Xelayan

Xelayan
Lieutenant Alara Kitan, a Xelayan Chief of Security on board the USS Orville.
Type	Humanoid
Planet	Xelaya

"Don't you guys have, like, super strength?"
"Xelaya's gravitational pull is high compared to the planetary average, so, yes, in Earth's normal gravity, my physical strength is elevated.— Alara Kitan explaining the science of her species notorious enhanced strength to Gordon Malloy.

Xelayans were a space flight-capable, humanoid species from the planet Xelaya. They were an important member species of the Planetary Union, known for their devotion to the sciences and humanities and respected for their extreme physical strength. In the 25th century, a Xelayan male was the chair of the Planetary Union Council.

As Xelaya's gravitational pull was higher than most planets, Xelayans possessed elevated strength and resilience in environments with an Earth-like gravity. Despite their formidable physical power away from their homeworld, most Xelayans considered themselves an "evolved" intellectual species, well-versed in the arts and sciences, who looked down on the military and physical pursuits.

Biology

Talla Keyali lifting a Regorian with just one hand.

Xelayans were humanoid in appearance with pointy, indented ears, and ridges on their foreheads and the bridges of the nose. They were anatomically different from humans, lacking livers or appendices.

Due to the comparatively high gravity of their home planet, Xelayans enjoyed exceptional strength outside of Xelaya. In these alien environments, their strength surpassed that of Moclans and possibly even Kaylons. Xelayan skin was very durable, resilient enough even to stop bullets from piercing vital organs. Their durability allowed them to remain conscious after a stun blast, though they would still experience discomfort, and survive being struck by Kaylon head cannons, though they would require immediate medical attention afterwards.

Young Xelayans who remained in lower-gravity environments such as Earth for long stretches of time could begin to lose bone density and muscle mass, a condition known as gravity sickness. Gravity sickness could become a permanent affliction if the individual did not return to a Xelaya-like environment or undergo physically difficult gravity treatments in an Environmental Simulator.

Xelayans suffered to some extent from at least two diseases, Mellara and Torin's syndrome, and they vaccinated themselves against Mellara.

History

The origins of the Xelayans are shrouded in mystery. They bore a strong physical semblance to the Okudum and some scholars hypothesized the two species shared a common evolutionary ancestor.

The ancient Zankon empire may have included Xelaya in its territory. The Zankon enslaved 37 other alien species until they revolted 3.4 million years ago, but it is not clear whether the Xelayans were one of those species. Xelayan researchers later discovered legends on Xelaya about the Zankon and a lost spaceship fleet.

A Xelayan delegate represents his people on the Planetary Union Council.

The Xelayan people made contact with and joined the Planetary Union sometime before the 25th century. Because most Xelayans were interested in intellectual careers, few actually joined the Union's military; when one of them did, the Union usually fast-tracked them. However, this attitude was not universal, and some Xelayan families, such as the Keyalis, had served in the military for generations.

In 2421, a Xelayan served as the speaker of the house of the Union Council.

Culture

A pelpifa.

Island beaches were popular holiday getaways in high season. "You can actually see sand and water," Cambis Borrin commented. "Instead of umbrellas and towels."

Evidently, Xelayans had no concept of astrology as the term was wholly unfamiliar to Talla Keyali.

The pelpifa was a Xelayan musical instrument which combined musical tones with holographic patterns. Youth sometimes learned the instrument. "My parents forced me to learn it when I was in school," Talla remarked. "It's pretty much the whole reason I never got laid."

Education

Circa 2421, a Xelayan serves as Chairman of the Union Council.

Xelayan civilization was decidedly academic, placing a heavy emphasis on knowledge and education. Children attended school prior to higher education such as university or Union Point.

At least two universities are known: an unnamed school where the professor Ildis Kitan taught and the University of Xenara. The University of Xenara Medical School boasted a "beautiful" and "lovely campus." Associate professor Galdus Harona taught there at the prodigious young age of 21 until his death, and Professor Kitan did "a few stints" as a visiting lecturer as well.

One peer-reviewed journal was called the Xelayan Journal of Science, which "a few years" before 2419, published "The Mellara Vaccine and Its Effects on the Risk of Torin's Syndrome: A Formal Dispute" by Professor Kitan.

Cuisine

Dinner in a Xelayan home.

• Xelayans enjoyed sweetened gupsela when sad, similar to how humans ate ice cream as comfort food.
• Trivalve sauce, according to Ildis Kitan, was a "delicate thing" which should not be eaten before completely boiled.
• The Union credited Xelayans with the creation of many popular alcoholic beverages: Xelayan tequila, which could be ordered as a single or double shot; Xelayan rum; and Xelayan blossom whiskey.
• Frizzian champagne, a "wonderful" prestige drink enjoyed by "higher class company."
• Xelayan chocolate trusses were enjoyed by humans, as seen when Chief of Security Talla Keyali shared a box that her mother made with her crewmates aboard the Orville. Captain Ed Mercer described them as the most dense chocolate that he had ever tasted, with Talla observing that that Xelaya's heavy gravity made for heavy desserts.

Additionally, Talla made an unidentified beverage that caused both Captain Mercer and First Officer Kelly Grayson to vomit.

Alara's dinner.

Drenala's dinner.

Alara Kitan takes a shot of Xelayan tequila.

Xelayan blossom whiskey is notable for containing a colorful cloud of smoke before consumption.

Two Xelayan blossom whiskeys come into contact.

A pot of boiling trivalve sauce.

Cambis Borrin holding a bottle of Frizzian champagne.

Talla Keyali with a glass of Xelayan rum.

Notable Xelayans

• Alara Kitan
• Cambis Borrin
• Chairman of the Planetary Union Council in 2421
• Drenala Kitan
• Floratta Borrin
• Galdus Harona
• Ildis Kitan
• Serris
• Solana Kitan
• Speria Balask
• Talla Keyali

Trivia

Alara as seen in the comics.

• The endings of Xelyan names seem to divided by gender:
  • First names ending in -is and -us are masculine: Cambis, Ildis, Serris, Terlus, and Galdus.
  • First names ending in -a- plus consonant (or geminate consonant) plus -a are feminine: Alara, Solana, Drenala, Floratta, and Talla.
  • No exceptions have yet been found.
• In the original script, the name Xelayan was spelled Seleyan.
  • The original name is likely a reference to Star Trek's Mount Seleya, a mountain sacred to the Vulcans, a strong and intellectual humanoid species with pointed ears much like the Xelayans.
• Creator Seth MacFarlane first describes the Xelayans as "a race of academics."
• During a March 20, 2018 Season 2 sneak-peak of The Orville to members of the Academy, drinks of "Xelayan tequila" were served (in reality a margarita). The ingredients were tequila, squeezed lime juice, and Triple Sec with a salted rim and lime garnish.
• As yet, Xelayans have appeared in every episode of The Orville with the exception of Episode 2x04: Nothing Left on Earth Excepting Fishes, the interim episode between the departure of Alara Kitan and the debut of Talla Keyali.
• Despite their disdain for physical professions, Xelayans maintain a police force.
• Second-hand Xelayan books from 1900 to 2300 and rare antiquities were sold at Outpost 47 in 2421.
• Xelayans were susceptible to alcoholism.
• When engaged in sexual intercourse in alien environments, Xelayans have been known to accidentally kill their partner.