Neytiri

1. #1Pandoraselective

   Keys: Pandora, planet, Eywa's Child

   Pandora, called Eywa's Child by the Na'vi (Na'vi name: Eywa'eveng[2]), is an Earth-like habitable extrasolar moon from the Alpha Centauri System, the closest star system to humanity’s own Solar System. It is the fifth moon[3] of the gas giant Polyphemus, which orbits Alpha Centauri A. It is located 26,000,000,000,000 miles (4.423 light-years) from Earth.[4] The names of both the moon and its mother planet are coined by humans in reference to figures in Greek mythology.

   Despite being almost as large as Earth, Pandora is only a moon of a planet that has thirteen other moons. However, due to the smaller mass, Pandora's gravity is 20% less than Earth's, although its atmosphere is much denser than Earth's due to the presence of heavier gases. Depending on the position of the various moons, two or even three moons can be seen at once in the sky of Pandora. This causes solar eclipses to happen on almost a daily basis. Pandora and its sister moons also cast large black shadows on Polyphemus.

   Discovery, Research and Terraforming

   Pandora was discovered by space telescopes at some point between 2050 and 2077. They were stunned by evidence of strong magnetic fields. Pandora's discovery prompted the invention of even larger space telescopes for more accurate readings.

   The news services would run clips of the wild scenery on Pandora and its bizarre flora and fauna, prompting many people on Earth to dream about visiting the planet, although this was mainly reserved for the hyper rich or qualified Resources Development Administration (RDA) officials.

   Around the year 2119, mass colonization and terraforming of Pandora began to occur.[5] While the RDA is responsible for researching Pandora and extracting resources, it also has a joint research program with the Pandoran Research Foundation. Meanwhile, the Pandora Conservation Initiative is unaffiliated with the RDA.

   Because humanity has ruined Earth by the 22nd century and faces extinction, Pandora is of great interest to them due to the amount of natural resources it has. The RDA has set up two major facilities on Pandora, Hell's Gate and Bridgehead.

   Plants and Lifeforms

   Due to Pandora's lower gravity, most creatures on Pandora are hexapods (six-legged), although the Na'vi resemble humans and have only four limbs. Creatures roam the air and forest canopy below, similar to Earth's animals, but on a scale several times larger. One of the most domesticated creatures on Pandora is the direhorse, a gray-skinned, hexapodal herbivorous animal with bioluminescent qualities that the Na'vi ride when hunting, similar to the human usage of horses. The Na'vi also ride the mountain banshee to hunt from the air, but the hunter can become prey in the presence of the great leonopteryx. In the canopy below, other deadly yet exotic wild animals roam: vicious packs of viperwolves, thick skinned hammerhead titanotheres and the most fearsome predatory animal of all, the thanator.

   Other than the richness of varying colors, the trees resemble those of Earth. They have the familiar trunks, branches and leaves, though due to the difference in gravity, many of the shapes appear strange to humans and the proportions are greater because of the lower gravity. The trees and plant life of Pandora have formed electrochemical connections between their roots and effectively act as neurons, creating a moon-wide "brain" that has achieved sentience, which is known to the Na'vi as Eywa.

   Pandora's wildlife also has bioluminescent qualities. Pandora looks like a lush paradise by Earth standards during the day, but at night, virtually all life on the moon exhibits bioluminescent qualities in various shades of blue, purple and green. This possibly explains the Na'vi's blue skin color, which most likely provides them better camouflage at night on Pandora.

   Atmosphere

   All humans must wear exopacks to breathe on Pandora to prevent death Pandora's atmosphere is a mixture of nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide (>18%), xenon (>5.5%), methane, and hydrogen sulfide (>1%) and is about 20% denser than the atmosphere on Earth primarily due to the high percentage of Xenon; a heavy, colourless, odourless, and generally unreactive noble gas. The high concentration of carbon dioxide in the Pandoran atmosphere makes it extremely poisonous to humans, rendering them unconscious in about 20 seconds and causing death in about 4 minutes when they venture out unprotected by specialized breathing masks. The hydrogen sulfide present is also quite poisonous; concentrations over 1000 ppm (0.1 %) can cause immediate collapse with subsequent loss of breathing, even after inhalation of a single breath.[6]

   The increased air resistance within this denser atmosphere has a number of effects:

   Lower terminal velocity. Combined with Pandora's twenty-percent lower gravity, a freely falling object's maximum speed is significantly less than on earth. A Na'vi who happens to fall from a flying mountain banshee has a good chance of surviving uninjured if they are over a forested area. Even over water, falling spread-eagled can reduce their speed sufficiently to allow an impact with the surface that will not knock them unconscious. The increased mass of the denser air means that more force is required to accelerate it as it is moved out of the path of a moving object. Humans on Pandora experience this when they try to run – it feels like there is a wind blowing against them, even though the air is still. They are further hampered by the fact that the reduced gravity causes their boots to slip more readily on paved or smooth surfaces, giving them less traction to force their bodies forward. The Na'vi compensate for this loss of frictional force by curling their large toes into the soft ground, and Pandoran six-legged animals use their many feet to gain a purchase on protruding rocks or small crevices. Flying animals can take advantage of both the lower gravity, which reduces the weight of their body, and the increased air density, which requires more force to displace with the downward/rearward stroke of their wings, and thus gives the animals body more impetus with each flap. The downside is that the denser air is harder to move through, and requires highly-efficient streamlining to achieve high flight speeds. Plants are subject to greater wind force, as the greater air density means that the moving air carries more kinetic energy and more momentum, and the plants, leaves, stems, branches, and trunks must all have a greater strength and/or flexibility to resist it.

   Day-Night Cycle

   Daytime pandora The surface of Pandora during the day Pandora receives significant light from Alpha Centauri B (ACB). As a result, Pandoran nights are never dark during half of the Polyphemian year, but instead are more like Earthly dusk. At the closest point in its orbit, ACB is about 2,300 times as bright as Earth's full moon; at its furthest point, it is still one hundred and seventy times as bright. During the other half of the year when ACB is in the daytime sky, many Pandoran nights are illuminated by both Polyphemus's huge disk and the reflected light from other nearby moons. Truly dark nights are uncommon. Polyphemus occasionally eclipses ACB at night for about one hundred minutes, but the light reflected by the planet still keeps the night from being dark.

