#frostelus

           They displayed powerful regenerative abilities to the surprise of the Nynrah Ghosts, but this also made them difficult to kill; Even worse, the plague in their flesh was highly-contagious, and discovered to be of a rapidly-devouring, flesh-eating variety. Realizing they had a genuine liability and biohazard on their hands, the Nynrah Ghosts made the decision to destroy all Zyglak and incinerate them.

           Unfortunately, the Zyglak proved rather resistant to high temperatures and fire, and attempts to freeze them did little, as the creatures were able to easily break through their frozen bonds; It would take incredibly low temperatures to freeze them, and their own cells rapidly recovered from crystallization.

           Trydahk became concerned; The Zyglak had been made prior to the Nynrah Incident, so there was an entire district of Xia’s finest scholars and students outside, vulnerable to the Zyglak and their plague. Eventually, he came up with the reasoning that if the Zyglak could not be killed, and if containing them was also risky… Why not banish them?

           Thus, the Nynrah Ghosts gathered all of their Kahgarak, and had the bio-weapons open portals to the Zone of Darkness with their Rhotuka, hurling the captured Zyglak through them. It was a long and arduous process, but eventually the Ghosts succeeded in rounding up every single Zyglak and banishing them. Afterwards, the facility they were in was quarantined, and eventually sterilized through a Xian Heart of Fire, just to be safe.

           While the Zyglak remaind out of sight and mind for their creators, the creatures themselves were still troubled with their own existences. Their very recent experiences and trauma, combined with their relative youth and inexperience, left them permanently scarred in just about every way possible. Hurt, abandoned, and dejected, the Zyglak quickly grew bitter against reality itself, shunning their own creators for rejecting them as mistakes. They grew to hate all others who weren’t Zyglak, on the reasoning that outsiders weren’t accidents like they were.

           Not without reason, the Zyglak realized that all others would likely hate and reject them. Indeed, a few Zyglak had attempted to escape back to the World of Light through the two-way Kahgarak portals, escaping out into Nynrah where they were pursued by the Vahki, with the Xians being horrified and labelling such individuals as monsters. Despite attempts to communicate, these few Zyglak were still quarantined, and unable to cope with their own naturally-deadly bodies, something they had no control over, those Zyglak were banished back to the Para-Realm once again with even-further fractured minds.

           After hearing the experiences of these few Zyglak, the rest of the species only had their paranoia and suspicions confirmed. Hurt, lonely, and without the proper support and guidance they needed in their formative years, the Zyglak became reclusive, territorial shut-ins; Not that there was really anyone else in the Para-Realm, anyway.

           Exploring Dark Xia, the Zyglak became accustomed to the Dark World, feeding on the darkened plantlife within, their own bodies developing an affinity for Shadow in the process that made them even stronger and harder to control, for those who were interested. Living in perpetual darkness with little to do, the Zyglak attempted to alleviate their boredom by crafting spears from the darkened material that made up the Para-Realm. They made up stories and tales, myths that explained how the world worked; But such myths were very simple and unimaginative. Through no fault of their own, the Zyglak had little creativity as a result of little access to anything that could inspire them.

           Years in the Para-Realm conditioned them to darkness, and towards hating the Light. Unable to properly cope with their pain –both emotional and physical, Zyglak had chronic pains- their stories turned into revenge fantasies upon their creators, and eventually all Non-Zyglak. The Zyglak began training with their make-shift spears, learning combat from one another and developing the crude beginnings of their own culture.

           When other creatures and rejects came through the Kahgarak portals, the Zyglak ate them; Usually such bio-weapons could not speak for themselves, and anyhow the Zyglak had been conditioned by trauma to be hostile. In addition, they were hungry for anything that wasn’t the dark landscape of the Para-Realm, finding even bad tastes to be preferable to bland nothingness for their palates. The Zyglak grew to worship their sole neighbor, a titanic crustacean known as the Zivon; Occasionally, offerings would be made to it, in hopes that the beast would leave them alone.

           Eventually, the Kraahl arrived on the shores of Dark Xia, and the Zyglak reacted with hostility. After an initial clash, both groups came to an understanding as mutual rejects lost in the Para-Realm. Nevertheless, the Zyglak could not fully trust the Kraahl, and so both groups made the agreement to mind their own business and territory, ceasing interaction.

