Vodyani

The Vodyani are a race of life-essence devouring cyborgs from Endless Space 2.

ORIGINS
Victims of a classic cycle of over-industrialization, the Vodyani were saved by technology culled from ruins of the Virtual Endless. These precursors quickly gained an aura of divinity in the eyes of the Vodyani, and are now worshiped as gods. Clothed in their great black suits of borrowed technology that they refer to as their holy "Cloth", Vodyani leaders pilot their great arks across the star lanes.

The Vodyani are often thought of feasting on the life force of other races, dubbed 'essence' by the Vodyani themselves. However their constant extraction of 'essence' is not food for the Vodyani but the transformation of other species into Vodyani (This can be seen in the Vodyani's affinity which is to use 'essence', their unique resource to create population and arks). This is called 'Leeching'. However many factions still take leeching as abduction and it does increase the Vodyani's strength at the detriment of other races (Vodyani gain population while the extracted race loses theirs).

It is possible if the player is in an alliance with the Vodyani to sign a diplomatic treaty to prevent the Vodyani from leeching the player's population.

CULTURE
The Vodyani owe their continued existence to the remnant Virtual Endless technologies they found on their homeworld. Thus they view the long-dead race as gods with their entire society focused on seeing them as the gods children. Their zealous near fanatic worship of the Virtual species have driven them to spread their culture throughout the galaxy. They are renowned for extracting 'essence' from other alien worlds with their leecher ships. This 'essence' is an unambitious term used to describe other non-Vodyani species, only through the extraction of this 'essence' can the Vodyani fold more population (which are actually 'enlightened' alien species throughout the galaxy that have been 'virtualized'). While never stated but heavily implied is that the 'essence' may also be the Vodyani's food supply.

THE CHURCH OF THE VIRTUAL SAINTS
Vodyani society is organized as a formal and hierarchical church that worships the Virtual branch of the Endless. As they were saved from extinction by the technology of the Virtual Endless, it is only natural that they in turn worship these all-powerful precursors as gods.

Prayer, recitation, and study are important parts of everyday life, and as study involves ruins, relics, and ancient technology much of their religious activity has pragmatic consequences. Results are carefully monitored, however, and as mechanical control of the "Cloth" worn by every Vodyani is in the hands of the Church, there is little room for independent thought, much less rebellion.

HIERARCH
While there are many sprawling departments and executives within the Church of the Virtual Saints to handle the functions of running a starfaring civilization, there is only one ultimate authority - the Hierarch. This person, drawn from one of the powerful organizations that make up Vodyani society, is the ultimate authority for both religious and secular affairs. The current hierarch is  Isyara St Shaiad, famous for her rigor and intensity. She is also famous for her brother - the heretic  Iskander St Shaiad, who nearly destroyed the society when he led a revolt against his own people.