   When ACB shares the daytime sky with ACA, at its closest it adds about half a percent to the total illumination. When the 2 stars are close together in the sky, the effect of ACB's more orange light is unnoticeable. But, as they separate over the years, an orange tint may be seen in areas shadowed from ACA's direct illumination. At its most distant, ACB is about 2,700 times dimmer than ACA and does not produce noticeable lighting effects. However, it still appears as a blindingly-bright tiny orange disk in the sky.

   Because of its high axial tilt (29°), Pandora exhibits considerable annual variation in the day-to-night ratio. In addition, its elliptical orbit produces seasonal temperature variations and a range in daytime illumination of about ten percent.

   Internal Structure

   Pandora's physical construction resembles Earth's: a liquid iron core, a plastic mantle, and a semi-rigid crust. Like Earth, it has two internal heat sources: the disintegration of radioactive isotopes, and energy from the gravitational collapse of its initial formation. There is an additional and much larger energy input from tidal forces; the nearest inner and outer moons pull on it in contest with Polyphemus. This excess of energy drives continental drift at a much faster rate than Earth, causing the tectonic plates to fracture more extensively because of the increased stress. This explains the lack of large continents on Pandora, as well as its volcanism and geothermal activity.

   Surface Features

   Pandora's land-to-water ratio is greater than Earth's, but because the land area is broken up into a larger number of smaller continents, no land area is as far from the ocean as on Earth. The moderating influence of oceans reduces extremes in temperature. Polar ice caps that are smaller than Earth's exist, but because there are no land masses in the polar areas, the Pandoran ice caps are currently free-floating.

   Pandora is more volcanically active than Earth. There are vents both on the land and under the oceans. Many of the mountains and other surface features are of recent volcanic origin. Numerous hot springs and geysers dot the landscape, and there are several rivers that are almost boiling at the place where they erupt from underground aquifers. All of these serve to maintain the local concentrations of hydrogen sulfide gas deadly to humans. Landforms are shaped extensively by the higher density atmosphere - dust grains carried by the wind are larger, and strike objects with greater energy. Exposed rock weathers more rapidly, creating more sedimentary material to be carried away by rivers.

   Geography

   Stone arches formed as a result of unobtanium's magnetic fields The terrain on Pandora differs somewhat from place to place, as do the Na'vi clans that inhabit them. The humans have settled in the forest region which is home to the Omatikaya clan. There are different ecosystems within each region, and many species such as the mountain banshee are present over a much wider range of biomes than their name would suggest. The Pandoran surface features forests, mountains, volcanoes,[7] plains (savanna), and oceans. A desert also exists in Anurai mythology.[8]

   Like on Earth, the forests of Pandora contain a wide diversity of flora and fauna. These are all part of the giant neural network that covers Pandora. The forests are full of bioluminescent life that glows in shades of blue, green, indigo and violet during the night.

   Natural Resources

   Pandora is a treasure trove of both living and nonliving natural resources. It is the first celestial body to host intelligent sentient lifeforms away from Earth and is also home to a plethora of diverse and spectacular species unlike anything ever speculated by humanity. In terms of nonliving resources, several large areas of the moon's surface contain the extremely rare superconducting mineral unobtanium. This mineral is worth twenty million standard dollars per unrefined kilogram and twice that in its refined state. The mineral's superconductivity makes it a baffling scientific discovery. Etymology

   The name Pandora refers to the first woman according to Greek mythology. She was a very curious woman who was given a jar (Pithos) and was told not to open it. Pandora was not able to resist opening the jar and, when she did, all the evils in the world were released. When she discovered the evil she'd unleashed, she hastened to close the jar, and managed to contain one evil before it escaped: "Hopelessness". Therefore, all humans still had hope, an idea that would eventually conquer the evils. Pandora was not punished for her actions, as Zeus knew she would open the Pithos.

   In reality, one of the smaller moons of Saturn is named Pandora.

   Polyphemus refers to a cyclops in Greek mythology, the son of Poseidon who was later blinded by Odysseus.

2. #2Na'viselective

   Keys: Na'vi, natives, Blue animals, savages, freaks

   The Na'vi (English: The People) are a species of sapient humanoids who inhabit the lush moon of Pandora. Although the Na'vi are hunter-gatherers with technology equivalent of Earth's Paleolithic epoch, they are highly intelligent. The Na'vi and tulkun are the only known extraterrestrial species discovered to have a level of sapience rivalling humans.

   The lifestyles of Na'vi clans are highly varied with their own unique traditions and beliefs, and they have developed sophisticated cultures. Despite this, they all share a profound spiritual connection to other life on their moon, each other, and an encompassing "goddess" they call Eywa.

   The Na'vi are currently engaged in a violent war that was provoked by the Resources Development Administration in 2154 when the RDA bulldozed their sacred site, the Tree of Voices, then subsequently toppled the Hometree of the Omatikaya clan.

   Habitat and Range

   Although their population is highly concentrated in the jungle regions of Pandora, they can also be found living in deserts, mesas, icy tundras, tropical reefs, wetlands, and mountainous regions.

   Some Na'vi clans, including the Omatikaya clan and parts of the Tipani clan, live in tremendously large ancient trees they call Kelutral, or "Hometree". They do not like to evacuate or leave Hometree unless it is urgent.

   The Na'vi prefer to sleep in large groups for physical closeness and comfort. This arrangement also acts as an effective early warning system in the event of danger. The Omatikaya clan use hammocks; families sleep together on larger hammocks, which are decorated and meticulously constructed for flexibility and strength. Physiology

   The Na'vi are overall humanoid in their anatomy, though they also possess feline features such as flat, bifurcated noses, large, round eyes, pointed ears that can move independently, and a long, prehensile tail used for gripping and balance. The neck is long and body slender, with a narrow, elongated waist and wide shoulders that create a V-shaped upper back. Despite their thin proportions, their musculature is sharply defined and they have roughly four times the strength of a human in peak physical condition. The Na'vi use their superior strength, agility, and uncanny sense of balance to scale trees, rocks, and other obstacles with ease. In the unlikely case of a fall, they usually escape unharmed, as their bones are reinforced with a type of naturally occurring carbon fiber. Distinctly separating them from humans, native Na'vi possess only four digits on each hand and foot, including an opposable thumb and thumb toe.

