Damorkin Race Details
General History ::
The Damorkin are an old race, they originated on the fourth planet of
the Damor system about half a million years before the first true humans
evolved. Early Damorkin society was similar to that of Earth of the 20th
century, however the Damorkin split the atom long before their society
was mature enough to handle it with the result that about 50 years after
inventing the Atomic Bomb a war occurred which totally decimated the
planet. The only reason that the race survived was an organisation
called the 'Disciples Of Lore' (DoL). The DoL spanned the world of Damor
IV, it contained representatives of every nation on the planet. Seeing
the end of their race ahead the disciples gradually left the planet to
live in huge orbiting cities. With the war in its final stages and the
planet dying the DoL then offered the populous below a stark choice,
stay on Damor IV and die or leave the planet and live in space under the
authority of the DoL. All of this happened about twenty thousand years
ago and since then the Damorkin have gone from strength to strength.
After the exodus to space their first came a lengthy period of
stabilising while the now totally space borne society evolved and
settled into it's new environment. Then the Damorkin began to expand
their domain. The first stage was to construct more and better Space
Stations throughout the Damor system, these are now so advanced they are
virtual Space Cities. All resources are provided by mining stations
scattered through Damorkin territory. There are even some operating in
other territories (through trade agreements etc). The Damorkin had first
ventured into space about a thousand years before the exodus, but had
not made any moves to expand past their own system, however, the move
into space as a new home forced them to look further and they have now
explored quite far afield. It was during the later part of this
expansion phase that the Federation was encountered. First contact with
the Federation occurred about a hundred years ago and the Damorkin
currently have a complex treaty of mutual co-operation. This provides
not just for trade, but for exchange of officers and personnel between
the Damorkin Deep Space Patrol and Starfleet. This has been in existence
for over thirty years, and in the long term may lead to the Damorkin
joining the Federation. However, as the Damorkin control a large area
of space, the negotiations will take some time. about thirty years ago.
Several Damorkin are currently serving with Starfleet, both in an
Exchange capacity and as a full time career. There are at least three
serving within the Cocoon Fleet.
The war that forced them off their planet was not without side
effects. The massive doses of strange radiation unleashed have caused
the Damorkin to evolve certain attributes, which are detailed later.
Recent investigations into the Damorkin racial background have posed
some interesting questions. There is some evidence that the race did not
originate in the Damor system, and the similarities between them and the
'vulcanoid' races has resulted in speculation of a common ancestor.
Possibly a common 'seed race' as has been suggested for the many 'human'
species in the galaxy.
It should however be noted that no overt 'psychic powers' have ever been
recorded in a member of the Damorkin race. A Federation science team is
currently seeking funding and permission from the Damorkin LoreMaster to
mount an expedition to the Damorkin's world Damor IV.
Basic Description ::
Height : Average 6'10"
Build : Slight.
Although this is deceptive as their bones are about 8 times as dense as
a human.
Ears : These appear pointed due to their lack of ear lobes.
Hair : A wide range, although all colours have a slightly red tint to
them.
Eyes : These are probably the most startling feature. They possess no
iris and pupil as a human does. They are uniformly red and black. Not
just a plain pattern however but a swirling pattern of red and black,
constantly moving. It has been described as being like staring into a
pool of molten lava. The main problem for humans is the mesmeric effect
that looking into them can have. To avoid any problems all Damorkin must
wear special glasses when in the presence of other races (Although only
special training allows the control over the eyes patterns required for
the mesmeric effect.). These glasses are made from a opaque material
(Opaque to non-Damorkin) that conceals their eyes.
Special Notes :
The strange radiation unleashed during the war caused the eyes of the
Damorkin to change as described above. However they also gained a wider
range of vision than a normal earth human. They can see a wider range of
the electromagnetic spectrum than humans. This include infra red and
ultra-violet. A benefit discovered since discovering the Warp drive is
the ability to see the Warp fields caused by ships engines. They can
tell from these fields the speed and heading of a ship as well as the
status of its drives. With practice the can even allow a highly trained
observer to detect the presence of a warp powered cloaked ship, as no
ship can cloak its warp effect.
