Origins & Prehistory
The Elkowan System is a complex one with a K6 primary star (Elkowan A), a red dwarf companion (Elkowan B) in a 1045-year orbit and a pair of brown dwarves (Elkowan C and D) in a mutual orbit of 17 years and orbiting the primary over 23000 years. The configuration of this system has enabled a large number of planets orbiting all members.
The fifth planet of Elkowan A, Xara’an, is the cradle of the ronites and also the only planet known to have developed a silicate-based lifeform, with all other life-bearing planets producing exclusively carbon-based lifeforms. Although the ronite group of races were not organosilicates themselves, much of their physiology, history and culture were informed by them.
Xara'an has twice the surface area as Earth and 1.13 times its gravity, and as such, it is classified as a super earth. Its bulk composition is similar, despite it being closer to the system's primordial snowline. The surface pressure of its atmosphere averages on two atmospheres and contains mostly nitrogen snd methane, with more trace amounts of ammonia and acetylene, while the surface temperature averages at -65 degrees celsius. The distance from a feint star and the thick atmosphere combine to result in low light levels on the surface, equivalent to dusk or a very overcast day on Earth. The equivalent on Xara'an of photosynthesising plants have black leaves, although much of the plant life makes use of other food sources, such as the abundant atmopheric plankton, other organisms, or chemical reactions like fungi do.
Time 0
Cycles of heating and cooling magma brought exotic suites of chemicals to locations most favourable for silicone based chain formation. Early pyroxene and amphibole mineral sets formed and rapidly dissapated.
With pyroxene as a basic building block, far more complex minerals developed, which took advantage of the influxing mineral sets that swept Xara’an's early magmas. Several broad mineral varieties formed, such that they could be called organosilicates. These died rapidly as magmas cooled.
Later forms of these organiosilicates could, through the trapping of heat flows, control their own growth, and thereby avert frontal death through the freezing of the environment about the pattern replication fronts
500 Ma
Marks the establishment of the stable assemblage of lifeforms. The central magma crystals would promote the growth of self-similar patterns in a front that moves radially outward. In effect, this leads to the definition of an equilibrium within this form, which is essentially unchanging. By the same definitional set, the front is therefore the living part. Each pattern process is an organism, which is in the style of its parent crystals.
600 Ma
After an appreciable time, the expanding patterns merged. Each radial growth carried subtle “genetic” characteristics. When growths met, a planar interface developed along which chemical communication took place. This really began the definitional domains. Nonetheless “peaceful” communication was not the sole result and pattern cannibalisation and recoding took place. In a purely chemical sense the patterns that relied on the largest enthalpies (with respect to certain fixative reactions) tended to lose out to the leaner patterns the saved the greatest energy.
800 Ma
End of the Hadean Era on Xara’an. The crust begins to solidify partly due to the silicate organisms. Development during this phase includes the use of gamma radiation and chemical zoning for short range communication. Long-range communication is achieved through the employment of magnetic fields, which begins to establish a planet-wide pattern of influence amongst the successful organisms.
1000 Ma
Solid crust formed from the skeletal remains of the silicate organisms. These resonate and amplify patterns characteristic of the living organisms the crust originally was. This fixes further evolution of the mantle silicates, and a feedback system is established. Collections of carbon and water follows the structural lines of the fossil silicates in the crust. The carbon migrates to the interstitial fractures formed on cooling of the crust, while water migrates down from the surface.
1200 Ma
High tangential gamma radiation in the crust charges the carbon and water soup giving rise to more complex carbon-based molecules. The early molecules follow the silicate template through magnetic resonance. Meteor bombardment and crustal movements give rise to local variability.
2000 Ma
Complexity gradient forms in the crust. More complex organic molecules form closer to the surface. Development of amino acids and proteins. Simpler forms dominate the lower crust where gamma radiation is too intense to allow long chain development.
2400 Ma
Crustal movements dominated by thermal processes as a result of silicate growth and communication. Rise of silicate individuals from domain-frontal interactions. This is mirrored with the development of organic networks within the surface silicate structure. Coded organic fragments grow along radial fussures in a similar manner to the way the silicates did in the past.
2500 Ma
Frontal carbon interactions resulting from competing growths. This gives rise to active organisms which become increasingly life-like and specialised.
2700 Ma
Marks the development of fungal organisms within the top 2 metres of the crust. Hyclaic colonies spread and reproduce dilcaropotically.
2750 Ma
Sexual reproduction via spores off hyphae tips begins with fungal organisms reaching the surface. Spores travel great distances owing to strong thermal updraghts. Many die as the land on unfavourable rock (such as that created by a competing silicate pattern). Owing to the vast number of competing patterns many orders of fungal organisms appear as they continue to develop.
