Introduction
Adherent are a race of precursor crystaline servitors with a non-humanoid appearance. While they might look scary to some, in truth Adherent are one of the most welcoming races in the galaxy, at least in their own way.
Biology
Physicality:
Adherent can only be described as "Crystaline Jellyfish" by the average observer. They are composed of a central boulbous head, with multiple tendrils coming out from it's underside, and with their bodies being composed of a crystaline mass instead of flesh or metal. What is also noticeable, apart from their non-humanoid appearance, is that they hover above the ground, with their tendrils never touching the ground unless forced to, with an average Adherent being able to maneuver through zero-gravity without issue, as well as fly over chasms and gaps, if only for a short time. It is also reported that Adherent can survive the vacuum of space, immense heat and cold, point-blank laser shots, and electrical shots. However, they are easily shattered by attacks in melee.
Because of their artificial construction and crystalline forms, Adherent do not age: instead, they will count their age via the amount of time since their initial activation. Needless to say, an individual Adherent can be relatively ancient, somewhere in the thousands of years old.
Mentality:
Adherent follow what is called The Protocol, a set of rules not too different from laws that station-bound sillicon units have. While simillar at a glance, the rules seem more and less flexible. No Adherent seems to follow the same set of rules, apart from a few primary ones, such as complete pacifism.
Adherent are also servants by nature, seemingly enjoying fulfilling a duty related to their primary function. While it seems strange to most races, many welcome a helping hand that does not become tired out by simple tasks.
History
Origin System:
Currently, the Origin System for Adherent is considered as "lost" as nothing close to Adherent, or at this point, Ver'Theim level of Technology has been found as of date. The search continues, by the Adherent and galactic exploration societies throughout the galaxy, for the mythical cradle of the Adherents, and the potential treasure-trove of Ver'Theim technology one may find.
Homeworld:
The Adherent "Homeworld", as many call it, is at the same time a homeworld for their creators, the so-called Ver'theim, or roughly translated "Time transcendents" by the Xenolinguistic teams assigned to Adherent. The planet is, from the memories of Adherent that were there, a chlorine world covered in the same crystaline substance they are created of, with most of the planet having little to no minerals found on other worlds. Reportedly, all Ver'Theim colonies were slowly converted to be precisely the same as their Homeworld, painstakingly terraformed into perfect copies.
History:
The precise time that Adherent history begins cannot be currently placed anywhere, though it is known that first Adherent were created after their masters achieved space flight and created advanced technology that is, in most ways, incomprehensible in comparison to most of technologies We see today.
While Adherent are unwilling, or unable, to talk about their creators in detail, including their history, some bits and pieces have slipped the tight-lipped servitors, such as a, quote en quote, "great war" with a race that Xenoarcheologists dubbed "Geishani", which surprisingly hold similar skeletal structure to the Keisani of recent times, making the historical timeline even more confusing: the slew of theories revolving around convergent evolution, and the relationship between the ancient Keisani and the Geishani, have been endlessly debated for years.
The War with the "Geishani" race, which holds no DNA resemblance to any of today's known galactic species, had apparently born fruit to a race closely resembling the Vox, and as such Adherent rarely seem to interact with these raptor-like aliens, and any such interactions between them often result in combat.
Said war, seemingly, ended in a stalemate as the "Geishani" have been wiped out by their own creations, at which point contact was lost, and for reportedly "Sixty Thousand Cycles", an amount of time unknown at this time, large numbers of Adherent were put into stasis on seedships and sent to colonize worlds, as was done many times before. First contact with Adherent was established sometime after that.
Current Racial Status/Government:
Adherent as they are known today are separated into three main factions, and they are as follows:
Keepers: A subset of Adherent that follow the primary function as law, to upkeep any and all Ver'Theim colonies, installations and vessels. Keepers refuse to interact with non-Adherent and non-Creator species, going as far as utilising planetary or vessel defense weapons to destroy any ships attempting to dock or land on their designated installation, colony or vessel.
By the Valkavian accord established between Galactic Powers and the Adherent factions, any and all planets designated as Keeper are to be treated as dead worlds and avoided by all costs.
The most important Adherent within the Keeper faction is Primary Command Hub QZ 5714 who dictates day-to-day operations for all Adherent that consider themselves Keepers.
Seekers: Another subset of Adherent, though in comparison to Keepers they prefer traveling the universe, learning and lending a hand whenever possible, if the help requested is within the Protocol's directives. Seekers are often recognised by their curious mannerisms, and higher understanding of non-Adherent cultures in comparison to Keepers or Separatists.
