the Mycha is very long with saliva that is designed to pre-digest grains, fruits and other cellulose products. Surprisingly, their salivary enzymes can also pre-digest the chitin of fungus. Because of these two defined traits, Mycha are herbivores who became omnivorous just to consume the larger, edible fungus of Myconitha. Because Mychan saliva pre-digests chitin into simple sugars the species has grown a fond attachment to large insects and crustaceans for their protein.

Circulatory System

Mychan circulatory system is unique in the aspect that because of the poor oxygen count of their home moon they have adapted their red blood cells to become violet blood cells, or VBCs for short. VBCs are granted their unique coloration via trace amounts of copper in the Mychan hemoglobin. This allows oxygen to bind not only to iron, but copper as well for a richer blood/oxygen level.

Mycha are attracted more to purplish colors, rather than red, due to their blood color being such a unique color.

Reproductive System

The Mycha have a cloaca, or vent. The males possess a penis tucked on the inside of their bodies in a small, protective enclosure called the Phallimarsupae which literally translates to "inflatable pouch". The phallimarsupae exist as a shield from potentially STD-causing bacteria as well as waste matter. The Testes are located right underneath the kidneys and the vas deferens is located along side the large intestine.

The female cloaca is unique of all known animal cloaca as they have their own designated pathway for breeding and excrement. The female Mycha has a hemivagina that lies exactly below the anus and leads to the ovaries. Showing proof of bird-like ancestry, the female only has one, much larger than humans, ovary that winds across the lower hip. As unique, evolutionary factors the female's vaginal secretions have a slight numbing agent to them and the male phallus is slightly prehensile.

Senses

-Touch

Touch is only very sensitive around the genitals, quasifingers and tail. Their entire body is either covered with scales or feathers, so most bodily "soft touches" go unrecognized. Their tail, however is the most sensitive touch-based sensory organ of their body, able to recognize features thought unknown to humans.

-Smell

Mycha have a very low sense of smell. With no need to hunt or be weary of consuming bad food (as they ate most food from the source right then and there) no overly obvious warning device was needed.

-Taste

Mycha can taste everything a human can. The Mychan tongue is forked vertically, interestingly enough with taste buds on the outside of the fork. Ancestors to the Mycha used their tongues as extra digits in order to pull small seeds from a fruit or to grip small objects as well as clean their pseudobeak and hemiteeth. The forked tongue was never dropped through evolution, as it was later adapted for social use.

-Sight

Mychan sight is unparalleled. Mycha can see in ultraviolet as well as some infrared. They also have three times the rods and cones found in human eyes with a much larger lense allowing them to see further and more clearly in the dark.

-Hearing

Mychan hearing is very acute. They are able to hear frequencies just slightly above and below human hearing.

Intelligence

Mycha have the capabilities to use and make tools. Most of them can be gripped with either their forked tail or their forelimbs. Most tools are existent just to either ease in grabbing far away objects or minor defense from predation. Because of their success in nearly removing predation from their overall death toll the species has began to flourish on Myconitha. Mychas can read and write, and are capable of solving moderate mathematical problems. Their science and technology was mostly based around nature, such as herbal medicine and natural housing, but they are capable of learning how to use more advanced technology.

Structures

On their home planet, Mychas only created basic huts and structures to keep them safe from the excessive cold or heat. At this point in their development they were basically hunter-gatherers. After being forced from their home planet and landing on earth they gained a basic understanding of stone-based structures. Mychas build structures only in the most densely-populated Mychan areas, their structures resemble pyramids and obelisks. The more prominent areas of choice for the Mycha are uninhabited islands and plateaus that tower over the surrounding environment.

Speech

Mycha are capable of replicating sound, similar to a parrot or other intelligent earth bird. They have two sets of vocal chords each capable of creating their own sound. This gives Mychas the ability to create multi-tone resonating in their speech. Their main language is very song-like with certain verse that resembles different parts of speech. This complex language is known only to Mycha and cannot be replicated by human tongue. Later, Mychans learned the language of the "Rock Shredder" during their enslavement. They then mixed early Mychan and "Rock Shredder" to create Modern Mychan.

Apparel

Mychan Apparel does not exist. Their views on obscenity are much different from humans as they have no external genitalia.

