Masian
Short Story Introduction
"It's been almost year, Komisar... We must have an Ascendency!"
Komisar Ramarata placed his pen down carefully on his desk and looked slowly up at who had interrupted him. Seeing that it was a Kunstheld, one of the highest caste, he clasped his hands together and sat up a little straighter.
"Druma-rajar, you honour me."
"You must forgive my bluntness, Komisar, but this is important. Some of the Kessler grow restless not knowing if their children will have their Ascendency day."
"I understand this, but we have heard nothing from the Ober Versamen. There can be no Ascendency until-"
"Until? Ramarata-razar, the gate has been inactive for a year now! It hurts me greatly to admit it, but even our best Ingenieren and Kunsthelden have not been able to repair it. Komisar, we must assume that we will receive no instruction from home. We are on our own."
"This is most irregular Druma," Ramarata said rising from his seat. He winced at the Kunstheld's words. Although his companion was of a higher caste, such insulting language was most unusual. He walked around the desk to face the newcomer more directly.
"For my entire career I have relied, no, depended on, the guidance of the Ober Versamen..." he trailed off with a shrug.
"Blast it, Ramarata!" the Kunstheld exploded, clenching his fists angrily. "Use that mind of yours and come up with a solution. Show some initiative for a change. I know you politicos are capable of it from time to time!"
"Druma-"
"No. No more excuses. We have Grudners working in the factories! Grudners! That is how near to anarchy we have fallen. We need leadership now, more than ever."
Ramarata twisted as if he had been struck. Never before had he seen a Masian raise his voice to another, let alone lose his temper like that. Trouble on the streets must be even worse than he realised.
The Komisar turned away and rounded his desk once more going more slowly this time, tapping the top of the table with his long knuckles as he did. He stopped by his chair and looked up at Druma once more. His eyes narrowed and he nodded quietly to himself.
"I will appoint you to head this planets' Ascendency Commission."
"Ascendency commis-" Druma interrupted, clearly thinking it some bureaucratic stall.
"Without the guidance of the Ascendency Council, I have chosen to create our own Ascendency test."
"What? You can't do that!"
"You said yourself that I have to innovate, to go against the regulations set upon us," Ramarata said flatly. He waited a moment for a reply, but was met with only flabbergasted silence.
"And as our eldest Kunstheld, you are in the best possible position to oversee this effort."
"There might be hope for you yet, Komisar Ramarata-rajar," the Kunstheld said eventually with a growing grin, "I will do as you ask."
Racial Overview
Equally loved and reviled, the unassuming Masian race has played an integral role in Concordium history. They are unfortunate victims of chance, their path being altered dramatically and irrevocably. However their future is entirely in their own hands. Their ability now is unquestioned, as they number among the most prolific gadgeteers in the galaxy with each Masian seeming to be on a personal quest of innovation and ingenuity. Their home planet, Nagor, is the foremost industrial hub in the Concordium, essentially a planet-sized manufacturing complex built among the ruins of the Nagori civilisation.
The Masians are among the most unthreatening races in Concordium space. They entirely lack natural weapons and have no psionic ability with which to defend themselves. These humanoids tend have a smaller stature than other hominids, with light nearly pasty skin and large round eyes that dominate their faces. Their limbs tend to be thin, almost spindly, which makes them physically weaker than other mammals. Their hands are very long with five multi-jointed digits. Their ancestors were not apex predators. They were, in fact, excessively hunted. This background has given them a natural humility and an entirely different outlook on life. While most Concordium races are predatory and competitive by nature, the Masians are co-operative and polite, finding it easy to seamlessly form problem-solving teams without losing their individuality. This is reflected in their diet. All Masians are vegetarian, their digestive tract being entirely unsuited to processing meat.
This gentle nature and humility hides exceptional creative talent – the average Masian stands intellectually above the other races, many even making Charian professors look like fools (though they take no satisfaction in this). The Masians are organised by a meritocratic caste system that defines ones role in life, but allows those with proven ability to rise in status. They have virtually no interest in theoretical academic pursuits, preferring instead to bend their powerful minds to industry and innovation,. This tendency, reinforced by a culture strongly emphasising these pursuits helped the Masians become the most prolific artisans and inventors in the Concordium.
