Flag of the Xai people | |
Total population | |
---|---|
108,919,775 (2013 est.) | |
Regions with significant populations | |
Xai Ascendancy 56,475,221 | |
Significant Xai diaspora populations in: | |
United States | 25,831,140 |
Russia | 9,824,152 |
Egypt | 702,777 |
Brazil | 371,358 |
France | 181,111 |
United Kingdom | 134,525 |
Japan | 103,875 |
Australia | 50,198 |
Canada | 47,813 |
India | 31,552 |
Ireland | 28,592 |
South Africa | 23,439 |
Zimbabwe | 16,197 |
Ethiopia | 15,720 |
Thailand | 8,359 |
North Korea | 1,218 |
Languages | |
Primarily English and Xai language; many others spoken elsewhere | |
Religion | |
Xanism and Xai Christianity Also Islam (Ahkari Islam) |
The Xai (Xai: Хай, Ksa'ī), also known as the Children of Xion, are a near-human species believed to have originated from the island of Xyon. Their past has long been unknown to many, though some have come to believe that they were artificial creations of someone or something in the past. They are a homogeneous species across the world, adopting certain styles of dress and at times grooming, but maintain a constant level of unity regardless of their location. The Xai are perhaps best known for their odd and risky behavior, apathy toward the suffering of others, and well-known sexual deviancy; albeit within the limits their religion, Xanism.
Notoriously difficult to suppress, convert, or even kill, the Xai have survived countless centuries of attacks and constant persecution. Often called "Jews by another name", which they resent, the Xai have a long history of integrating themselves into a nation they have adopted as their own, but even with their numerous abilities and superior traits, they have almost always chosen to start at the very bottom. Attempts by the Russian government to move the Xai into Siberia and establish a Xai republic there have failed. The Xai have turned down all of this offers for unknown reasons, even with the historical discrimination against them around the world.
With a total population of 108.9 million, the Xai are one of the largest ethnic groups in the world, and possess a large diaspora population of 52,444,554 worldwide, nearly half of their total population. Before the discovery of their homeland, many attempts have been made to give the Xai a nation of their own, such as after World War I, in which the League of Nations offered Namibia to the Xai as a homeland, or more recently in 2008, when the United States Congress offered to create a reservation for the Xai in Illinois where they were concentrated. Given their disturbing beliefs, actions, and reasoning, it was of no coincidence that even major nations were willing to part with some of their land to accomplish that goal.
Etymology[]
The origin of the name "Xai" has long been attributed to the progenitor of the Xai people, Xion. Originally, it was thought that the term Xai came from the ancient term, Cilḍrēna ŏfa Ksi'ōṁ, or the "Children of Xion", which was what the Xai had long called themselves over the centuries, and to some extent, still do today. However, the Xai recently revealed that their name means "Children of the Knowledge Seeker", which came from the name of Xion. The name itself means "The Great Father" and "The Knowledge Seeker". It further alteration of the progenitor's name is used for the name of the Xai homeland, Xyon, which is often referred to by the Xai as "The Fatherland" and the "Throne of Wisdom". Using the same method above, the name can be used to get the name of the Xai as well. As one Xai leader was known to have stated; "Are we wise? Indeed we are. Are we crafty? Absolutely. Do we know all? Well, I ought to leave that a secret."
Language[]
Main article: Xai language
The Xai language (Xai: Ксаика, Ksaika), better known as Ksaika, is the primary language spoken by all Xai regardless of their residence anywhere in the world. It is recognized as a minority language in many countries such as Brazil, France, and Japan, and an official language in South Africa and Zimbabwe. It has co-official status in Russia, where it is the second most spoken language in the country. Thanks to the traits of the Xai, they can immediately speak any language in the world with little to no study at all, and can thus speak any of the languages of the nation in which they live. Ksaika possesses no known dialects, an oddity within the world of linguistics. Researchers believe that since all Xai are born with the entire vocabulary of Ksaika fully known, the chance for subtleties to emerge exist within the species. Many Xai will however speak with an accent depending on the nation in which they were raised, but will default to the "true accent", which is akin to the Midwestern accent of the United States, often called the "accentless accent".
History[]
Main article: History of the Xai
Origins[]
As much as they hate to admit it, scientists agree that the Xai are not a product of evolution, stating that there is not clear evolutionary line or link that has been found for their species. Whereas humans have a plethora of convincing materials to supporting the human theory of evolution, the Xai have no such thing; no fossil records, previous iterations of Xai, or any settlements bearing markedly Xai traits from periods that would have back a Xai version of evolution. Thus, many scientists continue to put forth the possibility the Xai did not evolve, or at least not from any species known today. Though many continue to press that the Xai may have evolved from a more advanced form of life in Earth's past, the attempt to find an evolutionary link within the Xai's past has been given up in favor of the more widely accepted progenitor theory. Their exact origin remained a mystery to modern historians, though it was originally agreed upon the the first encounter with the Xai took place around 2300 BCE in ancient Babylonia. However, human historians were able to conclude that the Xai originate from the planet of Xyon, some n/a lightyears from Earth.
Ancient period[]
The Xai were first contacted by humans during the reign of Sargon of Akkad, who sought to gain the strange beings' support for his kingdom, which was growing under his rule. The Xai guided the forces of Sargon, and helped him conquer numerous city-states and kingdoms during that time. They kept their interaction with the early Babylonians to a minimum, and as a result, they only appeared on but one clay tablet discovered in 1978 by the Iraqi government, but only released to the British Museum for interpretation of its meaning in 2002. It stated that the encounter between the Xai and the Akkadians took place near the city of Mari in 2331 BCE. The Xai already possessed an advanced culture, and were coming from the west at the time, leading to many to believe they may have originated from Africa.
