Xirtalahan Consensus

XIRTALAHAN CONSENSUS


Origins and nature of Xirtalahan

A race of beings that appear to consist of nothing but light. A Xirtalahari can manifest itself in almost any form imaginable within certain limits, like a maximum size of c. 3 m in diameter, although a significantly large group prefers a blue or white glowing form with several 'appendixes'. As neither these 'appendixes', nor indeed the whole 'body' has much practical value, some theorise this is an unconsious throwback to their earlier evolutionary ancestors. Similarly believed to be an ancient evolutionary throwback; a Xirtalahari cannot stay prolonged times in a non-manifest, "invicible", form as this leads to inescapable madness and eventual death.

The established scientific consensus is that an unknown mutation c. 200 000 years ago lead to the drastic reduction of organic matter in favor of energy. Further spread of this mutation is believed to have been a reaction to the gradual disapperance "stable areas", places capable of sustaining organic based life within their gaseous homeworld of Xirta, which required adoption of a form better suited to surviving within the extremely hostile planetary conditions. (Due to the hostile nature of a Gas Giant absent of "stable areas" any direct proof for this theory has long since disappeared inevitably leading to the establisment of more radical theories by fringe groups.)

The post-mutation non-corporeal form of a Xirtalahari requires no sustenance to survive. While unaffected by physical trauma, they are vulnerable to various forms of radiation and high-output energy particles meaning that e.g. spacetravel without the physical protection of a ship is impossible. Despite the vacuum of space being so deadly their adaption to the hazards of Xirta should allow for an easy transition to all but the most dangerous of planetary conditions.

Perhaps uniquely, the energetic nature of the Xirtalahan species has enabled some of them to alter the temporal flow of the universe. Historically, most Xirtalahari have only been capable of using this ability in it's simplest form, participating in the Consensus, but the number of those more affluent in temporal channeling has seen a steady rise in recent centuries and improving these abilities has become the objective of significant research efforts. The exact effects of this ability are still largely unknown but by far the most common are glimpses of possible futures, which for an observer can appear e.g. as foresight or simply as faster than usual movement.


Society and the Consensus

Their inherent temporal nature has enabled the Xirtalahan to form a group or a combine of sorts that consists of all the beings of their kind, no matter how far from each other they are. (Effects of longer than orbital distance are currently very much in debate) Within this group, most commonly refered to as the Consensus, everyone has the ability to influence the course of the Xirtalahan society although many elect not to directly intervene prefering to keep their trust in other(s) who share their views. While this has lead to some level of castefication regarding politics, the most obvious example being the Council of Valgus (literally 'Light'), the nature of the Xirtalahan and the basic tenets of Xirtalahan societal system are so focused upon common good that authoritarian or self-serving behaviour has not been seen as acceptable.

The Consensus is in name lead by the Supreme Valgus (elected by Council of Valgus) but it is merely a first-among-equals type of position to purport a face of leadership for the outside. The true leadership lies within the Council of Valgus and it's nine members who are (usually) regarded as the wisest and most respected of the Consensus. As the search for a concensus is the driving force within the Xirtalahan society even the the Supreme Valgus cannot act alone on any matter, however trivial it may seem, and at minimum an agreement by the Council is required. Numerous other Councils exist to govern various aspects of society such as religion or science and provide the Council of Valgus with pertinent information regarding their area of expertise.

The society at large centers around the concept of agreement and harmony between all of the beings of their species. Due to this communal nature an individual is expected to conform with the societal norms and individualistic behaviour is severely frowned upon. While more rebellious minds do exist they tend to stay on the fringes of society and are rarely in contact with the larger Consensus.

Despite of the causes of the conlict that lead to the formation of the Consensus, religion continues to play a role in the Xirtalahan society albeit in a subtle manner. Most sects are centered around the temporal nature of the Xirtalahari seeking non-empirical explanations for this so far quite little understood ability. The largest of these is the Seekers of the Path, or Seekers as they are often refered to. Their basic tenets, such as harmony and acceptance, largely conform with the society's prevalent values.


Establishment of the Consensus

While recorded Xirtalahan history goes much further the Consensus was established merely 2 100 years ago as the end result of the Great Purge, a devastating schism between religious and secular parts of the Xirtalahan. Cause of the conflict was largely rooted in the temporal abilities which were seen as a gift from the Gods by the then dominant religious group Keepers of Xirta. Their attempt to establish a theocratic system, lead by some of the most able temporal channelers of the time, resulted in resistance by more secular segments of the Xirtalahan society. While religious dominance was averted the devastation wrought by the war was so horrific that it instilled the aversion of conflict deep into the racial psyche and acted as the single most important catalyst for the formation of Consensus.

Despite the Purge leading to the dissolvement of the Keepers as a functional group much of the leadership were allowed to choose exile and many are rumored to be residing in the inner depths of Xirta, outside of the Consensus. Some speculate they and their followers could make as much as 1/10th of the Xirtalahan species but since they have chosen exile no one has any definetive answers.