2800 Ma
Fungal forms develop full fruiting bodies which occupy radial patterns on the surface. The spores themselves become specialised adopting varying strategies for sustained flight and magnetic orientation for finding the most favourable silicate arrangements.
2900 Ma
Additional spore specialisation, through the extension of the flight phase. Dual-phase dirigible organisms exist by maintaining flight over many seasons distributing carried spores over regions of appropriate magnetic alignment.
2970 Ma
Appearance of large mobile carnivorous fungi from the dirigible sporers. This occurs alongside the development of winged spores for powered flight. Additional specialisations lead to the development of a range of senses for the aquisition of the most suitable substrate.
3100 Ma
Appearance of sporoids and dirigabloids. A basic split in animal taxa. Dirigable assemblages appear from all silicate templates and come to inhabit the air permanantly. These release spores which grow in the ground during early phases. Later forms release spores that remain airbourne and begin by mating before cell division and adult organism growth results. Sporoids develop through becoming mobile ground and air dwellers. Many species graze on the fungal forests or attack other sporoid or dirigabloid forms. There are competing four legged and six legged varieties.
3300 Ma
The definitional moment where it could be said that Xara’an supports three ecosystems groups: air: ground: and magma. As we are following the development of the Ronites in particular, we will focus discussion on the ground-dwelling forms from now on.
3350 Ma
The use of phosphorous minerals derived from silicate mineral assemblages, produces articulated, armoured fauna, which become capable of manipulating legs for fast ground movement and attack of prey. Astonishing diversity develops with the introduction of orb spinners, hoppers and fungal builders. Many fungal plants form symbiotic relationships with these fauna to drastically alter the lanscape. At this stage there are still very pronounced domains where organic life is restricted to areas where there are compatible organosilicates.
3410 Ma
The further development of chitinous, phosphorous and calcite shells to aid in defence and the development of larger bodies to resist the cold. At around this time we see the first evidence of younger crust representing newer organosilicates having an effect on the organic evolutionary process. This results in the further diversification of ground-dwelling fauna, and takes Xara’anian development into the Mesozoic Era.
3560 Ma
True exoskeleton forms begin to appear in larger fauna. The coverall armour begins to recede to bone like structures that surround the soft parts of the individual. The development of full skull structures encase a more developed brain. Such creatures are capable of longer ranged travel and quickly come to dominate the ground fauna. They are known as the protoskeletons.
3800 Ma
Development of the mesoskeletons. These drastically reduced energy requirements in the reproductive process by having mating rituals between transexual adults and direct sporing into receptive individuals. Many of the vulnrabilities of the protoskeletons are avoided and the mesoskeletons begin to dominate the faunal scene. The mesoskeletons diversify greatly leading to a retaking to the air by some forms, the development of thermal regulation by others, and improved reproduction by still more. During this time, the seven basic orders of the mesoskeltons develop. The warm blooded live young bearing vaieties lead on to the development of the Neoskeletons.
3950 Ma
The upheaval of new crust during this period results in the redirection of organic evolution. This heralds the arrival of the neoskeletons. These have finer exoskeletal structures, which are entirely located under a protective skin. The structure still lies outside of the major muscular developments but forms ribs and ridges for structural integrity. Most structures are articulated, while internal cartellage structures distribute electochemical information. Flexible chitinous webs of rigidity support the membrane cuticle. The Neoskeletons come to inhabit every part of ground and air ecosystems.
3980 Ma
Following the introduction of the Neoskeletons, diversity and development leads to the formation of successive improvements to the reproductive system. The system becomes more internalised and more mature young are born. Many of the other developments include infant rearing strategies and specialisations in the senses. Amongst the Neoskeletons are a standard pattern of sensory developments. First amongst these is a succession of improvements to magnetoreception, that enables much finer detail and differentiation between static magnetic fields and oscillating fields such as that in light. Touch, taste, smell, and hearing are also improved. Sonar/radar is generally employed in rangefinding and communication (the latter at lower frequencies) amongst some phyla.
3990 Ma
The development of new crust completely removes one type of fossil organosilicate patterning. This causes a mass-extinction down one order of each kingdom. Amongst the Neoskeletons, however, certain species adapt with the aid of biochemical signal adoption. Ground dwellers of this type are no longer geographically restricted. Fauna exhibiting pattern switching of this type are called the cryptoskeletons. Chitinous structures become very much finer and far more specialised. Regenerative capabilities and radar are lost, but lycanthropic transformations are gained.
4000 Ma
Cryptoskeletons come to make up half the fauna of Xara’an. These come to fill many new niches including rock burrowers and many take to flight by lightening their bone structure further.
4040 Ma
One family of cryptoskeletons, refered to as the ronaforms, occupied two niches, a vegetarian farmer, leading to the the greys, the other an ambush predator, leading to the smalleons, xorgs and yidi. By the time these ronaforms had arrived at the equivalent of the neolithic, the greys had enslaved the other races.