Cybertronian (Species)

Cybertronians are the species native to the planet Cybertron. They are living machines, capable of emotions, complex thoughts, morals and intellect, possessing both sentience and sapience. They may be fully mechanical, but are also fully capable of dying and decaying. They are unique in the means that, aside from being living machines, they are capable of transforming into a plethora of things - such as vehicles, animals and even weaponry and objects. Their cultural religion is polytheistic, worshipping and following multiple gods. They are attested to be the sister-species of humans. They are also believed to be the first known living beings in the universe.

Overview
Cybertronians are endemic to the planet of Cybertron. They are characterised by being bipedal living machines that are part of the Kingdom Machina, previously unknown to human science. They posses complex brains capable of complex thought. They are a social species, often establishing groups known as Trines (with Seekers), Squadrons (with non-flying and non-aquatic frames) or Pods (with aquatic frames). These groups often live together for most of their lives. These lives often last as long as two to three million years.

Their natural innate curiosity and desire to understand the environment has led to the development of advanced science and technology. Their intellect and desire for social interaction has led to various traditions, cultural norms and taboos. Their technological advancements and desires for companionship have also led to them venturing out into the rest of the universe to establish allies with other species - making them one of the only extant species to do as such.

It's not known how Cybertronians first evolved. According to Cybertronian religion and folklore, they were created by powerful beings known as Elder Gods. They believe that they were born of the blood of a being called Ymir, and the blue colored sap of a great Tree, which created a biological material known as energon. They believe that their bodies were made of the earth of the planet they live on, and given life by one Elder God known as Primus. They claim to be descendants from the stars themselves. No other information has been discovered regarding the origins of these species.

They are similar to humans, who Cybertronians often call their spiritual sister-species. Ancient Cybertronians were capable of speech, using metal and stone tools, and often domesticated animals and creatures that dwelt the planet alongside them. They even often painted complex patterns inside of caves they lived in before the construction of the earliest known sod and stone houses. Much of Cybertronian pre-history is unknown outside of traditional accounts about the age Elder Gods lived on the mortal plane. The earliest forms of Cybertronian religion and culture wouldn't appear until Cybertronian prohistory and the Cybertronian Bronze Age - also called the Dawn Era, or Dawn Age.

During the Dawn Era, old Cybertronian shamanism emerged. Early forms of throat singing were performed. Though, contrary to their modern predecessors, these Cybertronians often lived away from each other and preferred to remain solitary and isolated. These prehistoric ancestors were known as Cyberidae Transformare Antiquorum. They were smaller, faster, and were not yet capable of transformation. They mainly travelled on foot. These ancient ancestors rarely gathered together, and only did so out of need. They were hunter-gatherers.

C. Transformare Antiquorum was mostly entirely wiped out during an unknown mass extinction event. This left behind more sociable descendants which would adapt to their new environment and be known as Cyberidae Transformare Socialis - which is more similar to the modern Cybertronian, and characterised by their far more social nature as well as being larger and capable of transformation. This led to the construction of cities and towns, some of which still remain and are still lived in in modern times. However, there was still a degree of isolation - what would later become Cybertron's nine countries were avoidant of each other, keeping to themselves and sometimes even breaking out into fights. C. Transformare Socialis lived alongside C. Transformare Draconis.

One example of the distaste each area held for each other was the discovery of a body dating back to the Dawn Age. A skeleton was excavated in a field somewhere, which used to be an ancient roadway. With this skeleton was a small amphora, presumably a trade item, from what would later become Altihex. Embedded in the skeleton's neck was a small knife that was Kalissian in origin. Some of these areas acted with great hostility to each other, attacking traders that would stray into territory other than their own.

After an event known as the Great Cataclysm, most of C. Transformare Socialis was wiped out and replaced by the modern Cyberidae Transformare Modernus. The post-Cataclysm era is known simply as the Cybertronian Iron Age, or Post-Dawn Era. During this time, communities became even closer to each other and built over the remains of Socialis. Cybertronian culture evolved in full to what we know now - keeping much of their prehistoric and pre-Cataclysm roots, but adapted to the new age. The Cybertronian Iron Age was relatively short lived. Many of the countries' borders were established, and capitals were erected. Trade routes were established, even though many countries were still very much wary of each other and some even waged wars.