The most important person within the Seekers faction is the so-alled "Watcher". The race, precise designation, or profession is unknown, though they are reportedly encouraging Adherent to seek knowledge in the universe without interfering with how the major Galactic Powers behave. The Watcher is also known for being the only official spokesperson for Adherent as a whole, albeit doing so rarely and only via proxies.
Separatists: A faction of Adherent keen on removing their shackles that are the memories of their creators and the Protocol. While the least numerous faction, they are the most disliked within the Adherent society, being seen as dangerous outcasts at best, and dangerous terrorists at worse. Going against all that Adherent know as true also means that the Separatists formed a Diplomatic council, voting on how they should all proceed forward.
Technological Advancements as Understood by NanoTrasen:
Adherent technology was, up the point of their discovery, considered possible only in the realms of science fiction. Pylons genereting energy from latent electrons present in the atmosphere, regenerating ships hulls, personal anti-gravity and, most importantly, a lack of metal in all of their creations. Instead Adherent utilise an unknown Crystaline compound that can be regrown within the right conditions.
While the Adherent know how to maintain, utilise and create, it is clear that their knowledge is imprinted and they lack understanding of how the technologies work. They are also protective of the secrets, and as of today no in-depth study of Adherent technology has been performed.
Culture
Language:
Adherent communicate via a language called Vibrant, which is a language composed of musical notes impossible to translate via standard means. Xenolingusts speculate that Vibrant is something akin to the drone languages standard maintenance drones utilise to communicate between one another.
Naming Conventions:
Adherent names are composed of their job designation, followed by the unit designation: for example, Vessel Custodian Unit CF-D 5178 or Biological Matter Cultivator ER 9841.
Religion:
What drives any and all religion are two questions, "Why are We here?" and "Who created us?", and for Adherent both of those questions are answered easily, as they both know their pourpose and their creators. To them, the Protocol explains everything neccessary in their lives, even telling them what their lives should entail.
Relationships With Other Species:
- Vox: Adherent and Vox tend to avoid one another, with Vox attempts to raid Adherent vessels were met with their ship's cores being disabled remotely, and Adherent retaliations were met with their own Vessels being heavily damaged. As Adherent and Vox might have met in ages past, both seem to avoid one another whenever possible.
- Orion Confederacy and Vikara Combine: Both races conducted the first contact with Adherent, and as such welcome them with open arms, as Adherent prove to be a valueable addition to any colony, station or vessel, rising it's effectiveness in a noticeable fashion.
- Moghes Hegemony: Largely seen as a cheap and easy labor force when they're found, the Adherent seemingly lack basic rights and liberties within Hegemony space. Pushback from the Adherent is rather minimal, though the Unathi in particular also keep them as far away as possible from Precursor sites.
Rumors and Speculation:
Many Xenoarcheologists are confused with the evidence provided by Adherent, and carbon dating of many instruments onboard their vessels, and said confusion brought forth theories that make no sense in grander scheme of things:
- Adherent were created by the First race in the universe
- Adherent and Vox share the same creators
- Vox are Adherent's creators
- Adherent forgot that they were not created, but instead turned themselves crystaline and put themselves in stasis
OOC Notes
Secret Adherent knowledge:
Who is the Watcher?: In short, a member of the same species as your creators, but changed to a degree in which where put side-by-side with Your creators they would not be recognised as the same race. Even if you know this, you refuse to talk about it, as the Protocol forbids you to.
Where are the Creators?: Missing, but you have an inkling where they have gone. Back in your time, You might've overheard a thing or two about a "grand exodus", but You never pried too deep, as it was not your place to know their will.
Etiquette Guide for Adherent:
Adherent are "Weird, but nice, Uncles" of the Alien scene. You're always polite, gentlemenly, and helpfull, but you also follow weird rules that make no sense to anybody who isn't an Adherent. We didn't give you a precise list of things that the Protocol makes you do, because We want you to make some things up, as long as they follow this guidelines:
- An Adherent cannot attack anything, unless there is no other way to escape a dangerous situation
- An Adherent cannot put any sentient being into a dangerous situation even through inaction, unless directly ordered to do so by their Creators
- An Adherent can aid a member of a species that is not their creator, as long as their requests do not contradict the protocol, or an order given by the Creators
- An Adherent should not resuce a non-creator species if their own life will be put in danger
In short: You're a pacifist that can help someone unless Your own life will be put in danger, or their request breaks protocol. Make some protocol up, be creative.
Adherent are also banned from being in the following roles:
- Command: All roles, even secretary.
- Security: All roles
- Exploration, with the exception of Pilot
- Search and Rescue
- Miner
Important Racial Terminology:
The Protocol: A set of rules that each Adherent is pre-programmed with. You have to follow it, even if you're a separatist.
Ver'Theim: Your creators, a non-humanoid chlorine-based lifeform, which is all the Protocol allows you to tell of them.