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| |genus = Vox Primalis | | |genus = Vox Primalis |
| |imagebgcolor = lightgrey | | |imagebgcolor = lightgrey |
| |img_generic = Preternis.png | | |img_generic = Vox.png |
| |img = | | |img = |
| |specietype = VOX | | |specietype = VOX |
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| |guides = Don't breathe the dust.}} | | |guides = Don't breathe the dust.}} |
| <br> | | <br> |
| The '''Vox''' are remnants of an ancient race, that originate from arkships known collectively as the <b>Shoal</b>. "Vox" on its own usually refers to the common <b>Vox Primalis</b>, just one of many castes among the Vox. These strange bioengineered beings have a physiological caste system and follow the tenets of <b>'The Inviolate'</b>. Breathing pure nitrogen, they require specialized masks and tanks for survival outside their arkships. Their insular nature limits their involvement in broader galactic affairs, maintaining a distinct, yet isolated presence away from other species. | | The '''Vox''' are a species of space-faring and largely insular beings. They hail from large stations known as arkships, known collectively as the <b>Shoal</b>. "Vox" on its own usually refers to the common <b>Vox Primalis</b>, just one of many groups among the Vox. These strange bio-engineered beings have a physiological hierarchy and follow the tenets of <b>'The Inviolate'</b>. Breathing pure nitrogen, they require specialized masks and tanks for survival outside their arkships. Their insular nature limits their involvement in broader galactic affairs, maintaining a distinct, yet isolated presence away from other species. |
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| = Gameplay= | | = Gameplay= |
| Vox is an optional species that can be chosen for play in the character creation menu. Vox anatomy is uniquely shaped and they are most comfortable in form-fitting clothing, but can manage with standard clothing too. They possess bright blue blood, which is antigenically incompatible with standard ABO blood types. They breathe nitrogen (N<sub>2</sub>) for respiration, instead of oxygen.<br> | | Vox is an optional species that can be chosen for play in the character creation menu. Vox anatomy is uniquely shaped and they are most comfortable in form-fitting clothing, but can manage with standard clothing too. They possess bright blue blood, which is antigenically incompatible with standard ABO blood types. They breathe nitrogen (N<sub>2</sub>) for respiration, instead of oxygen.<br> |
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| * Breath mask type | | * Breath mask type |
| * N<sub>2</sub> tank type | | * N<sub>2</sub> tank type |
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| == Racial Benefits == | | == Racial Benefits == |
| * Immune to decay and will not skeletonize. | | * Immune to decay and will not skeletonize. |
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| * Internal organs will not accumulate germs or decay even outside the body; external organs do not accumulate germs while attached to the body. | | * Internal organs will not accumulate germs or decay even outside the body; external organs do not accumulate germs while attached to the body. |
| * Resistant to low temperatures due to their insulating hides. | | * Resistant to low temperatures due to their insulating hides. |
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| == Racial Weaknesses == | | == Racial Weaknesses == |
| * Oxygen is extremely toxic to them, preventing breathing of standard air. | | * Oxygen is extremely toxic to them, preventing breathing of standard air. |
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| The most visually obvious fact is that Vox bodies do not conform to standard humanoid dimensions, Vox try to fit clothes around themselves, resulting in a very unique look! | | The most visually obvious fact is that Vox bodies do not conform to standard humanoid dimensions, Vox try to fit clothes around themselves, resulting in a very unique look! |
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| == Language == | | == Language == |
| Vox can understand Common fairly well but speak it poorly. They tend to creel or shriek as punctuation. KHAAAAK! SCRAAAAHK! Their laughter sounds like 'kikiki'. | | Vox can understand Common fairly well but speak it poorly. They tend to creel or shriek as punctuation. KHAAAAK! SCRAAAAHK! Their laughter sounds like 'kikiki'. |
| It is not impossible for Vox to speak Common fluently, however it is exceedingly rare. | | It is not impossible for Vox to speak Common fluently, however it is exceedingly rare. |
| Vox often insult other species. Humans are 'meat'. Vuulek are 'rotten' due to their scales. Skrell are 'leaking' or 'slippery'. Tajarans are 'mouldy'. | | Vox often insult other species. Humans are 'meat'. Vuulek are 'rotten' due to their scales. Skrell are 'leaking' or 'slippery'. Tajarans are 'mouldy'. IPCs are generally seen as 'metal men' and 'walking loot'. |
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| Vox tend to jeer a lot about how their victims are treeless, that their lungs are full of dust, and such. People usually have no idea what they're on about. Which is fine because the Vox don't put much thought into it either. | | Vox tend to jeer a lot about how their victims are treeless, that their lungs are full of dust, and such. People usually have no idea what they're on about. Which is fine because the Vox don't put much thought into it either. |
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| ===== Organs and Revival =====
| | == Organs and Revival == |
| Owing to their semi-synthetic nature, Vox organs do not suffer from decay. Most of their organs are analogous to ones found in humans, except for the cortical stack; which is so much more than just a brain, being considered almost sacred to the Vox. | | Owing to their semi-synthetic nature, Vox organs do not suffer from decay. Most of their organs are analogous to ones found in humans, except for the cortical stack; which is so much more than just a brain, being considered almost sacred to the Vox. |
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| Revival is standard as in other species, except for cloning. Vox bodies are unable to be cloned due to their unique physiology. | | Revival is standard as in other species, except for cloning. Vox bodies are unable to be cloned due to their unique physiology. |
| = Lore = | | = [[file:Voxflag.png]] Lore [[file:Voxflag.png]] = |
| '''Vox''' are artificially created species that live in environments where nitrogen is their breathing gas. They inhabit colossal moon-sized vessels known as arkships or arks, scattered across the remote fringes of the Orion Sector's outer rim. Its species features several races that live and work alongside each other, among these are the Vox Primalis, which are drones and the main bulk of the species. Primalis are ingrained in a rigid caste system from birth, a structure overseen by the superior races of Vox Armalis and the elite Primalis, who function as both fanatic zealots and guardians of their respective arks. The ark's governance revolves around a theocratic system venerating the Vox Auralis, a powerful vox whose path to ascension is dogmatically followed and taught to all Vox, to engrain their role in the larger purpose and preservation directed by their god.
| | ==Behaviour== |
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| Despite their complex society, Voxkind exerts minimal influence in the sector, primarily due to their arkships' strategic distance from core worlds, a deliberate choice to avoid interactions with other species. Despite the distance, Vox individuals are occasionally encountered outside their arks, often as exiles, wanderers, or raiders on a sacred mission for their ark. These rarities and their secretive disposition have unfortunately led to widespread mistrust and prejudice against the Vox by other species, fueled by historical incidents and governmental biases.
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| Consistent in their isolationism, internal strife is rampant within Voxkind. Arkships often engage in covert assaults or sabotage missions against each other, driven by the zealots under faith to their respective Auralis. Even so, the arkships are not strangers to internal conflict, with the populace frequently fighting due to the caste system they work in, and suppression of free thought or wrong ideologies opposing the system.
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| == Behavior == | |
| Vox will never willingly surrender unless the only other alternative is death. However, they will happily fake surrender if it puts them in a better position to escape. They lie as easily as they breathe and appear fearless despite their propensity for running like the clappers at the first sign of trouble. | | Vox will never willingly surrender unless the only other alternative is death. However, they will happily fake surrender if it puts them in a better position to escape. They lie as easily as they breathe and appear fearless despite their propensity for running like the clappers at the first sign of trouble. |
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| Civilian crews have no staff roster, just families. If a ship has no families that work a certain trade they will try to exchange families with another ship or ark. | | Civilian crews have no staff roster, just families. If a ship has no families that work a certain trade they will try to exchange families with another ship or ark. |
| | ===Behavior of NT Vox Crew=== |
| | Unlike the typical traits of Vox trade or raid crews mentioned above, Vox that appear as staff on Nanotrasen vessels behave differently. To begin, Vox that appear on crew aboard NT vessels are often not there by choice, but are restrained by a contract, debt, or otherwise. While it is rare for Vox to willingly work for NT, some are forced to do so because they are not fit for work as a Raider but still wish to work freelance, Trader Rejects if you will. |
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| ==Subraces==
| | While Trader Vox have oaths of pacification and wish to flee rather than fight, Crew Vox are quick to find that in certain situations these will no longer be viable options and as such they must adapt. Breaking the Inviolate is often no issue for crew Vox, many of which are not expecting to meet up with a larger group anyway. Overall, crew Vox react to combat and the Inviolate as they need to be for their chosen profession. |
| There are many different types of Vox within the species physiology. While distinct and filling specific caste roles within their ark, have complexity in appearance and size.
| | ==Naming Conventions== |
| | | Vox generally use indigenous names which often prove hard to write. These names are often enunciated as a series of screeching sounds which are then transcribed into the phonetic equivalents in the Galactic Common alphabet, for example <b>“Kikiriachiki”, "Hayahakaiti", "Yaitakikat"</b>. These same names are usually employed by organizations such as NT, however some Vox choose to go by aliases when interacting with other civilizations. |
| ===Vox Primalis===
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| The majority of observed Vox belong to the Primalis category and range from 61cm to 183cm, with sizes being dependent on the original work designation of the body. Primalis are considered the general population of an ark, making up a majority of the vox living there by a significant margin. Their numerous population is for the sole purpose of working and maintaining the arkships infrastructures, tasks, and daily life of vox. Existence as a Primalis can range depending on position within the Vox caste, as Vox can either be leaders and significant authority figures, or laborers and disposable workers.
