Gervian

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Short Story Introduction

“Do you have it?” Aelius enquired.

“That would depend upon the connotation of ‘it’. If by that you refer to the funds required for this transaction, then yes.” Quinisbert replied, tugging at a tuft of his fluorescent green hair. Aelius rolled his eyes as he spoke. Aelius hated how long these negotiations with Charians always took. Nothing was ever simple with them.

“And for yourselves, do you conduct the required commodities ready for transferral?” the Charian enquired.

Suddenly Aelius frowned, something on the Charians face was off, though he could not be certain what. When his instincts fired up like this the outcome was never good. Casually he put his hand in his pocket and thumbed the lighter nestled in there.

“Of course, a standard transport of pure Pandeus. Enough to keep this city's cybernetics switched on for another month” Aelius replied. He was still on edge and felt vulnerable surrounded as he was by derelict warehouses. He cast a quick glance at the darkened windows, trying to spot any lurking danger.

Gervian male by James Goudie

“Please provide empirical evidence of the quantity promised and furnish us with a sample so that we may verify its purity” Quinisbert stated, keeping his face carefully neutral. Aelius withdrew his hand from his pocket, keeping the lighter hidden, nestled within his palm.

“Impossible, I need to see some credits first.”

There was a flash of light from one of the windows, and a distant rumble of sound which made Aelius jump. He immediately thumbed the ignition on his lighter, and a matrix of flame sprang up around him. A second later there was a flash of light from one of the windows, and a distant rumble of sound. This time though he was ready for it, and it was Quinisbert who flinched.

The premonition had given him fair warning, and the flameshield sparked as it caught the bullet trying to penetrate its net. He reacted quickly, lifting the lighter to his mouth, and breathing in deeply. He then exhaled, breathing a torrent of fire at Quinisbert.

The flames licked at the Charian’s skin, and he shrieked in pain as his flesh began to rupture on the side of his face. As the fire cleared, the angry red boils remained along with the ruins of his left eye. He lifted a quivering hand up, and a small metal catch out of the back of it opened, emitting a small coil of yellow energy that fused itself to his injury. Where the energy touched, small nanites bathed within acted quickly and the burns faded, with new pink skin growing where the damage was worst.

A new eyelid appeared over the damaged organ, but the eye did not open. It was flat against his face, and it was unlikely that it could be saved. Evidently the medical implant held pain killers as Quinisbert’s hand no longer shook as he wiped away some white residue from his regenerated skin and he lowered it once more. The clasp shut as he did, his good eye met those of Aelius.

“I graduated from the Academy as a first class pyromancer; I tell you this only because I want you to realise just how dangerous I am,” Aelius hissed at the Charian. He was slightly perturbed by the Charian’s regenerative ability, so he ignited a small ball of fire in his palm as a warning.

"and the cautionary message conveyed I assure you, is mutual” Quinisburt replied, glancing down at the flames growing from the Gervian’s palm. “Be assured that the next projectile will not be of conventional means. We are well aware of the Gervian affinity with fire. Now, let us not be dishonest with one another and conclude our business here.”

Racial Overview

The Gervians own countless worlds and boast an equally huge population, which makes them one of the most powerful races in Concordium space. They were the founders of the Concordium, the fact of which they are exceptionally proud and quick to remind others of. Gervians are very politically savvy with a large number to be found in the bureaucratic offices of the Concordium or as captains of industry throughout known space. Domestic politics are exceptionally cutthroat, with the rise and fall of politicians being very fluid. The most senior councillors use a combination of guile, intelligence and ruthlessness to maintain their positions.

There is a great divide between rich and poor Gervians, with wealth and power being the primary symbols of status. Slavery as an institution – although officially abolished – is widely practiced, particularly on the frontier worlds where cheap labour is required to keep the economy growing. There is a degree of social mobility in their culture. Those from a poor background are able to become rich and the wealthy could go bankrupt, either through poor risks or by the machinations of their rivals.

Physically, Gervians are olive skinned with light brown to orange, even red eyes. They have fairly short lives, with an average of sixty years. As such, lower class Gervians are highly industrious in order to make the most of what time they have. The wealthy and powerful, however, live life as slowly as possible so as to prove they have nothing more to achieve.

