Luminoth
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The Luminoth are a tall and highly intelligent moth-like race who are on the verge of extinction on their home planet Aether, in the Nintendo GameCube video game Metroid Prime 2: Echoes.
The word "Luminoth" is a portmonteau of two words: luminous and moth.
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[edit] History
The Luminoth find their origins among the stars, where they lived among them for many ages. They were a very nomadic race, and during their travels met many great races, such as the N'kren, the Ylla, and the Chozo. However, they discovered that all of these races had claimed a homeworld of their own, and had developed a deep bond with their world. The Luminoth decided they should do the same. They sent many scouts in search of a suitable planet for them. After centuries of living in space, one scout reported a planet named Aether, in the Dasha region. It is quoted in Luminoth lore, "When we first saw Aether, so great was its beauty that we forsook the stars to forever live upon her surface." From that day on, the Luminoth were of Aether.
It was a fertile world, if aged, and when the Luminoth first arrived, they created homes in the mountains of Aether. They eventually spread out to the Torvus Forest and Agon Plains. They then built a temple to honor these settlements. However, although there was a time of harmony, the energy of the planet reached a critical stage, and if not preserved, it would die out, causing the death of Aether. The most intelligent of the Luminoth devised a plan to preserve the energy: the Energy Controllers. The main Controller was placed in the Great Temple, while smaller ones were placed in the mountains of Sanctuary, Torvus, and Agon. The Controllers gathered the energy and radiated it to all who needed to call upon it. This energy, the Light of Aether, brought peace to Aether.
However, a darkness soon came to Aether. A stellar object containing the dangerous substance known as Phazon (although the presence of Phazon was unknown to the Luminoth) sped towards Aether, and by the time the Luminoth discovered it, it was too late to stop it. They used the Light of Aether to try to destroy it or alter its path, but it was to no effect and placed great strain on the Light of Aether. The Luminoth then made preparations and waited.
When the object crashed upon Aether, the Luminoth feared Aether would shatter due to the ferocity of the impact, but Aether held. However, Agon was scorched forever and the forest of Torvus was engulfed by the sea. Although the destruction was great, it eventually healed. The air was fouled, but breathable, and light broke through the darkness. The Luminoth left their homes and discovered that half of the energy from the Energy Controllers had disappeared, which caused Aether to become dangeroulsy unstable. And the stellar object disappeared as well. They soon found other mysterious happenings; spatial anomalies plagued the land, and some objects were caught in a dimensional flux, their atoms split between Aether and somewhere else. However, in light of the destruction of their homes, they ignored these mysteries for a time.
However, the day came when dimensional rifts opened up, leading to a dark place. Dark hordes emerged from this mysterious place, attacking and possessing creatures now known as Darklings. Peace on Aether ended. In response, the Luminoth created machines to access the world of these dark creatures, and discovered a poisoned, dark place, calling it Dark Aether. The air was venomous and the water poisoned, and the missing energy from Aether was discovered to be in twisted versions of their temples located within Dark Aether. The Luminoth also discovered what they now call the Ing, the dark creatures who originated from the alternate dimension. Although the scouts could not survive long in Dark Aether they vowed to return. Once the Luminoth learned of the Ing, they prepared for war.
The Luminoth brought crystals that bring the Light of Aether to the Dark World, where they would be protected as they fought and explored. However, their weapons and armor were not good enough to defeat the Ing. The Luminoth decided to create better weapons and defenses, creating the Light Beam and Dark Beam after discovering the source of Ing attacks originated from dark energy. The Dark Beam was intended to overload the Ing, but it wasn't terribly efficient. However, the Light Beam was very useful against the Ing.
The Ing and Luminoth could not wage an all-out war, as the Luminoth and Ing could not survive in each other's world. However, the Ing began possessing creatures (including the Luminoth) and used them as warriors. Once possessing a creature, they could survive on Aether. In desperation to prevent further possession, the Luminoth devised a protection against possession which could hold back Ing with some efficiency. However, all Luminoth vowed not to be used by the Ing and would self-terminate before giving in. However, the Luminoth knew they could not win a war due to the sheer number of the Ing, so they planned a way to end the war without extended combat. They planned to build a device to restore the planetary energy to Aether, which would destroy Dark Aether and all Ing on it, and would stabalise Aether.
They created the Energy Transfer Module and assembled a group of their greatest warriors to restore the energy to Aether called "cadres". They were armed with the greatest defenses and weapons the Luminoth possessed. However, they also discovered the Sky Temple, resting place of the Ing leader. They planned to open it by recovering all the keys and then take the energy from there and the other areas.
