Talk:Condyole (world)

Notes (2014)

The reference to the Vexx is straight from the T5 Second Survey data; I couldn't find another source.

• Note that Behind the Claw listed Condoyle's atmosphere as standard oxygen-nitrogen, which doesn't line up with other sources and is contradicted by the text. This discrepancy isn't included in the official errata.
• Garnfellow (talk)

My Reference to the Vexx is Tripwire, which is apparently official enough that it got included in the Sophont Review posted by DonM on the CotI boards, hence in the T5SS. I don't have the Tripwire book to verify the source.

There is enough errata for BTC that one more might have been missed. You can, but are not required to, submit the note to the Errata Coordinator.

Tjoneslo (talk) 22:56, 31 August 2014 (EDT)

Ah, thanks. Another alien race from Tripwire shows up in another world entry. Sounds like a cool book.

Garnfellow (talk)

Condyole (Spinward Marches 0901) E7A1522-8

Non-Aligned, Human Dominated

The Vexx (Pronounced Vesh) are a minor race of Humaniti that call Condyole home. How they got to this world, and how they survived for thousands of years is a complete mystery considering how low the tech level was until recently. Scholars have surmised that the race evacuated their real homeworld and came here being stranded somehow thousands of years ago. But there is scant hard evidence at this point. Though a Vexxan scholar has put the theory that at one point they might have been Darrien.

The surface of the world is a mixture of Nitrogen, Methane, Carbon Monoxide, Ammonia with trace amounts of Carbon dioxide and oxygen. There is some native life in the limited oceans that is beginning to produce oxygen in larger quantities, but given the limited amount of fluid on the surface, it is a question if the planet would ever evolve into a garden world.

The populations primarily live below ground, and generate oxygen using some specially bred single celled organisms taken from the shallow oceans, in vast vats and tanks exposed to sunlight. More recently with some technical assistance from the Zhodani consulate, and with trade with some Vargyr the capacity of the oxygen generation has expanded, and a building boom has begun that will be converting the cramped quarters for the roughly 900,000 inhabitants to much more spacious settlements. The the native language the phrase is a play on words "the space from space" and the population, normally isolationist, is seeing the benefits of trade and technical exchange, the TL recently boosted from 5 to 8, and early signs of 9-10 achievements with ongoing trade and technical exchange with the Consulate. The first Psionic schools have opened, as the propensity for them was slightly higher than typical humans.

A typical Vexxan (pronounced Ve-shan, their name for themselves) has white or very light blond hair, and skin that's almost blue-black (likely due to the high concentrations of elemental silver in the caves). Their slight point to their ears has given rise to the notion they might have been Darrian refugees fleeing the Maghiz. Their language does seem to be related to those people, but a very archaic version, different enough to cast some doubt. Their diet consists of various lichen, algae and fungi that grow in the underground warrens.

The planet is a direct democracy, where every adult has the right to vote. They do not have much in the way of legal control, societal strictures in place for who knows how long has prevented the kind of behavior that could put life support in danger, or to have normal crimes that plague Vargyr or IMperial Space. Though with the ongoing contact with the Consulate, Vargyr and the occasional Imperial trader, society is changing rapidly, and more than a few Vexx have joined Corsair groups from Vargyr space, with more than a little admiration from the population at large. The Consulate hopes with putting in place the oligharcic structure with nobles and intendants that crime can be prevented. Though it is highly doubtful the Vexx will simply mirror the Zhodani, if even trying for their outcome. Individuality is far too important, and some misdirection is cultural.

They do have a religion, but it's not shown much to outsiders, but it consists of a worship of a hairy 8 legged symbiot that keeps the tunnels clean and is key to food production. The webs spun by these creatures are sometimes fashioned into clothes, and a formal set of armor forms a traditional outfit for receiving high dignitaries. Such regalia is never sold but if it was sold would fetch Cr100,000 or more per outfit. And of course the creatures are highly illegal to export. These creatures are not native to this world or surrounding ones or Darrien space, so their origins are a mystery, though the myths could indicate it was from a place far Spinward and Rimward and brought back by traders and explorers in the mists of time.

Their economy is relatively poor and constrained, but sythetics made form webbing, some fungal and lichen is exported for its mild medicinal qualities, and there is a brisk trade in silver, tantalum, palladium, platinum and gold which the planet has in great abundance.

As per Bromo Ivory on FB