Yihai

"'We mastered our world, we mastered the stars. All that remains is this mortal coil.'""-- Scripture of Ascension" The Yihai are a tech-worshipping race from Aesperia [Sigma Yuvati]. They are humanoid in nature, but have committed their lives to technology and its advancements. Very few in the Galaxy have ever seen a Yihai’s true face, as they live inside customized suits that isolate themselves from the environment.

Please note that the Yihai are very reclusive with giving information on their species to other sentients. As such, the data on this document is highly classified, and the average person is not meant to know many of these things. Some Yihai will act violently when they know a non-Yihai has information about them.

QUICK INFO
Height Range: N/A*

Avg. Weights: N/A*

Avg. Body Type: Lanky, Thin

Avg. Lifespan: ~650 years (data questionable)

Species Homeplanet: Aesperia [Sigma Yuvati]

* Key Physiology: As the Yihai live inside suits, and heavily augment their body, weight and size can vary greatly and averages would not be accurate.

Official Language(s): The Yihai language, Ahm’yana, is spoken both verbally and within communication subsystems, similar to Droid languages. Due to the segregation of Yihai technology, however, this also means that directly translating it to Galactic Universal is impossible without direct access to the Yihai network.

Common Dialects: Pael’sala (Yihai Space), Tel’jano (Non-Yihai Space)

Common Occupations: Engineer, Mercenary, Mechanic, Decker, Gunsmith

Common Traits: Lonesome, Productive, Reserved, Resourceful, Dedicated

Common Flaws: Cold (especially to non-Yihai), Humorless, Ruthless, Proud

Common name schemes: Yihai names start with one’s Creed, or in other words what sect of the Yihai religion the individual follows; with their personal name coming second.

Examples: Qihi Halë, Anta’al Rish, Yivel Eva

Xenophobic Terms: ??

Visual References: Quarians, scifi full-body suits (no skin may show)

PHYSIOLOGY
Although the Yihai are rarely seen beneath their suits, based on existing references and texts Centauri Station artists have done their best to create examples of what we presume them to look like.

Based on a few confirmed analyses, the Yihai are Humanoids that stand at around 6’0”. This height however changes with augmentations and suit adornment. By default they are thin and lanky, and rarely put on much muscle, using technology to compensate. Their skin starts as a vibrant blue, purple, or pink, and lightens with age. Elder Yihai are almost entirely white. During maturity bodily markings appear, dark stripes and curls that mark the Yihai as ready to begin their Rite of Ascension.

The Yihai have three fingers and toes biologically. It is common for cybernetic limbs to increase finger amounts of efficiency. Other dermal implants in the eyes, skull, neck, and nerve pathways show as well, usually meant for practical purposes instead of fashion.

Because Yihai culture involves wearing an isolated suit at all times, as years pass the Yihai become extremely sensitive to outside bacteria. Simple suit punctures or alien bacteria easily cause illness or even death, especially for Loyalist Creeds. This is why the Yihai must always be acquiring vaccines, antibiotics, and other medicines. It also explains their general desire to always remain in the suit: “is it worth risking an infection?”

Religion: Prime Testament
The Yihai take their name from the dominant religion that conquered the people’s home planet of Aesperia during their pre-space history. The religion’s doctrine was originally quite simple, with the main concept being: by advancing the Yihai species technologically and biologically, one day their bodies will ascend to a higher plane of being. Most Yihai refer to this time as the “Prime Testament”.

The Prime Testament was founded during the ages of swords and castles, and it was here that some of the core pillars of Yihai were established. For example, one’s body was to be entirely covered, with no skin showing, as a means of ‘overcoming the boundaries of flesh and society’. The logic was originally that prejudice and bias would rise based on appearance and gender, and by abstaining from popularizing individuality the people would grow united. Another pillar was an oath of efficiency, which is the most commonly-known of the pillars. According to the Oath of Efficiency the Yihai will never ascend to the higher planes unless they strive to eradicate the inefficiencies of their lives, such as reducing the time asleep, improving completion times of products, and other such concepts.

