The Zyrgyzoi hail from the Baralikto system where they occupied the world of Dyryngoi before it was annihilated by the Caalcylub comet. Sufficiently forewarned, the Dyryngoi began large evacuation efforts over decades. Even then infighting and conflict eroded the central authority of the world. Disagreements about where to relocate to and how to do so safely fractured the Dyryngoi into hundreds of separate colonial missions. But colonizing the Baralikto system proved incredibly perilous, in a microcosm of the scattering the Dyryngoi left floating hulks and weathering ruins everywhere they traveled. Each final transmission from gaunt faced somber captains recounted in agonsing detail their failings. Morale dived as these messages of distress were circulated and it became apparent that if something didn’t the human race would face extinction. The remaining missions collaborated more readily and set to salvaging whatever they could from the failed ones. The captains reorganized and developed a political structure better suited to the harsh realities of space travel. Each member of the crew would be heard, the experts would make the decisions rather than the captains solely and every remaining vessel would contribute to mutual survival of each other.
The languages of the Dyryngoi were anything but uniform, the parts of the flotilla scattered to Baralikto were from 100 extinct nations on old earth, each sought to preserve what little of their histories they could. Language was an important part of that for many colonists, but survival necessitated the formation of a lingua franca, at least that was the reason a rogue computer scientist gave for his creation of the tongueworm. The computer virus was simple, in fact it was scarcely a virus, it was secreted in an innocuous update to the operating systems of the Dyryngoi fleet mainframe. It purged languages from every console, computer or networked device switching it to the post earth creole of the scientist. So comprehensive and fully pervasive was the scientists plot that no other possessed the skills to alter his code. Layered boobytrapped code was integrated into the operating system itself and every attempt to salvage the system incurred significant data loss or system failure. Insidious as it was effective, the virus had within a generation forced an adoption of a unified language among the technical class of the Dyryngoi. Within 3 the majority of the population spoke the scientist's language. Those that held out were forced into a ludic tradition as the knowledge and will to right the scientists' wrongs were eroded over the decades.
For his crimes the scientist was not only sentenced to death but his name and other contributions were forever stricken from the histories of the Dyryngoi. It is believed that his relatives, descendents, followers and friends were also ostracized, forced onto diminutive vessels and consigned to eek out an existence of steller subsistence until they expired or integrated. Rumors persist of a cult that unbroken has endured into the modern era and seeks to complete what the scientist started all though centuries ago. Since that time though the Dyryngoi changed much as a people becoming the contemporary Zyrgyzoi we know today. It is believed that the pressures of the Baralikto system had pushed the survivors to stellar existences. Ever hungry for resources they pushed further into the asteroid belts shining the super earths, ice moons and gas giants in favor of the far more accessible resources offered by the debris orbits. Initially far off mining vessels would ferry their ores back to lagrange situated sprawling station networks. However, greater and greater transit times and less and less reasons to remain sedentary in the Baralikto system made the nomadic lifestyle more appealing. The benefits of greater mutual support, increased efficiency and improved societal cohesion should not be understated either. Indeed the solidarity of the survivors likely increased the value of close collaboration in their minds.
Over generations the sedentary populations began to live harder and harder lives as they grew more distant in their combing of the system. Many more colonies withered under the pressure of the Baralikto system, their dregs immigrating to the much more stable nomadic groups. Though a few holdout orbital colonies banded together they depended very much on this distant trade and charity of the nomads. The nomads grew in numbers and wealth, the vast fleets of tugs, haulers and foundry ships ceaselessly swarmed around the core habitat ships. Tailing behind them large snared mineral rich asteroids and building sized container stockpiles that hoarded every resource imaginable refined and otherwise. The nomadic Dyrngoi developed their own culture and the comfort afforded to them by their affluence lead to an explosion of art, music and unique cultural paraphernalia. Their language too evolved from that forced upon them by the scientist and as rejection of his control they developed a new language that incorporated elements from those that the scientist had tried to erase. The Dyrngoi became Zygyrzoi which came to mean the fortunate folk in their tongue. Those hardy and industrious to survive the manifold calamities that befell them in the Baralikto system. Though new trials awaited the Zygyrzoi, strange signatures began appearing on the fringes of the system. Their scientists were at a loss to explain what appeared to be radio transmissions; perhaps other had survived the scattering but arrived further away from the baralikto system. Extraordinary explanations did require extraordinary evidence however and the ever cautious captains veiled their fleet in the radio swallowing magnetic fields of the Yodul super gas giant. While small probes were sent to investigate the signatures.