Early images of the Xai on walls of secret temples show that the Xai appear almost the same as they did in the modern day, and that their positions in ancient Akkad were kept secret. They were known to serve as assassins, priests and advisors, but always kept to themselves outside of their official duties. The Xai disappeared following 2154 BCE, for reasons that few aside from the Xai know. Oddly enough, this is the same year the Akkadian Empire collapsed. The Xai reappeared in ancient Egypt around 1500 BCE, but as merchants from even farther west. Once again, inscriptions tell of the Xai never revealing their homeland, or their intentions to the locals, always remaining quiet and outside of view. Rulers of the day were known to seek out the strange land of Xyon, but never succeeded, with men returning with tells of death and horror. It was only recently that the true home of the Xai had been discovered, but by then, it was the Xai who revealed the location.
They moved on the ancient Italy, where they came to play a role in the foundation of Rome. Though many historians continue to hold to the common belief that the ancient founding of Rome was simply a myth, the story of the two brothers, Romulus and Remus, was a direct result of Xai fore-planning and investment in the region's long-term stability. A considerable portion of the Xai population had moved to Italy around 800 BCE. The Xai leadership in the region were concerned with the conflicts between the tribes of Italy, and their effect on the standard of living for the Xai there. Thus, they moved to establish a state, not for themselves, but for the Italians that would keep the Xai safe, but with little need for Xai input in governing. They built their plan around two young boys, twins, who would inspire the foundation of a great empire in the future. Rome was that empire, and it served its purpose well for the next one thousand years of its existence.
Similar stories such of that of Rome's can be found throughout the world, such as the safe arrival of the Jomon to Japan (and their later protection by the Xai by way of an anomalous hurricane against the Mongols) though few know that the Xai played a role in them. Then there were the Aztecs and their trek into Mexico from the Southwestern United States. The good fortune of the Pandyan Dynasty can be attributed to the Xai, who agreed to maintain the empire so long as they did not abuse the Xai's gift of protection, which sadly, they later did. Throughout ancient history, however, the Xai were determined to maintain their security in each nation, often by preventing interaction with other peoples of the region. The Xai left little evidence of their role in these ancient civilizations, but they did keep extensive, yet secret records of their involvement in each in their homeland of Xyon.
Medieval period[]
It was during the medieval ages that the Xai would become more active in human affairs, and more publicly as well. The common understanding around the world was that the Xai were beings of a higher degree, far stronger and deadlier than any living thing had a right to be. Thus, it was not difficult for the Xai to find some form of high employment in a time of a intellicetual darkness and bloody warfare. The Xai maintained a strong social standing that while not widely respected, given their violent behavior against humans and well-known arrogance, was feared thoughout the period. The Xai became mercenaries for kingdoms seeking support for their wars, no matter how foolish the Xai thought them to be. Their most famous conflicts were those in support of the Mongols, whom the Xai saw much to gain from. After the Mongol conquest of Central Asia, the Xai saw fit to support their conquests in the Middle East as well as China.
Several thousands of Xai joined the Mongol hordes in their conflicts, and were eager to provide tips on phychological warfare. The support of the Mongol Empire came to an end when the Mongols attempted to invade Japan in 1274. The Xai warned the Mongols not to invade Japan, where some 150,000 Xai resided. Kublai Khan, however, refused to listen to his allies, and went ahead with the invasion against the Xai's blessing. The invasion failed, and he was told not to do so again. Kublai Khan refused however, and in 1281, he launched a second, larger invasion. The Xai, put up with his disobediance, used their technology to create a typhoon that destroye 70% of his fleet and drowning most of his men. When the Xai in Japan had been told of the matter, they passed the information on the Japanese, who believed the typhoon to be a divine one.
For refusing to listen to his superiors, Kublai Khan was told that his days had been shortened, and that he would die in thirteen years. As they had foretold, Kublai Khan died in 1294, thirteen years after the failed invasion of Japan. As was the case in the past, similar stories of unexplained deaths and failed invasions that were sure to succeed, had all the marks of the Xai's handiwork. The medieval era would see the peak and decline of the Xai's puppetry in human affairs. Their involvement would come to an end 1442, when the location of the Xai homeland was almost revealed by the Ming Empire, which failed to conquer Xyon during the Sino-Xai War. The Xai felt that their widespread involvement in world affairs was too much, and that it was time for them to move on to more important matters. This would be the end of large-scale Xai politicking for the next couple of centuries.
Early modern period[]
Throughout the early modern period, the Xai once again kept to themselves, desiring to keep the location of their homeland a secret until it was ready for interaction with the rest of the world. At this time, Xyon was still divided into its many fueding houses, and the Xai were determined to ensure that it was not involved in yet another pointless war with mankind. Until then, the Xai sought to interact with humanity peacefully, rather than control it or fight with it. They intergrated into human settlements and lands without seeking leadership positions in them, and also sought to maintain a strong but huble status in the world. They became scienists and explorers, as well as doctors and politicians. As far as the rest of the world was concerned, so long as they keep to themselves, the Xai will as well. This was the rule for the majority of the period, and would come to define the relationship between the Xai and humanity for the next epoch in human history.