Courtship

Mycha do not have an estrus cycle. Instead, pristine mating periods are determined when the males enter rut. This was adapted for the purpose of more chances arising for a female to become impregnated if she were fertile whenever the male chose to mate. This also lead to a lack of aggression between rival males, in a sense, as one female could bear as many offspring as the male wanted. This eventually caused Mycha to mate for life. When the male is in rut, or nowadays when he feels an urge to mate with the female, he makes it well known by bi-resonating tones with his dual vocal chords. The tones are said to be similar to being produced on the cello and as an interesting aspect, female Mycha adore the sound of string instruments played by humans and will sometimes try to show attraction towards the human creating the sound. Then when the female is entertained by the sound, the male twines his tail with hers and commences to become intimate with his chosen. Coupling soon follows.

Mycha choose mates determined by song and coloration. Other species singing well or producing lovely tones can also attract Mycha. Most of the time, the attraction is platonic as the only thing "interesting" is the sound. However, if the human or other species in question is wearing any purple the Mycha might try to get friendly either verbally or physically.

Social Structure

Mychan social structure is similar to a tribal society. Because of the moon being so heavily fertile, little conflict has erupted between Mychan tribes. The social structure is mostly patriarchal, with the tribe leader being male. The tribe leader is usually in his later years appointed by training, a tribe leader is trained from birth to become a leader. When the leader in training reaches what would be age 45-50 in human years he is appointed by killing the dying tribe leader via ceremonial decapitation. Famous leaders have their skulls preserved as relics. The better hunters and better defenders of the tribe are betrothed to the most fertile females and they are both appointed by the tribe leader. No coupling happens without the tribe leader's okay to do so. Nothing of grave tribal importance is done without the leader. This type of social system is still loosely followed by the surviving Mycha, but their near-extinction made them abandon their rigid druidic/shamanistic tribal life.

The Tribe has any mixed number of hunters, farmers/gatherers, defenders and tribe "keepers." Hunters are just that, tribal hunters who go out and collect fish, crustaceans and other animals the Mycha may have taste for. However, the animal flesh Mychas eat is relatively limited compared to humans. Farmers/Gatherers tend to anything plant-based the Mycha eat. Mycha did not develop farming until approximately 2900 BCE. Tribe defenders are mostly honorable positions by the tribe. They get first choice in mating partners as well as certain housing. Defenders are self-sacrificial, willing to end their own lives without second thought in order to keep others safe. Defenders protect the other tribe members from dangerous fauna and other dangerous sentient life and use guerrilla tactics to take down enemies. They are crafty, using anything from their own brute strength to handfuls of sand or dust to take down foes. Tribe "keepers" are the leaders and caretakers of the tribal home. The keepers are all female, albeit one male leader.

Timeline of Events

In Earth Time

Pre-Earth

5539 BCE

Unknown alien race expands mining and resource gathering procedure to Ilkior III's moon, Myconitha. They are only described by the Mychas as "Rock Shredder" in later records.

5539 BCE

The Rock Shredder alien race begins to strip mine Myconitha due to a miscalculation of sentient life. Scout reports showed no signs of the Mycha anywhere on their planet. Mychan sightings were assumed non-sentient animals. Some machines and crew are found killed in select locations of expansion, assumed killed by natural wildlife. Low-level security is enforced.

5538 BCE

The Rock Shredder alien race begins to encounter more and more of the Mychan race through ambush and vicious guerillas tactics. Security forces found with weapons and armor removed and thoracic cavities sliced open. Certain mining equipment is destroyed via disassembling.

5538 BCE

First known Mychan casualty by the Rock Shredder. Subject was found with a broken neck and sever bruising as it fell from one of the top of a large driller. An autopsy was performed on the creature and the Mychan race was beginning to be understood. Intelligence was documented as sentient and capable, many of the designated planetary ecologists were fired for negligence. Reparations were in order as convoys of some food and supplies were sent out to the corners of Myconitha to find the elusive Mycha.

