The Leefans or Shrooms as humans derogatorily call them are a species native to Leefan-four.
Biology[]
Leefans were said to be hairless, and were mostly bald as a result of their environment, hair otherwise would constantly be drenched and would develop fungus in the humid temperature of Leefan-four. The species have an innate ability to produce a whine that is actually quite deadly to the audio receptors of humans that causes madness and then suicide.
They were said to have tentacle appendages. And females reproduced by growing buds inside their bodies. For new Leefans to emerge, an incision into the female's body was required. A Leefan had to pry a tube-like bud from their sides and cut it at the natural notch. Once it dropped free, depending on if it was a viable bud, a new Leefan would be born.
History[]
The Leefans were discovered by humanity and at the time they were assumed to be primitive species. The first group of humans to make first contact was the Packard party, but the encounter left every single member dead. The same occurred with the Seventh Calvary that were sent to retrieve the Packard party.
Around the early years of interaction, there was some proposals to wipe out the Leefans and pulverize their world for its mineral wealth. However the military body Fleet chose the rational decision to make peace and trade with the Leefans.
Norma Hollister, a deaf woman rose to become an interpreter between the Leefans and visting human vessels. In the span of six years she was accepted into Leefan society, rising to a forty-three levels of advancement.
The peace that was forged between humanity and Leefans was nearly undone thanks to the actions of retired General William Hollister who sought to forcibly take his estranged daughter Norma from Leefan-four after hearing that she would be participating in a Chuechah ritual, which he interpreted as a suicide ritual. Ignoring her desires of wanting nothing to do with him, General Hollister abused his authority to lead a company of Marines to attack the planet, using the ruse of being a pirate company to breach the aliens defenses.
Using noise-reduction helmets to ward off the maddening whine of the Leefans. Though it was futile as Norma accomplished the ritual, dying. As his men began killing the Leefans, the general sought to end his sorry excuse of an existence for a failed father, but was pulled out of suicide when he heard Norma's voice and he realized that she ascended to a higher existence, becoming the first human to join the collective consciousness of the Leefans.
Culture[]
Leefans were a species that lacked a verbal language, instead relied on the subtleties of their touch-base language. While appearing primitive in the day-today lifestyle, around the twelve-point-three on the Elliott Scale of Technology the Leefans are actually quite technologically advanced closer to seventy.
Their religious order includes forty-three separate levels of advancement. A Leefan advances by performing acts of service for specific individuals or the general population. Gathering food or water, tending to the sick, helping to build structures, rearing offspring, those kinds of things. As the Leefan advances, the acts of service become more significant.
Terminology[]
- Bahlahchoo: Leefan word for father.
- Bahlah ceremony: A ceremony that only those who achieve level thirty-eight could participate in. It is a reproduction ceremony celebrating the union of a couple so that they may bud together and give new life. After it is officiate the female is cut opened to release the young Leefan within her. And the male would be given the right to name the Leefan child if it was a viable bud.
- Bahlahlah: Leefan word for wife.
- Bahlahtee altar: A crescent-shaped altar where the Leefans reproductive ceremonies are done.
- Buhtahbuh: The liquid, living essence of thousands of Leefan elders.
- Chuechah ritual: A ritual that can only be earned by an individual upon their forty-third level of service. It’s the Leefans most sacred ceremony, performed once per planet-year when the planet reaches its apogee to the sun, every twenty-two Earth months. The candidate is carefully considered and it is said to be an honor to be chosen. Details regarding it are not shared with outsiders. Based on what humans have determined it may involve sacrifice that is good for the Leefan population. While it appears to practice ritual suicide, those who are chosen to participate actually ascend to be part of the Buhtahbuh, the collective consciousness of the Leefans.
- Eerf: A sacred blade made from local obsidian and used in the Bahlah ceremony. It's used to open the pregnant belly of a female Leefan to allow the new Leefan to emerge into the world and join the family.
- Herrbeesh: Leefan word for husband.
- Looloo: Leefan expression for good luck.
- Preepro: A coming of age ceremony.
- Tarrkessh: A structure where various rituals takes place.
- Tatammet ceremony: Achieved upon reaching a level forty-two advancement. Performed as a cleansing ritual that could be performed in the morning or evening. It is said to relax the mind. Individuals disrobe their clothes, stepping through the entrance of the Tarrkesh on a track that wound through the Buhtahbuh. Participants would then reach a four-inch wide beam, where they would balance themselves on the balls of their feet and walk a slow, deliberate walk along the forty-two spirals to the center. Through this gestures of the meditation rite are exercised.
Source[]
- In the Service of Aliens by Brennan Harvey (2014)