Synthetic Reality

The Science of Stone

Woad was a colossal super-earth with incredible gravitational force. Its sun, Rojah-8476, was nearing the state of becoming a pre-planetary nebula when it began to burn off helium and its surface swelled to encompass the entire system. The red giant consumed Woad in an eroding process over millions of years. The inhabitants had no choice but to abandon their home and flee into the cold depths of space.

Beings of enormous strength that could resist the extreme gravity evolved on the surface of Woad. The five-meter unisex race had bright pink muscular bodies and were blind, or rather they didn't have eyes. They visualized the world around them with a kind of sonar that radiated from their bodies.

At the dawn of their civilization, the Woad focused on geology, using crystalline minerals from the planet's endless mountain ranges to make tools and clothing. After their planet reached an uninhabitable state, the survivors took to encasing their bodies in stone. The weight made them comfortable in lower gravity environments and the look and feel reminded them of their lost home. It doubled as strong protection from both the elements and adversaries.

The Woad built chunky utilitarian spaceships out of intensely strong stone and powered them by an exothermic chemical reaction. A blue crystal called wodite was combined with a yellow sulfur material resulting in a powerful green thruster engine. This potent combination propelled Woad ships across vast distances while utilizing only trace amounts of fuel.

The first Woad ships were met by Varan deep space explorers. It's rumored that the Varan helped many of the Woad relocate to a new planet. The Varan government's official position is to respect the desire of any species that wish to remain apart from galactic communities. They will not disclose the location, nor will they confirm or deny if it even exists.

Other fleeing Woad vessels were met by the armies of early space empires, who recruited them as super soldiers. The Warriors of Woad were once famed as the most powerful army in the seven systems. Various factions used them to engage in epic land battles.

By the time their planet was completely destroyed they had already gone out of fashion as interstellar henchmen. Some were kept on as personal bodyguards and showpieces. They became status symbols of the ruling elite. As their numbers faded, they became things of legend.

The Woad were thought to be immortal because of their extremely long lifespans. They were considered philosophers of ancient wisdom living on and on for generations, often being passed from one ruling party to the next. They sat in huge stone chairs, unmoving statues, for decades on end. 

When called to action they would stand as if not a moment had passed and take up a cause for good. They hardly spoke and only responded to the most formal and earnest requests. Their actual age was unknown, but the handful that remained in the service of the emperors of the seven systems have been around for more than a hundred thousand years.

***

Emperor Oblast, who disbanded the Empire and restored freedom and peace to the known galaxy, kept his personal guard of eleven Warriors of Woad in a hall on the front deck of the flagship of his galactic fleet. They sat motionless, staring out into space through a huge window.

On the first day of his daughter's 14th cycle of Grandor, the year she would leave childhood behind and begin to have the responsibilities of an adult member of the royal family, the Emperor was shown a recording by his head of security. The most astute scholars and devoted shamans had trouble getting more than a few words out of the Woad. His daughter, Nuirka, managed to have a conversation with the Chieftain. The Emperor's heart filled with myriad emotions from pride to sorrow as he watched.

***

Grandor Flagship Security File 197654312.W.38.24

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