Background Info
FEDERATION SOCIETAL DATABASE FILE
Planet: Vocci
Geography
Vocci is the fifth planet in the Thavika system. Thavika is a small, hot "blue dwarf" type star [O7V], radiating mainly from approximately 400GHz to 210 EHz. In the (human) visible spectrum it appears blue-white and also gives off significant amounts of ultraviolet radiation. The first four planets in the system are uninhabitable. Far enough out from its star to support life, Vocci is subtropical at the poles, and near uninhabitable at up to 30° from the equator. The planet's most notable features are its warm, shallow oceans and the relatively low variation in altitude of the land.
There are four continents on Vocci; Tnet, Chrata, Vraht, and Thimek. Tnet is the largest of the four, consisting almost entirely of desert save for the northernmost parts. Chrata is the next largest, and though covering a smaller area than Tnet is the longest, extending from 80°N to 80°S. At either tip it is cool enough to be inhabited. It is also the only continent on which habitation has reached into desert areas, being settled during a period of population growth prior to the colonisation of the northern regions.
The third largest continent is Vraht, on which the Vinvocci species is believed to have evolved. Vraht is roughly centered around the southern pole of the planet and is contained entirely within the polar circle. An archipelago links it with Chrata.
The smallest continent is Thimek. It is entirely equatorial and hence completely uninhabited.
Vocci's main spaceport is in the city of Sundata, the capital of the Anjtar Province. Anjtar incorporates the northwestern peninsula of Vraht, and a series of large islands which form the southernmost part of the Shiwet Archipelago. This region is relatively cool (annual average temp 29.2°C), characterised by coastal marshes and dense rainforest.
Sundata is currently the largest city on Vocci, with a densely-packed population of 14million. The city is built around twenty islands (fourteen natural, six artificial) on the edge of the Vtheki Strait. The city is semiaquatic to suit the needs of its amphibian population; the only part of the city built entirely above sea level is the "foreign quarter", a district directly adjoining the spaceport which was remodelled extensively in 2203 to accommodate land-bound visitors.
~*~
History
Note: For clarity, dates are given in the Terran standard
Recorded history on Vocci begins at approximately 2700BC. There is substantial archaeological evidence of relatively large settlements prior to that; however, the difficulty in developing a means of writing able to survive the semiaquatic lifestyle of the Vinvocci and Thanvocci meant that the invention of writing on Vocci came relatively late by comparison to most sentient species. This is the prevailing school of thought - there are however Voccini academics who argue that the level of civilisation implied by the extent of archaeological evidence would be impossible without some form of writing, and that these earliest examples have simply been unable to survive in these tropical conditions for so long.
On present evidence, the earliest surviving example of writing to have survived the passage of time is a poem inscribed on a clay tablet unearthed in the ruins of the city of Kdcheta, dating from 2731BC. By this point the physical evidence shows the existence of large cities and some argiculture.
In comparison to the majority of sentient species, Voccini were also late to come to fire, again due to their amphibious nature. By the time of the earliest known examples of writing however, there was also extensive evidence of forged metal tools. With the exception of the Ametcala civilisation in the Shiwet Archipelago it is rare to find weapons. As with most empathic species, war is extremely unusual in the history of Vocci. For the most part various cultures have coexisted with a minimum of friction.
[to be completed]
~*~
Biology
Two sentient species are native to the planet: Vinvocci and Thanvocci. The two species diverged from a common ancestor approximately 7.5 million years ago. Vinvocci are adapted to spend the majority of their time in shallow water or swampland, whereas Thanvocci are better suited to deeper water and rarely venture onto solid ground.
Both species are humanoid amphibians characterised by vividly coloured skin varying wildly in hue, and sharp spines on the head, shoulders, back, and arms. In Vinvocci the spines constitute the delivery method of a defensive mechanism, which is completed by venom glands at the base of each spine.
