#speculative thinking

Elytrain is often used to refer to both the elytra itself and the elytra user, this can cause some issue with determining which is being referred to without further context.

Either way, we will be building upon both to help compare and contrast them with avians.

Starting off with the elytra, this is a magical construct leftover from the post End-exodus event, and despite the argued upon time span since this ancient civilization’s vanishment from known history, they are one of the most steadfast and fascinating constructs left of these ancient beings. The elytra often takes the form of a vaguely insectiod-like form, as though one had simply removed the thorax of a large beetle. However the true construction of these devices is unknown with the recipes being lost long ago. What is known is that they are made of a hard ‘shell’ that unfolds to allow for the extension of magically anchored, falsely-organic wings. On the underbelly of the elytra is the connection area and Core. The connection area is simply the description for the area that settles along the back while the Core is the diamond-like point of connection to the elytra user (any willing being that purposefully attaches the elytra with the intention to make use of them). The Core essentially is what attaches the motion of the wings to the will of the user, binding the elytra to the host’s (or user, either can be used, though some may prefer user to host due to the possibly parasitic context this may give to elytra usage) nervous system via their spinal column.

Now while this may sound extreme, the Core attachment is a surprisingly painless occurrence and has been described as though simply slipping on a backpack. The elytra is made to sit comfortably over the user’s back afterall, the connection area adjusting to the proportions and structure of the user’s back and shoulder area. And while the Core attaches firmly with the connection area settling along to keep grip, it is recommended for new users to get harness and strap attachments to allow for an even firmer fit. This is usually to help prevent an elytra moving from its settled postion as a result of unconscious shifting/inexperience with the new weight and connection/motion caused by outside forces. The harness merely settles along the base points of the connection area, the user then slipping their arms through the straps and settling this on their shoulder area, clipping the middle buckle along their chest. Often more-experienced users with forgo this procedure and fly unaltered.

Another interesting point of the elytra is their ‘personality’ or the way they adapt to their user to create a unique structure for flight. This often occurs after repeated usage as the elytra takes in the way a user utilizes them. This takes the form of varying wing types (insectiod, avian/bird-like, saurian/dinosaur-like, draconic/bat-like), coloration and patterns (sometimes these wing structures may mimic the look of known species/animals or they may take on completely unique looks), wing form (thinner for quicker flight, broader for gliding and soaring, shorter for more controlled motion, etc.), and so on.

This ‘personality’ reflects their user and can create absolutely stunning wing designs and is often the leading cause of ‘organic fusion.’ Aka the term for when the elytra becomes one with the host. For while the elytra is a construct of magic and genius, the elytra acts organically.

This is what is seen with scarring when it is healed and the way the elytra responds to the user’s commands directly from their connection with it as though it were simply another set of limbs. Because of the elytra’s ‘goal’ of being useful, if worn for too long without removal, the elytra may actually fuse to the user’s body. The connection area will become like organic muscular with refined tendons and nerves, the Core will fade into a magically orientated nerve rich section of tissue, and for the most part, it will become one with the user. This is were we change up our usage of the term elytrain.

Elytrain is also used to refer to a person with magically gained flight capability, or simply, a being that was not made to fly developing the ability to fly through magically gained limbs. A person will be referred to as an elytrain rather than an elytrain user/elytra user (either term works, it doesn’t matter which as both refer to the same thing) often at the ‘formed’ state of fusion and beyond that to the ‘fused’ state.

The states of an elytra’s attachment being described as follows:

Default- The shell is fully intact with the wings being able to be be drawn in and settled within them. The Core and connection area are removable with ease by the user. There is a defined separation between elytra and user.

Adjusted- The shell may showcase slight shrinkage in size as the wings are drawn in less to reduce energy usage of the Core. However, they are still functional and can draw the wings inside completely. The Core is removable with slight pinching while the connection area may cause slight discomfort when removed. There is still a separation between elytra and user through there can be discomfort depending on how long the elytra precedes through this stage.

Formed- The shell is incredibly reduced and essentially vestigial at this point in time, the wings can not be drawn in. This elytra has been worn non-stop for a significant period of time and as such the connection area has begun to show signs of organic transformation and will need to be cut from the skin and top muscle to be removed. The Core is highly connected with the nervous system and removal at this point could cause numbness in the body/muscle spasms in the back and shoulders. At this stage the wings are essentially a part of the user and the user may start to be called an elytrain over an elytra user.

