Theos

The Theos (pronounced Thee-oh-s) are an ancient species of pure energy-based xenometamorph sentient beings that have been involved, in some way, in every major sentient event in galactic history. Generally, the species is considered ambivalent and ancillatory to most species. It lacks the same complexity of emotional ranges as most other sentient beings. They see themselves sort of as guardians of the known universe, taking care to make sure that the diversity of the universe is safeguarded against true annihilation and destruction.

Origins & History
The Theos were born upon the planet Theia, a small planet roughly the size of Mars in the Tellus Sector during the original formation of the Tellus Sector roughly 6 BYa (Billion Years ago). The rocky planet had an unusual gravity as it was situated between Mars and Earth, known as Tellus by the Theos, and was partially capable of sustaining life, but life based on an entirely different parameter than Tellus. These beings evolved on this planet due to the high concentration of unaltered, pure nucleic acid surrounded by intense concentrations of ionized gases in the atmosphere. An unusual combination that somehow created the Theos.

From the formation of their species to about 4.53 BYa, the Theos were explorers, capable of forming into any creature in existence, they moved through space observing the many wonders and amazing strangeness of the universe. In so doing, they developed incredibly powerful technology, advanced cultural designs, and made alliances or enemies with many different species, both sentient and non-sentient. Their planet turned into a powerful location of centralized knowledge, energy, and the power of imagination. Unfortunately, a cataclysmic event would occur that would alter their very society and culture.

4.53 BYa, Theia's gravitational orbit disintegrated rapidly due to a fluctuating electromagnetic field caused by the advancement of their society. The combination of the EM field disintegrating and the gravitational orbit disintegrating moved Theia directly into the path of the Earth. The cataclysm forced their species to relocate and it forever changed their idea of the universe. Even with all their advanced powers, technology, and abilities, the Theos could not prevent this disaster. Eventually, their planet collided with the Earth, obliterating what was once their own, but in so doing transferred genetic material directly to the Earth and by so doing, created all life on Earth and its small moon.

The Theos travelled to the planet of Mars in order to salvage what was left of their civilization. They brought their knowledge, technology, and abilities to its surface and two moons. Upon arrival of the planet, the Theos discovered that there is a primitive species living on Mars that they had somehow missed in their own backyard. The Ara, a primitive and warmongering species of semi-corporeal humanoids, were shocked and amazed by the arrival of the Theos. Unfortunately, this development would not last long. After a couple billion years of living in tenuous peace together, they were engulfed in a world wide war that ended up changing the species in ways that could not be imagined. Forced off their own homeworld... the creatures were sent to Tellus in the hopes that they might survive the new environment springing up there. Their arrival on Tellus would, once again, change the evolutionary patterns of the planet and take Tellus to where humanity was allowed to flourish. Within a billion years, the Ara were destroyed by humanity and became the dominant species on Tellus. Much of the Theos' history from the time of Theia's destruction and the expulsion of the Ara to Tellus consists of rebuilding their numbers and rebuilding their vast network of technology throughout the sector. Around 1 BYa, just when the dinosaurs began to start taking over Tellus's surface, the Theos decided that the best way to protect their tragedy from happening to others was to choose to forgo any form of creativity, giving only creativity to science and logic. This fundamentally changed the nature of their inherent genes and subsequently created a species that is known as they are today. As humanity would evolve and become more dominant on the planet, Theos would actively study and thereby creating the ancient mythologies and ideals of 'alien astronauts' by their presence. Their stronghold, the city of Atlantis, is buried beneath the earth when it is determined that their presence is no longer needed for their development nor their protection. Atlantis disappears and becomes an obscurity in Tellurian history.

Over the next billion years, they continued their relentless pursuit of knowledge, truth, technology, and understanding species. Eventually, though, the time would come when they had to make a choice about Tellus, the planet that bears their very essence and the most genetically diverse planet of carbon-based lifeforms in the known universe. In 2084 A.D., humanity has become the dominant species on Tellus and has developed many advanced technologies that the Theos discovered billions of years ago. The Theos watch as the very dangerous Jagjit, insectoid and parasitic creatures with a cult-like, species-dominated social structure, invade the Tellus Sector with the full intent of taking all of Tellus' diversity for their own ends. Faced with a calamity like their own planet being destroyed by unforeseeable elements, the Theos watched as Tellurian forces attempted to defend its world from the Jagjit. Only to have it altered by the Jagjit's very presence and thus potentially ruining its diversity, the Theos decide to formally intervene, finally making themselves known once again amongst the universe's sentient beings as a powerful and potentially benevolent force against those sentients that would harm the universe's diversity through genocide.

After the Tellus Sector War, the Theos determined that it was appropriate to resurface Atlantis and begin the task of safeguarding their unintentional offspring. The Theos now seek a solution to understanding the emotional complexity of Tellus and the deeper foundations of reality so that further tragedies can be avoided.

Physiology & Appearance
The Theos are a very complex and strange creature that many scientists have tried to understand, but seem incapable. In reality, this is because their physiology can transform at will and it is rare to find a Theos that is in their natural state. Theos are based on pure energy, equivalent to a jellyfish made of plasma. Their internal organs are a series of nuon-based plasma particles and their central nervous system is literally fibrous strands of nucleic acid encased in plasma. They have no digestive organs, no reproductive organs, and no skeleton. They do not require rest, sustenance, or sexual contact to procreate.

