Engi (en gee)

At first glance resembling penguins with too many eyes (6), Engi are more similar anatomically to Earth’s mollusks such as octopi, possessing no endoskeleton but a hard beak. Having evolved in the deep and dark subsurface oceans of Engar, Engi are capable of living underneath miles of water, as well as on land.

by Matthew C. Brandin (me)

Perhaps their most striking feature however is their electromagnetic abilities. Engi have special protein channels in their neurons that allow them to willingly change ion concentrations in different parts of their bodies. In other words, they can willingly create and control electromagnetic fields, and given enough practice and technological assistance they can use these powers to great, even miraculous effect.
Engi are monogendered - they are monogamous, and usually produce less than ten offspring in their lifetimes (~200 cycles). This partially explains why, of the other 3 kindreds in Pangard, the Engi are the least numerous.
Engi are remarkably social, and gather in large groups called “congregations”. In these congregations, which can vary largely in size, Engi spend most of their time simply conversing - intellectual debate, scientific theorization, philosophy, theology, all these are proper topics of conversation.
Though, their sense of humor never quite got past irony, and tends to be sardonic and high minded. Many Engi have tried to grasp the humor of other cultures, though every attempt at a joke I’ve heard from one was usually too strange to understand. In the past, they would transcribe these conversations upon blocks of ice, explaining the sharp and rigid nature of their writing system, since adopted by the rest of the Pangard and many of their neighbors in space.
Engi society revolves around their religious beliefs. Deeply curious and inquisitive, their culture teaches that scientific discovery and exploration are a religious duty, as revealing creation’s mysteries is to bring glory to the Star-Maker.
To this day, the Engi handle most religious and academic matters in the Order, arguing theology, studying ancient artifacts and technologies, and guiding the other two kindreds in their spiritual and mundane affairs. The scholars and thinkers of Pangard, they specialize in science and abstract learning, as well as medicine and societal issues.
If the Yizith are the sheep, and the Han-Larn the sheepdogs, then the Engi are the shepherds of Pangard. Their wisdom and guidance continues to lead them, even in the darkest of times.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Engi are Amphibious, having evolved in the crushing depths of Engar's under-ice oceans, but being fully capable of life on land, as long as they remain properly moisturized and cooled. Evolving from hunters that would dive up and down through the ocean at great speeds, whilst residing mainly in large air-pockets in the icy subsurface, the Engi are very resilient to sudden changes in pressure, explaining how they are able to survive both at incredible depths, and human-level atmospheres.  Adapted to icy ocean waters, they will quickly become dangerously overheated in most other environments without a personal cooling device.
The are similar to mollusks, in that they are boneless with the exception of a hard beak and two, 4-clawed hand-like appendages on the end of either flipper. They have two flippers, adapted well for swimming, and two feet like muscular appendages for walking on land. As noted by many Colonists, they appear very similar to the Earth lifeform "Penguins."

Genetics and Reproduction

Engi are Mono-sexed, their culture never developing any concept of gender (though when speaking english are known to use "he/him" pronouns). Monogamous, Engi match for life, rarely taking another partner on the other's demise.
Engi only mate during their mating season, which occurs once every 20 Cycles or so. During this period of about half a cycle, a couple will lay, hatch, and rear one to three eggs. Losing fertility around age 150, Engi will generally only participate in 5 to 7 mating seasons, laying anywhere from 5 to 20 eggs throughout their lifetime.

Growth Rate & Stages

Engi leave the care of their parents and join a House shortly upon the end of the mating season, their care being shifted to the rest of the community. Reaching biological adulthood after 10 cycles, they can easily live to be over 200.
As Engi become older, their feathers will begin to dull and gray, and their beaks will dry and crack (hence the expression "cracked in the beak"). Their muscle fibers will also gain in stiffness and rigidity.

Ecology and Habitats

Engi are most at home in icy, cold conditions, preferring salt water at 0 degrees centigrade, and air temperatures from 0 to 10 C. Any prolonged exposure to temperatures higher than this will require a personal coolant device, resembling a small white backpack.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Subsisting off of a fish and krill based diet, Engi need extremely high Sodium and Potassium levels in their food to maintain their "powers."

Additional Information

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Engi possess 6 eyes that are best adapted for working underwater - thus, their eyesight in air can be quite poor. 
Perhaps their most striking feature is the Electromagnetic abilities. Unique among animals, Engi can willingly change the direction and flow of Ions through their nervous system. This allows an Engi to create significant charge build-up and current in their appendages, re-directing and discharging at will. On a deeper level, it also gives them far more direct control of their own thoughts and emotions, with especially skilled practitioners even able to wipe memories from their mind. 
Developed for stunning prey and schools of fish, as well as for navigating dark ocean depths, these abilities are impressive on their own, and can be greatly enhanced with technology. Firing small bolts of lightning, generating powerful magnetic fields, even being able to sense the base level emotions of surrounding people, are just a few of the things an Engi with enough training and technology can achieve.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Engi names can be quite long, generally being named after complex ideas and emotions. For example, Alundian means "My Curiosity is Insatiable," or Wadelian which means "I wander far and wide." It is not uncommon for them to take a shorter nickname for the benefit of brevity in conversation - for instance, the Chaplain Alundian is referred to as "Al" by his human friends.
Example Names: Wadelian, Auklundo, Alundian, Spanicodae, Rokhopar, Galapogigan, Sufrikidelee, Topolo

Common Dress Code

Usually naked, though for special occasions/positions of authority commonly wear richly-embroidered robes. These robes may also serve a practical purpose, possessing extra-cooling equipment for prolonged living in warmer climates.

History

Engar is an icy planetoid untethered by any star, wandering freely through space with its twin moons Galap and Avra. The tidal motions caused by these moons allows for a warm salty ocean to form beneath the subsurface, where life evolved, including the Engi.
As massive Ice Worms carved tunnels and air pockets in the ice of Engar, the Engi would congregate in these regions of the subsurface. Those air pockets close enough could be used to view the stars and sky through the transparent ice - these areas became great centers of Astronomy and learning in general, great monasteries that became centers of trade and political influence.
These monasteries occasionally came into conflict with one another, sometimes even fighting religious wars. Of great note were the conflicts between the two largest factions, the "Polytheists" who believed the universe was ruled over by innumerable powerful and unseen personalities, and the "Atheists" who believed there were no such entities, and that the universe was instead created by and ruled by mindless yet sublime natural forces.
All of this changed however, when an alien creature impacted onto Engar's surface. Rescued by the Engi, the monasteries set aside their differences, and used their collective knowledge and sorcery to save the creature, healing her as much as they could.
The alien creature claimed to be a messenger from the "Star Maker," and in only a matter of days, she was able to put to an end centuries of religious differences via her great wisdom and knowledge of the cosmos. The Engi set aside their differences and hailed her "The Oracle," vowing to help her continue her mission. Still, some leaders of the "old ways" became bitter and resentful of the Oracle's coming, and would later go on to join the Heretics.
Coming to the High Temple, the Engi ministered to both sides of the war, teaching both the Han-Larn and Yizith the Oracle's words of Pan'gard, and ultimately succeeded in converting both species to the path of righteousness, peace, and unity. Nowadays, the Engi serve as the thinkers, philosophers, and clerics of Pangard, ministering to the other two kindreds and resolving disputes between them.

Origin/Ancestry

Deep Children, Shallow Children, Southern Straps, Gold Tuffs

Lifespan

200 Cycles

Average Height

0.6 - 0.9 meters

Average Weight

~23 kg

Related Organizations

• Pangard

Related Myths

• Prophecy of the Fourth Kindred