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This will be the last one of these for a little bit. Thank goodness I'm ending it on a high note. (That last one was pretty bad). I like this much better.

Today the focus is on Sha-Eris of Isep. He really got something of a facial overhaul, because I did the same thing with him that I've done with the other two. I went back and looked at his chosen voice actor. In this case, the amazing Lance Henriksen [link] . In my opinion, one of the coolest voices I've ever heard. Loved him in Aliens, cheered when I heard him in the Mass Effect games and I could think of no better sound for Sha-Eris ...

Because there is a story behind that voice of his. Once upon a time it was clear and smooth as glass. When he was a young man he could sing. But as the centuries rolled past and he spent so much time delivering rousing yelled speeches and barking orders at a civilization of soldiers, it got deeper and harder. There tends to be a certain grit and gravel and lower tones in Isepian voices. But I needed Eris' voice to be something very striking and very special. I wanted people to be as impressed by the sound of him as much as his looks.

The main changes are in his eyes, face shape and nose. I like it.

*****Yep! MORE Optional Character Reading*****
I'm not sorry. At all.

Thank you for taking the time to speak to us. Can you tell me a little about yourself?

You’re welcome. I am His Radiance Sha-Eris of Isep -Leader of the People, Commander of the Armies and Head of the Solar Temples. I am the man who has been at the head of Isepain life since the day we stopped wandering as nomads across the surface of the planet.

That sounds very … absolute. That kind of thing makes humans nervous. It’s never worked well. What would you say to us about that?

First of all, that sounds a little silly for a people who are led by an Emperor. It is not the titles of a ruler that should make one nervous, it’s the deeds of the ruler and the welfare of his people that should matter. It’s also important to remember that Isepian and human society is different. We are all a part of a whole and place the function of the whole above the importance of minor differences and definitions. This is neither superior nor inferior, it is simply what works for us.

What? What’s an “importance of minor differences and definitions”? I’m not sure if I’m supposed to be offended or not.

You should not be offended. If I were to say something I meant to be offensive, you’d be left with no question. We do not have separate circumstances for law, rights, privileges, wages and punishments in the way other cultures do. It all applies to everyone equally. We don’t have “women’s rights” or “children’s rights” or anything like that. We don’t need it because in the eyes of our laws and beliefs, every Isepian is equal. I find it makes things simpler. The “importance of minor differences and definitions” is the need, in some societies, for people to be entitled to special rules, consequences and rewards simply because they are different. For example, in some human societies, a woman may have a child without the consent of the father and then law requires him to be responsible for said child weather he wanted the child or not but then a mother may terminate a pregnancy without the consent of the father. Giving the father fewer rights than the mother isn’t appropriate in our society. A child in another civilization who murders is given a different sentence than an adult. Well, the victim is just as dead no matter who fired the weapon. It doesn’t make them any less dead if a child did it, so the punishment is the same. Of course, it’s not quite as cut and dried as that, but I do not have the time to go into the finer points here. Sufficed to say Isepians emphasize personal responsibility and accountability much more than some other species and cultures.

Hmm. I can see this topic getting heated very quickly. So let’s change the subject: Do you have any family?

I agree. At this time, I have no family. At one time I had a mother, a father and a sister, all people I loved very much. But they are gone now and have been for a long time. I have been married twice and had a son from each marriage. Both of my wives are dead and my sons met their end in single combat matches that would have been more wisely avoided. I keep track of some of the older families who have descended from old personal friends, but I’m afraid that isn’t the same thing.

Would you consider trying to start a family again?

I have considered it, and it’s certainly not out of the question. However, I am not ready at this point to give a definitive answer either way. And if I was, I would not announce it here. There would have to be more ceremony for something that important.

Is it true that when it comes to syphoning abilities, you are the twin of Husu-Kang?

No, that’s not right. We are opposites. Equal in output rank and effect. Opposite in source. He is nuclear fission and I am nuclear fusion. He could tell you more about the science of it, but I can better describe how it looks and feels. It’s a widely held belief that he and I balance out one another. I’m not sure if I believe that’s the case, but it does tie things up rather nicely, doesn’t it.

Have you ever participated in Isepian ritual combat?

