So, this is a major race I've had in my head for a long time, but only recently converted to Traveller. Note that these really cant be PCs, unless all the PCs were Orodcian serving a single Queen. Anyway.. These are sort of a combination between Ants, The Covenant and Xenomorphs from Alien. Enjoy!
Ordocian – The Ordocian are an intelligent major race that has just recently appeared on the borders of known space, apparently from much deeper coreward. Little is known about the species by outsiders. In fact, most of the information presented herein is from a Ref’s prospective on the race. If the Ordocian have a name for themselves, it is unknown outside of their communities, and even the fact that they are a single species is just a guess by outsiders.
The Ordocian are a complex mosaic race, with a very adaptive genetic structure. Their society most definitely puts them into the classification of superorganism, like ants, their colonies are genetically divided into castes that perform their duties for the good of the whole community. Who created the Ordocian is unknown, though some hypothesis they are an experiment by the ancients that got out of hand, or that they are a natural fluke of evolution.
Ordocian Colonies can vary widely on appearance, as they are generally grown from the materials available at the currently location. Many compare these colonies to massive insect hives, with thick hardened lattice-like structures supporting massive networks of caves formed by bioorganic secretions and discarded chitin from the Queen’s Exoskeleton.
Mutation and Evolution: The Ordocian evolved on a world with a moderately radioactive climate. This led to many mutations within their culture, some for the good and some leading to disaster. Like most species, the Ordocian’s adaption to their changing environment was due to these mutations becoming dominate traits within the community.
Most species show signs of evolution during their fetal development cycles. Ordocian’s go a step further, however. Due to the development of a Tungsten laced gland within their body, the Ordocians can emit high frequency electromagnetic radiation through their bodies (in the form of X-rays) slicing their genetic code and allowing it to reform. This evolutionary gland is so precise that the Ordocians can attempt to evolve to beat a new challenge to the community, or even to reactive dormant survival mechanisms they need.
The lowest caste has the most complex genetic code, besides the “Queen”. These worker Ordocian are the first to attempt mutation whenever the community is in danger. Once a useful genetic mutation is discovered, that worker then breeds with the Queen, who can alter the genetic material given to her to create Mosaic species, usually a new caste of Ordocian. The new quality is then passed on to future generations of Workers, but the new caste is also used for as long as the community requires.
Other Species: The Ordocian have a driving goal “Multiply and Adapt”. Their survival mechanism can even allow them to absorb traits from other species into their colonies, though it is not common practice by a colony. It may even be that the Ordocian are made up of other species entirely.
When another species is encountered that possess a quality deemed worthy of the colony, a large number of the species is taken to a queen. Like much of the Ordocian “technology”, the actual genetic engineering is done by a biological function of the Queen. The Queen encases the subjects in a membranous pouch, creating a sort of suspended animation for the subject. The subjects then have genetic samples taken, mixed separately in an organ containing a variety of weak viral agents produced by the queen.
Once a strand is found that can pass the genetic barrier between the species, the Queen then biologically creates a retrovirus capable of rewriting the subjects genetic material enough to allow the Mosaic breeding, splicing out genetic material and growing the subject into a new caste. This new caste is then tested to see if it retains the genetic trait originally sought. If it is viable to the colony then the Queen translates the genetic material into the next generation of workers, and produces more of the caste to serve current needs.
Society: As stated previously, the Ordocian are a caste based “Superorganism” though they are not mindless. Many of the individuals vie for the honor of passing a new trait on to the colony. Competition between individuals is encouraged, as survival generates the best stock. Weakness is not accepted, and mutations that result in a negative trait are quickly purged from the colony.
That said the society is still community oriented before individual. Although they lack a true hive-mind, the Ordocian think and react as if they were in constant communication, as any Ordocian knows how another Ordocian will respond to a given situation, unless it is new.
Communication: Ordocian communicate through a low-level electromagnetic field, and a few chemical signals. They are also capable of speaking verbally due to cross-species breeding, but many do not utilize this trait as they consider it an inferior means of communication.
Technology: Most of the Ordocian Technology is also Ordocian, or at least related. It was created through a similar process to the Queen breeding for new traits, and is usually organic based. Most Ordocian technology is also caste specific, and develops as part of that caste’s “body”, just as humaniti develops regional bacteria to help digest food.