          Nevertheless, during their brief exchange –as well as the occasional interaction between more adventurous members of either group- the Zyglak learned of Okoto, of other civilizations, as well as myths, many involving Umarak the Deity of Shadow. In turn, the Zyglak explained to the Kraahl the island of Xia, as well as the Nynrah Ghosts who made them and the Kahgarak that banished the species.

          When Tahu, Hahli, and Kualus were sent to the Para-Realm, they briefly scoured the area before coming across the Zyglak. Recognizing them as outsiders, the incensed Zyglak, screaming their war cry of ‘Vengeance!’, began their pursuit, attacking in full force. They chased the trio for a while, even getting the Zivon involved in hopes that the three would make a worthy tribute. Eventually however, the trio managed to escape the Zyglak’s grasp, and escaped through another Kahgarak portal afterwards.

          Ever since the Xian-Okotan War began, many more groups and individuals have begun to access the Para-Realm, among them Xian soldiers working for the Barraki. While the Okotans battle the Xians in the Dark World, the Zyglak see both sides as threats and are choosing to wage their own war as well, with hunting parties ambushing outsiders and brutally slaughtering them. With their powerful abilities and affinity for Shadow, the Zyglak quickly proved to be lethal, feared opponents who would strike from the deepest darkness. They have reacted in similar hostility to Yagavo and his army of Night Wraiths, who seek to harvest the Kraahl to create more of their number; The Zyglak have come to the mutual aid of their Kraahl neighbors a few times, and have grown to trust and even worship Kraltarak; The Toa of Shadow is comprised of both Kralta, as well as the legendary Umarak they heard so much about.

          Some Zyglak have escaped out into the World of Light in the chaos, and are now leading active attacks against literally everyone else. They have responded aggressively to the Brotherhood of Makuta’s attempts at negotiation, not trusting Makuta, especially after seeing his harvesting of the Kraahl; The fact that he is aligned with their Nynrah Ghost creators does not help. Many Okotans treat the Zyglak with disgust, although there are some among the Xian Revolution –usually those mutated by the Nynrah Ghosts- who offer a hand.

          As the Zyglak interact with other groups more frequently, some are beginning to see the inklings of hope in their own hearts… Some witness the gestures made by others, and wonder if perhaps peace and co-existence CAN be made… Alas, the Zyglak are afraid of taking a risk and do not want to be rounded up and exterminated. For now, they remain a hostile threat to all, and the flesh-eating plague they carry remains a dangerous liability. Currently, the Zyglak are waging war against literally everyone else, with the sole exception of the Kraahl, who they can now almost be said to be allied with.

          Zyglak are large, reptilian beings with scaly hides, easily towering over the average Xian/Okotan. Their heads are pale, with elongated snouts filled to the brim with razor-sharp teeth, and bulbous red eyes that glow in the dark; When hunting, Zyglak can dim the glow of their eyes to increase their own stealth. Their bodies are primarily dark-red, with their legs being more of a dark-blue in coloration and digitigrade and structure.

          The Zyglak have a hunched-over posture, with spines running along their backs, and long claws on their hands and feet. Their long, whip-like tails are orange, and their flesh appears to be necrotic, constantly in a state of decay while at the same time regenerating; This, along with their unintended existence as total accidents, contributes to unstable bodies with chronic pains that keep them awake at night.

          Zyglak possess great physical strength, and are extremely durable, able to withstand large amounts of physical damage. Any damage they do sustain is quickly mended by their potent, regenerative abilities; A Zyglak can regenerate entire limbs, and even being sliced in half won’t necessarily guarantee death for them. They are immune to other forms of harm, such as the elements and poison.

          Fire doesn’t seem to burn them, and it takes incredibly low temperatures to freeze a Zyglak; Even then, their bodies can easily break through the ice frozen in their cells, which are able to rapidly recover from crystallization. Even when completely frozen, a Zyglak’s cells work quickly to raise its body temperatures and melt the ice. Zyglak are likewise unaffected by electric shocks; They are amphibious creatures, able to breathe both on land and in water, and there doesn’t seem to be any acids that can damage them, or any poisons that can kill them.

