Difference between revisions of "Spathi"

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Spathi

Spathi_comm.png
Fwiffo, a Spathi Eluder Captain

Homeworld:	Epsilon Gruis I (Spathiwa)
Coordinates:	241.6 : 368.7
Member of:	Ur-Quan Hierarchy (battle thrall), New Alliance of Free Stars (optional)
Ship:	Eluder

General

The Spathi are a cowardly race of "meta-mollusks." They have a colorful exoskeleton, a single jiggling eye, and jointed pinching claws, possessing the best qualities of both the clam and the dravatz. As a race, the Spathi are absolute cowards and paranoid. They live in constant fear of an undetectable phantom called the Ultimate Evil, which the Spathi are convinced lives just beyond the reaches of their most powerful long-range sensors.

If the remarks of the Spathi captain Fwiffo are true and representative of the species, Spathi families are very large. Fwiffo claims to have been "the youngest child of a family of 18,487" and mentions that being called by name by "the female parent" was a special occasion for him. Fwiffo's independance was not a voluntary choice; his parents merely "pried [him] from the doorjamb, and rolled [him] into the street". The Spathi youngsters are named "encrustlings".

The Spathi evolved on the lone planet Epsilon Gruis I (their name for the star is Yuffo and the planet, Spathiwa). Recently, their home planet has been beleaguered by a race of ravenous creatures called the Evil Ones who enjoy eating Spathi, prompting the entire Spathi race to take refuge on Spathiwa's moon.

Their ruling class is known most often as the Safe Ones, also called the Spathi Ruling Council, the High Spathi Ruling Council, the High Ruling Council of Spathiwa, and the Spathi High Council.

Hierarchy Status

When the Ur-Quan Kzer-Za subjugated the Spathi, they offered them the same choice given to each race, as dictated by the Path of Now and Forever: be a fallow slave or Battle Thrall. The Spathi actually chose to be fallow slaves, being rather fond of the idea of being forever protected by an impenetrable Slave Shield. However, the Ur-Quan's Umgah servant who was to notify the Ur-Quan of the Spathi's choice mischeviously reported to the Ur-Quan that the Spathi had chosen to be Battle Thralls. The Spathi attempted to rectify this, but the Ur-Quan would hear none of it - they would be Battle Thralls forever.

According to Fwiffo, the Spathi attempted to avoid combat as much as possible, only to recieve violent reprimands from the Ur-Quan, "each more strident than the last." When the Spathi learned that they were on the verge of being exterminated outright for their repeated disobedience, they set about their duties as battle thralls "with renewed vigor."

Religion

The Spathi have a traditional daily prayer which reflects their general attitude towards life (which they name the "mortal helix"): "..Oh God... please don't let me die today! Tomorrow would be so much better!"

The Spathi also have a pre-death ceremony, the ritual of Wezzy-Wezzah. The completion of this short ritual ensures a place in their secure afterlife. A noted attribute of the Spathi's afterworld is the absence of immortal, devouring monsters. However, the ritual of Wezzy-Wezzah is invalid unless performed on the moon of Spathiwa.

Leisure activities

A known leisure activity that the Spathi captains practice is playing a certain video game they recently bought, probably from the Melnorme, a game strikingly similar to Star Control 2.

They mention having been bored until they bought the game.

Ship

The Spathi pilot the very nimble Eluder-class ships.

Known individuals

Fwiffo
Pwappy
Tuffa-Yuf

Gameplay notes

Sources of information

Fwiffo and the Melnorme are the only sources for learning the Spathi homeworld location and the Secret Spathi Cypher necessary to converse with The Safe Ones.

Relevance to the plot

Any relations with the Spathi are optional. You can ally with them to gain access to their ships. When the Spathi slave-shield themselves on Spathiwa, they leave behind the Umgah Caster on their moon, along with a note explaining what it is. The Spathi also share somewhat useful and vague information on various topics, such as the new Syreen homeworld and the natural QuasiSpace portal.

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 The '''Spathi''' are a cowardly race of "meta-mollusks." They have a colorful exoskeleton, a single jiggling eye, and jointed pinching claws, possessing the best qualities of both the clam and the [[dravatz]].  As a race, the Spathi are absolute cowards and paranoid.  They live in constant fear of an undetectable phantom called the [[Ultimate Evil]], which the Spathi are convinced lives just beyond the reaches of their most powerful long-range sensors.
-[[Fwiffo]] mentions being "the youngest child of a family of 18,487", though it seems unlikely that the Spathi have such a high reproductive ability, usually associated with the [[Shofixti]]. This may either be an error in writing the dialogue or a deliberate lie made by Fwiffo. Anyway, this implies that the parents barely even get to call a child by his name due to their large numbers, and also that they must be very succint at ceremonials such as the separation of a youngster from the family - they simply throw him into the street.
+If the remarks of the Spathi captain [[Fwiffo]] are true and representative of the species, Spathi families are very large. Fwiffo claims to have been "the youngest child of a family of 18,487" and mentions that being called by name by "the female parent" was a special occasion for him. Fwiffo's independance was not a voluntary choice; his parents merely "pried [him] from the doorjamb, and rolled [him] into the street". The Spathi youngsters are named "encrustlings".
-The Spathi youngsters are named "encrustlings".
 The Spathi evolved on the lone planet Epsilon Gruis I (their name for the star is [[Yuffo]] and the planet, [[Spathiwa]]).  Recently, their home planet has been beleaguered by a race of ravenous creatures called the [[Evil Ones]] who enjoy eating Spathi, prompting the entire Spathi race to take refuge on Spathiwa's moon.