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Ordocian – The Ordocian are an intelligent major race that has just recently appeared on the borders of known space, apparently from much deeper coreward. Little is known about the species by outsiders. In fact, most of the information presented herein is from a Ref’s prospective on the race. If the Ordocian have a name for themselves, it is unknown outside of their communities, and even the fact that they are a single species is just a guess by outsiders.
The Ordocian are a complex mosaic race, with a very adaptive genetic structure. Their society most definitely puts them into the classification of superorganism, like ants, their colonies are genetically divided into castes that perform their duties for the good of the whole community. Who created the Ordocian is unknown, though some hypothesis they are an experiment by the ancients that got out of hand, or that they are a natural fluke of evolution.
Ordocian Colonies can vary widely on appearance, as they are generally grown from the materials available at the currently location. Many compare these colonies to massive insect hives, with thick hardened lattice-like structures supporting massive networks of caves formed by bioorganic secretions and discarded chitin from the Queen’s Exoskeleton.
Mutation and Evolution: The Ordocian evolved on a world with a moderately radioactive climate. This led to many mutations within their culture, some for the good and some leading to disaster. Like most species, the Ordocian’s adaption to their changing environment was due to these mutations becoming dominate traits within the community.
Most species show signs of evolution during their fetal development cycles. Ordocian’s go a step further, however. Due to the development of a Tungsten laced gland within their body, the Ordocians can emit high frequency electromagnetic radiation through their bodies (in the form of X-rays) slicing their genetic code and allowing it to reform. This evolutionary gland is so precise that the Ordocians can attempt to evolve to beat a new challenge to the community, or even to reactive dormant survival mechanisms they need.
The lowest caste has the most complex genetic code, besides the “Queen”. These worker Ordocian are the first to attempt mutation whenever the community is in danger. Once a useful genetic mutation is discovered, that worker then breeds with the Queen, who can alter the genetic material given to her to create Mosaic species, usually a new caste of Ordocian. The new quality is then passed on to future generations of Workers, but the new caste is also used for as long as the community requires.
Other Species: The Ordocian have a driving goal “Multiply and Adapt”. Their survival mechanism can even allow them to absorb traits from other species into their colonies, though it is not common practice by a colony. It may even be that the Ordocian are made up of other species entirely.
When another species is encountered that possess a quality deemed worthy of the colony, a large number of the species is taken to a queen. Like much of the Ordocian “technology”, the actual genetic engineering is done by a biological function of the Queen. The Queen encases the subjects in a membranous pouch, creating a sort of suspended animation for the subject. The subjects then have genetic samples taken, mixed separately in an organ containing a variety of weak viral agents produced by the queen.
Once a strand is found that can pass the genetic barrier between the species, the Queen then biologically creates a retrovirus capable of rewriting the subjects genetic material enough to allow the Mosaic breeding, splicing out genetic material and growing the subject into a new caste. This new caste is then tested to see if it retains the genetic trait originally sought. If it is viable to the colony then the Queen translates the genetic material into the next generation of workers, and produces more of the caste to serve current needs.
Society: As stated previously, the Ordocian are a caste based “Superorganism” though they are not mindless. Many of the individuals vie for the honor of passing a new trait on to the colony. Competition between individuals is encouraged, as survival generates the best stock. Weakness is not accepted, and mutations that result in a negative trait are quickly purged from the colony.
That said the society is still community oriented before individual. Although they lack a true hive-mind, the Ordocian think and react as if they were in constant communication, as any Ordocian knows how another Ordocian will respond to a given situation, unless it is new.
Communication: Ordocian communicate through a low-level electromagnetic field, and a few chemical signals. They are also capable of speaking verbally due to cross-species breeding, but many do not utilize this trait as they consider it an inferior means of communication.
Technology: Most of the Ordocian Technology is also Ordocian, or at least related. It was created through a similar process to the Queen breeding for new traits, and is usually organic based. Most Ordocian technology is also caste specific, and develops as part of that caste’s “body”, just as humaniti develops regional bacteria to help digest food.
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