          Zyglak have borderline-invincible immune systems, and seem unable to get sick; Their bodies are, however, constantly infected with a potent flesh-eating plague. This plague spreads on physical contact; It can be smeared onto victims by a Zyglak through their palm, quickly devouring people alive and breaking down their flesh and even bones. Thankfully, this plague doesn’t seem to be carried through bodies of water; A Zyglak has to actively rub a victim against their necrotic scales in order for the plague to transmit.

          Due to their prolonged time in the Para-Realm and absorption of its plantlife mimicries, the Zyglak also possess an affinity for Shadow. This has only enhanced their above-mentioned immunity to most attacks, but those with a strong will and better understanding of Darkness can even shoot forth bolts of energy from their palms! The Zyglak typically wield crude spears crafted from materials found in the Para-Realm; Any Zyglak can channel their innate connection to Shadow through these spears. When hurled against an object, these spears begin to absorb whatever they come into contact with, channeling the consuming power of Shadow in the process.

          Zyglak are omnivorous, able to eat and digest just about anything; Their hardy stomachs can even digest metal, to an extent! They prefer to live in dark areas, especially those that are wet. Zyglak reproduce in a manner similar to starfish; If one eats enough, it can make the conscious effort to grow another Zyglak from its body, with a head and limbs emerging before the new Zyglak splits off after growing large enough. Other Zyglak can be grown unintentionally from severed limbs, from time to time.

          Efforts to reproduce were few, with most new Zyglak being aforementioned accidents; Sustenance is little in the Para-Realm, even if Zyglak are also hardy creatures that can go long periods without food or water. But since their active warfare against Xians and Okotans alike, pressure is being placed on one another to replicate and grow their numbers, and hope is rising that perhaps the Zyglak can one day take over the world for themselves. Maybe then, they can find peace…

          The Zyglak have their own hissing, rasping language that they share among one another, although they can speak the language of Xians and Okotans relatively well, too- Not bad for beings who had to grow up on their own, without access to educational materials or writing of any sort!

          Their culture is primitive, as a result of their unfortunate circumstances. The Zyglak have no recipes, choosing to eat their meals entirely raw; For the longest time they did not have the luxury of cooking, and had no tools to work with. The Zyglak mostly lived as scavengers during their isolation in the Para-Realm. Their sense of taste and smell is adequate, but they have potent night-vision and can electro-magnetically sense others to a degree.

          Zyglak typically prefer to hunt in small groups, often trailing victims and prey before ambushing them from the darkness. Oftentimes, their brute strength alone is enough; Their fighting skills could use some improving, but are otherwise impressive considering what they had to work with. Zyglak can go long distances tracking prey, and are seen by many as unstoppable monstrosities.

          As a result of both circumstance and their constant, chronic pain putting them in frequent stress, the Zyglak are often aggressive, hostile, and short-tempered. Intruders and outsiders are usually attacked on sight, without question, although sometimes the Zyglak may feel kinship to those why see as fellow rejects and outcasts. When they aren’t hunting, the Zyglak often dwell about and ponder their own miserable existence, often undergoing an existential crisis in the process. A few likely have depression, but lack the medication and therapy they need to cope with their illness.

          The Zyglak have some sense of religion and myths, thanks to cultural exchange with the Kraahl and their own imaginations inevitably running loose. Upon creation, their sole neighbor was the Zivon, a massive beast of colossal power. Although the Zivon initially tried to hunt and eat them, the Zyglak succeeded in evading the beast, and seeing it as the only creature in the Para-Realm, began to worship it. Many saw it as a God, others saw it as a protector; Most viewed it as a wrathful being to appease with gifts, hence the occasional tribute and sacrifices. Meals would occasionally be set aside for the Zivon by the Zyglak; In turn, the Zivon learned to appreciate the creatures and their tribute. The fact of the matter was that the Zyglak also tasted terrible and gave the Zivon a terrible stomach ache.