I’m not sure I would call it “ritual combat”. It is something of a ritual, but we don’t attach any religious significance to it. It’s more personal or even cultural. It’s a way for someone to advance in ranks without formal commission. I have never participated in it for advancement, I’ve never needed to. I have been challenged though. Once ever few hundred years, someone gets the bad idea to challenge me for the seat of Sha. It never ends well for them and I’ve lost some people I’ve loved very much to that foolish pursuit. I’d out outlaw it, but it serves a purpose and gives the people something to get excited about.

Do you have any pets?

There is Pokey, but I know he wouldn’t like to be called a pet. He’d have all sorts of abusive things to say about that.

Pokey ?

No doubt you’ve met Husu-Kang’s Flappy. Pokey is a different breed of the same thing. Flappy has been easier for humans to relate to and quantify as a Mola Mola, while Pokey … well, Pokey is … erm … different. He doesn’t glide about in the style of a flagship like Flappy. He … I think crawling is the best word for it, though some of my Hazas have referred to it as stumping, flopping, or scooting –all of which apply depending on what kind of mood he’s in. A human marine biologist came to look at him, got an earful from him, and then gave me his best approximation about what he thinks Pokey best resembles. He said six parts coelacanth [link] two parts goliath grouper [link] and one part anglerfish [link] . I’ve seen pictures … that’s about right. I think he’s bigger though. He’s about 5’ long … so not quite as big as Flappy, but big enough to be problematic if he wants.

Many people find him rude and off-putting, and he’s been known to bite the odd subordinate who got on his nerves … when he manages to catch them. Sure he calls me a bum, ignores me when I tell him something he doesn’t want to hear, and spends more time making grumbling sounds than he does talking. I’ve had him since I was a boy and he’s been my companion for as long as I can remember. His advice has also never led me astray. I can’t imagine my life without him. Okay, it’s also fun to put him on his rotating bed … he really hates that.

Tell me about your art.

Of course. My chosen art is weaving. I make everything from tiny bands to tapestries that would hang from the sides of tall buildings. Right now I’m favoring the solar flower motif, but that’s one I keep coming back to every few decades. I’ve most recently completed blankets for Princess Julia Emperious and Dare Suricasti, a solar flower tapestry for Grandmaster Kay’ of the Order of the Red Cross, and a robe for someone who has my highest regards. It’s been something I’ve worked very hard at perfecting all my life. It’s not flattery to say I’m quite accomplished and excellent at what I do. I’m working with different kinds of treated silks, having a particularly interesting time with some coated in a kind of light sealing wax that makes it waterproof. I think it may be possible for me to make something that can be safely hung underwater. It’s a fascinating idea. I just have to learn the ins and outs of the materials themselves first.

What do you think is your greatest flaw?

My pride. It has kept me from resolving many of my own personal problems and preventing uncomfortable situations. It’s something I have to work on.

What do you regret the most, if anything? Husu-Kang said it was fighting with you. What do you make of that?

*sighs* I have some deeply personal things I may put before that. Things he doesn’t really have a equivalent for in his own life. But yes, fighting with him and the war that came from it is certainly very high up there on that list. War is always best avoided, but when it cannot be avoided, then what choice do we have?

I know Isepians are solar powered, but what do you think of food? What happens when you eat it? Do you have a favorite, or have you not tried enough to know ?

I’ve tried some. But I get the feeling I could eat something different for every meal for the rest of my life and I might not be able to try it all. Not that I’d try to eat it all. It does have a bit of an adverse affect. It never sits in the system as well as I’d like. It’s a common misconception that we don’t actually ingest anything. We do. It’s usually just a mineral tablet that we take much a like a human takes hard candy. So we do have a digestive system, but it’s very weak and our capacity for food intake is quite small. If we have human portions put in front of us, the best we can do is sample a bit of each. I am not sure if we’ll ever be able to eat some of the tough fibers and rougher meats. I think a steak, a dark green salad and a soda might make me quite ill. So, no, I don’t eat much, but I have developed a taste for rice pudding with a bit of cinnamon on top. That gives me minimum trouble. It’s just difficult to get on Isep.

Is it true that your tongues are blue ?

If your aim is to get me to show you my tongue, then you will be left wanting. I am Sha-Eris of Isep and that kind of thing just isn’t done. But to answer your question: Yes, it is true. They are dark blue.

What’s the hunting like on Isep?

Terrible right now. It’s a rare time in the orbit when Isep is farthest away from the system’s more familiar red start Tethla and is closer to Simese, the blue star. The entire world seems to be made of shades of blue and purple instead of the normal warmer colors. When this happens, all the wild animals tend to hibernate or become more sluggish. Even the Sand Divers, if you can believe that. There isn’t much sport in hunting down a sleeping animal.

