Mortus Prime

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Object Name: MORTUS PRIME (MORR-tuhs PREYE-mm)

Celestial Classification: Class C Planetoid, Toxic and Poisonous Surface

Planetary Size: Approximately 31854.9528 kmd, or 2.5 times the size of LE

Number of Moons: 0

Rotational Period: Unknown

Orbital Period: Unknown

Atmospheric Conditions: Category I-II

Population Size and Diversity: 7,000,000,000,000+ Inhabitants (Exact population size is relatively unknown, Mortuns and other Undead Species)

Technology Level: Level X-Unknown level of technology

Mortus Prime’s acidic atmosphere and poisonous waterways make it virtually impossible for any carbon-based lifeforms to survive without protective gear. However, the undead inhabitants of the planetoid are able to function and “live” quite adequately on the surface, albeit in a perpetually damaged state.  

Mortus Prime is a medium-sized, toxic world. A noxious, inhospitable place, one of the planetoid's most unique traits is it is home to multiple undead creatures. Every “living” being on Mortus Prime is in fact dead; or rather, is unable to die of typical means. In effect, every inhabitant of the planetoid is essentially immortal—they are unaffected by disease, poison, or any aging-processes (natural or otherwise). However, it should be noted that given enough time, a Mortun would eventually rot away into nothing if separated from the planetoid’s landmass. All  technological components of its inhabitants are primarily made up of organic matter, with all of the weapons, spaceships, and structures on the planet created from various amalgamations of different undead organisms. 

Additionally, Mortus Prime is not an inanimate celestial object, but one continuously evolving organism: its gravitational pull and overall size gradually grow as it absorbs more organic matter into its orbit and onto its surface. It has been reported that Mortus Prime inhabitants have expanded their reach across the Galaxy through large flesh-ships formed on the planetoid’s surface (presumably out of organic material) and launched into space as living vessels. 

The Mortuns (MORR-toons)

However, although Mortus Prime can create more of its undead inhabitants, sentient organisms cannot be “infected” and therefore turned into Mortus organisms simply through prolonged exposure to any already transformed species. This means that being bitten, scratched, or otherwise exposed to Mortus organisms has not been known to transform others into undead beings, but will instead significantly weaken them from natural toxicity. Moreover, the undead organisms of Mortus Prime have shown a preference to collect the organic matter from already deceased beings and transport them to Mortus Prime for assimilation. There have been reports of Mortus “Graveseekers” travelling to remnants of large and bloody battlefields to scrounge for the dilapidated remains of the fallen soldiers there.

Little is known about the organizations or practices within Mortun culture. It has been observed that Mortuns operate through some sort of hive mind, where each organism functions as an extension of the planetoid's central intelligence. It has also been noted that some Mortuns have functioned independently from the central intelligence and were able to make individual choices pertinent to their own existences. That being said, these instances of self-awareness are incredibly rare, and due to the intense stigma against the Mortuns—as they are commonly considered “abominations” and “freaks against nature” by many sentient species—not many cases of independent Mortuns have been reported (or allowed to exist). 

Mortuns are indiscriminate with whom they chose to wage war against. Mortuns do not seem to have any sort of preference towards or against certain species, although they tend to ignore technological races or any other species that are not organically based. Mortuns also seem to prefer inhabiting planets that either have inherently inhospitable conditions, or those with large assortments of organic material readily available for assimilation. Whatever the case, it appears that the only reason why the Mortuns have not chosen to wipe out all organic life in the Galaxy and assimilate it is due to their desire to incorporate already deceased flesh instead of living beings into their growing mobs. Thus, it is strongly advised to meticulously deal with one’s deceased when roaming open space, lest they unintentionally welcome the hungry hordes of Mortun Graveseekers.