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Overview: |
In the area of space known as the Maelstrom, there are two different, conflicting empires. For matters of clarity in the following sections the first portion of each section will deal with MIN, while the latter half will describe the Children of Ghede. We start with MIN.
All that is known about this empire is based on what information has been provided by MIN. The empire is based, and thrives, on its religion. There seems to be no other law or interest outside of it. The inhabitants of this society are very unusual. They have no separate internal organs. They are composed of a homogeneous substance that can best be described as a radioactive isotope of mercury. They appear to have the ability to control their bodies on the atomic level giving them an amazing ability to heal and change shapes, which is why they are called Doppelgangers. They have the oddest habit of turning into the outsider they are talking to. It is very disconcerting to see the person you are talking to transform into your silvery reflection. That brings up another unique quality of this species, they are entirely silver and from what I have gathered cannot change their color. They somehow do know of the existence of color, however, and their communications are vivid tapestries. They communicate through a form of telepathy that is a mixture of words and pictures that seem to be transmitted via "short electrical waves", the nature of which is very uncertain. The only goal the empire seems to have is their religion. They claim to be the sole rulers of this area of space and of the second society, the Children of Ghede.
The first contact with the Children of Ghede came when there were the sounds of battle coming within the Maelstrom, near the edge. When going to investigate we found a MIN battleship firing at a fleet of canoes that contained the members of the Cult, and the fleet seemed to be firing back just as much. The Children of Ghede claim that they are fighting the MIN and are in fact an older society. The Children of Ghede are a magically based empire with virtually no knowledge in the area of technology. They are tall, lanky beings that have six appendages, each with opposable digits so that they can grasp things. Compared to the other animal life on their planet, they seem to be a prey species, constantly having to fight for their survival and, as a result, have developed their magical abilities to an alarming extent. To communicate with MIN contact Ambassador Qn. Due to the special nature of their society, in order to contact the Children of Ghede, contact Vestis Mogui. |
Navigation:CoLC Index |
Index:Q-dex / Technology / Magic
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Q-dex: |
T007.1221/203.303A M428.0000/203.82This Q-zone is dominated by a very large and everlasting mystical storm, commonly known as the Maelstrom. As a consequence magic is highly unreliable in most places. Both empires reside in the exact same Q-dex, which makes their differences even more enthralling. |
Technology: |
It is unknown how far their technological knowledge extends (I was not allowed to view very much of it). However, what I did see is very impressive. I was given as a gift a device made out of a type of metal that produces an infinite variety of sounds and songs based on what one is thinking or feeling when one holds it. It is an amazingly complicated and compact machine. I was told that this is one of the first things their children are taught to make.
The rest of their technology, that I saw, appears to be "malleable". They can change its form, (and -- I am guessing -- in some sense its function) by touching and "molding" the objects.
They have almost no technology. Despite the high Q-dex in this area the highest form of technology the Tribes have is spears and canoes. There appears to be no metal, or even anything of more substance than wood, on the planet. |
Magic: |
The Crusades entire society is based on magic … in a manner of speaking.
Magic is used for everything in this society. Not only is it used to survive, by providing food and defenses against predators, but it is also used to determine one’s rank in society. The more one knows about magic and the greater the feats that are accomplished, the more powerful one is within the social structure. Their main form of magic is homeopathic. If they have a part of something, or can model it with enough accuracy, they can affect it. This applies to inanimate object, plants and other life forms, and even to their dead. |
Size: |
Unknown.
The Voudou World is essentially that, just one planet that circles a single sun. There are 5 other planets in their solar system but they do not appear to be colonized. Their planet is fairly large and has a very irregular and large orbit. Their planet has no official name and when asked they just referred to it as “mother”. |
Population: |
Unknown.
Overall, their population seems to be between three and four billion. They are divided into many tribes that are spread out over the entire planets surface. They are not even sure how many beings exist on their planet and when asked none among them could even remember anyone who had traveled more than a 1000 kilometers from their tribe. |
Climate and Geography: |
The area known as Military Installation Nine clings to a barren satellite deep inside the Maelstrom. It's orbit takes it near the edge of the storm a few times during the Galactic Standard Year. The satellite itself is volcanically active and covered in small lakes made out of a substance similar to Gallium. The ground itself is composed of metallic substances and is highly radioactive. Would be visitors need to take heavy precautions. The satellite is also frequented with violent lightning storms after volcanic eruptions.
The satellite orbits a medium sized planet with a very thick and radioactive atmosphere. To date no readings have been taken of the planet's surface because no sensors can penetrate the cloud cover.
