Glaebza

Several glaebza on a glaebza shapeship.

The glaebza are tiny sapient orbs (averaging about 15cm across) that live in a miniature solar system with a pair of magical stars (each with a radius of approximately 175 kilometres) commonly referred to as the Glaebzastars. In their natural state, they move about the solar system using inherent electromagnetic propulsion. They also use these forces to manipulate objects and create tools, originally using clever techniques to smelt metal that involve hurling objects at the stars in precise trajectories so as to heat them (though now they possess refineries in the form of large spherical buildings built "orbiting" the Glaebzastars).

Biology

While they appear fairly simple, comprised of a single sphere, glaebza are in fact highly complex organisms with very diverse anatomies. The general structure common to all glaebza is comprised of their shell, their metal core and the microbiota-filled goo in between. The shell is soft but extremely durable, made of photovoltaic cells. The metal core is made primarily of aluminium and chromium (in a ratio of approximately 4:1) and has a complicated, asymmetrical fractal structure. The goo is a sugar-rich substance, fed by the sugar created by the shell, and is divided into many different discrete microbiomes. Most of the microbiota are themselves tiny organic spheres, each of which have some individual intelligence and several eyes that they use to view the outside world through tiny projections that enter through the gaps between the photovoltaic cells. The "brain" of most glaebza is composed of what is essentially the hive mind of a council formed from several million of these microbiota, representatives from all over the glaebza. For this reason, glaebza are typically referred to in the plural. However, some glaebza do exist whose hivemind has a heirachical structure, including some with what are effectively authoritarian dictators who have taken over the entire glaebza. Such glaebza tend to be unpredictable and dangerous, often seeking to obtain power outside of their inner world.

Reproduction

Glaebza asexually reproduce by budding, and often do so deliberately when their microbiotic population grows too large, though there are instances where a "rogue" group of microbiomes decides to break free on their own, sometimes taking the hivemind of the glaebza completely by surprise. This typically happens only in very extreme circumstances, especially due to external forces such as a magical attack, because this process leaves the new individual almost completely helpless until they are fully grown. The metal cores take many years to form, by gradually feeding the new glaebza on chromium- and aluminium-rich ores. While they are forming, the new glaebza is very vulnerable and unable to move on its own. For this reason, they must be carefully looked after.

Exosuits

A glaebza in a typical exosuit.

Glaebza are a highly innovative species, and centuries of mostly very positive interactions with bipedal aliens have led to their development of an exosuit with a large frame around the "head" that they suspend themselves within using magnetic technology. They are highly specialised organisms and outside of protective suits they are extremely debilitated by large magnetic fields, atmospheric pressure, gravity and a lack of constant, unfiltered, direct sunlight.

While the glaebza interact with many non-bipedal species, they have grown accustomed to their bipedal exosuits, which became the most popular form after a glaebza scientist called G#ABDD# implemented tactile sensors based on the haptic perception of most femizons. In particular, glaebza gain immense pleasure from hugging, and this has become a very important and widespread form of greeting amongst the glaebza.

Language

Glaebza speak a language called Glae that is produced by vibrating the metallic core inside themselves, causing a long, pitch-shifting tone. They have developed translators specifically for converting this to spoken language and back that are magically reprogrammed whenever they encounter a new language (a somewhat awkward process that requires by glaebza law for an individual to verbally knowingly consent to the process, which is sometimes difficult to communicate). For the sake of vocal creatures, they often write their names (which are always sequences of notes in Glae) using notations that are scale-independent and that can be read phonetically (i.e. LaTi#Mi or AB#E), though it is considered polite to read them as music when possible, and whistling is considered more polite than vocalisation as it is a closer approximation of the Glaebza's voices.