The Xai were not particularly interested in the ongoings of human affairs during at the time, but did follow them into the New World, especially after the humans did them the favor to clearing out most of the previous inhabitants from the region for them. Numerous enclaves were established in North and South America, with tens of thousands of Xai seeking to finally claim a piece of the land they had long been planning on taking over themselves. However, such governments such as the Spanish and Portuguese Empires were not particularly keen on allowing the dangerous Xai to eck out a strong position on the two continents, and barred them from claiming any of their lands. Thus, many Xai were forced to move north so as to avoid a confrontation with the two powers, and help their people in the end. As a result, the period saw most of the Xai in Europe migrate to the unclaimed lands of the American Midwest.
The English were fine with the Xai moving into their lands, but their American colonists were not. Many persecuted the Xai, ever so sure as not to outright provoke them, and made it clear they were not welcomed in the colonies. Thus, thousands of Xai once again had to pick up and move out of the settled areas, and into the frontier. They wished to move further west, away from the Americans, but that would land them in Spanish lands, where they too were unwelcomed. Thus, the Xai settled into the fertile plains of the Midwest, which would become the states of Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana, where the majority of Xai Americans reside in the modern day. There, they would establish the city of Karus in 1621, today the largest Xai city outside of Xyon itself, and the epicenter of Xai culture in the world. Also established were the six other cities that become the group known as the Heptapolis, the seven Xai cities founded for the Xai by the Xai for their exclusive benifit.
From that city, the Xai would conduct their business, seeking to increase their holdings in North America, and gain the position of wealth they felt they had come to earn. By the early-18th century, there were 120,000 Xai in the New World, of which 75,000 of them resided in Karus and the other members of the Heptapolis. The Xai managed to gain many profitable contracts in the process of their trading ventures in the New World, and when the American Revolution began, they had the money to purchase weapons and equipment from Xyon, albeit modified to fit the era (in look not function), to maintain their independence and security throughout the conflict. Following the end of the revolution, the Xai agreed to join the United States, though, on the condition that the Heptapolis maintain control over internal and external affairs, as well as security and economy. Thus, by the end of the era, the Heptapolis and its Xai were now full-fledged members of the new United States of America, a home of their own in a hostile world.
Industrial age[]
Modern era[]
Habitat and population[]
The Xai thrive in wet, cool and humid environments, preferring regions where it rains heavily and frequently. Hot and dry regions are also well known areas the Xai prefer, though they often choose the former over the later for reasons they have not divulged to others. Since they have a highly efficient energy system, the Xai rarely have need to consume large quantities of food, and can thus be found in areas where little livestock and arable land are found as well. However, thanks to their advanced technological capacity, even in regions where no food can be found, the Xai have been known to thrive in such regions, possessing capabilities to produce types of foods that while foul-tasting to humans, provide all of the nutrients needed to sustain the body of an adult Xai. Their capacity to transform the landscape surpasses that of humans, with their known history of building vast arcologies for housing thousands of people at once. Despite their climatic preferences, Xai can be found in virtually any environment in the world, including regions of the extreme.
Most of the Xai reside on their homeworld of Xyon, though on Earth, many live in the United States and Russian Federation, and account for nearly 68% of the entire Earth-bound population. The Xai maintain a number of agencies which have existed for several decades, and have accumulated the resources that have long since allowed them pursue colonization attempts around the world separate from the homeworld. Unlike with their human counterparts, Xai corporations, which cater exclusively to their people, have used their vast wealth and technical superiority over humans to develop space stations which possess such technologies as artificial gravity, high-capacity living spaces, large-scale oxygen generators and water recyclers, and even shield generators. The result has been the successful endeavor to create space-bound colonies, in which some 65,000 Xai now reside. The Aurora Starbase is the largest and most prestigious of them all, with a total capacity for 50,000 residents, and a current population of 41,714 Xai.
The Xai population on Earth increased from one million in 1800 to 5.4 million by 2000. Of that number, 90% resided in urban areas. Issues remain, however, as the Xai, though no longer the victims of persecution, are now the primary sources of crime and corruption. Given the Xai's status as the ultimate apex predator, surpassing the human population physically, mentally, and technologically, the Xai no longer feel compelled to restrict themselves physically or intellectually, as they can now get away with any crime simply because humans are incapable of bringing them to justice. In the few cases in which they due, the Xai simply break out of prisons, physically overwhelm their enemy, or dominate their opponent mentally. The fear-based persecution from humans receded as a more open-minded and critically-thinking culture overcame the world, but at the expense of allowing the Xai grow confident in their superiority over humans. Only raw numbers prevent the Xai from becoming a major threat in the world. However, this would mean little of Xyon were to intervene on behalf of its citizens on Earth.
Biology[]
Anatomy and physiology[]
Main article: Xai physiology
The Xai are mostly similar to humans in anatomy, in that that possess the same limbs for the same purpose and build. They possess a nervous, cardiovascular, circulatory, digestive, endocrine, immune, integumentary, lymphatic, muscoskeletal, reproductive, respiratory, and urinary system as is found in humans. However, these systems function differently than those in humans in that some possess different organs and are far more efficient or advanced in their functions. The Xai are sexually dimorphic to a certain extent, with most men being larger and burlier than women, and women being smaller and slender than men. However, some women of particular power, often military or political leaders, are taller and stronger than men, and possess a clearly defined muscular structure. The same applies to men such as patriarchs or archons, who hold rare power in their society. It has been agreed upon by sociologists that within the Xai species, size and strength may somewhat correlate with social standing and political influence, though how the Xai body reacts to a non-physical trigger is as of yet unknown.