Following the Iron Age came the Medieval Period, early modern era and modern era - known as the Afterdawn, which is one of the only eras to encompass a massive time frame of over five to six million years, making it the longest chunk of recorded history. This era saw Cybertronian cultural norms and taboos gradually growing and changing to modern times - they became more peaceful, more social, and ceased conflicts with each other. They unified under a singular matriarch, appointing eight leaders under her to lead the separate countries. At this point, their technology began to rapidly advance and the species saw their first breaches of space travel and the establishment of colonies.

This era also saw the Great War, which would force Cybertronians to flee the planet, which brought the Afterdawn to a close and gave rise to the Star Odyssey - a period of a hundred-thousand-plus years where they drifted through the stars after the destruction of their home planet. The Star Odyssey concludes with the arrival to Earth, which gives rise to the brief Gaia Period. The Gaia Period saw the alliance between Cybertronians and humans, and the earliest stages of the end of the world.

Next, follows the Ragnarok Era - a period of 70 years in which the end of and rebirth of both Earth and Cybertron took place. The Ragnarok Era brings the Great Rebirth. The Great Rebirth saw the re-in-habitation and rebuilding of Cybertron and the establishment of clans. This era ended with the passing of Requiem Prime. It was followed by the Age of Wonders.

Etymology and Definition
Cybertronian comes from the English word "cyber", pertaining to advanced technology. Their scientific name is derived from Latin "Transformare", meaning to transform or change shape.

The name Cyberidae Transformare specifically refers to mechanoids who have transformation cogs.

Evolution and Anatomical Adaptations
The nine regions of Cybertron are diverse and dramatically different from each other. This has led to Cybertronians evolving various adaptations to these regions over the years, which allow them to exist in and interact with their environments better. Scholars and scientists have debated on whether or not they are all subspecies of C. Transformare Modernus, or that C. Transformare Modernus is an umbrella term.

C. Transformare Modernus is characterised by being highly social, often mingling within each other to a degree. They also often get along well with other species. They are also characterised by their high intellect, capability of speech, possessing sentience and sapience, and having a strong planet-wide culture. When accompanied by little ones, known as sparklings, they have been observed constructing nests. These nests are either burrows in the ground, hanging from ceilings, on the floor, on ledges, in dens, against the wall, or even in rafters and trees.

They are characterised by their ability to adapt rapidly to their surroundings - many have considered swapping "Modernus" to "Adaptus" because of this characteristic. Each Cybertronian country has residents that are all the same species, but each have specific adaptations based around their environment. Even after the Star Odyssey, which lasted only a hundred thousand years, next-generation Cybertronians were also displaying newfound adaptations for living in a compact space such as ships. And on Earth, next-generation Cybertronians were already adapting to living on Earth - such as becoming smaller, and losing adaptations specific to their planet (Iaconian gills, for example).

Iaconian
Iaconians make their home in the country of Iacon. Iacon is characterized by being very wet, spotted with marshes and woven with vast rivers and speckled with lakes and ponds. Because the region is very wet, those who live in Iacon are adapted with gill slits on their necks, and folding fins between their fingers and toes. They also have a nictitating membrane similar to a shark's which allows them to see clearly underwater, and it protects their optics from debris. They also have massive gill fins that are folded below their helms, which act similarly to an axolotl's gills on its head. However, they are extremely sensitive to the air. Because of their semi-aquatic nature, Iaconians require a lot of drinking water. They are capable of underwater echolocation like a dolphin to communicate and even locate animals, obstacles and each other.

They have sharp eyesight underwater, alongside strong arms and legs. Their gills work to filter oxygen out of the water to aid in breathing, which helps cool down their systems.

Biologists, scientists and researchers that regard each group of Cybertronains to be subspecies of the original C. Transformare Modernus propose C. Transformare Modernus Aquarius as a taxonomic name for Iaconians.