Racial Characteristics
Statistics
Racial Special Abilities
- Intellectually Innovative (Intelligence)
- Communal (Societal)
- Significant Population Growth (Societal)
- Curious (Intelligence)
I just don't get what's so special about these guys.
- Eloise Quepero D'Pigens
My dear naive Inarian, Darshana knows you have much to learn about true worth.
- Darshana
Appearance
General Features
- Hair.
- Thinly haired to bald
- No facial hair.
- Ridged eyebrows.
- Eyebrows are small horns.
- Physiology
- Smaller stature with thin limbs.
- Long hands with five multi-jointed fingers on each.
- Light almost pasty skin.
- Large, widely spaced apart, highly reflective eyes.
- Usual height of around 4 ft.
- Body Art
- None. Masians like to keep as natural an appearance as possible in the hope that others will forget their origins.
Male Features
- Physique
- More gaunt.
- Slightly taller (anything from 4 to 4.5 ft).
- Hair
- Tending towards baldness.
Female Features
- Physique
- Slightly shorter (usually around 4ft).
- Slightly fuller-faced.
- Hair
- Fully hair that can resemble fur.
- Sometimes streaked with other colors.
Accoutrements
- Clothes
- Jumpsuits or coveralls. Appropriate wear for mechanical work.
- Cargo trousers or other items with many pockets.
- Belts, bags, sashes. Anything which can store tools and gadgets.
- Branding
- None.
- Armour
- Power armor and power suits.
- Exo-skeletons.
- Weapons
- Power and energy weapons.
- Light firearms.
- Explosives and demolition charges.
Religion
The caste system is dominant in Masian thinking. Some believe it a necessary evil required for the continue existence of the race, while others see it as a harsh reality of fate that has cast them in their particular lot. The rising sentiment, however, discredits the role of fate and instead seizes on the belief that they can improve their station in life through hard work and education.
Primary : Rationalism : 40% : The larger part of Masian society are rational, functional beings who see the caste system only as a necessary evil. There is an organisational structure which forces some to do the less inventive tasks required for the continued survival of the race as a whole. This tends to be the outlook of the higher castes, however!
Secondary : Fatalism : 25% : For those destined to be in a lower caste, they will accept their fate with a rugged determination to fulfil the duties expected of them. If their abilities match expectation, then it is just possible that fate has plans for them in another, higher caste.
Secondary : Existentialism : 35% : Opposed to the fatalists in Masian society, there are large numbers of the lower and middle castes who believe that their future is mutable, and if not theirs, then certainly that of their children. Existentialists hold a lot of stock by education as the means to advancement They will push their offspring to extremes to ensure their place in a higher caste after the ritual testing.
p>There are loads of critics of the caste system who view it as a crude means to control a large and growing population.
- Eloise Quepero D'Pigens
Darshana has to wonder at this, the majority of Masians who support the system cannot be ignored. Perhaps they function differently than others in the Concordium. The lower castes are not oppressed, they just do different jobs. Darshana believes we can learn much from their lack of ego. Darshana hopes a certain Inarian especially embraces this talent.
- Darshana
Starting Ships-- Scout and Light Carrier
(Designs by James Goudie)
Racial History
To be added.
The Triticus Plague
Triticus Plague, otherwise referred to as E3, or The Scourge.
Some scientists have hypothesised that the plague lay dormant in most races but was activated through genetic engineering. The plague is a virus which was unresponsive to all known medicines, although anti-viral medication could slow down it's progression.
Infection can be spread through contact with bodily fluids, even post-death, causing an increased susceptibility to caregivers and those in the medical profession.
It was finally cured in the 26th Century YD (Years Degervian, the Concordium calendar).
Symptoms
Stage 1; Elimination (of personality) Hair and memory loss, usually manifesting with depression.
Note: Hair and memory loss are often associated with planetary movement due to the change in atmosphere affecting blood movement to the brain and altered cell regeneration. Likewise, depression is frequently registered among new settlers due to the strains of frontier life compared to the comforts that they may be more used to on the core planets.
Stage 2; Euphoria Powerful hallucinations with euphoric episodes and delusions of being in paradise.
Note: This stage can be difficult to diagnose as the symptoms hold much in common with being in a drugged state, particularly for a Pandeus overdose.
