A Sheyang ship prepares to fire
An illustration of a Sheyang in the Farscape Roleplaying Game book
A Sheyang police officer in the 2024 story "The Hynerian Prisoner"
Sheyangs[note 1] are a species of fire-breathing aliens on Farscape. They made their debut in the background of the series premiere, talking with Zhaan on the Commerce Planet.
Opportunistic scavengers, Sheyangs raid ships for parts and kill anyone that gets in their way. They are aptly described by D'Argo: "If they sense strength, they flee. Weakness, and they attack without mercy."
Sheyangs get their fire-breathing abilities from the flame nutrients in their chest. However, these nutrients can become depleted. Some Sheyangs use taakar serum (a type of poison) to stimulate the fuel. When shot with a blaster, Sheyangs will occasionally blow up.
Sheyang vessels attack the Moya crew in the episodes "PK Tech Girl" and "Mind the Baby," during which it's shown that Sheyang ships, too, have the ability to shoot fireballs.
Farscape Roleplaying Game
The 2002 book Farscape Roleplaying Game greatly expands on the Sheyangs' biology and culture. They are described as omnivorous,[note 2] warm-blooded reptilians with thick, green or brown skin and numerous sharp teeth. Sheyangs are physically powerful, but they have poor eyesight and agility.
The book specifies their kalack gland as the source of their fireballs. This gland is located above the stomach and collects enzymes and other chemicals into bile that, when exposed to oxygen, bursts into flames. As Sheyangs age, their kalack gland becomes less efficient.
Sheyangs come from the tropical planet Yanglin, also known as Tauma's Folly, located near the Tauma Black Hole. Despite their advancements in science and technology, Sheyangs still live in simple tribes. They are known for their blunt and greedy behavior, as well as weak-mindedness.
Appearances
- Books
- Farscape: House of Cards
- Farscape Roleplaying Game
- Farscape comic book
- "Backyard Barbeque"
- "Farscape 25th Anniversary Special"