CITIZENSHIP & HERITAGE

Kryptonians are a technologically advanced extraterrestrial humanoid species native to the planet Krypton, which orbited the red star Rao in the Andromeda Galaxy. The species possessed a highly sophisticated civilization with advanced science, technology, and culture. When exposed to yellow sun radiation (such as Earth's sun), Kryptonians develop superhuman physical abilities including superhuman strength, speed, flight, heat vision, and invulnerability. Under red solar radiation, they possess no superhuman abilities and appear physiologically identical to humans. Kryptonians are vulnerable to Kryptonite radiation and magic.

The planet Krypton was destroyed when its core became unstable, resulting in a catastrophic explosion that claimed the lives of nearly all Kryptonians. The only known survivor from the planet itself was Kal-El, who was sent to Earth as an infant by his parents Jor-El and Lara Lor-Van and became known as Superman. The vast majority of Kryptonian civilization was eradicated, making surviving Kryptonians critically rare.

Kandorians are Kryptonians who inhabited the city of Kandor on Krypton. Physiologically, there is no inherent difference between native Kandorians and other pre-Cataclysmic Kryptonians; they are distinguished only by their origin within Kandor. Kandorians possess the same potential for superhuman abilities when exposed to yellow sun radiation as any other Kryptonian. Under red solar radiation, they appear no different than normal humans and possess no superhuman abilities.

The alien villain Brainiac traveled the galaxy collecting landmarks and population centers from different worlds, shrinking them with his Hyper-Ray and maintaining them within his giant space saucer. When Brainiac came to Earth, he began stealing major Earth cities, drawing the attention of Superman. Superman accessed Brainiac's saucer and discovered the shrunken city of Kandor, contained within a bottle made of unbreakable material. He liberated Kandor from Brainiac's grasp but was unable to restore the Kandorians to their natural height. He preserved Kandor within a protected area of his Fortress of Solitude. Some Kandorians eventually escaped the city and assumed their natural height in Earth's environment, discovering that Earth's yellow sun radiation granted them powers comparable to Superman's. The city of Kandor has an estimated population of ten million inhabitants.

Phaelosians are an extraterrestrial humanoid species and an evolutionary genetic offshoot of Kryptonians. They descended from a fringe science colony that was exiled from Krypton thousands of years before the planet's destruction. Like Kryptonians, they have a humanoid structure and far more advanced biology than humans. The defining characteristic of Phaelosians is their unique ability to metabolize and utilize various forms of energy and radiation. When exposed to different energy sources and radiation beyond standard yellow sunlight, they acquire superhuman abilities in addition to the baseline Kryptonian powers. This adaptive energy metabolism gives them significantly greater versatility and power potential than standard Kryptonians.

The original Phaelosian civilization prayed to the great scientists of Krypton's past and spoke a language known as Falkiri. The early Phaelosians were shunned by mainstream Kryptonian society; whenever a Kryptonian House joined the Phaelosians, their name, sigil, and House fable were stricken from historical records. The Phaelosians were eventually exiled from Krypton after their leader Thalkis Sal-Re was assassinated. Following their departure, they were lost to Kryptonian history and remained unknown to mainstream Kryptonian civilization for thousands of years. Phaelosians are vulnerable to Kryptonite radiation and magic, but their adaptive energy metabolism allows them to potentially absorb and weaponize various other power sources, making them formidable in ways that standard Kryptonians are not.