Stage 3; Eternity Inducement of a coma state, in which bodily functions slowly shut down resulting in fatality. Deceased always left with a serene smile.
History of the Plague
The first recorded incident of Triticus plague was in the 21st Century. In the early stages of its life it was primarily problematic in a number of isolated colony planets which were quickly quarantined against biological hazards.
Initially, it spread slowly and quietly. Its symptoms were incorrectly diagnosed to other ailments or otherwise associated with space-travel and interplanetary settlement or drug use. Once it did manage to spread, however, it grew exponentially leading to it being declared an epidemic in the 23rd Century YD.
By this point it was tearing through the Concordium, wiping out entire populations at once. Then it spread through the Quantum Gates and through inter-planetary trade to infect entirely new systems. No place was spared its ravages and no race was immune to its touch. While the core planets were better equipped to impose quarantines, the frontier colonies were disproportionately affected.
All in all, the population of the Concordium was reduced by about 50%.
The War of Genetic Purity
This period of chaos led to a heightening of paranoia and distrust between races, and those in the Concordium government had to work hard to maintain order and unity. There were a number of minor clashes and misunderstandings, but the first true conflict to spark was the War of Psionic Privacy. Tuleonetians realised that Saraven Psykers had managed to hack into the Meld but Concordium retribution was swift. The Saraven seceded and joined the Urix Empire for protection.
The next blow discovered in the 24th Century YD, was that the Triticus Plague had its origins in Genetic Engineering. It was observed that the virus had lain dormant in the DNA of all races and that the meddling geneticists had activated it. Public backlash to this revelation was fierce, with widespread disorder and the burning of several research laboratories. However it did not turn violent until the use of Muton WMDs (weapons of mass destruction) were exposed. Concordium sanctioned scientists were found to have been launching these devices against neutral and under-developed planets in order to test the results of genetic research on live subjects.
Reaction to this was immediate and fierce, with large numbers of formally loyal subjects renouncing the Concordium and forming an informal "Purist" union. Their agenda was the complete and utter eradication of any form of genetic manipulation, including the destruction of any individual judged to have been modified or mutated in any unnatural way.
Of the Concordium races only the Ursians remained entirely loyal, fighting to maintain unity and order regardless of the evils committed by the central government. The Charians also mostly remained loyal as their cybernetic enhancements were seen by many as unnatural and vile. Therefore they had to fight for survival. The Gervians, Tuleonetians and Maratasen split almost evenly between the loyalists and purists. The Inarians, believing in the natural forces of nature, joined the Purists in force.
With the Concordium in tatters, the Urix Empire chose to strike and declared war which tipped the odds towards the Purists. This action threatened to destroy the Concordium entirely.
The Cure
In the 19th Century YD, Nagor was populated by an industrialised civilisation of humanoids known as the Nagori. They were watched eagerly by the Concordium who believed that they would be space faring soon.
At that time, the Masians were creatures of slightly above animalistic intelligence that gathered in colonies of roughly 100 individuals. Their nests were surprisingly advanced, often having wooden structure and low walls or fences to keep predators away from their young. Unfortunately, these were not enough to protect them from their most voracious predator, the Nagori, who hunted them for their highly prized luscious fur.
Their fortunes were reversed when the Triticus Plague struck the planet, which entirely wiped the Nagori out in the 21st Century YD. The Concordium lost interest in Nagor listing it as a dead planet. It went silent for four centuries before seeming to burst to life. Multiple high frequency signals were discovered emanating from Nagor and Concordium scouts dashed to investigate.
There they found the thriving Masian race, living among the ruins of the Nagori civilisation. Somehow they had survived the Triticus Plague and the only scar they bore was the loss of all fur and hair except a patch on the top of the head. They had also grown in stature during their exile and their intelligence had increased dramatically.
The most astonishing discovery, however, is that the cure to the Triticus Plague lay in their blood. At first Concordium raiders forcibly captured Masians and killed them in order to get at the cure. Each individual killed had enough anti-bodies to save thousands. Then the Concordium became desperate to hold the strategically vital planet which held the secret to their salvation. Threatened by the possible loss of the planet through collateral damage, the Purists and Loyalists agreed to a cease fire. In this treaty, it was written that the Masians could not be taken by force and that instead any blood given had to be voluntarily.