Fused- The shell is often so reduced that it would take significant effort to find or it may be little more than calloused skin at the base of the wings. The elytra is essentially organic at this point and has fully fused with the muscular and skeletal systems, for while in the ‘formed’ state of x-rayed it would show the wings as being majorly muscular and cartilaginous material, in the ‘fused’ state they have become essentially organic is construct. The Core acts as a magically orientated center for nerve communication while the connection area is essentially extra muscle and skin connection for the wings to the body. The elytra is basically dissolved save for the Core which is deeply intertwined with the spinal column. To try and remove it could be highly dangerous and damaging unless done by a magical specialist. However by the ‘formed’ often this is a purposefully done transition and thus expected result.

Either way, the wings, while a part of the body at the point of one being an elytrain, are noted to not be naturally occurring/manifesting from personal magic/etc. and are an outside force being attached to the body. This is where the primary difference comes to elytrains to avians.

Avians are those winged folk with body’s that were made to eventually be winged unlike the elytrain’s which were a purposeful addition.

As so several differences will be noted between an elytrain and avian. These go as follows:

Avians solely have wing types of the avian or saurian while elytrains can showcase both these wing types as well as insectiod and draconic/bat-like. This is because avians are noted for being very bird or dinosaur like, the word avian being a direct reference to birds.

Avians will showcase structures specifically developed for being of gliding or flying capability. Ex; Strong leg muscles, talons or clawed limbs, larger lungs or air sacs, specialized shoulder bones/structures, tails for balance control or flight maneuverability. Elytrains may develop similar features after the fused state, but will often retain a body structure very similar to the one they had prior to the elytra; the Core allows for flexibility in the demands wings would put on the body by magical influence.

Avians do not rely on a magical source within the body to fly or to help with nervous system controls. Elytrains need the magical output from the Core to assist with regulation and strain on the body and often will need greater maintenance to do so. Avians will need to maintain themselves as necessary for energy production in the body while elytrains need magically sources to help regulate the Core along with the organic need of their body.

Either way, while avians may be officially beings that were naturally going to be winged, elytrains with avian or saurian type wings may also be called as such. And likewise an avian may be called an elytrain despite not gaining their wings from an outside source.

It is much like the conundrum of bison (bovines based in North America and Europe known for their large humps, ‘beards,’ and small-upwards curled horns) being referred to as buffalo (bovines based within Africa and Asia known for large, outstretching horns) and vice versa. They are similar concepts with notable similarities despite just as note-worthy differences between them.

Personally, I headcanon that Professor Membrane is simply afraid of things beyond his knowledge. Because if he were to accept cryptids, what would be the stopping point? Would it merely stretch to Bigfoot and aliens, or would it also bring into question local legends and mythical creatures? And then what about spirits and demons? If Professor Membrane were to accept ghosts, what about demons or angels or other such beings? What about gods or deity like creatures? I think Membrane ignores the paranormal and supernatural because at one point or another, there is no explaining some things. And I think for the smartest man that would unnerving and fear producing, so that's why I think he does what he does. I also think that maybe Membrane himself once tried to understand the paranormal and supernatural when he was younger but either experienced something tramuatic or he was relentlessly bullied in a very Dib-like fashion that caused him to become emotional and mentally closed off as a result of fear of reject or further punishment for a simple curiosity. Which could explain why he treats Dib like he does because everyone did that to him and so it seems only logical to follow. Which is extremely messed up but Membrane doesn't exactly seem like he really understands the consequences of his actions whatsoever or tends to ignore such.

But also, I've read fics were he denies because he himself is an alien or such /he is trying to protect his family from such by trying to deny (as seen in @halo-harmonic 's fic, which I highly recommend y'all check out)/or because he is aware of his reality being made up (read the ao3 fic The Horrifying Truth by KatsukkyKitsune).

I have also read the fic Membrane's Guide to Becoming a Better Parent: LOSE YOUR FUCKING ARMS and it's a pretty good pre-Florpus fic I also recommend that basically states the reasoning for him being in denial of the Florpus incident is because he thought he was hallucinating as a result of having experienced being high as kite on pain killers after losing his arms to sharks (honestly though I sometimes forget it's a fic and not canon lol).

Cause often when you have an Irken with a described job, it's quite broad. When an Irken is a scientist, there's no real specific that I've seen with it being say, a biologist, or a chemist, or whatever have you. It's just scientist.

And then you got like soldiers, and sure you have some classes in there like Invader or Elite, but what about like even more specifics? Kinda like different branches of the army? Or say a food drone, they could be the server, cook, etc.

It's just that Irkens seem to be broad, like an Irken should be able to do all things within this one branch, and that makes sense, but I wonder if certain jobs allow more freedom in certain aspects? Though then again there seem to be some specifics when you got the crew of the massive, with there be navigators and such, though then again, Im unsure.

How much freedom do you think some Irkens have when doing things, espically with scientist that are supposed to at least think out the box a bit in order to better approve on Irken technology and weapons?