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| While the body of a Primalis can range from tiny to large, they contain higher concentrates of musculature that is highly dense and capable of extremely powerful and rapid movement. Primalis physiology is ideal for sprinting and repetitive tasks, something that is necessary for their life aboard arkships, and the designations they operate under. Despite their engineered physiology, these benefits are locked to specific body types, meaning Vox who seek certain attributes and physical appearance need specific artificially made bodies with those features, these can range from height, to muscle mass, skeletal structure, and even beak shape and appearance. Rumor's even speculate of Vox who have managed to have bodies modified under unique circumstances, extra eyes, split beaks, and even different bone structure, this however has never been proven or discovered outside arkships and is considered a tale by most.
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| ===Vox Armalis===
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| These Vox are considered the perfect creation of the Auralis, and are powerful in strength, and intelligence. Visually they have a third eye and minimum height of 2.43 meters. They are created with the sole purpose of leadership roles, acting as overseers, fleet commanders, and any critical position inside an ark. They are bulky in size, containing more muscle mass and strength in their giant bodies compared to a Primalis with the ability to easily snap bones or crush arkship walls with ease. | |
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| While they are gifted muscular super strength at birth, they are hyper intelligent, able to process multiple tasks without breaking the flow of concentration. With all these benefits comes a cost, their own personal freedoms and goals, as they are born highly loyal to the ark they originate from. Many Armalis would rather die than betray their arkship and it's Auralis. For this reason, they are considered rare outside of arks aside commanding raiders on expeditions. A failsafe is built into the Auralis, similar to modern death implants, designed to dust and turn the body into an ash- so other species cannot study their body completely, or gain significant bionics within the Auralis body.
| | By and large Vox prefer to keep these phonetic equivalents rather than adopting the naming conventions of other species, a choice most likely due to prevalence of traditional Vox culture being a pinnacle of Vox social life. |
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| ===Vox Apex===
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| These Vox are considered the perfect creation of the Auralis, and are powerful in strength, and intelligence. Visually they have a third eye and minimum height of 2.43 meters. They are created with the sole purpose of leadership roles, acting as overseers, fleet commanders, and any critical position inside an ark. They are bulky in size, containing more muscle mass and strength in their giant bodies compared to a Primalis with the ability to easily snap bones or crush arkship walls with ease.
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| While they are gifted muscular super strength at birth, they are hyper intelligent, able to process multiple tasks without breaking the flow of concentration. With all these benefits comes a cost, their own personal freedoms and goals, as they are born highly loyal to the ark they originate from. Many Armalis would rather die than betray their arkship and it's Auralis. For this reason, they are considered rare outside of arks aside commanding raiders on expeditions. A failsafe is built into the Auralis, similar to modern death implants, designed to dust and turn the body into an ash- so other species cannot study their body completely, or gain significant bionics within the Auralis body. | | While it may be a series of incoherent shrieks to some, Vox names carry deep meaning behind them. The Vox have three distinct naming conventions that appear to be part of their Inviolate. |
| | # '''Formal names.''' A long string of descriptive titles, clan affiliations, notable jobs, military service, and physical or mental features of note. Stalwart Second-Deck Overseer of Rolling-Wave, He of Many Quills, Lancer of the Third Wing, Strong-arm, Born to Yellow-Tree. |
| | # '''Use-names.''' A single physical or mental feature, the name of the current clan of the individual, and a unique, short sound (one syllable). Ex. Vicious Darting-Minnow Lex. This mode is only used when speaking to friends or family. Very close friends are permitted to use the last term of a use-name. |
| | # '''Raider names.''' Call-signs, in other words, also common in military crews. These are usually one or two words at best, chosen or given informally to describe the subject. Ex. Red Hegga. Calling someone by their raider name is usually considered an invitation to violence if you aren't part of their crew, or if they are no longer raiding or in the military. |
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| ===Vox Auralis=== | | ==Biology== |
| The original Vox, having multiple eyes and standing over 12ft tall. They are labeled as gods or higher beings within the ark ships they once built millennia ago. They are rumored to be incredibly dangerous, powerful, and have the most potent psychic abilities in existence. Only a handful of Auralis live aboard arkships and exist in their own secluded chamber in the core of the ark, under miles of thick metallic layers enough to survive even the most devastating explosions. Each Auralis shares the same end goal - ascension, and the ability to escape the mortal plane into what their perceive as a higher level of existence. | | The Vox species can be divided, generally, into four groups: Vox Primalis, Vox Armalis, Vox Auralis and Vox Apex. |
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| No Primalis in their existence has ever seen one aside those in the high ranks of the caste who claim too, and the Armalis. Rumored to be in a deep meditative state as they research and focus on finding their goal, an Auralis will never leave its core, and partake in the society it has created around itself. Speculators and heretics within voxkind claim they have already reached the higher plane, or perished during their endeavors. And with said perish, the true purpose of the Vox species as a whole.
| | Due to the mysterious nature of Vox reproduction, and the complete lack of specimens from the three latter categories, much of their genetic and physiological compatibility and similarity are unknown. All four groups are known to possess cybernetic enhancement, sometimes to an extreme degree, and all of them are known to share at least one common dialect, designated Vox-pidgin, irrespective of their vocal capacity, distance from each other, and cybernetic equipment. |
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| == Biology ==
| | The Vox tail is a curious organ, acting as a prehensile limb, temperature regulator, and balance aid all in one. Long, flat scales on the underside of the tail are laced with capillaries, and when in atmosphere a Vox can bristle them to help dispersing excess heat. Sub-nodes in the Vox redundant nervous system are present in the limb, and it has demonstrated twitching movement up to three hours after the tail has been severed. |
| The biology of a Vox Primalis is completely unique in physiology and appearance compared to other natural born species. While vox are gifted the power of biological immortality due to their cortical stack, they still face issues with their bodies' upkeep and health, most importantly, their species' unique organs. Vox organs are specialized and designed specifically for arkships or oxygen free environments. They are adapted and designed by the Apex to be as low maintenance as possible while keeping their versatile and valuable organs in top shape, however still being prone to aging via the body as it naturally deteriorates overtime. | |
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| ===Vox Creation===
| | Vox colouration varies wildly between settlements, ships and crews, but the most common palette is a mix of olive, muddy brown and yellow. |
| When a Vox Primalis is created, its stack is artificially made by the Apex of its respective arkship. Forged with a unique craftsmanship only possible by its scale and precise recipe gifted from the Auralis. It uses organic matter and mechanical implants to fuse and create the stack- a living, durable, and biological immortal brain. There are two species that are artificially made, the Primalis and the Armalis.
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| For elaboration on biological immortality,
| | Vox bones are light, porous and very flexible. Vox can turn their heads almost a hundred and twenty degrees to the side due to their long necks. They tend to sway when interested in something, or anxious, and shriek at glass-fracturing volume to drive off attackers. |
| | ====Vox Primalis==== |
| | The majority of observed Vox belong to the Vox Primalis category, and range from three to four feet in height. Skin is thick, reinforced with keratin scales, and appears to act as an insulator and pressure-suit combined. The molecular complexity of the skin suggests that extensive engineering has been undertaken to adapt it to low-pressure environments, and attempts to grow samples in the lab have resulted in highly acidic compounds burning through the dish, the table, and the hull beneath it. |
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| ''"Biological immortality (sometimes referred to bio-indefinite mortality) is a state in which the rate of mortality from senescence is stable or decreasing, thus decoupling it from chronological age. Various unicellular and multicellular species, including some vertebrates, achieve this state either throughout their existence or after living long enough. A biologically immortal living being can still die from means other than senescence, such as through injury or disease."''
| | Despite their size, Primalis musculature is highly dense and capable of extremely powerful rapid movement, ideal for sprinting, leaping and kicking. Sustained effort is less effective, and prolonged exertion will cause lactic acid buildup that can reach crippling levels. An exception to this rule is the beak, which is capable of reflexive and prolonged pressures in excess of 500PSI. |
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| When a Vox dies before its set body has reached its decay timer, it will either be replanted inside a new body to continue work. When a Vox dies, it considered a death. When the stack is wiped for reset, or destroyed to the point it is unable to properly function- it is true death, or for simpler terms ego death. This condition is permanent.
| | Vox talons are very hard, approximately equivalent to twice the hardness of human bone, and appear to be insulators against electrical current. The hardened skin on their forearms and lower legs is of similar consistency, ribbed in the manner of Earth birds, and exhibits a healing factor against surface damage characterised by leading researchers as 'absurd'. |
| | ====Vox Armalis==== |
| | Vox Armalis are a smaller subgroup within Vox populations, never observed outside of frigate-class or larger vessels belonging to Vox crews. They stand twice the height of their Primalis kin, statistically, and are far heavier and more armoured. In most cases, sensory organs like eyes and tongues have been completely replaced with cybernetics of bewildering complexity. No sample of an Armalis or their cybernetics has been recovered due to inbuilt, extremely subtle self-destructive measures. Spectographic analysis suggests that almost every internal cavity within the average Armalis is filled with semi-organic circuitry and cybernetics, their specific purposes unknown. |
| | ====Vox Auralis & Vox Apex==== |
| | Very little is known about the Vox Auralis and Vox Apex, and their inclusion in reviews of Vox physiology is generally a footnote. Sightings of the individuals are rare, bordering on unheard of, but consistent enough to warrant acceptance as a facet of the Vox species. The Auralis stand approximately the height of the Armalis, and weigh three to four times as much. Badly corrupted records of analysis from destroyed probes suggest that they exist at least partially within bluespace. The veracity of this information is suspect and pending review. |
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| ===Vox Bodies=== | | The Vox Apex is known about solely from records, and acts as a physical god within Vox mythology. This is the full extent of recorded data on the entity or entities. |
| The bodies of a normal Primalis are designed to live for an estimated 40-50 years before showing symptoms of decay or failure. Vox who have decaying bodies will experience symptoms of like chronic back pain, wrinkled skin tissue, and even health issues like organ failure. These issues can be remedied in several different ways, depending on the circumstances and position of the Vox. | | ==Background== |
| | ===Relations=== |
| | The Vox have no formal declarations of peace or war with any known intercluster government. Their dispersed and independent nature makes it impossible to enforce any sweeping policy against the shoal, as individual ships will act in wildly different manners. |
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| A simple solution is to replace the decaying and failing organs with new ones. Harvested from another host and placed inside. This preservation method can be used to keep a vox body sustained for a time. This allows one to continue preserving and using a body as long as they have a source of fresh organs. Other species' organs can work inside but tend to either show health symptoms or fail due to incompatible blood types and alien nature. Cybernetic implants are also a good alternative but are much more expensive, depending on the quality, and merchant one chooses to buy from.
