Vahai

[Officiant]

Any and all comments welcome! I might edit this a little just to put everything under its own heading since some sections are rather broad.

Vahai​

A race of master strategists and builders of empire, the Vahai have carved out their vast Dominion across the southern Outer Rim.

Biology​

The Vahai are a near-Human species that differ from baseline Humans little cosmetically but have several notable internal, anatomical distinctions, many of which come from their adaptation to their waterlogged homeworld. On the outside, the only thing that would tell a Vahai from a normal Human (and even then only if the observer was aware of the differences) would be the Vahai's distinctive lilac colored eyes. Silver colored eyes are also somewhat common, the equivalent of blue-eyes in Humans, occurring at different rates depending on the population or community. The largest external difference between Vahai and Humans is the fact that Vahai stand half a meter taller than the average Human at 2 meters with proportions to match but an overall slimmer, slighter built. Due to some genetic engineering and advances in medicine Vahai live three times as long as Humans at 260 years, remaining spry and virile for most of their lives, suffering far fewer infirmities with age than Humans do, allowing individuals to be productive members of society for far longer.

Internally, the Vahai are quite different from Humans. Instead of a single heart located at the center of their chest they have three small hearts clustered together at the center of their sternum and two other hearts located below each of their lungs, also fulfilling the functions of a diaphragm. The loss of one of these independent hearts below the lungs would not in of itself be fatal but would lead to serious complications and infection and decay would eventually set in within a few weeks lest it is replaced or repaired. The loss of both would not allow the Vahai to breathe and they would die unless on life-support. The hearts of the heart cluster function much like the chambers of a Human heart but operate independently from one another and can carry out all of the functions a Human heart can. The loss of one of these is not usually fatal but in some individuals with blood pressure or circulation difficulties this could lead to severe complications. The loss of two is fatal in 80% of cases (depending on which of the two hearts are out of operation) without treatment and the loss of all three is always fatal.

Their lungs are also larger and allow Vahai to hold their breath much longer than a Human normally can, also having (like many aquatic species) more lobes in their lungs and independent breathing capacity, perhaps adaptations to their oceanic homeworld. All of this fits in an elongated torso in comparison to Humans, which thanks to their larger height does not seem quite out of proportion compared to Humans.

Their stomachs are larger than a Humans by about a fifth but their intestines are shorter by the same amount and they are capable of digesting sea or otherwise highly salinated water.

For all their differences, some very stark, there is compelling evidence that Humans and Vahai share a common ancestry and in the years since their first contact with the Republic there has been a debate among the biologists of the galaxy on the origins of the Vahai and if they should be considered "Near Human" (as in descended from and related to Humans) or merely "Humanoid".

Breeding: The Vahai reproduce sexually and in much the way Humans do with only minor variations. Vahai gestation periods are longer than those of Humans at 10 months though their rate of maturation is the same, meaning that in essence (from a Human perspective) Vahai fetuses spend an extra month in the womb. It is hypothesized that the nature of this extra time in the womb is both genetic and vestigial, leftover from a time where Vahai infant mortality rates were high due to some outside force. The high rate of multiple births among the Vahai (near 60%) also lends support to the theory that at one point in their evolution, the habitat of the Vahai was particularly hostile and there was a good chance of one dying in infancy.

Strengths & Weaknesses​

It is said that if most Humanoids think in 3 dimensions, the Vahai think in 4. Merely hyperbole but the Vahai due have an innate ability to reason abstractly and view situations from multiple vectors. This is most evident in the complexity of their art, their success as military strategists and efficiency in administration. Physically the Vahai are slightly stronger than humans despite growing up in a (slightly) lower gravity environment. Due to the once semi-aquatic nature of their civilization, their bodies and muscles developed in a very dense, lean fashion. Overall the vast majority of Vahai are fitter than Humans and have a higher metabolic rate but are almost incapable of developing massive amounts of muscle or strength due to their build.

Most Vahai one will meet are not so very different from one another. Humans are renowned for their adaptability, variety and wild differences in personality, demeanor and attitude. For all their ability to think abstractly and reason in ways most cannot, most Vahai do not have radically different ways of viewing things compared to one another. "You spend time with a dozen Vahai and you have met them all". The demanding dietary requirements of the Vahai have made them wary of journeying too far from their homeworld and terraformed colonies. To them, supply lines are a matter of life and death and will never over-extend themselves or commit themselves to an expedition if they are not supplied prodigiously. Some of the most impressive aspects of the Vahai military are their exceptional supply lines and impressive cargo hauling capacity. The flow of resources for colonization projects determines the course of their Empire and Vahai prefer to terraform planets to their specifications and import wildlife and plants from their homeworld to ensure the success of colonial ventures and the survival of and stability of their hold over the surrounding region.

