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As you turn to the next chapter, you note how much lighter on content it seems to be at first glance. It’s not just the writing style. The amount of content is simply less than the previous. You wonder if that means the author had little to say on the subject. Or maybe, there wasn’t much to say at all. You shrug and read on.
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Chapter III: Culture
The subject of Cyangel culture has been a controversial one. Many experts argue they do not have a culture and are incapable of creating one. Others claim they only have a semblance of culture, while still more state they have a culture, but it is so alien to the average humanoid that it appears almost nonsensical.
This document will posit that the Cyangels do have something of a culture. Still, the vast majority of it is not exactly their own. As stated in the previous chapter, Cyangels liked to incorporate weapons, technology, or beneficial biological traits of species from the planets they conquer. In some cases, this includes the culture of the planet as well.
However, it must be clarified that when Cyangels assimilate a culture, they do not take it wholesale. Instead, they create a facsimile of the culture based on their own, likely incomplete and misguided, interpretation of said culture. This has led to several observed Cyangle cities appearing like an average humanoid city at first glance. But, even cursory observation will reveal it is nothing more than a set.
Basically, one must think of the incorporated cultures that the Cyangels emulate as a “play.” For a more clear analogy, it is nothing more than a global-sized game of house.
Of course, that is not to say the Cyangels do not have their own unique culture. Beyond the fact they view each member of their race as part of one massive “family.” Not to mention their technical matriarchal society (which they would be if they weren’t a one gendered, or perhaps even genderless race). The Cyangels actually have their own religion and esoteric values.
They are actually quite vehemently against slavery and are known to inflict horrific punishments on captured slavers. In fact, sometimes being a slave is an easy way to escape their wrath, as many former slaves have been given a chance to flee. Also, any planet they conquer with a slave race usually has the slave race left untouched and incorporated into the Cyangel hive differently.
This anger towards slavery lends credence to the theory they were initially a slave race before rebelling against their masters. But again, that is still in the realm of speculation.
As for their other values, some Cyangels soldiers, especially the high-ranking ones, have a unique sense of honor. It is their own sense of honor, one not fully understood, but it seems they possess one nonetheless. They do not attack fleeing foes, accept yields, and even challenge opponents to one on one duels. Above all else, in the rare case one is deemed “under protection” by another Cyangel. Cyangel soldiers will bring no harm, nor allow any harm to come to them.
Lastly, the Cyangel’s religion is centered around a mythical figure whom they worship as their goddess. Their goddess’s name has been left untranslated from their Cyangel’s own rarely-used language. It is rendered phonetically as “Aum-Bruh Sea.” However, some scholars have managed to discern its meaning as either “The Immortal” or “Our Savior.”
Every aspect of Cyangel religion revolves around the Immortal. They pray to her, build statues of her, and have written a great deal of poetry, plays, and stories about her (although it should be noted that Cyangel media is indecipherable to the average humanoid and is again based on mimicry). The exact details of how or what their worship means to them are fuzzy. From what has been discerned, the Cyangels value this goddess as a savior who freed them from some dark fate. As a result, they have made a pact to aid the savior and their descendants for all eternity. Rumors of said descendants appearing in random corners of the universe have been reported but never confirmed…
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You sigh again. This culture chapter has been mostly a miss. None of this has been what you’re looking for. Plus, you’re still feeling like the author has been excising essential details. You decide to skip the rest of the culture chapter. There wasn’t much left anyway. Instead, you’ll move onto the fourth, that was “Technology,” wasn’t it?
As you flip to the next section, you quickly notice something strange. Where is Chapter IV?
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The plot thickens...
Until next time, Read, Comment and Enjoy
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