Inyx

Inyx
Base Information
Classification	Ergivore/parasite
Status	Minor Race
Locomotion	Swimmer
Terrain	Ocean
Body Form
Confluence	Non-humanoid
Bio-Identenoid	Alien
Size	2.4 meters
Weight	60 kg
Culture
Languages	Native Language
Social Structure	Corporation
Technological Epoch	TL:10-12
Psionic potential	Standard
Origin World
Homeworld location	Matrix (Ahriman ????)
UWP	A66992A-C Starport A Excellent: Starship Construction, Overhaul, Refined fuel Size 6 Medium (9,600 km, 0.60g - 0.81g) Atmosphere 6 Standard Hydrographics 9 Wet World 90% Population 9 High (7 billion) Government 2 Participating Democracy Law A Extreme Law (no weapons) Tech Level C Average Stellar (robots)
Primary Star	G7 V
Atmosphere	Standard
Off-world presence	Yes
Zoetic individuals	Yes
Source
Reference	Alien Races 2 135-142.
Canon	Yes
Also see

The Inyx of Matrix (in Ahriman Sector) are a race of aquatic, parasitic ergivores known for their aptitude for trade and their curious biology. They are a Minor Non-Human Race and are technologically advanced sophonts.

Physiology & Environment (Ecology)

An Inyx resembles a collection of six soap bubbles, joined to form a roughly spherical shape, with one bubble in the center and the others spaced around it. Each bubble is three feet across, and the whole about eight feet wide. Every surrounding bubble has a single opalescent tentacle, six feet long, four inches wide at the base, and tapering to a finger's breadth at the tip. The entire body gives off a soft phosphorescent glow. Underwater or in zero gravity, an Inyx swims like an octopus, moving with a boneless, undulating grace.

Although they are carbon-based life forms utilizing traditional hydrogen-oxygen-carbon biochemistry, the Inyx push the edge of "life as Humans know it". Rather than being carnivores or herbivores, they are ergivores, living storage batteries who use their tentacles to convert electricity directly into the energy needed by their bodies. Even their brains and nervous systems have more in common (by analogy) with a fiber-optic computer than with what Humans expect of "life."

Senses

Inyx skin contains many tactile receptors, and is highly sensitive. Much like cats, Inyx enjoy being stroked gently. Along with touch, their other major form of perception is vibrational -- their entire skin surface acts as a receptor. They are sensitive enough to notice minute changes in air or water pressure, allowing an Inyx to detect moving objects within 100 yards underwater and 20 yards in a standard atmosphere. They also have good hearing in the same audio ranges as a Human.

Reproduction

Inyx have no distinct sexes but do reproduce sexually, exchanging genetic material through skin pores, a process triggered through electrical stimulation. Both partners will become pregnant. A month after mating, the lower half of an Inyx's central bubble begins to bulge as a fetal form develops. After 10 months, it splits open as the new Inyx is born.

Inyx reach maturity after 17 years, and can live for about 200.

History & Background (Dossier)

The ancestral hosts of the Inyx were whale-sized sea creatures who could generate electrical currents in the same manner as electric eels. The Inyx attached themselves to their hosts' bodies, feeding off this bio-electricity. To prevent their giant hosts taking offense, the proto-Inyx always trickled back a bit of the electric current they stole, in carefully modulated voltages designed to stimulate the pleasure centers of their hosts' brains, addicting them to the Inyx's presence.

Ecological turmoil resulting from a comet impact on their homeworld led to the rise of predators that found the hosts of the proto-Inyx especially tasty. To protect their hosts, the Inyx had to become more intelligent and cooperative. They developed the rudiments of sapient behavior, took their first steps onto land, there developed fire and industry, and created a civilization that eventually reached into space.

Psychology

Inyx do not easily panic and confront their problems with confidence, but they are not known for military endeavours. Their ancestors were never hunters, and it is a rare Inyx who has the temperament to make a good soldier. They delight in power struggles and challenges, but prefer contests in matters other than force of arms.

Inyx tend to be lateral thinkers, and try to avoid reliance on a single solution to a problem; they always have contingency plans. It can often appear that Inyx enjoy intricate schemes and complexity for their own sake.

Inyx view mating as a means to enable reproduction and do not form emotional ties to the other parent of their child. They do raise and care for their child much like Humans. Affection for colleagues, pets, or domestic servants is certainly possible.

Culture & Society

Inyx are known for their cultural adaptability, market savvy, and lack of territorial ambition.

Inyx do not wear clothing other than for necessary environmental protection; nor do they wear jewelry, primarily because of their lack of visual senses. Inyx display rank and status through personal attendants; a high-ranking individual will be surrounded by servants and guards.

Language & Letters (Communication)

Inyx communicate by touching tentacles, sending complex electrical signals into each others' bodies. They can exchange information, including what amounts to digital graphics, at about 10 times the speed a Human can talk.

Calendar & Timekeeping

Very little is known about how the Inyx form a calendar or mark the passing of time although it is assumed that the Inyx calendar is based upon the planetary rotation of their homeworld, Matrix (Ahriman ????).

Technology & Trade

The Inyx did not discover jump drive, but their slower-than-light (STL) ships reached nearby stars, aided by the species' natural longevity and low life-support requirements. Sometime during the Long Night, they contacted both Aslan and Solomani exploration missions; by carefully playing the two sides against one another, they secured a place in the middle, establishing alliances with several Human client states and Aslan Clans rimward of the Hierate.