Force Sensitivity is a very rare gift among the Vahai and it is almost invariably weak. During their brief conflict with the Jedi and the Republic, the Vahai showed great interest in Jedi prisoners and there were standing orders among all commands that Jedi were to be taken alive without exception.

Diet​

Vahai have drastically increased water and metal consumption requirements compared to other species. They are more easily dehydrated and due to their evolution on a planet with life incredibly rich in metal and mineral content, the foods of most other worlds are no where near their dietary requirements lest they are ingested in copious quantities. Vahai are capable of digesting sea-water but they do not drink it regularly unless forced to for survival's sake. Some Vahai are not born with the capacity to digest salt-water or at least not in the quantities most Vahai do, their version of lactose intolerance.

Behaviour​

The Vahai are quick, abstract thinkers who rely on their profound abilities to reason and analyze on a level more advanced than most species. There is very little difference between most Vahai in terms of temperament and personality. Many have unique traits such as being artistic or mathematically minded but this does not result in them being very dissimilar in terms of personality. Most Vahai are utterly devoted to the military in which they all serve and the empire and Dominion they have created over generations. Over all they are a collectivist society and all Vahai are expected to serve and master themselves but they as a civilization are more than willing to accept that there are multiple ways in which one can serve the empire and that there are multiple varieties of excellence.

Vahai place a high value on inter-personal relationships, emphasizing cooperation, camaraderie and collectivization. Disputes between Vahai leaders are rare and are never of a personal nature, when it comes to the empire, the individual ego and importance of any one Vahai from the lowest footsoldier to the highest general is deemphasized. All are equally and highly important to the success of their imperial machine but none are fundamentally inexpendable.

Communication​

The so called "Language of the Empire" and the standard language of administration and the military is called "Tesh" though few Vahai speak it natively. Most continue to speak their home, native languages in private. Many Vahai Commanders and border officials are proficient in Basic but most Vahai are not familiar with the language.

Culture​

Vahai civilization is built around, and in many ways is synonymous with, the military. All Vahai serve the Dominion at some point in their lives and all Vahai are battle-ready and combat trained from artist and philosophers to teachers and scientists. At the end of their primary education all Vahai young adults report to boot-camp to complete basic combat training and a series of fitness evaluations. They then enter a year long course at local academies with half the year devoted to classes on strategy, military theory, Vahai military doctrine and honing their minds and bodies as soldiers. The second half is devoted to teaching all the different basic tasks that come with administering an Empire and serving aboard starships. Vahai are taught computer skills on imperial interfaces and operating systems as well as all the lingo and procedures that come with serving the Empire in a civil capacity. Some training is devoted to basic starship operations and engineering courses.

At the end of this year of "Service Education" Vahai take a series of aptitude tests, personality profiles, personal interviews, physical and written exams in addition to participation in simulations that determine where they might be best fit to serve the Dominion. This is decided over the course of a three month summer period and at the end of it Vahai are assigned to report to different specialized academies and centers that will prepare them for their future, most basic role in the Vahai imperial machine. If found to be of exceptional ability at the end of the second year a Vahai will have the option of attending either the War College to train as an Officer or attend a civilian University with additional remedial officer training for two years.

At the end of this series of training all Vahai begin what is known as "Basic Service" service in the military in a variety of low level tasks. Most serve as simple foot soldiers in the army or crewmen on starships but some serve on military bases or on military projects depending on where there strengths lie. At the end of this two to four year service (depending whether or not the young Vahai received an additional two years of instruction or not) the Vahai then begin a four year period known as "Corps Service". At this period in their life Vahai are then assigned to their permanent place in Vahai society joining one of a litany of specialized Corps made up of different individuals separated by proficiencies. Among others there is a Corps of Engineers, Corps of Scientists, Corps of Artists, Corps of Philosophers, Corps of Educators and Corps of Officials. In this period of civilian service to the state Vahai learn the skills of their Corps and devote their time and efforts to completing various projects such as colonial development, imperial administration, terraforming and starship design.

At this point Vahai are released back in to civilian society for the first time in a decade. Most continue to serve the state in some capacity (the vast majority due to the way Vahai society is ordered and run) while others pursue their own interests, start families etc. Many rejoin the military either to become officers or just to continue their service as career soldiers instead of conscripts or continue on with their Corps assignment. Every two years Vahai report for retraining and reevaluation that takes place over a week and every five years are required to devote six months of their time to military or state service. In the span of every twenty years all Vahai are required to serve a year in military or state service served consecutively or in increments.

