Welcome to Gaia! ::


User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show.

Welcome to the Fa'e Diary of Zevulon
Like all diaries, this diary is meant to be private. This means you need to ask the permission of RikProwley before you post in here. Please do not ask to buy this Fa'e child, they are NOT FOR SALE. What are the FA'E, anyway? To find out more about them, please visit the FA'E HQ. There are always lots of people there, and our HQ Sheriffs will gladly help you out if you have questions. So please, do not post here and ruin an exciting story, ok? Now, read away and enjoy the little and big adventures of Zevulon.

Random Facts About Zevulon
Reborn: 07-18-04
Gender: Male
Guardian: Emperial Teal (RikProwley's character)
Favorite Colors: Is still learning the concept of color
Favorite Food: Mango baby food
Powers: Zev strikes fear in the hearts of the wicked with his spikes of doom, or maybe it's just the looming shadow of Em behind him?
DO NOT POST IN THIS DIARY FOR ANY REASON. WHATSOEVER.

If you wish to deliver a gift, PM it to EmperialTeal. It will be added to the front diary page with your name, message, and a timestamp.
User Image
Please do not PM gifts to RikProwley.

User Image

User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show.
User Image


User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show.Nickname(s): Zev
Also Known As: --
Home Dimension: Gaia?
Species: Fa'e
Homeplanet: Gaia?
Affiliation: none
Height: ~66"; still growing
Weight: ~120 lbs.
Age: 18 months
D.O.B.: July 18th, 2004 (Earth-Gaia)
Hair: golden with grey tips
Eyes: green, but occasionally they change color
Fav. Color: undecided about spots
Fav. Food: plain oatmeal
Likes:
Dislikes:
Hobbies: exploring Gaia, hiking
Skills: (moderately) strong for his size and build, extremely good sense of direction and memory for places
Weaknesses: sensitive to cold (was totally indifferent to temperature as a baby and toddler)
Personality: Zev doesn't talk very much, preferring to use his words sparingly if at all. He communicates in levels of dissatisfaction. During the course of a normal day he maintains a disaffected neutrality at best, occasionally dropping into a frown or glare as the situation requires. He has a healthy sense of exploratory curiosity but never bothers to wonder about the underlying principles as to why the universe works or even how the telephone actually connects one person to another.
sssssssScholastically, Zev is a below-average student. He has little interest in reading, writing, history, and arithmetic. He'll eventually pony up the answers if forced to, but he doesn't enjoy it. He's not really stupid or even particularly slow, just very stubborn. The only educational tool he seems to have any interest in is his desk, an artificially intelligent holographic device that grows as Zev does. It most often takes the form of an interactive adventure game. The contents of this game are closely tied to Zevulon's mind and psyche so Zev is careful to keep his desk out of sight and no one has actually seen him using it in several months. He does use it, though, just when no is watching.
sssssssDespite being fairly asocial, Zev does feel a compulsion to seek out his fellow fa'e and learn more about them, but both of his so-called guardians Emperial and Djerod are legendary recluses and Zevulon has a hard time convincing either of them to take him to the Fa'e HQ. Occasionally someone else will take Zev; Djerod does not allow Zevulon to go by himself at present time.
Background: Zevulon was first discovered while his "mother" Emperial was on a quest with her feien, Corvus, in a place called the Floating Citadel. She brought him home, and thanks to the assistance of Yin, was able to learn that Zev was a fa'e. Then Em, in typical hairbrained "really shouldn't be trusted with children" fashion, gradually schlepped responsibility for Zev off on her father, Djerod, which was probably for the best.
sssssssUnder Djerod's watchful care Zev grew from a baby into toddler, breaking several hundred toys in the process. Then, in late January, Zev wandered out of his backyard and into... someplace else? He met four strange men in a strange old house, spent several hours with them, and somewhere along the way became a kid.
sssssssZev currently lives in Djerod's mansion, Wakefield Manor, a house that strangely has more rooms in it than the space it occupies. It has several large gardens and fountains and a forest where Zev has been constructing a small fort. Wakefield can be disconnected from Gaia at any time and when not connected, experiences time differently than the real world. Because of this, Zev is younger than the amount of time that has elapsed since his birth by several months.
Equipment: Crystal Shard necklace, model airplane, grey scarf, bomber jacket
User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show.


from Em, Kancho, Max, & the rest of the family
User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show. User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show. User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show. User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show. User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show. User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show. User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show. User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show. User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show.
The big green pillow sits on Zev's bed. Em gave him three cute bunny plushies, which were sadly obliterated with the Virginia house, but as they are a PietTech product there are replacements. Max picked up the little purple glowing wind-up toy on Gaia. Its current whereabouts are unknown. The Phyxa plush is from when Em helped out trufflepig when she was hacked. It currently sits in storage, sicne Zev has outgrown such toys. The three hats are all Sylph hats, which Em collected. The first is a hippocampus hat, the second a drake hat, and the third a phoenix hat. Zev wears them every so often when he's cold.