Both men and women lack intestines, though they possess a far superior digestive system which absolutely obliterates solid foods and extracts nutrients entirely. In the process it liquefies the waste product and transfers it in its liquid state to the Xai's much larger bladder. As a result, the Xai do not product solid waste, but a thick, syrupy and odorless liquid, similar to semen in consistency. In place of the intestines, the Xai possess an expanded birth canal and uterus, which can be found in men, though it largely serves as a sexual organ in women as they already possess a birth canal. The Xai are not as vulnerable as humans once born. Xai babies are born more cognitively developed than humans, allowing them to walk and speak with some level of understanding at a very young age. They possess greater physical and mental coordination that human babies, and are much smaller in size following birth, which is considered partly responsible for the lessened birth pains.
Xai women do not undergo menopause, and will remain fertile throughout their lives. Xai brains are uniquely advanced in that they can absorb large amounts of information relatively quickly and with less difficulty. Regarding stature, men are on average 1.9–2.1 meters in height, and women are on average 1.8–2 meters in height. Since the Xai skeletal system is metallic and cannot break, Xai do not shrink as they grow old, but will typically cease growing in height around 21 years of age. Men and women weight about the same (150–170lbs) due to their equally dense muscular structure which accounts for the majority of their weight. Obesity is unknown to the Xai, as their metabolic rate and genetic traits prevent them from realistically becoming overweight. Xai are physically stunning, possessing more defined muscles, hips, and for women, chests. As their internal organs are colored by their blood, which is black, the Xai lips, flesh under the nails, areola, and labia, as well as other parts of the body, are black and dark grey in color.
Though comparatively hairless when compared to other species, the Xai have notable hair growth on the top of their heads, pelvic area, and for men, parts of their face. They do not possess the ability to grow hair under their arms or on their chest, and only possess small amounts of barely visible hair on their limbs. The Xai possess about the same number of sweat glands as found in humans, about two million of them. They serve the same function, but do not possess the same odor, which is largely odorless. The dental aspect of the Xai is quite unique. Their teeth are covered with the same metallic substance found in their body, making their teeth very sharp and black in color, but with a bright purplish-silver lining on the edges. Xai are born without wisdom teeth, which cuts out the usually painful extraction needed to prevent certain medical issues in the future. The Xai do have pronouce canines, almost similar to those found in fictional vampires, leading to many cultural and social issues and misunderstandings with humans.
Genetics[]
Xai genetics is quite difficult to figure out, though a number of unique traits have been discovered by humanity. The Xai possess an XY sex-determination system as with most other mammals, though it can be decided as to which chromosome is used in the making of a child. As in humans though, women only possess X chromosomes, while men possess both X and Y chromosomes, thus meaning that men have XY and women XX. The Xai are effectively immortal as a species, do largely in part to their working telomerase genes, which were recently confirmed to be the source of the immortality certain types of cancer in humans. However, these genes break down after several centuries in men, and only a few decades in women, for reasons unknown. The Xai are believed to have the capability to resolve this, but as of yet, they either have not or can not fix the decay of their telomerase genes.
The Xai do not possess the same recessive genes known to pass through humans from parent to child. However, they instead possess dominant genes which are known to only present themselves in Xai-Human pairings, and only between Xai males and human females. Xai genes are always dominant in a hybrid pairing, meaning that a human mother will only give birth to a Xai child as a result. Another trait of the Xai is their complete immunity to the effects of genetic disorders that come from inbreeding. Since the Xai oddly do not possess recessive genes, genetic disorders cannot appear within a Xai family. Because of this, the taboo against incest does not exist within Xai culture and society. As a direct result of this fact, nearly one in three Xai born is from an incestuous relationship.
The Xai genome was mapped in its entirety in 1978, though it was later discovered that it is highly resistant to tampering, meaning that mutations or disorders are near impossible to find within the species. Also, being a highly robust genetic structure, the Xai genome is widely used by the Xai as a security method so as to prevent humans from accessing certain kinds of technology produced exclusively for the Xai. The most puzzling aspect of the Xai genome is their triple-strand DNA, which has made efforts to tamper with it, even by the best geneticists of the Xai, next to impossible to accomplish. Such evidence made it highly likely natural selection did not play a part in the Xai's history, and give more energy to the belief that they were created.
Life cycle[]
The Xai possess a number of ways in which to reproduce. The most common and preferred method is through internal fertilization by sexual intercourse between a man and a woman. The gestation period of a Xai male or female is about five months, during which time the Xai zygote develops quickly within the womb. A Xai embryo is capable of thinking, dreaming, and hearing within two weeks of the pregnancy. Because of the quick development of the embryo's senses during birth, virtually all modern cultures acknowledge an unborn Xai as a living being entitled to full protection of the law, and within most jurisdictions, immediately extend personhood to the embryo within its first two weeks of development. A Xai carries the child for five months after which he or she gives birth in a relatively painless delivery of the child. Unlike with humans, the female pelvis in the Xai is much more durable and elastic, and the pain threshold of a Xai much higher than in a human. In men, the child is delivered much more painfully, given the smaller exit area.
Since the Xai do not have intestines, the uterus is much larger and can accommodate more fetuses. The mortality rate during Xai childbirth is negligible, as there exist no painful labors in women, and men recover quickly from the birth. As far as the Xai have lived, successful childbirth has always been high. Natural childbirths are often the most common within Xai society, though with men, pain medication may often be used for the more painful delivery. Xai are born considerable mature mentally, though they are still helpless at birth. While they can make adult decisions from birth, they must be taught right from wrong, and will often act as a human child would until they are corrected. They reach sexual maturity around seven to nine years of age. Females develop physically until age 17 and males around age 19. A Xai lifespan can be divided similarly to that of humans: infancy, childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood, and adulthood. Since Xai do not senescence, that is to say, to age physically, old age is not counted within the Xai lifespan.