Despite their naked imperialism, militarism and almost fascist society, the Vahai are democratic and allow a free vote to all citizens. However, all leadership positions and elected offices are exclusively fulfilled by Vahai who have sufficient levels of qualification based on accomplishments in military and civil service as well as individual accomplishment. Alien subject species are not allowed accession to high office but are not saddled with the burden of conscription. They have the same rights and access to services and resources that Vahai do including the right to vote but are denied a true voice in the running of the Dominion. To the Vahai though, this is immaterial. Since politics is not a game of ego to them, merely electing those that are best qualified (and Vahai are naturally the best qualified) there is no reason to ask the other species of the Dominion to assume the burden of leadership.

History​

The Vahai know themselves as "The Membership" a rather clumsy translation but indicative that the Vahai perceive themselves as belonging to a unique, superior class of being, destined to lead. From their earliest civilizations there has been a focus on grand projects that generations have sometimes been asked to sacrifice themselves for. Their cities and monuments are as grand as anything that can be found in the Core, built to exacting specifications sometimes decades or centuries old by the time they are completed. When they ascended to the heavens to explore their star-system and then beyond, the Vahai found their sector of space chaotic, a deplorable mess of poverty and war. Founded as a humanitarian organization, what would eventually become the Vahai Dominion initially served to belay the abject suffering the Vahai found themselves surrounded by.

Several centuries later, after having advanced to a technological state far beyond their neighbors and weary of dealing with corrupt governments that in many cases brutalized their own people, the Vahai set forth on their millennia long crusade to bring order, democracy and a high quality of life to their region of the galaxy.

In the two thousand years since the Vahai Dominion has expanded slowly but surely across their own sector and far beyond though their area of control is a fraction of the Republic's. When the Vahai came into contact with the Republic over two centuries (at least formally, Vahai borders had been well documented for centuries by spacers and ambassadors of some Republic member worlds) they were in the midst of one of their great periods of expansion. Perhaps interfering where they shouldn't have, this first contact by Republic expeditionary forces proved a disaster and the assembled fleets that had been hunting for Sith found themselves surrounded, under siege by powerful alien warships. This "Short, Victorious War" as it is known on the Rim, led to a defeat of a Vahai fleet by Jedi-assisted Republic forces in the Tejak System though this defeat was hardly the stunning, decisive, crushing victory that Republic history holos have portrayed it as. In reality a minor Vahai force was defeated but anxious for an easy victory to rally a populace under constant Sith attack the Battle of Tejak was portrayed as a heroic victory by Republic and Jedi against a numerically superior, tyrannical alien force in the Outer Rim.

The Vahai continued expanding unabated by the Republic which turned its attention back towards the Sith and direct relations between the two powers have been minimal ever since. Where the Republic seems to have forgotten about the southern, rimward dominion of the Vahai, the Vahai have certainly not forgotten about the coreward interlopers and the large Vahai military sees itself as well prepared for a seemingly inevitable clash between the two powers.

Planet​

The Vahai are native to the waterlogged Thalsena near the outer spiral of the Outer Rim in the galactic south. A planet that is 81% water, Thalsena is known for is many picturesque islands and coves. While the native environments of the Vahai are these islands and coasts, most of the planet's landmass is contained in a single super-continent that accounts for almost two-thirds of the land area on the planet. This super-continent, also called Thalsena, is a lush, temperate place rich in natural resources. The seas of Thalsena are equally rich in ores and it is on their homeworld that the Vahai mastered the technical skills to extract resources from extreme environments.

Government​

The Vahai Dominion is presided over by the Archon, who serves for a term of 20 years with the option of a ten year renewal by the advise of the "Parliament" (as the three Circles of government are pejoratively called by outsiders) and the consent of the people. The Archon largely acts as an administrator, not as an executive, in some ways they might even be considered a figurehead by outsiders. This is indicative of the Vahai philosophy that their leaders are not chosen for who they intrinsically are or what they promise to do, but what they have accomplished, what skills they possess and given that combination, what they are expected to do in service of the Dominion. Further executive and legislative actions are undertaken by the three Circles of Government.

The First Circle is the Circle of the Empire, consisting of the highest ranking generals, civil servants of the First Rank and the regional, sector governors, fulfills most executive functions under the auspices of the Archon, performing their duties in concert with him. Like the Archon, they mostly fulfill administrative functions, ensuring that their individual domains run smoothly from individual ministries to fleets and armies to sectors of space.

