Introducing, the Aoe. (Patreon)

It’s not often that we get to see a new intelligent species introduced into the pages of Humanity Lost, but today is one of those days. This infographic will tie in with the next few pages about the history of the Kolaxan Empire and the life of the figure known as the Baron Janudua.

But before I can get to that, I need to do something pretty big. I’ve realised that I’ve made a bit of a mistake with the galactic map in the last volume and I need to update it. Sorry, I know people hate retcons, but this won’t change any of the established lore nor will it rearrange the placement of the various territories. I just need to redraw the galaxy because the one I drew is inaccurate. I’ll also clarify a bit more where the Tandraxian territory is in it. This is going to be a pretty big job, I think, because after the two-page spread is done, I’ll also need to update the print edition of Volume 1, and that’ll take some faffing about with KDP. I’ll include this revised galactic map in Volume 2 and on Patreon, of course, so those of you who own a physical copy of Volume 1 already will effectively just possess a rare printing of the book. You’ll also be able to own the new map in Volume 2 of Humanity Lost.

Here’s the text from the page so you don’t have to zoom in:

“The Aoe are a species held under the yoke of the Kolaxan Empire. After the Kolaxan-Aoe war, a war in which the Aoe suffered a humiliating defeat, what remains of the Aoe are kept as house slaves. Their numbers were decimated during the war effort, and now under five billion of them remain, most of which are scattered across the vast Kolaxan Empire away from their homeworld and former colonies. Some pockets of Aoe resistance remain engaging in guerilla warfare, freeing their brothers and sisters where they can. There are even dissenting kolaxan groups that oppose Aoe enslavement, but those movements are suppressed and brutally crushed. The Aoe slaves, surprisingly, are treated as prized property by their masters. The presence of an Aoe in a household is seen as a symbol of status and wealth. Kolaxan masters often develop deep bonds with their Aoe servants, holding conversations with them and sometimes taking their advice. An Aoe servant will very often get to know all of the master’s family well, caring for the children and even playing with them, further deepening these bonds, but the Aoe’s status in the household is always made clear and reinforced. Killing one’s slave is a capital offence in Kolaxan society. Causing unnecessary suffering and even failing to address physical ailments after one has been made aware of them is also a serious crime. An Aoe is their master’s responsibility and nobody else’s. Their healthcare is paid for and so too is their living quarters; in terms of quality of life, they are afforded better amenities than the vast majority of lower-caste Kolaxans. But do not be fooled, they are a colonised species who exist in a state of servitude. The Aoe are exploited for labour, and their worlds were stolen for resources and living space for their conquerors.

The Aoe have a unique method of locomotion: they tumble about by spinning their bodies, dragging their horns behind them to keep themselves oriented upright. In the centre of their orb-like bodies is found their brain and their array of extended suction cups, which they fling out in order to pull their ball-like bodies along. At the rear of the Aoe can be seen two large sets of horns that are used during mating rituals. Battling males impress female onlookers in ferocious displays with these horns; males crash into one another, interlocking in an attempt to flip their opponent upside down and pin them. In ancient times, these mating rituals would often end in death. The average Aoe is almost 3 feet tall and 7 feet wide, so these horns of theirs are large enough to do some considerable damage if they manage to wind up plunging into a vital spot. These elaborate courtship rituals do still cause fatalities from time to time. Their horns were never really used for hunting; their dexterous tentacles were used to construct and wield tools for that purpose. The Aoe were by no means a pacifist species either; back when they still had their sovereignty, they had developed quite the space navy and even advanced combat suits with mechanised tracks/belts that replaced the act of rolling from place to place with a speedier and more efficient method.”

Thanks as always for your generous support!