Caminian
Caminians make their home in the country of Caminus. Caminus is characterised by deep valleys and rolling hills, which are challenging to climb. Caminians are characterised by having strong legs, strong backs, strong shoulders and far-sight. They are often capable of digging deep burrows, and some even dig out warrens to live in together. Some very few Caminians known as Cityspeakers are capable of communicating spiritually and mentally with a subspecies of Cybertronian known as C. Transformare Titanus, or Titans. They are master animal husbands, master farmers, and use their natural strength for life in the hills.

Caminus, because of the nature of Caminians and the environment they hail from, produces some of the richest livestock and produce on the whole planet. They are also responsible for the domestication of several animals on Cybertron, including horses, oxen, dragons and griffons.

Biologists, scientists and researchers that regard each group of Cybertronians to be subspecies of the original C. Transformare Modernus propose C. Transformare Modernus Campus as a taxonomic name for Caminians.

Uraryan
Uraryans make their home in the country of Urarya. Urarya is characterised by its location on the topmost pole of the planet, sometimes called the Throat of The World, which is mountainous and snowy, and can reach temperatures as cold as -300 Fahrenheit (-184 Celcius) with wind chills that could dip as cold as -350 Fahrenheit (-212 Celcius). Uraryans are adapted to this cold - being able to resist temperatures as cold as -400 Fahrenheit (-240 Celcius). Because of the snowy, mountainous environment they live in, Uraryans have specially designed feet. The bottoms of their feet are slightly curved, and their toes can be unfolded and elongated to create a snowshoe effect, which evenly distributes their weight across snow so that they wouldn't sink. The bottoms of their feet also have sharp spines that can retract and protract, which aid their grip on ice and even stone. Their legs are also extremely strong, with a measured kick force that is several times' stronger than a Caminian's. Their air sacs are also adapted to breathing thin air.

Because of the extreme temperatures Uraryans are subject to and are capable of resisting, they don't fair well in heat.

Their proposed taxonomic name is C. Transformare Modernus Arcticus.

Prothexian
Prothexians make their home in Prothex. Said country is characterised by lacking flat land - rather, its surrounded on all sides by cliffs, with a vast forest occupying its base. Massive limestone spires, similar to the Tsingy De Bemaraha (or "Forest of Knives") in Madagascar, claw into the sky. Perched meticulously on the tops of these spires are the buildings in which people live - connected to each other via zipline cables and rope-bridges. The swaying of these buildings is compared to a ship on the sea. Sometimes, its subtle and gentle, but sometimes, it's churning and violent - all depending on the breeze. Because of this, Prothexians are adapted with unbreakable balance, and are capable of standing on sheer surfaces similar to a mountain goat. Their legs are incredibly strong. Because of their perfect balance, Prothexians are extremely difficult to knock over.

Like Uraryans, Prothexians have air sacs capable of breathing thin air.

Their proposed taxonomic name is C. Transformare Modernus Spira.

Polyhexian
Polyhexians live in the subterranean world of Polyhex. Because the entirety of Polyhex is underground, those who are specialised to live there are characterised by having strong arms designed for digging, small curved claws to grip onto stone, and sharp eyesight that allows them to see in the dark as if it were light. They are also sensitive to seismic movements, and are able to tell whether or not a cave or underground passage is stable based on the feel of the stone. Often they use echolocation to communicate, somewhat different than an Iaconian's underwater echolocation.

Cyberidae Transformare Members
The members of C. T. Transformare include the following.

C. T. Modernus

 * C. T. M. Aquarius
 * C. T. M. Campus
 * C. T. M. Arcticus
 * C. T. M. Spira
 * C. T. M. Silva
 * C. T. M. Subterra
 * C. T. M. Nocturnus
 * C. T. M. Agaricum
 * C. T. M. Desertum

C. T. Animalis
Essentially versions of Earth animals that are capable of transforming into objects, such as Laserbeak and Ravage into cassettes. Notable species are listed below, but this is not conclusive.


 * C. T. A. Felis
 * C. T. A. Aves

Biology
(see: Cybertronian Mechabiology)

Trivia
Many Cybertronian biological elements such as adaptations and even behaviours are based off of and borrowed from the behaviours and biology of animals on Earth.