Although once united, the interpretations of the Yihai scripture were scattered once the religion’s founder, whose name was lost to time, died under murky circumstances. With no one person to guide the people, the Yihai fractured immensely and separated into their own sects of Yihai belief, with every person having their own interpretations of how the Yihai should evolve. When one person’s interpretation grew followers, they declared themselves a Creed.

Sometimes the differences between Creeds was minimal, for example one Creed may believe that it is okay to remove parts of one’s coverings to eat at a restaurant, where another may believe one’s coverings can only be removed among family or marriage partners. Sometimes the differences are extreme, such as the Ati’kali, who interpreted the Prime Testament to mean that rather than innovating with new technology, the Yihai should instead focus on perfecting the technologies they already have. The Ati’kali are still around today, and can be identified as Yihai that still wield swords and bow and arrows- though they are much more advanced than medieval weaponry, for example their bows are compound and fire acid-tipped arrows to corrode enemy defenses.

Religion: Modern Testament
As the Yihai evolved to craft firearms and early space-faring vessels, the strongest Creeds modernized the Prime Testament into what it is today.

When a Yihai child reaches adolescence they begin their Rite of Ascension. Under the guidance of a mentor, usually the parent or teacher of the child, they memorize Yihai scripture and history. They endure rigorous weekly tests to ensure they understand the core principles of their religion- when it is okay to remove one’s coverings (according to their native Creed), how to maximize the efficiency of daily operations, and more. Secondly, a Yihai is instructed to select one technical skill that they are to apprentice under, whether that’s a type of engineering, weaponsmithing, combat logistics, medicines, sciences, factory design and maintenance, that sort of thing. While it is not enforced that a Yihai take a career in their chosen skill (as there are plenty of non-technical careers in their society that need filling as well), it is still something they must practice and keep fresh to their core values.

Once the first steps of the Rite are complete, a Yihai must build their ascension suit. While in the times of the Prime Testament only clothing was worn, the Yihai evolved to adorn specialized environmental suits that further maximize the scope of their efficiency. Many years ago the only kind of ascension suit was the Quarizuno (pictured above and elsewhere on this page), but as the Yihai spread out and individualization soared once more, Quarizuno suits are now just another common element on the market. Some Yihai build their suits from scratch, with parts they purchase or scavenge. Some Yihai corporations, particularly PMCs, assign suits to their employees to maintain a standard and create brand identity.

An ascension suit must cover one’s entire body and show no skin. It should be airtight and capable of function in hazardous environments, such as radioactive, chemical or outer space (though this is not always the case with poor Yihai). The amount of modifications one can make to their suit is not dictated by Creed, but when one can remove it is.

Another pillar added with the Modern Testament was “Abstinence from Outer Forces”. When Yihai scouting teams located an intelligent species on planet Madra, a hearing was called to discuss the implications of the matter. Acting as a sort of Prime Directive for the Yihai, they chose to take a reclusive stance on the galactic scale, refusing to involve themselves in the dealings of other species. According to an ancient verse of the Prime Testament, it was considered a sin to bring the concepts of ascension to those who had not achieved its enlightenment on their own. Thus the observation outpost on Madra was quietly abandoned, and the Yihai returned to their home space, remaining an unknown observer to the galaxy. Whenever other sentient life crept too close, civilian or not, the Yihai made them disappear. At the time, Diemsei called Yihai Space: “The Void’s Maw”.

Kenovac Blitz
In 2714, as galactic expansion took place, it was inevitable that someone would take note of all the ships disappearing near Yihai space. The foundation of the Coalition of Sentient Species (what later became the United Council) brought united forces to Yihai borders, the former of whom figured it was a mass of pirates on the fringes of space.

Inside Yihai space, however, the people were currently amidst a civil war based on supported proposals to modify the core pillars of the Modern Testament. When it became public knowledge that other sentient species had reached their borders with their own unique spacecrafts, some Yihai began to ask a question: if these other species had advanced so quickly, would it not be more efficient for the Yihai as a people to cooperate with these outer forces, to greater enhance the rate at which technology evolves? Those that would answer this question with ‘yes’ were called Separatists, with their opposition being the Loyalists, who sought to retain the old ways. The Loyalists had political majority in this instance, and demanded that Separatists- whose primary support came from the border colonies- be criminally tried for heresy.