The answers were stranger than even the most outlandish theories of the Zyrgyrzoi scientists, tracking the orbital paths and drive residuals had the signatures all deriving from a single point on the far fringe of the system. Stranger still at this point the signals were subjected to strange distortions, light too appeared to be bent and warped in impossible fashion. The spatial anomaly was inconsistent with observations of blackholes and the proximity of the radio and drive signatures suggested that these craft were still transmitting and had not been destroyed by the anomaly. Over months the signatures returned to the anomaly and disappeared leaving nothing rapidly dispersing radio signals. Captured and studied over decades it became apparent that these transmission were indeed of human origin, humans speaking in creolic derivatives of old earth languages. Limited translation was even possible and it appeared that the visitors had been explorers and pioneers, they turned back from the system upon surmising its bleak prospects. The Zygyrzoi Gleamed much of the cluster in advance of announcing their presence, its inhabitants, threats and opportunities were meticulously cataloged and appraised while their captains deliberated on their plans to forge the future of the Zyrgyrzoi.
The peaceful delegations established contact in an ever outward procession that offered tremendous hordes of rare materials, uniquely beautiful creations and all in near perfect replication of the local languages. So extravagant were their tokens of friendship that they destabilized economies across the cluster. Far from enigmatic they were forthcoming with their history, technology and beliefs this earned them great respect. Some were envious however seeing their vast hordes and believing them as placid many pirates, profiteers and warlords set into the Baralikto system to target the Zyrgyrzoi. Some were successful earning vast fortunes off the non-nomadic populations in the system, they carved out domains of their own in collections of subjugated stations that became fortresses of cruelty. Open markets bustled with Averi Slavers, Obriossian warden’s, Gystlian Heralds, Enazcan blood priestesses and Armounauts of a 1000 worlds all preying upon the enslaved Zyrgyrzoi. The wise left swiftly, the others were systematically hunted in retribution strikes that inflicted 10 fold suffering upon the transgressors. When the delegations reached Gytslia and the Averi colonies they delivered their gifts at orbital speeds to terribly sardonic fanfare. The kilometer radius gold-platinum meteor that atomised the Gystlian Fortress of Halrdrin had been most intricately and delicately carved with the names of the Zygyrzoi fallen. While the Averi Great construct city of Xanthi found itself abducted by its Zygyrzoi delegation, who donned power armor and seized its vital infrastructure before using their super heavy tugs to wrench the station city from its orbit. In the chaos the slaves of the city rose tearing their cruel masters apart. The survivors of the insurrection swore themselves to Zygyrzoi as thanks for their liberation and Free Xanthi itself to this day has remained the closest ally of the Zygyrzoi.
It was becoming apparent that the Zygyrzoi’s kindness should not be mistaken for pacificity, their diplomatic missions proved as cunning and effective as most millatries and far more ruthless. It was very difficult to strike at the Zygyrzoi themselves, their manifold trade fleets spread out and situated within the territories of their allied nations. So those that transgressed against them found themselves offering up greatly disproportionate tribute or eradicated by the stellar nomads. In any case the cluster began to understand Zyrgyzoi, trade and terror became their bywords and much of their art came to reflect their excellence in both. As they integrated in the wider community they adopted and incorporated the customs and faiths of the people they met and joined their great nomadic communities. Soon they amassed massive camp follower populations that tributed greatly for the right to trade in their wake. Before the establishment of the LNA this is where gravity affected people sought to create a nation though the Zygyrzoi themselves remained ambivalent as much of their population held their identity and tradition above all else. Though there are few that the Zygyrzoi bear amenity towards today they are notable disdainful of the Armounuat profession and groups such as Seaside who they have frequently clashed with. The exception to this are the Citrinitas Outriders whose yellow gardbed vessels and MOA operate frequently from the Zygyzoi fleets. This trust has been earned over centuries and the outriders as their name belies originally derived from Free Xanthi and vowed service and friendship to the Zygyrzoi on their inception.
Today the Zygyrzoi numbers are countless; their banking and trade communities can be found all across the cluster. Even the super powers assure their free passage, honoring centuries old treaties to secure friendship with the nomads. Their Fleets now explore the frontier as well, supporting and profiting from the various colonial efforts of the other nations. They are considered trustworthy by most but since their arrival in the cluster they have funded nearly every major conflict often on both sides. This reputation has earned them nickname “Carrionoids” though few would dare utter the slur in their presence. Though some more militant groups of Zygyrzoi have adopted the name for their MOA aces to affirm such superstitions about them.