Species/Naramadi

Overview

The Naramadi (Plural of Naramad) are a species of bipedal, furred mammalians originating from the Verkihar Major system. They share a border with the Unathi, granting both of the species a history of war. The Naramadi Ascendancy's location also brings forth wealth, and dangers both from within and without.

Biology

Physicality

To the average human, a Naramad looks passingly similar to a shark that's been covered in fur. However, the similarities end where they start: their heads. Naramadi heads are the most recognizable part of their biology, being anvil shaped, with an elongated snout and pointy ears. Fur that covers their bodies is much shorter, yet denser, than other furred races, being described as "nearly like hair". The only areas not covered in fur are, as in other races, palms of their hands, which are entirely furless, various orifices and the area around their eyes.

Naramadi biology is also filled with certain things that are considered strange by other races. Their hands and feet only have four fingers and toes, which are similar to fingers of rodents. Their chests have a noticeable bump around their sternum, usually with a tuft of hair on it, with said bump being a bone protecting their sternum. Their legs are digitigrade, which allows them to move faster than an average human.

In terms of strengths, the Naramadi are more agile than other races, traditionally using their agility to hunt and navigate the rough terrain of their homeworld. Their metabolism is as well faster than most other races, with an average Naramad requiring around 3,700kcal per day to function properly. Naramadi are omnivores, being capable of eating both meat and plant matter, however their diet favors meat over plants.

Female and Male Naramadi are nearly identical in appearance, with the only exceptions being height and reproductive organs. Females are on average around 6'2" tall, with males being on average as 6'5" tall. In comparison to other races, females do not posses mammalian glands, with their young being born with teeth. Traditionally, newborns were fed a slurry of meat and plant matter, but in current day a nutritious slurry, similar to that used in emergency food rations, is used.

Naramadi mature faster than humans, with a month old Naramad being comparable to a one year old human in terms of biological development, which comes with a higher demand for nutrition. Their aging slows down noticeably after a year, with their metabolism slowing down to what is considered standard for their species. Average lifespan for a Naramad ranges from 100 to 120 years.

Mentality

As the Naramadi people are split, so is their mentality. While those living in the Ascendancy often refuse to speak of their cultures and behaviours to outsiders, what is known is their focus on self-improvement and discipline.

Most of those aligned with the Ascendancy consider technology a tool, with their own abilities, both physical and intellectual, being the main focus of their often rigorous training regimens, with some refusing to speak to others that they see as incapable, or unwilling, to improve themselves.

However, Naramadi born outside of the Ascendancy are closer to humans in their behavior. While their backgrounds still linger over them, most attempt to fit in with the wider Galactic Community by adapting the behaviors of other species, most commonly humans.

History

The Unification Wars

Despite current state of affairs in the Ascendancy, the Naramadi homeworld was once split into multiple ethnicities. The Highlanders occupied the mineral rich mountains, building massive, yet primitive industrial complexes, while the Lowlanders occupied soil that was perfect for crop growth.

The Lowlanders can be considered the origins of many traditions currently held by the Naramadi, including the Verkihar Glaives and its attached combat styles. Despite the two trading, they were forbidden to mingle between each other, often coming to skirmishes over territory and newly discovered mineral deposits. In those times, many Naramadi were exiled from the Highlander and Lowlander Tribes creating a new, so-called Midlander, tribe.

The Midlanders saw the prosperity of a unified Naramadi people, and went on to convince other tribes to join their cause. The Lowlanders joined peacefully, while the Highlanders, wanting to seize power for their Queen (whose name was lost to time) attempted to conquer the newly formed Naramadi Houses by force.

Precise records about the so-called Unification Wars are varied, though what is certain is that the Highlander Queen was killed, and her body paraded through various Highlander tribes as a show of force. After that, much of the current culture was codified, including the separation of Naramadi people into Houses, Nameless and Exiles.

Kingdoms' Aggression and Hivebot attacks

Many years after the Naramadi became a space faring race, first contact with Unathi was established. Both races had a strained relationship, with the Ascendancy being wary towards their new neighbors, and the Unathi being aggressive in their negotiations. Shortly after discovering that the Naramadi sit on a rich deposit of minerals war was declared on the Ascendancy.

The Moghedi, being more prepared for it, attacked the Naramadi in force. Unfortunately for them, they were not prepared for the tactics they faced. The Naramadi refused to face Unathi in open combat, a thing they were well acquainted with, and instead operated on guerrilla tactics; preferring to strike the Unathi where they were not expecting it, disrupting their supply lines, and attacking their own colonies when the Verkihar system was being raided.