The climate on the Voudou world is very extreme. Due to their irregular orbit they have very long seasons. Their first season (which is the one currently in effect) is the warmest season in their year (which is about 37 galactic standard years). During this season, their planet is very close to their sun and the heat from it is very intense. Many during this time must use magic just to stay alive. Their second season, known simply as the Harvest, is the time where they are between the extremes of the seasons and can plant and harvest food. Almost all of the food grown during this time is saved for their “winter”. During this season the planet is the farthest away from the sun and is thus robbed of its warmth. Like their “summer,” many have to use magic just to stay alive. Their last season is known as the Storm. This is the time when their planet’s orbit takes them into what we know as the Maelstrom. The Maelstrom is a curious part of this Q-zone where most of the magical storms are based. During this season, no magic but the very simplest can be performed without dire consequences. After the first few deaths, due to attempts at performing magic during this time, the elders forbade anyone to do so. This season is also used for planting and harvesting, but, without magic, much less food is grown. Their geography also has distinct qualities to it. The hardest substance on their planet appears to be wood. Due to the length of the seasons and their days (they only have 3 hours of actual darkness, due to an extremely reflective Moon), the plant life has grown to an amazing amount and seems to have created natural defenses against the cold seasons. The “ground” that they walk on is actually moss. I believe that somewhere below the layers of plants and moss there must be some sort of rock, but it is so far below the “surface” that there is no way the Children could get to it at their current state of technology. |
Flora and Fauna: |
What animals are there appear to have been brought by the Doppelgangers to the satellite. The animals and even the plants resemble them in structure and color. The plants, however, seem to be made of a "solider" material than the rest of the animals and are less malleable.
As mentioned above, the plants on this world essentially are the world. Most of the plants are unconscious lifeforms that survive through chemical interactions with sunlight. However, there are some “plants” that are more advanced evolutionally. These plants have developed the ability to use magic. Like a Venus Flytrap, these plants can sense when prey is near and then can create anything from illusions to pits to try to capture them. The animals on this planet have developed in a similar fashion. Certain animals on this world, like the Breon jumper, have developed offensive and defensive magic skills that they can use as naturally as they can walk. The Breon jumper, for example, can hover while creating the illusion of itself right below. The most common tactic for the jumper is to create an illusion of itself (sleeping) below it when it sees prey near by. The illusion then “wakes up,” sees the prey, and takes to the air heading straight for it. Of course, the prey is allowed to see all that is happening and will most likely run the other way, straight into the claws of the real jumper who has followed behind them. |
History: |
The technology and the social structure in place at MIN seem to be newly established. After repeated questioning one of the Doppelgangers related a story about the beginnings of their society. This Doppelganger said that after the "first and only unnatural death" in their world occurred, the prophet called on them all to rise up and slay the interlopers. They did so, and afterwards there was great celebration. Soon, their society grew like a byan (one of their species of trees); with its roots in the technology that was their faith. When asked to clarify this story the Doppelganger walked away. Since then, it can be assumed that their society has grown remarkably fast and the speed at which their technology advances is unheard of.
I asked the Ghede about it once and I learned my lesson quickly: be very specific and then fake an illness. Due to the fact that only the highest in the clan know how to even write (and they guard this knowledge jealously), there is no written history of their people. However, since they place such high emphasis on knowing your ancestors, all of them have the history of the tribe (and even some miscellaneous facts about other tribes) memorized. When I asked a young tribesman about it he started off by saying “the first of our ancestors, chosen for their bravery and skill, was brought here by Father Ghede, the strongest and most powerful of the gods. Father Ghede told our ancestors that they were to build this land, their mother, and to take care of her. The first priest was named Gheden, a great honor that Ghede had granted. The first child was named Frosop and she grew up to take the place of Gheden her mother and then she begot a son....” and on and on he went. While he was telling me their history he had to motion over another member of the tribe to come take over when he collapsed! After a day and a half of this (they had just finished telling me of when their tribe met Kendis Dai, with whom they were not very impressed), I pretended to get very ill so they would finally stop and bring me some herbs. Their culture is very, very old, yet they have not advanced very far at all in the field of technology. When I asked about metals and technology I was almost run through because they thought I was a minion of their devil. |
Government: |
In this area of space the Doppelgangers rule uncontested; this because the area is ravaged almost constantly by the Maelstrom. Their government is essentially a religion. Their only ruler is the prophet (the role of prophet is passed along hereditary lines, but the current prophet is said to be only the second to hold the station). Their only god is technology.
