AstralTide

Indie aquatic alien OC by Syd
Originally est. 2014 at aurrelia but I lost my login lmao.
Featured on moonescent on tumblr!

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Origins

The Aurelian species is native to the planet Araxie (see more on the planet tab). They are a humanoid jellyfish species. Years ago, they were brainless, organless species, merely drifting through existence. However, their species was forced near extinction due to over-hunting by a species not unlike the homo sapien. Thus, the Aurelians were forced to evolve.It took millions of years and first started off as Aurelians merely changing shape and developing more human like characteristics. Stinging tendrils began to grow atop their bulbous bells to appear as hair. Their bells began to develop markings that looked like eyes, nose and mouth. Thicker, more define tendrils grew in the shape of arms and legs. They were evolving to look like the predator and less like the prey. Eventually, eyes, ears, mouth, nose were formed.How they developed brains is unknown. But with brains came emotions, thoughts, a sense of self. A society.As the brain developed, so did the sense of self. Being mostly jelly gave the species endless possibilities to develop their physical selves. They continued to evolve and continued to take on the characteristics of other predatory creatures on the aquatic planet of Araxie, such as developing "horns" that function like earth's fire corals. They observed the creatures most similar to Earth's sea turtles, creating internal and external skeletons for themselves.After evolving and developing a sense of self and community, the Aurelians are no longer an endangered species on their planet. In fact, they have caused their own predator- The species most similar to the homo sapien- to go completely extinct. They rule Araxie now.

Appearance.

These are images of Ula!

Basics.

  • Height: The average height of an Aurelian ranges from 6'0" - 7'8." Despite taking on a form similar to a homo sapien, Aurelians were not able to "shrink" their very long tendrils over time.

  • Weight. The average weight of an Aurrelian is unknown. Due to the fact that they have an endoskeleton, they likely have weights similar to that of a human, if not a bit heavier.

  • Skin. Skin tones range from bright magentas to deep indigos. Like most aquatic species, their skin is quite slick and covered in a thin mucus layer. The hands, feet, hair, and parts of the torso of an Aurelian are bioluminescent because they produce their own luciferin as well as ingest it. The bright glow is intended to attract prey for easy meals.

  • Hair. All Aurelians have extremely long "hair." This hair is actually composed of oral arms- The long, shocking tendrils that jellyfish use to catch prey. Hair lengths range from 7 to 15 feet long and cyan in color. Nutrients is absorbed through the hair.

  • Sex & Reproduction. There are both male and female Aurelians. There are sex organs for either biological sex. They look anatomically similar to that of a homosapien. However, Aurelians reproduce by laying eggs. The eggs can be fertilized internally or externally, though it is easier if done internally. Following fertilization, eggs are stored in a safe place.

  • Age. The average lifespan of an Aurelian is 172 years old in Earth years. Aurelians are not considered adults until they reach the age of 38. The skin of an Aurelian loses its vibrancy with age.

  • Diet. Fish!! Crustaceans! Plankton!

Anatomy.

Endoskeleton

  • Aurelians contain a similar bone structure to that of homo sapiens.

  • There are remnants of their ancestors' hydrostatic skeletons, which helps them move around. However, they are extremely slow swimmers still.

  • Bones are slightly transluscent.

Organs & Tissues.

  • Brain, heart, muscles, insestine, spleen, liver, etc. Instead of lungs they have gills, located by the ribcage and just below the jaw bone.

  • They do not have blood. Instead, veins are filled with mesoglea, a gelatinous substance.

  • Organ that allows them to speak is also located on the neck.

Anatomy.

Fins

  • Aurelians have fins that look similar to clothing that decorate their body. These fins are a result of evolution- A way to "hide" amongst the enemy by looking as though they were wearing clothing.

  • These fins do nothing to aid in swimming and instead aid in covering sex organs and secondary sex characteristics like clothing would.

Horns.

  • All Aurelians have coral-like horns atop their heads. Sizes range from 6 inches to 18 inches.