          Additionally, there were those who worshipped Umarak, due to stories from the Kraahl. They saw Umarak as the progenitor and source of the darkness they lived in and thrived upon, which was… Not at all inaccurate, honestly. They had hit the mark with such a view, and saw their affinity for Shadow as a double-edged blessing, functioning also as a curse. Of course, when Umarak himself appeared alongside his chosen Kaita, the Zyglak chose to instead thank the Deity of Shadow rather than hold any grudges. He could not be blamed for their banishment to the Para-Realm, after all, and Kraltarak holds some sympathy and pity for the race. Rejection is all too familiar for them…

          The alliance between the Zyglak and the Kraahl is both one of some worship towards Kraltarak, but also a genuine understanding as a result of being neighbors for so long. And as interactions increase, with both groups coming to the aid of one another, something close to a genuine respect, and maybe even friendship, is beginning to develop. Indeed, around the Kraahl, the Zyglak’s dispositions tend to improve somewhat, and Kraltarak has used their power over Shadow to help numb the creatures’ chronic pains.

          The Zyglak unfortunately do not feel the same comradery towards anyone else; In their war against their perceived enemies, they have particularly targeted the Nynrah Ghosts, taking great pleasure in the pain and suffering of their creators. Those Ghosts that are captured are brutally torn apart, infected with the Zyglak’s plague, and even eaten; The Kahgarak are similarly despised.

          Recently, the Zyglak have come into contact with the Frostelus and Lekara. The Frostelus proved to be wary of the Zyglak and vice-versa, managing to drive off the creatures with an onslaught of frozen ice. However, as some Frostelus and Zyglak interacted, they too came to an understanding, and beginning to mind one another’s own business as they stay within their respective territories; The Frostelus are content with their homes in the north of Okoto, so the Zyglak have free reign anywhere else.

Alas, Subterranean is many things, but a diplomat he is not. Upon gaining entry to their iceberg lair, he discovered to his horror that frostelus do not speak Matoran. He was forced to request an alliance in a game of charades – a game where the frostelus readily understood, but easily outmatched him with their six fluid arms. Subterranean soon found himself in over his head, unable to interpret the alien motions of his audience.

That was when everything fell apart – quite literally.

As it turns out, frostelus anatomy is more complicated than we knew it to be. The true frostelus is not a six-armed warrior, but a slimy cephalopod with advanced intelligence. They construct suits of armor for themselves, equipped with rhotuka launchers and wicked weapons, which they control with their highly flexible limbs. But don’t be fooled; the armor is not part of their body, it is simply an elaborate object assembled over a period of years.

Subterranean made contact with the chief frostelus, and offered a customary fist bump. The moment his mutated claw touched the frostelus, Subterranean’s disassembly power did its work, and every part of the chief’s armor separated and crumpled to the ground, leaving a naked and embarrassed mollusk squirming before him.

As luck would have it, shedding one’s armor is a great taboo among the frostelus. The chief was incensed, and the surrounding frostelus concluded that Subterranean had humiliated them to assert his dominance. He was summarily chased off the iceberg.

There are several distinct bands of frostelus in the world, but word travels swiftly between them, because why should I be allowed a reprieve? After Subterranean’s little stunt, the Dark Hunters became the enemy of all frostelus worldwide. I had hoped for an alliance; instead, I lost access to several waterways throughout the universe, and gained the enmity of an unforgiving and unpredictable enemy.

           Generations passed, with the Frostelus occasionally coming into conflict with the Okotans as the Emperor every now and then made additional attempts to colonize their lands. Most weren’t willing to give them the benefit of the doubt and assumed that Frostelus were too dumb or unskilled to even wield Masks of Power, thus further justifying excluding them from ‘civilized’ society.

           Ultimately, it seems the Frostelus had the last laugh between themselves and their rival Okotan Kingdom. The Great Cataclysm occurred, causing massive earthquakes and briefly destroying the Frostelus’ iceberg homes, but they just as quickly adapted to the formation of the Region of Ice, taking to the expanded arctic areas well.

With the Okotans scattered and in disarray, the kingdom more or less disassembled, and the Protectors spread thin with the Mask Makers dead or dormant, one would assume the Frostelus would take advantage to spread their own territory. However, in the wake of the rivals’ downfall, the Frostelus decided they had no need nor desire to expand senselessly and establish a giant kingdom. They were perfectly fine staying up north as they always had, although the formation of the Region of Ice nevertheless led to some tribes expanding further, if only to curiously explore the new world before them.