The government (which seems to be composed solely of the prophet) has complete power over its citizens, however, that does not seem to be a problem to anyone in particular. Each citizen does his duty unfalteringly and, unlike many other systems, there is no competition, political power struggles or intrigue. There is no opposition among the people. There are few laws in this society as well. From what I have learned of their nature and physical structure, they are almost impossible to kill or even hurt and have no distinguishable sex. There is no pride or jealousy, for it seems that what one wants one can easily make. Also, the fact that there society has no form of currency or even bartering customs eliminates most reasons for crime. On the off chance that there is one who opposes the religion (which I have heard has happened only twice in their history) the individual is "reasoned" with and if this doesn't work they are "volcanized"; the meaning of which I can only guess at since no one could remember what it was.
The Children of Ghede maintain that they are the only ones who are the true rulers of their solar system and that they answer only to Ghede. The governmental system is best described as a cult. Their priest, which is always a female member of the tribe, is chosen by a series of tests. All female members of the tribe who are of age to compete gather in the center of the village. The tests are both tests of magical skill as well as of physical power; it is not uncommon for some of the females to die during these tests. The winner is then taken to the existing priest and is taught everything she needs to know about the tribe, and is then sworn to secrecy. When the training is complete, the fledgling priest must battle the elder, and if the fledgling is seen to be powerful enough to handle the tribe (decided by the elder), she becomes the new priest and the elder is taken away to die. (I have heard that the elders usually imbibe a small amount of a poisonous leaf that kills without pain.) In this manner, all knowledge about the rest of the universe, and about the secrets of the tribe, are carefully guarded and passed on. The males in the tribe are the hunters and the fighters as they usually possess less magical skill than the females. There is a strict hierarchy within this caste as there is within the entire tribe itself. Everyone is expected to follow the will of the high priest. Anyone who disobeys is killed instantly, or if the priest is in a good mood, merely cast out of the tribe (usually a sentence of death in and of itself since no other tribe takes in strangers). There are many small tribes on this planet, but there is one that rules all the others. This tribe is called Ghen. The high priest of this tribe not only rules over every other tribe on the planet, but also has to know the history of them all. However, it is very rare that the priest of Ghen would step in and rule over the other tribes as they usually have their hands full with their own. Since this is a tribal society, any disputes are usually resolved by the priests or, if it is very serious, by the high priest herself. All punishments are chosen by the priests and their word is essentially the law. For example, the purposeful ruining of someone’s crops is a very serious crime since it goes to feed everyone. Depending on the high priest, the punishment could be either a rebuilding of the crops (usually without being allowed to use magic), or death. There is one constant law that no priest has ever dared to change because they believe it was laid down by Ghede. During the storm season no one is allowed to perform magic, except that of the most trivial. This law is held in such reverence because when their planet’s orbit takes them into the Maelstrom, any magic has unknown effects, which most likely would endanger the entire tribe. The punishment for anyone seen to be casting a spell during this season is immediate death. Foreign Policy:The Doppelgangers appear to be fairly receptive to most travelers who wish to visit, but be warned to those who depend heavily on magic. There are hidden outposts along the perimeter of their space which attack and vaporize anything that is detected to be using magic -- not that it would be easy to use magic within the Maelstrom. As a side note: it was the destruction of a magically powered ship that traveled to close to their space that was responsible for how this society was discovered.
The only people on this world that are allowed to even talk to outsiders are the priests. During my brief stay, I was only allowed to converse with the priests and those they deemed worthy (ex. the tribesman who told me their history). I was not allowed to talk to anyone without a priest present. In this way, they limited the amount of knowledge that the rest of the tribe had about the rest of the galaxy. Other than that, they seemed very open to outsiders. One warning, however, if one chooses to visit this planet, I would highly suggest that you bring NO metal with you. In their religion, the devil is recognized by the presence of metal. The Children of Ghede are eager to trade with other worlds, as long as the previous stipulation is followed. The main item they expressed a desire for were plant seeds. It seems that due to their seasons they have very little variety when it comes to planted foods. Domestic Policy:The government is amazingly unrestricted when it comes to the lives of their citizens. Since there is no currency they have no words for job or even taxes. However, there are over 25 different words for duty and it seems to be each persons duty to: live to serve, protect, and advance their religion. Each person's "duty" is to further technology. As young children they are taught by their parents and everyone else in society how their basic technology works and they are encouraged to be creative in thinking of something new. As a result they are eager to work, individually or in groups if it is a larger project. The government tells them nothing about what to create, it is all up to them. As mentioned previously, the only law is their religion, other than that the individuals have absolute say and the prophet seems to be just a figurehead. However, every so often there are instances of disagreements where individuals try to hurt and attack each other, but since this is virtually impossible it is often considered therapeutic for individuals to express their frustrations and any other feelings. There is never any instance of an individual harming anothers work because this is seen as an offense against their religion.
