Derfi'gassak

Derfi'gassak
Base Information
Classification	Omnivore/eater
Status	Minor Race
Locomotion	Walker
Terrain	Forest
Body Form
Confluence	Non-humanoid
Bio-Identenoid	Alien
Size	1.5 meters
Weight	70 kg
Culture
Languages	Native Language
Social Structure
Technological Epoch	TL:7-9
Psionic potential	Standard
Origin World
Homeworld location	Orkney (Reaver's Deep 2919)
UWP	B5888CB-9 Starport B Good: Spacecraft Construction, Overhaul, Refined fuel Size 5 Medium (8,000 km, 0.40g - 0.57g) Atmosphere 8 Dense Hydrographics 8 Wet World 80% Population 8 Moderate (300 million) Government C Charismatic Oligarchy Law B Extreme Law (control of movement) Tech Level 9 Early Stellar (fusion)
Primary Star	M0 V M7 V
Atmosphere	Dense
Off-world presence	Yes
Zoetic individuals	Yes
Source
Reference	"Derfi'gassak – A Minor Non-Human Race." Into the Deep 1 20-21.
Canon	No
Also see

Derfi'gassak are a minor race believed to have originated on Orkney (Reaver's Deep 2919).

Physical Sophontology

The Derfi'gassak are a species known for fierce internal competitions, fervent spiritual beliefs, a keen technical competence, and a sense of hyper-xenophobia that is probably unparalleled within Charted Space. The males tend towards heavy muscles and thick bodies while the females have a leaner build. They tend to wear little beyond utility belts and tools as Orkney has a dense atmosphere heavy with heat and humidity which promotes a dense jungle and rainforest environment.

Climate & Ecotope (Environment)

This species holds the following environmental preferences:

• Terrestrial planet
• Temperate climate
• Jungle and rain forest ecotopes
• Low gravity
• Dense atmosphere (high pressure)

Anatomy & Physiology (Phenotype)

The Derfi'gassak as a race are short, on average less than 150cm. They have dark skin tones with either short white hair or no hair at all. They have six limbs coming out of the central body mass and each of the meter long limbs have four long digits, one being opposable. The Derfi'gassak are capable of using any limb to manipulate tools. A single 'mouth' stalk appears from the under body with mandibles extending from the stalk to grasp and pull food within the body. The Derfi'gassak appear to be blind as they have no noticeable eyes however they do have extremely sensitive sensor clusters on each limb that detect movement, smells and sounds in a 360 degree radius.

Body Plan (Morphology)

• Non-humanoid
• Radial symmetry (r-ial)
• Hexapod (6-ped)
  • 6 limbs used for dual locomotion/manipulation "arm-legs"
    • Each limb ends in a dual use "foot-hand" with four digits.
    • Each limb possesses sensory clusters around an "elbow" -like joint.
    • While capable of surface ambulatory walking motion, tree-swinging brachiation is preferred.
• Body consists of one segment: central body (craniopod)
  • Central body consists of brain case and primary organ housing armored within a bone cage.
    • The central body contains a mouth (consumptive orifice) off a tube-like stalk with multiple mandibles for breaking down food.

Biochemistry (Function)

This species has a conventional carbon-water biochemistry.

Respiration (Reaction)

This species used a conventional respiration cycle consisting of:

• Oxygen-nitrogen inhalant
• Carbon dioxide exhalant

Ecosystem & Population (Ecology)

Derfi evolved as a clever intermediate level omnivore, vulnerable to apex predators, and wary of lower level omnivores and carnivores except those much smaller than them. Derfi diets mostly consist of gathered vegetable and fruit matter combined with insects, fish, and smaller animals. Larger animals only began to be added to the diet with higher level social cooperation amongst the species. The Derfi's primary defensive strategy is quick ascension into tree-like plants, which is an effective ploy against all but a few apex predators.

Diet & Trophics (Consumption)

This species survives using the following methods of consumption:

• Omnivore/eater
• This species favors a mix of herbivorous and carnivorous foodstuffs.
• Primal Derfi'gassak were forest scavengers, collecting small animals and gathering various types of plant-life.
• Their stomach contains concentrated acids and is capable or breaking down a wider range of foodstuffs than many other sophonts.