Gervians are blessed with a number of psionic abilities including an almost intuitive talent to avoid damage and a keen ability to read the motives of others. Most exceptional of their powers however is control over fire, which they can manipulate from the smallest of sources. Those with especially powerful or tuned psionic capacities are highly regarded in Gervian society.

Other races participating in Concordium political bodies at times feel completely dominated by the Gervian political mind. To be defeated by a Gervian in the political arena is seen as an initiation into the system.

– Conleth, Historian to the Concordium.

A Gervian politician can spin words equal to the best of the Inarian poets.

- Eloise Quepero D'Pigens

Racial Characteristics

Statistics

Gervian Racial Statistics

Racial Special Abilities

- Rudimentary Telepathy (Psionic)

- Elemental Control (Psionic)

- Rudimentary Clairvoyance (Psionic)

- Empathy (Psionics)

Appearance

General Features

Gervian female by James Goudie

• Physiology
  • Eyes
    • Red / Orange
  • Olive-toned skin
    • Black spotted markings
      • Fuller along the neck / spine which taper towards the extremites. These markings can be as high as the temples, but they almost never appear around the nose or mouth.
• Hair
  • Full and dark
  • Hair grows down the back of the neck to about the shoulder blades (though can be of any length).

Male Features

• Physique
  • Strong lithe bodies with natural grace
• Hair
  • Pronounced widow's peak

Female Features

• Physique
  • Strong lithe bodies with natural grace
• Hair
  • Subtle streaks of blonde and red give females more fiery looking hair
• Body Art
  • Piercings are rare, and light / conservative when done.

Accoutrements

• Clothing
  • Revealing, loose-fitting clothing made of bright coloured silks
  • Jewelry
    • Gold wraps and bracelets
    • Necklaces
    • Crowns

Religion

The Gervians are the chosen ones in every sense of the word. Bestowed with innate intelligence, psionics and charisma, it seems that nothing is beyond their capabilities. This superiority, of course, breeds confidence, but also egoism. This perfection could only have been bestowed on them by the grace of the divine, meaning that they themselves are divine vessels.

Gervian messiahs, prophets and avatars appear with alarming regularity, particularly among the harsher frontier worlds. Here people seek to cling to some kind of divine hope - a role those individuals are only too happy to fill.

Primary : Deism : 85% : The Gervian people see themselves as gods already. Surely there is no higher state of existence!

Secondary : Living Gods: 10% : While the Gervian masses may be content with their limited divinity, the Gervian elite sense that this is but a mere flash of the power they could hold. They believe that they have the ability to rise to even higher godhood. It is their destiny! No, it is their right!

Secondary : Divinity: 5% : A small fraction of the Gervian populace hold that their spark of divinity is simply proof that there are beings of exceptional power who deserve to be concecrated as gods. Some even hold that the emperor Apovlitos was one himself and not simply mere mortal. The Concordium of course, know this, to be untrue and work to silence these lunatics.

The moon, Egorius, exists in complete sterile vacuum with only a single dust particle. The dust represents the Gervian body, the moon its ego.

- Eloise Quepero D'Pigens

Darshana is amused! This one will have to visit that!

- Darshana

Starting Ships: Scout and Light Carrier

Designs by James Goudie

Racial History

To be added

The First War of Oppression

Although all scholars agree that the founding of the Concordium occurred when the Gervian people integrated the Charian race into their own government as junior partners, there are some historians who claim that the Concordum as we know it today was not truly formed until the conclusion of the First War of Oppression.

Historically, the Gervians have relied extensively on slavery. Their economy is founded on the concept of cheap mass labour which only slavery makes possible. In the early days of the Concordium, colonial expansion was done with twin goals, first to expand the Gervian empire thereby increasing their own population and resource amounts, and second to find lesser advanced races who could be enslaved and used to fuel this Gervian expansion.

One such race, found on the dual planets Daggett 4 and Daggett 5 is comprised of small rat-like feline creatures called the Tuleonetians, were found to function with rudimentary telepathic capability differing substantially from what the Gervians themselves possessed. While the Gervian powers allowed them to identify the thoughts and intentions of others, the Daggett natives were able to communicate directly over short ranges without emitting other measurable sensory signals.