Do you have any predictions or hopes for the Space Olympics?

Last I checked, the committee was still deciding on which sports to include. Of course, this task is much harder than it seems. I trust my people will show all the others how we do things here on Isep and will, as always, make me proud to be their leader. Let’s just hope there’s not a lot of swimming involved ... we'd certainly be at a disadvantage.

Did you ever play any sports? Do you now?

I didn’t play a lot of sports as these things are usually defined. I did study many of what we call the “physical arts” and participated in tournaments and think I did rather well. We don’t have a lot of team sports, surprisingly enough. Just the usual Isepian stuff, most of it military related. We have a theme, you see.

Is it true that the palace on Isep is one of the biggest single structures in the galaxy?

That is true. It’s not only my palace, but the capitol city as well. It’s simply known as The Fortress. I live in the highest tower, my Hazas live there and a few million of my people have permanent residence within the structure somewhere. It’s surprisingly less crowded than I make it sound. It’s bigger than the Prime Stalk on Slee-Sha and its certainly larger than Albert. The part that makes it so unique is that it’s mostly carved from the same large stone –one that runs in a layer all over the planet. We’ve been carving it out for thousands of years.

Are there any cultural misconceptions you’d like to clear up?

Yes. I'd like to talk about flashlights.

The spectrum of light in these devices is of no value to us. So stocking shelves with flashlights and putting them in the "exotic food" section is a little silly. We will continue to be annoyed and you will continue to lose money. You'd be better served to stock up on solar lamp repair kits, spare parts, amplifier filters, mirrors and bulbs. We'd buy those and we'd be grateful to find them more easily.

And when we are driving around and your children are flashing lights at us out the back window, they aren't helping or feeding us. They are just making the roads unsafe because it's hard to drive with that kind of bright light in our eyes.

Last thing. Please stop referring to the Little Isep neighborhoods in the larger cities as "Red Light Districts". I can understand the humor in it, but we do know what that used to mean and we don't think it's as funny as you do.

Sha-Eris and art (C) *NuisanceBearEull
All other characters and story (C) *NuisanceBearEull and ~Eullogy-Enterprises

Description
This will be the last one of these for a little bit. Thank goodness I'm ending it on a high note. (That last one was pretty bad). I like this much better.

Today the focus is on Sha-Eris of Isep. He really got something of a facial overhaul, because I did the same thing with him that I've done with the other two. I went back and looked at his chosen voice actor. In this case, the amazing Lance Henriksen [link] . In my opinion, one of the coolest voices I've ever heard. Loved him in Aliens, cheered when I heard him in the Mass Effect games and I could think of no better sound for Sha-Eris ...

Because there is a story behind that voice of his. Once upon a time it was clear and smooth as glass. When he was a young man he could sing. But as the centuries rolled past and he spent so much time delivering rousing yelled speeches and barking orders at a civilization of soldiers, it got deeper and harder. There tends to be a certain grit and gravel and lower tones in Isepian voices. But I needed Eris' voice to be something very striking and very special. I wanted people to be as impressed by the sound of him as much as his looks.

The main changes are in his eyes, face shape and nose. I like it.

*****Yep! MORE Optional Character Reading*****
I'm not sorry. At all.

Thank you for taking the time to speak to us. Can you tell me a little about yourself?

You’re welcome. I am His Radiance Sha-Eris of Isep -Leader of the People, Commander of the Armies and Head of the Solar Temples. I am the man who has been at the head of Isepain life since the day we stopped wandering as nomads across the surface of the planet.

That sounds very … absolute. That kind of thing makes humans nervous. It’s never worked well. What would you say to us about that?

First of all, that sounds a little silly for a people who are led by an Emperor. It is not the titles of a ruler that should make one nervous, it’s the deeds of the ruler and the welfare of his people that should matter. It’s also important to remember that Isepian and human society is different. We are all a part of a whole and place the function of the whole above the importance of minor differences and definitions. This is neither superior nor inferior, it is simply what works for us.

What? What’s an “importance of minor differences and definitions”? I’m not sure if I’m supposed to be offended or not.

