Xerxe remains a largely unexplored planet, mainly because it's known to host a vicious race of humanoids called Tantavis, who have long sharp claws with which they are known to pull their victims' lungs out of their mouths. This warrior of the Third Interplanetary Expeditionary Corp is part of a reconnaissance force that aims to locate the fabled Symphonid Ecclestia Lembedary, believed to be the last remaining Lembedary (monastery) of the Symphonid sect, an ancient religious order of monks who take a vow of talkativeness. It's believed the Tantavis are so sick of the Lembedary monks' incessant yapping that they developed their special lungs-ripped-through-mouth killing technique just to have the pleasure of seeing their victims finally shut up in as satisfactorily horrific fashion as possible. Some believe the IXIians want to find the Lembedary so as to get their hands on the fabled Treasures of Xerxe, but few know that the real reason the IXIians seek the Lembedary is due to an irrepressible romantic streak in the average IXIian that yearns to believe the universe holds many fabulous and mysterious secrets that are only waiting to be discovered by intrepid and ingenious intergalactic explorers.