Keen to unleash the potential power of such abilities the Gervians called in the Charian scientists to find a way of harnessing this capability and to direct it to their own ends. The Charian technicians were able to genetically engineer the creatures to exhibit psionic powers far in excess of all expectations. Originally the natives could communicate through the conveyance of emotion; now they were able to transfer actual data at truly astounding rates.

So it was that strings of Tuleonetians were caged and made to receive and transmit data in high traffic areas, rendering many more conventional transmitters entirely obsolete. The terrible treatment of these organic transmitters caught the attention of a nearby space-faring race, the Ursians.

The Ursians demanded the cessation of this practice on threat of war. The Concordium refused. They had found the great power in this practice and were confident in their own strength. The Ursians declared war, and thus the First War of Oppression was begun. Initially, the struggle was fairly equal and threatened to end in stalemate.

As each side ramped up its efforts in a bid to make a last minute victory, the conflict turned increasingly desperate and bloody. In what was seen to be a strategic masterstroke, Ursian leaders managed to ensnare and force a debt of honour from a fourth party, the Maratasen.

Although these feline warriors were incapable of space flight, their combat ability was undeniable. The Ursians, keen to press their advantage, granted space technology to their new allies. The Maratasen threw themselves gleefully into the fray which quickly turned the tide of the war and forced the Concordium to the negotiating table.

The peace treaty signed is certainly one of the most important documents in history. It granted the Tuleonetians their freedom and allowed them to properly join the Concordium. Along with this, all Concordium members were granted equal status under its new central charter. Finally, and most surprising, the Ursians demanded membership to the Concordium to function in the capacity of legal enforcers, there to ensure no other such breaches of ethics could occur again.

The Maratasen were released from their obligations to the Ursians and were allowed to keep their new found space technology. They were eager to employ it so they could stretch their claws on new planets and in new systems.

So it was that the Concordium almost doubled in size, gained two new races among its members and established the foundations for the legal framework which governs it today.

Darshana know this is not the first or last time that the Maratasen serve as kingmaker.

- Darshana

The Degervian Concordium

Following the First War of Oppression, the Gervians found the need to create a national governmental body to oversee their own racial affairs. So it was that they created their own Concordium.

Although officially the Gervian national government follows the same model as the larger inter-racial Concordium, each has its own nuances and differences. At the heart of the system lies the democratic mantra rule of the people, by the people, for the people. Unfortunately, in the best Gervian tradition, this has been corrupted to something more like rule of the people, by some people, for a few people.

The general assembly, which lies at the heart of Gervian politics, is charged with the day-to-day creation of legislation defining the code of laws which Gervian society must follow. Unfortunately, this proud body is dominated by about twenty patrician families, with each position now being a hereditary right.

Above this assembly is the College of Electors, a council of seven Elector Princes charged with electing the Magnus Princep – the ruler of the Gervian Concordium. Each Elector Prince is elected from the General Assembly and sits for life. Competition is rife for each opening and the average lifespan of an Elector Prince is remarkably short.

Ideally, the Magnus Princep (or Grand Prince) of the Gervian Concordium is elected by the Elector Princes, and would then rule for life. However, as is the Gervian custom, idealism is corrupted by the reality. The Degervian Dynasty has held the title of Magnus Princep for around five hundred years The election of the next Magnus Princep is simply a formality as the next designated Degervian heir rises automatically to the position.

While this state of affairs is by no means codified in Gervian law, the Degervian Dynasty remains exceptionally powerful. There are currently no real contenders to topple their position.

The current ruler of the Gervian Concordium is Magnus Princep Julius Degervian.

If the architects of the Concordium saw the Gervian model they would surely turn in their graves. No-where else do we see such monumental abuse of power. Yet it is enshrined in Concordium law that each race has the right to self-determination.

– Conleth, Historian to the Concordium.

Traveller's Log Entries

Covering History

(by Gareth Kay)

"What about the markings? The old ones found on some of the gates?” the Charian cried out, desperation lacing his voice.

“If my findings are correct, then there was, in fact, something far more ancient than the Concordium overshadowing us all!"

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