As mentioned before, the government is best described as a cult. Every aspect of the citizens lives have to conform to what the priests say is the proper thing to do. Anyone caught disobeying is at the mercy of the priest’s whims -- as they choose whatever punishment they deem to be appropriate. However, if one believes that a punishment or a law is too severe or insensible, they can petition to have an audience with the high priest. This isn’t done very often, however, because the high priest is usually in a very bad mood when disturbed from her studies. There are many laws within the tribe, ranging from when to plant to more serious crimes like theft and murder. One of their main laws is that one should enjoy their place in the tribe that Ghede has chosen for them. This law includes a number of other smaller laws, for example, that one will not speak against their leaders, or that one will not covet others or their position in the tribe. This is another way in which the information within the tribe is closely guarded by the different castes within it. If anyone is given a punishment for a transgression, they are expected to calmly accept their punishment, if they resist, the entire tribe is expected to give what help they can to carry out the sentence. |
Society: |
Their society itself is quite unique. There are no visible family or class structures. The closest they come is the small groups that work on a particular invention, and when that is completed the group members often either join or create entirely new groups for another project. Their entire lives and existence is based on their religion and because of this they do not see separate groups within their empire; one could term it as one big, empire-size family with the prophet as the benevolent father.
There is only one other thing, besides their technology, that they have strict standards for: procreation. Their race lives an amazingly long time and their population growth is nil. The process of intercourse in this society is a very long and tiring procedure. Two adults change into "roundish" form and then combine. Each cell of both partners combine and a very small portion of each of these cellular combinations is used to form a child. The child is roughly 8% of the size of the parents when conceived. A childs education begins almost immediately after it is brought into the society. Since the process to create a child is very difficult it is not something that is sought after, but it is considered a duty and when one's time has come to perform this duty (determined by the prophet) the event is looked upon with a sense of pride and accomplishment. Everyone at one point or another in their lives is chosen to procreate. "Friendships" in this society are many. There are no marriages per se, but their do seem to be romantic relationships.
The society of the Children of Ghede is centered around their religion. There are numerous tribes, each consisting of 300-400 people. Within these tribes there is a strict caste system. One can usually tell what caste a person belongs in by looking at them. The Children have developed the ability to be able to grow the hair on their bodies at will. These are then braided or intertwined with leaves or plants. The more decoration one has, the higher their rank. The most powerful in the tribe is the High Priest. She is chosen by a series of tests that any female is allowed to participate in. The next level of power is granted to the Priests. They are essentially helpers to the High Priest and they are also chosen through the tests, but the High Priest has the final say. Next are the hunters. The head of the hunters is usually chosen by the High Priest (determined by a test of physical power), and is generally the strongest (physically and magically) of the males. The other members of this caste are chosen in the same manner. The last caste is called the mother caste and includes anyone who is not already a hunter or a priest, they become the farmers and the child rearers. The females give birth to children, but they are then brought up by the mother caste. The children are then taught the ways and the history of the tribe by the teachers (a subcaste within the priests). The tribe is considered to be the main social unit (not much emphasis is placed on families) as well as the religious leader. Languages:There is one language within this society and it is a strange mix of pictures and words, communicated telepathically, by the transference of "energy waves" from one individual to another. The Doppelgangers themselves weren't sure how to fully explain their communication processes since they are just now learning that there are other methods.
There is only one language within each tribe, but different tribes may have different dialects. As a result, the Priests have knowledge of a spell that lets them communicate with others effectively, just after listening to them speak for about fifteen minutes. Other individuals within the tribe can also develop the ability to communicate telepathically with those with whom they have a strong emotional bond. Religion:Their religion is their society and their god is technology.
Their religion has two main components, their goals and, what they term, the devil. Their religion’s goals are to follow in the footsteps of Ghede and to protect their “mother” planet. To follow in the footsteps of Ghede, one essentially has to follow the hierarchy within the tribe and has to fight the devil any way they can. This is why there are such strict punishments for disobeying the laws of the Priests. Their devil is essentially technology. Because their planet has no metal available to its inhabitants, metal has become one of the symbols of the devil. This is also why any who attempt to “build” technology are punished severely. Any thing that is built must be first approved by the High Priest, even if others like it have been built before. As a result, the most complicated thing they have are canoes. Castes:There are no levels or castes in this society. The closest they come is the prophet who is seen as a prophet and a friend to be trusted and loved but never to be feared (in fact in their society there is no fear of anyone in their empire). Everyone is seen to be equal. In fact when they learned that other societies used other creatures to help them work, they were, quite frankly, disgusted. They see this as an abandonment of their duties and responsibilities.
