Culture

Omdua have a much more mutable and expansive sense of self than many other species, appropriately enough for the flexible nature of their biology and the shifting clouds of their planet. They are collectives on a fundamental level, and each Omdua contains a unique network of co-operating structures and roles within themselves. This may lead Omdua to present themselves as plurals rather than individuals, or to identify first and foremost as part of a relevant social group or organisation (in addition to, or instead of, typical individual gender expressions – Omdua do not have distinct sexes as other species understand them, but can and do express preferences for gendered pronouns and presentation according to their individual senses of self). 

Viewpoints and philosophies among the Omdua are as varied as the planets they inhabit, especially as Omdua often prioritise mimicry, social cohesion and systemic integration. In the current era of Uncertainty, the values of many Omdua are rooted in being adaptable and patient. This can lead to Omdua seeming to be mercurial, evasive and untrustworthy; from their perspective, they are simply gathering information through careful observation carefully without jumping to conclusions or (prematurely) picking a side.

Omdua society has always prioritised technology, and scientific knowledge has been retained across their history whereas philosophical tenets and tendencies are frequently discarded. Omdua were among the earliest spacefarers of the Alliance, seeing space just as a bigger sea to swim in. Omdua technology often emphasises biological forms and organic materials – rubbery, flexible, membranous – and is often idiosyncratically adapted to uses that are only intelligible to other Omdua.

As far as cultural expressions go, Omdua have a particular affinity for kites. Kites and gliding apparatuses have always been a low cost and efficient way of augmenting travel through the seas of Geel, and they are used practically, recreationally, and for artistic expression in Omdua society. Kites as means of self-expression have proven to be an enduringly popular by-product of interaction with the wider Alliance, and every major planet has its own spin on the formula – from the upcycled windsocks of Marzion IX all the way up to the anchor-kites on Sultonia’s fearsome Whipscorch pylons.