The respiratory system is similar to those found in terran amphibians: lung structure is very simple, with blood pumped around the body by a three-chambered heart. Approximately half of normal respiration occurs by diffusion through the skin in normal circumstances - when submerged in water this accounts for the entire respiratory process. Due to the relative inefficiency of the lungs, the heart beats rapidly (104 beats per minute on average). As both species lack a diaphragm and ribcage, air is drawn into the lungs with the aid of a buccal cavity at the back of the throat. In order to respire effectively by diffusion the skin must be kept moist - this is achieved by pores in the skin which secrete fluid in Vinvocci, while Thanvocci lack this provision and dehydrate rapidly on dry land.
In water, Thanvocci propel themselves by means of a powerful tail, with rarely used legs in the intermediate stages of becoming vestigial. The reverse is true for Vinvocci, an elongated bone at the base of the spine all that remains of the tail their common ancestor possessed.
Though both species are omnivores, they are adapted to a mostly seafood diet and are unable to digest red meat or dairy products. Other characteristics shared include a nictating membrane, short-range empathic capability, and vision extending into the ultraviolet range but unable to detect red light in the "visible" spectrum.
~*~
Culture
There is of course considerable variation in local customs across the planet. However, some are widespread enough enough to merit attention.
For both Vinvocci and Thanvocci polyamory is the norm. Juveniles become sexually active at approximately fourteen years of age on the completion of puberty. At some point over the following five to ten years, the majority will be accepted into an existing family group (known as a 'ktem') or form a new one. A ktem usually consists of four to eight adults of varying ages, with roughly equal numbers of males and females.
The majority of Voccini cultures have no equivalent to marriage - the ktem are fluid in structure, and it is in no way frowned upon for members to join or leave, or for individuals within the ktem to have relations with others outside of it. Children are raised communally with no significant cultural distinction made between biological parents and other members of the parents' ktem. Census figures for 2258 give the makeup of the average ktthemi (the wider family group including children) as three adult males, four adult females, and between ten and fifteen children.
Normally children remain with the same ktthemi until being accepted into a ktem of their own, even if one or the other of their biological parents leaves.
[to be completed]
Planet: Vocci
Geography
Vocci is the fifth planet in the Thavika system. Thavika is a small, hot "blue dwarf" type star [O7V], radiating mainly from approximately 400GHz to 210 EHz. In the (human) visible spectrum it appears blue-white and also gives off significant amounts of ultraviolet radiation. The first four planets in the system are uninhabitable. Far enough out from its star to support life, Vocci is subtropical at the poles, and near uninhabitable at up to 30° from the equator. The planet's most notable features are its warm, shallow oceans and the relatively low variation in altitude of the land.
There are four continents on Vocci; Tnet, Chrata, Vraht, and Thimek. Tnet is the largest of the four, consisting almost entirely of desert save for the northernmost parts. Chrata is the next largest, and though covering a smaller area than Tnet is the longest, extending from 80°N to 80°S. At either tip it is cool enough to be inhabited. It is also the only continent on which habitation has reached into desert areas, being settled during a period of population growth prior to the colonisation of the northern regions.
The third largest continent is Vraht, on which the Vinvocci species is believed to have evolved. Vraht is roughly centered around the southern pole of the planet and is contained entirely within the polar circle. An archipelago links it with Chrata.
The smallest continent is Thimek. It is entirely equatorial and hence completely uninhabited.
Vocci's main spaceport is in the city of Sundata, the capital of the Anjtar Province. Anjtar incorporates the northwestern peninsula of Vraht, and a series of large islands which form the southernmost part of the Shiwet Archipelago. This region is relatively cool (annual average temp 29.2°C), characterised by coastal marshes and dense rainforest.
Sundata is currently the largest city on Vocci, with a densely-packed population of 14million. The city is built around twenty islands (fourteen natural, six artificial) on the edge of the Vtheki Strait. The city is semiaquatic to suit the needs of its amphibian population; the only part of the city built entirely above sea level is the "foreign quarter", a district directly adjoining the spaceport which was remodelled extensively in 2203 to accommodate land-bound visitors.