The differences between the castes are very prevalent within their society, and those of a lower caste are expected to follow the rules of a higher caste. The hierarchy: the High Priest is the final law, next come the Priests, then the head of the Hunters, then the head of the Mothers. Everyone else in the tribe is considered to be equal, regardless of whether they are a hunter or a mother. No slavery exists on this world as they see it as a form of weakness. |
Economy: |
They have no money and therefore no economy. They have only just recently considered the possibility of trading with other empires.
The Cult has no monetary system. The closest they have to an economy is a limited barter and trade system within the tribe and between tribes. Within the tribe, everyone is expected to work for their survival and to help others survive, because of the belief that if someone didn’t really need something they wouldn’t ask for it. The bartering is essentially used for personal items that one desires. For example, a tribe living in an area that had many Breon jumpers in the area (who, despite being very dangerous, are prized for their pelts) may have a surplus of pelts. If this was the case, another tribe might try to trade some spears for them. |
Military: |
Their empire is their military. It is considered one's duty to protect their religion, therefore every member of society is part of the military. No training is required for the citizens, since most hunt for their food (without the use of any weapons) they are already in very good shape and their substance makes physical training, in the traditional sense of the word, pointless.
It is unknown what level their military or transportational technology has reached, but judging from the level of technology that I was allowed to view on MIN, it is safe to assume that their technology, as a whole, is quite formidable.
Everyone in the tribe is expected to fight for their religion if called upon to do so. Even the mother caste has magical abilities that are used in an effort to drive off an enemy (these come from many generations of having their tribes attacked by packs of animals). They all also are taught the ability to fight (mainly using spears) for their survival during the stormy season. They have a wide array of defensive and offensive magical spells, but their only physical means of fighting is with spears, although when I arrived, some tribes were allowing their people to try to make throwing axes. [Note: every weapon they have is made out of wood, this being the hardest substance on their planet. However, certain weapons can be imbued with magic that make them more solid.] |
Sports and Leisure: |
For fun, the Doppelgangers create. This is probably the main reason why there is no dissension in the society; creating, theorizing, and inventing are considered to be among the highest pleasures. In the pursuit of these goals many, different things have been developed. For example, many of them enjoy music (especially the creation of new "songs") because they see it as the language of technology. Their creations are their art.
When not fighting their climate or the surrounding wildlife to survive, games are the preferred method of relaxation. Many of the younger tribe members will take sticks that they have stripped (so they look more like spears) and throw them at a target to see who is the most accurate. They also have wrestling contests. The older members of the tribe have developed a game that is similar to dice and involves mostly chance. When there is a celebration within the tribe (most often when the stormy season is over), all the Priests will gather together and perform “concerts” using their magic. At which the rest of the tribe dances. Their main form of art is in the dolls they make to help enhance their magic. The dolls themselves cannot be made using magic, so ones that are detailed are very valuable The Priests encourage their people to relax as long as they have their work done. To do any less is considered laziness. However, if a member of a tribe is found to never be able to relax, it is considered to be a physical illness in which the body tries to attack the mind. They are then brought to the High Priest who usually, I have heard, gives them herbs to relax. |
Major Population Centers: |
No one has been to the homeworld of the Doppelgangers, and the only information we have about them is what we have gathered from MIN. When I asked about the major population centers on their homeworld, I was given very strange looks and then asked: "Why should there be?"
All of the tribes are nomadic. They move whenever the predators around them get to be to many, or when their fields do not produce as much food as is needed. The main tribe is the Ghen. Their location is always known to the other tribes, but the Ghen tribe does not always know where the rest of the tribes are. |
Chronic Problems: |
There are no problems within the society itself, it seems. But, when asked, almost all of them agreed that the goal of their religion had yet to be accomplished, and some of the more elderly in society complained that they might not live to see their religion "realized". No answer was received when I asked what the goal of the empire is.
One of their main chronic problems is the danger that the knowledge of a greater galaxy might pose to the rest of the tribe. Already, there have been many banishments from the tribes as certain tribe members started questioning things too much, or found out something they weren’t supposed to know. Another problem for the Children is that they are now learning how prevalent technology is in the rest of the galaxy and the priests are having a problem in trying to keep the knowledge that their devil is more widespread than they had originally thought from the masses. The most pressing problem facing the Voudou World is their continuing war with MIN. They claim the entire disagreement was started by MIN, but now it has transgressed to the point where both empires fight just because the other exists. |
Submission Information: |
Submitter's Name: Dannielle Osborne
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