The Second Circle is the Circle of Record (also sometimes called "The Senate"), a corporatist body consisting of a mix of leaders from every corner and sector of Vahai society. Some are elected, some are appointed and some are reserved for whomever fulfills a particular position. Religious leaders, former members of the First Circle (in rare cases including former Archons), the Praetors of the legislative bodies of different Vahai worlds, esteemed economists, philosophers and other accomplished individuals, the heads of the individual Corps that make up Vahai society and even the heads of old noble families all sit on the extremely diverse body. Despite this diversity, the Second Circle is known for being rather sedate. It is the Second Circle that selects the Archon and it is the only Circle that non-Vahai have the potential to serve since the members are not solely elected (only Vahai may stand in elections) and may be decided on merit and individual accomplishment. Alien members are rare but often notable since they arise to their positions solely through their own accomplishments.

The Third Circle is the Circle of the Elect, consisting solely of democratically elected (though exclusively Vahai) representatives of multi-member constituencies serving 2 year terms. The Circle of the Elect is the most chaotic Circle of Government (though by galactic standards it is still rather tame) where policy is debated fiercely on all levels from economic to philosophical to moral and beyond, ensuring that it is "right" and in the best interests of all on every level.

Technology​

The Vahai are a technologically advanced and industrious people who have set up an advanced welfare state subsisted from the Dominion's extensive resources from their incredibly efficient mining and supply operations. Most Vahai technology is not particularly more advanced than the Republic just of a higher over all quality and made from exceptional materials. Vahai standard medical technology is equivalent to the most cutting edge equipment and procedures of the Core Worlds but freely available to all citizens instead of just the wealthy. The Vahai military is extremely well funded and they dole out massive amounts of money to build high quality ships made by devoted laborers and designed by incredible engineers.

The Vahai rely more on armor than shielding technology. The Vahai use simple energy barriers and fields designed to deflect opening barrages of fire to then be quickly recharged for particularly vicious assaults. For most of the battle, the Vahai rely on their ship's heavy armor to take over. The Vahai build their ships with very thick armor but then apply ablative and diamond sheets on the top layer in addition to coating these layers of armor in bioengineered organic resins that actively repair fractures and heal the hull. In a firefight these resins can be burned away or make little difference if one area of the ship is under ceaseless bombardment but it actively cuts down on repair times limits the amount of maintenance and repair that needs to be performed on the inner and outer layers of the hull.

Vahai weapons are based on particle beams that shoot energized particles of heavy elements suspended in an energy beam at the selected target. While powerful and when paired with the impressive crystalline targeting computers of the Vahai, extremely accurate, these weapons are somewhat slow to fire and are not designed to hold off swarms of fighters. Instead being designed for ship to ship combat between capital ships. While Vahai ships are equipped with rapid fire kinetic weapons designed to rip through hails of enemy fire or fighter craft, these automated point defense cannons have an extreme lack of range and while effective against large walls of craft, were not designed for combat against small squadrons. The cannons were designed to rip through the hulls of enemy ships at close range while the Vahai ship's own fighters take care of the smaller ships.

Vahai military doctrine is, overall, conservative if extremely inventive and layered. They favor massive shows of force in the form of fleets of hundreds of ships instead of hit and run attacks, preferring the decisiveness of fleet to fleet battles than engagements between single ships. Vahai are not easily provoked and will never over extend themselves, never moving ahead unless the road behind them is secured with an iron fist. If a direct route to the enemy is not possible, they will not advance, potentially allowing the enemy to wear them down (or the enemy themselves) at the siege of a singular planet or sector to strike from behind a curtain of space that the Vahai will not or cannot enter due to their military doctrine. Two particularly infamous conflicts between the Vahai and one of their neighbors were essentially bloodless. The Vahai refused to advance beyond their fortified positions and their opponents refused to commit suicide by attacking them at these bases leaving the two powers at an impasse.

The Vahai are prolific terraforms, preferring to either transform lifeless or marginally habitable worlds rather than colonize already habitable ones, remaking them in the image of their homeworld. While this technology is not particularly advanced, the Vahai deploy it in such a massive, coordinated fashion that it produces incredible results in a fraction of the time it would take a Republic team to do the same. A stunning example of the Vahai's dedication to vision.