The remaining Okotans continued to view them with some bias, but as society scattered into smaller city-states and villages, the Frostelus were generally forgotten and assumed to be myth. Every now and then someone would venture up north to investigate the legends, and always the Frostelus would chase them off, assuming the worst.

When the Skull Spiders seized Okoto, Makuta considered inviting the Frostelus into his Brotherhood. He attempted to appeal to their experiences of rejection, but the Frostelus quickly recognized Makuta as having less-than-noble intentions and not acting out of altruism. They rejected his offers, and offended, Makuta ordered Fenrakk to attack the Frostelus tribes.

Despite Fenrakk’s best attempts, the Skull Spider swarms were unable to handle the even-colder climates up north, often times freezing just by staying still for too long. In contrast, the Frostelus had the home advantage, were suited precisely for the cold environment, and were stronger and more unified than the scattered Okotan villages Fenrakk was used to. Makuta quickly calmed down and gave up, deciding the effort wasn’t worth it to harvest the souls of the Frostelus or enslave them. He had Fenrakk ignored the Frostelus, leaving them to their frozen lives as the Skull Spiders focused on the Okotans instead.

Once more reigning over their rivals, the Frostelus still kept to themselves, and inevitably they became forgotten or regarded as mere myth by Okotan society. During Phase 2 of the Skull Spider Wars, they came into contact with Okotan society once more when Kopaka, Toa of Ice, and the Kokorans rediscovered them.

After initial skirmishes due to disagreements, as well as fighting over resources, the Okotans attempted to convince the Frostelus to join their cause. In response, the Brotherhood of Makuta resumed their old efforts of recruitment, making grandiose gestures of apology for the previous attacks from a few centuries ago. Between the two, the Frostelus had bad memories of both, and refused to move from their neutral position.

The Okotans eventually recognized and respected the Frostelus’ decision, briefly helping them defend against a Brotherhood attack before departing. From there, the Frostelus would continue to exist, occasionally coming into contact with the Okotan-Brotherhood conflict every now and then. When Ekimu began reestablishing Okoto’s old era of technology, a few Frostelus tribes made the occasional trade venue here and there with the Okotans for tools and resources in exchange for their own goods, such as bitterbite, but otherwise remained neutral.

All Frostelus have minor control over Ice, and are well-suited for arctic climates. Frostelus can freeze their fists, forming giant boulders of ice around them to pummel enemies and obstacles with, and can even grow larger ice chunks to break off of their fists and hurl at targets from afar. Otherwise, they also wield weapons carved from bone as well as ice. They possess small thermodynamic abilities that allow them to keep things cool and chilled with their touch, ensuring their ice weapons stay cold enough to be durable. The Frostelus touch can even be channeled through their icy weapons to freeze enemies before shattering them. Additionally, they possess great strength and durability beyond that of Okotans.

The Frostelus are typically composed of multiple tribes who frequently interact with one another, usually peacefully, although every now and then a conflict may break out. Their culture has them avoid eye contact, which is reserved only for intimate situations, and whenever Okotans insist on looking them in the eye the Frostelus interpret it as a sign of invasive rudeness. Frostelus make their homes in giant, floating icebergs with intricately-carved tunnels and rooms within. They can direct said icebergs through the water with their minor control over Ice, effectively creating mobile fortresses from their homes.

At first glance, their culture may seem primitive, but this is far from the truth. Although few can see much else beyond the seemingly bare-bones flags they fly above their icebergs, in the tunnels within Frostelus make intricate ice sculptures and carve ivory. They often create artwork and furniture from the pelts of animals they’ve hunted, and most of their history and culture is oral, with the exception of intricate ice murals carved along the walls of their homes. They still keep records of their culture deep within their icebergs, just in case.

The Frostelus are omnivorous, enjoying frozen berries and cold, raw meat. They like their cuisine cooled until frozen, enjoying the crunch and texture of ice, and they tend to get most of their water by chewing blocks of ice and snow. Their cuisine is admittedly simple and bare-bones, but they know how to handle and preserve food with the cold without causing freezer burn, and what simple dishes they do have are considered to be a delicacy by some of their friendlier visitors. Frostelus rarely get to enjoy berries due to their proximity from their homes and the harshness of the cold making them infrequent, so if you ever visit the Frostelus, you can get on their good side with a few bushes’ worth of berries as an offering.