| | Standard protocol in the Moghes hegemony is deployment of a soghun breacher crew to destroy the Vox and claim their equipment, irrespective of the flag displayed, due to frequent and repeated failures of the Vox to live up to their promises of peace. |
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| Another method is moving the original stack to a new empty fresh body, discarding the old one, and recycling it to whatever is most convenient. New bodies depending on the circumstances are challenging to obtain. Arkship vox can wait years for a new body as the Haruspex responsible for growing them need time. As many vox are dying of decay, accidents, and crime within an arkship, the demand is high while the supply is steady but slow, overpopulation can strain this process. Free vox or those not bound to their arkships must find outside sources to replace their bodies.
| | NanoTrasen maintains a shoot-on-sight protocol for all Vox ships above the skipjack class, or in other words, any ships with more than forty Vox crew, that stray within visual distance of an NT establishment. |
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| A market for vox bodies exists among pirates and traders. Traders usually offer worn-out and partially decayed bodies that were missing organs at a fair price. While pirates usually deal in stolen bodies, taken from raids or conflicts among other vox. The pirates' methods to obtaining bodies consistent of violence and murder, so organ replacement is usually necessary when trading with a pirate. A majority of these merchants are only Vox, given the experience and knowledge in preserving bodies, while also being an incredibly niche market to work within the sector.
| | The Skrell have declined from commenting on the Vox, stating simply that they are something of an irritant, but a generally peaceable one. |
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| Vox bodies are difficult to acquire, as their only manufactured inside Arkships by an Apex and Haruspex. This rare value is why vox treasure their body and preserve it for as long they can live within it, as replacement or alternatives are very lackluster, expensive, or impossible. The price for a body outside of arkships normally tend to charge thousands of credits per body, price depending with size, implants, and quality of age. | | The Tajaran government maintains no facilities with sensors powerful enough to detect cloaked Vox vessels and has not reported any contact with the Shoal. |
| | ===Culture=== |
| | The veracity of this information is suspect, as it has come from interviews with the Vox themselves. |
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| ===Vox Organs===
| | The Vox have no homeworld. Vox society is encapsulated by their huge, moon-sized arkships and the Shoal. |
| Vox are grown for nitrogen based, low-pressure environments, as they naturally live inside arkships which have all these features. Inside the body of most Primalis lie several unique organs, similar to other species but unique enough that no species has ever truly understood the breakdown of its complex structure to recreate. | |
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| | Each arkship houses a population of at least ten million to half a billion individuals, if not more. They're very large, very slow, and usually surrounded by clusters of smaller Vox frigates and barges. There are only around twenty of them in existence, and they collect names over the course of their existence. An example ship might be 'Rolling Vessel of Seeking Souls Built on Bones of Leviathans, Scarred by Sunheat from Fifteen Systems, Scored by Weapons of Lesser Foes, Taproot to Thirty Tribes, Host to Six Trees'. Understandably, ships are given use-names, such as 'Sunheat Leviathan' for the previous example. Poetry is preferred over meaning in a lot of Vox naming conventions. |
| '''The Body,'''
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| a skeleton made of collagen and calcium phosphate. Weaved within it, a nervous and vascular system carry signals and blood over the body. | |
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| '''The Head,''' | |
| two eyes with bioluminescent pupils that glow in the dark. A cortical stack with the ego and spirit of a vox. This stack is responsible for the nervous system and functions to control said body and give life. A beak, made of keratin and concealing sharp rows of teeth designed for ripping flesh. A vox’s throat is grown with unique vocal cords and two tongues. This assembly of muscles, labeled “Syrinx”, is what gives Vox their signature screeching language.
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| '''The Chest,''' | |
| wherein lies a vox’s heart, two kidneys, and the stomach. Most strikingly, this stomach is capable of digesting non-organic materials. Additionally, two specialized vox lungs handle the filtration and distribution of nitrogen, from the air. The pulmonary cells inside are especially vulnerable to oxidation, making Oxygen dangerous to breathe.
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| '''The Limbs,'''
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| vox have two muscular arms, and with three phalange-like claws, composed of keratin threads and posessing opposable thumbs. Vox have two equally muscular legs, . They have three phalange-like toe claws designed for standing tall (once again, beast primalis are exempt from this rule). This makes them digitigrade by nature. Vox have a long prehensile tail that can be used like a third limb and serves to keep balance. It can grasp small things and occasionally be used to throw or slam as a defensive tactic, though this obviously depends on the size of the vox and its muscle mass. .
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| ===The Stack===
| | Each arkship shares the feature of being roughly spherical - the central component and by far the largest is the grove, a sphere of metal containing soil and flora from the lost Vox homeworld. Dozens, if not hundreds, of prefabricated modules, stolen and scrapped ships, or the space equivalent of shanties, are bolted to the hull and to each other, forming a thick cluster of chaotic wreckage referred to as the arkship's 'shroud'. The strongest of the factional warlords on a ship usually get there by adding ships to the shroud, by force, commerce or trickery. |
| The artificial organ that gives the Vox its unique identity, conscious, and ego. Only able to be created by an Apex, it is one of the most advance pieces of Vox technology, being necessary to continue the creation of the species.
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| ====Stack Integrity====
| | The very oldest is simply referred to as 'First', and contains the largest grove of the entire disparate fleet. It's considered a holy site and maintains a skeleton crew to prevent strain on the ecosystem. Each prospective Vox fleet leader will make a pilgrimage to the First to add a new ship to the shroud, and to cement their fitness to command. |
| The general overview of vox's stack. As a vox lives their life of eternity, they may be prone to accidents or possible hazards along their lifetime. These can lead to the death of vox. However, as long as a stack survives, the vox inside lives and can easily be restacked to return to work. While this may be the case, stacks are still prone to taking damage. Anything blunt-related, sharp, or extreme heat exposure, like lasers, can cause true death, meaning the stack is permanently destroyed and only recyclable. Most vox are very careful about avoiding being put into these situations, as being exposed to dangers like these are life-threatening, even if they have an endless supply of bodies. | |
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| {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: left; background-color:#FAFEFF;"
| | Vox crews have a rigid pecking order, established over many many years. Newcomers to a Vox ship have to fight for a position tooth and nail, almost always displacing a previous member to the bottom of the pile in the process. Older, unfit or injured Vox will occasionally accede to the newcomer voluntarily, taking up a post on the home arkship to allow a fitter crewmember to serve. |
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| |'''1. Full Health:'''</font size>
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| :<span style="color:green">100% - 90%</span> Pristine and functioning at peak performance. Vox with this level of stack integrity are rare, and typically only found in recently born or repaired stacks.
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| |'''2. Healthy:'''</font size>
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| :<span style="color:Olive">90% - 75%</span> Healthy stack integrity. Vox with this level of integrity are considered healthy and functioning normally. Minor issues may arise, but can usually be treated with medication or minor surgery.
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| |'''3. Moderate:'''</font size>
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| :<span style="color:orange">75% - 60%</span> Below average stack integrity. Vox with this level of integrity may experience moderate health issues such as difficulty with movement, speech, or cognitive function. Medical attention and surgery from a Haruspex may be necessary to maintain functionality.
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| |'''4. Damaged:'''</font size>
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| :<span style="color:brown">60% - 40%</span> Poor stack integrity. Vox with this level of integrity may have severe health issues such as loss of motor functions, memory loss, or sensory impairment. True death may occur if not treated promptly with extensive surgery or replacement of damaged nerve ends.
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| |'''5. True Death:'''</font size>
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| :<span style="color:red">40% - 0%</span> Critical stack integrity. Vox with this level of integrity are in danger of true death, as a significant portion of their stack is permanently damaged or destroyed. They may have lost essential functions such as movement or communication, and medical intervention may be insufficient to prevent true death.
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| |}
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|
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|
| ====Insight of the Stack====
| | Crews without a pecking order, such as new groups freshly booted off an arkship and set to raiding, will have an internal structure that is highly chaotic. Traditionally, they choose an item such as a 'leader hat' to determine who is in charge, and then fight over it constantly until a clear hierarchy is established. Young Vox are loud, energetic, and proud to a fault. |
| The Ego and imprints inside a Vox are random. While the stack is artificially made and created with usually a designation in mind before being put into a body, personality can have more factors during the growing period when a Vox is learning its place in society. Environment, Hazards, Other Vox, and P-Blockers, which are designed to suppress certain emotions or behaviors if necessary, are all factors in the outcome of how the Vox behaves.
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| P-Blockers are stimuli enhancers that sometimes are put inside Vox to push their behaviors towards efficiency, usually nulling negative personalities that can hinder their work and making or encouraging ones that aid or help if efficiency.
| | Vox raiding crews are almost always made up of young Vox, rowdy and champing at the bit to prove themselves; hence the Vox's reputation as violent, warmongering thieves. Older Vox, or Vox established on civilian vessels, tend to be somewhat more sedate, though in all honesty no less likely to fleece an unwary customer out of everything they own. |
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| Enforcers, for example, are usually forced to be distant around low-level drones to avoid sympathy or attachment. They are given P-Blockers to suppress kindness and emotions of love and encourage ruthless behaviors and mannerisms to maximize efficiency in the field. Labor Drones can sometimes also be put onto P-Blockers to breed out laziness and promote incentive workaholic personalities. While they still have some identity that makes them unique, they will generally share similarities in activities and productivity with anyone else manipulated by P-Blockers.