   The skin of the Na'vi is smooth and iridescent, appearing within the blue color spectrum, ranging from greenish-cyan and turquoise found in oceanic clans to deeper blues seen in jungle-fairing Na'vi such as the Omatikaya. The color is due to the presence of cyanin pigment which can "tan" to a darker purple color after prolonged UV exposure. The skin is marked with darker-colored markings, typically stripes, although this can vary widely. Bioluminescent markings, resembling freckles, dot the skin and seem to follow the circulatory or nervous system. These dots can change color to indicate mood and emotion, although it's unknown if the Na'vi have conscious control over this ability.

   Na'vi have dark brown or black hair on their heads, part of which is sectioned off and braided around their queue for protection. The hair can differ in texture from straight to tightly curled. They appear to have no other body hair except eyelashes and a small bob of fur on the end of their tails. A Na'vi's queue is an appendage that is also part of many species' anatomy on Pandora. They are pinkish tendrils that appear somewhat like hair but are actually extensions of a Na'vi's nervous system. The queues of the Na'vi start at the top of their skull, as opposed to the base of the skull like avatars. Details

   Despite their cyan skin color, the Na'vi have red blood, utilizing an iron oxygen-transporting compound similar to hemoglobin. The size of Na'vi varies by region and genetic history. The average male stands 3 meters (~10 feet) tall, females slightly smaller, and the maximum observed size is 3.9 meters (~12 feet, 10 inches).[1][2] Maximum observed weight is 639lbs (290kg). Males possess a prominent musculature structure on the chest, which is not observed in females. Dentition is similar to that of humans, though the canines are more pronounced. Diversification

   Although scientists consider the Na'vi to be a single species, there is a unique level of diversification and morphological variation among them comparable to domesticated dogs of Earth. The Na'vi show evidence of rapid evolution to widely varied habitats.[4] An example of this is the Metkayina clan, an oceanic group of Na'vi who have evolved to an aquatic lifestyle by developing fin-like arms and legs, broad, paddle-shaped tails, greener skin with more watery stripes, and blue/green eyes with nictitating membranes. Exactly how many "races" of Na'vi exist is unclear.

   Evolution

   The Na'vi are fundamentally different from all other large Pandoran animals:

   Na'vi have four limbs and use two legs for locomotion (bipedal tetrapod), while most medium-to-large-bodied Pandoran animals have a total of six limbs (or wings) for locomotion (hexapod). Na'vi have only a single pair of eyes while almost all other medium-to-large bodied Pandoran animals have two pairs of eyes; one primary set and another slightly smaller set. Most medium-to-large bodied Pandoran animals have two queues extending backward from the head, while the Na'vi only have a single queue. Most medium-to-large bodied Pandoran animals possess twin operculi near the shoulder/breast bone which supplies air for both respiration as well as internal body temperature regulation, while the Na'vi possess no such structures. Tuk underwater Na'vi using gill mantles From the evidence, speculation concludes that the Na'vi likely diverged a long time ago from the common Pandoran phylogenetic or evolutionary tree. This is supported by the existence of prolemuris, and its physical similarities to the Na'vi. Although prolemuri appear to be bipedal hexapods while the Na'vi completely lack the second forelimb, prolemuris's forelimbs are partially fused and split at the elbow; this indicates they likely experienced a form of limb fusion at some point during their evolution, and that the Na'vi did as well, but to a further extent. Terrestrial lemurs share a common primate ancestry with humans, the presence of a lemur-like creature on Pandora suggests a similar evolutionary relationship between the Na'vi and other extinct or unobserved species with primate morphology. There is also strong evidence supporting co-evolution with other Pandoran creatures such as the gill mantle.

   Similarity to Humans and Religious Controversy

   The Na’vi are strikingly similar to humans, morphologically, even down to eye placement, hairlessness, and details of musculoskeletal biomechanics such as pelvic structure, finger and toe articulation, and so on. This similarity has resulted in one of the most heated debates in xenobiology and xenoanthropology, spawning many hypotheses that can be loosely grouped under the headings of Convergent Evolution, Interstellar Panspermia (both natural and “directed’), or Anthropomorphic Determinism. Despite the outward similarities, humans and Na'vi are very different internally. Dr. Cordell Lovecraft has stated that humans are far more closely related genetically to garden slugs than to Na'vi.

   Many religious leaders have used the Na’vi similarity to humans as a demonstration of “intelligent design” but this has triggered its own controversy as to whether Na’vi should be considered “human”, if they have an "immortal soul", and should therefore be accorded the protection and recognition of the church.

   Lifecycle

   Reproduction

   Na'vi are monogamous creatures who mate for life and the process of their reproduction is similar to Terran mammals; however, though they nurse their young and possess belly buttons where they were once connected to an umbilical cord, the Na'vi are non-placental, thus the details of their internal biology and gestation period are unknown. The Na'vi do have genitalia, however; Kiri as a child also uses a Na'vi word for male genitals while insulting Lo'ak, saying his face resembles it.[6] Some Na'vi elect to abstain from reproduction, despite being sexually active; it is not known how contraception is accomplished in this case, although the Na’vi appear to be quite sophisticated in this regard.

   A female Na’vi will typically produce from one to ten offspring, often spaced widely apart in time. Female Na'vi have two breasts and nurse their infants for up to four months. Directly after birth, newborn Na'vi perform their first instance of tsaheylu with their mother to form a strong emotional bond and with her, then they are brought to the Tree of Souls to connect to the Pandoran collective consciousness for the first time.

   Despite being hybrid creatures, avatars are able to reproduce with Na'vi. In these cases, there is a chance for the children of such unions to inherit human features such as eyebrows, five fingers, and human-like noses, but it is also possible for them to be born near-indistinguishable from a native Na'vi.

   Lifespan

   Deceased Navi The Omatikaya burial of a deceased Na'vi Although lifespan data is incomplete, it is estimated Na'vi live 30% longer than the average human.[4] Once born, Na'vi children mature more rapidly than humans, reaching mental, physical, and cultural adulthood between the ages of 15 - 17 Terran years.[8] Afterward, Na'vi experience a "plateau" of adulthood without physical decline. After their death, a deceased Na'vi's remains are laid to rest by their clan's traditional method.

