Captain Coldsnap/Glaciorian
From Unofficial Handbook of the Virtue Universe
The only sentient beings on the planet Olympia are the Glaciorians; a race of evolved humanoid beings. The Glaciorians are an ancient race, having existed on Olympia for over 100,000 Earth years. As a result, they are a highly technologically advanced race and have a robust cultural history. Glaciorians are able to traverse great distances in space using dimensional wormholes near their home system. Hundreds of light years can be traversed in mere minutes. Although they are a spacefaring race, they are not imperialistic and are uninterested in territorial expansion. The Glaciorians are primarily scientists and observers, interested in the diverse universe in which they live. Only two members of this race are known to humans: Captain Coldsnap and Doctor Devilpyre. Captain Coldsnap is known as a hero and protector of Paragon City.
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Biology
Glaciorians are unique beings in that they combine the biochemistry of silicon-based life, ammonia-based life, and carbon-based life into one body. All three chemistries are an important part of Glaciorian biological functioning. Each one of these chemistries plays a unique role. In contrast, most of the known life forms in our universe are composed of one carbon-based biological system. Working in unison, this biological system has been dubbed, cryoanabolism, by Earth scientists.
Carbon-based subsystem
The carbon-based subsystem in the Glaciorian body is used to facilitate the respiratory and digestive systems of the species. Glaciorians breathe methane gas (CH4) that is transported into the ammonia-based transport chain by methane clathrates. The methane is polymerized and converted into polymeric fibers that compose the digestive tract of the species. This polymer is similar to the Earth-based polymer: TEFLON. The digestive tract of Glaciorians contains hydrofluoric acid, which is used to digest the silica and silicone based materials that Glaciorians consume. The carbon-based subsystem is of great importance to the species because it allows them to rebuild biological tissue for the other two subsystems. Unlike Earth-based life, Glaciorians do not need to consume matter for energy, since they can obtain energy directly from their surroundings by means of their cryocells.
Ammonia-based subsystem
The ammonia-based subsystem in the Glaciorian body is used as a transport medium and also composes the major organs of the Glaciorian physiology. Ammonia is replenished from respired atmospheric nitrogen. Ammonia soluble, clathrates serve a similar purpose as hemoglobin in humans. Glaciorians do have human-equivalent organs, such as lungs and a brain, but, absent, are organs such as a heart. Glaciorian circulatory motion of ammonia-based fluids is carried out by ammonia convection. This results in Glaciorians not needing “blood vessels”. The convection is a result of the internal core of the Glaciorians being able to create internal heat gradients, between 195 and 240 K, to facilitate the circulation of ammonia-based transport media.
Silicon-based subsystem
By far, the most important subsystem of the Glaciorians is the silicon-based subsystem: consisting of cryocells. Consumed silicates and silicone are broken down and re-constructed into these cryocells, which are the source of all energy for Glaciorians. Cryocells serve the same purpose in Glaciorians as mitochondria in Earth life; however, cryocells are millions of times more efficient. As Glaciorians absorb heat energy from their surroundings, these cryocells become charged and an enzyme called, Silocane Cryolase, is synthesized. This enzyme passes through a silicon-zeolite micro barrier and is transported to the, silicon-based, myofilaments. This is the source of all muscle contractions in Glaciorians.
History
Glaciorian Civilization
Glaciorians have evolved, over many millennia, similar to civilizations on Earth. Through panspermia, silicon-based life was transplanted from the Olympian moon, Gorgoroth and evolved into several diminutive species. One of those species, evolved into the Glaciorian race. This species is dubbed, Cryoterra Subterranea Siliceous – the earliest known ancestor of the Glaciorian race. As this species evolved, it gained sentience and began to propagate over the face of Olympia. Thus, the Glaciorian race came to be in the far reaches of space.
As the Glaciorians continued to evolve and learn about their world and its uniqueness, they developed a rich culture based on learning and the arts. Metals are in poor abundance on Olympia so Glaciorian culture did not go through the same development as Earth culture. There were no iron or bronze ages. It was not until Glaciorians were able to reach their closest moon, Gorgoroth, that they were able to obtain metals in abundance. Prior to this point, Glaciorian culture was based around ice and mineral structures. To this day, the great city of Crystoria remains a beautiful crystalline network of ice, with towers over 1 mile in height, and the center of art and learning on Olympia.
War with the Rikti
The Glaciorians have been at war with the Rikti for over 100 Earth years. War began when a massive Rikti invasion force blind-sided a swath of twelve Glaciorian colonies in local Olympian space. The Rikti, using similar travel technology as the Glaciorians (i.e. wormholes), have staged numerous assaults against Olympia in an attempt to harvest and harness the Glaciorian energy absorption capabilities. The Rikti are savage in their acquisition of biological specimens for study and experimentation, and the Glaciorians are not exempt from their wrath. Fortunately, the Rikti have not been successful in their scientific endeavors, and the Glaciorian resilience has become a formidable resistance to Rikti invasion attempts.
With the advisement of the Xol’nari from the planet, Xol'na, the Glaciorians have been able to push back the Rikti invaders and re-fortify their defenses. The Xol’nari and Glaciorians form a loose federation, which includes many other worlds, who work together to maintain peace throughout the universe. Although not directly involved in the Rikti War, the Xol’nari have assisted Olympia, and other victimized worlds, through the gathering of tactical data. Xol’nari are less war-like than other species, and, hence, leave the fighting to the powerful Olympian Zeta Fleet, which was founded after the initial Rikti attack to intercept Rikti assault forces.
The Glaciorians continue to battle the Rikti and are currently researching methods to forcibly close Rikti portals. The Glaciorians are currently able to detect Rikti portal formation and have utilized this early warning detection to halt several Rikti attacks on other worlds, including Earth.
