Difference between revisions of "Uquilar"

Starport	X	No Starport
Size	9	Large (14,400 km, 1.03g - 1.33g)
Atmosphere	5	Thin
Hydrographics	A	Water World 100%
Population	8	Moderate (900 million00 million)
Government	7	Balkanization
Law	A	Extreme Law (no weapons)
Tech Level	0	Pre-Industrial (primitive)

Primary Star

G3 V K6 V

Atmosphere

Thin
(fluid breathers)

Off-world presence

No

Zoetic individuals

Yes

Source

Reference

Canon

No

Also see

The Uquilar of Buluqua are a Minor Non-Human Race native to Theron Sector.

Their homeworld is located within Babadur Subsector.
Their appearance is unknown.
Their technological competency is rated as very limited.

Description (Specifications)

An aquatic species with rich cultural traditions.

Demographics

The total known population equals 900 million individuals.

Nomadic groups.

The majority of the population travel between ancestral territories.

Native Culture

Homogeneity: C (fragmented)
Acceptance: 6 (aloof)
Strangeness: A (incomprehensible)
Symbols: 6 (somewhat concrete)

History & Background (Dossier)

Uquilar are majestic 15,000kg swimming heterotrophic, poikilothermic, omnivorous hunter-gatherers. They have 15m long streamlined vaguely tapered cylindrical bodies adapted for extremely efficient hydrodynamic maneuvering and propulsion. Their broad tail fins move powerfully from side to side and can function as a thrasher when needed. The bludgeoning from these can rupture internal organs of rivals and foes. Their lateral pectoral fins and dorsal fins are spaced 120 degrees apart and mark the midpoint of their bodies. They show evolutionary roots in a threefold radial symmetry but are more bilateral now. Their anterior buccal cavity is capacious and there is a dorsal rostrum with a sharp slicing oral beak flanked by two lateral, serrated mandibles. The biting surfaces have intricate, heavily mineralized, crystalline structures of near quartz hardness. Bites are useful for cutting and leave jagged ripping wounds, bite force isn't generally considered impressive. Oral vascular membranes filter oxygen from the water column for cellular respiration with the help of circulatory fluids. Deoxygenated water leaves through louvres along a groove on the back of the mandibles. They can breathe with their mouths closed as a result. They have bioluminescent “running lights” which can change color and are used for limited forms of signaling and simplistic communication at short range in the abyssal depths. These altered hues are visible at shorter ranges and can function to lure in prey items. These are matched with heightened sensitivity eyes on all the spars which secure their fin structures. Complexly enervated, these fins are also directional antennae for receiving acoustical and sonar signals. Their eyes can perceive electromagnetic radiation from microwave up to ultraviolet wavelengths. They are a unique suite of photosensitive pigments and redundant optical nerve endings. They frequently surface to view the stars across a broad band of frequencies and have had a rich “oral” history of astronomical events and cycles since prehistoric times. They use stars to navigate when possible. They lack a magnetic field sense. Their olfactory and chemoreceptive organs are not particularly acute. In the epipelagic zone within 200m of the surface they use vision. Below this level they switch to sonar pinging with whistles and clicks for range finding and target designation. They can also communicate across long distances with their acoustical signaling using ELF. What is interesting is that their behavior changes depending on their depth in the water column. In the light they tend to graze on photosynthetic plant analogues and are playful, friendly, talkative, they tend young, mate, and socialize. In the depths they hunt, move quickly and with dramatic serious purpose. They travel in tight groups with minimum flash signal traffic with their lighting rig until their hunting plan is worked out and they have a target solution. They work together to strike large prey items. Cooperative hunting predates sentience.

As a civilization they lack metallurgical abilities. Their only manipulative organ is a-kin to a grappling hook. They can launch, by muscular contraction, a barbed spur with a 1 to 6m long filament attached. The filament has a high tensile strength but is filled with long nerve fibers which render it sensitive and vulnerable. The grapnel end is ruggedly built with three articulated grasping claws and can crawl and move under the direction of the owner. These are used for anchoring mating pairs together in rough seas long enough to exchange genetic materials. They have a single urogenital opening located ventrally between diminished caudal fins. Annual mating activities are fraught with danger and occur at the surface during the appropriate season under the correct salinity and temperature regimes. Bound mating pairs attract predators. Protecting mating couples fostered early cooperation and group bonding behaviors in the proto-sophont forms.