It is a testament to the good hearts of these small industrious creatures that many gave their blood willingly although it hurt them greatly and regeneration of the vital anti-bodies was slow. To help speed the eradication of the disease, a sizable number of Masians volunteered their bodies and lives to save others. Their sacrifice allowed scientists to properly study them, leading to the discovery that the Masians had a second liver producing the vital anti-bodies.
Armed with this knowledge, the synthetic cure Acwavit Serum soon followed.
This further study revealed something less palatable, however. It was found that the Masians had been themselves genetically altered by a Muton WMD attack. Although the exact purpose of this modification was unclear (enhanced intelligence seems most likely), a side effect was the genesis of the second liver and with it, the cure.
Faced by the fact that genetics could both kill and cure, exhausted by the war and humbled by the generosity and sacrifice of the Masians, the Loyalists and Purists returned to the negotiating table. As a result, the majority of the Purists rejoined the Concordium, although a large number decided to stay neutral and a large portion continue to wage what they saw as the crusade against genetics.
For their part in both the creation and dissemination of the cure and to reward their magnanimity, the Masians were given space faring technologies and invited to join the Concordium as a full member.
If the Purists had won the war, the mutants would never have been allowed to join.
- Eloise Quepero D'Pigens
The Purists had virtually won the war, it truly was the sacrifice shown by the Masian people which earned them the right of membership.
– Conleth, Historian to the Concordium.
Of course, as an Ursian, you would say that.
- Eloise Quepero D'Pigens
My race and politics has nothing to do with it. I know because I was there. I fought in that war.
– Conleth, Historian to the Concordium.
But that's... ancient history! Just how old are you Conleth?
- Eloise Quepero D'Pigens
The Union of Masian Republics
The Union of Masian Republics is the highly centralised government group that presides over all Masian worlds. At the centre of the whole system sits the Ober Versamen (Central Planning Assembly).
The Ober Versamen handles strategic distribution of all resources produced by the Masian Republics. They send their instructions and targets to the planetary Versamen (Assembly) who must then meet the requirements set for them. The planetary Versamen in turn hand targets to national or civic Versamen, and so on.
The number of serving Komisars are elected from the body directly below them, while the lowest factory Versamen are elected from any resident unemployed Komisar in the area. Interestingly, the Komisars themselves have absolutely no vote during Versamen elections. Instead this right falls to all other castes who are represented by that body. This means that each Masian voter has, by law, to visit the ballot box for their individual work group, civic, planetary and galactic elections. It is clear that although there is a caste of political specialists, the Masians function on a very democratically egalitarian basis with even the Grudners given a voice.
The most important group within the Ober Versamen is the Ascendency Council which creates the test taken every year by every 16 year old Masian. The test is ultimately responsible for the assigning of a caste to each and every Masian.
The caste system runs central to Masian governance, and exists in the same form in every Masian settlement. Central to the whole process is the coming of age ritual known as the Ascendency. This is an annual national event, held on every planet, and every Masian child must undergo the Ascendency in their 16th year of life. The Ascendency is essentially an intensive intelligence quotient examination that determines how bright, creative and sociable each candidate is and then assigns to each individual their caste for life.
This ensures that the Masian caste system is meritocratic and places people in the caste category most suited to their needs and output. Masian society is to a large extent socialist, where production is centralised and then distributed depending on caste. The expectation is that the higher castes perform at a far higher level and therefore require a larger share of personal resources to ensure their continued high levels of output.
The castes are as follows;
Kunstheld - Artificer Caste - The most brilliant of the Masian gadgeteers. Although they have virtually no political power, they are offered material rewards above and beyond what others receive, but are also expected to function at a much higher and more productive level than the rest of society.
Komisar - Commissar Caste - The politicos of Masian society. Although politics is considered a fairly low intelligence role, Komisars tend to have traits uncommon to a Masian like rhetoric and diplomacy. They are given a high caste level so that they can effectively organise others. In terms of reward, they are on par with the Ingeniers.
Ingenier - Engineer Caste - These are the creatives and inventors. They are mainly concerned with the creation of new products and the process required to get them manufactured. They are natural planners and visionaries.
