Maylaa

The Maylaa are one of the Historic Alien races in The Long Journey Home.

Description
In the distant past, the Maylaa were the first galactic civilization to chart and connect the stars of the Milky Way. They are the true precursor race and built the initial, but simpler version of the gate network to connect their sprawling empire. Unlike most races of today, the Maylaa had to climb to the top by themselves, culminating in massive achievements in science and society.

At the height of their empire a terrible invasion took place in the Milky Way galaxy. The Cerulean Dawn had invaded the Milky Way to escape the darkened heavens of their home galaxy and find a way to ascend to the Nextplane. In their blinded attempt to follow their Starfather to the next world, they laid terror and destruction upon the Maylaa systems and worlds to claim the Milky Way for themselves. It was a war that the hugely advanced Maylaa still only won for one reason, their sheer numerical advantage and their ingenuity. After initial victories, the Maylaa quickly realized that their enemy was a being of pure energy and that it could be dissipated for a while, but would return soon after to take revenge, now smarter than before. Not limited in numbers or experience, the Cerulean forces would ultimately overwhelm the life in the Milky Way. To prevent this doomsday scenario, Maylaa scientist ultimately discovered a material that could bind and trap not only every energy, but intelligent energy. The method to produce this miraculous substance is lost in time, but the Entrope's fervor in the creation of Valcorgrue could imply a connection to this pyrrhic victory.

What transpired during the end of the great war is unknown. It can be speculated that the Entrope, the Maylaa's servant droids, were tasked to harvest the resources for the war from the galaxy. If their priced product Valcorgrue was really part of the solution is uncertain. Valcorgrue is a highly complex and hard to manufacture product that is completely inert and can react to any outer stimuli for its negation. It is therefore likely to be used in the final resolution of the war, the spheres and the keystones.

It was the Maylaa that created the keystones and the spheres and who redesigned the gate network to run by Cerulean energy. As punishment for their complete ignorance to life and other beings and to shield the universe from the Ceruleans wrath, they decided to make them eternal slaves to the living. Now bound in eternal servitude, the Ceruleans were harnessed and sucked dry, over and over, to fuel the second rise of the Maylaa empire during its restoration.

Long after the Cerulean Crusade, the Maylaa had finally achieved the pinnacle of existence. They went through all stages of civilization, including a brief phase of attempted god status. However, they soon ruled that no race deserves to play god and abandoned their tendency to uplift lesser species. In a last attempt to shield their children and successors, the Maylaa created the universal translator - the TRANSCOM - and added a warning to the spheres, to never release the Cerulean Dawn from their prison. Should this occur regardless, their story would be foretold and the races should rally behind their successor. In the meantime the Entrope were entrusted with their legacy, to shield and nurture new races and to continue the maintenance on the spheres and gate network until the day a new race would take their place. They were to prevent anyone from eradicating life and punish all that would dare to play god. Ultimately, the Maylaa became one of the rare examples of an ascended race that has reached the so-called Nextplane or Harmonius Dream by their own devices. Their common display as wisps and their demeanor of trickery, deception and playful games while rewarding those with 'mostly' innocent souls is reminiscent of British fairies in folklore. Maybe some of their members have observed humanity as a potential successor for longer than meets the eye.

While some of them show incredible powers - hacking or possessing the Entrope at a whim to hide their origin or intimidate the crew just by being present - some of them seem to have been trapped in the 'Ticking Devices' as they offer Prof. Lebedev a reward for freeing them on their worlds. As the K'schar remark in disgust and bewilderment, the Maylaa have a tendency to return to the Milky Way galaxy to have some fun or potentially test successors. This however is done in the form of wisps, beings of energy that can be trapped as the Ceruleans got before. Those that trapped the wisps of the Maylaa might be the Charasharn, seeing as the Maylaa's servants might have destroyed them in return for repeated violation of 'playing god'. It is the only known intelligent race to suffer the ultimate punishment of the Entrope. The other was the swarm of the Xaquindi, but even the Xaquindi were spared their ultimate demise.

Today the Maylaa still wander the galaxy. Some supervise the Entrope from beyond, while others interact and supervise the races. Most meetings however happen on their old worlds between those seeking their presence and those willing to return to the other side. Be wary of their games, but know they mean no ill.

Races that harm other races and creatures out of spite or neglect for life will not see the Maylaa. They aren't even given a chance, foremost the Meorcl and Ilitza. And even though the Cueddhaest wish for a meeting and advice on how to reach the Nextplane, as kin to the old Cerulean Dawn they aren't given a fair hearing. Even ascended the Maylaa might still bear a grudge.

Interactions
In the game many of the Maylaa ruins still remain. They are trapped in a weird state between life and the Nextplane and are the doorways for the Maylaa wisps to enter the Milky Way galaxy, or leave it all behind again. The crew is one of the few races to be blessed by their constant presence. Other than humanity, this honor is reserved for the Wolphax and the Reeve. With the Reeve bound to their planets and unwilling to take flight and the Wolphax living in isolation and feudalism, humanity might be the only candidate as the first race to finally succeed them. It would be good if the Daedalus-7 crew leaves a good impression.

When Alessandra tries to hack the cyberbrains of the K'schar to investigate them, a similar response to the Maylaa wisps and the Entrope server is heard of being 'nosey'. This attitude in speech is abnormal for the cold and cynic K'schar and might indicate that the Maylaa do not want people to learn more about the Charasharn, for obvious reasons.

Quote
"Ha! You have been blessed with the Maylaa's attention? Be wary of their games, but know they mean no ill."- Wolphax

"The Maylaa! The only other species we know to have achieved Ascendance. We follow in their footsteps. We seek their ruins. An audience. Direction." - Cueddhaest

"We hear the Maylaa song, but they will not sing for us. If they sing for you, we Logos would be most interested in exploring their instruments." - Logos

"To have left the Domain. The Harmonious Dream lies beyond. To remain in spirit as echoes. To hear their laughter." - Vine Consensus

"Some of you lesser races speak of great wonders within those empty ruins. A fine joke on your betters, yes? We are not amused. Stop it." - Meorcl

"What of them? They are empty places of stone and the occasional sparkle. Nothing more." - Ilitza

"You've heard their song haven't you? Can see it in your eyes. Speaks well for your species. Maylaa left our plane of reality years ago to join the Harmonius Dream. What's left is mischief. Not always harmless, but I don't reckon they mean any harm." - Reeve

"Most Glukkt can't even see 'em. You only see 'em if they want you to." - Glukkt

"Annoying creatures. Found path to Harmonious Dream. Should have stayed. Not returned. Showing off is showing off. Flouting laws of nature. Not in good way. To have that power. Be free from all restrictions. Physics. Causality. Ethics." - K'schar

Assessment of the Entrope
(only accessible with Admin-Device on Entrope Stations)

Specie- Heeeeheee! Don't be nosy! Nosy boys and girls get a spanking!