Orokath

Orokath
Distant Fringe Sophont
Base Information
Classification	Scavenger/intimidator
Status	Minor Race
Locomotion	Walker
Terrain
Body Form
Confluence	Non-humanoid
Bio-Identenoid	Alien
Size	2.5 meters
Weight	260 kg
Culture
Languages	Native Language
Social Structure	Balkanization
Technological Epoch	TL:4-6
Psionic potential	Standard
Origin World
Homeworld location	Feluchar (Halcyon 0734)
UWP	C988878-4 Starport C Routine: No Construction, Major Repair, Unrefined fuel Size 9 Large (14,400 km, 1.03g - 1.33g) Atmosphere 8 Dense Hydrographics 8 Wet World 80% Population 8 Moderate (700 million) Government 7 Balkanization Law 8 High Law (controlled blades) Tech Level 4 Industrial (combustion)
Primary Star	A3 V K7 V
Atmosphere	Dense
Off-world presence	No
Zoetic individuals	Yes
Source
Reference	Adie Alegoric Stewart - Distant Fringe
Canon	No
Also see	Distant Fringe

The Orokath are a sophont species native to Feluchar in Halcyon Sector.

Description

The Orokath are one of two sophont species found on Feluchar, their homeworld: their companion sophonts are the Kithenka.

• The two species are closely related, sharing a common primal ancestor.

Image Repository

1. Orokath.
   

Physiology

Orokath are characterised as atmosphere-breathing clear terrain walkers descended from scavenger intimidators. They follow the body pattern Asymetrical HSB-T-AA-LN-T. They have a flat horseshoe-shaped head mounting the brain and sensory organs and a bulky, generally serpentine vertical torso. Their anterior limbs consist of two paired, leaf-shaped dorsal signalling structures associated with reproduction and three grouped specialised manipulator tentacles. Their posterior limb group consists of five thick radiant locomotive tentacles. The rear third of their body consists of a bulky tail that assists with movement and balance. They are supported by an internal cartilage structure that anchors the muscles and protects internal organs. They have scum internal fluids and are protected by a leathery hide that secretes a thick protective gel. They have no distinctive natural weapons.

Orokath have a typical body mass of 264 kg. They are heavily built and immensely strong and are considered to be Titan in relation to humans. Orokath are thermophiles – their ideal temperature is around 37°C. The lower temperature limit for Orokath tolerance is around 15°C and the lower limit for habitability is around 0°C. The upper limit for tolerance is 65°C and the upper limit for habitability is around 80°C. Orokath have efficient internal mechanisms for regulating their body temperatures.

Senses

• Energy: V-14-PSU. Orokath vision is broadly similar to that of humans, though human eyesight is slightly superior. Orokath see most clearly towards the ultra-violet end of the spectrum.
• Vibration: H-20-9382. Orokath aural perception is superior to that of humans. They can hear sounds at frequencies from about 20 Hz to 25,000 Hz.
• Volatiles: S-14-3. Orokath are significantly more sensitive to odours than humans.
• Matter: T-04-2. Orokath hides are less sensitive to texture and pressure than human skin.
• Fields: A-2-1. Orokath are generally sensitive to magnetic fields.
• Auras: P-0 (oblivious).

Characteristics

A baseline Orokath has the following characteristic ranges:

• Strength 7D (actual 18+4D)
• Dexterity 1D
• Stamina 3D
• Intelligence 2D
• Training 1D
• Charisma 1D

Reproduction

Orokath are oviparous, with three genders: male egg activators (approximately 50% of the population), female egg producers (approximately 50% of the population), and matriarch egg bearers (less than 1% of the population). Males and females mate to produce fertilised eggs, which the females then transfer to matriarchs to incubate until hatching.

Life Stages

• 0 Infant (Hatchling): 2 years.
• 1 Child: 4 years.
• 2 Juvenile: 8 years.
  • Career starts at age 14.
• 3 Young adult: 2 terms (8 years).
• 4 Adult: 3 terms (12 years).
• 5 Peak: 3 terms (12 years).
  • Physical aging begins (46+ years).
• 6 Midlife: 3 terms (12 years).
• 7 Senior: 2 terms (8 years).
• 8 Elder: 2 terms (8 years).
• 9 Retirement: 1 term (4 years).
  • Mental aging begins (78+ years).

Diet and Trophics

Scavenger Intimidator.

Preference for aged meat.

Psychology & Philosophy

Psychology

The key elements of Orokath psychology are shared with many other sophonts:

• Acquisitiveness (derived from the need to acquire food and resources)
• Self-preservation, and
• Perpetuation

Orokath have other primal drives that influence their psychology:

