species:n-dax
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species:n-dax [2024/05/24 16:39] conan created |
species:n-dax [2025/02/23 22:06] (current) conan Added in game image from E10 |
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| Only four unhatched eggs have been discovered, and it is unknown how long each egg had been incubating prior to hatching. Eggs (or shell fragments) are typically found in warm, moist areas of a ship, such as in service tunnels, hydroponics facilities or heating ducts. N-DAX eggs are about 30-50cm in diameter, with a tough, leathery shell that varies in colour from pale bone to burnt umber. They are found securely attached by a hard, chitin-like material to the nearby ship surfaces. | Only four unhatched eggs have been discovered, and it is unknown how long each egg had been incubating prior to hatching. Eggs (or shell fragments) are typically found in warm, moist areas of a ship, such as in service tunnels, hydroponics facilities or heating ducts. N-DAX eggs are about 30-50cm in diameter, with a tough, leathery shell that varies in colour from pale bone to burnt umber. They are found securely attached by a hard, chitin-like material to the nearby ship surfaces. | ||
| === Hatchling === | === Hatchling === | ||
| - | Recently hatched specimens are about 50cm tall, fully mobile and aware from minutes after hatching. (DISSECTION IMAGE) Hatchlings appear to have some features reminiscent of birds and reptiles, such as simple nasal slits, a hard beak-like mouth and sharp claws, but there the resemblance ends. They are eyeless, and parts of their bodies are covered in dark proto-feathers, while other areas bear hard leathery rib-like protrusions, writhing outgrowths of cilia, or tubular bones connected by thin sinews. Dissection reveals an internal cavity filled with sacs of various noxious fluids, and a lack of any clear circulatory or digestive system. | + | [{{ :species:a_black_and_white_photograph_of_a_humanoid_bird_like_alien_that_has_be_s1692464811_st30_g11.5.png?300|<html><font color="black">A rare image of an N-DAX hatchling. This specimen did not survive for long after capture.</font></html>}}]Recently hatched specimens are about 50cm tall, fully mobile and aware from minutes after hatching. Hatchlings appear to have some features reminiscent of birds and reptiles, such as simple nasal slits, a hard beak-like mouth and sharp claws, but there the resemblance ends. They are eyeless, and parts of their bodies are covered in dark proto-feathers, while other areas bear hard leathery rib-like protrusions, writhing outgrowths of cilia, or tubular bones connected by thin sinews. Dissection reveals an internal cavity filled with sacs of various noxious fluids, and a lack of any clear circulatory or digestive system. |
| All documented hatchlings typically attempt to flee the presence of other beings and get into some hard-to-access area of the ship where they can build their nests, and are aided by their highly mobile joints and strong grasping clawed fingers. Sightings of this life stage are highly variable, either due to the creature’s speed or an actual inconsistency in body plan between specimens - most describe the creature as a “monster”, “horror” or similar terms. The only hatchling specimen that was successfully contained was subjected to bright light in its ships science lab, and was found to sicken and die within hours of capture. Two other perished specimens of about hatchling size have been discovered on ships, when their remains began to decay. As such, it is unknown whether the hatchlings are especially vulnerable, or if there was some required condition that was not met in the captured hatchling specimen. The presence of a hatchling on board a ship manifests to the crew as items going missing, especially food, and glimpses of small movement out in peripheral vision, which is likely to cause morale incidents, paranoia and anxiety. The few direct sightings of a creature in this stage have almost universally led to serious morale incidents and on several occasions the use of high energy ship-wide decontamination protocols. Very little is known about the lifestyle or habits of the creature in this period. | All documented hatchlings typically attempt to flee the presence of other beings and get into some hard-to-access area of the ship where they can build their nests, and are aided by their highly mobile joints and strong grasping clawed fingers. Sightings of this life stage are highly variable, either due to the creature’s speed or an actual inconsistency in body plan between specimens - most describe the creature as a “monster”, “horror” or similar terms. The only hatchling specimen that was successfully contained was subjected to bright light in its ships science lab, and was found to sicken and die within hours of capture. Two other perished specimens of about hatchling size have been discovered on ships, when their remains began to decay. As such, it is unknown whether the hatchlings are especially vulnerable, or if there was some required condition that was not met in the captured hatchling specimen. The presence of a hatchling on board a ship manifests to the crew as items going missing, especially food, and glimpses of small movement out in peripheral vision, which is likely to cause morale incidents, paranoia and anxiety. The few direct sightings of a creature in this stage have almost universally led to serious morale incidents and on several occasions the use of high energy ship-wide decontamination protocols. Very little is known about the lifestyle or habits of the creature in this period. | ||