Both of the races were negating themselves in combat. One could not defeat another, and both were fighting a war of attrition. During one of the prolonged battles, both of the empires were attacked by a major Hivebot fleet, and a truce was called.

Unathi and Naramadi worked together to push back the attacking fleets, in turn building respect for one another. Pushing back the Hivebot fleets resulted in heavy damage to the Ascendancy and the Kingdoms, and the respect both races held for each other called for the truce to be held, and a trade agreement settled for the duration of the repairs.

Exile Uprising

The High Voice has fallen. The enemy cannot capture Verkihar, destroy everything. - First order given by the newly appointed Prima Militant Askhana viator Vrthra, at the time overall leader of the Loyalist Naramadi Forces

Around the year 2510, the Naramadi Ascendancy was still an independent and isolationist empire bordering the Moghes Kingdoms. While their isolationist nature made them hard to negotiate with, they did have a singular port open for trade with anybody willing to follow their rules, and it was working out perfectly well until first contact with the Orion Confederacy.

As OriCon learned of the Naramadi mineral supplies they attempted to buy another port for their personal use, which was denied immediately. The Ascendancy stating that despite OriCon being a self proclaimed rival of the Moghes Kingdoms, they will have to utilize the same port as them, and that any acts of violence against any trader there will be considered an act of war against the Ascendancy itself. The Confederacy persisted in their requests, with their representatives growing more and more infuriated with the apparent unwillingness of the Naramadi people to cooperate, to the point of them contacting Naramadi Exiles.

While what happened after is disputed, it is known that most of the Exiles stormed Verkihar Minor, killing most of the Defense Forces stationed there and captured the High Voice of the Houses, publicly executing him and calling for quote, "Orion volunteers to overthrow the tyrannical government of the Ascendancy", end quote. What followed was nearly ten years of constant fighting, with the relatively low numbers of Exile forces being supported by OriCon “volunteers,” while some Houses fled to the Moghes Kingdoms to petition for aid, leaving Nameless and remaining Houses to keep the Exiles in a stalemate.

Dropsite massacre

I don't care what you think, General, this is our land and they're squatting on it. Legionnares! Into your pods, We'll show them how the Fifth Legion fights! - Onkharan Vakshan zos Haakar, Prima-Militant of the Fifth Legion during the opening hours of the battle for Imvga Four, commonly known as The Dropsite Massacre

After nearly ten years of constant fighting, and many losses on both sides, the Houses returned from the Moghes Kingdoms with reinforcements in form of Moghes Kingdom Fleets, Zaddat volunteers, and a newly constructed Supercarrier dubbed NAWV Primus. As well, there were as many Naramadi who trained to join the newly formed Fifth Legion, which at the time had no assigned specialization.

As the reinforcements arrived at Verkihar, retaking it was trivial as the Exiles did not expect such forces to arrive. After that moment, Loyalist forces started fighting with renewed vigor, retaking planet after planet as Orion volunteers started withdrawing either to the planet of Imvga Four or out of the Ascendancy entirely. As the Loyalist Fleet, now reinforced with various other Legions and still functional vessels gathered around the Ascendancy arrived, the Exile forces began gathering civilians located on the planet to various strongholds they had built, hoping to deter Loyalist forces from landing, or to at least slow their advance.

Tragically, Loyalist forces were unaware of such maneuvers and engaged anyways, with the Fifth Legion leading the charge. Injecting themselves into the battlefield via various drop-pods, creating chaos behind enemy lines as the other Legions landed via standard means. While the events are unclear, with each side blaming the other, what is known is that civilian deaths reached nearly eighty percent before Loyalist forces recognized them as unaffiliated with the enemy. As the battle concluded, the information was revealed to the public by the Exiles, hoping to restart the fires of revolution, however such information only made the Loyalists despise the Exiles, and their Orion compatriots, more.

Now

The Naramadi Ascendancy is mainly self-governed, with the Hegemony establishing laws and rules that they have to enforce via their “Pact”, though without saying exactly how to enforce them.

Current Racial Status/Government: The Ascendancy is currently ruled by the High Voice, who is also the viator of House Haakar, with other Houses being able to influence how the empire is governed during a Landsmeet held every three months.

Every House can elect representatives, however every House can only have one vote. Nameless Naramadi cannot influence the way the Ascendancy is governed. However, they can influence their local colony by petitioning their Governor or their advisors.