Also, how tall would you say the average Irken would be? I wonder if there are certain Irkens that are specifically made to serve certain classes or jobs, but there is the illusion of everyone having a chance? You know what I mean, like it's been predetermined but there is that drive to contuine working to cake your way up because you think you can. But it's all a lie. That'd be interesting. Also, how do you think recessive and dominant genes would work with Irkens? Or has it been randomizes so much that it's just a roll of the dice every time with the end result, though it has at least been analyzed how things go down? How much do you think is actually known and what is just pure chance?

Did it have heavy vegetation? Mosses and lichen like things? Tropical? Where there forests? We're there savannahs and plains? Mountains? Odd terrain only ever seen there but gone forever? Was it naturally cold and cooler with long, dark winters as a result of being father from its sun? Or maybe it was more desolate and life thrives underground? Maybe it had natural geothermal vents and such.

What was the other fauna like? What were Irkens predators like? Did early Irkens take and domestic creatures for war or protection? Do any of these creatures still survive but just haven't been shown? Do Irkens need hydration? Were there rivers once? Oceans? Sea life wiped out? Ice caps?

Anyhow, here you go, an average endervoid vs a younger piebald endervoid, which are incredibly rare due to the main defensive mechanism of the endervoid being their darker skin allowing them to hide in dark areas, as the endervoids often inhabit caverns, cliff sides cave systems (which their hooked talons, different from that of the endermen, which are must narrower claws, allow them to better scale), roofed forest (though this is less common as they got pushed to the brink by hunting and war), etc. Endervoids, while taller and more capable of tearing a player apart, are more docile then their endermen relatives (which best defense method is to either outright attack a player and hope to kill them quickly, or to teleport away to safety) and much more agile/flexible (allowing them to stow themslevs away in seemingly impossible to reach spaces and to curl away in tight nooks and crannies, as long as their horns (which unlike their relatives, the endermen, aren’t hidden or reduced in size) are able to fit, they can easily squeeze into many small spaces as they, similarly to felines, lack a collar bone). They are notable for being able to climb walls and cling to ceilings espically, their hooked talons and the structure of their foot allowing them to be capable climbers (they posses a highly flexible big toe that can be twisted to an almost 90 degree angle for better gripping, this feature lacking on endermen as they are made for walking upright more similarly to players. As well, the palms of their feet and hands are covered in a series of small scale-like structures that work similarly to the pads on a gecko’s limb, allowing for better grip though the endervoid does this less so through suction and through these scales adding as extra grip.

Endervoids are often known for their pale white eyes (and while they may hate prolonged eye contact, they don’t get aggroed like endermen) and it is currently unknown how they are capable of sight, as they have no visible pupil. They however have incredible night vision, and while sensitive to light, they have been noted to easily adjust to varying light levels. They also notbaly dont carve down their horns, which unlike those of endermen, are purely made of bone and a tough layer of skin that covers them, though this skin is much more sensitive than that of the endermen’s horn skin (though not weak, the skin is capable of feeling more, as endermen have almost no nerve endings in the skin that surrounds their horns). Instead horns are seen as a sign of health, rank, and skill, as their horns are also more capable for fighting than endermen, which pefer to use their teeth and claws instead while endervoids will often start out through mock charges and threat displays before goring a perceived threat. They are also skilled in using weaponry unlike their relative the endermen, which, due to their long claws, may find the use of tools useless or awkward. Endervoid talons are more adaptable and as so, they often use tools to chisel out their homes, the seeming purposeful designs of some caves tricking some players into thinking these homes are built by other players, this often causing a player to leave in fear of trespassing or wandering until they find nothing of use and leave. Endervoids are less varied in their initial patterns and skin color, with endermen having the capability of being more varied with shades of blues, purples, and even greens. Endervoids often appear to be, well, as the common name void demon presents, to be seemingly made of void. The dark, almost black skin, is however slightly iridescent and may shimmer slight blues, purples, and greens in some lighting or exposure. Most of the time however, endervoids appear the same with the most common variation being their horns, as their horns tend to vary much more than endermen, as most endermen have taken to shaving down their horns from the very point they begin to grow, often resulting in the horn slowly just developing into a nub or ceasing growth way before that period should come.

This would be a much more painful process for endervoids, and to take or damage another’s horns purposefully, as they are very study, is seen as taboo. They often have arching horns with no altering prongs or to develop horns that spiral in on themselves like some gazelle, or curve like that of a ram (which often results in the horn developing a similar texture through the growth of layers of hardened skin, this may happen on any endervoid, but most commonly with those with curling horns). Often arching horns or horns that curve towards each other are most common.