Social Setup :
The Disciples of Lore rule Damorkin society. In order to hold any
position of responsibility a person must be a member of the Disciples,
however this is not difficult as every child becomes an initiate as part
of becoming an adult. A child becomes an initiate of the Disciples at 18
years old and is sent to the Disciples main station for training and
assessment. It is at this stage that the future specialisations of the
child are decided. After completing 3 years of study and initiation
training the child is judged an adult and is accepted as a Disciple.
As an adult the Damorkin will now enter mainstream society in their home
station in the position they have been determined best fit for. A person
will remain in their assigned profession unless they later show a better
ability for another or they become an Adept. Over their lifetime a
person may move to many stations as they change post or marry, however
each move requires the approval of both Station Commanders (This is to
keep the population spread out among the Stations). If the population
grows large enough a new station is built.
All positions are open to all Disciples with no restrictions due to
gender or birth, however there is an exception to this in the command
positions aboard all Stations and Ships. All Ship/Station Commanders
must be Adepts (See below).
All Stations have a Station Council, which is responsible for the Day to
Day running of the Station. Each Station in turn reports to the Council
of Lore, which is headed by the LoreMaster. All members of the council
are Master Adepts.
A LoreMaster serves until they wish to stand down after a new one is
appointed from the ranks of the Master Adepts. It should be noted that
not all Adepts are Station Commanders, and not all Master Adepts are
members of the Council of Lore. Progression within Damorkin society is
by merit, however all senior positions are appointed by the Station
Council, which is elected by the population of the station from among
all eligible adepts. However the Council of Lore appoints the Station
Commander. The Council of Lore is elected by all Adepts from all
eligible Master Adepts. When a new LoreMaster is required all Master
Adepts meet to elect one from within their ranks (The new LoreMaster
need not be a council member and indeed is often not). A council member
has their name prefixed by 'Falanter'. The LoreMaster is addressed
simply as LoreMaster. This honors the position not the person. (Falanter
was the name of the first LoreMaster).
Disciples of Lore :
The Disciples of Lore practice a mixture of martial arts and mental
control collectively called 'The Discipline'. This allows a Disciple to
exert control (Or Discipline) over their own bodies to control and
channel energy as required. The group was originally called 'Discipline
and Lore' but this was corrupted into Disciples of Lore. The Lore
mentioned is a code of mental control and restraint. Not to be confused
with Vulcan practice of emotional control, the Lore stresses that
emotion is natural but that a certain amount of restraint is required
for people to live together in peace. The Disciples hold that total
control of both mind and body is essential to life. This concept stems
from the terrible wars that completely devastated their planet. However
unlike the Vulcan approach of prohibiting emotion, the Damorkin believe
that every emotion has its place but that to act in anger or fear is
wrong. The Damorkin try to 'Discipline' their minds and bodies. Every
Damorkin is initiated into the DoL at 18, and at 21 they become a full
Disciple. Further progress depends on the aptitude of each person for
the more advanced areas of the Discipline.
These higher levels cover the use and refinement the techniques used to
control the patterns formed in the eyes and their use in the mesmeric
ability of the Damorkin to influence people in a process similar to
hypnosis as well as extending the martial arts abilities. The levels in
the DoL are :
Initiate - All Damorkin aged 18 to 21 while receiving rudimentary
training in Discipline and Lore.
Disciple - All Damorkin aged 21 and over. Reasonably skilled in
Discipline and Lore.
Adept - Any Damorkin who shows talents for leadership is trained further
in Discipline and Lore, and is trained in the combat and control
aspects. They can control the healing of themselves and others (All
Doctors are at least Adepts), and have learned the basic use of the mesmeric
ability.
