Oegongong

Oegongong
Base Information
Classification	Omnivore/gatherer
Terrain	Ocean (littoral)
Locomotion	Triphibian
Size	Various
Speed	Various
Strength	Very Weak
Social Structure	Large Swarms
Weapons	Stinger (Venom)
Armor	Biopolymer (Chitin)
Source
Homeworld	Lloursouth (Gvurrdon 1717)
Multi-world	Yes
Canon	No
Extinct	Extant
Reference	Challenge No. 27

The Oegongong is an hermaphroditic triphibian omnivore originally native to Lloursouth, but now found on several worlds throughout the Gvurrdon sector.

Overview

The Oegongong lifeform is composed of what appears to be two different and distinct species, but is in fact two different life stages of just one species with four life stages, the Oegongong:

• A buoyant flyer, born in the water
• A land and water-dwelling, scorpion-like organism.

Physiology & Ecology

For its size, the Oegongong has a stinger that is especially potent and painful. The stinger is capable of an unlimited number of stings, which means an attacking Oegongong can potentially kill any animal if it can sting it enough.

Life Cycle & Reproduction

Oegongong go through at least four known life stages.

Oegongong (Creature) Life Cycle Table

Stage	Name	Appearance	Age	Mobility	Locomotion	Environment
Stage 1	Egg Masses	Egg-like Zygotic Mass	Infant (Egg)	Sessile	Immobile	(Land-dweller)
Stage 2	Hatchlings	Scorpion-like Organism	Child (Juvenile)	Motile	Walker / Crawler	(Land-dweller)
Stage 3	Scorpions	Scorpion-like Organism	Immature Adult (Adolescent)	Motile	Walker / Crawler / Swimmer	(Amphibious: Land & Water)
Stage 4	Floaters	Balloon-like Organism	Adult (Reproductive Prime)	Motile	Flyer / Floater	(Air-dweller)

Life Stage 1. Oegongong "Eggs" (Zygotic Masses)

As the adult drifts over land, egg-cells are dropped periodically to the ground over a period of several days. With a fewer egg-cells in its body, the adult becomes lighter, drifting higher into the atmosphere until ultimately the balloon sacs expand and burst, killing the Oegongong.

When the egg-cells strike the ground some of the zygote material mixes and fertilizes the eggs, which then begin development. The jelly-like eggs are covered with a gummy, black, sticky mass that cements them firmly onto rocks, foliage, or tree trunks.

Life Stage 2. Oegongong "Hatchlings" (Juveniles)

Hatchlings crawl on land when they first emerge from their egg cluster. The hatchlings immediately seek out water—wallowing periodically in the shallows, while developing gills. As the hatchlings grow, they spend more and more time in the water and less and less on land.

Life Stage 3. Oegongong "Scorpions" (Immature Adults)

Immature adult Oegongong stay in the water using a biological form a electrolysis to generate hydrogen from the water; the generated hydrogen fills bubble-like sacks on their back. During this period in the Oegongong's life an egg-cell mass begins production inside the body, causing it to swell.

Life Stage 4. Oegongong "Balloons" (Reproductive Adults)

After a time, the hydrogen sacs make the Oegongong buoyant enough to float just below the surface of the water. The sacs continue to expand until they become huge and balloon-like with enough lift to pull the Oegongong from the water into the air as a free-floating adult, its body swollen with a great mass of egg-cells.

As the adult drifts over land, egg-cells are dropped periodically to the ground over a period of several days. With a fewer egg-cells in its body, the adult becomes lighter, drifting higher into the atmosphere until ultimately the balloon sacs expand and burst, killing the Oegongong.

At this point, some of the surviving Oegongong egg masses develop into Life Stage 1. Scorpion-like Oegongong Hatchlings and the cycle begins anew.

Diet & Trophics

An Oegongong will eat or attempt to eat almost anything so that many animals (particularly the smaller ones) steer clear of them. The tough rubber-like exoskeleton of the Oegongong makes it generally undesirable food for all but the largest carnivores.

Additionally, the Oegongong's stinger is active throughout its four life stages, which further discourages other animals from disturbing it. On the worlds where it flourishes, the Oegongong generally has few natural enemies.

Many ground animals consider the eggs to be a great delicacy, eliminating most of the thousands of eggs normally produced.

History & Background (Dossier)

Vargr corsair bands from Gvurrdon first encountered the Oegongong during the great expansion period known as the Gvurrdon Hvaek. Records from that period (circa -2650) indicate the first Vargr visiting Lloursouth (Gvurrdon 1717) believed the Oegongong lifeform is actually composed of what appears to be two different and distinct species, but is in fact two different life stages of just one species with four life stages, the Oegongong:

• One, a buoyant flyer born in the water,
• The other, a water and land-dwelling scorpion.

Only later did the Vargr realize that the flyer and the amphibian were, in fact, one creature with a triphibian life cycle.

Travellers' Aid Society Advisory

Adult Oegongong with their hydrogen sacs present a considerable hazard to flying vehicles: a collision can cause a significant explosion capable of causing serious damage.

• Additionally, the other life stages of the Oegongong can represent serious hazards for unaware travelers.
• The "Scorpion" stages of the Oegongong are known to be quite a nuisance to humanoid residents and can be, without proper precautions, lethal under the wrong conditions.

The TAS recommends wearing sting-resistant clothing (stiff or thick textiles) or armor (hard plates or pierce-resistant mesh), and making sure that all medical kits come with the anti-venom for Oegongong bites or stings.

• Additionally, Oegongong seems to avoid several tones in the high (megaherz) range, so white noise projectors may keep all but the most persistent Oegongong away from humanoids and other sophonts.

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.

• Loren Wiseman. Challenge 27 (Game Designers Workshop, 1986), 31-32.