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| Suppose a Vox tries to ignore the P-Blocker enhancer they are dosed with. In that case, it becomes unpleasant, migraines start to take over, and even short hallucinatory visions can occur, all designed to manipulate the Vox in what the P-Blocker wants. Despite all the things P-Blockers are effective for, there are cases where being off P-Blockers for long enough will eventually make suppressed emotions return, freeing the stack of any shutoff personalities while on the drug. However, the longer one is on P-Blockers, the longer it takes to return to normal, from decades to centuries.
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|
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| In Vox society, the integrity and preservation of stacks are of utmost importance. Consequently, the Haruspex caste is revered for its expertise in managing the integrity of Primalis stacks, imprints, and bodies. Through their specialized skills and understanding, they are responsible for maintaining the stability and longevity of the Vox population.
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| The cortical stack also indicates a Vox's status and identity within the caste system. The integrity and quality of a stack can impact an individual's role, responsibilities, and privileges. As such, the health of a stack is closely monitored and maintained to ensure the proper functioning of the societal hierarchy. Furthermore, the stack is pivotal in Vox's loyalty to their arkships and devotion to their respective roles. Through the stacks, a sense of collective identity and purpose is imbued in the Vox population, ensuring their unwavering commitment to their society's objectives. The cortical stacks serve as the foundation of the Vox society by preserving their memories, experiences, and consciousness while reinforcing the societal hierarchy and loyalty. The importance of maintaining stack integrity cannot be overstated, as it directly impacts the survival and prosperity of the Vox species.
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| ====Stack Taboo====
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| Lastly, there is one taboo in Vox society that many see as evil or sins against their kind, the destruction of a stack through murder, resulting in true death. Many gangs and criminals avoid destroying stacks to reduce pressure or heat from local authorities like the Overseers and their Enforcers. However, this does not mean that murder intending to cause true death is impossible. Some Vox can grow jealous of others and their living conditions, disputes about food and work imbalances, territory wars between rival Primalis gangs in slum sectors, and maybe even cutthroat bureaucracy to gain more in society by removing roadblocks. A vox caught guilty of murdering another may have their rations reduced, demoted to a lower caste like a slave, or repositioned to another sector. A vox caught guilty of murder resulting in the true death of their kin will always be reset and given the ultimate punishment. True death.
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| == Social ==
| |
| Vox culture is fragmented depending on caste, location inside of the world, and even beliefs. Many arkships all house a similar style of systems inside their societies designed to separate the masses from the elites. These parameters and even barriers can result in a difference in belief from how you, a Vox, would adapt and learn. However, arkships are relatively flexible in their designs. These are mostly limited by the creator's imagination and the already set parameters of vox society as a whole. Even with said parameters, you can be flexible about the idea of an ark you choose to make or borrow from someone else's designed arkship. | |
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| Arkships are rather ruthless in their authority and their systems. All towns and sectors within the ark are governed like districts. Either by a high-casting Armalis or subsidiary Primalis who always work as a proxy to an overseer. Each sector controls and functions in tangent with The Core to sustain life support and ensure the ark is stable. In the case of no active Auralis, Armalis are usually the head of these sectors and work together as a senate to maximize and control the Primalis.
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| | |
| ===Naming Schemes===
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| Vox naming is tied heavily into their species language of screeches and shrieks. Composed of primarily voiceless velar and voiceless alveolar plosives, the names are a combination of words within the language created by Vox based on their setting or background. There are two distinct naming schemes for Vox to choose from. Clan based naming scheme, or individualistic that only the naming vox understands.
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| Clan based naming Vox utilize a combination of physical or mental features, the name of the clan in question aboard their original arkship, and a short unique sound. For instance: A vox can name themselves Ka-Ke-Kori or Kakekori to translate into, Vicious-Darting-Minnow. 'Vicious' is the formative physical or mental feature, 'Darting' is the prefix of the clan name aboard the ark, and 'Minnow' is the modifier sound. This naming scheme is reserved for vox who are considered worthy of their clan affiliation and have earned such achievement by showing loyalty and devotion to their designation. Commonly used by those proudly still aligned with their home arkship.
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| *Kakekori (Ka-Ke-Kori) (Vicious-Darting-Minnow)
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| *Kiyaka (Ki-Yaka) (Kind-Drifters)
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| *Teke-ko (Teke-Ko) (Intelligent-Watcher)
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| Second to this are their encrypted names. These names are one of the more unique and hidden aspects only known to the Vox speaking them. This complication is sometimes inherently done to feel unique, and confused translation to even those within vox society. Mixed naming can sound similar to clan based names, however the deeper context is changed, with a focus on individuality instead of adopting a group style name. A vox can name themselves Kotokikiya which at first can sound exactly like a clan name, but upon further context has zero affiliation to a clan. Instead Koto-Kiki-Ya is based on the Vox and its choice of meaning for words.
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| This allows vox to have some control over their identity, and essentially always keep their name secretive. 'Koto' could translate to Friendly, or Bitter, and even Sorrow, making it always be a mystery as to what each combination of words have meaning. This type of naming is usually done by low caste Vox who choose to pick a title instead of their designated serial number. Most who grow to further benefit their arks abandoned the names in favor of more sophisticated clan names, however those who perceive individuality and grow estranged from arkships value the freedom of their naming more.
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| *Kotokikiya (Koto-Kiki-Ya) (???-???-???)
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| *Takayaya (Taka-Yaya) (???-???)
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| ===Arkship Life===
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| Once a vox inside of an ark is successfully created, their given a designation to work under, and taught the Inviolate. They follow it like a gospel until their unforeseeable promotion or demotion. If they're lucky, they can climb the ranks of their starting designation's caste in society and reach a new social level that gives more opportunity and authority from their previous position.
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| Inside the ark, slums and sprawling shanty towns tend to litter the ship. These sprawling makeshift homes and buildings are built around actual well-designed structures mainly to help in housing as arks tend to be overpopulated for maximum efficiency. Vox tend to spend most of their days working doing their tasks and designations. If the sector overseer declares a hull breach- every laborer and atmos tech in that sector is expected to fix the issue.
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| Suppose a sector fails to meet standards or is underperforming. In that case, the punishment can result from demotion to a lower caste position like slave or sector wipes- in which a percentage of the vox are executed and reset to avoid deviancy, as well as sending a message that failure is non-negotiable. However, if most work is completed ahead of time or tasks are in low demand Vox of lower caste slack off or avoid work, doing whatever they wish inside the bounds of the Inviolate. In that, they socialize with each, do productive activities, explore and exercise, and practice their designation.
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| ===Designations and The Caste===
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| Designations however are something every Vox should have because their species as a whole was designed to be nothing but tools for the Auralis in upkeeping their ships. Vox are born to have a set of duties and tasks aboard their arkship and their societies since birth. There is no childhood for a Vox, no long lasting innonence, and no sort of free choice to what roles they are allowed to become. They are placed into a caste system inside their species and forced to work until their restack day (death of the body.) These ranks can however differ depending on arkship, and culture inside the society. Some arkships are probably more lax on work quotas, while others are extremely punishing that failure to meet standards can result in true death. When it comes to the caste system there is usually a divide between ranks and hierarchy. The most base form would be the high caste, mid caste, and low caste.
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| However a Vox does not need to be forced to follow the roles it is given at birth. Some Vox can turn deviant after years of struggle, lack of direction, and possible PTSD. With deviancy comes its own issues of Vox crime ill touch on later, but failure to be a loyalist to the arkship and its kin can be punishable by true death, or demotion to a lower caste. While this is the case it is still common for a majority of Vox to not stray far from their birth designations, as many believe that hard work and sacrifice will be rewarded after ascension.
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| | |
| However a Vox does not need to be forced to follow the roles it is given at birth. Some Vox can turn deviant after years of struggle, lack of direction, and possible PTSD. With deviancy comes its own issues of Vox crime ill touch on later, but failure to be a loyalist to the arkship and its kin can be punishable by true death, or demotion to a lower caste. While this is the case it is still common for a majority of Vox to not stray far from their birth designations, as many believe that hard work and sacrifice will be rewarded after ascension.
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| The caste system within Vox society plays a crucial role in maintaining order, stability, and efficiency within arkships. Each caste, High, Mid, and Low, serves specific purposes and carries out distinct functions. In this chapter, we will delve deeper into the roles and responsibilities of each caste, while many of the listed roles provide good context as to their duties and the purpose of the primalis, you can be creative and make something that fits into the scenario similar to the examples below.
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| <div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:70%">
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| ====High Caste====
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| Valuable Primalis that have lived for around 1000 years aboard their arkships, High Caste Vox are extremely loyal to their master apex and the Armalis’ great goal of ascension. Restacked probably hundreds of times, they are dogmatically devoted to their work and kin, leading to them being rewarded greatly with a high position in society. Most Primalis are taught to respect and follow in the footsteps of the high caste, and those who arouse the wrath of the High Caste may be labled as heretics or accused of deviancy. Some roles of a high caste are Haruspexes, Second Command to Enforcer and Fleet squads, and even Sectoral overseer roles.
