Vystallan

"You expect us to create technology out of our own bodies? Shall we expect Kin to tear out their lungs to power a Voidcraft?"

Immense inhabitants of a world that is equal parts machinery and organic faunakinde, the Vystallans are a mechanical Kinde, originating from the world of Vystall, located within the Voidsea.

Massive in their size compared to organic Kinde like the Kin, Elvendritch, Wytches, Osterovrak, or Quirri, the Vystallans are one of the many mechanical Kindes that inhabit the Sky River. Diverse as any other Kinde, with a wide variety of political opinions, distinctions, emotions, and are impacted by the sum of their experiences, they are completely sentient, and active participants within Voidsea politics. Their connection to the Arcane is unique - They do not possess Traits, but are fully capable of utilizing Taekni - Though as a culture, many tend not to.

An ideologically divided Kinde, they are split between two warring factions - The Suratronics, who are affiliated with the Cosmic Union, and the Mechatar, whom created their own Sphere, the Nexvoid Assembly. This very conflict became part of the Quartet Conflict, helping pave the way for the Stjarna Union, and eventually, the Cosmic Union.

One of the most famous Vystallans within Cosmic Union history is known as "The Takeoff".

Physical Description

Due to the makeup of their being, Vystallan physical descriptions can be split into two different categories - The Shells, and the Rock-Shells.

Shells

The physical bodies of Vystallans are referred to as 'Shells' - In comparison to many organic sentient Kinde throughout the Sky River, these Shells are immense, reaching up to twenty-five feet on average. These Shells can be changed, adapted, and retrofitted as required or desired. Despite the interchangeable nature of these Shells, many Vystallans tend to have attachments to one or two in particular.

Though Vystallans may have attachments to their Shells for a variety of reasons, when all is said and done, they do not consider their Shells to be parts of themselves in an inherent sense. This part of their being, they refer to as the "Core" - It is somewhat similar to the brain, or the soul, in other Kinde - the essence of what they are. Due to their ability to transfer their Core's from one Shell to another, the Shell itself is often viewed merely as a vassal for the Core.

There is a large degree of physical diversity within Vystallans. They are able to modify their bodies as much as they desire, provided that the equipment and pieces are available for them to do so. There is virtually no limit to colour schemes, body configurations, or any other such limitations placed on organic Kinde.

Shells can come equipped with multiple abilities, ranging from various weapons, to jet boosters, and a variety of other capabilities.

Rock-Shells

Due to the Realmlands' fundamental rejection of technology advanced beyond a certain degree, Shells cannot operate within the Realmlands, falling apart as their basic functions cease. However, the Core can survive the journey between the Realms, though this universally leaves the core in a now ruined, unusable Shell.

In order to allow Vystallans to function within the Realmlands, the Vystallans had to create a new type of Shell that was more primitive in order to operate. Thier solution was the Rock-Shell.

Built out of basic rocks, and utilizing only the most basics of technology and Taekni when needed, the Rock-Shell is nothing like a regular Shell - They are far smaller, being on average seven to nine feet tall. A Rock-Shell lacks any of the armaments or unique abilities that a regular Shell can provide, and many have described being in one as being 'Uncomfortable'. Still, the Rock-Shells function, and so, they are the primary way in which Vystallan's operate within the Realmlands.

One advantage that the Rock-Shells have is their connection to Taekni - Many Vystallans find Taekni far easier to perform while in a Rock-Shell. They describe it as having a deeper connection to it that the steel of their regular Shells cuts off. This is not a phenomenon seen in all Mechanical Kinde, making this unique to the Vystallans.

Technology

Vystallan's are known for their unique form of Bio-Technology - Following the creation of their Shells, they sought to avoid any potential repeats of the Technopocolypse, seeing what had happened to the various powers that had fallen apart. This, combined with an intrinsic disgust at the idea of using machinery as technology, led them to pursuing bio-technology. They utilized what nature was present, selectively bred and modified it in order to suit their technological purposes. After many generations, the technology evolved so much that it could be directly edited, leading to the rise of the Voidsea faring Vystallan's.

Though no one seemed to fully understand it at the time, this path is what would lead the Vystallans towards their ongoing war.

Origins

The origins of the Vystallan Kinde seem to suggest that they were brought online by the Broadwave, following the Technopocalypse. As Taekni infused into their systems, they became a fully sentient mechanical Kinde.

History

Following the development of their unique bio-technology, there is a history of plunder and colonialism with Vystall - Once the Vystallans became Voidsea capable, many sought to plunder nearby worlds of their genetic material, to better improve their own bio-technology. In order to maintain this plunder, more draconian methods needed to be taken, both on their subjects, and in the Vystallan homelands.

Resistance began to mount, forming the Suratronics, and the Mechatar - Eventually leading to both the downfall of leading to the Suratronic-Mechatar war. This conflict would bring them into contact with the Kin, the Titanic States of Saturn, the Twilight Imperium, and would eventually lead to the formation of the Stjarna Union, which would go on to become the Cosmic Union.