   Society & Culture

   Daily Na'vi life AVE The Na'vi enjoyed a mostly peaceful lifestyle before the arrival of humans. The Na'vi live across various biomes of Pandora in territorial clan societies. They have an egalitarian social organization built around hunting, foraging, and handicraft. Common roles within a clan include hunters, gatherers, and artisans, as well as warriors; however, warriors are not called such because they fight as a career - all warriors are hunters first and foremost, and only serve as warriors when they are called upon to fight for their clan.

   Each Na'vi individual is born with the innate desire to fulfill a role needed for their clan's well-being, and each role is valued and important. The distribution of roles within a clan remains balanced as the spiritual energy of the deceased influence the natural inclinations of each child towards their desired path in life. It is said that Na'vi are defined by their actions.[9]

   Tonowari weaving Tonowari in the act of weaving The Na'vi do not follow stereotypical gender roles. The common roles within a clan are not divided by gender, only by ability and necessity. Females are known to be active hunters and clan leaders, while males often choose to focus on child-rearing or crafts, such as Na’vi weaving. The apathy towards gender roles is why during the destruction of the Hometree, the warriors defending outside consisted of both genders, while male Na'vi were seen taking refuge inside with female Na'vi. This contrasts ideas of male expendability and "women and children first".

   The arts are of vital importance in Na’vi culture, with all individuals encouraged, even socially required, to be active in music, singing, ceramics, weaving, and dance.

   The training for a role culminates in a rite of passage; in many clans, Iknimaya is undertaken by hunters, and Uniltaron (Dream Hunt) by all members in order to be considered an adult and permitted to choose a mate.[2]

   Clans have an average of 300 members and are traditionally led by an Olo'eyktan, a central leader responsible for overseeing and giving orders to the clan, and a Tsahìk, a spiritual leader or shaman who communes with Eywa and nourishes the clan spiritually. It is traditional in certain clans for these leaders to be a mated pair, though this is not always the case. These leaders will also train an heir, whether it be their offspring or an individual who has proven themselves capable of the role. Independent shamans do exist, however, which the Na'vi call "tiretu".

   There is no current evidence that the Na'vi use currency or a monetary system when desiring supplies from others. The Na'vi are not materialistic by nature and they encourage sharing, so they do not possess hundreds of personal items. Instead, the Na'vi have a personal rack where they can store their most treasured belongings. By tradition, a Na'vi cannot build their own rack. Instead, they must be given one as a gift from a friend or family member. The long hours and craftsmanship needed to create the racks are considered powerful symbols of filial and familial love. It is believed that the ritual helps strengthen clan bonding. Spirituality and Philosophy

   Woodsprite Game The Na'vi believe woodsprites are omens of Eywa Central to the Na'vi is their belief in Eywa, whom they perceive as an all-encompassing goddess who protects the balance of life on the moon. While the Na'vi celebrate, pray to, and give thanks to Eywa in many of their cultural practices, they do not worship Eywa in a conventional sense. The Na'vi also believe that all living things have a spiritual counterpart, or animus, which is endlessly recycled into the consciousness of Eywa and then back into living matter.

   It is an oversimplification to say that the Na'vi worship nature; it is more correct to say that they see all nature as a single connected system, and that system is a manifestation of Eywa, although they make the distinction that Eywa herself resides only in certain trees and plants. Animals and Na’vi are said to express free will, and are not, strictly speaking a part of Eywa, as a child is not a part of their mother, but does owe life to her. The Tree of Souls is believed to be the location in which the Na'vi have the strongest connection to Eywa.

   Unlike some religions from Earth, the Na'vi do not view Eywa as an all-powerful, world-creating deity. They also do not believe there are any other gods, spirits, or demons associated with non-living forces of the world, such as mountains, rivers, or volcanoes. The Na'vi know that natural disasters, disease, and all other natural phenomena are not the work of Eywa, but rather, are uncontrollable, worldly forces. Eywa acts only as a defender and guide of life, who helps, protects, and guides the Na'vi against such life-threatening assaults of nature.

   Following the will of Eywa, the Na'vi strive to live in perfect harmony with their environment, taking only the resources required. Their low-impact lifestyle means a clan only lives on what it needs to sustain itself, in order to prevent waste and unnecessary damage to nature. Although each Na'vi clan has its own culture with rich history, art, music, and code of dress, all Na'vi are centralized by the Three Laws of Eywa, or the "Na'vi Way":

   "You shall not set stone upon stone." "Neither shall you use the turning wheel." "Nor use the metals of the ground."

   These laws give strict boundaries for what is appropriate in Na'vi society and explain much of their lack of technological development. Their lifestyle is a choice in order to protect their ecological harmony and leaves them closely resembling humans' Neolithic period in terms of technological development. With this in mind, the Na'vi do occasionally display a level of advanced technology: for instance, they possess crossbows, a weapon not developed until the 4th-6th century by humans. The Tawkami clan have also developed a sophisticated form of chemistry and the Anurai clan practice astronomy.[10]

   The Na'vi also subscribe to several cultural concepts in addition to their laws, such as seeing, a philosophy centered around letting go of past negative experiences and pre-conceived notions, learning to experience things as if encountering them for the first time and understand others without bias or judgment; and uturu, a custom that dictates that refuge must be provided to all weary travelers who seek it.

   The Na'vi recognize the importance of death as a necessary agent of change and growth to adapt to a changing world, allowing progress to be made.

   Inventions and Technology

   While the Na'vi are not as technologically advanced as humanity due to following the Three Laws of Eywa, they have still developed many tools and objects that come from natural-derived means. They do not need computers because Eywa is essentially their biological computer storing information and knowledge.

   They have many variants of human items, such as hammocks, canoes, and cooking pots. They use bladder lanterns instead of electric lighting. Marui are eye-catching woven houses. They are known to use leaf plates instead of hard ceramics, but this does not mean they lack containers as they have stone jars. They have also made weapons such as bows, axes, spears, and knives.

   Various Na'vi clans have developed sophisticated forms of medicine. The Na'vi have been known to reject offers of medical supplies from humans, implying their current medical advancements suit all of their needs.

   Clothing

   Little apparel is worn by the Na'vi, possibly because it is simply what is needed for the Na'vi to work and live taking minimally from the environment, even to the degree that many Na'vi have exposed buttocks. Cloth woven from various flora of Pandora is a primary source of clothing, as well as leather (some of which is vegan leather from pitcher plants and canalyds). Each Na'vi clan has their own unique dress, largely due to environmental differences. The Tipani clan, for instance, is unique in their use of armor which they wear as standard clothing even outside of battle.