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| <div class="mw-collapsible-content">
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| ----
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| '''Haruspex'''
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| As doctor-priests of the arkships, Haruspex occupy a unique and revered position. They are responsible for preserving the integrity of Primalis stacks, imprints, and bodies, ensuring their proper function and longevity. Additionally, they interpret the will and directives of the Apex, guiding other Vox based on these interpretations. Haruspex also perform autopsies on the rare Armalis or Auralis that experience true death, seeking to understand the causes and prevent future occurrences. Known for their eccentricity and vast esoteric knowledge, Haruspex are believed to possess a deeper neurological connection to the Vox collective, granting them unique insights into their species' nature and purpose.
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| ----
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| '''Overseer'''
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| Serving as high authority figures, Overseers are either Armalis commanding a sector or high caste Primalis fulfilling the role. They function as governors or mayors within their respective jurisdictions, ensuring stability, smooth production, and proper execution of orders among the Vox population. Their responsibilities include maintaining the overall well-being of their sector, addressing issues that arise, and allocating resources to ensure the prosperity and safety of their domain.
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| ----
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| '''Command Enforcer'''
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| Reporting directly to Overseers or the Armalis, Second Command Enforcers are responsible for maintaining order and security within arkships. Stationed primarily for home duty affairs, they ensure loyalty and compliance among the vox population, addressing any signs of dissent or potential threats to the stability of the arkship. Their role is crucial in preserving the harmony and cohesion of the Vox society. They usually command and control enforcer teams and field operations.
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| ----
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| '''Logistics Officer'''
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| Tasked with managing the distribution of supplies, resources, and personnel within their assigned sector or fleet, Logistics Officers work under the direction of their sector Overseer. They ensure that quotas and supplies are properly set for away missions and patrols, coordinating with other Vox castes and designations to maintain smooth operations. Their expertise in resource allocation and management is vital for the efficient functioning of the arkship and the successful execution of missions.
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| '''Quill'''
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| Quills are the skilled pilots and navigators of the Vox fleet. Trained in various flight techniques and adept at operating different spacecraft, they ensure the safe and efficient transport of passengers, cargo, and military assets across the vast expanse of space. Their expertise is crucial for the success of exploration missions, resource acquisition, and military operations, making them an essential component of the Vox society.
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| </div></div>
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| <div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:70%">
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| ====Mid Caste====
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| Niche specialized Vox who are born with higher benefits then their lower caste kin. While they are given much more rights and authority, they still are under the watchful eye of their sector overseer or fleet commander. They act as a buffer between the elites and the menial drones, tasked with more difficult work or dangerous duties only done by their caste. Some Primalis view mid caste as examples of loyalty being rewarded, while others see them as nothing more than tools or slaves who only look out for their own benefit. There are multiple types of designations inside the mid caste- these are not limited to; Enforcers, Soldiers, Explorers, Bio-Engineers, and etc.
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| <div class="mw-collapsible-content">
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| ----
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| '''War Drone'''
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| War Drones serve as the main combat force within the Vox society, acting as navy soldiers authorized to work alongside Talons and Quills in fleets outside the ark. Trained in various forms of combat and skilled in the protection of the arkship and its inhabitants, they play a critical role in defending their territory and maintaining the safety of their fellow Vox, as well as being escorts for expedition missions.
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| '''Enforcer Drone'''
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| Specializing in close-quarters combat and urban warfare within the arkship, Enforcer Drones employ wolf pack tactics in pairs to hunt down deviants and intruders. Their expertise in breach and clear operations, marksmanship, and tactical planning make them a formidable force in maintaining internal security and order. They ensure all vox understand their place in society, and enforce the inviolate, and designations are done.
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| '''Bio Engineer Drone'''
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| As medical professionals for the low to mid caste Vox, Bio Engineer Drones are responsible for treating injuries, illnesses, and ensuring the well-being of their patients. Though they lack the privileges and esoteric knowledge of the Haruspex caste, their medical expertise is invaluable for the health and welfare of the Vox population.
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| '''Command Enforcer'''
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| Reporting directly to Overseers or the Armalis, Second Command Enforcers are responsible for maintaining order and security within arkships. Stationed primarily for home duty affairs, they ensure loyalty and compliance among the vox population, addressing any signs of dissent or potential threats to the stability of the arkship. Their role is crucial in preserving the harmony and cohesion of the Vox society. They usually command and control enforcer teams and field operations.
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| '''Logistics Drone'''
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| Working alongside Logistics Officers, Logistics Drones assist in the management and distribution of resources and supplies within their assigned sector or fleet. Their diligent efforts in overseeing supply chains, inventory, and allocation of resources are crucial for maintaining the operational efficiency of the arkship and its various missions.
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| '''Explorer Drone'''
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| Tasked with venturing into uncharted territories, Explorer Drones gather information, conduct reconnaissance missions, and explore new regions on behalf of their arkship. Their reports and insights provide valuable intelligence to their superiors, aiding in strategic planning and decision-making. As pioneers of the unknown, Explorer Drones contribute significantly to the expansion and understanding of the Vox's domain.
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| '''Merchant Drone'''
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| Engaged in trade and commerce, Merchant Drones facilitate the exchange of goods and services within the arkship's economy. They operate shops, trade hubs, and marketplaces, negotiating prices and deals to keep the economy thriving and resources flowing efficiently.
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| </div></div>
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| <div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:70%">
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| ====Low Caste====
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| Called by their higher caste kin as a general term drones. The purpose of a low caste Vox is rather simple in their duties and their authority inside the arkship. Most low caste are born into the bottom during the early age of their stack to develop and show growth in their lifetime. They work many of the general duties that upkeep the ark and keep the figurative blood of society flowing. They are usually the most numerous as it takes a large amount of Primalis to upkeep a planet sized arkship and maintain the always expanding society. Many low caste however tend to grow deviancy due to inexperience, mob mentality, and their living conditions, most usually having ambitious dreams to go higher in the caste, have power in their sectors, or escape the arkship in pursuit of free rights. Roles that are commonly found for low caste are, not limited too Labor, Atmos Techs, Industrial, Slave, and any wanted Vox considered rogue (Deviants.)
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| '''Labor Drone'''
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| Tasked with performing manual labor and handling physically demanding tasks, Labor Drones are essential to the daily functioning and maintenance of the arkship. Their tireless efforts ensure that the arkship's infrastructure is always in optimal condition, enabling the smooth operation of its various systems and facilities.
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| '''Industrial Drone'''
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| Industrial Drones work diligently in various industries within the arkship, playing a vital role in the production and manufacturing of goods and services. From assembling components for spacecraft to refining raw materials for energy production, their skills contribute to the ongoing prosperity of the Vox society.
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| '''Cleaning Drone'''
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| As the caretakers of cleanliness and hygiene within the arkship, Cleaning Drones play a crucial role in preserving the living conditions for all Vox. They maintain the cleanliness of residential areas, public spaces, and work environments, preventing the spread of disease and ensuring the overall health and well-being of the Vox population.
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| '''Atmos Drone'''
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| Specialized in managing and maintaining the arkship's atmosphere and life support systems, Atmos Drones ensure a safe and habitable environment for the Vox population. They monitor and adjust atmospheric conditions, temperature, and air quality, keeping the arkship's ecosystem balanced and functioning optimally.
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| '''Logistics Drone'''
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| Working alongside Logistics Officers, Logistics Drones assist in the management and distribution of resources and supplies within their assigned sector or fleet. Their diligent efforts in overseeing supply chains, inventory, and allocation of resources are crucial for maintaining the operational efficiency of the arkship and its various missions.
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| '''Deviant'''
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| Rogue or heretical Vox who have turned to crime or abandoned their duties in pursuit of their own goals, Deviants are considered wanted once exposed. They often operate in the black market or join separatist groups, engaging in activities such as smuggling contraband, causing riots, damaging arkship infrastructure, or attempting to escape the ark to become free Vox. Despite their rebellious nature, their actions sometimes spark much-needed change or bring hidden issues to light within the Vox society.
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| </div></div>
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| | Ritualized conflict is the cornerstone of Vox crews and Vox society as a whole. Contest-by-insult and contest-by-combat are the two most common means of this. A challenged Vox is allowed to choose the manner of contest, and refusing to choose or participate is considered forfeiting. A contest is called by rattling quills, flashing neck-markings and declaring it vocally to the person being challenged. All nearby crewmembers are expected to form a circle and witness the contest, irrespective of whether or not they know the combatants or care what's being decided. |
| ===The Inviolate=== | | ===The Inviolate=== |
| The main body of law or rules all Vox are born to follow is the Inviolate. These laws were told to have been preached by the Auralis millenia ago, and shared across many ark vessels. While some have discarded them as old teachings or lack of reinforcement, aboard most, these are the words of a subservant and loyal Vox. The Vox Inviolate is as follows: | | The Vox have a code of conduct and ethics, rigidly enforced, maintained and shared in an unknown manner. Ships with wildly varying cultures will still share the same core tenets despite being millions of lightyears apart. This is referred to as the Vox Inviolate. |
| | | * Kill as little as necessary. |
| Kill as little as necessary. | | * Waste as little as necessary. |
| Waste as little as necessary. | | * Preserve the arkships. |
| Preserve the arkships. | | * Preserve materials. |
| Preserve materials. | | * Adapt and expand to all circumstances. |
| Adapt and expand to all circumstances. | | ===Technology=== |
| | | Vox have space faring ships. They are mostly ramshackle and crude-looking but very quick and very hard to hit. Their weaponry is universally stolen from other species and is generally several years behind the curve. A lot of their technology is traded from the Syndicate or alien species. |
| ===Economy=== | |
| Vox have a bartering system in which they trade to gain and amass wealth in society. Some areas have bazaars designed for trading and collecting. Merchants, Crafters, and even Entertainers like Card readers and gamblers all exist in this space to try and gain more supplies inside of an ark. The main currency that most Vox understand is food rations, a type of MRE given by Vox as they live in an ark. Not very appealing to most- but to Vox, food is food, and with nutrition to one important vessel (the body), it has value everyone can understand. Objects that are traded can range from exotic foods, amenities, rare collectibles, and illegal stuff like drugs, weapons, and implants. | |
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| ===Guilds===
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| Guilds are a relatively common thing that tends to pop up inside Vox society. Trader, Warrior, and even Religious guilds are usually legal organizations that work to maximize their respective field's skills. As many of these organizations are run by high caste Vox who are loyal to the ark, they are never seen as a threat to authority and work as smaller branches to control the masses.
