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Description
A third concept for the Legacy setting .O.

One of the more alien races to be discovered, the Muja originate from a small planetoid in the northern quadrant of the Milky Way informally known as Ecolitesi, which roughly translates as “The Source”

From what it’s been theorized by looking at fossil records, Ecolitesi used to be a rather hostile world where even the plant life was dangerous. In order to survive, the species that would become the Muja evolved the ability to alter its surroundings into a biome fit to suit its needs, becoming, in essence, small-scale organic terraformers. Over the following generations the Muja exterminated or absorbed rival fauna and flora as they spread across Ecolitesi, and by the time they developed sentience almost every life form in the planet was genetically related to them at some degree.

Mujan society is eusocial in nature. Everything revolves around “The Red Mother”, a sessile and entirely mindless organism that is nevertheless responsible for their entire ecosystem. Draining nutrients with roots deep beneath the ground, it continually extends fungoid tendrils that grow “trees” and other plant-like life forms loaded with nutrients the Muja need, as well as spawn similarly-conditioned animals to be employed as cattle or hunting companions or labour or even pets. When the Muja themselves spawn, they come in the form of meter-tall Uja (“the helper”) that perform all menial duties, 3 meter tall “Ujaja” (“the fighter”) that protect their brethren, look after the livestock and hunt, and 5 meter “Ujucho (“the knower”) that rule and organize the others. Many other castes are known to exist, however, each of them tending to a specific purpose

While every Muja has individuality, the species possesses a sort of hive mind at an instinctive level. Regulated by the Ujucho, this “network” connects the minds of all Muja-based life forms in proximity, feeding them basic knowledge and instructions, allowing them to communicate without words, and sharing experiences. An individual might break contact by going too far, but will rejoin as soon as more Muja are met, and thus will distribute the new discoveries and happenings. This same link is the answer for the notorious adaptation of the Muja; a specimen with the skill and anatomy needed for an specific task (up and including space ships) can be literally willed into existence by the hive mind focusing into it and channelling this image into The Red Mother

Despite these potentially dangerous traits, the Muja are naturally innocent and almost child-like creatures. Their only wish is to enjoy life and all its experiences, a sentiment that appears strongly in their religion, their celebrations and daily routine. Society is an utopia where everything is perfect, everyone is a friend, and everyone is more than happy to just live, to what could be seen as eerie by other races. Thus the Muja are always eager to make new friends with those they meet, and only colonize planets that are either empty or lack any high-level life forms. Should they feel themselves or their friends in peril, however, they’ll turn into extremely savage and ruthless killing machines, an entire collective bent on destroying whoever wronged them

A curious note about the Muja is that every single caste comes in both genders and is capable of reproducing, even though they shouldn’t be able to from coming of the Red Mother. This gives support to the theory that the Muja themselves might have been at one point independent organisms, absorbed and transformed by the Red Mother’s biology to act as its protectors

Description
A third concept for the Legacy setting .O.

One of the more alien races to be discovered, the Muja originate from a small planetoid in the northern quadrant of the Milky Way informally known as Ecolitesi, which roughly translates as “The Source”

From what it’s been theorized by looking at fossil records, Ecolitesi used to be a rather hostile world where even the plant life was dangerous. In order to survive, the species that would become the Muja evolved the ability to alter its surroundings into a biome fit to suit its needs, becoming, in essence, small-scale organic terraformers. Over the following generations the Muja exterminated or absorbed rival fauna and flora as they spread across Ecolitesi, and by the time they developed sentience almost every life form in the planet was genetically related to them at some degree.

Mujan society is eusocial in nature. Everything revolves around “The Red Mother”, a sessile and entirely mindless organism that is nevertheless responsible for their entire ecosystem. Draining nutrients with roots deep beneath the ground, it continually extends fungoid tendrils that grow “trees” and other plant-like life forms loaded with nutrients the Muja need, as well as spawn similarly-conditioned animals to be employed as cattle or hunting companions or labour or even pets. When the Muja themselves spawn, they come in the form of meter-tall Uja (“the helper”) that perform all menial duties, 3 meter tall “Ujaja” (“the fighter”) that protect their brethren, look after the livestock and hunt, and 5 meter “Ujucho (“the knower”) that rule and organize the others. Many other castes are known to exist, however, each of them tending to a specific purpose

While every Muja has individuality, the species possesses a sort of hive mind at an instinctive level. Regulated by the Ujucho, this “network” connects the minds of all Muja-based life forms in proximity, feeding them basic knowledge and instructions, allowing them to communicate without words, and sharing experiences. An individual might break contact by going too far, but will rejoin as soon as more Muja are met, and thus will distribute the new discoveries and happenings. This same link is the answer for the notorious adaptation of the Muja; a specimen with the skill and anatomy needed for an specific task (up and including space ships) can be literally willed into existence by the hive mind focusing into it and channelling this image into The Red Mother

Despite these potentially dangerous traits, the Muja are naturally innocent and almost child-like creatures. Their only wish is to enjoy life and all its experiences, a sentiment that appears strongly in their religion, their celebrations and daily routine. Society is an utopia where everything is perfect, everyone is a friend, and everyone is more than happy to just live, to what could be seen as eerie by other races. Thus the Muja are always eager to make new friends with those they meet, and only colonize planets that are either empty or lack any high-level life forms. Should they feel themselves or their friends in peril, however, they’ll turn into extremely savage and ruthless killing machines, an entire collective bent on destroying whoever wronged them

A curious note about the Muja is that every single caste comes in both genders and is capable of reproducing, even though they shouldn’t be able to from coming of the Red Mother. This gives support to the theory that the Muja themselves might have been at one point independent organisms, absorbed and transformed by the Red Mother’s biology to act as its protectors