Intent​

The Vahai are an idea that popped in to my head recently when reading over the "Winds of Change" Senate mission pack description. It spoke of the Republic expanding into the Outer Rim, colonizing worlds and spreading democracy. Well what if there was already a species, well established, technologically advanced and power that said "Yeaaaaah no thanks, we got this" ? Some of the ideas and concepts of the Vahai were taken from a species called the "Kathary" that can still be found in workshop. They were also inspired by the idea of a fascist, martial, race of conquerors also being somewhat enlightened when it came to notions of democracy. Yeah OK perhaps they haven't embraced "equality" on an interspecies scale but they make no pretense about it. Over all I wrote them as a foil to the Republic, similar in some ways but markedly different in many others. Both want to spread democracy but for all their jackboots, big guns, ships and elitist administrators the Vahai really do want to give all people a better life, providing for all and ensuring that the law applies equally and fairly to everyone. Corruption is a capital crime but it's not something any Vahai would instinctively think of, they truly believe in their grand project of spreading the best quality of life across their area of the Outer Rim where as the Republic might have more than a few ulterior motives in their spread of their own narrow view of civilization and "democracy".

 

[Reya Starlyght]

Hmm, it's an interesting concept, but why can't these just be humans that got split off from the Coruscantis? I get the internal differences, but their overall concept is basically a better human. Why can't they just have some of the traits, like being tall and very alike in nature, and just be a sub-species? There's not much difference in terms of actual story-telling.

Also, may I add that the Hutts already occupy most of the Outer Rim. Maybe they could be in the Unknown Regions or something?

 

[Officiant]

Hmm, it's an interesting concept, but why can't these just be humans that got split off from the Coruscantis? I get the internal differences, but their overall concept is basically a better human. Why can't they just have some of the traits, like being tall and very alike in nature, and just be a sub-species? There's not much difference in terms of actual story-telling.

Also, may I add that the Hutts already occupy most of the Outer Rim. Maybe they could be in the Unknown Regions or something?

Well that's the IC "controversy" similar to the Legends controversy over if the Chiss were descended from Human sleeper ships that landed on Csilla and adapted to a frozen world or evolved there naturally. To both species the notion that they are merely an off-shoot, just another (albeit more distinct) variety of Human is abhorrent but the evidence is there. The anatomical differences between the Vahai and Humans and the amount of time it would have taken to develop such differences naturally, suggest that some outside force tampered with the DNA of a group of Humans, fitting them more adequately to their oceanic homeworld. A longer, slighter frame with more compact musculature to be better at swimming, the capacity to ingest salt water and hold their breaths for longer periods of time. All geographic and environmental adaptations to an Ocean homeworld, the Vahai are only "better" in this context.

 

[Reya Starlyght]

Well that's the IC "controversy" similar to the Legends controversy over if the Chiss were descended from Human sleeper ships that landed on Csilla and adapted to a frozen world or evolved there naturally. To both species the notion that they are merely an off-shoot, just another (albeit more distinct) variety of Human is abhorrent but the evidence is there. The anatomical differences between the Vahai and Humans and the amount of time it would have taken to develop such differences naturally, suggest that some outside force tampered with the DNA of a group of Humans, fitting them more adequately to their oceanic homeworld. A longer, slighter frame with more compact musculature to be better at swimming, the capacity to ingest salt water and hold their breaths for longer periods of time. All geographic and environmental adaptations to an Ocean homeworld, the Vahai are only "better" in this context.

My point is that I don't really see an underlying difference between them and humans. Yes, they can consume saltwater, and yes they have slightly different builds, but when you look at this from a purely OOC standpoint, there's not really any defining trait or difference between, well most near-human species. Humans can adapt, and some have, to have these lean builds, and I'm sure lung capacity is different from person to person IRL. They only not so human thing would be capability to ingest saltwater, although I really don't think this is actually needed for them to survive.

Basically, there's not enough difference from humans to really have a whole different species I think.

Also, may I add that the Intent doesn't really make sense seeing as there are many dominant species in the Outer Rim, and pretty much everywhere? I don't see where this species would fit in in the galaxy, especially considering the Hutts own practically everything in the Outer Rim, and theoretically that would be who the Republic is fighting along with some Indie Factions.

 

[Officiant]

My point is that I don't really see an underlying difference between them and humans. Yes, they can consume saltwater, and yes they have slightly different builds, but when you look at this from a purely OOC standpoint, there's not really any defining trait or difference between, well most near-human species. Humans can adapt, and some have, to have these lean builds, and I'm sure lung capacity is different from person to person IRL. They only not so human thing would be capability to ingest saltwater, although I really don't think this is actually needed for them to survive.

Basically, there's not enough difference from humans to really have a whole different species I think.