~*~
History
Note: For clarity, dates are given in the Terran standard
Recorded history on Vocci begins at approximately 2700BC. There is substantial archaeological evidence of relatively large settlements prior to that; however, the difficulty in developing a means of writing able to survive the semiaquatic lifestyle of the Vinvocci and Thanvocci meant that the invention of writing on Vocci came relatively late by comparison to most sentient species. This is the prevailing school of thought - there are however Voccini academics who argue that the level of civilisation implied by the extent of archaeological evidence would be impossible without some form of writing, and that these earliest examples have simply been unable to survive in these tropical conditions for so long.
On present evidence, the earliest surviving example of writing to have survived the passage of time is a poem inscribed on a clay tablet unearthed in the ruins of the city of Kdcheta, dating from 2731BC. By this point the physical evidence shows the existence of large cities and some argiculture.
In comparison to the majority of sentient species, Voccini were also late to come to fire, again due to their amphibious nature. By the time of the earliest known examples of writing however, there was also extensive evidence of forged metal tools. With the exception of the Ametcala civilisation in the Shiwet Archipelago it is rare to find weapons. As with most empathic species, war is extremely unusual in the history of Vocci. For the most part various cultures have coexisted with a minimum of friction.
[to be completed]
~*~
Biology
Two sentient species are native to the planet: Vinvocci and Thanvocci. The two species diverged from a common ancestor approximately 7.5 million years ago. Vinvocci are adapted to spend the majority of their time in shallow water or swampland, whereas Thanvocci are better suited to deeper water and rarely venture onto solid ground.
Both species are humanoid amphibians characterised by vividly coloured skin varying wildly in hue, and sharp spines on the head, shoulders, back, and arms. In Vinvocci the spines constitute the delivery method of a defensive mechanism, which is completed by venom glands at the base of each spine.
The respiratory system is similar to those found in terran amphibians: lung structure is very simple, with blood pumped around the body by a three-chambered heart. Approximately half of normal respiration occurs by diffusion through the skin in normal circumstances - when submerged in water this accounts for the entire respiratory process. Due to the relative inefficiency of the lungs, the heart beats rapidly (104 beats per minute on average). As both species lack a diaphragm and ribcage, air is drawn into the lungs with the aid of a buccal cavity at the back of the throat. In order to respire effectively by diffusion the skin must be kept moist - this is achieved by pores in the skin which secrete fluid in Vinvocci, while Thanvocci lack this provision and dehydrate rapidly on dry land.
In water, Thanvocci propel themselves by means of a powerful tail, with rarely used legs in the intermediate stages of becoming vestigial. The reverse is true for Vinvocci, an elongated bone at the base of the spine all that remains of the tail their common ancestor possessed.
Though both species are omnivores, they are adapted to a mostly seafood diet and are unable to digest red meat or dairy products. Other characteristics shared include a nictating membrane, short-range empathic capability, and vision extending into the ultraviolet range but unable to detect red light in the "visible" spectrum.
~*~
Culture
There is of course considerable variation in local customs across the planet. However, some are widespread enough enough to merit attention.
For both Vinvocci and Thanvocci polyamory is the norm. Juveniles become sexually active at approximately fourteen years of age on the completion of puberty. At some point over the following five to ten years, the majority will be accepted into an existing family group (known as a 'ktem') or form a new one. A ktem usually consists of four to eight adults of varying ages, with roughly equal numbers of males and females.
The majority of Voccini cultures have no equivalent to marriage - the ktem are fluid in structure, and it is in no way frowned upon for members to join or leave, or for individuals within the ktem to have relations with others outside of it. Children are raised communally with no significant cultural distinction made between biological parents and other members of the parents' ktem. Census figures for 2258 give the makeup of the average ktthemi (the wider family group including children) as three adult males, four adult females, and between ten and fifteen children.
Normally children remain with the same ktthemi until being accepted into a ktem of their own, even if one or the other of their biological parents leaves.
[to be completed]