   Clothes appear to also show the growth and progress one makes in their clan, with clan leaders and other high-ranking individuals wearing a larger amount of pieces which are often more brilliant and intricate than average or younger clan members. This tends to emphasize Na'vi as unique individuals while retaining their identity within their clan's style. Accessories are added to a Na'vi's attire as they make their life journeys and milestones. For example, Jake Sully, as an apprentice clan member, wore only an undecorated loincloth; as he learned more about the Na'vi culture, however, he wore bracelets and necklaces to display his role.

   Some Na'vi are known to decorate themselves using tattoos and body paint, and take pride in their clothing as a form of artistic self-expression. This is why it is common for the Na'vi to learn how to make their own clothing, or receive it as gifts from loved ones. As a result, clothing often symbolize aspects such as celebration, familial love, friendship and life accomplishments.

   Agriculture and Diet

   The Na'vi are shown to be an omnivorous species, although it is unclear if vegetarian or vegan Na'vi exist in a similar fashion to humanity. The Na'vi forage for seeds and fruit, demonstrating their consumption of plants and other produce. Their society includes hunters and gatherers with incipient agriculture.

   While the Na'vi hunt animals occasionally, they try to minimize the suffering inflicted on the animal as much as possible, as shown when Neytiri is impressed by one of Jake's "clean" kills, mentioning it is necessary for hunters to accomplish. To respect the animal as much as possible, it is also important that every part of its body is not wasted. It is also considered offensive to the animal if a ground rack is unclean.

   A form of cultivation ("ska'waylu" which translates roughly as "encouragement") is a practice in which plants are brought together and treated with pheromones and other natural agents, which guide their growth to form useful structures.[13]

   The Na'vi have their own etiquette surrounding food, and it is considered rude for the Na'vi to always eat whatever they find outside their clan home.[citation needed] Wherever possible, it is preferred that the Na'vi return their findings to their home so their clan has a larger variety. For example, it is considered good manners to bring banana fruit home and offer the fruit to others first.

3. #3sexselective

   Keys: Na'vi, sex, Mating, breeding

   The Na'vi are monogamous creatures who mate (Na'vi name: muntxa si meaning "mate with, marry") for life. The mechanics of their reproduction are similar to that of humans and other Terran mammals. However, their unique physiology creates an experience fundamentally different from that of humans.

   Choosing a mate

   Traditionally, once a young Na'vi has passed their clan's rites of passage and are accepted as an adult, they are allowed to choose a mate. Though it is typical for male Na'vi to choose a female mate, and vice versa, same-sex pairings are not uncommon and do not appear to be stigmatized in Na'vi culture.[2] The process of selecting a mate can take many years, though arranged marriages also occur in Na'vi culture, such as between the future Tsahìk and Olo'eyktan of a clan.

   Mating rituals

   After an appropriate mate has been selected, the Na'vi couple will mate before Eywa, often at a sacred site such as the Tree of Voices. During the mating, the couple will connect queues in an act called tsaheylu. This creates a state of unified body consciousness, in which both parties access the physical sensations of the other. A single instance of this act will create a powerful emotional bond that lasts a lifetime.

   The intertwining of queues is both highly erotic and profoundly spiritual, but is not the actual act of sexual reproduction.The Na'vi have their own version of genitals. Instead, it is merely a part of mating. The tsaheylu bond between Na'vi during mating should also not be confused with the non-erotic tsaheylu bonds Na'vi make with animals and plants, like the "mental reining" that Na'vi use to control animals or the use of the queue to access the Pandoran Neural Network. The actual reproductive act, which resembles human intercourse, follows the bonding ritual, and the partners remain in a “linked state” during and for some time after the sex act itself.

   The couple will remain bonded until the next day, when they return to their clan as lifelong mates. If a Na'vi's mate leaves them or passes away, it is unknown whether their partner can or will choose another mate.

   Sexual activity outside of the bonded pair is not uncommon, but is almost always associated with fertility rituals and other rites, and has never been reported to lead to a disruption of the pair bond

4. #4Recombinantselective

   Keys: Recombinant, avatar, Recom

   A Recombinant, or Recom, is a fully sentient human/Na'vi hybrid soldier embedded with the recorded memories and personality traits of an individual human,[1] and thus does not need to be remotely driven from a link unit like an avatar.

   The 1st Recom Unit are the RDA's SecOps primary "muscle" and special operations forces group, taking orders directly from the highest ranks of the RDA and assisting in any extraordinary circumstances.[2]

   History

   Creation

   The Recom Program, known as "Project Phoenix",[3] was launched immediately after the RDA's defeat and expulsion from Pandora in 2154, in preparation for a second invasion to re-establish the resource mining/colonizing operations on the exo-moon. The first operational cohort of Recombinants are those implanted with the backup memories of SecOps private military contractors who were killed in action during the Assault on the Tree of Souls. Most of them were battle-hardened marine veterans on Earth who signed up to be contractors due to economic hardships.

   Colonel Miles Quaritch, the Recom commander, was formerly the chief of security at the RDA mining base Hell's Gate, who had his memories backed up at the insistence of Parker Selfridge merely hours before his human body was killed during the brutal fight with Jake Sully and Neytiri. After waking for his second life as a Recom, he had gladly accepted the mission to hunt down the Sully family and devoted himself to vengeance against Jake and Neytiri. Corporal Lyle Wainfleet serves as the Recom team leader under Quaritch,[4] and was formerly a SecOps AMP team leader who was killed by a hammerhead titanothere stampede during the ground assault on the Tree of Souls.

   Pandoran War (2169 - 2170)

   One year after the RDA's return to Pandora and the construction of Bridgehead, Quartich, Wainfleet, and several other Recombinants arrived on Pandora where they were tasked by Frances Ardmore to help battle an insurgency waged by the Omatikaya clan, which hindered the efforts for the RDA's colonization of Pandora. As the Recombinants were better for infiltration, Ardmore tasked them with killing Jake Sully.

   The Recom Squad eventually reached the battlefield, where Quartich discovered the remains of his human body after his fight with Jake and the circumstances of his death by Neytiri. The squad also found and subdued the Sully children and Miles Socorro, an orphaned human boy who happened to be Quartich's biological son. By nightfall, the Sully children were saved by Jake and Neytiri, who managed to kill several Recombinants, although Spider was taken to Bridgehead by Quartich and the remaining Recombinants for interrogation.