Also, may I add that the Intent doesn't really make sense seeing as there are many dominant species in the Outer Rim, and pretty much everywhere? I don't see where this species would fit in in the galaxy, especially considering the Hutts own practically everything in the Outer Rim, and theoretically that would be who the Republic is fighting along with some Indie Factions.

Humans do not have five hearts, large lungs or smaller intestines, and they all have diaphragms. These are all anatomical differences that would place the Vahai in a different category as a species. All Bears ostensibly look the same and have very similar anatomies but are different species and in some cases not even in the same genus despite looking very similar to one another.

I have also never seen it written that the Hutts control all of the Outer Rim, which his a vast region of space. Even in Legends they only controlled the "Eastern" portion of the Rim where as the Vahai originate in the extreme galactic south on the edge of the galaxy's spiral (which might actually be Wild Space technically).

 

[Jabonicus]

My biggest issue, which might not even be an issue, is that, despite having such vastly different internal organs and such, they all look like humans. That just doesn't make much sense to me.

 

[Officiant]

My biggest issue, which might not even be an issue, is that, despite having such vastly different internal organs and such, they all look like humans. That just doesn't make much sense to me.

That was one of my concerns as well when I was writing it but they didn't actually evolve on a distant planet and in some improbable way ended up looking exactly like Humans (which actually seems to happen a lot in Star Wars and other science fiction) but might be descended from Humans (but don't tell them that) with some very different cardiovascular systems and slightly different pulmonary and digestive systems.

 

[Reya Starlyght]

That was one of my concerns as well when I was writing it but they didn't actually evolve on a distant planet and in some improbable way ended up looking exactly like Humans (which actually seems to happen a lot in Star Wars and other science fiction) but might be descended from Humans (but don't tell them that) with some very different cardiovascular systems and slightly different pulmonary and digestive systems.

I don't see how they would have room more or even NEED 5 hearts. It's a bit excessive.

 

[Officiant]

I don't see how they would have room more or even NEED 5 hearts. It's a bit excessive.

The only thing I can really say to that is biology and evolution are wondrous things that often take incredible and unexpected turns. I would also refer you to this fantastic article on the World Building section on Stack Exchange. It details just how amazing multiple/increased organs can be and the relationship between lungs and hearts.

http://worldbuilding.stackexchange....ungs-possible-and-what-would-their-effects-be

 

[Reya Starlyght]

The only thing I can really say to that is biology and evolution are wondrous things that often take incredible and unexpected turns. I would also refer you to this fantastic article on the World Building section on Stack Exchange. It details just how amazing multiple/increased organs can be and the relationship between lungs and hearts.

http://worldbuilding.stackexchange....ungs-possible-and-what-would-their-effects-be

It still doesn't explain how 5 hearts will fit. You'll need veins for each and every one of those hearts, and your species isn't that much larger than humans.

 

[Officiant]

It still doesn't explain how 5 hearts will fit. You'll need veins for each and every one of those hearts, and your species isn't that much larger than humans.

I actually did state that their torso proportions are increased compared to Humans and a quarter meter is actually a pretty big height difference, their average height being 2 meters or 6'5'' versus the Human average of 1.8 meters or 5'9''. Conceivably the artery structure differs only that the Vahai have extra veins and arteries that run off from the vena-cava and abdominal Aorta to the two hearts beneath the lungs. The three smaller hearts in the heart cluster would all be linked together in a similar fashion to human heart chambers.

 

[Narsi]

Alright so I'm gonna join in here, is that ok? I hope so cause there's no stopping me now.

First and foremost, I love the intent behind this and I think its a cool idea with lots of potential. However, why not make some new dynamic race instead of these human look-alikes. The differences are VERY slight. They are taller with different internal structure and minor cosmetic differences. It just doesn't seem unique enough at all. Heck, if you take the wings off a Sky'tri then you have a tall human with minor cosmetic differences and different internal structure. In my honest opinion, you would be better off making a whole new race then trying to push these through. Furthermore, the only real weaknesses I see are "diet dependencies" and less variety/adaptability among them.

With that done I got a quick question, just how damaging would a stab through the gut be for these guys. Do they need all their hearts?

 

[Officiant]

Alright so I'm gonna join in here, is that ok? I hope so cause there's no stopping me now.

First and foremost, I love the intent behind this and I think its a cool idea with lots of potential. However, why not make some new dynamic race instead of these human look-alikes. The differences are VERY slight. They are taller with different internal structure and minor cosmetic differences. It just doesn't seem unique enough at all. Heck, if you take the wings off a Sky'tri then you have a tall human with minor cosmetic differences and different internal structure. In my honest opinion, you would be better off making a whole new race then trying to push these through. Furthermore, the only real weaknesses I see are "diet dependencies" and less variety/adaptability among them.

