N’rog (Nah-rah-gh) –the race
The founding race of the Federation. The N’rog are a peaceful species that evolved on the world of N’rogemoh (Nah-rah-geh-mo). At 1 standard gravity, the N’rog home world is over twice that of most federation members, who have .4-. 6 Standard gravities.
N’rog are bipedal with 4 digits on each limb with an opposable thumb on the hands. The average N’rog stands 1.5 meters and weighs 200 Kgs. A hardy race, the N’rog bone and muscle structure is very well suited to their 1 Standard gravity world. With a large oval cranium, and a wide large mouth containing large multi rows of teeth. Although omnivorous, the majority of N’rog are vegetarians in custom and practice. Their large round multi faceted crystalline eyes glitter with multiple colors and reflect the light in such a way that they appear to be looking everywhere at once.
N’rog outer skin is very thick and rough in texture. Skin coloration varies from a deep dark green to browns and burn oranges. Hairless, the N’rog ridges upon their cranium are one of the few outward signs of age in an N’rog who once they reach maturity change very little in appearance to non N’rogians.
N’rog do not give live birth to their young. They are an egg laying species. Raising and caring for new hatched N’rog is a communally shared responsibility. With members caring for each little N’rog without concern for who is the biological parent of the offspring. All are loved and cared for equally by the tender N’rog nurturers.
“…until they had encountered another race, the N’rog had no concept or word for [the] idea of citizen. They simply did not differentiate between military and civilian. To the N’rog everyone was part of the whole, and understood the need to protect and defend instinctivly.
It came as a profound shock to the N’rog that other races did not arm their freighters nor reinforce their hulls to ‘military’ specifications. It was not that the N’rog were particularly militaristic or aggressive, but rather it was the result of a deeply ingrained instinct to protect and guard against encroachment.
N’rog did have divisions of labor, but it was never as specialized in terms of limiting certain skills or professions to one group or subset of people. In fact the N’rog have a word for equality, the term “Idr’ood” meaning each succeeds upon their own merit. Every N’rog is encouraged and allowed to independently find their place and full potential in society.
In fact N’rog as a race also adapt and change. Although seemingly slow to new ideas and ways of doing things, they are in reality carefully considered and those things that work will be adapted. Although the N’rog still have nearly all commercial freighters armed to some degree, they have for the most part changed to the more common practice of using cheaper and more economically viable construction methods in hull constructions. “
“…[they] never knew what hit them. After the first few months of the war, the [insert name] Hive found themselves facing a united force. The N’rog had forged the [insert name of first half dozen federation members] into what we now know as the federation. The combined might of the newly formed federation quickly took back systems lost in the early months of the invasion. After word got out of the results of the hives occupation of the affected worlds, there was no quarter asked or given. The federation was out for hive blood, and they got it.
If not for the quick forging of the initial federation alliance, it is without a doubt that the hive would have overrun each race individually. There were complaints and questions of cohersion as some members felt they were joining the federation at ‘laser point’, but these quickly died when the full horror of what hive occupation meant. “
N’rog background:
The N’rog are very territorial by nature. They seek to defend against potential enemies out of pragmatism. They can be aggressive at times, but usually aggression is a pro-active defense in their minds.
N’rog claim far more than they use. If they have explored a system or territory they do not use or plan to use for some time, they still consider it just as much their as if it was actively in use. This strongly influenced N’rog exploration policy. Re surveying systems was given a very low priority over searching out new systems. Only recently have the N’rog felt they had enough “room”, and have begun to re survey old systems.
The federation was forged by the N’rog as a way to obtain strength and more protection. They see the federation in some ways as a N’rog hatchling and have the same protection and feelings of responsibility both towards and expectations from them.
They do not worry about individual rights as much as group rights. They will respond quickly to an attack on an individual, if it is perceived as an attack or prelude to an attack upon the whole. Other wise their basic mind set is that if you want to keep something then you should be strong enough (or cunning enough) to hold on to it. As a result of this mindset, infighting by federation members while by federation charter is not legal, would be seen as reasonable (and expected) positioning and keeps things balanced and members fit and prepared.
N’rog raise their young in vast hatcheries. They have very little parental instinct towards their young. But a strong one to all young as future members of the race. They place several hundred eggs in a special chamber usually underground. There is food and resources in the pit for about half the young. During the hatching cycle, those that hatch on time will get first chance at the food. Over the next few weeks the young will fight for the food as it diminishes, and the good strategic locations for nesting and protection. About half the young die during these two weeks.
In time all of the food will be gone. At this point they must climb out of the pit, which was specifically designed to be nearly unclimbable. Those who work together pooling resources, or simply are lucky or able enough to make it out on their own will do so. Those who may be stronger, but less social will not have others to work with and tend to be left in the pit along with the weaker ones.
One week after the food is gone, those N’rog who have made it out of the pit are taken as a batch to be raised by other N’rog adults. The pits are then flooded and cleansed of any remaining young. There is a term for this “Idr’ood”, which is often mistranslated by other races. It means “only the fit will survive”.
N’rog have a very long and complex list of codes of conduct and behavior. It is based upon showing strength and willingess to defend what is yours, as well as showing willingness to defend your fellow N’rog as well, for only by banding together can the N’rog be strong.
Note: these are general ideas for the federation. An official charter or numbering them should probably be done (by someone else?). feel free to add or comment on anything here
The federation was founded [instert number of years] ago by the N’rog. By charter the Federation is overseen by the President, who is chosen by an elders council of the N’rog, with confirmation by the federation council.
Each federation member has one council seat. Each federation member or associate member has a number of assembly seats determined by population. Assembly decisions can be overturned by a 2/3 vote of the federation council. Council decisions can be overturned by a presidential veto, which requires a 4/5 vote to override and in turn presidential decisions can be overturned with a 4/5 vote of the council. (fru)
Note for damon: the intent of this is that any presidential decision takes 4/5 of the council to override his decision. A 30 day time to debate and vote on this should occur. The assembly really has very little power as the president or the council can override them if they choose.
The federation government oversees trade and commerce within the federation. Each federation member is considered equal to one another and has the same rights and freedoms. Each contributes a percentage of their GPV the federation. The federations in turn uses these funds to defend the federation, conduct Federation wide projects and research, and promote trade and commerce.
Each federation member is free to conduct their business without undue interference from other races or the federation, as long as they abide by the federation laws. Any races government owned or controlled ships must obtain permission before entering another races sphere of influence.
Federation ships are permitted normal movement through member space as part of their normal duties.
The federation emplaces and maintains all warp point communication and relay stations.
Federation bases or space stations to be added to a member’s sphere of influence require their permission except in cases of the good or protection of the federation as a whole.
Entry into the federation requires a ¾ vote of the council and the assembly. Associate status is a status of a race that has applied for membership in the federation but has not yet been raised to full member status.
Federation members may maintain their own military and navy for self-defense.
Federation Military (FedMil) is the branch of the federation who over see the defense and protection of the federation members. It is a multi cultural organization of highly trained and motivated federation racial members. The FedMil works within the framework of federation law and takes no part in individual member politics. FedMil is dedicated to the concepts and preservation of the federation.
Crews of FedMil ships are of mixed races, and can come from any federation member or associate member. Federation officers may only come from full member races.