• Competitiveness: survival of the fittest is necessary in a harsh environment with relatively few resources. Whilst social cooperation and organisation maximises the varied abilities of the group, there is intense rivalry to be at the top of the heap. If an individual cannot in some way provide to the group, it is better to leave them behind: Orokath can seem pitiless.
• Territory: controlling a broad territory ensures adequate resources. Territory is finite in its capacity to support groups of Orokath, and they migrate between seasonal feeding grounds. Orokath live nomadic lives, endlessly wandering their domains.
• Status: improving the individuals status within society brings the reward of a greater share of resources, but also brings rivalry from others also seeking to advance themselves. Status is generally determined through acts of strength or skill, less commonly by daring deeds, and very occasionally by acts of cunning. Quarrels about status and rights may descend into violence. Vendettas may continue for generations.
• Aggression: the primal ancestors of the Orokath took the kills of other animals as their primary source of nutrition, and they did so through shows of force and naked aggression. The fight-not-flight instinct is a strong influence and in confrontational or hazardous situations Orokath tend to stand their ground and face down the danger.
• Cooperation: despite their aggressive, competitive nature, Orokath understand the need to cooperate and follow broadly understood codes of ethics and morality that allow their societies to function. If the correct cultural and social protocols are followed, Orokath can be lifelong friends and firm allies. If protocols are ignored or limits are transgressed, Orokath can be vengeful foes.

Philosophical Outlook

Philosophy: Supernaturalism, meaning that God controls the universe through supernatural means. Numerous things that can’t be explained naturally.

Theology: belief in a defined single pantheon of deities or more commonly one all-powerful god.

Ethics: ethical absolutes, absolute right and wrong, good and bad

Psychology: Dualism, the idea that sophont beings have a dual nature, body and spirit. Body and soul are inseparable in life, and an equilibrium acceptable to the deity must be reached.

Demographics

Approximately 500 million, occupying the central and eastern parts of the supercontinent of Hyphaea.

These are divided between:

• Bomo Orokath, numbering some 320 million and principally inhabiting the northern and central parts of Hyphaea.
• Samkara Orokath, numbering some 160 million and principally inhabiting the eastern coastal ranges of Hyphaea.
• Dek Orokath, numbering around 20 million and restricted to cooler southern subpolar regions of Hyphaea.

Society & Culture

• Homogenity: A (Discordant).
• Acceptance: 8 (Friendly). Protocols must be followed and traditions must be observed.
• Strangeness: 8 (Unusual). The Orokath are an alien culture with their own unique styles, customs and habits.
• Symbols 7: (Unfamiliar). A varied and vibrant culture with a rich heritage and many traditions and beliefs.

There are three major cultural groupings:

• Bomo Orokath. Their hides tend to be a mottled brown, with distinctive bright yellow patches around the neck. The Bomo are fractious and incessantly squabble and play politics. Bomo wear jewellery and decorative items to denote status and rank.
• Samkara Orokath. Their hides tend to be a dark-striped pale brown, with distinctive bright yellow stripes around the neck. Samkara are the most advanced Orokath and are known as skilled mariners and engineers. Samkara paint and scar their bodies to denote status and rank.
• Dek Orokath. They are noticeably larger than other types of Orokath and have pale sandy hides and bright yellow spots around the neck. Even among Orokath their strength is legendary, as is their reclusive nature. Dek are unusual in that they regularly wear protective garments. They are considered to be the most primitive of the Orokath but show remarkable prowess with metallurgy.

Language

The primary means of communication is through vocalisation.

A great many languages and dialects exist.

Calendar

The local day is 28.5 standard hours long: there are 2975 standard days in local year.

• there are 2505 local days in the local year.
• each season (warming, hot, cooling and chill) is 626 local days long.
• every fourth local year an additional day is added to the end of chill season.

History & Background / Dossier

Orokath live in semi-nomadic tribal bands that are dominated by a single powerful individual who has won the groups loyalty by “proving” their superiority. These leaders surround themselves with a cadre of their most trusted minions. Territory and rights to resources are everything to Orokath, and “Overlords” occasionally emerge from amongst the squabbling bands to lead enormous but short-lived “nations” in vast wars of conquest. They have no particular interest in either humans or Kithenka, though they covet the rich Kithenka lands. Warbands may occasionally launch raids into Kithenka territory to collect resources.

Homeworld

The Orokath are native to Feluchar, a large warm world in the spinward-rimward quadrant of Halcyon Sector. Feluchar orbits a binary pair of stars once every eight standard years. The world has a high gravity, a dense atmosphere, and is 81% covered in oceans of liquid water. Most of the land surface is concentrated into a single rugged, mountainous supercontinent called Hyphaea, which dominates much of the southern hemisphere. The majority of the globe is covered by warm storm-wracked oceans dotted with subcontinental islands and archipelagos. The shallow nature of the oceans creates vast wetland areas and tidal flats. The mean surface temperature is 37°C.

Feluchar has extensive and abundant native life, filling every possible ecological niche. Flora is fast-growing, with a tendency towards fleshy stems and clusters of gelatinous dome-shaped foliage that is predominantly greenish-white in colour: it displays many characteristics associated with fungi. The world is exotic and it is naturally beautiful: pastel-coloured mycelium grass plains merge into forests made up of chitin-barked and globe-leafed spine-trees. During some seasons, when the weather conditions are perfect, the air fills with floating translucent spheres that drift on the wind for hundreds of kilometers before bursting and spreading their cargo of spores.

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.

• Author & Contributor: Lord (Marquis) and Master Scout Emeritus Adie Alegoric Stewart of the IISS
• Author & Contributor: Lord (Marquis) and Master of Sophontology Maksim-Smelchak of the Ministry of Science