Facts about Martians
Martian Physiology
Martians are basically humanoid in design (two arms, two legs, one head, fingers and toes, etc.) however, they appear to be hairless, have antennae, and very flat noses. They do not have ears.
Martians possess twenty eight senses. Their antennae have metaclorians, which enhance their perception. Martians also have several more redundant organs than humans, for greater survivability. For instance, they have at least three spleens and two esophageal tracts.
All adult martians possess Nah Nohtek (nanotech) which gives them superior healing abilities, amongst other benefits. Croach the Tracker has survived gunshots, being squished, being turned inside-out and other tragedies with only a few moments of pain due to his Nah Nohtek.
Martians can shed their exo-skin. Croach refers to this as his dermis, indicating the shedding process is fundamentally different from Earth animals which shed. The shed skin retains the color of the martian who shed it. They also have a speech cluster somewhere in their midsection. Shooting it renders them unable to speak until their Nah Nohtek repairs it.
Martians' mouths are able to produce bioluminescence. They are able to change the colors of the bioluminescence at will. Furthermore, they occasionally release embryonic sacs which they can consume.
Emotions
Martians generally do not possess emotions. However, spending time in close proximity to other beings that do have emotion can trigger emotions in martians. Martians may also experience "dvie’yeece" if they are in close proximity to unfamiliar very intense emotions, in which they transfer the emotions from the person having them to themselves.
Birth and Childhood
Martian males possess eggsacs. It is unknown whether or not martian females also have eggsacs. Once the eggs in the eggsac are fertilized, the Martian carries the ovum for an unknown amount of time. Eventually, the martian will turn slightly green, then dig a hole in the ground and deposit the fertilized eggs.
Upon hatching, martians fight their broodmates for dominance, and consume those that they dominate. The alpha continues the life-path and is given their primary signifier. Their lives then become a series of small trials to ready for the great trial of B’ar-mit zvah, which takes place in the Forest of Trials. Should they survive that, they are given their secondary signifier, and at the end of their maturation they are blessed with the sacred Nah Nohtek. Then, they live under onus to their tribe for the rest of their natural lives.
Weaknesses and General Allergies
- Nuts, including chestnuts, pistachios and walnuts, are fatal to martians. Peanuts, however, are fine against blue-skinned martians, as they are legumes. Inhalation of chestnuts roasting on an open fire will kill a martian painfully. Walnuts were the primary cause of the martian loss of the War of Two Worlds.
- Peanuts are fatal to gray-skinned martians. Jim Lyons throwing a bag of peanuts at a group of aliens caused the initial nut fatality during the War of Two Worlds.
- Alcohol bonds with martian Nah Nohtek and renders it inert. Although alcohol isn't deadly, it will prevent their Nah Nohtek from functioning indefinitely, making martians much easier to kill.
- Oxygen-laden blankets (or as humans call them, just blankets) once caused an outbreak of Small Ox, which sent many Martians to convalescence.
Martian Culture
- They do not reveal their feet to anyone but their very close family members, their betrothed, and Klylak the Shoebuilder.
- "Bagropa!" is an exclamation of surprise or lament.
- "Butt-Milk" is an insult.
- Every martian is given a two signifiers. First, a name (like "Croach") and a designation, which is their profession within the tribe ("the Tracker"). Some humans are also given signifiers, such as Sparks Nevada, the Human. There are no two signifiers that are the same, thus Croach is the only martian tracker in existence.
- Martians tabulate the onus which they owe and are owed to others. Even the most minor kindness or infraction can add or subtract onus with a martian. See the entry onus for more information.
- Martians do not utilize metaphor. To utilize metaphor is shameful and might get a martian exiled.
- Martians do not sing, although they do have some music in the form of drums.
- They have a holiday designated Han-oo'Kah, which is celebrated the first Sunday of any month, and is a day of feasting.
- Martians also celebrate Halloween, as all species do
- They ride Hoversaddles, while most humans ride rocket steeds
- The martians have an intricate series of tunnels under Mars, which they use to escape from the The A'pokk'alip-sss.
- Martians rank nearly everything they see or experience in relation to the pain or pleasure it brings them.
- Croach claims in Christmas on Mars that his particular tribe of martians never lies. There is another tribe that lies all the time. (It should be noted that in Something Wicked This Way Is, Croach says that in general martians are neither more or less honest than humans.)
- Martians learned English by reading Rebecca Rose Rushmore's novels.