Within Xai culture, the length of these stages are clearly defined, and they carry over into human culture in most parts of the world. Xai experience a growth spurt in which their body size increases rapidly, to about 30% their original size during adolescence. They are regarded as psychologically mature by age eight long before this growth spurt, a period of their life many scientist believer to keep them docile until they are fully learned to use their knowledge and power wisely. Some Xai do not undergo this growth spurt, and main remain childlike in appearance and size as a result. Xai females do not undergo menstruation or menopause, for a number of reasons, the most common being that they can determine when they wish to bear a child, at which point they can force their body to release an egg or withdraw it from their uterus. Xai men and women have extreme differences in life expectancy, with men estimated to live on average about 257.3 years, and women only 142.8 years, largely due to violent lifestyles and warfare. Oddly enough, in twins or triplets, male and female siblings live for nearly the same period of time.
Diet[]
Xai are omnivorous, capable of consuming and digesting any array of plant or animal material available to them. The type of food they can eat varies depending on their habitat, and can also depend on their culture and religion. Given their superior immune system and digestive track, the Xai do not suffer from deficiency diseases, and can thus consume anything, including sentient beings such as humans without suffering from the resulting neurological viruses. Little is known of ancient Xai food gathering techniques, though many assume that they were, as with humans, hunter-gatherers in their earilest days, and upon the advent of agriculture, primarily farmers and pastoralists. Given their widely documented nomadic history before mostly settling down in urban centers, the Xai hunted wild game and engaged in fishing. Due to their low food requirements and their ability to survive on minuscule amounts of food for prolonged periods of time, the Xai could thrive in large numbers with stretched food resources, long before the development of agriculture. As a resulting effect of this trait, malnutrition has long been unknown in their recorded history.
Biological variation[]
The Xai as a species are unique in that their race does not differ depending on their climate and diet. Xai do not change in height, weight or skin color, though they can readily adapt to new environments within years of settling in a new area. They are a surprisingly homogeneous species genetically, with more genetic variation within the human race, than in the entire Xai species. The Xai can still adapt to environmental stresses wherever they go, and can do so quickly and efficiently. Their bodies can quickly cope with the effects of environmental extremes that would kill most humans, such as the bitter cold, heat and lack of air in the mountainous regions of the planet. Even in heavily polluted and sometimes radioactive regions, the Xai can thrive without suffering from the negative side-effects. However, their relatively small numbers means that while they can indeed survive in any condition anywhere on the planet, they often chose to reside in regions where they can find members of their species in sizable numbers.
There is some biological variation within the Xai species – traits such as their blood type can vary, as well as their cranical features and sizes, as well as height and sometimes build. However, their eye color and hair color remain the same, though tinges of purple or white (or even both) can be found in women. The average height of an adult Xai is between 1.7 meters (5ft 8in) to 2.2 meters (7ft 3in) tall, and this itself can change depending on sex and regional origin. Skin color does not appear to change greatly in the Xai, with dark brown skin Xai (closer to that found in some Africans) found closer to the equator, and relatively light brown skin Xai (closer to that found in Ethiopians and African Americans) further away from the equator. However, they remain within the same zone of skin color no matter where they go.
Xai hair is always jet black, with high levels of melanin found in them. The level of melanin in them never decreases, and as a result, their hair does not grey as they age. African textured hair is found mostly in the male half of the race, while women possess silkier hair, which when cut short, is often straight and wispy in texture and appearance. Researchers have been unable to explain the development of the Xai's unique protection against ultraviolet radiation, which exceeds that found in humans. However, it has been theorized that their dark skin and hair this may in fact be one of the leading reasons the Xai can survive in highly radioactive areas equal to that of Chernobyl or Fukushima in radioactive level and output. Given this protection, many Xai can be found holding very dangerous occupations handling radiation such as nuclear power plant workers.
Psychology[]
Sleep and dreaming[]
The Xai require less sleep than humans, requiring on average two to three hours of rest per day. Xai can get by on less for longer periods of time, but most often make up for this with longer periods of sleep after their body has reached its limit. Often, when a Xai does this, they most sleep for seven to eight hours a day to make up for the lack of rest and recuperation. The Xai dream when they sleep, and more vividly too. Dreams and nightmares are often times very specific, often relating to what a Xai did one day or planned to do the next, and with what people or things too. Sometimes, these very dreams may actually happen in the future in the same manner as they happened in the dream, giving the impression to many that the Xai may be mildly physic, which the Xai deny.
Motivation and emotion[]
The Xai experience motivation and by extension, emotion, differently from humans. The Xai are notably selfish and apathetic toward the plight of non-Xai. They tend to sympathize with tyrants and aggressors instead of heroes or victims, and often prefer bad endings regarding good characters while rooting for the villains to succeed. Women tend to be more emotional than men, though they are often more aggressive and violent than men as well. Men tend to be more apathetic and logical in regards to thought and decision-making, and take a more realistic outlook upon a situation. However, women can be just as logical as their male partners, though they tend to act in the same manner as human males when their emotions cloud their thinking and act rashly. Male Xai take fewer risks than female Xai, and tend to make better parents and leaders as a result. This is believed to be a result of their taking on the burden of child-rearing and policy-making as their numbers, as in the present and past, were too low to see them risking their lives hunting or fighting, especially given their great importance in Xai reproduction.