   Description

   RecombinantAmnioTank Recoms being incubated. Recombinants are roughly identical to regular avatars, possessing both Na'vi- and human-like physical traits. The key differences is that Recoms are not psionically driven by a human, but instead have backup memories and identities of human candidates directly uploaded into their consciousness through the use of a special link device known as a Soul Drive.[5] This makes them fully autonomous beings and essentially genetically modified clones of their former human selves, inheriting the memories (up to the time of the backup), skills and personalities developed during that human's prior lifetime.[6]

   Recom soldiers are known as "Recombinant warriors" or simply "Recom warriors".[7] Thanks to their Na'vi physiology, Recom warriors are able to move about Pandora largely without being detected as a foreign threat to Eywa, and can avoid triggering its "immune response" in which Eywa sends her wildlife after them. They also possess queues, which allows them to access the moon's neural network and even tame Pandoran animals (such as banshees and direhorses) via Tsaheylu, thus eliminating the need for vehicular deployment and making them even better infiltrators.

   Avatar 2 Recom Breather Recoms must take sips of CO2 to breathe in human buildings using this device Like the Na'vi and avatars, Recoms are able to operate within human-air facilities; however, due to the lower carbon dioxide levels compared to that of the Pandoran atmosphere, Recoms must take "sips" of supplementary carbon dioxide every minute or two from the AAS-RO2 Atmos Adaptation System.[2] Equipment

   Like human soldiers or marines, Recoms are equipped with military-grade gears to enhance their survival in the hostile Pandoran environment. Many Recoms, particularly those from the 1st Recom Squad, prefer to wear polarized sunglasses in keeping with habits from their previous human life as army commandos and reconnaissance marines. Compared to the average Na'vi warriors, Recoms benefit from their communication, detection and weapon technologies, as well as better training and expertise in special operations tactics inherited from their backup memories.

   Most of the infantry weapons used by Recoms are shareable with Skel Suits, which are designed to the similar sizes and have movement speeds matching those of avatars and the Na'vi. These weapons, many of which have gunship-grade firepower, are far more effective in achieving fire superiority against the common Na'vi battle arrows.

5. #5Ikranselective

   Keys: Ikran, Banshee, Moutain Banshee

   Mountain banshees (Na'vi name: ikran) are large, dragon-like aerial predators that are native to Pandora. They can be found roosting on the various cliff sides on the Hallelujah Mountains.

   Use by the Na'vi

   Many Na'vi clans utilize the mountain banshee in numerous ways. They use them for traveling long distances, for hunting from the air, or even during times of war (as seen during the Pandoran War). Na'vi have been taming banshees for thousands of years. In Na'vi Culture

   Bonding with a banshee and becoming an Ikran Makto is a dangerous and required rite of passage for Na'vi warriors in some clans, including the Omatikaya. Like the direhorse, a Na'vi can connect to a banshee through a neural interface that allows animal and rider to move with apparent effortlessness through the skies. The first ikran makto was Taronyu, a Na'vi of the Kekunan Clan. After eight days studying an individual banshee, he was able to bond it and name it Rotalyu[1]. Unlike the direhorse, however, the banshee will only bond with one Na'vi in its lifetime. A rider can bond with a new banshee should the previous one die, as was the case after Neytiri's first mount Seze was killed during the Assault on the Tree of Souls; it remains unknown whether the same applies to a banshee that has lost its rider.

   Catch In Na'vi culture, taming a banshee is a test every young hunter has to pass. The mountain banshee rookery is high in the Hallelujah Mountains. The largest rookery, which features the largest specimens (and therefore the best to tame for riding), is in grottoes and outcrops on the sheer cliff faces of Mons Veritatis, one of the largest of the floating mountains. It is here that the Na'vi come to select (and be selected by) a banshee for domestication. The bonded mountain banshees nest in the highest branches of Hometree, where they can be close at hand for their Na'vi rider. Omatikaya Clan

   In the case of the Omatikaya clan, when a Na'vi is ready to tame their own banshee, most of the time accompanied by other hunters, they go on a hike to the Hallelujah Mountains, which takes them directly to the banshee's colony. The journey itself is an ordeal, during which you have to climb, balance and jump, always careful not to fall from a great height.

   Once they reach the colony, they must choose their own banshee. The Na'vi believe that the banshee itself also chooses a warrior. While most banshees simply fly away, the one who has made its choice manifests it by first showing aggression and then trying to throw the warrior off or just kill them at all costs. If both coincide, the hunter must connect their neural queue with that of the animal and thus perform the Tsaheylu. Since this is rarely done peacefully, it is sometimes necessary to immobilize the banshee. Wrapping a Banshee Catcher around its mouth can simplify the task. Once the bond is formed, the rider and their banshee take their first flight together, sealing and solidifying their bond.

   Tayrangi Clan

   The Tayrangi Clan, also known as the Ikran People of the East Sea, placed the nightmare of the mountain at the center of their culture. They are their totem animal, and each member of the clan has fraternized with their own ikran. Riding banshees is their specialty, that is, fishing, for which they dive on the back of their ikran into the depths of the sea.

   Kekunan Clan

   The Kekunan Clan is the second of two known clans that specialize in banshee riding; their riding skills are said to be the most advanced of all the clans. Kekunan is known for his signature banshee toys, which are brightly colored and whose main purpose is to familiarize Na'vi children with the prospect of taming the banshee and then fraternizing with it. Also, the first banshee rider comes from this clan.

   Tipani Clan

   Canonicity Notice

   The contents of this section are non-canon to the Avatar franchise. The Tipani practice customs similar to that of the Omatikaya, and it is the duty of each member of the clan to fraternize with the ikrans. Their Iknimaya ritual, however, takes place in the region of the same name, and the banshees they tame nest in a place called Ayawa Ikran.

   Biology

   Though reptilian in appearance, the banshee has a bird-like metabolism which generates tremendous heat. The banshee has a complex cooling system to keep it from overheating during strenuous flying. The respiratory system is vital to this cooling. The air inlets, or spiracles, face forward at the front of the chest cavity much like the air intakes of a modern fighter jet. Induction of air is controlled by a cartilaginous operculum, or flap-valve. The banshee lung is a bellows-like structure, inflated by rib movement, but unlike the lungs of terrestrial animals, it has unidirectional flow, venting aft through gill-like slits.