Martians are basically humanoid in design (two arms, two legs, one head, fingers and toes, etc.) however, they appear to be hairless, have antennae, and very flat noses. They do not have ears.
Martians possess twenty eight senses. Their antennae have metaclorians, which enhance their perception. Martians also have several more redundant organs than humans, for greater survivability. For instance, they have at least three spleens and two esophageal tracts.
All adult martians possess Nah Nohtek (nanotech) which gives them superior healing abilities, amongst other benefits. Croach the Tracker has survived gunshots, being squished, being turned inside-out and other tragedies with only a few moments of pain due to his Nah Nohtek.
Martians can shed their exo-skin. Croach refers to this as his dermis, indicating the shedding process is fundamentally different from Earth animals which shed. The shed skin retains the color of the martian who shed it. They also have a speech cluster somewhere in their midsection. Shooting it renders them unable to speak until their Nah Nohtek repairs it.
Martians' mouths are able to produce bioluminescence. They are able to change the colors of the bioluminescence at will. Furthermore, they occasionally release embryonic sacs which they can consume.
Emotions
Martians generally do not possess emotions. However, spending time in close proximity to other beings that do have emotion can trigger emotions in martians. Martians may also experience "dvie’yeece" if they are in close proximity to unfamiliar very intense emotions, in which they transfer the emotions from the person having them to themselves.
Birth and Childhood
Martian males possess eggsacs. It is unknown whether or not martian females also have eggsacs. Once the eggs in the eggsac are fertilized, the Martian carries the ovum for an unknown amount of time. Eventually, the martian will turn slightly green, then dig a hole in the ground and deposit the fertilized eggs.
Upon hatching, martians fight their broodmates for dominance, and consume those that they dominate. The alpha continues the life-path and is given their primary signifier. Their lives then become a series of small trials to ready for the great trial of B’ar-mit zvah, which takes place in the Forest of Trials. Should they survive that, they are given their secondary signifier, and at the end of their maturation they are blessed with the sacred Nah Nohtek. Then, they live under onus to their tribe for the rest of their natural lives.
Weaknesses and General Allergies
- Nuts, including chestnuts, pistachios and walnuts, are fatal to martians. Peanuts, however, are fine against blue-skinned martians, as they are legumes. Inhalation of chestnuts roasting on an open fire will kill a martian painfully. Walnuts were the primary cause of the martian loss of the War of Two Worlds.
- Peanuts are fatal to gray-skinned martians. Jim Lyons throwing a bag of peanuts at a group of aliens caused the initial nut fatality during the War of Two Worlds.
- Alcohol bonds with martian Nah Nohtek and renders it inert. Although alcohol isn't deadly, it will prevent their Nah Nohtek from functioning indefinitely, making martians much easier to kill.
- Oxygen-laden blankets (or as humans call them, just blankets) once caused an outbreak of Small Ox, which sent many Martians to convalescence.
Martian Culture
- They do not reveal their feet to anyone but their very close family members, their betrothed, and Klylak the Shoebuilder.
- "Bagropa!" is an exclamation of surprise or lament.
- "Butt-Milk" is an insult.
- Every martian is given a two signifiers. First, a name (like "Croach") and a designation, which is their profession within the tribe ("the Tracker"). Some humans are also given signifiers, such as Sparks Nevada, the Human. There are no two signifiers that are the same, thus Croach is the only martian tracker in existence.
- Martians tabulate the onus which they owe and are owed to others. Even the most minor kindness or infraction can add or subtract onus with a martian. See the entry onus for more information.
- Martians do not utilize metaphor. To utilize metaphor is shameful and might get a martian exiled.
- Martians do not sing, although they do have some music in the form of drums.
- They have a holiday designated Han-oo'Kah, which is celebrated the first Sunday of any month, and is a day of feasting.
- Martians also celebrate Halloween, as all species do
- They ride Hoversaddles, while most humans ride rocket steeds
- The martians have an intricate series of tunnels under Mars, which they use to escape from the The A'pokk'alip-sss.
- Martians rank nearly everything they see or experience in relation to the pain or pleasure it brings them.
- Croach claims in Christmas on Mars that his particular tribe of martians never lies. There is another tribe that lies all the time. (It should be noted that in Something Wicked This Way Is, Croach says that in general martians are neither more or less honest than humans.)
- Martians learned English by reading Rebecca Rose Rushmore's novels.