With that done I got a quick question, just how damaging would a stab through the gut be for these guys. Do they need all their hearts?

Those are actually really great questions! Thank you!

I think this also gets to a question I asked myself when creating the species. Originally the Kathary (sort of my original idea for this species) were partially feline in appearance, different but not different enough that no one would want to RP them. I honestly do believe that most of the more "Alien" or non-Humanoid or Human looking species get played less because they're are less references to use for looks. That's not a criticism but I think a shared appearance helps us get into our characters. When creating this species I asked myself if I wanted to go for a more alien, Humanoid but more distinct race or just Humans with minor differences like most of the aliens in science fiction. When I decided on the later (actually late in the process when I determined that these aliens would not be an antithetical force opposite the Republic but one with a different vision) I decided to back it up with some scientific and evolutionary concepts in an attempt to give it real world legitimacy. Instead of just look-alikes with some tacked on features (gills, wings, what have you) I decided to make them Humanity's long lost cousins (It's vague in the article and I would like to keep the spirit of ambiguity alive but if the Admins want something firm the Vahai are a Human off-shoot species whose DNA and evolution were meddled with by an outside force) who share many ideals but feel no comradery towards their wayward kin. This was made at the fork in the road when I decided to make the Vahai democratic instead of brutal, fascist, genocidal conquerors and instead decided to make them more like Humanity. To me this was challenging assumptions that might be made IC or maybe even OOC. The Vahai are Human-ish but do not approach things the way Humans do and have a very different worldview. Instead of making them entirely alien with only "Democracy" as the touchstone between them, I decided to make them Human with the addition of "Appearances" as a sort of front or deception, "appearances can be deceiving". To me this was a poetic choice but I may have made it in error, I was just following my trains of thought.

As for the hearts! I had not considered that question and I really thank you for drawing my attention to it. I would think that due to the interactions between the two hearts which double as a diaphragm and the lungs, the Vahai do need those to survive. I would assume that they can transplant or put in an implant if the Vahai is suffering from a disease that is complicating their breathing due to their hearts but in a battlefield or sudden loss of these hearts I would think that they would die. If only one was damaged then perhaps they could survive for a while (I've been meaning to write it in that he Vahai lungs have independent breathing capacity like most aquatic animals) but not both. As for the "heart cluster", I haven't really thought about this but I think that since the hearts are smaller and act more like chambers of a normal heart than separate entities (by Human reckoning) the loss of one of these hearts could be catastrophic. Just one might not be fatal since there are four others to take over but two in the heart cluster I'm going to say would be deadly since this could potentially be a 40% loss in blood pressure.

 

[Narsi]

Well! I never though of it that way. I currently have three characters, two are human and one is near-human which does prove your point a bit doesn't it.

After reading your response I can see that I need to look beyond the physicality's to see the true differences. I still don't wholly agree but its obvious that you'e put a lot of time and thought into this. Enough so that I will now butt out and leave this to the admins to review. Thanks for the well thought out response.

 

[Officiant]

Well! I never though of it that way. I currently have three characters, two are human and one is near-human which does prove your point a bit doesn't it.

After reading your response I can see that I need to look beyond the physicality's to see the true differences. I still don't wholly agree but its obvious that you'e put a lot of time and thought into this. Enough so that I will now butt out and leave this to the admins to review. Thanks for the well thought out response.

Well I make no demands that people agree with me lol. I really have to thank you though your feedback was the epitome of constructive criticism and it was incredibly thought provoking and I think helped me to see some errors or holes in my designs. When I read over the entry I can fill in the blanks because I created them but others cannot and I thank you for helping me to break my selection bias by pointing out some glaring omissions and posing your legitimate questions regarding my intent (I am a firm believer that the basis and intent of art, if this qualifies, should be questioned). I really do think this exchange helps to make this entry a better profile so thank you! I will formulate some additions to add to the submission.

 

[Dmitri]

I share a bit of the concern that they are humans 2.1. Clayton may choose otherwise but I am with the stance they will not be an antithesis to the Republic. This would be mostly flavor. Republic wouldn't be stopped by such things and normal practices would allow them to take over the territory if they so choose.

 

[Officiant]

I share a bit of the concern that they are humans 2.1. Clayton may choose otherwise but I am with the stance they will not be an antithesis to the Republic. This would be mostly flavor. Republic wouldn't be stopped by such things and normal practices would allow them to take over the territory if they so choose.