Because of their general apathy and pleasure in the suffering of others, the Xai have difficulty relating to the pain of others, and often do not care to deal with wrongdoing outside of their own communities. Even then, the Xai do not view matters the same as with humans. Murder and rape are not considered crimes per se, but minor wrongdoings that deserve a slap on the wrest rather than an actual punishment. Blasphemy or heresy, however, are considered real crimes, and are punished with death. In either case, the Xai are unpredictable emotionally, and will often only sympathizes with humans that look like them (black Africans), criminals to some extent, and those in an oppressive role such as an abusive husband. On the latter, the Xai are a very misogynistic given their cultre, and even women can be considered misogynistic as they do not possess the same physical failings of human women (due to being stronger than human men and being equipped to commit the same sex crimes as men).
Sexuality and love[]
Sexuality is a major aspect of Xai society and tradition. The Xai are only one of three species (the other being humans and the bonobo), to engage in sexual intercourse outside of the male or female's reproductive cycle. They engage in it for pleasure and enjoyment, which is often a part of private Xai social gatherings. Xai are relatively unique in that unlike in humans, homosexuality is non-present as an in-born trait, and is naturally regarded as "unnatural" by the Xai, especially when observed in other species. However, unlike with humans, both sexes of the Xai can reproduce with one another, though only male-female partnerships are permitted or tolerated. Sexual intercourse as part of a friendship (only between male-female or two females) are permitted. Male relationships are not accepted for specific reasons regarding genetics and religion. It has been proven that the Xai are "hard-wired" to view the opposite sex as the "right" sex to establish relationships with. Therefore, it is impossible for a Xai to prefer a member of the same sex over that of another for a lasting romantic or sexual relationship, with only a few exceptions to the rule.
Demographics[]
Main article: Xai diaspora
The Xai can be found nearly everywhere, even in places they have traditionally been unwelcomed. There are 10,865,774 Xai as of 2013, that official census data collected by the Xai and the governments of the nations they reside in have revealed. However, many suspect that there are at least half a billion, given the fact that many Xai were showing up in regions they were least expected, such as North Korea and Ireland. Recent sightings of Xai showing up in the great Middle Eastern regions known as خاي (Khai), such as Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia, have been some of the latest signs that the Xai are far more widespread than initially believed to have been. More disturbing is news of the Xai in these isolated areas carving out chunks of territory for themselves to reside on, and pushing off or enslaving entire villages on the land which they have claimed.
Largest known populations of Xai[]
# | English name | Xai name | Xai population |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Xai Ascendancy | Хай Асьсанданця Ksa'ī As'sandan̄cya |
56,475,221 |
2 | United States of America | Юнаьитеда Стеца офа Америка Yūnā'iṭēḍa Sṭēṭsa ŏfa Amērikā |
25,831,14 |
3 | Russian Federation | Русьсияна Федаресана Rus'siyana Phēḍarēśana |
9,824,152 |
4 | Arab Republic of Egypt | Араба Рипаблика офа Аигяпта Araba Ripablika ŏfa Aigyapta |
702,777 |
5 | Federative Republic of Brazil | Федеративе Рипаблика офа Бразила Phēdērātivē Ripablika ŏfa Brāzīla |
371,358 |
6 | French Republic | Френца Рипаблика Phrēn̄ca Ripablika |
181,111 |
7 | United Kingdom of Britain and Northern Ireland | Юнаьитеда Кингадама офа Грета Бритена Энда Нортхерна Аяралаинда Yūnā'iṭēḍa Kiṅgaḍama ŏfa Grēṭa Briṭēna Ēṇḍa Nōrṭhērṇa Āyaralaiṇḍa |
134,525 |
8 | Japan | Япана Jāpāna |
103,875 |
9 | Commonwealth of Australia | Каманавелтха офа Острелия Kāmanavēltha ŏfa Ŏsṭrēliyā |
50,198 |
10 | Canada | Канада Kanāḍā |
47,813 |
11 | Republic of India | Рипаблика офа Индия Ripablika ŏfa Iṇḍiyā |
31,552 |
12 | Republic of Ireland | Рипаблика офа Аяралаинда Ripablika ŏfa Āyaralaiṇḍa |
28,592 |
13 | Republic of South Africa | Рипаблика офа Саьутха Африка Ripablika ŏfa Sā'utha Aphrīkā |
23,439 |
14 | Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia | Федарала Демокретика Рипаблика офа Итхиёпия Fēḍarala Ḍēmōkrēṭika Ripablika ŏfa Ithiyōpiyā |
15,720 |
15 | Kingdom of Thailand | Кингадама офа Тхаьилаинда Kiṅgaḍama ŏfa Thā'īlaiṇḍa |
8,359 |
16 | Democratic People's Republic of Korea | Демокретика Пипалаьса Рипаблика офа Кория Ḍēmōkrēṭika Pīpala'sa Ripablika ŏfa Kōriyā |
1,218 |
Religion and spirituality[]
Main article: Xanism
See also: Xai Christianity and Akhari Islam
The Xai are highly spiritual and religious, with all members adhering to a faith of some sort. All acknowledge the existence of a god, a god whom they have named Xanus, the father of the Xai species. Most Xai outside of the homeland will often adhere to form of Christianity, given that it most clearly mirrors the folklore of their own god. Xai are thus considered by some to be an ethnoreligious race, in which a Xai is both a Christian (or Muslim) and a member of the Xai race. Aside from this, the Xai do not follow any other religions, following either Xanism, Christianity, or Islam, or a combination of Xanism/Christianity or Xanism/Islam (both of which are the most common). The Xai are vehemently opposed to atheism, and have at times been the most vocal critic against the belief that there is no god. It has since been discovered that the Xai are hardwired to believe in a god, and since their genetic structure is near-impossible to alter, the Xai literally cannot support atheism as a fact of their genetic code.