Following internal fertilization and gamete exchange, small litters of live young are born after 20 standard months. They are led by psionic elders who often possess telepathic and telekinetic abilities. All psionic members of the species have high rank and social influence. That is to say, they are popular. They are seen as useful. They have herds of “domesticated” prey items and gather schools of organisms and defend these to maintain secure food stores for raising young. They move their herds between select locations in their home territories, which are a measure of wealth, as far as that concept applies in their culture. Some breeding species of food stock have been used this way for so long they demonstrate artificial genetic selection markers. They appear at first nomadic, but the patterns of travel are not random at all. They have practiced forms of selective breeding culling their herds and influencing breeding outcomes to optimize results. Locations and assets matter, but personal possessions are largely absent. They would claim a lagoon or reef formation for their family or clan and drive off others. They don’t bring things with them as they are perfectly adapted to survive as they are and have little use for most tools. They can move and manipulate underwater structures, piles of rocks and bioorganic products to build enclosures to corral prey items. The telekinetically talented have experimented with assembling rafts and boats from animal carcasses to float items from place to place. They use tethered swarms of swimmers to pull or push boats. They have assembled fin like sails to harness wind to pull loads. The ventrally mounted grappling claws can be used to arrange heavier stones into patterns to record information which function as crude data storage and "writing". Some monoliths and obelisks are used to mark borders and important resource sites.

Astrography

This race is primarily located in the following areas:
Charted Space:

Theron Sector
- Babadur Subsector

Homeworld

The homeworld of this race is:

Buluqua, a tropical water world orbiting a binary pair of stars.

Local Technology

Buluqua possesses a Technology Level of TL–0.

These worlds often contain a Proto-Sophont species beginning to establish a nascent civilization and society.
This world is in its Alpha Period and has not yet been interfered with by a higher technology civilization.
Common Communication technologies for this TL include: Bodily communicative apparati, courier-runners, and smoke signals.
Common Power Generation technologies for this TL include: Bodily muscle.
Common Transportation technologies for this TL include:
- Land: Bodily locomotion, riding beasts, and litters or sedan chairs.
- Water: Swimming, rafts, and canoes.
- Air: Typically not available unless a bodily ability.

Local Government

Buluqua has a Balkanized Government. There is no central world government. The world has several governments competing for control of the world. These may be allies, cooperating, competitors, or at war with each other.

Tribal groups and clans.

Local Law

Buluqua has an extreme law level which covers every area of interaction. Laws are complex, detailed, and difficult to understand. Every interaction with the government requires an Advocate. Law enforcement is omnipresent and strict. Legal proceeding can take months to years to resolve and may involve dozens of people. A few worlds with this law level may be a Red Zone and others will be an Amber Zone. All objects specifically manufactured as weapons are typically regulated or prohibited (with no exception for private residences; visiting starships are only protected so long as they stay within designated starports and approach corridors).

Complex laws and traditions.

World Listing: 1105

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

1 of 1 World articles in Uquilar

Buluqua •

startbacknext(1 listed)

References & Contributors (Sources)

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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