from Youkochylde & Yin
User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show. User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show.
The butterfly used to sit next to Zev's crib when he was a baby, but it was released into freedom shortly before the Virginia house was destroyed. The cage was incinerated with the house, and now both it and the butterfly exist only in memory.


from Neko Girl
User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show. User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show.
The ball was of more use to Zev when he was a child, now it sits in storage waiting for a new owner. The bracelet adorns Sibilance's neck.


from Sosiqui & Riven
User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show.
This lovely flower sits on the bookshelf.


from Rayne Winner
User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show.
The handcrafted, one-of-a-kind Crystal Shard necklace adorns Zev's jacket.


from Moorgahaine
User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show.
A wand specially crafted for Zevulon. Unfortunately, Zev has never shown any interest in magic. The wand currently sits on display in his room.


from karma_k
User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show. User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show. User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show.
These were three toys Karma graciously allowed Em to nick from her stash. The plastic betta fish and tamagotchi were both obliterated along with most of Zev's other childhood toys when the Virginia house was destroyed. As a young child, Zev was captivated by the toy fish. The green dragon plush was secretly saved by Emperial in the hopes it might one day entertain another child.
User Image


Zevulon resides in a bedroom on the second floor of the House. It's directly adjacent to Emperial's bedroom and across the hall from the master bedroom. One side of the room has large windows which look out onto the street. Beneath the windows is a long cabinet, inside which are toys, primarily Legos belonging to Emperial's brother. The cabinets are currently locked to prevent Zevulon from accessing them. There are two bookcases in the room, each overflowing with books. Most of them are science fiction and fantasy novels, but there are a couple dozen children's books as well, and even more children's book in the hallway bookshelf.

A sturdy bunk bed with blue sheets sits against the wall shared with Emperial's room. A wardrobe next to the bunk bed serves as closet space. Zevulon sleeps on the lower bunk bed. Djerod, who is responsible for looking after Zevulon, sleeps on the top.

There are two entrances to the bedroom: the main door leading into the hallway and a sliding door that leads to the upstairs computer room. The upstairs computer room was originally the room's closet. Further hallway access can be had via the computer room.

This bedroom was previously used as the guest bedroom ever since Em's brother departed and usually housed members of the security force, but now that Zevulon resides there, security has to sleep in the attic upstairs on cots.
User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show.


User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show.
Back Row: Tuthau, Djerod, Lady Admiral, Max, Sally, Doug, Torvwyn, Rikard
Front Row: Kabuto, Careli, Em, Zevulon, Eqo, Emperial, Shizue, Talos


Emperial
User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show.Nickname(s): Em, Emi, Emperilu
Also Known As: Empelu, the Goddess Descended, the White Lady, Empyll
Home Dimension: Imperium
Species: Human/Rhean (Rhea/Rhota)
Homeplanet: Coruscant/Earth
Affiliation: Neo-Imperium, Fleet
Height: 5' 1.5"
Weight: 100 lbs.
Age: 135 y.o.
D.O.B.: March 10
Hair: ruddy brown
Eyes: blue
Fav. Color: blue, black, earth tones
Fav. Food: sushi, creamed spinach
Likes: tea, anime, manga, fantasy and science fiction novels, computer games, logic puzzles, Phillip Glass
Dislikes: humanity,
Hobbies: reading, writing, drawing, collecting junk
Skills: pandimensional, interdimensional portaling, pocket dimension creation, cataclysmic fate redirection, dimensional tracking, mental combat, minor temporal prediction, intrinsic sight, emotional transmission
Weaknesses: night blindness, poor eyesight, photosensitivity, low lung capacity, hot temper, immoral, power-hungry, compulsive, obsessive
Personality:
Background: Emperial was born half-Rhean, half-human. Her human mother belonged to a nation at war with the government her Rhean father worked for. Her mother was unable to cope with the pressure of raising a feral Rhean and lacked the training necessary for the child's domestication. At the age of four, Emperial was left in her father's care and raised alongside adopted sister Lilem. Eventually, her father's government, known as the New Empire or Neo-Imperium, won the war.
ssssssssThe Piett family was one of the most highly-respected families in this government. Emperial's aunt, Lady Admiral EmileAmai Piett, led the Imperial forces in their vistory, and there was great pressure on the Pietts to appoint on of their own as the new Empress. At the age of fourteen, Emperial became the High Empress. She reigned for four years until her elder sister, adopted Piett family member EmileAmai Piett II (Lilem) was prepared to take the throne as Grand Empress. Lilem abdicated two years later to raise a family and a new Empress was chosen by the Ruling Council, the Free Empress, who is the current Empire's figurehead leader. (All power in the Empire is actually held between the military, under the leadership of Supreme Commander Lady EmileAmai Piett, and the Ruling Council, under the leadership of House Fourdr.) Naturally, as Empress (former of otherwise), Emperial holds rank in the Imperial military. Her effective rank is Line Captain and her command rank is Fleet Admiral. As next in line in the House of Piett, she bears the title Lady.
ssssssssAfter leaving the throne, Emperial decided to explore the world. She traveled a great deal and had many wonderful adventures, meeting dozens of new friends along the way. As is tradition among Rheans, she adopted a number of these new friends as new family. She now has a huge adopted family with brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, fathers, mothers, and even adopted children. Corvus, her feien bond, who accompanies her nearly everywhere nowadays, is one such adopted family member.
Equipment: blue Neo Imperium flight suit (rank Fleet Admiral), utility belt/holster, ultrasaturated nutrient rations, dark leather-bound journal
Relation to Zev: Found Zev, was presumed to be his guardian, but evidently not. Considered to be Zev's adoptive semi-mother.


Djerod
User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show.Nickname(s): Kancho, Jer
Also Known As: The Grey Mage, The Butcher of Eydennir
Home Dimension: Imperium
Species: Rhean (Crennan)
Homeplanet: Shia Rhea
Affiliation: Neo-Imperium, Fleet
Height: 5' 7"
Weight: u/k
Age: 176
D.O.B.: u/k
Hair: grey
Eyes: color varies between brown, grey, and blue
Fav. Color: none
Fav. Food: asparagus
Likes: peace, quiet, soft music,
Dislikes:
Hobbies: hyperspace drive theory and design, quantum theory and physics
Skills: energy dispersal system design, military strategy (interstellar), pandimensional, interdimensional portaling, pocket dimension creation, interdimensional obfuscation, mental combat, emotional transmission, Force-sensitive, sharpshooting
Weaknesses: chronically depressed, extremely introverted, bad back, poor lungs, bad knees
Personality: Quiet, unassuming, and reliable, Djerod has spent most of his life as a wallflower. He's not a people person, with only a handful of close friends, and prefers not to be the center of attention. It is extremely unfortunate, then, that his dependability and efficiency landed him at the top of the Imperial military.
ssssssssDjerod is a meticulous perfectionist with an excellent, disciplined mind. He's cautious, calculating, and even cold. He finds it hard to express himself around others with the exception of his few close friends. Only when they're around does he open up and show emotion. The rest of the time he keeps it inside, showing a very refined and calm exterior. (Unless, of course, he's around Max. Around Max he turns positively explosive.) He's an excellent person to go to for advice. Most of his time is spent alone contemplating the ways of the universe.
ssssssssOf course a great deal of his contemplation involves some very dark areas. Djerod has done things he's not proud of, many things he regrets, and has a tendency to dwell on misfortune and painful memories. When left to his own devices, he slides into a severely depressed state during which his actions can be unpredictable and are often self-destruction. His appetite decreases to almost nothing, he wastes time instead of working on his many theories and projects, and he stops caring about life in general. On the plus side, he's aware of it, and will talk about the problem, even if he's unwilling to do anything about it. He feels it's deserved for his past deeds.
ssssssssAs a Crennan Rhean, Djerod is trained to generally repress emotions and rely only on rational and logical thought. As he's grown older, he's started to move away from that. He no longer acts like a heartless automaton as he did in the past. It's been a difficult transition for him, as evidenced by his depression, but eventually he hopes to change from Crennan to Rhota.
ssssssssSince he is Rhean, he is capable of the anger shared by all Rheans. He's much better at controlling it than daughter Emperial, but his control has suffered in recent years due to his changing from Crennan to Rhota, and he can and will snap if pressed. Nevertheless, his control is above average for a Rhean.

Background:
Equipment: Imperial uniform, yellow legal pad, various pens and pencils, laptop computer
Relation to Zev: Guardian.


Maxmillian
User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show.Nickname(s): Max, Milly
Also Known As:
Home Dimension: Imperium
Species: Human (Corellian)
Homeplanet: Corellia
Affiliation: Neo-Imperium, Fleet
Height: 5' 8"
Weight: u/k
Age: 160 (artificially prolonged life)
D.O.B.: u/k
Hair: greying light brown
Eyes: brown
Fav. Color: olive green
Fav. Food: casserole
Likes:
Dislikes:
Hobbies: whittling, growling angrily,
Skills: military tactics (ground), can spit watermelon seeds to great lengths
Weaknesses: stubborn, ornery,
Personality:
Background:
Equipment:
Relation to Zev: Zevulon is named after Max's deceased son; Max considers himself to be akin to Zev's uncle-- the cool uncle. Has since moved away.


Sally
Relation to Zev: Max's wife, helped take care of Zev when they lived together.
User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show.


Careli
User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show.


Jack
User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show.


Hughes
User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show.


Crombie
User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show.


Robbie
User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show.


Tuthau
User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show.Nickname(s): Tuthi
Also Known As: Gee
Home Dimension: Lunasen-Dei
Species: Ogai/Omegan
Homeplanet: Ogai/Omega
Affiliation: Fleet
Height: 5' 5"
Weight:
Age: several eons; appears mid-twenties
D.O.B.:
Hair: golden
Eyes: green
Fav. Color: dark olive green
Fav. Food:
Likes:
Dislikes:
Hobbies:
Skills:
Weaknesses:
Personality:
Background:
Equipment: uniform
Relation to Zev:


Doug
Relation to Zev:

Tuthau
User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show.Nickname(s): Tuthi
Also Known As: Jee
Home Dimension: Imperium
Species: Human
Homeplanet:
Affiliation: Neo-Imperium, Fleet
Height:
Weight:
Age: 40
D.O.B.:
Hair: thick golden blonde
Eyes: brown
Fav. Color:
Fav. Food:
Likes:
Dislikes:
Hobbies:
Skills: ground strategy,
Weaknesses: clumsy, unlucky
Personality:
Background:
Equipment: Imperial uniform
Relation to Zev:


Yin
User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show.Yin was the first fa'e Zev met. She was able to tell Emperial that Zev was in fact a fa'e.

Yanisin
User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show.Zevulon and Yanisin played together when they were younger.

JadeEye
User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show.Yanisin's guardian, and a friend of Em's.

Eqo
User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show.Personal assistant to the Supreme Commander, this fiesty Liqellan met Zev when he was a baby.

Naia
User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show.Another fa'e whom Zevulon has met, Naia gave Zev a fish to care for. Zev seemed interested in her for some reason.

Corvus
User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show.Corvus is a feien fairy summoner bonded to Emperial who was present when Zevulon was first found in the Floating Citadel.

Heinrich
User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show.An engineer and model airplane designer, Heinrich assisted Djerod in the design and construction of Zev's airplane. Heinrich has trouble remembering that the plane actually belongs to Zev.

Riven
User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show.Zev met Riven when he was very little and enjoyed playing with Riven's flute.
User Image


Roleplaying
Zev's intro story // complete
Visit the Empire // complete
- Present Zevulon for the Lady Admiral's approval // complete
- Have Zevulon blood-bonded as a Piett // complete
- Obtain a Rhean name for Zev // complete
Toddler Quest // complete
- Make a Playdate // complete (with Jade & Yanisin)
- Obtain a navy blue toy // complete (betta)
- Obtain a dark green toy // complete (dragon plush)
- Obtain a gold toy // complete (Phyxa & bunny plushies)
- Obtain a maroon toy // complete (tamagotchi)
- Obtain a dark purple toy // complete (shinebot)
- Teach Zevulon Aurebesh // complete
- Teach Zevulon the English alphabet // complete
- Teach Zevulon to count // complete
Teen Quest // complete

Other
Add Family info // partially complete
Decide how to handle diary entries involving both Zev and Grimorum // complete
Family Portrait // partially complete
Location info // complete
<center>User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show.</center>

7/18/04
Youkochylde
Yin walked carefully, a small basket in her teeth as her paws stayed clasped around the base of the covered... thing... she was carrying. It looked like a coatrack with a towel over it at first, then she finally moved to set it down outside the door. Debating for a moment, she moved it so that it was half in sunlight and half without, then pulled a small bottle out of the basket and set it beside the cage. Around the neck of the bottle is a small note.

Quote:
Welcome to your new arrival! May he enrich your life as well as ours, in whatever way he can.

- Yin


User ImageUser Image


7/19/04
Neko Girl
Neko yawned quietly as he approached the house cautiously, glancing at the piece of paper in his hand to make sure it was the right address. It looks about right... he thought to himself, looking around the yard for a moment to make sure there wouldn't be anything jumping out to attack him. The last house he attempted to visit had a dog...and it really didn't like cats.

Stepping over to the door, he gently rested a small, round object on the ground, and hoped it wouldn't roll away as he left after knocking on the door softly (and on purpose). Looking back once more before turning the corner to make sure the gift was still there, Neko flicked his tail curiously, wondering what Em and the new fa'e would think.

The gift left was a decent sized rubber ball, big enough for a baby or small child to play with. It...seemed to be colored just like the markings on the fa'e.
User Image

Attached to the ball was a small piece of paper, addressed to Em.

The paper
Hey Em! I heard that your fa'e had arrived, and I just had to make something for him. I'm sorry I couldn't stick around to present it myself, but I'd rather not have too many people see me in the current state I'm in.

I know it isn't much, but I used to see little kids play with these rubber balls a lot when I had first moved to the area, so I thought the baby might like it as well. I wish you luck with the new addition!

~ Neko

PS: When I told Ares about the fa'e baby, she made a little gift as well. However...I'm not sure if she realized just how big a real baby is...so maybe he could use it as a really small keychain? Or...something.

Attached below the last part of the message was a very tiny bracelet, not quite long enough to even fit on one's pinky.
User Image

Sosiqui
User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show.

A flower flutters on the doorstep, held down by a small stone attached to the base. Small beads hang from soft gray thread, and a small golden feather blows in the breeze as well. Beneath the rock is a note:

The note
Dear Em and Zevulon,

Riven told me to deliver this flower for you - he picked it specially from his small patch when I told him of a new Fa'e's arrival. I hope that he will be able to meet Zevulon someday. If you need any help for some reason or even just want to chat, please feel free to let me know. Welcome to the 'family'.

~Sosiqui


The note has splotches in a few places, as if it had gotten a little wet here and there.


8/18/04
Rayne Winner
Zevulon, Crystal Shard:
User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show.


9/02/04
Moorgahaine
<center>User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show.</center>
User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show.

Zevulon was discovered in the most unlikely of places: a floating citadel (called, poetically enough, the Floating Citadel) high in the mountains. A young woman named Emperial was there on a great quest with her fairy bond Corvus, part of an attempt to unravel the secrets of a mysterious book called the Wind Grimorum. Emperial and Corvus became separated and Emperial chanced upon Zev lying in the citadel's many halls.

After several days of wandering around with next to no food, Emperial and the baby (whom she nicknamed Ross Perot) finally met up with Corvus and escaped the Citadel. They went to Emperial's house where she more officially designated the baby "Zevulon" after the dead son of her friend Max and declared that Zev was to be a new member of the family.

Some time later it was discovered that Zev was in fact a fa'e, a resurrected being of great power. Emperial decided that in addition to being a member of her extended family, Zevulon should become a blood-bound member of the Piett family, in accordance with Rhean tradition. She took Zevulon to the Galactic Empire to meet Supreme Commander EmileAmai Piett, the current head of the Piett family, and convinced the Supreme Commander to accept Zevulon as a member of the family. Zevulon was given the Rhean name "Talai" and the surname "Piett."

Zev spent the next few months enjoying his toddlerhood, playing with toys (and breaking dozens of them) and throwing oatmeal around and generally being a little kid. He was looked after by Max and Max's wife Sally and Emperial, but mostly by Emperial's father Djerod, who seemed to take special note of the boy. Zev's grey eyes turned green in color as he grew.

Then, one day, Zev wandered off.
<center>User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show.</center>

Quote:
Behind the Name
Zevulon is named after Zevulon Veers, Gen. Maxmillian Veers' deceased son. On Earth, Zevulon (or Zebulun) was one of the twelve sons of Ya'akov/Jacob and one of the twelve tribes. Zevulon means "to dwell with." The Zevulon tribe lived in the northern land of Canaan near the shore. They are said to love the sea and be brave soldiers.

Zev Veers was Max's only child, his wife having died shortly after Zev's birth. Zev joined the Rebellion and was killed onboard a Rebel ship. (The ship's destruction was fairly famous, but the name escapes me.)

References:
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/Zebulun.html
http://members.aol.com/zimlechem/Ancient_Is.html


Quote:
Rhean Society Primer
Among Rheans, there are three types of people: family, outsiders, and blood family. Rhean family structure is very loose. Family members can be added or dropped at any time, and neither blood relation nor marriage are required to attain family status. Friends are regularly adopted into a family as siblings or cousins. The valid Rhean familial titles are: mother, father, brother, sister, son, daughter, cousin, aunt, uncle, and lover, thus it is not uncommon to find a child with multiple fathers. Emperial, for example, has four fathers and three mothers, and of that number only two pairs are actually married and only three of the parents are blood-related. Titles are extremely transient: one can move from being a cousin to a daughter or to a lover. Taking one's close genetic relative as a lover is generally frowned upon unless one of the parties is sterilized. Genetics are very important to all Rheans and inbreeding weakens an already thin gene pool. Furthermore, it's wholly possible for non-blooded family members to be kicked out by the Head of House.

Outsiders are, of course, anyone not a member of the family. There is a generally a distinction made between those of Rhean birth and those not: Rheans are generally very intolerant of outsiders, even ones belonging to another Rhean family. While outsiders are common in the extended family, they are extremely rare in the blood family.

The blood family is the innermost circle of Rhean society. It automatically consists of any full-blooded Rheans born into a House. Half-bloods, who are generally despised by Rheans, can be accepted at the House Leader's discretion. Outsiders are even more rarely accepted. The two now present in the Piett family mark them as an aberration among Rheans, but the Pietts' current galactic power tends to overshadow such details. A blood family member is treated with the same accordance as a full Rhean no matter what their heritage, and their offspring will always have blood status, even if the blooded family member was originally an outsider.

A person can only ever be a member of a single Rhean family. Rheans from differing families who marry must choose which family to belong to, or can establish their own, new family. If both husband and wife wish to remain in their original families, arrangements are made before marriage as to which house any offspring will belong to. This is the number one deterrant to Rhean marriage, as families can erupt into long-lasting feuds when agreements are not reached. These agreements must be kept even in the event of spousal death. If one party attempts to renege on an arrangement, that person is usually killed. Children are never the custody of their own parents; they are instead custody of the family leader, though parents are generally left with the child's care and welfare. This does mean that the Lady Admiral is the legal guardian of Zevulon under Rhean law. Marriage arrangements are the only thing which can break a familial blood bond.

The blood bonding ceremony is not a well-known ritual in the galaxy as a whole. It varies slightly depending on family and circumstance, but almost always involves the use of real blood. The only time real blood is not used is when there is something that would prevent its use: certain diseases communicated through the bloodstream, alien species with poisonous blood or no blood, etc. Generally the ceremony involves the blood of the person who is to be bonded into the family, but as Zevulon was a baby at the time, his blood was not used.

All Rheans have a special Rhean name. The Lady Admiral's is "Amai," which is incorporated into her first name. Djerod uses his, Rayyonolai, as a second middle name, and Emperial does not use hers in her name at all. Zevulon's Rhean name is "Talai," which means "hope." It is an extremely unusual name by Rhean standards.


Quote:
Notes on Rhea
Rhea is an extremely rare and complicated language. It bears little resemblance to any modern Terran languages. Its alphabet consists of dozens upon dozens of letters, each with a slight variation on pronunciation and multiple ways of re-writing in Basic or English. The exact number of letters in the alphabet varies by dialect and there is no standard. In order to explain the language, I will be using the Piett family dialect.

There are essentially two ways to write the letters: phonetic and representational. I generally attempt to inscribe Rhean dialogue phonetically when writing it, a feat which I accomplish to varying degrees of success. I often have to throw the phonetics out when the consonants are too difficult for English speakers to comprehend. (This occurs in particular with the "r/d/l" sounds which are similar to the Japanese "r/l." Rhea has several such letters.)

The other method, representational, is generally used for educational transcription to prevent from deviating from the original alphabet pattern. In other words, this provides a method by which to discern the individual letters "s" "t" and "r" from the single letter "str." In this method, repetitive letters are given designations. The first instance of the letter "o" is the "first o," the second (oo) is the "second o," and ooo is the "third o."

Phonetical
Representational

Vowels:
ah/aa, eh, ai, oh, uh, oa/wa, aa/ah, au/ao, ih, uu/oo, ay/ey, ee
a, e, i, o, u, oo, ooo, aa, aaa, ii, uu, aaaa, ee
Note that much confusion abounds with "ah" and "aa" -- two very distinctive vowels which can, in plain English, be written either way. The first is a "AHHH," the second is "AAAH." Do not confuse either with "ay/ey." Sadly, this gets even worse when you realize "ay/ey" is pronounced like the Canadian "eh?" but that "eh" in Rhean is a completely different vowel: "EHH."

Consonants: incomplete
b, br, bl, -b, -bs, ch, d, dr, -d, -dth, f, fr, fl, -ft, g, h, hg, hr, j, k, kw, -k, -ks, l, -l, -lt, -dl/-ll, -ld, -lm, m, mr, -m, n, -n, -ng, -ns, p, pr, -p, -ps, r, rw, -r, -rt, -rb, s, sh, st, str, sth, stl, sl, sp, spr, -s, -st, t, th, tr, thr, tl, v, vr, vl, w, y, z, zh, -z
b, bb, bbb, bbbb, c, d, dd, ddd, f, ff, fff,
Here, it is interesting to note that there are two kinds of consonant: the precedent and antecedent. A precedent consonant can appear in the beginning or the middle of a word and has a vowel attached after it. An antecedent can appear in the middle of a word or at the end and has a vowel attached before it. So "ba" and "ab" are actually not the same letter b in the Rhean language.
Even worse, "antecedent" is pronounced "antessident" (rhymes with precedent/president) and not "an-ti-see-dent." Failure to pronounce the word in this manner when discussing Rhean language is a big no-no and marks you as an uncultured git. Anywhere else, you are welcome to pronounce it whichever way corresponds to the dialect you grew up with.

Now we come to the point of this discussion: the name Piett. Piett is actually not phonetically inscribed but representationally inscribed. So "tt" is actually not "t" but the second t, "th." Many generations ago, when Rhea first rejoined communications and trade with the rest of the universe, the name was translated as "Piett" -- p, i, e, second t (th). This fact was not well-noted by the original translator, and offworlders began to pronounce the name as "piett" with a hard t and not the soft th. By this point, bank accounts and trade agreements were already transcribed to the name, and since this was the least of mispronunciations as far as Rhean names were concerned, corrections were never pursued. Eventually, the hard t pronunciation was so widespread it was impossible to even attempt. Besides, most races had trouble with the soft th and mangled it anyway. Thus "pee-yeht" has become the most common pronunciation of the name, and you'll even find that the family members themselves use this version when speaking English or Basic.

Other variations on names and words:
English/Eng. Phonetic/Rh. Phonetic/Representational/meaning
Emperial or Emperilu/ehm-PEER-ree-ull or ehm-PEHR-ill-loo/ehm-PEDL-lee-ahloo//"Little Empire"
Djerod/DJEH-ruhd/DJHEH-rhohdth//"Stony"
tredlkinnr/TREHLL-kinn-eer or treh-dull-kihn-eer/tldedl-kih-neer//"emergency"

Every word in Rhean is so precise, it's often joked/bragged that the same word can never be used twice -- quite frankly, there are hundreds of words which Rheans may only find use for once in their lives, and thousands more a Rhean might never find reason to speak at all.

Next we have Silent and Slurred syllables. When speaking Rhean, the words are so long and specific one generally does not pronounce all the syllables. Instead, many are Silent and still more are slurred together in such a way that a non-speaker has no chance of unraveling the letters. Silent letters are those which are spoken so faintly there are virtually invisible . When I transcribe Rhean, I leave out the Silents and generally gloss over most of the Slurs. They would only make the lengthy Rhean words even longer and harder for readers. I do throw in some indications of slurs here and there, most usually when the slurs are particularly hard or loud.

And then there's the personal dialect. Every Rhean, man, woman, and child, has their own personal way of pronouncing Rhean. There are thousands of such personal dialects.. Each has variations on the consonents and vowels used, as well as the patterns of letters which are Slurred and Silenced.. These personal dialects are generally grouped by choice of consonants. Emperial generally uses kikrellan, Djerod uses eleme, the Lady Admiral uses _____.

Take the statement "It is good to see you again."
Full Literal Rhean: "Being within a visible vicinity of the entity to which I am presently speaking produces a pleasurable quality in the vibrations of my inner dialogue." (I kid you not.)

Emperial (with slurs and silents removed): "Keklahil koatl vishalldyot, sepahdltris kedlvassl klichahvin."
Literally translated back: "Exist-loc see phys-talk, vib-inner repeat desire-effect."
Notes: exist-loc = location in which the speaker currently exists (being within vicinity of)
phys-talk = physical entity to which talk is directed (the entity to which I am presently speaking)
vib-inner = vibrations of [my] inner dialogue
repeat desire-effect = effects a repeating sensation of a desirable nature (produces a pleasurable quality in vibrations; "a repeating sensation" is a further allusion to vibrations)
"Existing physically in this location seeing and talking, a desirable effect on my inner vibrations."
Emperials is slightly more fragmented due to her being a half-Rhean and possessing a slight linguistic instability.

Djerod (with slurs and silents removed): "Elemai vlasl lochillann, slamalyet lishellai lemahn."
Literally translated back: "Located seeing addressed-person, good-vib approaches my-voice."
Notes: Djerod uses more complete words, so the meaning is actually discernable without further translation.
"Located within sight of the addressed entity, good vibrations approach my inner voice."