And I wrote this in to the profile, they aren't antithetical to the Republic just merely have a different vision. Indeed this is mostly just for flavor or I guess they could be used as enemies or even prospective allies in missions (as I had sort of intended them to be), their relations with the Republic would end up being player or faction decided. They could feature in missions or be immaterial and never mentioned outside of those players who chose to RP them.

 

[Kiro]

I share a bit of the concern that they are humans 2.1. Clayton may choose otherwise but I am with the stance they will not be an antithesis to the Republic. This would be mostly flavor. Republic wouldn't be stopped by such things and normal practices would allow them to take over the territory if they so choose.

I agree with Dmitri. My biggest concern here is that they're Übermensch. Taller, stronger, leaner, fitter humans, and inherently master strategists, with their one great flaw being that they're all of one mind. The internal organs just seem poorly thought out, in my book, and a vain attempt to go "Look, look, they aren't Human 2.0" by having their innards being different.

 

[Officiant]

I agree with Dmitri. My biggest concern here is that they're Übermensch. Taller, stronger, leaner, fitter humans, and inherently master strategists, with their one great flaw being that they're all of one mind. The internal organs just seem poorly thought out, in my book, and a vain attempt to go "Look, look, they aren't Human 2.0" by having their innards being different.

The first part is essentially correct (though the Vahai are not stronger physically) now that I think about it, but I didn't do that consciously. The physiology was developed independent of their culture (the Vahai are a blend of two separate ideas, one "aquatic humanoid" and the other "fascist culture") but their fascist aesthetic cues and elements certainly could fit with the "Ubermensch" Nieztchian Supermen view of things as they believe, though only benignly paternalistically, that they should be the ones to lead. Where other racial philosophies imbue this as a "right" deriving from some superior traits or blood or what have you, the Vahai see leadership as a burden, a great responsibility that others should not have to concern themselves with. They see this as doing their fellow citizens (whom they all see as equals and have given equal rights to) a great favor by lifting this burden from their minds, allowing them to pursue other aspects of the individual experience. This also goes along with reframing their fascist elements from a species of typical genocidal, supremacist fanatics to a paternalistic, egalitarian, communitarian and democratic race, which I found a more interesting angle late in the process. I also didn't want to make their physiology solely the result of genetic engineering (at least Vahai tampering with their physiology themselves) since that's a really fascist idea, in fact what the Vahai did might be more akin to gene therapy like eliminating diseases, which they did out of concern for raising the quality of life, which is their main goal as a people.

If you want to read about that particular line of thinking, which I admit I did more for aesthetic, "poetic" reasons which seemed interesting to me, but I might have made in error.

Those are actually really great questions! Thank you!

I think this also gets to a question I asked myself when creating the species. Originally the Kathary (sort of my original idea for this species) were partially feline in appearance, different but not different enough that no one would want to RP them. I honestly do believe that most of the more "Alien" or non-Humanoid or Human looking species get played less because they're are less references to use for looks. That's not a criticism but I think a shared appearance helps us get into our characters. When creating this species I asked myself if I wanted to go for a more alien, Humanoid but more distinct race or just Humans with minor differences like most of the aliens in science fiction. When I decided on the later (actually late in the process when I determined that these aliens would not be an antithetical force opposite the Republic but one with a different vision) I decided to back it up with some scientific and evolutionary concepts in an attempt to give it real world legitimacy. Instead of just look-alikes with some tacked on features (gills, wings, what have you) I decided to make them Humanity's long lost cousins (It's vague in the article and I would like to keep the spirit of ambiguity alive but if the Admins want something firm the Vahai are a Human off-shoot species whose DNA and evolution were meddled with by an outside force) who share many ideals but feel no comradery towards their wayward kin. This was made at the fork in the road when I decided to make the Vahai democratic instead of brutal, fascist, genocidal conquerors and instead decided to make them more like Humanity. To me this was challenging assumptions that might be made IC or maybe even OOC. The Vahai are Human-ish but do not approach things the way Humans do and have a very different worldview. Instead of making them entirely alien with only "Democracy" as the touchstone between them, I decided to make them Human with the addition of "Appearances" as a sort of front or deception, "appearances can be deceiving". To me this was a poetic choice but I may have made it in error, I was just following my trains of thought.

If you have any suggestions on potential changes I'd love to hear them! I have a few tweaks in mind just from this exchange.

 

[Kiro]

@Officiant - First off, sorry it's taken so long to get back to you.

Second: You still interested in working with this?

Third: Your above post wasn't needed. I got all that already from simply reading the profile. It's a big post that tells me nothing new, and doesn't address the issues Dmitri or I pointed out.