Sadly, none of these heroes ever returned. Though searches were made, they were in vain. The Tranfer Module had also disappeared. The Luminoth began building another one to save their world. This never happened though, as a massive attack came to Agon. The Temple of Agon, surrounded by the enemy, eventually fell to the Ing, the Luminoth defenders wiped out. They soon discovered the energy in the temple had been drained; the Ing had apparently discovered the Energy Transfer Module and were using it against the Luminoth.
Torvus was assaulted next. Thousands of Ing fell to the Luminoth, and despite valiant efforts to drive them back the Ing kept coming until none remained to defend the Temple. The Ing then drained then energy in the Temple. The Luminoth, knowing the location of the next assault traveled to Sanctuary Fortress to defend the remaining planetary energy. The Ing did indeed come to Sanctuary, and although the Luminoth bested many of the Ing, when the machines of Sanctuary turned on the Luminoth, the Luminoth fell and the energy was taken.
With only the energy in the Great Temple still safe, U-Mos, last Sentinel of the Luminoth, decided to place all surviving Luminoth in life preserving stasis pods that would house the sleeping Luminoth until the Ing were destroyed, or they would sleep forever. There U-Mos waited for the final assault.
However, when Samus Aran arrived on the planet on a mission for the Galactic Federation, she met U-Mos and learned of their plight. She then agreed to aid the Luminoth. With U-Mos guarding the Temple and guiding Samus while she battled to restore the planetary energy (with the aid of the Energy Transfer Module her Varia Suit fused with after defeating a Darkling), the energy was slowly recovered. After recovering all the energy except the energy in the Sky Temple, U-Mos fused her suit with the Light of Aether, which allowed immunity to Dark Aethers' poisonous water and air. This suit was called the Light Suit. Finally, Samus defeated the Emperor Ing in the Sky Temple and recovered the last remaining energy from Dark Aether and restored it to Aether, ending the threat of the Ing.
[edit] Culture
The Luminoth, like the Chozo, seem to have a deep spiritual connection with their planet. Acorrding to the scans on Metroid Prime 2, Aether was selected as their home planet after numerous scouts came back finding liveable planets but none that seemed to 'fit' with the Luminoth. The logs also state that they chose Aether because of the natural splendor that it offered. This could explain why most of Aether is not heavily industrialized even though they have the technology capable of doing so.
Rather than years, the age of a Luminoth is expressed in "cycles", one cycle being the equivalent of a year. Many Luminoths have lived for several hundred cycles. One particular Luminoth, the warrior U-Mos, upgrades Samus Aran's Power Suit in order to help protect her in battle.
While they share many similarities with the Chozo, it is seen that the Luminoth do have a warrior code. This is notably seen throughout the game as logs of dead Luminoth soldiers state how they would fight hordes of Ing, refusing to run away. One notable specimen was dead not because of the Ing, but rather of starvation for staying at her post. Their warrior code is possibly due to their origins as nomads, forcing them to fight hostile forces and ensure survival for the species.
[edit] Abilities and Technology
The Luminoth posses many abilities and are quite advanced in the field of technology. The Luminoth all have long life cycles, some of the Luminoth living for several hundred years. They possess the ability of flight without any technological help. Luminoth also have heightened reflexes, are very durable, and can project holograms with their minds. The deceased Luminoth near the Energy Controllers also projected holograms, although they may have been related to technology rather than a psychic "astral projection". The more powerful Luminoth can also generate and manipulate energy on par with the Chozo.
The Luminoth have also made great strides in the field of technology. They created the Energy Controllers to save Aether from old age; by gathering the energy, they could radiate it across the planet. When the meteor hit, they built portals to access Aether's dark twin. They created the Light and Dark Beam during the war against the Ing, the Dark Beam designed to overload the Ing, the Light Beam meant to destabalize them. These beams run off an ammo system. The Luminoth also designed shielding to prevent attack and possession by the Ing, that worked to some effect. When the need to end the war quickly arrived, they constructed the Energy Transfer Module to gather planetary energy from Dark Aether and to restore it to Aether. Once the Luminoth numbers started to dwindle, the Luminoth created camera-like crystals called Sentinal Crystals. The Luminoth also created crystals that can move heavy objects called Lift Crystals. However, one of the crystal technologies that is most important in the course of the game are light crystals and beacons. They produce safe zones that not only protect Samus from Dark Aether's atmosphere, but allow her to slowly regain health. Lightbringers have this ability, as well. A safe zone can be enegized by the Light Beam to destroy most Ing and Darklings on contact. If shot with the Dark Beam, or otherwise hit with dark energy, they must be shot with the Power Beam or the Light Beam. The Annihilator Beam's combination of light and dark energy will cause Ing (but not Darklings) to be attracted to the safe zone, only to be destroyed on contact.