  • Connected to the skull.

  • Teeny, tiny, barely-visible stinging tentacles coat the horns. Don't touch unless your hands are coated in the mesoglea produced by an Aurelian

  • Horns are forcibly removed when an Aurelian is exiled for committing a horrible crime

Culture.

Democracy.

There is a council of 25 Aurelians that make decisions for the entire species. Each of these Aurelians come from a different sector of the planet Araxie and have that sections best interest at heart (hopefully). Decisions for the species are made through voting with majority ruling.Council members are chosen by their sectors every 6 years. However, the number of terms one council member can be re-elected for are endless. One cannot be elected for the council until the age of 75.

Education.

All Aurelians are given the same basic education until age 35. This education includes language (mind you, there is no written language), mathematics, history, culture, etc. At age 38, the Occupation Exam is given. This means that Aurelians have 3 years from the time they graduate from school to independently study.. Or not.

Occupations.

An Aurelian's occupation is determined by their results on the orally-given Occupation Exam. There is no right or wrong answers per se; But certain answers will get you sorted into certain professions. This is why it is encouraged to independently study after graduating school so that you can "hone" your skills and answers for the profession you want.Occupations range from educator, medic, explorer, hunter, warrior, scientist, etc.The Occupation Exam can be retaken every 5 years if one desires.

Language.

Aurelians do not speak their native tongue with their mouthes. As they are just sequences of drawn-out high-pitched sounds, the use of a tongue is not needed. Instead, the language of Aurelians, called Cetolo, is ‘voiced’ through openings on either side of the neck of an Aurelian.

Economy.

Aurelians live under a traditional economy, meaning custom decides what people do, make, gather, etc. Aurelians have a loose hunter-gatherer-esque society. There is no money and everyone works as a whole.

Religion.

Aurelians do not have a set name for their 'religion.' They merely worship and give thanks to the ancestors that came before them- The ones that made it possible for them to thrive today. Aurelians have small shrines dedicated to loved ones in their homes that they give thanks to daily through prayer.

Recreation.

Many Aurelians partake in group singing. In addition, riding on the backs of creatures similar to Earth's dolphins is a particularly popular pasttime.

Housing.

Aurelians house together in groups called blooms. A bloom contains 6-14 Aurelians. Aurelians make their homes in living organisms; Massive, 50-foot tall structures made up of organisms similar to Earth's coral reefs and anemones.

Crafts.

  • Jewelry is created from various stones, shells, and other things found at the bottoms of Araxie's oceans.

  • While their hair can be weaponized, Aurelians craft spears and shields from old shells and bones from long-dead creatures.

  • Artwork is etched into rocks to tell stories using old shells as pens.

Gender Roles.

There are no set gender roles amongst the Aurelian. In fact, there is no real strong concept of gender amongst the species. Though males and females have different organs and secondary sex characteristics, there is no real acknowledged distinction between the two. Most Aurelians use they/them pronouns, or 'we' as a collective. In addition, children are raised collectively amongst adults and older adolescents.

Science & Mathematics.

Despite living under a traditional economy and having a hunter-gatherer-esque society, Aurelians have done well in terms of scientific and mathematical advancement. They've determined how to travel extragalactically (across galaxies), conduct electricity underwater, invented devices to allow them to breathe above water, etc.

Mating & Childrearing.

Children are raised collectively amongst their bloom. Parents are discerned from the rest of the bloom, but the bloom works together to rear a child.Reproduction is fairly clinical to the Aurelian species. Because reproduction can internally or externally, it is not necessarily tied to intimacy or romantic feelings. Because children are raised collectively in a bloom, there is no pressure on the two involved in producing a child to be intimately involved in order to co-parent.Reproduction is also fairly clinical because Aurelians do not have much concept of gender and therefore do not choose romantic partners based on sex organs necessarily.Aurelians can and do have intercourse for recreational purposes. They do have organs that allow them sexual pleasure. Unwanted fertilization often does not happen, as females are able to control when eggs are released.