Master Adept - Master Adepts have full control over the mesmeric
properties of their eyes, and can exert a total control over their own
bodies. Master Adepts can enter a trance like hibernation state
in which they can survive for an indefinite period even with no
air. Due to their control over their bodies Master Adepts can
expect to live for a long time, indeed the current LoreMaster is
over 250 years old.
An Adept's name is often prefixed by the honorific 'Tellan' A Master
Adept's name is often prefixed by the honorific 'Samarie'
Disciple 'Eye Talk' :
The Disciples practice a strange form of communication, which make use
of the control that is developed over their eye patterns. The control
and hence the level of possible communication improves with practice and
'level'. A new initiate would be able to convey 'yes', 'no' and who they
are. A Master adept would be able to hold a full conversation. By
combining the eye patterns with subtle body positioning a complex and
complete 'secret language' has been developed.
Naming Conventions:
All Damorkin regardless of gender are named in the same way. Each person
has a name (E.g. Jalor, Yanal or similar).
Until they reach 18 they are simply called by their name followed by
'Sur' and the name of the Station they were born on. This can be roughly
translated as 'Child of'.
At 18 a child becomes an initiate and the Sur is replaced by Dur. This
can be roughly translated as 'Student of'.
At 21 when they become an adult the Dur become Dal. This can be roughly
translated as 'Citizen of'.
A Damorkin is addressed by their first name in all but formal
introductions. For example a Damorkin called Herin Dal Ranatal would be
addressed as Herin or Herin Dal Ranatal. To call him Mr Ranatal would be
like calling someone Mr San Francisco!
Comments::
The Damorkin emphasis on Discipline and relaxation should not be
confused with pacifism. The Damorkin maintain a strong space presence
and all their Station Cities are heavily armed and shielded against
assault. The Damorkin are very aware that while they are a peaceful
race, there are those who are not.
Leadership::
The current LoreMaster of the Damorkin race is addressed as LoreMaster,
his/her name is never spoken while they are LoreMaster. There are two
main reasons for this. First, in order to remind the holder of the
position that their job is to guide according to the tenants of Lore,
not their own whims. Secondly, because when they become LoreMaster they
'bond' with the old LoreMaster receiving his acumulated knowledge in an
instant. In this way the Lore is passed down, and has done so in an
unbroken line since before the Damorkin left their world to live in
space.
The current LoreMaster was appointed over 300 standard years ago and was
before that known as Dolran Dal Kimbrale.
The LoreMaster is an NPC controled by myself and may not be tampered
with without my agreement. Also if you want to play a Damorkin character
I ask that you check with me and send me a copy of your bio. This is to
avoid people contradicting each other, and will allow me to keep the
race details updated.
Known Damorkin Space Cities::
Damorfuge -
This is 'Capitol City'. Anyone born here is considered to be from the
city of their mother, thus no characters may originate here. This is the
main station of the Disciples and the home of the LoreMaster. This
station is the only one now orbiting Damor IV.
Surinoth -
This station orbits Damor VII (A ringed planet with no moons).
* Station Commander - Jarin Dal Narimor
* Station Engineer - Miran Dal Surinoth
Narimor -
This station is a mining station in the asteroid belt which lies between
the fourth and fifth planets.
Klaevor -
For more details of the Damorkin contact myself at :
ian@damorkin.demon.co.uk
NOTE:
The details on this race seem to grow every week as ideas occur to me,
or people make suggestions.
The Damorkin race was created for my own use in A.S.R. All the material
here is copyrighted by me (except where earlier copyrights and
trademarks apply). As far as players (or potential players) of the
Holoworld Cocoon Fleet, are concerned the material in this page is
available for use within the groups providing you contact me first. If
you want to start a Damorkin character then e-mail me before starting
one. This means that I can keep the details updated and keep track of
what the Damorkin can (and can't) do.
If you do want to start a character I ask that you send me a bio for the
character as soon as possible (and keep it updated).
All details are Copyrighted 1996-9 by Ian Case.
All rights retained except where preceded by an earlier copyright.
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