Due to their unique anatomy, Theos do not age because they have no cells that degenerate or disintegrate. Their genetic material never requires itself to become refreshed or renewed as they are built of pure nucleic acid filled with DNA/RNA. Their DNA is more than 50,000 mammo groups and derived of over 100,000 complex markers. It would literally take a million years to figure out exactly what they can do.

Another factor of their unique anatomy is the ability to metamorph, that is the ability to take the form of something else entirely. In the case of the Theos, they are capable of xeno-metamorph, capable of taking the form of ANY creature of ANY shape, size, gender, anatomy, molecular basis, or design. It is literally impossible to catalogue an entire list of the species they are potentially capable of becoming. From mammals to space creatures to insects to even dinosaurs, there is no creature they cannot become. If they made a choice, they could become many of the mythological & fictional creatures such as dragons, drow, pegasus or even a tarrasque. Do not ever assume that these creatures have a limit. There is none.

Theos reproduce through a process called binary fission. Through this process, an exact copy is duplicated of the original and two are now the same creature. However, something unique to the Theos is that due to their strange construction and the complexity of their biology, they can make each copy unique in its individuality, thus allowing individual creatures to be had by this form of reproduction. They retain all knowledge of their parent, but are completely unique. As biological organisms made of nucleic acid and plasma, these creatures are genderless and formless.

One thing that must be said about these creatures: their actual energy is questionable as plasma. It is the most relative form of matter in existence that can be expressed in a way that tells you what a Theos is made of. In truth, Theos are impossible to really identify. Their very chemical makeup, their binding forces, are impossible to calculate and impossible to understand. Another thing to be said is that while they are very difficult to kill due to their unique biology, they are not impossible to kill and are thus not invulnerable. They are very subjective to electromagnetic fields and must be careful near very strong magnetic fields. Stars and other such fission celestial bodies are dangerous to them, thus devices and technology which are similar in their construction can also be effective. Obviously, the likelihood of any creature having these sorts of abilities or power is minimal and thus death of Theos are rare and most often caused by stellar travel and exploration.

Psychology, Culture & Society
Before the great climatic event of 4.53 BYa that changed the Theos forever, the Theos were a creative, affectionate, passionate, emotional species that cherished everything that they experienced. They thrived on the experience of something, regardless of what it was. Every time they experienced a new planet, a new species, they would imitate them and attempt to understand their viewpoint through becoming that species. They reveled in everything. Then, Theia was destroyed and to survive, they lost all of their major cultural heritage and emotional capacity. The event sundered their psyches and destroyed their ability to perceive beauty ever again as they never imagined having to witness their home be destroyed. To them, it was the most beautiful thing in the universe.

Now, Theos are extremely analytical, logical, without a concept or understanding of experiencing an emotion for the emotion's sake. They do not engage in entertainment, they do not have any form of art, music, theatre, or anything that could be considered culture. All of their technology is based on utilitarian aesthetics and their primary colony on Mars is completely void of any color, forms that evoke beauty, or even the concept of laughter. Any emotions they experience through the forms of other species they take are experienced only while in that form, thus once they revert to their natural state, they no longer remember the experience. One more thing to add: because of their unique psychologies, Theos cannot lie. The concept of deception is something they understand, but cannot achieve. Like the previous rule, only while in the form of a sentient species capable of true emotion can they deceive.

The Theos have no legal system due to the fact that crime does not exist. Everyone does their assigned job and everyone works together. This does not mean that a Theos is incapable of crime nor misunderstands law, simply that they do not require it within their own society.

Theos do not have a sexual drive because they are asexual and thus can only experience sex through forms other than their own. They find sex fascinating as they do towards emotions because of their inherent inability to experience it and understand it.

Their entire society is based on the idea of acquisition of knowledge, protection of diversity on a universal scale, and the development of technology. There are three branches of social hierarchy: the Onah, the Zakin, and the Notak.

The Onah are the scholars and knowledge seekers, they are potentially the most emotional of all of Theos. Understanding knowledge is different from gaining it and thus the Onah are unique in the sense that they feel something when they experience new knowledge AND understand it. One would consider an Onah to be the historians and archaeologists of the Theos. They protect the history, the knowledge, and the truth.

The Zakin are the protectors and military of the Theos. Military is a term that one should use lightly as the Theos are so incredibly powerful in their technological designs that there are very few forces in the known universe which can match them, thus they are a more peacekeeping part of society.

The Notak are the engineers and researchers. They develop everything that Theos use and are the most emotionless and logical of all the Theos. They are obsessed with creating better, more powerful, more capable, more sustainable technologies. Every avenue of scientific research and development is pursued and nothing is ever overlooked unless it has been proven to be that way.

Intergalactic Relations
The Theos have developed an incredibly complex network of diplomatic relations with millions of species throughout the universe. It is so complex that an entire division of the Unah are just focused on it. The complexity of it is more vast than anything that is possible to truly categorize or calculate. Thus, the list that follows is by NO means an exhaustive list of any kind. It includes the most essential relationships of the Theos.
 * Tellus Sector (Friendly Alliance, technology sharing, protection agreement, trading agreement, home sector)
 * Jagjit (Aggressive At War, hated enemies of the Theos)
 * Mutated Human (Neutral Alliance, medical assistance, otherwise same as Tellus Sector)
 * Erok Ney'muh (Neutral, no agreements made, critical observation for the safety of this species and others)
 * Siresian (Friendly Alliance, technology sharing, trading agreement)
 * Ommosian (Friendly Alliance, technology sharing, trading agreement)
 * Dun'lyre
 * Therion
 * Tierran
 * Uruku
 * Vishkaan
 * Vulperan