Name: Gelt
Species Type: Mammalian, Primate
Homeworld: The Throneworld, The Realm
The Gelt are an alien species that launch a brutal and unexpected invasion of Amargosa during the events of The Children of Amargosa. Humanoid in shape but distinct in physiology, the Gelt are physically imposing and heavily armored, their soldiers operating in five-man teams aboard fast, oil-burning vehicles known as battle wagons. Their weapons include energy rifles, long knives, and devastating heat rays capable of incinerating human targets and infrastructure alike.
Their faces—when visible—feature grayish skin, yellow eyes, and bright yellow or white hair, with facial features similar enough to humans to be unsettling. Some even mistake them at a distance for Orags, descendants of Neanderthals transplanted from Earth.
The Gelt Incursion of 429 IE begins with the destruction of Amargosa’s hypergate, followed by atmospheric landings and systematic targeting of key infrastructure, food production, and population centers. Unlike many prior alien threats, the Gelt appear to want the land rather than conquest for political or ideological reasons. Their tactics suggest colonization: destroy resistance, depopulate the planet, and occupy.
The full motivation behind the Gelt invasion remains unclear in The Children of Amargosa, though it is hinted that they may be working in cooperation with human traitors—most notably Lucius Kray—who claim to act under the banner of a “citizens’ militia.” However, no formal alliance is ever confirmed on-page, and the Gelt themselves remain largely silent and anonymous throughout the first book.
As a species, the Gelt represent a previously unknown major external alien force threatening a Compact world on this scale, introducing a new era of warfare and existential threat to humanity’s frontier.
Origins
The Gelt originated on an Earthlike world, Melekan. They had a thriving civilization that achieved interstellar travel, but not global unity, by 100 IE. In 129 IE, a combination of global conflict, chemical accidents, nuclear meltdowns, a synthetic plague, and a plasma experiment gone wrong destroyed Melekan as a habitable world.
Before the destruction of Melekan, the Gelt were a remarkably long-lived species, with lifespans commonly exceeding 150 years. The aftermath of Melekan’s annihilation, however, left deep genetic scars across the surviving population. Exposure to mutated pathogens, radiation, and long-term chemical contamination severely reduced life expectancy in subsequent generations. By 430 IE, Gelt lifespan had plummeted to just 60 years or less. Tishla, one of the most prominent Gelt leaders of the postwar era, would lament that she herself would likely die of old age by 60, and her daughter Lattus Athena might not live even that long. This generational decay drove Tishla to pursue genetics—not just for healing or agricultural restoration, but as a desperate search for the means to restore her people’s stolen longevity.
Polity
The Realm is the original Gelt polity, a semi-feudal society traditionally governed by a hereditary monarchy. It is led by a Sovereign who “surrenders their name” upon ascension, becoming a godlike figure—revered by custom, whether they desire divinity or not. The Sovereign’s word is law, but power is often decentralized, with noble families like the Larals wielding significant influence across the stars.
Biology and reproduction
Gelt reproduction differs significantly from that of humans. Male Gelt fertilize females via their tongues, using direct contact at the navel, which functions as a reproductive access point. This act is referred to in Gelt society with phrases such as “tasting” their women (referring to use of tongue in lieu of a penis) or “kneeling” with them (as Gelt males often get on their knees to penetrate their female mates), both having intimate connotations.
Though often treated euphemistically, this method is central to Gelt mating rituals, particularly among the Warrior caste, where such acts may carry deeper symbolic weight tied to loyalty, status, or alliance. Fertility is taken seriously, and reproductive acts may be culturally regulated within certain castes or bloodlines.
JT Austin, while on Hanar, later implies he had an encounter with a female Gelt Warrior who introduced him to the phrase “bringing her gift”—a poetic euphemism for a female initiating intercourse. He would later use the phrase flirtatiously with Tishla, adding an ironic twist to their complicated relationship in the post-Liberation period.
Family Structure and Child Rearing
Gelt society is generally more sexually permissive than human cultures, which often retain elements of 21st-century religious and moral conventions—even among mainstream polygamists. Among Gelt, courtship and reproductive acts tend to be more casual and culturally normalized, particularly outside the Warrior caste.
Gelt refer to their infants as “cubs.” At birth, cubs are extremely small—Tishla once marveled that her daughter Athena could fit in the palm of her hand—a trait considered typical for their species. Cubs mature rapidly, reaching the developmental equivalent of a five-year-old human by the age of three. JT once muttered about Athena that “the little shit can beat me at chess” despite being only three-years-old at the time.
While Gelt births are usually single, twins are not uncommon and are treated without cultural stigma. Child-rearing practices vary by caste, but early development is recognized as a critical phase, often supported communally within settlements.
Linguistic Ability
The Gelt’s ability to learn new languages is exemplified by Tishla, who acquired fluency in Humanic simply by watching media feeds during her stay in a Metisian hospital. Her case is not unique—Gelt neural structures allow for rapid language acquisition through passive exposure, with comprehension often preceding verbal fluency. Sored, another Gelt, found it significantly easier to learn Humanic from Ellie Nardino than to decipher the sapient lycanths’ language, which lacks one-to-one correspondence with the grammar and structure of primate-based languages. Gelt comprehension can also extend beyond direct learning; Tishla, for instance, was able to extrapolate the meanings of Marcus Leitman‘s aliases—one Greek, one French—despite never formally studying either language. This demonstrates not just linguistic absorption, but also the Gelt’s advanced capacity for contextual inference and symbolic reasoning.
Despite their remarkable linguistic aptitude, the Gelt occasionally encounter words or concepts in alien languages that defy direct translation, even with contextual explanation. Cultural nuance, slang, and humor often present particular challenges. In one amusing incident, Tishla proudly announced she had finally understood the Humanic word “butt,” a term that had previously eluded her despite repeated clarification. Her newfound understanding led to a bout of mischievous teasing, as she and Ellie Nardino took great delight in using the word to fluster JT Austin. The episode highlights both the occasional gaps in even the Gelt’s formidable linguistic capabilities and their ability to embrace the quirks of other cultures once they grasp them.
Appearances: “Torch the Sky,” No Marigolds in the Promised Land, The Children of Amargosa, Storming Amargosa, After Amargosa