The typical Frostelus lifespan is longer than that of Okotans. Many of the older ones hone their craft by acting as ice-smiths, working on hammering and focusing bitterbite with their frozen fists, crafting lethal weapons from the crystals. Frostelus forges are often manned by a large number of skilled, experienced smiths who use rudimentary yet sufficient tools and mechanisms to forge a wide variety of items from materials such as ice, metal, wood, etc.

The Frostelus tribes are nomadic for the most part, sailing around the frozen coasts of the Region of Ice up north. Like the Okotans, they too have legends; Tales of Frostelus heroes, as well as creation stories, myths, folktales, and common sayings. Older Frostelus are usually bestowed the honorable position of story-telling to the young. Their clothing is incredibly basic, unneeded for the most part, but for cultural reasons most will wear simple kilts of animal pelt. The elders have their status signified by pelt cloaks, and leaders will occasionally adorn themselves with additional articles such as capes or jewelry made of ice, metal, wood, and/or ivory. Such luxury fashion is usually saved for formal events, however. In combat, Frostelus warriors can conjure ice armor on their backs and around themselves.

Frostelus family dynamics are generally fluid, and the community as a whole will gladly look over each others’ children. Romantic relationships can be monogamous or polygamous, depending on the lovers’ preference. Although tribe members are valued above other Frostelus, in general the species feels the need to assist one another in times of need and will feel inclined to help a Frostelus stranger upon seeing one. Most conflicts between tribes are rarely bloody as a result. For fun, Frostelus will sometimes brawl with one another, but their durability and deliberate holding back ensures no one is seriously hurt. During said fights, they’ll usually butt heads or other limbs, sometimes iced over.

Whenever a Frostelus does die, be it of old age or combat (probably against an outsider), the dead has their body frozen in a large ice coffin by the community that is sent to drift out into sea. As the coffin floats away, the community stands by and mourns. Many Frostelus heroes are memorialized with ice-carvings or sculptures, their names usually bestowed upon the proud works of smiths or newborn children.

Unsurprisingly, Frostelus dislike the heat. They can toughen through it with the help of conjured ice armor to cool themselves, but otherwise they’ll just keep to their homes in the north. There have been tales of Frostelus colonies that journeyed farther south than the rest, but evidently they decided the effort wasn’t worth it and went back home.

In the incredibly rare event that a Frostelus becomes an unrepentant criminal and/or murders another of their own, they’ll be exiled from the group on a slab of ice. Likewise, other tribes will denounce them; However, if a Frostelus willingly repents and genuinely offers to become a better person, they’ll be cautiously, yet certainly, accepted back.

-Scattered throughout the Region of Stone are massive deposits of various metals buried in the sand, often-times jutting out from the surface. Due to the magnetic property of many of these deposits, compasses are virtually useless when it comes to navigating the Region of Stone as a result of interference. On the plus side, scavengers are always finding stuff with metal detectors.

-Levatans refer to Rain as Sky Water, and amongst the community there’s a myth that Sky Water (which some claim to be the drool, tears, or even sweat of Phantoka above) is infected with germs. The reasoning for this comes from Levatans typically getting sick after the few instances of rain that occur in the Region of Stone. As most Levatans lack easy access to other sources of knowledge that would disprove them otherwise, this belief is somewhat wide-spread. Thankfully, increased travel between the Mega-Villages (in particular Kiniga) would dispel this myth.

-During the Skull Raider Wars, Kulta attempted to appeal to the Frostelus’ dislike of the Okotans in order to win allies. Alas, the fact that the Skull Raiders were clearly the same species as the Okotans made them suspicious in the eyes of the Frostelus, who in turn declined an alliance.

-The Gukko Airforce, despite its name, also includes lone Nui-Rama steeds. These are usually Nui-Rama who have been exiled from their hives, and with no place left to go, found themselves forming a new symbiotic relationship with the Macans.