Orbsarion

Description

The Orbsarion are amongst the strangest sapient inhabitants in both the entirety of the Realm of Ambrosia, and within Creation as a whole. Originally titled "Long-Form Experiment #7299," the Orbsarion are a Condevi race native to the moon Orbis of the Hope System, endowed with Poly-Metastability. Each Orbsarion has been granted the gift of individuality and free expression of thought by their creator, Mystara. The Orbsarion hold the potential to become the single most inherently powerful Psionic race to inhabit Creation, though very few have managed to reach this inherent potential.

Due to their esoteric form of being, the Orbsarion act in accordance with the accumulative thoughts and actions of other sapient beings beyond their control. Their atypical head shape, a miniature “planet,” is in fact a scaled-down replica of the ancient Seraphnim’s “Forge Worlds,” reflecting the collective psyche of the inhabitants within it. This complex spherical head serves as the determinant of the Orbsarion’s form and disposition in the universe, housing the tiny Maamin species, a race blissfully unaware of the greater sapient entity their world belongs to. Depending on the collective wishes and desires of the native Maamin, the Orbsarion’s personality and actions align with the evolving values and emotions of its inhabitants.

Crafted in 42,224 TI (Time Immemorial), they are the result of the enigmatic Mystara of the Etymology's Ten Supreme Authorities attempts to better understand and control the Source "Psionics." Creating a synthetic, Amanoid shell, where a sapient race's head would normally be, she would instead place there a miniature Forge-World, acting as a tiny localized biosphere complete with all the mechanics normal planetary bodies exhibit. With the introduction of Alizarin, like many worlds across the cosmos, life would emerge on Orbsarion's heads, and from there, the complex system of action and reaction all Orbsarion would display would be made possible.

Through powerful Psionics, the Orbsarion managed to survive the catastrophic Red Galaxy Event brought upon by the God Legion, spatially and temporarily removing themselves from the material plane and existing within the Mental Stratum. In their default state, the Orbsarion present themselves as a Penumbral balance of Light and Dark within the Maamin’s collective essence. However, if the Maamin populace within an Orbsarion’s head falls into pure Darkness, the host Orbsarion will become an Oshlensi, a subrace known for embodying the darker aspects of its inhabitants. This process was forced upon select Orbsarion, and their host Maamin by the Ragnalith, after their coming into power in 26,546 TI, using their inherent connection to Darkness in order to control the Source Psionics.

They would ultimately be freed by the Sanlagosa Concordant in 3,000 TI after their victory over the Ragnalith and their Dark Empire, having been previously used by their masters as the Oshlensi to do battle with the Sanlagosa, using their immense Psionic powers against them. Upon being freed, the restored Orbsarion would willingly join the Concordant, finding a home within their capital world of Grand Benevolence. However, upon the Sanlagosa Concordant's destruction at the hands of the Great Dyad in 1,549 AGY (Ambrosian Galactic Year) - (84 EE - End's Emergence) , and the subsequent detonation of Grand Benevolence, most Orbsarion would perish. The few Orbsarion that remain have now been forced to scatter to the four corners of the galaxy, becoming a cosmic oddity and rarity.

Biology and Appearance

Physiology

The Orbsarion's physical stature, upon cursorily glance, seems to be of standard Amanoid form. They have an upright build, with two legs, and two arms, each arm ending in a five fingered hand with opposable thumbs. However, several distinct characteristics set the Orbsarion apart from typical Amanoid forms. Their bodies are made of light weight, "tree-like" structures of synthetic fibers, which weave together to form a flexible yet resilient framework, resembling the intricate web of cosmic tree branches. These fibers are not merely structural, as they actively conduct Psionic energies, allowing the Orbsarion to channel immense mental, psychokinetic and telepathic power throughout their form.

These "branches" exhibit a strange crystalline shell structure, often shimmering with an otherworldly gold sheen, a crimson bright red glow, or a dark consuming void that shifts in color depending on the Orbsarion’s current psionic state and emotional resonance. When calm, collected, or neutral, their crystalline shell takes on a golden coloration, symbolizing balance and harmony within their respective collective Maamin population. In moments of heightened emotion or aggression within their endemic biological world, the fibers glow with a vibrant, intense red, amplifying their psionic powers and enhancing their physical abilities.

However, when an Orbsarion is influenced by darker forces or internal strife, the shell darkens into an almost light-absorbing void, a manifestation of the dark Maamin's influence within. This color-changing shell is more than a visual cue, as it functions as a natural psionic regulator, helping to stabilize their energy output and prevent psychic overload and the subsequent destruction and death of the native Maamin contained therein. This dynamic and reactive shell, combined with their adaptable framework, makes the Orbsarion not only resilient in battle but also uniquely attuned to the ever-shifting Psionic energies of the cosmos.

Notable Physical Traits

The most striking physical feature of the Orbsarion is, of course, their head, which resembles a small celestial body hung suspended by their "neck stalks." The miniaturized "planet" varies among Orbsarion, with some exhibiting vast oceans, dense forests, or even active volcanic regions, depending on the conditions and the cultural development of the Maamin inhabitants within. This miniature world of the Orbsarion is constantly evolving, displaying seasonal shifts, weather patterns, and even atmospheric phenomena, all dictated by the emotional and mental states of the Orbsarion and the Maamin alike.

Their heads are surrounded by a faint Psionic field that subtly influences the internal world around them, responding to their mood and intent. Whilst the Psionic field itself corresponds with the normal Horizon Effect extant planets in orbit around a star emits, protecting the life on its surface. This Psionic field not only protects the Maamin inhabitants within from external Psionic disruptions, but also stabilizes the Orbsarion's own internal Psionic and mental state, helping to prevent psychic overload, a common threat for Psionically-inclined individuals and species.

The intensity of their Psionic fields fluctuates with the Orbsarion’s own emotional state and level of psionic exertion, becoming particularly potent in times of stress or danger, or in response to extreme pain or physical/mental exertion. It is during these moments of intense emotional turmoil or physical strain, the Psionic field can expand dramatically, enveloping the Orbsarion in a radiant aura that bends visible-light and even distorts the space around them, creating an all-encompassing Psionic shield around the respective Orbsarion.

Diet and Solvent

With their esoteric form and structure, the Orbsarion do not normally consume foods and liquids like most species across space. Instead, the Maamin within them consume the lifeforms spawned upon their planetary heads, and through a symbiotic exchange, the Orbsarion also gain sustenance in-turn. This cycle of shared symbiotic sustenance binds the Orbsarion’s existence to the prosperity of the miniature ecosystem within, making the well-being of the Maamin and their world essential for the Orbsarion’s survival and stability.

Their unique method of sustenance ties the Orbsarion’s well-being directly to the health and balance of the ecosystem within their miniature world. As the Maamin interact with their environment, feeding on flora, fauna, and other resources, they produce subtle Psionic energy emissions that the Orbsarion absorbs, sustaining their synthetic bodies. In return, the Orbsarion’s psionic field provides stability and protection to the Maamin’s world, maintaining a delicate balance between host and inhabitant. This cycle of mutual nourishment is essential to the Orbsarion’s survival, making a respective individual Orbsarion have an inherent interest to their symbiotic connection to the tiny civilization within them.

However, disruptions in the Maamin’s ecosystem, such as overpopulation, resource scarcity, or even societal turmoil, can lead to psionic imbalances within the Orbsarion. In severe cases, these disturbances can weaken the Orbsarion, causing physical instability and, in rare instances, a loss of control over their Psionic abilities. Therefore, Orbsarion are known to meditate frequently, channeling Psionic energies to support and stabilize their internal world, ensuring harmony within.