They also created a number of deadly and potent machines to aid them in the war. These machines were found in Sanctuary Fortress. Unfortunately, these machines were corrupted by the Ing and turned on their masters. Some of them were even possessed by the Ing to increase strength and durability (best examples of this possession are the Ingsmashers and Quadraxis).
In addition to their advanced technology, the Luminoth have several advanced telekinetic powers, as well. They have the ability to create telekinetic barriers. The Luminoth also seem to have the capability of levitating, as U-Mos is seen gliding while moving, but a Luminoth's wings seem too small for flight. A scan also reveals that the Luminoth can sustain a large amount of psychic trauma, allowing them to resist Ing possession without the any technological aid.
Luminoth also seem to have advanced knowledge in genetic manipulation. The Luminoth have created three plant-based storage units called bearerpods (one for Agon Wastes, and two for Torvus Bog). They may have genetically engineered Sandgrass, a plant species found in Agon Wastes that requires no moisture to survive. The Luminoth also created two bioforms. One was the Lightbringer, a creature found in Dark Agon Wastes that generates a permanent safe zone. The other was the Lightflyer, an aerial drone that creates a safe zone when killed.
It should be noted that the Luminoth may only be advanced in certain areas of technology, as they lacked the means to prevent the Phazon meteor from hitting Aether.
[edit] Sentinels of the Luminoth
A Sentinel of the Luminoth is a Luminoth who guards the planet Aether. They are the ones who protect the planet and the other Luminoth (the main threat being the Ing) from harm. The Sentinels are as followed: X-Qar, U-Cis, V-Mos, J-Gnk, and U-Mos. It is unknown whether or not this job is hereditary. The only known Luminoth who are related are V-Mos and U-Mos.
[edit] X-Qar
X-Qar is the first Sentinel of Aether. She is the one who first discovered Aether and led her people to settle there (Luminoth originally lived among the stars before living on Aether). It is unknown if she was alive for the Ing attack, or is still alive.
[edit] U-Cis
U-Cis is the second Sentinel of Aether. Its gender is unknown. U-Cis was the first Luminoth to actually be born on Aether. U-Cis was Sentinel for three centicycles.
[edit] V-Mos
V-Mos is the third Sentinel of Aether. There is very little information on V-Mos. All that is known is that she died giving birth to her son, U-Mos, who would eventually take up his mother's role as Sentinel.
[edit] J-Gnk
J-Gnk is the fourth Sentinel of Aether. He was the current Sentinel when the Ing brought war (he was also probably the Sentinel when the meteor carrying the Phazon hit Aether). He died in battle with the Ing guarding the Great Temple, fulfilling his role as Sentinel.
[edit] U-Mos
U-Mos is the Sentinel who seeks help from Samus Aran, and later gives her the Light Suit, a combination of Luminoth and Chozo technology. U-Mos is the fifth and probably the last Sentinel of the Luminoth on Aether; the other Sentinels had fallen during the first Ing invasions. He is the son of V-Mos, who was the third Sentinel of Aether, and is the current Sentinel. U-Mos is the only living Luminoth the player is able to interact with in Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, giving Samus Aran the basic information of the crisis of Aether. He also gives her the translator files to read some of the Luminoth text, eventually giving her the Light Suit. With the Sanctuary, the Great Temple and the Controller Module under his watch, he preserves the remainder of his race, which is in suspended animation. Scans show U-Mos has lived for two centicycles (two hundred years). As the Ing prepared to assault the Great Temple, he stayed, allowing the remaining Luminoth to go to hibernation, and prayed for the last, terrible assault to the great temple (which never came, Samus Aran defeated weak dark splinters and a dark alpha splinter on the main hall of the great temple.)
[edit] Other Prominent Luminoths
[edit] D-Chr
D-Chr is a deceased Luminoth and the "Child Hero" of Agon. A statue of him can be found in Agon Wastes. He was a bold warrior and hero amongst the Luminoth, but died in a battle in Dark Aether, suggesting that he either died recently or Dark Aether has been around for an extremely long time.
[edit] J-Fme
J-Fme is a Luminoth whose corpse was discovered by Samus in the Industrial Area of the temple grounds.
[edit] Trivia
- A Dark Luminoth was shown briefly in an early video for Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, but was taken out of the game because most Luminoth self-terminate before a Ing takes full control over their body.
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