@@ Line 61: / Line 61: @@
 == History & Background (Dossier) ==
-'''Uquilar''' are majestic 15,000kg swimming heterotrophic, poikilothermic, omnivorous hunter-gatherers.  They have 15m long streamlined vaguely cylindrical bodies adapted for extremely efficient hydrodynamic maneuvering and propulsion.  Their broad tail fins move powerfully from side to side and can function as a thrasher when needed.  The bludgeoning from these can rupture internal organs of rivals and foes.  Their lateral pectoral fins and dorsal fins are spaced 120 degrees apart and mark the midpoint of their bodies.  They show evolutionary roots in a threefold radial symmetry but are more bilateral now.  Their anterior buccal cavity is capacious and there is a dorsal rostrum with a sharp slicing oral beak flanked by two lateral, serrated mandibles.  The biting surfaces have intricate, heavily mineralized, crystalline structures of near quartz hardness.  Bites are useful for cutting and leave jagged ripping wounds, bite force isn't generally considered impressive.  Oral vascular membranes filter oxygen from the water column for cellular respiration with the help of circulatory fluids.  Deoxygenated water leaves through louvres along a groove on the back of the mandibles.  They can breathe with their mouths closed as a result.  They have bioluminescent “running lights” which can change color and are used for limited forms of signaling and simplistic communication at short range in the abyssal depths.  These altered hues are visible at shorter ranges and can function to lure in prey items.  These are matched with heightened sensitivity eyes on all the spars which secure their fin structures.  Complexly enervated, these fins are also directional antennae for receiving acoustical and sonar signals.  Their eyes can perceive electromagnetic radiation from microwave up to ultraviolet wavelengths.  They are a unique suite of photosensitive pigments and redundant optical nerve endings.  They frequently surface to view the stars across a broad band of frequencies and have had a rich “oral” history of astronomical events and cycles since prehistoric times.  They use stars to navigate when possible.  They lack a magnetic field sense.  Their olfactory and chemoreceptive organs are not particularly acute.  In the epipelagic zone within 200m of the surface they use vision.  Below this level they switch to sonar pinging with whistles and clicks for range finding and target designation.  They can also communicate across long distances with their acoustical signaling using ELF.  What is interesting is that their behavior changes depending on their depth in the water column.  In the light they tend to graze on photosynthetic plant analogues and are playful, friendly, talkative, they tend young, mate, and socialize.  In the depths they hunt, move quickly and with dramatic serious purpose.  They travel in tight groups with minimum flash signal traffic with their lighting rig until their hunting plan is worked out and they have a target solution.  They work together to strike large prey items.  Cooperative hunting predates sentience.
+'''Uquilar''' are majestic 15,000kg swimming heterotrophic, poikilothermic, omnivorous hunter-gatherers.  They have 15m long streamlined vaguely tapered cylindrical bodies adapted for extremely efficient hydrodynamic maneuvering and propulsion.  Their broad tail fins move powerfully from side to side and can function as a thrasher when needed.  The bludgeoning from these can rupture internal organs of rivals and foes.  Their lateral pectoral fins and dorsal fins are spaced 120 degrees apart and mark the midpoint of their bodies.  They show evolutionary roots in a threefold radial symmetry but are more bilateral now.  Their anterior buccal cavity is capacious and there is a dorsal rostrum with a sharp slicing oral beak flanked by two lateral, serrated mandibles.  The biting surfaces have intricate, heavily mineralized, crystalline structures of near quartz hardness.  Bites are useful for cutting and leave jagged ripping wounds, bite force isn't generally considered impressive.  Oral vascular membranes filter oxygen from the water column for cellular respiration with the help of circulatory fluids.  Deoxygenated water leaves through louvres along a groove on the back of the mandibles.  They can breathe with their mouths closed as a result.  They have bioluminescent “running lights” which can change color and are used for limited forms of signaling and simplistic communication at short range in the abyssal depths.  These altered hues are visible at shorter ranges and can function to lure in prey items.  These are matched with heightened sensitivity eyes on all the spars which secure their fin structures.  Complexly enervated, these fins are also directional antennae for receiving acoustical and sonar signals.  Their eyes can perceive electromagnetic radiation from microwave up to ultraviolet wavelengths.  They are a unique suite of photosensitive pigments and redundant optical nerve endings.  They frequently surface to view the stars across a broad band of frequencies and have had a rich “oral” history of astronomical events and cycles since prehistoric times.  They use stars to navigate when possible.  They lack a magnetic field sense.  Their olfactory and chemoreceptive organs are not particularly acute.  In the epipelagic zone within 200m of the surface they use vision.  Below this level they switch to sonar pinging with whistles and clicks for range finding and target designation.  They can also communicate across long distances with their acoustical signaling using ELF.  What is interesting is that their behavior changes depending on their depth in the water column.  In the light they tend to graze on photosynthetic plant analogues and are playful, friendly, talkative, they tend young, mate, and socialize.  In the depths they hunt, move quickly and with dramatic serious purpose.  They travel in tight groups with minimum flash signal traffic with their lighting rig until their hunting plan is worked out and they have a target solution.  They work together to strike large prey items.  Cooperative hunting predates sentience.
 As a civilization they lack metallurgical abilities.  Their only manipulative organ is a-kin to a grappling hook.  They can launch, by muscular contraction, a barbed spur with a 1 to 6m long filament attached.  The filament has a high tensile strength but is filled with long nerve fibers which render it sensitive and vulnerable.  The grapnel end is ruggedly built with three articulated grasping claws and can crawl and move under the direction of the owner.  These are used for anchoring mating pairs together in rough seas long enough to exchange genetic materials.  They have a single urogenital opening located ventrally between diminished caudal fins.  Annual mating activities are fraught with danger and occur at the surface during the appropriate season under the correct salinity and temperature regimes.  Bound mating pairs attract predators.  Protecting mating couples fostered early cooperation and group bonding behaviors in the proto-sophont forms.