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| ===Ideologies===
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| Vox religion is comprised of many factors, all surrounded by the worship of the creator and its divine creations. The Primalis and Armalis see their Auralis as gods and the Apex as their holy creation that gives life. Auralis are worshiped as the great ascender to bring the arkship into a different plane of reality. One free from the bounds of the universe and with a holy gift of ascension. Vox loyal to this belief are told to be given a reward once ascension day comes, the right to join the creator in the higher plane for their life of work. Or any variant that gives them a divine blessing. This sort of religious belief is the standard for most arks due to; conditioning, strict laws against heresy, and isolation from the outside universe.
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| Many young Vox blind fully follows the dogma preached by Acolytes and Haruspex as their teachings are the holy word of the Auralis. Most Vox who reach 1000 years as loyalists will have developed into a total zealots on their ark. In contrast, others who struggle or have doubts will turn deviant or be labeled a heretic. Overly religious Vox are common in core sectors and aboard ark ships. At the same time, uncertain and heretical Vox are found in crowded areas far from the center of the ark (The Wall) or outside the arkship, where they have freedom against influences and choices in their life.
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| Some ark ships can have several Auralis onboard that are given titles, holy names, and niche specifications on proper worship, while others can only have a singular Auralis. This depends highly on the type of ark you design for your Vox. However, making gods should be simple and align with the primary goal they all seek- ascension.
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| It is said that when a Vox is loyal to the ark, it will do whatever it takes to perform its designations. This same dogmatic religious belief is how the elites keep the lower and mid caste in line, false promises all sustained on hope and rare rewards. A drone loyal to the ark and overly religious with its beliefs is more likely to be promoted and avoid true death. In contrast, the heretic who doubts their creator will be reset or demoted, depending on the severity of their heresy. This sort of behavior creates conflicts in beliefs, leading to violent actions against heretics and creating hidden groups labeled Separatists.
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| ====Loyalist v Separatist====
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| Loyalist vs. Separatist is a general term for the conflict between the zealots versus the heretics.
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| Loyalist factions aboard ark ships work towards keeping every Vox aligned with their religion and beliefs. They are rooting out and destroying any sources of information that can disrupt their control of the masses and their gods' will. Many high caste Vox and mid-caste will ensure that sinful behavior is rooted out before deviancy occurs, taking precautionary measures and even policing those they find suspicious. They preach the mantra of the inviolate and believe that a Vox should be loyal to the ark wherever they are, as that is their reason for creation, to serve the gods. The most universally known worship belief is to stay in your designation and work. A Vox who does not question or doubt their orders is loyal.
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| Separatists work towards the ideology of a free Vox, one unchained from the arkship with the ability to act or believe whatever it wants freely. Many separatists are aged deviants who have become so cynical and doubtful of their ascension that they see it as a lie to control them. These Vox are constantly on the run to avoid punishment, or they usually form underground organizations that try to conduct a criminal activity to sustain their numbers and control. Crime syndicates or freedom-fighting groups usually work to smuggle and expose Vox to outside beliefs, all to bring down the elites and grow their numbers.
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| Neutral beliefs can exist, as not all Vox are aligned to the spectrum's extremes. You can have a loyalist Vox that is very loose on the following of the Inviolate, or a separatist who finds cutting corners and living aboard an ark as a fake follower a possibility, or even simply just an atheist' who wishes to leave and wants nothing to do with arkship drama. Your Vox, your decision on how you design their beliefs.
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| ====Cases of Schisms====
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| While the arks are considered bastions of Vox authority and contain some relative control over their populace. They are not immune to the inhabitants within, and the religious zealotry that comes with the vox. In rare cases, a Haruspex can claim the death or ascension of the Auralis, which with enough persuasion can creates a snowball effect to a self destructive and violent era aboard the Arkship. The Post Ascension Era results in many religious zealots infighting and having holy wars—claiming their sector Armalis as prophets of the Auralis to attempt takeovers due to the following power vacuum. Most Vox in a post ascension ark seek to escape it, and carry on the stories or tales of what occurred, while the ark erratically moves as control changes from one claw to another.
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| ==Arkships==
| | The weapons technology of the Vox is either stolen, or reverse-engineered from stolen tech. The same goes for their sublight engines. Vox FTL drives are completely bewildering to human scientists, as they consume little to no power and have no moving components. They take the form of large globes about two feet across, set into the nose of the craft. No indication is given that any of the Vox aboard ships with FTL have any idea how it works, or how to use it; FTL jumps by Vox vessels seem to happen at random, without any consent or input from the crew. |
| Arkships are the home and birthplace of all Vox in the universe. All Vox originate from an ark, but many have their own sets of rules, beliefs, and culture, while still having some of the same original principles from millennia ago. While not all arkships are the same, they all follow a similar formula in their structure and society, with a caste system that is either very oppressive or freer to its Vox. There are a reported 20 confirmed arkships in existence. However, some speculate there are more hidden in deep space, a majority of them taking the position of isolationism to focus on the creator's primary goal of ascension.
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| They have naming schemes like Refuge of Lost Souls Searching the Stars, Soaring Kestrel on Troubled Skies, or even Arkship Sunborn Sanctuary of Mended Hopes, Hardened by Cosmic Sands, Esteemed Heart of the Sanguine Void, Wizened by Victories, of Many Trees and Branches. Naming of arkships are rather long and expressive.
| | Vox medical and engineering technology appear to be approximately on par with humanity, and chemicals and materials similar to those required by humanity are frequently taken in their raids. |
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| ===Diplomacy=== | | The state of Vox science is entirely unknown. No propensity for advanced research has been shown by the Vox specimens captured by NanoTrasen. |
| While having their own culture, beliefs, and authority, arkships are not very similar to each other in most regards. This difference in ideology has caused what most say is a hidden war inside vox society- from inside influences and outside ones. Arkships that have a rivalry with each other tend to attempt to sabotage one another. This can be spies and traitors sent to abduct and capture vox for their ark. Destroying infrastructures like life support or hull breaches and fueling and inciting rebellions, causing a wave of deviancy to damage the ark's stability. These arks are usually at war and rarely ever settled diplomatically during the war. Wars can last for thousands of years until both parties have acknowledged a cease-fire.
| | === Society === |
| | The Vox Apex are the groves in the arkships. They are in fact colossal organic computers, every single one of them linked via an incredibly sophisticated, several million year old bluespace network. This network hosts the vast majority of Vox communications, technology, culture and science, well outside of prying eyes. |
| | The Apex are entirely single-minded (in a figurative sense). They are devoted to preserving the sanctity, purity and continuity of the Vox line their arkship is hosting. They maintain the archives of dead Vox via the cortical stacks, and choose which Vox are to be revived when the time comes for a population hike. They also provide access points and tremendous data processing capacity to the Auralis. |
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| Some arkships are not at odds with each other, usually sharing a sense of neutrality and occasionally trading for supplies, amenities, and even slave drones to bolster and replace numbers. Arks commonly travel in different areas of space, and the most interaction they get are traders and small explorer fleets sent by the home ark.
| | The Vox Auralis are the true Vox. The Primalis and the Armalis are bio-engineered subspecies intended to serve as labour, resource accquisition and military. The Auralis themselves are shut-in and insular to the extreme, and as a whole, refuse to believe that the Universe outside of the Vox arkships is real; efforts to convince them otherwise are akin to a dream pleading with the dreamer. |
| ===Sectors===
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| To describe what an arkship is, it's a giant floating vessel the size of a small planet built to house millions of Vox aboard it. It's compromised of many sectors, all with their functions to keep life support and the ship stable. Like the vox who live aboard it, each sector is given designations inside the ship. These are not limited to but primarily consist of-
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| ====The Core==== | | The Auralis are devoted to transcendence. They desire to leave this Universe behind, or to break through the veil and move on to true reality. They've been working at this for about seven point five million years, and their understanding of theoretical and applied physics, intelligent systems and data processing/analysis is immense. Much of their mentality exists outside of realspace, and is coordinated by the Vox Apex and their ceaseless maintenance of the bluespace network. They are also highly, dangerously telepathic, and the parallel processing power and independence from realspace provided by their network means that five hundred psionics can focus their power to pinpoint precision anywhere within a thousand light-years of a single auralis. |
| The middle of the arkship, housing the Apex and most of the elites. This sector is an urban area that is the crossroad of the main ship. While being the busiest part of the ark, it is second to population density. This sector comprises mostly bureaucratic facilities, precincts, and the central Apex core, which leads to the ship's heart and houses the Auralis. | | ===Reproduction=== |
| | The Apex are where the biomass of dead Vox is reintegrated, their cortical stacks are removed, and new Vox larvae are spawned. The larvae are bioengineered creatures built wholesale by the trees of the ark, carefully modified and monitored to fit the genetic profile of the arkship. |
| | Larval Vox are generic, genderless slugs until they are chosen to host a cortical stack. The type of stack dictates what the Auralis do with the larva and the form that the larva will take. |
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| ====The Underbay====
| | Newborn Vox Auralis are entirely overwritten by the cortical stack of their predecessor, and are for all intents and purposes considered to BE that Auralis. Since the vast majority of an Auralis' persona and memories exist in the bluespace network, the original persona is functionally removed entirely when the Auralis matures enough to link to the Apex. |
| The ark's lower section is responsible for trade, docking, and travel. Many merchants, logistics officers, and visitors from other arks usually enter through the bay as it holds the only safe entrance into the ship. Like a checkpoint, it's guarded and patrolled by the security of the ark to maximize safety and catch contraband.