Today, the Inyx represent a potent economic force on the Rimward edge of known space. Their cultural adaptability, market savvy, and lack of territorial ambition help them secure corporate footholds on hundreds of Human, Aslan, and other worlds.

Because every Inyx can become pregnant, and because they have no interest in land (preferring aquatic territories and wealth), the Aslan consider them a "race of females"; their own female-led corporations handle almost all interactions with Inyx.

Military & Intelligence

Very little is known about the Inyx military. Working through others indirectly seems to be preferred to direct conflict. Mercenaries would be very provocative by their standards.

Astrography

This race is primarily located in the following areas, which host the Inyx Economic Sphere:

• Ahkiweahi' Sector
• Ahriman Sector: Their point of origin.
• Banners Sector
• Hanstone Sector
• Teahloarifu Sector
• Uistilrao Sector

Homeworld

The homeworld of this race is:

• Matrix (Ahriman XXXX)

World Listing: 1105

Significant communities of this race are known to exist within the following systems and worlds:

9 of 9 World articles in Inyx

Genesis Accomplish  •  Genesis Loyal  •  Genesis Wonder  •  Genesis Yes  •  Harmonise  •  High Affinity  •  Matrix  •  Oceanbound  •  Synergise  •  

startbacknext(9 listed)

• Affinity Forward (Hanstone 1815): 3.5 million, representing 50% of the population; the other 50% are Humans and Aslan in service to the Inyx. A holding of Affinity Corporation. A former partner of the Solomani Confederation.
• Bahtron (Teahloarifu 2534): 20% of the population; the world is shared with Humans and Aslan.
• Blue Recluse (Banners 1840): 56 million, representing 80% of the population; the other 20% are Aslan in service to the Inyx.
• Bracing (Hanstone 1130): 3,000, representing 100% of the population.
• Coral (Hanstone 1618): 6 million, representing 100% of the population.
• Eaea'yorl (Banners 0612): Over 2 million, representing 30% of the population; an Aslan-dominated world.
• Elizabeths Poem (Teahloarifu 0736): 10% of the population, sharing the world with Humans and Aslan.
• Engi (Ahkiweahi' 0128): 600,000, representing 60% of the population; an Aslan-dominated world.
• Exquisite (Banners 0813): 600,000, representing 100% of the population.
• Fitevi (Ahkiweahi' 0822): 300 million, representing 10% of the population; a Human-dominated world.
• Genesis Accomplish (Banners 0807): 30,000, representing 50% of the population; the other 50% are Humans and Dolphins in service to the Inyx. A holding of Genesis Corporation.
• Genesis Loyal (Banners 0707): 30,000, representing 50% of the population; the other 50% are Humans in service to the Inyx. A holding of Genesis Corporation.
• Genesis Spa (Banners 2221): 6 million, representing 100% of the population. A holding of Genesis Corporation.
• Genesis Wonder (Banners 0708): 28,000, representing 40% of the population; the other 60% are Humans in service to the Inyx. A holding of Genesis Corporation.
• Genesis Yes (Banners 0607): 350,000, representing 70% of the population; the other 30% are Humans in service to the Inyx. A holding of Genesis Corporation.
• Harmonise (Banners 1005): 40,000, representing 50% of the population; a Human-dominated world.
• High Affinity (Banners 1105): 80,000, representing 100% of the population. A holding of Affinity Corporation.
• Inglurleing (Teahloarifu 1940): 90% of the population.
• Matrix: 2 billion (alongside an estimated 5 billion sapient genetic constructs and slaves); Inyx homeworld.
• Moksha (Banners 0818): 280,000, representing 40% of the population; a Human-dominated world.
• Oceanbound (Banners 1008): 360,000, representing 60% of the population; the other 40% are Dolphins sharing the world.
• Oon (Teahloarifu 2633), 50% of the population.
• Orehid (Teahloarifu 0116), 30% of the population.
• Pleasurefoam (Banners 1936): 600,000, representing 100% of the population.
• Prime Solution (Banners 1213): 40,000, representing 100% of the population.
• Priority (Banners 0832): 42 million, representing 60% of the population; the other 40% are Dolphins sharing the world.
• Service (Banners 0321): 700 million, representing 100% of the population.
• Synergise (Banners): 2.8 million, representing 70% of the population; the other 30% are Aslan sharing the world.
• Swift Current (Banners 2419): 500,000, representing 100% of the population.
• Thalkharl (Banners 1215): 140,000, representing 20% of the population; the other 80% are Humans and Aslan in service to the Inyx.
• Thetaht (Teahloarifu 0439): 10% of the population on this Aslan world.
• Vesamir (Ahkiweahi' 2940): 800 million, representing 40% of the population; an Aslan-dominated world.

References & Contributors (Sources)

This list of sources was used by the Traveller Wiki Editorial Team and individual contributors to compose this article. Copyrighted material is used under license from Mongoose Publishing or by permission of the author. The page history lists all of the contributions.

• Andy Slack, David Thomas, David L. Pulver. Alien Races 2 (Steve Jackson Games, 1999), 135-142.
• Compiler: Lord (Marquis) and Master of Sophontology Maksim-Smelchak of the Ministry of Science
• Mongoose 2nd: Rim Expeditions