You should not be offended. If I were to say something I meant to be offensive, you’d be left with no question. We do not have separate circumstances for law, rights, privileges, wages and punishments in the way other cultures do. It all applies to everyone equally. We don’t have “women’s rights” or “children’s rights” or anything like that. We don’t need it because in the eyes of our laws and beliefs, every Isepian is equal. I find it makes things simpler. The “importance of minor differences and definitions” is the need, in some societies, for people to be entitled to special rules, consequences and rewards simply because they are different. For example, in some human societies, a woman may have a child without the consent of the father and then law requires him to be responsible for said child weather he wanted the child or not but then a mother may terminate a pregnancy without the consent of the father. Giving the father fewer rights than the mother isn’t appropriate in our society. A child in another civilization who murders is given a different sentence than an adult. Well, the victim is just as dead no matter who fired the weapon. It doesn’t make them any less dead if a child did it, so the punishment is the same. Of course, it’s not quite as cut and dried as that, but I do not have the time to go into the finer points here. Sufficed to say Isepians emphasize personal responsibility and accountability much more than some other species and cultures.

Hmm. I can see this topic getting heated very quickly. So let’s change the subject: Do you have any family?

I agree. At this time, I have no family. At one time I had a mother, a father and a sister, all people I loved very much. But they are gone now and have been for a long time. I have been married twice and had a son from each marriage. Both of my wives are dead and my sons met their end in single combat matches that would have been more wisely avoided. I keep track of some of the older families who have descended from old personal friends, but I’m afraid that isn’t the same thing.

Would you consider trying to start a family again?

I have considered it, and it’s certainly not out of the question. However, I am not ready at this point to give a definitive answer either way. And if I was, I would not announce it here. There would have to be more ceremony for something that important.

Is it true that when it comes to syphoning abilities, you are the twin of Husu-Kang?

No, that’s not right. We are opposites. Equal in output rank and effect. Opposite in source. He is nuclear fission and I am nuclear fusion. He could tell you more about the science of it, but I can better describe how it looks and feels. It’s a widely held belief that he and I balance out one another. I’m not sure if I believe that’s the case, but it does tie things up rather nicely, doesn’t it.

Have you ever participated in Isepian ritual combat?

I’m not sure I would call it “ritual combat”. It is something of a ritual, but we don’t attach any religious significance to it. It’s more personal or even cultural. It’s a way for someone to advance in ranks without formal commission. I have never participated in it for advancement, I’ve never needed to. I have been challenged though. Once ever few hundred years, someone gets the bad idea to challenge me for the seat of Sha. It never ends well for them and I’ve lost some people I’ve loved very much to that foolish pursuit. I’d out outlaw it, but it serves a purpose and gives the people something to get excited about.

Do you have any pets?

There is Pokey, but I know he wouldn’t like to be called a pet. He’d have all sorts of abusive things to say about that.

Pokey ?

No doubt you’ve met Husu-Kang’s Flappy. Pokey is a different breed of the same thing. Flappy has been easier for humans to relate to and quantify as a Mola Mola, while Pokey … well, Pokey is … erm … different. He doesn’t glide about in the style of a flagship like Flappy. He … I think crawling is the best word for it, though some of my Hazas have referred to it as stumping, flopping, or scooting –all of which apply depending on what kind of mood he’s in. A human marine biologist came to look at him, got an earful from him, and then gave me his best approximation about what he thinks Pokey best resembles. He said six parts coelacanth [link] two parts goliath grouper [link] and one part anglerfish [link] . I’ve seen pictures … that’s about right. I think he’s bigger though. He’s about 5’ long … so not quite as big as Flappy, but big enough to be problematic if he wants.

Many people find him rude and off-putting, and he’s been known to bite the odd subordinate who got on his nerves … when he manages to catch them. Sure he calls me a bum, ignores me when I tell him something he doesn’t want to hear, and spends more time making grumbling sounds than he does talking. I’ve had him since I was a boy and he’s been my companion for as long as I can remember. His advice has also never led me astray. I can’t imagine my life without him. Okay, it’s also fun to put him on his rotating bed … he really hates that.

Tell me about your art.

Of course. My chosen art is weaving. I make everything from tiny bands to tapestries that would hang from the sides of tall buildings. Right now I’m favoring the solar flower motif, but that’s one I keep coming back to every few decades. I’ve most recently completed blankets for Princess Julia Emperious and Dare Suricasti, a solar flower tapestry for Grandmaster Kay’ of the Order of the Red Cross, and a robe for someone who has my highest regards. It’s been something I’ve worked very hard at perfecting all my life. It’s not flattery to say I’m quite accomplished and excellent at what I do. I’m working with different kinds of treated silks, having a particularly interesting time with some coated in a kind of light sealing wax that makes it waterproof. I think it may be possible for me to make something that can be safely hung underwater. It’s a fascinating idea. I just have to learn the ins and outs of the materials themselves first.