   Seze(g).Hometree.screencap Neytiri pets Seze, her ikran The banshee has two primary eyes which see in full color in roughly the same spectrum as human vision. Aft of the primary eyes are smaller secondary eyes, which can move independently or together with the primaries. They see in near infrared, for night hunting. Additionally, these secondary eyes are also highly sensitive to motion, and act as an early warning system against attack from the rear. All four eyes are protected by lids and by transparent nictitating membranes, much like an eagle's eye. Forward of the primary eyes are lines of sensor pits. These are thought to provide airflow information in flight, like a pitot tube on an airplane. Another hypothesis is that they are sensitive to sound, and have a role in echolocation. It is advised to never look directly into other's ikran's eyes, which most likely causes the ikran to feel threatened and thus make it prone to aggression.

   Like many of Pandora's creatures, the banshee also has a remarkably strong cell structure. This structure, which is a biologically produced carbon-fiber, makes their bones much lighter and stronger than any organic Terran equivalent. This in turn allows them to generate more power and lift with every flap, power which is necessary in the dense atmosphere of Pandora. The biochemistry of their muscle tissue allows them to generate nearly twice the force per pound of muscle as terrestrial flying animals such as bats and birds. This, again, generates tremendous metabolic heat. The hollow bones are connected to the bellows-like lung, and cooling air moves through the long bones of the fore and aft wings. The mountain banshee (like its smaller cousin, the forest banshee) is highly adapted for flight. Specially developed muscles attached to the breastbone allow for the powerful strokes needed to achieve lift. Xenobiologists continue to study the aerodynamics of the banshee. It is believed that all of Pandora's flying animals take advantage of gravity that is lower than Earth's and the increased air density, (which requires more force to displace with the downward/rearward stroke of their wings, and thus gives the animal's body more impetus with each flap). The downside is that the denser air is harder to move through, and requires highly-efficient streamlining to achieve high flight speeds.

   Unlike most other creatures in Pandora they have only four limbs, all of which are modified into wings (unlike their cousin the great leonopteryx) which might suggest a life mainly in flight, only landing to feed their young. It also suggests that prey will be smaller airborne creatures or possibly creatures perched high in the trees as they could not grab on to something while in flight, as seen in Earth eagles (and the Great Leonopteryx).

   The wings have a claw or finger that is used to cling on to cliffs and to "walk" on flat ground, using the talons on both front and hind wings to clamber along similar to an Earth bat. All in all, they are not as agile on the ground as in the air.

   Their leathery skin has a wide range of complex color schemes. Some banshees have been seen which display only two colors. Since the color concentration is mainly on the back of the animals, it is assumed that the colors are for mating display. Both male and females display these complex patterns of colors.

   All flying animals on Pandora, including banshees, are thought to have evolved from sea creatures because of their fish-like jaw structures. Despite their nature as flying creatures, banshees are fully capable of diving and swimming effectively underwater. Wings

   Flying Ikran flying The wings of a banshee are shaped like a mixture of Terran bird and bat wings. The arm ends with four "fingers" with membranes and a thumb forming a claw like a bat. The first three fingers, however, are separate from the main membrane and from the fore-wings. Each large fore-wing has three primary vanes at its tip. These form like the wings of a dragonfly, by the extrusion of a resin into the veins of a flexible membrane, which unfurls, then cures in the sun into a rigid transparent vane. These vanes are replaced through molting. The vanes function similarly to the feather structures of Terran birds. They are designed to let air pass between them easily for upstrokes and partially overlap to block the air and provide a greater upstroke for downstrokes. The partially overlapping wing design possibly serves to increase the buoyancy in still flight. They are also quite robust structures designed to fold inward if the wingtips hit tree limbs or other obstacles.

   The banshee also has a deep flight keel protruding from the chest between the fore-wings. This keel acts as both a stabilizer, by virtue of its mass, and as an anchor, allowing the flight muscles to generate additional leverage by anchoring them further from the tip.

   Jakes first flight experience 3D Version: red/cyan, cross-eyedJake riding his banshee The smaller hind wing, or horizontal stabilizers, play a dual role in banshee flight. In level flight, when large amounts of power are not required, the creature propels itself with the fore-wing and uses the "stabs" as a tail-plane, for altitude control. When more lift is needed, for take-off and climbing, or escape from an aerial predator such as the leonopteryx, the "stabs" becomes additional wings, flapping to provide propulsion. The stabs are capable of coordinated and uncoordinated operations. This provides both elevation and roll control to the creature just like 21st century fighter aircraft. The stabs are also formed from its hind legs – due to their almost entirely airborne life, the rear limbs have evolved to a more useful role.

   The steering vane under the banshee’s lower jaw and the feather-like fan at the tip of the tail provide additional turning authority for high performance aerobatics. The banshee is highly maneuverable and can dive at speeds close to 140 knots.

   Communication

   The banshees are social animals, and communicate frequently, generating quite a din at rookeries and other communal areas.

   Banshees were so named because of their piercing signature cry. This is only one of the banshee's many vocalizations and is thought to be a distant call defining territory.

   Other vocalizations include a warning hiss, which is part of an overall threat display posture, and a short sharp shriek which denotes stress or fear. There are also warning sounds, and other stress vocalizations, as well as more guttural vocalizations associated with social grooming and contentment.

   The banshee emits sound from its head, using the open mouth to focus the direction. However, it does not have a trachea in its neck, since it breathes directly into the chest cavity. It has instead, a tube running from the lungs up into the head which pumps air through the vocal organ, the syrinx. Chambers in the head amplify the sound before it is emitted into the mouth cavity for directional aiming. Some banshee vocalizations are emitted directly from the resonating cavity, when the mouth is closed.

6. #6The great leonopteryxselective

   Keys: The great leonopteryx, Toruk, great beast

   The great leonopteryx (Na'vi name: toruk meaning "last shadow") is a species of large flying animal native to Pandora, and is the apex aerial predator of the Pandoran sky. Scientifically, it is known as Leonopteryx rex – "winged king lion" (leon- from the Greek word λέων, meaning "lion"; -pteryx from Greek word πτέρυξ, meaning "wing"; and the Latin word rex, meaning "king").