Hearing that they had been labeled outlaws, the Separatists refused to engage Coalition forces, which left large gaps in territory border defenses. Then they sent out negotiation buoys filled with critical Yihai data, much of which is present on this page. This sparked war immediately between Loyalists and Separatists/Coalition forces. Although the Yihai had superior technology, they lacked one major factor: population. They had severely underestimated how many Human shock troops were ready to be deployed and how intuitive Madran engineering fared against their own.

Some colonies, such as Eltvia on the Yihai border, fell under Coalition occupation early in the Blitz. Here the best interpreters set to work on trying to understand the Yihai, but the language barrier was too complicated. So the Sentients set to work on creating a new language that could be used by each, which started to set the stage for Galactic Universal. The capability of the negotiators impressed even some of the Loyalists stationed on Eltvia, raising sympathies.

After eight months of conflict with Coalition troops incapable of breaching the third front towards the Yihai capitals, eventually a ceasefire was organized and true negotiations with the heart of the Yihai government began. They agreed to join the Coalition, mere months from becoming the United Council, under one condition: No non-Yihai would be given entrance into Yihai Territory, nor will they gain access to the Yihai network that connects them all; and no technology designed and built within Loyalist space was to be shared with outer forces. Though unsavory to some, this deal brought nothing but benefit to both species. While the Yihai received new trade routes and supplies, other Sentients received the benefit of Yihai engineers and scientists bringing massive innovations to galactic society.

Modern Society
Most modern Creeds lean towards Separatist or Loyalist ideals. Loyalists do as they have always, living in recluse behind the veil of Yihai Space. Separatists have been much more forthcoming, journeying out into galactic society to experience life’s variety. Generally, when a Loyalist commits a heavy crime they are exiled from Yihai Space, which is how they appear in outer colonies. Most retain their elitism even after exile, which only aids the stigma between Yihai and other sentients.

Even beyond their people’s borders, Separatist Yihai are bound to their Creed. Yihai still do not remove their suits in public areas, although some have adapted mouth-ports for usage at restaurants and bars; or gential ports for ‘other purposes’.

It is commonly said that: “If you put three Yihai in a room together, the only thing they’ll ever agree on is that one of them is wrong.” As every Yihai is devoted to a Creed, and so many variables change per Creed, often Yihai can get into massive arguments based entirely on their or their Creed’s interpretation of scripture. Even within official Yihai politics assassinations and scandals are destructively common. Luckily, due to their relatively low population (at least outside of Yihai Space), most Yihai can live peacefully without running into members of opposing Creeds often.

In terms of trans-species individuals, the Yihai are very particular about who they allow to be taught. Firstly the trans-Yihai must seek a mentor, an accomplished Yihai, and convince them to take the pupil under their wing. Typically this choice must be made early in life- almost never older than seventeen. The trials and beliefs require a moldable mind, as well as the time needed to adjust to suited life. When the pupil reaches the Rite of Ascension, progress continues the same as if they were any other Yihai. Loyalist Creeds show extreme prejudice towards trans-Yihai, while Separatist Creeds are usually tolerant (though cautious).

Unlike other species transitions, trans-Yihai only receive cybernetics. No real change happens on the biological level, as modern medicine has yet to receive enough data to replicate ‘true’ Yihai DNA. Thus, when a trans-Yihai removes their suit, they can pass off as a highly augmented individual of their original species.

Non-Yihai have exhibited difficulty in relationships with the suited race. The difference in societal norms creates culture shock for many, such as the lack of skin-contact or even glimpses of their partner’s appearance. These issues are not exclusive to other Sentients, as often Separatist Yihai reflect on yearning for physical touch or unfiltered air. This concept was popularized in the film Beneath Our Masks, a romantic tragedy about two Yihai during the First Galactic Rush. The movie broke box office records, and in the years following it Yihai integration into galactic society has been growing rapidly.

TRIVIA

 * Alcohol: