Our Babikiye: a Bird's-Eye View
Welcome to the Codex of Babikiye. The codex is an expansive, interdisciplinary digital library dedicated to the preservation of and expansion upon our societies' knowledge, stories, and other important cultural, scientific, and magical information. Whether you are a seasoned scholar of magitechnology, a dreamer seeking new skies to explore, or a casual reader, the Codex of Babikiye has something for you!
The following article is designed to introduce new readers to a variety of practical and existential subjects available within the Codex of Babikiye, including an overview of our planets, our peoples, and our histories. New readers are encouraged to read the article from the beginning in order to familiarize themselves with our offerings. Readers with specific interests in mind, however, are more than welcome to peruse at their leisure.
The Yashelin are an avianoid species native to the planet of Aravu. They are the longest lived of Babikiye's sophonts, with a civilization over one million years old. None have died of natural causes, yet. They are most renowned for their magical prowess, near immortality, and peculiar hierarchy.
The Fas are the byproduct of the excessive residual spiritual energy produced by the magitechnology of everyday Yashelin society. They live for approximately 25 years before they fade away. Fas society on the planet of Aravu is ruthlessly, efficiently organized, and their primary currency is the value of their time.
The Awassi are ovine sophonts native to the planet of Kivria. They were the first of Kivria's creatures to attain sophonce. They are highly intelligent and creative, but physically fragile. A recent plague decimated the population and toppled thousands of years worth Awassi civilizations across the globe, but they are now on the mend as a species.
The Henin are a canid sophont species from the planet of Kivria. They are one of the hardiest and most proliferant of Kivria's creatures. Their closest ancestors were domesticated by the Awassi as guardian animals. They are the only sophont species that have been observed and studied throughout the entire span of their species' rise to sophonce.
The Hewas peoples are the hybrid children of Awassi and Henin peoples. They are scientifically improbable, yet many of these literal sheep-dogs are born each year. The Hewas are best known for their infertility, balanced constitution, and intercultural upbringing in contrast with their non-hybrid neighbors.
The Astris are the hybrid children of Yashelin and Kivrian sophonts. They are renowned for their magical mastery of water, though not all Astris have this ability. Their lifespans vary from as little as 80 years old all the way up to 2500 years old. They are subject to excessive prejudice on Aravu, but they command respect amongst their Kivrian compatriots.
Where Are We?
There are only two known planets capable of sustaining life in the known universe of Babikiye thus far: Aravu and Kivria. Aravu and Kivria share a long history together despite not even sharing a galaxy. Upon the Ida's discovery of life evolving upon Kivria, it connected these two planets together via its magic. Perhaps it feared we would become lonely by ourselves? Aravu and Kivria are connected not only via the Ida's magic and our history together. They are connected on a galactic level. The two galaxies of Aravu and Kivria are slowly but surely colliding, transforming both skies into a shared astronomical spectacle. Some say, with our magic tether, our solar systems even become neighbors one day. That day, however, is not likely to come for millions of years.Aravu, the Evergreen Planet
Aravu is the youngest and smallest of the two inhabited planets. Yet, it is also home to the strongest magical energy and the oldest known civilizations. The seemingly eternal, avianoid Yashelin dominate the landscape of the Kotuye Continent, having lived on the same land for over one million years. The Fas, meanwhile, are short-lived, ghostly beings who largely live in the outskirts of the Yashelin's domains.
Neither Yashelin nor Fas has ever ventured beyond the shores of Kotuye Continent in a meaningful manner. They saw little point in traversing the rough seas or risking the stormy skies. Not when their homeland provided plentiful resources. Nevertheless, they are aware that beyond their magitechnology dependent home lies a much larger planet... And Kivria, a planet some Aravuns have chosen to explore and pledge their loyalty to over their own native homeland.
Neither Yashelin nor Fas has ever ventured beyond the shores of Kotuye Continent in a meaningful manner. They saw little point in traversing the rough seas or risking the stormy skies. Not when their homeland provided plentiful resources. Nevertheless, they are aware that beyond their magitechnology dependent home lies a much larger planet... And Kivria, a planet some Aravuns have chosen to explore and pledge their loyalty to over their own native homeland.
Kivria, the Curious Planet
Kivria is the largest and oldest of the two inhabited planets. It is defined by its vast diversity, dynamism, and creativity. its curious sophonts are young and their civilizations are ever changing, passed down from generation to generation of mortals. Absent the strong magical energy that permeates and powers the planet of Aravu, the development of Kivrian technology necessitated a more grounded, scientific approach.
Meddlesome Yashelin explorers have had a profound impact on even Kivria's earliest societies. Their meddling resulted in an early global awareness of distant lands and higher technological advancement than would have otherwise been possible. After a great war stymied Kivrian-Aravun relations, some of these advancements vanished, but the Kivrians are ever undaunted. Their curiosity has led them to scientific discovers and technological marvels unfathomable to all who came before them.
Meddlesome Yashelin explorers have had a profound impact on even Kivria's earliest societies. Their meddling resulted in an early global awareness of distant lands and higher technological advancement than would have otherwise been possible. After a great war stymied Kivrian-Aravun relations, some of these advancements vanished, but the Kivrians are ever undaunted. Their curiosity has led them to scientific discovers and technological marvels unfathomable to all who came before them.
Further Reading
Who Are We?
Yashelin
Fas
Awassi
Henin
Hewas
Astris
Why Are We Here?
We Were Forged Eons Ago
"Being the first also means making the most mistakes."The conscious manifestation of the universe itself is best known as the Ida, or the Creator. It is unclear which came first. The Ida appears to be omnipresent, yet despite its immense power is neither omnipotent nor omniscient. It regularly interferes in the affairs of our societies, for better and for worse driven by intense curiosity and desire for connection. No one has ever agreed on how to address it, let alone what it is or how it came to be. Is it a God or an evil spirit? Likely neither. The Ida itself is adamantly silent on the subject of itself, but it has told us one thing for certain: it does not work alone.
“Because I may and I wish it to be so, and so it shall be, regardless of your opinion.”
by Rafay Ansari
Further Reading
Aided by Magic and Science
"Magic is just science we haven't figured out yet."Magic and science are distinct practices which define how individuals study the world around them and how they use that knowledge. The most significant difference between science and magic is magic's openness to the manipulation of spiritual energy, an alternative source of energy which allows people to perform otherwise impossible feats. Despite all their squabbling, both practices have contributed much to the societies of Aravu and Kivria, most notably the magitech which has built bridges between our worlds.
"Magicians discovered everything we know, but scientists steal all the credit."
Further Reading
Our Lives We Built Together
"Without us, there is no I. Without I, there is no us."Babikiye is built out of the stories and legacies of its past, present, and future inhabitants. While no two cultures are entirely alike, they all share one thing in common: they are created by us and by our ancestors, collaborating together through eras of peace, conflict, and compromise. Evidence of this may be found in something as minute as a popular drink, as grand as a city, and as contemptible as a war.
"Dust to dust, ashes to ashes: but fear not, for your spirits shall live forever."
Further Reading
What Are We Here For?
The answer is infinite, contradictory, and ever changing. The answer comes from all of us, and most importantly: you.Who are You?
I am...
Note: Each subscriber group will have access to content tailored to each experience. For example, if you choose the Yashelin group, you will see extra content from their perspective in some articles.
Very well done intro! I was torn between Hewas and Fas. Being scientifically improbable yet somehow existing in significant number, versus having a short life made out of residual spiritual energy. Ultimately went with the dog/sheep hybrids because we love inexplicable existence in this house.
Speculative-Fiction Writing
Thanks! And welcome to the Hewas! :D The Fas are cool, but ya gotta love Kivria's confusingly literal sheep-dogs.