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EvilpixieA β€” Helsttea: The People
Published: 2011-05-01 19:46:00 +0000 UTC; Views: 389; Favourites: 0; Downloads: 4
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Description We have no term for what we are beyond that which was given to us by others. Helstteans, they call us, after the name we attached to our world. Before that, we simply called ourselves 'the people'.



Like most young races, Helstteans were originally thrilled with the discovery of intergalactic intelligent life off their planet. Since then they quickly adapted a very business like relationship, mass producing and selling engine fuel, natural gas, iron, silicon, titanium as well as other mineral resources. It is unsurprising considering their nature that they have high dependency on solar energy and thus have not previously tapped their underground resources. Helsttea is rich in highly valued mineral resources, as are the hundred asteroid moons that orbit the planet. Helstteans mine an extraordinary percentage of both their planet and these natural satellites.



Interaction has given us another name as well; humanoids. We are told a series of features sort us into this category. We stand erect on two prominent limbs connected to a body or torso. We possess two arms with workable hands and a head on top of a neck. A pair of forward facing eyes, a single mouth and a nose gives us a face through which we interact with the world.
We have been told it is a common evolutionary occurrence.



Despite their unique nature, Helstteans do possess a basic humanoid outward body structure broken by the series of extra highly movable branchlike limbs lining their skin from under their arms down to their ankles. These limbs are fragile and often break though regenerate quickly with little to no pain ever felt.Β Β Helstteans skin pigment is also an abnormal green that extends to colour all of their eyes and even the inside of their mouth.



Our variation of this common evolutionary occurrence, however, has been accused of being unique. We are not animals, but neurotically advanced, fast reacting plants. Branches sprout along the sides of our green bodies from ankle to under arm like a series of extra limbs. Flexible, we often fold them around our bodies or let them fan out around us. Long thin membranes, leaves in form and function, sprout from our skin and fold against these branches, fanning out into large sails when we stretch. Gliding is possible on these complex wing-like structures and is a common form of transportation. Because of our plant nature these branches also can be used as roots to 'feed' by latching onto a tree and tapping into its life flow and these leaves can stretch to collect sunlight. Deforestation and scientific advances make this form of feeding rare in modern Helsttea.



Helstteans originally were parasites that would latch onto a host tree using their roots to gather nutrience while collecting sunlight by stretching out their leaves as they do when they glide. With mass urbanization and deforestation this method of feeding soon become obsolete and Helstteans invented large pipe systems that could 'plug' directly into their spines, delivering them the same sublimates as they would receive from a healthy tree. All cities now possess this as the primary method of feeding and areas where Helstteans can connect to their joint food source are located in most homes and in some commune locations throughout every city. Large black pipes coiling throughout the cityscapes have become signature to Helsttean culture.



Our throat is closed; not used to swallow or breathe as an animal's would. We use our mouth to make sounds, to communicate, but would survive easily without one. Our teeth or thorns are simple and not designed for chewing but our bite is poisonous to animals that once called us prey.
We all have six eyes, our two main ones and four smaller ones leading from our main eyes around the side of our head. Finger nails, hair, a tongue, genitals and belly buttons are all aspects of an animalistic being, and thus we do not possess them.
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Comments: 16

kaboomduck [2011-08-26 11:10:40 +0000 UTC]

Wow. I really like the ingenious way of narration, cause it seriously made things much more interesting and understandable compared to a third-person way of describing things. The documentary inserts is a nifty way (not confusing) of putting in more info without having the Helstteans to talk about it!

As for the race themselves; it's very interesting and quite original! I wasn't quite sure how plant races would work when you first said it, but hey, you've made them work! Normally, I'd dislike humanoid aliens, but here, the explanation and idea made it fine. But for the most, I like the idea of Helsttea being modern with cities, and how the Helstteans have adapted and changed their way of feeding. It's a nice departure from a very natural green planet. I can't wait to hear more about the races!

Any thought about visualizing them?

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EvilpixieA In reply to kaboomduck [2011-08-28 11:06:12 +0000 UTC]

I did try to create an actual image depicting the Helsteans, but alas my Photoshop skills are not up to it. Thrilled you liked it but, and thanks for the detailed answer, got a lot from it.

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kaboomduck In reply to EvilpixieA [2011-09-06 14:30:18 +0000 UTC]

Well, the good thing about not having good PS skills is that you get to make up for it by good writing. THat really shows how creative you are in writing, which is, in my opinion, a great way of improving and showing your skills No probs

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Airali-the-Sylph [2011-05-14 02:48:05 +0000 UTC]

Unfortunately I am no fancy storywriting buff, so all I can offer you is my personal opinion.

And I loved it.
A bit different to all the sci-fi novels i've read, which is exactly what you look for. No more of this cookie-cutter nonesense! So very nice story, Barb!

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EvilpixieA In reply to Airali-the-Sylph [2011-05-14 04:30:19 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!
I enjoy my Helsttean aliens! ... actually, well, because this is their planet they are not aliens at all... But that's beside the point!
They don't really have a 'follow the character' story about them but I have a history in my head and I do enjoy how different they are. If I had one I would adopt it and love it, water it and give it plenty of sunshine.