There are few Araxie-native pathogens that are incurable to the Aurelia. However, their immune system varies in other galaxies/on other planets. Thus, most of their medical advances stems from brave souls venturing to other planets to gather medicines, tools, and even pathogens.

Abilities.

  • Camouflage.Aurelians can make themselves fully transparent when in water. This is to protect them from large predators.

  • Conducting Electricity. Aurelians can freely conduct electricity throughout their limbs and hair, with the highest voltage concentration in their hair and hands.

  • Creating mucus. It sounds gross but is actually very helpful. Aurelians can secret mucuses that either attract prey or protect a person from their electric limbs.

  • Marine Telepathy. Regardless of planet, Aurelians have developed the ability to communicate telepathically with aquatic species.

  • Echolocation The horns atop an Aurelian's head are capable of picking up on the movements of other aquatic species moving about.

Notable Tools.

  • Moisture extractor. Aurelians have developed a wearable device the size of a small backpack that absorbs moisture from the air to flow through an Aurelian's gills. This allows them to move about on land if need be.

  • Space travel. Yes, they've got their own spaceships. How else are they going to get around?

  • Psychic Paper. I'm ripping this from Doctor Who, w/e. The Aurelians did not invent psychic paper, but they use it on their extragalactic travels. This paper allows them to disguise themselves and will show the view whatever they want to see. Ie, if Ula told you she was a doctor and flashed this card at you, you'd see a medical license in her name.

  • Extragalactic Translator. Another tool used by the Aurelians that they did not develop. This is a tiny tool that is injected into the inner ear and translates any language heard into a language the wearer understands.

  • Disguise-O-Matic. Another tool the Aurelians have borrowed from other species. This device allows them to disguise themselves amongst species that are not used to seeing species from another planet. Ie, humans.

Planet Araxie.

  • Planet type: Oceanic. 90% ocean, 10% land.

  • Biome: Lush

  • Climate: 90°F / 32°C is average temp year-round. Tropical, moist.

  • Weather: Daily heavy rain showers. Heat "storms" reaching temps of 176°F/80°C monthly. Water temps remain warm.

  • Flora: Algaes, kelps, seagrasses, fungi, underwater trees, microscopic plants

  • Fauna: Various aquatic species ranging in sizes. Bioluminescent fish, sharks, dolphins, etc. Lots and lots of jellies. Any "mammal" like creature has evolved to live mostly in water and go long periods without fresh oxygen. The humanoid species that once lived here are extinct. Aurelia are the only human-like species here.

  • More tba!

Identification Card.

Basics.

name. Ula Watson (Pronounced like Ooh-La
aka. Dr. Watson
species. Aurelian (humanoid jellyfish alien)
age. 48 in Aurelian years; ~28 in human years
birthday. unknown on an Earth calendar. Her first day on Earth was August 14th, so she considers that her birthday.
gender & pronouns. nonbinary, she/they
orientation. panromantic, pansexual
occupation. extragalactic explorer ; beach patrol
residence. houseboat (a starship in disguise)
voice. Soft yet excited, dreamy sounding.
voiceclaim. TBA

Personality.

Traits. clumsy | curious | social | friendly | observant | quirky | serene | self-assured | energetic | daydreamer | blunt | accepting | impulsive | Easily-excitedIn-depth. Ula is an observant woman, often popping herself into conversations uninvited and leaving conversations she is invited to join without word when disinterested. Did I mention she's not well-versed in what is socially acceptable to talk about with new people she meets?She has a habit of people watching and is fully honest when caught in the act. She does not seem to have a single self-conscious bone in her body; She is unapologetically herself and cannot be bothered when someone doesn't like it.Some find these traits to be fairly off-putting and bizarre. Why does she ask so many questions? Why does she go on tangents about unimportant things, such as the function of a rubber duck? Why is she so unbothered when she makes a mistake?Those who enjoy Ula's company will find that she is quite curious and social; She is always interested in hearing about a hobby or interest. She'll try almost anything with you, too.