Given their fierce religiosity, Xai are often times the proponents of religiously-based crimes against certain groups, the most common of these being the Jews. The Xai acknowledge the fact that the Jews were responsible for killing Jesus Christ, whom the Romans executed on behalf of the Jews. They make the logical argument that while cruxification wasn't done until the second century, Jesus was not killed with a cross but a stake, which he made reference to himself (i.e., "pick up your torture stake"). They also state that the Jews were the ones that called out for Jesus' death, not the Romans, and when offered a choice in releasing Jesus or the criminal Barabbas, they those Barabbas. Plus, their hostility toward Jesus throughout his ministry was viewed as a pretext to their killing him. As such, the Xai possess a kind of hatred often only reserved for the most reviled of the Xai's enemies as a people.
The Xai were notable participants in the Crusades, fighting to liberate the Outremer (the Levant), from Muslim rule at the time. 15,000 Xai crusaders fought in the wars, and built their own castle in Egypt known as the Raven's Castle (Raivēna'sa Kaisala). They were allowed to keep the castle by Saladin when he and his aide agreed the Xai were too dangerous to confront even though they were outnumbered. Outside of these events, the Xai are often times very welcoming of other religions, and will sometimes extend protection to those they deem logical and useful. Islam and Buddhism often benefit from this kind of protection by the Xai, with extensive benefits granted to followers of those religions, even though they are not Xai. It should be noted that the official emblem of the Xai's faith is similar to the cross used by Christianity; a black cross with four equally-sized limbs with two sharp ends pointed outward.
There are many Xai who pertain to the Islamic belief system, as Xanism states that most Abrahamic religions (with the exception of Judaism), led to the god of the Xai. Some 500,000 Xai are followers of Islam, and mostly follow their own branch of the religion known as Akhari Islam (Arabic: آخر akhr; meaning "another" or "another path"), which teaches that Allah is in fact Xanus in another form, seeking to appeal to the Xai who colonized the lands of the Middle East during the rise of Islam. Unlike with other branches of Islam, Sunnis and Shi'ites do not bother trying persecute the Akhari Xai for their beliefs, well aware of the potential threat and fultility it carries attempting to harm them will bring, as well as the fact the Xai Muslims are very protective of their fellow human Muslims. Maintaining their support is far more valuable than earning their spite and hatred. One would be wise to note that the Xai Islamic community does not support terrorism as with the majority of Muslims, but will assist those seeking to defend their fate properly.
Culture[]
Like humans, the Xai are a social species, maintaining a highly complex cultural system by which they live. Given that they maintain a single homeland of their own, the Xai across the globe simply adopt whatever cultural developments the homeland creates, or simply that which is common throughout their population as a whole on the planet. They are homogeneous, and dislike human interpretations of what they should and should not do, like, or worship. Given this wide belief, the Xai are an entirely unique group of people, who are further separated from human norms by the fact that they are not human at all.
Gender roles[]
Unlike humans, both sexes of the Xai can reproduce, and as a result, reproductive capabilities are not as entirely important in the establishment of the gender roles of the Xai. However, it does play a part in their society. Given that men are far fewer than women, and considerably weaker to a certain extent (with the exception of the patriarch and the archons), men are expected to lead at home and in church, as well as the caretaker and raising the young. The leadership role comes for their rationality and lower risk-taking compared to Xai women, and the need for the fewer for absolutely vital male population to stay out of harms way. Their spiritual role comes from their being the only gender capable of performing the rebirthing process that acts as a form of resurrection for the Xai species, in that the small crystalline brain-casing found within the heads of the Xai are ingested by men and used to give birth to the Xai that the case came from, with their memories and conscientiousness intact.
Women are expected to be workers, fighters, and productive members of society, and fully expected to put their physical strength to good usage in building a better society for the men that lead them and future Xai. They are expected to serve as helpers and aids, carrying children for men though they could do the same, allowing them to put their precious free time to good use, and defending the nation while the men administer the country properly and efficiently. Also, they support the child-rearing task given the men by helping provide for the often times larger cadres of children accompanying a man as he tutors them. Female Xai are often overprotective of their men, and will attempt to keep them from working, leaving home, or searching for a female partner outside of the family. Xai society holds it that men are supposed to be pampered and taken care of, while women do all of the "real" work.
In light of this, Xai gender roles are something of a reversal of those found in foreign gender roles with a few key differences. For most of their early years, and unless they make it into politics or the priesthood, men have very little free will of their own, treated by Xai women as trophies, sex objects, and idols unless once again they can get away from their family. Women make most of the decisions at home if their is no strong male head at home. They are expected to marry their sons or brothers off wisely, and typically use them as bargaining chips in inter-house relationships. Women are thus regarded as predatory and risk-takers, and fully expected to be obedient to their father and archon, and keeping their sons and brothers at home and under close observation and reproducing. Men are expected to remain politically and sexually active, keeping their sisters and daughters happy, the family strong, and the house members numerous by producing as many offspring as possible.