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| ====The Walls====
| | Newborn Vox Primalis and Armalis are not overwritten by the cortical stack, but their ancestry and access to memory-lines is considered a significant portion of who they are and the rank they are assigned. A Vox is not considered dead while another Vox hosts their cortical stack, and their name is passed on to the new Vox. |
| The outer sectors of the arkship that make up the hull and walls. It is the ship's most densely populated area, composed of primarily shanty towns and cramped living conditions. Structure inside the sector are dangerous for their dense placement of low-caste drones who squabble with each other for resources. While the purpose of the sector is to keep a majority of laborer drones to fix breaches and constantly maintain the walls of the ship, it also acts as an area for artificially made passages across the ark. Hidden passages inside the thick walls have a subzone called the Tunnels- these can either be quick shortcuts around the inner district of the sector or run for thousands of miles across the whole ship, they have a vein-like structure composed almost like caverns.
| | ==Present Day== |
| | While the Vox enjoy a wide variety of amenities aboard Nanotrasen vessels and have typically peaceful relations with most species, it's unlikely the full extent of Vox history and their original cultural heritage will ever be known. Despite this, the current generation of spacefaring Vox - along with their peculiar practices - have left a substantial mark on modern history that is unlikely to be forgotten. |
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| There are more sectors inside vox society, but these are the three main ones found consistently inside all arks.
| | ==Roleplay Traits== |
| | * Hail from a great space-faring civilization, very proud of their accomplishments |
| | * While dealing with low-level disputes, tend to favor their kin over the treeless |
| | * Tend to view other species with a general sense of distrust. This does not mean they are unfriendly or immediately hostile however, just more on-edge |
| | * Outspoken against anti-Vox sentiment, especially accusations of theft or raiding |
| | * Annoyed and somewhat disgusted at the constant presence of "dust" (oxygen) in the air which most other species breathe |
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| | {{Jobs}} |
| [[Category:Lore]] | | [[Category:Lore]] |
The Vox are a species of space-faring and largely insular beings. They hail from large stations known as arkships, known collectively as the Shoal. "Vox" on its own usually refers to the common Vox Primalis, just one of many groups among the Vox. These strange bio-engineered beings have a physiological hierarchy and follow the tenets of 'The Inviolate'. Breathing pure nitrogen, they require specialized masks and tanks for survival outside their arkships. Their insular nature limits their involvement in broader galactic affairs, maintaining a distinct, yet isolated presence away from other species.
Gameplay
Vox is an optional species that can be chosen for play in the character creation menu. Vox anatomy is uniquely shaped and they are most comfortable in form-fitting clothing, but can manage with standard clothing too. They possess bright blue blood, which is antigenically incompatible with standard ABO blood types. They breathe nitrogen (N2) for respiration, instead of oxygen.
They speak their own language, known as Vox-pidgin (key is :v), which employs a number of harsh shrieks in its phonology.
They are not protected under a standard Asimov lawset, and so caution should be exercised when dealing with humans or the AI and its cyborgs if Asimov is in effect.
Customization
- Eye color
- Skin color
- Head and facial quill styles along with colors and gradients
- Body markings
- Tail markings
- Breath mask type
- N2 tank type
Racial Benefits
- Immune to decay and will not skeletonize.
- Spawn with a nitrogen tank, which could be considered an "illegal-to-remove" weapon.
- Internal organs will not accumulate germs or decay even outside the body; external organs do not accumulate germs while attached to the body.
- Resistant to low temperatures due to their insulating hides.
Racial Weaknesses
- Oxygen is extremely toxic to them, preventing breathing of standard air.
- Blood is incompatible with standard ABO types, must use type V blood.
- Due to their special physiology, they cannot be cloned.
Diet
- Like meat and fried foods, but will generally eat anything.
Unique Mechanics
Vox is a more RP-focused race, the quirks of Vox are mostly in HOW they are played rather than in the mechanics per se (although, there are many mechanical differences).
The most visually obvious fact is that Vox bodies do not conform to standard humanoid dimensions, Vox try to fit clothes around themselves, resulting in a very unique look!
Language
Vox can understand Common fairly well but speak it poorly. They tend to creel or shriek as punctuation. KHAAAAK! SCRAAAAHK! Their laughter sounds like 'kikiki'.
It is not impossible for Vox to speak Common fluently, however it is exceedingly rare.
Vox often insult other species. Humans are 'meat'. Vuulek are 'rotten' due to their scales. Skrell are 'leaking' or 'slippery'. Tajarans are 'mouldy'. IPCs are generally seen as 'metal men' and 'walking loot'.
Vox tend to jeer a lot about how their victims are treeless, that their lungs are full of dust, and such. People usually have no idea what they're on about. Which is fine because the Vox don't put much thought into it either.
Organs and Revival
Owing to their semi-synthetic nature, Vox organs do not suffer from decay. Most of their organs are analogous to ones found in humans, except for the cortical stack; which is so much more than just a brain, being considered almost sacred to the Vox.
Revival is standard as in other species, except for cloning. Vox bodies are unable to be cloned due to their unique physiology.
Lore
Behaviour
Vox will never willingly surrender unless the only other alternative is death. However, they will happily fake surrender if it puts them in a better position to escape. They lie as easily as they breathe and appear fearless despite their propensity for running like the clappers at the first sign of trouble.
A Vox will never willingly stand and fight if running is a viable alternative, except if it's a challenge from another Vox in front of their crew. Vox are fond of darkness and hiding in lockers.
Arkship groves are very important to Vox culture. Vox who are away from the groves too long tend to get sick and die. It is not clear if this is due to withdrawal, or some other factor.
Raiding crews usually consist of one to three warriors and one or two engineers. Engineers also double as medics. The leader of a vessel of any size is called the Quill.
Civilian crews have no staff roster, just families. If a ship has no families that work a certain trade they will try to exchange families with another ship or ark.
Behavior of NT Vox Crew
Unlike the typical traits of Vox trade or raid crews mentioned above, Vox that appear as staff on Nanotrasen vessels behave differently. To begin, Vox that appear on crew aboard NT vessels are often not there by choice, but are restrained by a contract, debt, or otherwise. While it is rare for Vox to willingly work for NT, some are forced to do so because they are not fit for work as a Raider but still wish to work freelance, Trader Rejects if you will.
While Trader Vox have oaths of pacification and wish to flee rather than fight, Crew Vox are quick to find that in certain situations these will no longer be viable options and as such they must adapt. Breaking the Inviolate is often no issue for crew Vox, many of which are not expecting to meet up with a larger group anyway. Overall, crew Vox react to combat and the Inviolate as they need to be for their chosen profession.
Naming Conventions
Vox generally use indigenous names which often prove hard to write. These names are often enunciated as a series of screeching sounds which are then transcribed into the phonetic equivalents in the Galactic Common alphabet, for example “Kikiriachiki”, "Hayahakaiti", "Yaitakikat". These same names are usually employed by organizations such as NT, however some Vox choose to go by aliases when interacting with other civilizations.
By and large Vox prefer to keep these phonetic equivalents rather than adopting the naming conventions of other species, a choice most likely due to prevalence of traditional Vox culture being a pinnacle of Vox social life.
While it may be a series of incoherent shrieks to some, Vox names carry deep meaning behind them. The Vox have three distinct naming conventions that appear to be part of their Inviolate.
- Formal names. A long string of descriptive titles, clan affiliations, notable jobs, military service, and physical or mental features of note. Stalwart Second-Deck Overseer of Rolling-Wave, He of Many Quills, Lancer of the Third Wing, Strong-arm, Born to Yellow-Tree.
- Use-names. A single physical or mental feature, the name of the current clan of the individual, and a unique, short sound (one syllable). Ex. Vicious Darting-Minnow Lex. This mode is only used when speaking to friends or family. Very close friends are permitted to use the last term of a use-name.
- Raider names. Call-signs, in other words, also common in military crews. These are usually one or two words at best, chosen or given informally to describe the subject. Ex. Red Hegga. Calling someone by their raider name is usually considered an invitation to violence if you aren't part of their crew, or if they are no longer raiding or in the military.
Biology
The Vox species can be divided, generally, into four groups: Vox Primalis, Vox Armalis, Vox Auralis and Vox Apex.
Due to the mysterious nature of Vox reproduction, and the complete lack of specimens from the three latter categories, much of their genetic and physiological compatibility and similarity are unknown. All four groups are known to possess cybernetic enhancement, sometimes to an extreme degree, and all of them are known to share at least one common dialect, designated Vox-pidgin, irrespective of their vocal capacity, distance from each other, and cybernetic equipment.
The Vox tail is a curious organ, acting as a prehensile limb, temperature regulator, and balance aid all in one. Long, flat scales on the underside of the tail are laced with capillaries, and when in atmosphere a Vox can bristle them to help dispersing excess heat. Sub-nodes in the Vox redundant nervous system are present in the limb, and it has demonstrated twitching movement up to three hours after the tail has been severed.
Vox colouration varies wildly between settlements, ships and crews, but the most common palette is a mix of olive, muddy brown and yellow.
Vox bones are light, porous and very flexible. Vox can turn their heads almost a hundred and twenty degrees to the side due to their long necks. They tend to sway when interested in something, or anxious, and shriek at glass-fracturing volume to drive off attackers.
Vox Primalis
The majority of observed Vox belong to the Vox Primalis category, and range from three to four feet in height. Skin is thick, reinforced with keratin scales, and appears to act as an insulator and pressure-suit combined. The molecular complexity of the skin suggests that extensive engineering has been undertaken to adapt it to low-pressure environments, and attempts to grow samples in the lab have resulted in highly acidic compounds burning through the dish, the table, and the hull beneath it.