Kessler - Middle Caste - The vast majority of Masians are Kesslers, due to their natural inclination to tinker. Predominantly the Kesslers are skilled artisans, craftsmen and factory workers.
Arbter - Service Caste - The caste tasked with all the other jobs required to keep society functioning ranging from logistics, mining to banking, law and medicine, etc.
Grudner - Farmer Caste - Anyone whose work is associated with nature.
Note: There is no untouchable caste in Masian society.
Often criticised as an outdated model, the caste system is defended by Masians as a fair division of labour. In the past, there was serious danger of more menial tasks not being fulfilled due to a lack of interest, leading to massive raw material shortages, logistics failures and famine. The Caste system ensures even unpopular tasks are accomplished.
New Masian colonies are created with a quota of caste members so as to promote a new functional society. Once established, however, all Ascendants must take the test and are assigned a caste based on the Union of Masian Republics norm.
Although there are similarities between the Valdus and Masian caste systems, the intrinsic difference lies in the fact that the Masians do not have any belief in reincarnation, and that the Masian system is based on the merit of the individual rather than on their birth.
– Conleth, Historian to the Concordium.
Traveller's Log Entries
Rain Like Tears
(by James Landes)
"The world is raining like tears" thought Ran.
Sitting in the speeding tram watching the bustle of the city blur by his window, Ran whispered to himself, "I have failed them".
"Who am I?" thought Ran defiantly, a moment of anger rising from his chest. "I am Ran Chedayin of the Chedayin Ascendants. We are fifth family of the grand Ascendency. There was tradition to uphold, there were expectations."
Ran sighed. The sense of unmet expectations almost a physical weight on his shoulders as he watched the marvels of Masian engineering and architecture whisk by his moisture streaked window.
The tram slowed and came to a halt with a gentle lurch, unloading and loading passengers. Ran was barely aware of others in his section, his gaze settling on a tree. Confined to an elaborate decorated planter, the tree is withering as it strains unsuccessfully against the confines of the artificial barrier.
"I am that Tree" Ran thought to himself.
"I am a biologist, I make things grow. I do not build or fix THINGS, I work with LIFE!"
Captain Brekan and Officer Melvara on ship's bridge after the local sun's destructive solar flare (Dead Men's Philosophy, image by James Goudie)
Dead Men's Philosophy
(by Davis Masterman)
The following is a transcription of the last captain’s log of the Masian cruiser, the CS SOLAR SPIRE. The data on the black box's electronic storage experienced severe corruption, so several parts of the audio recording are silent or incoherent. The ship’s severed bridge was recovered by some junkers in 2745 SDY, but the rest of the ship and her crew of over one thousand still remain lost.
(Begin Transcription)
Captain: Emergency. Emergency. This is Captain Brekam K’ara of the Masian CS SOLAR SPIRE. We have encountered severe solar flares while orbiting - [DATA CORRUPTED] - significant casualties and major damage to our vessel. Our long-range communications and engines appear offline. We require emergency evac- [DATA CORRUPTED].
(The message loops several times until a new voice appears)
Officer: Sir, she’s gone. I tried my best, but I couldn’t stop the bleeding...
Bartender and owner of Happi's Place serves an oathless Maratasen and provides uncoventional insights (A Happi Place, image by James Goudie)
A Happi Place
(by Chet Delano)
“What now?” the Maratasen asked, his paws clutching his hanging face as he sat at the bar, waiting for nothing.
His ears perked as he heard ice clink against glass. “On the house.”
He looked up to see the bartending Masian, who held a slight smile as he returned to using his rag to wipe the counter.
The Maratasen hesitated but decided to take the drink. “Why not…” His claws clutched the glass...
“Not like there’s anywhere you gotta be.” The Masian said confidently, continuing with his duties.
The Maratasen stared at him curiously, his paw suspended before his face with the drink, his tribal tattoos exposed on his arm. The drink glowed with rolling shades of orange, contrasting wildly against his white fur. The color reminded him of home… of his people. Red specks swirled throughout the drink and they turned to embers in his mind. The background chatter became cries for help as a burning called from the scar beside his eye. He winced and snarled, shaking the thoughts out.
He took a sip.