Kinship[]
The meaning of kinship and marriage in Xai culture and society is far different from the view held by that of humanity. Xai are organized into groups known as families, which are different from those family units used by humans. Families consist of hundreds of members, which marry and breed within the same pool of family members. The incest taboo known to humans does not exist within Xai culture, but instead, generational preferences are the norm. Members of a family marry others of the same or less often, lower generation, though sexual partnerships can exist between any generation within the family. Outside of the "immediate" family is the house, or household, which is made up of numerous other families of the same family tree. At the head of the house is the archon, who commands supreme loyalty and selflessness of his children. The sons of the archon in turn command the loyalty of their families, thus creating a social order built around family ties.
Marriage within Xai culture is much different than in human culture. Marriage is done with the aim of starting a family, escaping one's own family, or establishing alliances with other houses or strengthening ties within the same household. Marriage initiation runs both ways in Xai society. Men seeking to build a family within their household typically marry one or more of their sisters or a cousin. When running away from another family or at times even a household, a male Xai will attempt to marry into another household to prevent his sisters from legally reclaiming him, as he, as a fertile male, is absolutely vital to the survival of the family. In marrying, he is deemed a full-fledged man of his own, and not a toy or bartering chip of his sisters. This grants him the freedom to choose his own fate than leave it in the hands of his sisters. Men may be handed over to another family as a sign of peace or friendship, as only Xai born to men or male-female relationships will become fertile.
The more male members a family has, the more friendships and families it can establish, and the more powerful it can become within Xai politics. On the opposite side of the ring are the women, who are the gender expected to approach a man for his hand in marriage, much in the same way a man would approach a woman in humanity. As the provider and protector, women are expected to earn a man's vow of commitment to them through their unending determination, a trait respected by the Xai in women. Given that there are not effort men to go around within the Xai species (with a pitiful 1:15 male-to-female ratio), it has long been permitted for women to enter into long-term personal relationships, which are partially romantic, but are allowed to end when a man is available to wed. Given that female Xai also possess male reproductive organs (and vise versa with men), female sexual relationships can also produce children, albeit many of them infertile.
Handicrafts[]
No group doubts the craftsmanship of the Xai, an area of cultural development in which the Xai are professionals. They are well known for their exclusive usage of many types of ebony and silks only they can grow and produce to a certain extent that humans have not been able too themselves. What's more is the fact that the Xai have an unusual obsession with the color black, with hints of purple thrown in for variation, and have produced many methods to ensure nearly everything they use and wear is of the same pitch black color. Xai silk is one notable example of their skills. Xai silk is produced using a type of silkworm unseen by humans before, which is black in color, and produces some of the well-known black fabrics adored by the Xai. Also notable are their skills with synthetics, which have been used to produce the skin-tight, form-fitting mesh one-piece garments often worn under their usual clothing for insulation and protection from the elements.
It has been known for quite a while that when Xai move into a new area, they bring their usual assortment of tools and specially-bred animals that produce everything they need to reproduce their society in another region of the world. If they find a type of clothing (such as the Japanese kimono) or device (AK-47 for instance), they will create a Xai reproduction of the items, and create a Xai copy of their neighbor's culture using materials produced by the Xai. Resources most well known for their craftability are nullium and sardonikium, which are simply to steel and the latter a mixture of glass and diamonds. Both are black in color but with their usual purplish shine, and produced and utilized solely by the Xai. Any machinery they need or want will be created using these strange materials, that no government or organization anywhere else have been able to reproduce.
Tattoos and piercings[]
The Xai have no social stigma against tattoos or piercings, which are a frequent sight in many Xai families depending on their background and history. Xai prefer geometric or tribal tattoos, and piercings made with nullium, which are often used as a sign of their social standing, historical occupation, or affiliation within a household. However, tattoos and piercings are not universal within Xai society, and some Xai may choose not to get one or the other simply out of personal preference. Outside of their social uses, many practical reasons to get them exist, with the eldest males of a family or houseless women being the most frequent to acquire them. The men may get them as a sign of their strength and power, while houseless women get them to stand out to signify their lack of a leading male needed to establish a permanent household. They may use tattoos to replace the hair on parts of their body, and use it to create identifying marks within a houseless family they belong too. These tattoos serve as a good warning for men wandering around by themselves, as houseless women, the most dangerous of Xai females, are heavily marked and pieced, and will attempt to kidnap a man to create a house for themselves.
Architecture[]
The Xai have traditionally dwelt in houses made of any material available in the region in which they dwell, though they would often and still do, produce a Xai variant of the dwelling they currently inhabit, using materials only available to their people alone. During their early travels in Asia and Europe, the Xai would living in yurts made of a fabric produced using animals bred by the Xai for the particular dwelling they would to build. Many of the larger yurts were built with large wagons and numerous houses or bulls to pull them during travel. In other regions, Xai homes were noticeable by the black materials used to construct them, and the difficulty of destroying them later on. In more permanent Xai villages and towns, their houses followed a specific design pattern unique to their people alone.
Xai building involves numerous geometrical patterns and insulative materials that were not available to the rest of their human neighbors during the times they were built, as well as heavily-embellished interiors in comparison to the more than less often plain exteriors of their buildings. Xai buildings are best known for their simplistic, yet highly aesthetic designs. Their stained glassed windows, deep colored carpets with intertwined designed, and their high-adorned pillars and walls, practically similar to Gothic architecture, yet with more streamline designs, have long bee a major aspect of Xai building techniques. Xai churches are uniquely plain on the inside, with a number of adorned surfaces, but lacking in other images or designs, with the exception of the Xai cross which may often be found inside.