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IsolatedSystem [2011-05-03 04:34:32 +0000 UTC]

Personally, I thought the use of two perspectives was very effective The first person, describing the self, and then a seperate, third party dealing with the more practical, scientific details. Works well

Something that occurred to me whilst reading this (and remembering what I'd read from the previous installment) - they have two suns, correct? A binary star system?

As I recall (though I could be mistaken): binary star systems have quite...destructive ends. Beautiful, but destructive. Regardless of how far off that particular end is in this system, presumably observations of others have been made? They would essentially be seeing as close to a certain, cataclysmic future as you're likely to get. I mean, if you take our planet for example, the end is relatively hard to predict. There are any number of events that could occur, but none that can be said to be likely to occur, as far as I know. Well, apart from the end of the sun, obviously. Would be interesting to see how seeing their potential ends would effect their view of life, and the world they live in.

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EvilpixieA In reply to IsolatedSystem [2011-05-03 16:55:52 +0000 UTC]

Wow, now that is an in depth comment! Hmmm... tricky...
Yes, you are right, they are roatating around a binary star; the primary star being the smaller yellow one and the larger red star being the host star. And yes, their solar system is invitably doomed and goes through frequent (every few years) rough patches when the stars draw closer to each other. Two stars also make night and day... different... not as systematic.
This also means, as you pointed out, they are living in a more unstable solar system to ours and one which will invitably in the next hundred thousand years or so... or maybe not so long, I haven't made the final desicion on many of these things... lead to the destrcution of their planet in a very Star Wars Death Star like fashion.
As to how the Helstteans react to this... well, hopefully I will be able to tap on that in some later insaltments once their lifestyle, relgion, culture and knowledge of their universe is more defined.
Thanks for that comment! It has got me thinking quite a bit.

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IsolatedSystem In reply to EvilpixieA [2011-05-04 04:39:36 +0000 UTC]

Haha trust me, by my standards, it's relatively short.

One of the suns turns out to be a space station? lol.

Would be interesting to see what you come up with. There's potential for some very...intricate philosophical/spiritual complexes.

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EvilpixieA In reply to IsolatedSystem [2011-05-04 15:47:16 +0000 UTC]

Ah, so you are a true in depth commenter! I bow to you, true master of the art of commenting!

I will try my best. Once school is out I will most likely have more time to do such things. That is really rather soon now.

And on that Death Star note: today is international Star Wars day! May the 4th be with you!

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IsolatedSystem In reply to EvilpixieA [2011-05-05 01:05:43 +0000 UTC]

Well, only at times lol. I think to claim the title of master might be a bit...presumptuous of me.

Haha so I realised. May the 4th be with you. In my best Ben Kenobi voice.

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EvilpixieA In reply to IsolatedSystem [2011-05-05 02:11:56 +0000 UTC]


You are awesome.

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IsolatedSystem In reply to EvilpixieA [2011-05-05 02:37:32 +0000 UTC]

Why thank you very much Likewise

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Suinia [2011-05-02 16:46:46 +0000 UTC]

I'm starting to understand why you liked the Nydazi so much!
Yay for plant people. ^.^

I really like the specific detail you went into here regarding their unique anatomy and a brief history of how their primary food source was wiped out creating the need for a modified source.
It interests me that a plant-like people lives on such a planet and actually seem to have been the cause to have made it this way. :0
Normally we think the opposite but here nature-like-spirits seem to have destroyed the surface of their planet! Very interesting!

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EvilpixieA In reply to Suinia [2011-05-02 22:35:28 +0000 UTC]

Hahaha, I know. I read about the Nydazi and thought 'hey, those people sound like they would get on with the Helstteans!' Plant People Rule!!!

Yes, I'm glad I managed to get that across. It really is a challenge to convey so much detailed information and keep it short and not too boring! Being plants in not just appearance but form and function means there are a lot of little details that need to be tapped on. I wish I had enough Photoshop skill to recreate them in image form as I could with my planet!

I have tried to be realistic regarding their nature, quite similar though a long way from being identical, to that of our own human nature. Like we do not strive to connect and preserve other animals, they don't feel too much connection towards other plants. But you are right; there is a certain thrill in creating a planet person who isn't nature loving.

Thanks again for the comment!

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Suinia In reply to EvilpixieA [2011-05-02 23:13:31 +0000 UTC]

Ack photoshop skill (or any drawing skill whatsoever mind you...). I must say we must both be some sort of crazy going on to a primarily drawing site with little to no drawing talent. x__x
I guess we could always try practicing... But that sounds like way too much work... D8

I'm also interested to see if they have some sort of human-like nature or they're entirely different altogether. Given that they're plants. 8-0

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EvilpixieA In reply to Suinia [2011-05-02 23:24:00 +0000 UTC]

Oh I know what you mean! I'm a writer in a website not exactly designed for writers, haha, but I love the community and how it functions and runs. Much better than any primarily writing site I have ever checked out. The image I submitted into this group was my first attempt at anything not written for DA...

Helstteans nature is... complex. Further deviations hopefully should be able to clear up some of the confusion and fill in the blanks. History, Daily Life, Religion and a few others in that general area I think should help with that. If you would like, of course, you can also ask.

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