Gender & Sexuality (Reproduction)

This species has the following reproductive characteristics::

• 2 genders (male & female)
  • Mild sexual dimorphism
• (sexual reproduction)
  • Reproduces through conjugal intercourse
  • Promiscuous mating system
• Viviparous birth
  • (Semelparous): Uses r-selection and have many offspring that require little time to raise to maturity.

Adolescence & Lifecycle (Ontogeny)

They have a shorter lifespan than most humans, which is not surprising given the violent nature of life on Orkney where super-large predators are common. The IISS suspects this short lifespan has promoted rapid reproductive maturation under conditions of early mortality of the Derfi'gassak.

Psychology (Cultural Sophontology)

The Derfi'gassak are extremely xenophobic in nature, to the point where they will attack anyone who comes near their homeworld. While clan wars are rare, when they do happen they are always bloody with extremely high casualty rates. Within clans disputes are also rare and are mediated by the priest clan.

Goals (Motivation)

• Survival
• Best defense is a good offense
• Anti-Hegelian dominance

Language (Linguistic Sophontology)

The Derfi'gassak language is based on guttural sounds and clicks, which seem to carry well in the dense atmosphere and thick jungles of their homeworld. The words, when strung into sentences, have a slight musical quality to them. The IISS have yet to translate any of the Derfi'gassak's language.

History & Background (Dossier)

This species has had a short history and is widely known for its extreme or hyper-xenophobia.

Historical Eras

Little is known about the origins of the Derfi'gassak and the IISS have yet to determine if they are natives of Orkney (Reaver's Deep 2919). The world was first surveyed in 110 however the presence of the Derfi'gassak was not discovered until the next IISS survey ship orbited the planet in 180. It was later discovered that the neighboring world of Maiden (Reaver's Deep 2920) was in fact a colony from Orkney, sent out by generation ships. Given the extreme xenophobic nature of the Derfi'gassak the Imperium decided not to contact them and so formed the autonomously governed region of Dienbach Grÿpen and quarantined them. The quarantine is maintained by the IISS from the scout base on Khagish (Reaver's Deep 3019).

Civilization (Societal Sophontology)

Most Derfi'gassak communities are partially hunter-gatherers, living partially but not exclusively on the wild products of their environment. The native forests of Orkney are rich in edible food-stocks, and the Derfi'gassak are mostly vegetarians. The Derfi'gassak of Maiden have to grow their own food due to the poorer nature of the planet, though this is easier as there are no natural predators on that world. Cities tend to be built into the sides of mountains or underground to protect the citizens from the native predators. They trade with neighbouring communities to acquire cultivated foods and other material items that are needed by the clan. Orkney is ruled by a priest clan, which their religion deems as a dictated right, and which the rest of the population follows with blind obedience. A smaller version of the ruler priest clan Each clan is lead by a prominent family, with the head of that family acting as the head of the clan.

Military & Intelligence (Force Projection)

Military membership is required by the priest clan for all males aged between 18 and 22. This allows the males to start their own family, usually around the age of 13, before beginning their military term. Military membership entails guardianship of the priest clan and the keeping of peace on Maiden.

The use of technology by the Derfi'gassak tends to be of a utilitarian nature and small. Technology is also created to blend into the environment as much as possible, which explains why the initial IISS survey missed the Derfi'gassak settlements. If the Derfi'gassak do not need an item to live it is very unlikely that the item will exist on either planet.

• Please see polity entry at Dienbach Grÿpen for more information.

Astrography

This race is primarily located in the following areas:

• Reaver's Deep Sector
  • Nightrim Subsector
    • Dienbach Grÿpen

Homeworld

The homeworld of this species is:

• Orkney (Reaver's Deep 2919)

World Listing: 1105

Significant communities of this race are known to dwell within the following systems and worlds:

2 of 2 World articles in Derfi'gassak

Maiden (RD 2920)  •  Orkney (RD 2919)  •  

startbacknext(2 listed)

References & Contributors (Sources)

This list of sources was used by the Traveller Wiki Editorial Team and individual contributors to compose this article. Copyrighted material is used under license from Far Future Enterprises or by permission of the author. The page history lists all of the contributions.

• Brett Kruger. "Derfi'gassak – A Minor Non-Human Race." Into the Deep 1 (2010): 20-21.
• EXTERNAL LINK: Derfi'gassak – A Minor Non-Human Race
• Traveller Wiki Editorial Team
• Author & Contributor: Lord (Marquis) and Master of Sophontology Maksim-Smelchak of the Ministry of Science