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| ===== Appearance ===== | ===== Appearance ===== | ||
| - | N-DAX specimens vary widely in appearance, as they adapt to resemble the predominant species in their juvenile or adolescent environment. There are some common external elements, and N-DAX specimens all display similar internal biology. The primary difference from the mimicked species is that the N-DAX will always have feathered protrusions coming from various parts of their bodies - most commonly in the scalp mixed in with the hair, the temples and chin, and lines of longer feathers down the back of the forearm and back of the calf on each leg. | + | [{{ :species:n-dax_with_crew_byagentbsmith.jpg?300|<html><font color="black">An adult N-Dax (front) typically adopts the appearance of the dominant species on its ship.</font></html>}}]N-DAX specimens vary widely in appearance, as they adapt to resemble the predominant species in their juvenile or adolescent environment. There are some common external elements, and N-DAX specimens all display similar internal biology. The primary difference from the mimicked species is that the N-DAX will always have feathered protrusions coming from various parts of their bodies - most commonly in the scalp mixed in with the hair, the temples and chin, and lines of longer feathers down the back of the forearm and back of the calf on each leg. |
| Internally, scans of adult N-Dax reveal that although their outer surface and shape conforms to the majority of beings on board their vessel, their internals are very different - if consistent with other specimens of their own species. Indeed it is through the commonality in internal structure that researchers have determined that the N-DAX are a species rather than a series of widely spread anomalous life forms. Their skeletal structure consists of hollow bony tubes wrapped in a hard, leather-like layer and supported by chitin-like flesh supports. The majority of their tissue is a mixture of undifferentiated cells and muscle fibres, all serving as a framework for the various fluid-filled bladders and interconnecting tubes that form a single interconnected system for respiration, digestion and homeostasis control. These undifferentiated/muscle cell masses can rapidly shift to repair any damage. A distributed network of neural and sensory tissue also spreads throughout the body, connecting to various sensory nodes near the outer skin, which protrude through as visual analogues of the mimicked species’ sensory organs. This highly distributed network lacks a central brain structure, which gives them a slight disadvantage in the speed with which they can process complex theoretical inputs - however, it does allow the N-DAX to react very quickly to sensory input, and grants them excellent coordination. The large amount of undifferentiated cell mass around their neural tissue also serves to bleed off harmful neural shock attacks, reducing their overall impact. However, their heightened senses are typically tuned to the more controlled environment of shipboard life, and they find more open environments to be overwhelming. When outside the comfort of their native starship, many N-DAX will require some technological intervention to prevent them being overwhelmed. | Internally, scans of adult N-Dax reveal that although their outer surface and shape conforms to the majority of beings on board their vessel, their internals are very different - if consistent with other specimens of their own species. Indeed it is through the commonality in internal structure that researchers have determined that the N-DAX are a species rather than a series of widely spread anomalous life forms. Their skeletal structure consists of hollow bony tubes wrapped in a hard, leather-like layer and supported by chitin-like flesh supports. The majority of their tissue is a mixture of undifferentiated cells and muscle fibres, all serving as a framework for the various fluid-filled bladders and interconnecting tubes that form a single interconnected system for respiration, digestion and homeostasis control. These undifferentiated/muscle cell masses can rapidly shift to repair any damage. A distributed network of neural and sensory tissue also spreads throughout the body, connecting to various sensory nodes near the outer skin, which protrude through as visual analogues of the mimicked species’ sensory organs. This highly distributed network lacks a central brain structure, which gives them a slight disadvantage in the speed with which they can process complex theoretical inputs - however, it does allow the N-DAX to react very quickly to sensory input, and grants them excellent coordination. The large amount of undifferentiated cell mass around their neural tissue also serves to bleed off harmful neural shock attacks, reducing their overall impact. However, their heightened senses are typically tuned to the more controlled environment of shipboard life, and they find more open environments to be overwhelming. When outside the comfort of their native starship, many N-DAX will require some technological intervention to prevent them being overwhelmed. | ||
species/n-dax.1716565154.txt.gz · Last modified: 2024/05/24 16:39 by conan
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