Lithon (species)

The Lithon (pl. Lithoi) are an intelligent species that inhabit the planet Lithos, which resides in the Andromeda Galaxy. Extensive accounts of the species, its origins, and its anatomy have been given by the Empresses, though little has been proven by empirical study and observation due to their distance. Their native language, Lithon, bears a striking resemblance to Ancient Greek and may be a solution to the Greek substrate problem.

Culture
Lithos operates under a very old, very strict caste society led by a council of 8 Lithoi known as the Theongorai. These Theoi are treated as godlike and dictate society to a hair’s breadth. Each controls a different aspect of society, from the military to Lithon production, and some represent specific emotions and personalities. For example, Lephoga is the "Theon of Love," though she actually controls who can and cannot love in society (in essence caste separation).

Anatomy
Anatomically Lithoi are synthetic, having been built in laboratories deep within Lithos, and are thus non-biological. Instead, they consist of tens of thousands of synthetic nanoparticles (called smepheai) that form specific tasks for different sections of the body and can rearrange themselves at the will of the individual. Individuals are built in laboratories of Lithos and are encoded with their life’s purpose from the moment of creation.

Each nanoparticle functions like an organic cell, though are much more versatile. Each collection of nanoparticles carries an identifier that is unique to the individual they compose. The nanoparticles are icosahedral, with an exterior that can change color. Particles are usually transparent when idle*. Their three main functions, as described by the Empresses, are "structural", "dynamic" and "quantum."
 * The structural function (hules) allows a nanoparticle to hold the Lithon together, like bones in an animal. It also allows Lithoi to withstand extreme environmental factors such as ionizing radiation, high pressure, and extreme heat. However, some older Lithoi may not be resistant to heat due to a bug in certain nanoparticle generations. This is true of Empress Smenaer.
 * The dynamic function (deonames) is about information transfer. It uses an unknown power, force, or potentially substance called "dynamo". It controls coordinated movement between nanoparticles, as well as generate thought and process sensory input.
 * The quantum function (dethuphas) has been found to utilize a form of spacetime manipulation. Despite this power being quite weak, it allows a Lithon to moderately effect the environment around them. Lithos may be inhospitable or even inaccessible to humans due to the cumulative effect of this power, potentially resulting in a different local reality.

In order to create internal organs, a Lithon must expel mass due to the Law of Conservation of Mass. Lithon who do this recreationally (for example to create internal organs) choose an object that fits with their personality. For example, Smenaer normally manifests a book or multiple books (usually unopenable).

In the past, Lithon did this to reduce their mass for speed in battle or to manifest a weapon.

Thuphassos
Thuphassos, sometimes called the "Psychic Field", is a subconscious realm outside our dimension in which the consciousness and presence of all Lithoi exists. It is thought that if a Lithon dies, they will become trapped in the Psychic field.

Phelithon
Long ago, Lithos was inhabited by a race of progenitors called the Phelithon: giant, super-powerful interdimensional beings who could alter the fabric of reality itself. The true form of all Phelithoi resided in Thuphassos, the psychic field, but for an unknown reason they maintained physical bodies in our dimension. They were not made of silicon nanoparticles like the Lithon of today, but instead were organic beings that were born and could grow. There were even different genders and biological sexes, as opposed to the exclusively unisex race it has become today.

A great war happened between them, and of the thousands of Progenitors only a few survived. All scattered among the cosmos, but one remained at Lithos: Modozath. Modozath created the Theon out of her grief, but she became mad with power and set them to work creating an empire for her. To assist them in pleasing Modozath, the Theon created all of the various castes seen in modern Lithon society, and the strictness of this caste system came from the fear of Modozath's wrath.

About 30,000 years ago, Modozath retreated into the Psychic Field to hibernate and extend her lifespan. She has not been seen since, though will emerge again upon the start of the great Lithon Revolution [FUTURE]