Lady Admiral (with slurs and silents removed): "Djlannl selkinn kaijklattis tramasstilla hgralla shlavinn."
Literally translated back: "Phys-you here-loc comm-engage create-pos diag my-create."
Notes:
phys-you = your physical being (the entity physically present)
here-loc = location here (vicinity)
phys-you here-loc = the physical entity's vicinity
comm-engage = being engaged in conversation with
phys-you here-loc comm-engage = being within the vicinity of the entity to which I am presently speaking
create-pos = creates a positive (produces a pleasurable)
diag my-create = dialogue which I create (inner dialogue)
"The physical entity's vicinity produces a pleasurable inner dialogue."

And all three of them just said the same exact thing, only they each used different personal dialects, modifying the consonants and vowels and slurs and silents as they saw fit so that the audible word patterns were different. Between Rheans, these statements all sounded identical.

Of course, if you've read any length of the Household stories, you've probably noticed that a lot of the time, it seems the major Rhean characters are all speaking the same thing. This is because in addition to speaking a personal dialogue, a Rhean understands words spoken to them in their own personal dialogue. Thus, when Djerod says "Elemai vlasl lochillann, slamalyet lishellai lemahn" Emperial hears "Keklahil koatl vishalldyot, sepahdltris kedlvassl klichahvin." Sometimes I bother to re-translate it back into Djerod's personal dialect (and again, with varying success), but more often than not, I simply write it out in Em's dialect, which which I have the most familiarity.

Of course, when a language is this complex, how do the people who are supposed to speak it ever learn it in the first place? Sure, there's a lot to be said for growing up around it, but...

The answer is that they don't. Rheans do not learn Rhean. They are born with it. The entire language was constructed through genetic engineering. It was discovered that buried deep within the genetic code (and the Rhean colonists were originally outcast from their homeworld for their exceptionally... progressive views on genetic engineering) was a natural predilection towards the development of language. Engineer the gene far enough, and suddenly you have the language base which is Rhean. Since every Rhean uses this same base, they can all understand each other, even thought it sounds like they are all speaking completely different things. It's usually just the Silent and Slur combinations that cause this to happen. Since Rheans are trained from birth to pick up the faint Silents and the mangled Slurs, they have no problem extrapolating what the words are from what they can hear.

Thus, you end up with Rhean: a language which has eluded galactic linguists for centuries, partly because the Rhean enjoy this little communications advantage over everyone else (they need never use encryption except against other Rheans) and go to great lengths to prevent their language from being studied, and partly because the few linguists who had tried have either gone insane, died before completing their work, or given up linguistics completely after making the attempt.

To date, the only non-Rhean to ever master even a small part of the language is Admiral Atri Durris, personal adjutant to the Supreme Commander Lady Admiral EmileAmai Piett, and he underwent extensive genetic therapy for this purpose. Even with the therapy, Atri understands less than 20% of spoken Rhean and can speak perhaps 5%. The therapy has been considered a great success. It will never, ever be duplicated. (Under Rhean law, this therapy is illegal, and it was only done due to Atri's special circumstances and relationship with the Lady Admiral that the process even occurred.) Predictably, what little Rhean Atri possesses is derived from the Lady Admiral's dialect, and he often has trouble deciphering dialects from outside the family.


Quote:
Zevulon's First Jacket
The jacket worn by Zevulon in his kid pic is an authentic Vietnam War jacket with authentic patches.

References:
http://www.vhpamuseum.org/souvenirs/clothing/clothing.html
http://www.authenticmilitaria.com/militaria/vietnam/
http://www.authenticmilitaria.com/militaria/vietnam/vietnam2.htm
http://www.drowtales.com/galleries/album29/Snoopy.jpg
http://www.drowtales.com/galleries/album29/PeaceHell.jpg


Miscellaneous References:
http://www.babybag.com/articles/htwt_av.htm
<center>User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show.</center>

<center>User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show.
Anya!'s Fa'e Children, of which Zev is one. (Duh!)

Fa'e Guild</center>


Shops of Interest: (also known as places with stuff I like/stuff I've bought/stuff I want to get)
User Image User Image User Image User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show. User Image User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show. User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show. User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show. User Image User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show. User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show. User Image User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show. User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show. User Image User Image User Image User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show.
User Image User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show.
User Image User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show. User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show.
Moorgahaine Emporium
<center>User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show.</center>

<center>User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show.</center>

Past Randomness
http://www.drowtales.com/galleries/album29/rand5.gif


To draw next: Ogre's mutant hedge.
Ogre: it should be a mutant hedge with.. uh.. thornie tentacles or something that'll scare the tourists

Quick Reply

Submit
Manage Your Items
Other Stuff
Get GCash
Offers
Get Items
More Items
Where Everyone Hangs Out
Other Community Areas
Virtual Spaces
Fun Stuff
Gaia's Games
Mini-Games
Play with GCash
Play with Platinum