Culture

Naramadi Social Classes The Naramadi are split into four social groups which are in the order of importance:

The Houses - can be considered the upper class of the Naramadi society. Most, if not all, Houses either own land, agricultural sites, industrial complexes, provide valuable resources, or a high number of soldiers to the Ascendancy. Though the Houses are always ruled by a singular family, other Naramadi (both Nameless and other Houses) can join them either through the Rite of Trial or Rite of Marriage. House members distinguish themselves from Nameless by suffixes they carry in their names:

• viator - House leader, direct translation is impossible, however it can be translated as Patriarch or Matriarch depending on gender.
• zos - House Advisor and Specialist. Every Naramadi carrying the title of zos is either an elder member of the House, or has proven their skill in a field of their choosing. This title is reserved for Naramadi only.
• nov - House Member. This title is reserved for Naramadi only.
• kas - Alien inducted into a House. With the discovery of other species in the universe, aliens have been given the same rights to join Houses as Naramadi, though with limitations to how high they can reach.
• nan - Person attempting to join a House, usually reserved to those who undergo the Rite of Trial, though this title is left to the discretion of the viator.
• solus - House member who dedicates their time for the greater good of the Ascendancy. Usually reserved for High ranking military officers or diplomats.

The Nameless - Naramadi unaffiliated with any House. While they might lack certain rights - such as deciding the direction the Ascendancy is heading - they are still considered citizens and enjoy other, non diplomatic, rights such as healthcare and work safety.

Slaves - With the creation of the Moghes Hegemony, the Ascendancy had to legalize slavery to a degree. That said slavery is considered punishment, often stripping a person of all their rights for a duration of time, before allowing them to attempt to leave their contract through various means - usually by proving their work paid off what their buyer has given in exchange for them.

While still lacking personal freedoms, slaves are given rights that make many of the slaves being sold on the Moghedi markets wish to be bought by a Naramadi. As an example, slaves in the Ascendancy must be given enough nutriments to survive and thrive, with the diet being properly chosen for their race.

The Exiles - a group of Naramadi that were, for some reason, removed from the social structure of the Houses. They have no rights or privileges, and most of them turn to life of crime.

To be Exiled is to be forever removed from the Ascendancy. Despite that, Exile does not move onto any offspring they might have, with a child of an Exile being usually taken away by the Ascendancy to be raised as an orphan and a Nameless. Many Exiles choose to leave the Ascendancy or the Hegemony as a whole, though by doing so they choose not to return to their home ever again.

Language

Sagaru is the main language of the Ascendancy, with many being taught Sinta'Unathi as a secondary language.

Naming Conventions - Naramadi names are composed of a Personal, Family and House name if applicable. House members are required to utilize a proper suffix in their name, and to shorten their names if their House and Family names are the same. To simplify this explanation, We will use Ankharan as an example:

• Ankharan Vittugen - Ankharan of Vittugen family
• Ankharan Vittugen nov Haakar - Akharan of Vittugen family, member of House Haakar
• Ankharan nov Haakar - Ankharan of Haakar family, member of House Haakar

Naramadi People see other species referring to them by their personal name as an insult, and usually request non-Naramadi to refer to them by their family name.

Culture

The Naramadi culture, as stated previously, relies on the improvement of self. A Naramadi child is expected to know the direction they want to educate themselves with as the finish their rudimentary education, and an Adult is expected to further their knowledge during, and after, their forced military service time.

A Naramad that does not attempt to join a House, if not already a part of one, is seen as useless, and a Naramad who does not improve themselves in any way, shape, or form, is often ignored by anybody until they prove themselves.

All of their beliefs carry into their military, where every person, no matter their previous experiences, starts as a mere Legionnare and is required to show their skill before being promoted into higher positions.

Religion

The national religion of the Ascendancy is Atheism, with Gods being seen as a unnecessary time sink that could be spent improving oneself. Instead, a high focus on the importance of self and the Naramadi people is what most consider a "religion" of sorts.

However, the only exception to that is the religion only known as The Twins, which is still practiced by the Knights of Verkihar, though not much is known about it, apart from knowing it is as old as the Order itself.

Relations

Naramadi, in a relatively recent development and twist to the larger Galaxy, are on friendly terms with the Unathi, with Unathi being easily welcomed into Naramadi houses, should they desire it.

However, in terms of their relation with races that are related to the Orion Confederation, they aren't on speaking terms. OriCon vessels attempting to go through Ascendancy space, even if just trade vessels, are required to go around the Ascendancy, or wait in temporary holding as background checks are ran on the crew, to ensure the safety of the Ascendancy.

Teshari and Akula, on the other hand, are commonly welcomed into the Ascendancy. Most of them are on official working relations with the Naramadi.

Important Planets

Verkihar Minor - Homeworld of the Naramadi People, the only habitable planet within the Verkihar system. Not many outsiders see the world, and even the Naramadi who do refuse to speak of it.

