LUXANS
Luxans are gifted with great physical strength and endurance, both fueled by the beating of their two hearts. They can even survive in the vacuum of space for limited periods of time. Thus, when threatened, they can fight, retreat or stun their attackers with a strike from their unexpectedly long — and frighteningly agile and accurate — prehensile tongues.
The long tentacles on their heads — known as tenkas — are highly sensitive. I doubt D'Argo considers this a liability, however, considering that the tenkas are just as sensitive to pleasure as to pain.
When Luxans are wounded, a quirk of their physiology requires that their blood, which flows black at first, must be made to appear translucent before they can heal. To bring this about, they or their comrades must deliberately inflict more pain on the wounded area.
If provoked to anger, Luxans are capable of entering a rare state known as Hyper-Rage, in which they become mindlessly, furiously violent. Typically, Hyper-Rage is relieved only by an act of lethal violence, though occasionally it dissipates over time.
It is clear why a species with such traits evolved a warrior-based culture. Luxans are proud of their fighting skills, and value honor, courage and loyalty. Family loyalty is particularly important to Luxans, and they endorse the pursuit of revenge for wrongs inflicted on loved ones and blood relations. They also cherish heirlooms: D'Argo's prized Qualta Blade belonged to several generations of his family's warriors.
Luxan spirituality remains mysterious to me, despite our encounter with an aged orican — a Luxan holy woman — who was able to call upon and manipulate profound spiritual energies. Tradition demanded that an elaborate and dangerous ritual accompany her death. D'Argo has confided to me that the majority of Luxans practice simpler, but no less significant, funeral rites.
Tattoos are significant cultural icons in Luxan society, indicating much about an individual's status. They symbolize rank in Luxan military hierarchies, and couples adorn themselves with matching "union tattoos" when they are wed.
It seems that any species whose warriors rely on swords must not be technologically advanced, but, of course, D'Argo's Qualta Blade converts into a high-powered energy rifle. Similarly, I have been astonished by the mysterious Luxan ship D'Argo recovered. Its incredibly advanced engineering, complex automated systems, and powerful weapons contrast sharply with the Ancient Luxan language programmed into its computer. Overall, Luxan technology — like its culture — is intriguingly dualistic in nature.
Still, for all their skill at fighting and weapons design, and despite their alliance with their genetic cousin species, the Ilanics, Luxans are not the dominant military force in this region of space. Until recently, the Peacekeepers seemed to regard Luxans merely as a lesser species threatening Sebacean racial purity. Recently, however, we have learned that the Luxans and Peacekeepers have forged a defense alliance, uniting in the face of the Scarran threat. D'Argo is suspicious of this pact, and it angers him to see his people allied with his personal enemies. It remains to be seen if this new alliance will, ultimately, be strong enough to resist the overwhelmingly powerful Scarrans.
JOURNEY LOG REFERENCES
Premiere
Back and Back and Back to the Future
They've Got a Secret
'Til the Blood Runs Clear
Vitas Mortis
Revenging Angel
STARBURST TO ANY LIFEFORM
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