5538 BCE

First touchdown made with a Mychan tribe. The reparations were rejected and the Rock Shredders were asked to leave with an aggressive dominant display. The Rock Shredders were disrupting the forests and the lakes and killing much of the Mychan food supply. The Rock Shredder protested the idea of leave and in the following turmoil one Rock Shredder was slain by an over-zealous Mychan Defender. The Rock Shredder in question had his arm broken in three places and his spinal column separated by a tail swipe. A distress call was sent by the Rock Shredders.

5536 BCE

After fending off Mychan guerrillas for two years the broken Rock shredder are rallied by military reinforcements. The surface of non-friendly areas was bombed from orbit by the arriving frigate. After the initial burning, the forces swept through the forests and captured the remaining two million sum Mycha. Those too wounded to move were euthanized via field execution. This conflict is still remembered as the "Rain of Fire" by the surviving Mycha.

5536 BCE

The surviving Mycha, after being kept in ghetto-like living conditions, were loaded like cattle into transportation vessels. This path was chosen due to the discovery of the Mycha's incredible physical resilience giving them a good ability to do physical labor. This is documented as The Exodus by the surviving Mycha.

5532 BCE

The bulk of the remaining Mycha land on the Rock Shredder homeworld, located around Orion's Belt. Here, the Mycha are forced into slave labor. All of their initial protest is met with swift, outstanding discipline. The Mychan spirit is broken for many years under oppressive rule.

5498 BCE

The remaining toll of Mycha is now around 1.2 million. Dangerous conditions and improper living conditions are thinning their numbers monthly. The average life expectancy of a Mychan is now set at 35 years. Mycha have now been forced to learn the Rock Shredder language and now fully understand how to use the basic slave tools given. The Rock Shredder's true name was always disregarded by the Mycha. The future surviving Mycha ignorantly forgot the Rock Shredder's true name out of intense hate and spite.

5497 BCE

A Black Head Mycha is born, the first in 120 years. A noticeable rise in spirit accompanies the Mychan survivors as Mychan lore tells about the first Mychan ruler being a Black Head Mycha. The child is named "Kunoku," by the Rock Shredder which is their word for Useless. Mycha have now adopted the Rock Shredder language as their own. The Rock Shredder language is the root of all Mychan Languages.

5496 BCE

Kunoku is taken from his parents and placed into "selective" care. This care was designed to be centered around "integration" of Mycha and Rock Shredder, but was all just a ruse in order to get Kunoku "out of sight out of mind" due to the recent uprisings in morale and courage from Kunoku's birth. Kunoku will be raised as an average of the species of the Rock Shredder with higher privileges to complete the illusion of equality. He would learn mathematics, science, some engineering and technology.

5490 BCE

An adolescent Kunoku begins to show dominant behavior towards his foster family. No amount of punishment or solitary confinement keeps the young one from fighting against his superior's will. News of this stubbornness reaches the enslaved Mycha and the first revolt in years committed that very night leaving many Rock Shredder civilians dead. Those responsible are excuted. Kunoku's "foster parents" are ordered to enhance discipline to break Kunoku and force the "fabled one" of the Mycha to become nothing more than a lap-dog to stop future insurgencies.

5478 BCE

Kunoku escapes from private care, killing his foster parents in the process and two bystanders. He goes into self-exile of the surrounding caves. Word gets out and a large bounty is placed on Kunoku's head. The bounty is described as to make it appear "natural" to avoid Kunoku becoming a martyr. Word flies on the wind and more begin to join Kunoku's group and cause of freedom. Kunoku and ensemble start devising a mix of what little early Mychan language is remembered with Rock Shredder to produce encrypted code called "Kunoku's Cypher".

5477 BCE

Kunoku's ensemble assaults a local jail containing captive Mycha, finding and releasing all captives as well as killing all the guards. No Mychan casualties. Guards were found with wounds similar to their own technology used by Mychan hands.

The same group assaults a local industrial facility, destroying most of the equipment and killing the non-Mychan facility workers. Conditions for captive Mycha worsen.

Kunoku and his group send an encoded message for the captive Mycha of an idea to flee the planet. The remaining 50,000-some near the area wait for further instruction.

Kunoku's group begins setting down plans on hijacking a mass-transport mining vessel.

The Uprising is planned, the plans go out in Kunoku's Cypher.