Tidbits.

hobbies. crocheting, reading, trying new foods, bike ridinginterests. cats, fashion, language, cultures.fears. being unable to return home, dehydration, being discovered

favorites. seafood, soy sauce, soft pretzels, sparkling watersdislikes. large birds, spicy food, word puzzles, large reptilestrivia. they chose the last name Watson from Dr. Watson of Sherlock Holmes! She claims she's from Kansas if you ask where she's from.

Appearance: Aurelian

Appearance: Human

  • __Height: 5'7" __

  • Weight. Unknown

  • Skin tone. Tawny with cool undertones. Smooth.

  • Eyes. Bright blue, like her natural form's hair

  • Hair. Worn cool blue and straight, or black-blue and straight

  • Build. Like their natural build, it is fairly androgynous and thin. She has small breasts, hips, and buttocks. Long, thin legs.

  • Attire. They prefer long dresses or loose sweaters over knee-length skirts.

  • Faceclaim. Siomara from Hiding in The Moon

  • Height: 6'4"

  • Weight: They won't tell!

  • Skin tone: Varying shades of magenta. Her lips are full and indigo in shade.

  • Eyes: Neon green, large irises

  • Hair: Bright cyan, slightly translucent. Her hair is roughly 12 feet long.

  • Build. Quite androgynous. They have small breasts and hips. Very long legs, a neon magenta in shade.

  • Attire. As mentioned previously, Aurelians do not wear clothing. Instead, they have fins that cover their bodies to look like clothing.

  • Extras. They always carry a small backpack wherever they go- This holds their moisture extractor device.

Biography.

tl;dr at the bottom!

The exact date Ula hatched from her egg is unknown in human years. Perhaps 48 years ago, give or take a few? She had 7 biological siblings that hatched on the same date and they all grew up together in their bloom, consisting of 8 additional adults and two other children. Her childhood was normal, filled with races on creatures like dolphins, jewelry making, hide-n-seek, childhood crushes, and school. Lots and lots of school- 35 years of it, in fact! This left her with 3 years to do whatever she wanted before she'd have to take her occupation exam.But Ula did not choose to goof off as some of her siblings and friends did, no. Ula set to studying artifacts and technology of other planets under her biological father's wing. She wanted to follow in his footsteps and become an extragalactic explorer: The most esteemed profession amongst her people.Becoming an extragalactic explorer meant she could explore various galaxies, meet all sorts of species, and learn so many things!So she studies hard, and the day of her exam, her answers allow her to qualify for a position as an extragalactic explorer-- A true honor!As an extragalactic explorer, it is Ula's job to scout out and gather planets of neighboring and far-off galaxies. The galaxy Ula is assigned is The Milky Way and has been given instruction to focus on Earth and its human inhabitants.Ula's current focus is on human beach culture and their relationships with oceanic life. She gathers information while working as beach patrol. She's a trained lifeguard and certified EMT.

tl;dr: Ula is an alien disguised as a human on planet Earth studying human behavior along with a team of other members of her species. Ula has been assigned the task of studying human beach culture and the interactions between humans and oceanic life.

Canon Verses

Canon in a sense that Ula is an alien species traveling to other planets to gather information

Crossovers

  • NARUTO. - A distant relative of Juugo's clan, Ula possesses sage transformation kekkei genkai. Read more here.

  • STARDEW/HM/SOS -Ula is this peculiar neon mermaid creature that lives by the shoreline. Read more here.

  • PKMN RESEARCHER - Ula is a Pokemon researcher, contracted by different professors to organize Pokedex data. Read more here.

  • DEEPSEA NIGHTCLUB - Mass Effect verse. Ula is an information broker and runs the underwater club on the Citadel called DeepSea. More information here.

  • RUNE FACTORY - Ula is a guardian, former monster of Aquaticus. Read more here.

Alternate Universes

  • WATER NYMPH - Fantasy verse! Ula is a water nymph inhabiting a local body of water. Read more here.