What do you think is your greatest flaw?

My pride. It has kept me from resolving many of my own personal problems and preventing uncomfortable situations. It’s something I have to work on.

What do you regret the most, if anything? Husu-Kang said it was fighting with you. What do you make of that?

*sighs* I have some deeply personal things I may put before that. Things he doesn’t really have a equivalent for in his own life. But yes, fighting with him and the war that came from it is certainly very high up there on that list. War is always best avoided, but when it cannot be avoided, then what choice do we have?

I know Isepians are solar powered, but what do you think of food? What happens when you eat it? Do you have a favorite, or have you not tried enough to know ?

I’ve tried some. But I get the feeling I could eat something different for every meal for the rest of my life and I might not be able to try it all. Not that I’d try to eat it all. It does have a bit of an adverse affect. It never sits in the system as well as I’d like. It’s a common misconception that we don’t actually ingest anything. We do. It’s usually just a mineral tablet that we take much a like a human takes hard candy. So we do have a digestive system, but it’s very weak and our capacity for food intake is quite small. If we have human portions put in front of us, the best we can do is sample a bit of each. I am not sure if we’ll ever be able to eat some of the tough fibers and rougher meats. I think a steak, a dark green salad and a soda might make me quite ill. So, no, I don’t eat much, but I have developed a taste for rice pudding with a bit of cinnamon on top. That gives me minimum trouble. It’s just difficult to get on Isep.

Is it true that your tongues are blue ?

If your aim is to get me to show you my tongue, then you will be left wanting. I am Sha-Eris of Isep and that kind of thing just isn’t done. But to answer your question: Yes, it is true. They are dark blue.

What’s the hunting like on Isep?

Terrible right now. It’s a rare time in the orbit when Isep is farthest away from the system’s more familiar red start Tethla and is closer to Simese, the blue star. The entire world seems to be made of shades of blue and purple instead of the normal warmer colors. When this happens, all the wild animals tend to hibernate or become more sluggish. Even the Sand Divers, if you can believe that. There isn’t much sport in hunting down a sleeping animal.

Do you have any predictions or hopes for the Space Olympics?

Last I checked, the committee was still deciding on which sports to include. Of course, this task is much harder than it seems. I trust my people will show all the others how we do things here on Isep and will, as always, make me proud to be their leader. Let’s just hope there’s not a lot of swimming involved ... we'd certainly be at a disadvantage.

Did you ever play any sports? Do you now?

I didn’t play a lot of sports as these things are usually defined. I did study many of what we call the “physical arts” and participated in tournaments and think I did rather well. We don’t have a lot of team sports, surprisingly enough. Just the usual Isepian stuff, most of it military related. We have a theme, you see.

Is it true that the palace on Isep is one of the biggest single structures in the galaxy?

That is true. It’s not only my palace, but the capitol city as well. It’s simply known as The Fortress. I live in the highest tower, my Hazas live there and a few million of my people have permanent residence within the structure somewhere. It’s surprisingly less crowded than I make it sound. It’s bigger than the Prime Stalk on Slee-Sha and its certainly larger than Albert. The part that makes it so unique is that it’s mostly carved from the same large stone –one that runs in a layer all over the planet. We’ve been carving it out for thousands of years.

Are there any cultural misconceptions you’d like to clear up?

Yes. I'd like to talk about flashlights.

The spectrum of light in these devices is of no value to us. So stocking shelves with flashlights and putting them in the "exotic food" section is a little silly. We will continue to be annoyed and you will continue to lose money. You'd be better served to stock up on solar lamp repair kits, spare parts, amplifier filters, mirrors and bulbs. We'd buy those and we'd be grateful to find them more easily.

And when we are driving around and your children are flashing lights at us out the back window, they aren't helping or feeding us. They are just making the roads unsafe because it's hard to drive with that kind of bright light in our eyes.

Last thing. Please stop referring to the Little Isep neighborhoods in the larger cities as "Red Light Districts". I can understand the humor in it, but we do know what that used to mean and we don't think it's as funny as you do.

Sha-Eris and art (C) *NuisanceBearEull
All other characters and story (C) *NuisanceBearEull and ~Eullogy-Enterprises