Ikna-nha-Kae - Commonly translated as "Lightning in Air" is the only planet that was not captured by Exile forces during the uprising, and is one of the most developed colonies within the Naramadi Ascendancy.

Owsrnke - The free port of the Ascendancy, the planet that outsiders are allowed to land on to trade their goods: so long as they follow the various rules, laws and traditions of the Ascendancy.

Technology (As understood by Nanotrasen)

Verkihar Glaives

While the original design stems to the Unification Wars, in the current day the Glaives are a mixture of a double-bladed sword and a laser rifle. While not used by the Ascendancy Legions, most Houses utilize them in a ceremonial way. The complicated combat styles utilized by the Naramadi while fighting with the Glaive are nearly impossible to replicate by other races, as they are designed to be used by someone with a heightened agility. The laser inbuilt into the glaive is comparable to a standard laser rifle utilized by the Orion Confederation military.

Relativity Drive

The Naramadi People often include their own biological differences inside of their technology, and nowhere is it more apparent than in their thruster technology. The precise differences are not known publically, but the results are not something to scoff at. Their vessels are capable of reaching higher speeds than those of other Galactic Powers without sacrificing armor or size, while still utilizing the same amount of fuel as other designs. Many mega-corporations attempt to get their hands on such drives to no avail.

Combined Arms

Naramadi armed forces utilize their own strengths, such as heightened agility and speed, to their advantage; as such standard rifles and gear were impractical. While it is not known when the technology was developed, the results are a force to be reckoned with. Naramadi Ascendancy Legions usually carry two weapons: a rifle or submachine gun, and a pistol. However, each of those weapons can easily be transformed into a machete, spear, sword or a knife, depending on the size of said weapon. While it makes them more complicated to use by untrained individuals, it allows the standard Legionnare to carry less equipment, while still accomplishing the same goals.

Independent Factions

The Knights of Verkihar

The Order of Knights of Verkihar are a group of Naramadi warrior-monks tracing their history back to the times before the Unification Wars. While their actions are shrouded in mystery, even to the Houses, what is known is their dedication to defense of the Naramadi Traditions, with them often dying to protect the Verkihar System. After the Exile Uprising, the Order had to rebuild from only seven members, but are now a common sight on the Naramadi Homeworld: often serving as ceremonial guards to any place they see as important to the wider Naramadi culture.

Voice of the Houses

Despite what it may seem, most of the Houses cannot agree on simple matters, and so the Voice of the Houses was established. They are a group of Naramadi representatives sent to the Hegemony to function as diplomats. The leader of this group, referred to as the Voice, does not report to the Ruling House nor the Landsmeet. They are given a set of rules to follow when directing cross-species diplomacy, and when establishing enclaves within and without Ascendancy space.

Onkhera Synthetic Solutions

Through Hardship, to Prosperity. - Slogan of Onkhera Synthetic Solutions

OSS, or Onkera Synthetic Solutions, is a Megacorporation focused on providing high quality prosthetic limbs and organs originating from within the Naramadi Ascendancy.

In contrast to their primary rival, VeyMed, OSS focuses on Quality over Quantity, often providing a life-time warranty on their products - however they are more expensive in turn. While the standard and mass-made prosthetics branded with the OSS logo are within reach for most middle-class citizens, Onkhera Synthetic Solutions is known for their personalized prosthetics which are made after extensive medical examinations are done to check for various variables that make the prosthetic nearly indistinguishable from an organic limb.

In contrast to other prosthetics providers, OSS focuses on non-humans; providing organic looking replacement limbs for Tarjara, Vulpkanin, Naramadi and Teshari, among many others.

OOC Notes

Etiquette Guide for Naramadi

Despite what I wrote up there, not everyone cooperates well, you know how it is.

Just because you are part of a House doesn't mean you are royalty. You have to work either way, so some of the House aligned Naramadi have a no bullshit mindset, some are more open to dropping the system and establishing democracy, et cetera. What is important is that you hold tradition of your house dear, and if you are a Nameless - Tradition of your Family dear. Don't let anyone tarnish it, and don't let anyone take it away from you.

---

Author: Lord Papalus

Galactic Species
Common Species	Humans, Synthetics, Skrell, Tajara, Teshari, Unathi
Uncommon Species	Akula, Alraune, Auril, Dremachir, Naramadi, Zaddat, Dnin-Nepids
Whitelisted Species	Adherent, Dionea, Phoronids, Proteans, Shadekin, Vox, Xenochimera, Xenohybrids
Misc Species & Data	Minor Races, Scori, Changelings