Eumidian

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Eumidian
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Eumidians are a species of sapient insect-folk known for their distinctive physiology, communal organization, and adaptability to multiple worlds. They are encountered both on Dominaria and within the Edge, and in each setting they display unique variations in appearance, culture, and social structure. On Dominaria, they are most famously represented by the wasp-like Xira Arien, while in the Edge, they are regarded as the most common sentient life form, often serving as the archetype by which other species are compared. Eumidians are capable of living in tightly knit broods or independently, depending on environmental and personal circumstances, and their species’ presence across such different locations speaks to their resilience and long-standing ability to adapt to diverse habitats.

Description

Dominaria

The Eumidians of Dominaria are humanoid wasps with brilliant gold exoskeletons, four transparent wings, and large green compound eyes. Eumidians originally lived in a hive society, somewhere in Jamuraa. However, individuals with particularly powerful minds, such as Xira Arien, were able to break free and live independently.

The Edge

Eumidians are by far the most common sentient species in the Edge, leading many to consider them the default life form. They have bright green carapaces, glittering teal compound eyes, antennae, and strong mandibles. They are a brood of an ancient terrasymbiotic species whose homeworld is in a distant, forgotten system and may not even exist anymore. Once the Eumidians have chosen a home planet, they don't leave.

Their species propagates via vast seedships, living incubation vessels that burn across the stars, launching whole broods of Eumidian seed pods toward worlds they cross. Eumidian minds are ruled by a conglomeration of miniature selves they refer to as "autos". Notably, while they are communal beings, they are not a hive mind controlled by a queen: these Eumidians are horizontally organized and manage their affairs by brood consensus. This tight-knit relationship comes at a cost, however, as Eumidians of different broods might as well be aliens to each other. In general, they are quick, versatile, curious, and eager to learn. Different forms of Eumidians within a brood are referred to as morphs. Vanguard morphs, mulchmorphs, scientists, and fabricators are known roles. Eumidians can become artists, but generally don't within the first three generations of a planet's colonization. Vanguards, the earliest generations of a brood, have extremely high metabolisms compared to other species. They have antennae, multiple tracheae, and hemolymph. Some Eumidians are known to produce silk, and can contain their pheremones in an organ known as a discretion.

Once landed on a world, seed broods burrow into the ground and wait for the minimum optimal conditions to begin autogenesis: the creation of Eumidian life from the microbial slurry secured inside each pod. This process begins with the generation and hatching of Eumidian vanguards, hardy and adaptable lifeforms who strike out from their steaming pods to seek each other and form terraformation bands, who begin the long, long process of terraforming their seeded world by gathering the necessary building blocks of life to feed back into their pods.

From these vanguard teams' efforts, the first enclaves are established: small settlements of intensely Eumidian terrasymbiotic land, where vanguards work to build structures and bring more seed pods that they uncover in their ranging. More Eumidians are hatched, their broodmates tuning these neophytes to grow better adapted to the current conditions than they were. This terrasymbiotic process exponentially advances the brood's terraforming effort, bringing both the brood and the world closer to each other. In time, the growth of this process will convert the seeded world from whatever its prior state was into a primordial, verdant Eumidian planet, though not wholly devoid of its original characteristics.

Through collective labor, the Eumidians build worlds; an individual will not live to see the project through, but the species will survive and persist due to the collective actions of individuals. Eumidians are intelligent, careful, hardy, and dedicated beings. Though an ultimate expression of their terrasymbiotic effort is the eventual creation and launching of one or more seedships, spreading their life is not the sole goal of their people: they create art and industry, practice faiths and curious scientific exploration, fight amongst themselves and fail, or never manage to build their first seedships. The Eumidians are not perfect machines, and despite their intensely instinctual species-wide project, they are not a hive mind. Though they all feel a pull toward propagation among the stars, they are unique individuals, just as full of promise and potential as any other.

Evendo-strain Eumidians

The Evendo-strain Eumidians are the specific strain of Eumidians that have landed on the planet Evendo, in the Sothera system. They have terraformed its equator into lush forests and are also adapting culturally and biologically to its glacial surroundings.

Eumidians on Evendo are engaged in a great work of terrasymbiosis and, as such, outfit themselves accordingly. They carry ice-carvers to hew away at the mighty glaciers, straps and packs, and lengths of rope to assist them in scaling the ice when necessary. They also carry weapons to fight what monsters that appear from the permafrost. Some Eumidians engage in the frontline work of terrasymbiosis, acting as rangers for their labor camps and settlements. While other Eumidians support this work through biomatter processing, reweaving the bodies of their fallen broodmates into fresh potential matter for their structures and fellows. They engage in this work with reverence, as witnesses to and agents of the cycle that ensures their brood persists and thrives and that not one life is wasted.

Note on the Speedbrood

Although both creature groups were created by Miguel Lopez, there isn't meant to be an implication that the Speedbrood are Eumidian.

Notable Eumidians

Dominaria

• Xira Arien

The Edge

• Kadrik
• Szarel

In-game references

Represented in:

• Ambassador of Evendo
• Szarel, Genesis Shepherd
• Xira, the Golden Sting
• Xira Arien

Associated cards:

• Eumidian Hatchery
• Eumidian Lifeseed
• Eumidian Terrabotanist
• Eumidian Wastewaker
• Exploration Broodship
• Hearthhull, the Worldseed
• Sledge-Class Seedship

Depicted in:

• Bioengineered Future
• Biomechan Engineer
• Biotech Specialist
• Blade of the Swarm
• Brood Astronomer
• Broodguard Elite
• Close Encounter
• Eusocial Engineering
• Genemorph Imago
• Horizon Explorer
• Hydroponics Architect
• Icetill Explorer
• Intrepid Tenderfoot
• Insect (Dominaria United)
• Meltstrider Eulogist
• Meltstrider's Gear
• Meltstrider's Resolve
• Mightform Harmonizer
• Mutable Pupa
• Seedship Agrarian
• Seedship Broodtender
• Seedship Impact
• Terrasymbiosis
• Thawbringer

Referred to:

• Biosynthic Burst
• Cryogen Relic
• Devastating Onslaught
• Diplomatic Relations
• Farseek (Edge of Eternities Commander Decks)
• Fungal Colossus
• Gene Pollinator
• Molecular Modifier
• Mountain Valley (Edge of Eternities Commander Decks)
• Rig for War
• Shattered Wings
• Skystinger
• Swarm Culler
• Virus Beetle (Edge of Eternities)