5476 BCE

A surprise uprising is began, allowing 45,000 of the remaining 50,000 Mycha to escape on a mass-transport vessel. Nothing is known of the remaining Mycha on the Rock Shredder planet. They are assumed extinct. Kunoku teaches the Mycha how to use the advanced ship from his earlier teachings.

5443 BCE

Kunoku is dying from illness on the transport vessel but not before naming a young Ghost-Face Masque Mycha named in Mychan tongue what roughly translates to "Triumphseed." A dying Kunoku is ceremonially beheaded by Triumphseed late in the night, naming Triumphseed as the new Mychan leader.

5421 BCE

The surviving Mycha escape vessel crash-lands on a faraway planet known as Earth. They flee to the neighboring rainforests of Africa and seek to restore their livelihood. The ship crash-lands near the Atlantic ocean. Some of the ship debris floats to the Atlantean Island.

Earth

5000 BCE

First human sighting of the Mycha. Mycha spread from Africa to Euro/Asia continent, mostly around Italy and modern day Iran. Later the desert geography is abandoned for lower India and China. Mychan numbers rise to 200,000.

3100 BCE

Mycha begin to explore the social aspects of early humans, one being Egyptian culture. The first Mychan seen by Egyptian culture was the tribe leader and assumed to lead the offspring of Horus. Ties with humans and Mycha grow in this culture as natural teachings grow. Mycha first give information of what they were taught by Kunoku to humans. Mychan numbers rise to 440,000

2100 BCE

First Mycha is found in Japan and China by the humans there. The Mycha is now known as "Qilin" or "Kirin" to the Chinese and Japanese. A Mychan leader makes his presence known to a Chinese Emperor. Mychan numbers rise to 830,000.

1000 BCE

Mychan species retreat to Italy, China, Mongolia, India and Japan. In their time in Italy they interact with the Greeks and begin to discover the idea of philosophy. Numbers of the Mycha rise to 2,200,000.

470 CE

As the Medieval age begins to rise, the Mychas avoid human conflict and some flee across the Bering Strait to early Alaska and Canada. Nearly uninhabited, the Mycha grow to astounding numbers as they make their way downward towards Native America and Mexico.

870 CE

Mychas begin to interact heavily with Native Americans, Mayans and Inca sharing with them philosophy of the Greeks and Egyptians. Mycha share their knowledge of pyramid structure with the Mayans and Inca. Mycha are systematically hunted by humans in Europe if found the Celts, who were taught by the Mycha, protest through conflict. The Mycha retreat from most of civilized, Western Europe for the remainder of the Medieval era.

1450 CE

With the birth of the Renaissance in proximity, the Mycha return to humans in Italy, France and Spain. Their appearance causes much discussion in terms of philosophy, early math and music. The Mycha of North America and Central America migrate to South America for land and vegitation before the fatal mass slaughter of the Central and North Americans.

1560 CE

A large-scale conflict breaks out between Mycha and Humans of Europe. As man increases his territory, more and more forests are chopped down for product. The Mycha build with the forests as their food source grows best in forested conditions. The number of human casualties are high causing Spain, Britain and France to work hand in hand against Mychan skirmishers. With the future invention of gunpowder, man seals his dominance over the woods and force the Mycha into truce.

1860 CE

Mycha are forced to South America, Australia and Africa to avoid conflict with weary humans. Mycha begin to grow a distaste for human interaction as humans grow egocentric. The first true Mycha & Human coupling is done in Australia. Small communities of Mycha and Human cohesion exists in North America and Great Britain.

1980 CE

Multiple Mychan Historians are arrested by American Government for questioning concerning xenotechnology. The act was never documented in US history. Mycha now truly live side by side with humans in America, Australia, New Zealand and Europe. Select Asian communities also live peacefully with Mycha. A small Mychan uprising in New Zealand as well as Africa causes Mycha/Human tension.

Present year

2011

Mycha begin protest of modern cultures demanding "human rights" after delegations were done by human-majority politics to limit political power of the Mycha by restricting voting rights and lowering the number of Mycha that can maintain office. Mychan extremists from Africa and South America begin destroying human industrial technology. Mychan ecoterrorists begin devising plans in their earliest tongue to set up multiple mega-EMP's across the globe. They are being funded by extremist grass-roots as well as other notable terrorist organizations.