   The fierce magnificence and formidable stature of the great leonopteryx gave the species a central place in Na'vi lore and culture. It is celebrated in dance, song, and with elaborate totems that symbolize both the fear and respect given to the creature. Indeed, the great leonopteryx is crucial to the Na'vi's sense of destiny and interconnectedness.

   This creature's name in Na'vi translates roughly to "last shadow", as its preferred method of attack is from above, with its shadow being the last thing its victim sees (and once they do it is already too late). The great leonopteryx is hypercarnivorous, feeding on mainly mountain and forest banshees, and occasionally on medusae. Under the rainforest canopy, the great leonopteryx will sometimes feed on ground animals such as hexapedes. It is a solitary creature and has no known natural enemies.[1]

   Anatomy

   Snapshot20091217232736 A leonopteryx The great leonopteryx is closely related to the banshee, with many similarities and differences. The great leonopteryx is primarily colored red and yellow, with black stripes and blue crests on the top of the head and under its lower jaw, though the crests can be albinistic or green. The crest on its head is razor sharp and can be used to injure or disembowel prey, or cut vegetation obstructing flight.

   The great leonopteryx also has a large brain cavity, flexible, membranous wings stretched taut over a carbon fiber bone structure, powerful talons for grasping prey and perching, twin tails for flight control, flow-through ventilation for high performance, and large hooked claws. The great leonopteryx has powerful jaws which can open at a wide angle, capable of cleaving a mountain banshee in half. Despite their superior binocular vision, they are unable to see directly above them, most likely due to the protective brow ridges above their eyes.

   Being the apex aerial predator of Pandora, this is not a problem for the great leonopteryx, as it has no need to watch for attackers. However, this weakness is exploited by Jake Sully, who jumps from his banshee from above the unaware great leonopteryx and tames it through tsaheylu.

   Great-leonopteryx Great leonopteryx The wingspan of the great leonopteryx is more than 25 meters (75–80 ft.). It can even exceed 30 meters. Its wings are composed of individual finned members that can separate to act as a slotted airfoil, or overlap and seal to form a solid surface. When separated, they can rotate individually to induce or retard vortex formation. These finned members are not unlike the primary feathers of many terran birds.

   The fiber composite bones help the animal to achieve flight through the dense Pandoran atmosphere, as with other flying animals of Pandora.[1] Unlike its smaller cousins, the banshees, it retains all six limbs, with its middle pair of legs serving as the "stabs" and its rearmost pair have taloned feet which are used for grabbing prey while diving or to provide a stronger kick while taking off.

   The great leonopteryx has four large yellow eyes with black pupils. The two main eyes are in the front of the skull, and the two others are located near the rectangular antenna bases. Due to its size, the great leonopteryx would not be a dense jungle hunter like banshees, but would have very little trouble on the plains or near cliffs or mountains, where it could feed on mid-sized animals or banshees.

   It also has what appear to be two rather short tails. These may simply be extensions of the rear fins. The function of these is unclear, it may be to increase agility or perhaps play a role in display. Habitat, Mating and Encounters

   The great leonopteryx are difficult to locate. This fact is exacerbated by the associated risk with trying to locate the resting place of such a massive, dangerous animal. However, some have been sighted in the Hallelujah Mountains. Members of the species mate for life and breed once every two years. Primarily, the great leonopteryx travels alone and occasionally in pairs. However, unlike the mountain banshee, they have never been observed in a swarm, or any other forms of high concentration. They hatch from eggs; Seyvaro once told a story about a great leonopteryx eating a young Na'vi for stealing one.[4]

   Although great leonopteryx are wary of encountering their own kind, it is documented that a team of avatars observed a battle between two great leonopteryx in the space of 3 hours. The battle ended when both fell to the forest floor from their mortal wounds and were believed to have been dispatched by a large pack of viperwolves.[1] Toruk Makto

   Jaketoruk Jake Sully about to land on a Leonopteryx In Na'vi culture, those who are successful in making tsaheylu with the great leonopteryx are given the title of Toruk Makto, which translates as "Rider of Last Shadow". Toruk Makto is, to the Na'vi, a mythical hero who leads the people to victory during times of great sorrow. Neytiri tells Jake that all Na'vi know the story of Toruk Makto, which would explain why the clan is instantly reverent of Jake when he returns to the Omatikaya clan, bonded to a great leonopteryx.

   At the time of Jake Sully's introduction to the Omatikaya, no Na'vi had accomplished this for four generations and only five have managed that feat since the time of the First Songs. Jake becomes the sixth person to bond with the creature, which re-earns him the respect and trust of the Omatikaya clan, who had previously viewed him as a traitor. As Toruk Makto, he leads the Na'vi into battle against the RDA and, after a fierce fight with many losses on both sides, the Na'vi emerge victorious. After banishing the humans from Pandora, Jake releases the leonopteryx back into the wild, as the mythical Toruk Makto was no longer needed.

7. #7Forest Bansheeselective

   Keys: Forest Banshee

   The forest banshee (Na'vi name: ikranay) is a bird-like, aerial creature native to Pandora. It is the smaller cousin of the mountain banshee. Its natural habitat is the upper and lower canopies of the rainforest, as well as rookeries that are located on cliffs and mesas of the mountainous regions of Pandora. The forest banshee has obsidian-like teeth, a total of four wings (two aft), and bones comprised of biologically produced carbon fiber composite. The forest banshee is an aerial carnivorous predator, usually feeding on smaller rainforest creatures such as the stingbat and the prolemuris.

   The forest banshee, although smaller than the mountain banshee and lacking the size required to support a Na'vi rider, is still a feared predator. Forest banshees usually hunt alone, but can migrate in large flocks spread out in a wide, loose pattern. Reasoning for this behavior is not readily understood. Like a Terran reef shark, the forest banshee may size up potential large prey, but will seldom attack anything close to its size, as it prefers smaller forest animals. A banshee will make an exception in order to defend itself, or when it finds large prey in distress. Furthermore, like Terran reef sharks, forest banshees will congregate to feed and, if necessary, will fight one another for their portion of food. The creature shares the same basic anatomical advantages as the mountain banshee: strong carbon fiber bones, specialized flight muscles and a stiff torso to support its wings. It can also make subtle adjustments to its flight altitude and speed with an articulated tail tip that can flare or remain tucked to decrease aerodynamic resistance.

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