Despite their size, Primalis musculature is highly dense and capable of extremely powerful rapid movement, ideal for sprinting, leaping and kicking. Sustained effort is less effective, and prolonged exertion will cause lactic acid buildup that can reach crippling levels. An exception to this rule is the beak, which is capable of reflexive and prolonged pressures in excess of 500PSI.
Vox talons are very hard, approximately equivalent to twice the hardness of human bone, and appear to be insulators against electrical current. The hardened skin on their forearms and lower legs is of similar consistency, ribbed in the manner of Earth birds, and exhibits a healing factor against surface damage characterised by leading researchers as 'absurd'.
Vox Armalis
Vox Armalis are a smaller subgroup within Vox populations, never observed outside of frigate-class or larger vessels belonging to Vox crews. They stand twice the height of their Primalis kin, statistically, and are far heavier and more armoured. In most cases, sensory organs like eyes and tongues have been completely replaced with cybernetics of bewildering complexity. No sample of an Armalis or their cybernetics has been recovered due to inbuilt, extremely subtle self-destructive measures. Spectographic analysis suggests that almost every internal cavity within the average Armalis is filled with semi-organic circuitry and cybernetics, their specific purposes unknown.
Vox Auralis & Vox Apex
Very little is known about the Vox Auralis and Vox Apex, and their inclusion in reviews of Vox physiology is generally a footnote. Sightings of the individuals are rare, bordering on unheard of, but consistent enough to warrant acceptance as a facet of the Vox species. The Auralis stand approximately the height of the Armalis, and weigh three to four times as much. Badly corrupted records of analysis from destroyed probes suggest that they exist at least partially within bluespace. The veracity of this information is suspect and pending review.
The Vox Apex is known about solely from records, and acts as a physical god within Vox mythology. This is the full extent of recorded data on the entity or entities.
Background
Relations
The Vox have no formal declarations of peace or war with any known intercluster government. Their dispersed and independent nature makes it impossible to enforce any sweeping policy against the shoal, as individual ships will act in wildly different manners.
Standard protocol in the Moghes hegemony is deployment of a soghun breacher crew to destroy the Vox and claim their equipment, irrespective of the flag displayed, due to frequent and repeated failures of the Vox to live up to their promises of peace.
NanoTrasen maintains a shoot-on-sight protocol for all Vox ships above the skipjack class, or in other words, any ships with more than forty Vox crew, that stray within visual distance of an NT establishment.
The Skrell have declined from commenting on the Vox, stating simply that they are something of an irritant, but a generally peaceable one.
The Tajaran government maintains no facilities with sensors powerful enough to detect cloaked Vox vessels and has not reported any contact with the Shoal.
Culture
The veracity of this information is suspect, as it has come from interviews with the Vox themselves.
The Vox have no homeworld. Vox society is encapsulated by their huge, moon-sized arkships and the Shoal.
Each arkship houses a population of at least ten million to half a billion individuals, if not more. They're very large, very slow, and usually surrounded by clusters of smaller Vox frigates and barges. There are only around twenty of them in existence, and they collect names over the course of their existence. An example ship might be 'Rolling Vessel of Seeking Souls Built on Bones of Leviathans, Scarred by Sunheat from Fifteen Systems, Scored by Weapons of Lesser Foes, Taproot to Thirty Tribes, Host to Six Trees'. Understandably, ships are given use-names, such as 'Sunheat Leviathan' for the previous example. Poetry is preferred over meaning in a lot of Vox naming conventions.
Each arkship shares the feature of being roughly spherical - the central component and by far the largest is the grove, a sphere of metal containing soil and flora from the lost Vox homeworld. Dozens, if not hundreds, of prefabricated modules, stolen and scrapped ships, or the space equivalent of shanties, are bolted to the hull and to each other, forming a thick cluster of chaotic wreckage referred to as the arkship's 'shroud'. The strongest of the factional warlords on a ship usually get there by adding ships to the shroud, by force, commerce or trickery.
The very oldest is simply referred to as 'First', and contains the largest grove of the entire disparate fleet. It's considered a holy site and maintains a skeleton crew to prevent strain on the ecosystem. Each prospective Vox fleet leader will make a pilgrimage to the First to add a new ship to the shroud, and to cement their fitness to command.
Vox crews have a rigid pecking order, established over many many years. Newcomers to a Vox ship have to fight for a position tooth and nail, almost always displacing a previous member to the bottom of the pile in the process. Older, unfit or injured Vox will occasionally accede to the newcomer voluntarily, taking up a post on the home arkship to allow a fitter crewmember to serve.
Crews without a pecking order, such as new groups freshly booted off an arkship and set to raiding, will have an internal structure that is highly chaotic. Traditionally, they choose an item such as a 'leader hat' to determine who is in charge, and then fight over it constantly until a clear hierarchy is established. Young Vox are loud, energetic, and proud to a fault.
Vox raiding crews are almost always made up of young Vox, rowdy and champing at the bit to prove themselves; hence the Vox's reputation as violent, warmongering thieves. Older Vox, or Vox established on civilian vessels, tend to be somewhat more sedate, though in all honesty no less likely to fleece an unwary customer out of everything they own.
Ritualized conflict is the cornerstone of Vox crews and Vox society as a whole. Contest-by-insult and contest-by-combat are the two most common means of this. A challenged Vox is allowed to choose the manner of contest, and refusing to choose or participate is considered forfeiting. A contest is called by rattling quills, flashing neck-markings and declaring it vocally to the person being challenged. All nearby crewmembers are expected to form a circle and witness the contest, irrespective of whether or not they know the combatants or care what's being decided.
The Inviolate
The Vox have a code of conduct and ethics, rigidly enforced, maintained and shared in an unknown manner. Ships with wildly varying cultures will still share the same core tenets despite being millions of lightyears apart. This is referred to as the Vox Inviolate.
- Kill as little as necessary.
- Waste as little as necessary.
- Preserve the arkships.
- Preserve materials.
- Adapt and expand to all circumstances.
Technology
Vox have space faring ships. They are mostly ramshackle and crude-looking but very quick and very hard to hit. Their weaponry is universally stolen from other species and is generally several years behind the curve. A lot of their technology is traded from the Syndicate or alien species.
The weapons technology of the Vox is either stolen, or reverse-engineered from stolen tech. The same goes for their sublight engines. Vox FTL drives are completely bewildering to human scientists, as they consume little to no power and have no moving components. They take the form of large globes about two feet across, set into the nose of the craft. No indication is given that any of the Vox aboard ships with FTL have any idea how it works, or how to use it; FTL jumps by Vox vessels seem to happen at random, without any consent or input from the crew.
Vox medical and engineering technology appear to be approximately on par with humanity, and chemicals and materials similar to those required by humanity are frequently taken in their raids.
The state of Vox science is entirely unknown. No propensity for advanced research has been shown by the Vox specimens captured by NanoTrasen.
Society
The Vox Apex are the groves in the arkships. They are in fact colossal organic computers, every single one of them linked via an incredibly sophisticated, several million year old bluespace network. This network hosts the vast majority of Vox communications, technology, culture and science, well outside of prying eyes.
The Apex are entirely single-minded (in a figurative sense). They are devoted to preserving the sanctity, purity and continuity of the Vox line their arkship is hosting. They maintain the archives of dead Vox via the cortical stacks, and choose which Vox are to be revived when the time comes for a population hike. They also provide access points and tremendous data processing capacity to the Auralis.
The Vox Auralis are the true Vox. The Primalis and the Armalis are bio-engineered subspecies intended to serve as labour, resource accquisition and military. The Auralis themselves are shut-in and insular to the extreme, and as a whole, refuse to believe that the Universe outside of the Vox arkships is real; efforts to convince them otherwise are akin to a dream pleading with the dreamer.
The Auralis are devoted to transcendence. They desire to leave this Universe behind, or to break through the veil and move on to true reality. They've been working at this for about seven point five million years, and their understanding of theoretical and applied physics, intelligent systems and data processing/analysis is immense. Much of their mentality exists outside of realspace, and is coordinated by the Vox Apex and their ceaseless maintenance of the bluespace network. They are also highly, dangerously telepathic, and the parallel processing power and independence from realspace provided by their network means that five hundred psionics can focus their power to pinpoint precision anywhere within a thousand light-years of a single auralis.
Reproduction
The Apex are where the biomass of dead Vox is reintegrated, their cortical stacks are removed, and new Vox larvae are spawned. The larvae are bioengineered creatures built wholesale by the trees of the ark, carefully modified and monitored to fit the genetic profile of the arkship.
Larval Vox are generic, genderless slugs until they are chosen to host a cortical stack. The type of stack dictates what the Auralis do with the larva and the form that the larva will take.
Newborn Vox Auralis are entirely overwritten by the cortical stack of their predecessor, and are for all intents and purposes considered to BE that Auralis. Since the vast majority of an Auralis' persona and memories exist in the bluespace network, the original persona is functionally removed entirely when the Auralis matures enough to link to the Apex.
Newborn Vox Primalis and Armalis are not overwritten by the cortical stack, but their ancestry and access to memory-lines is considered a significant portion of who they are and the rank they are assigned. A Vox is not considered dead while another Vox hosts their cortical stack, and their name is passed on to the new Vox.
Present Day
While the Vox enjoy a wide variety of amenities aboard Nanotrasen vessels and have typically peaceful relations with most species, it's unlikely the full extent of Vox history and their original cultural heritage will ever be known. Despite this, the current generation of spacefaring Vox - along with their peculiar practices - have left a substantial mark on modern history that is unlikely to be forgotten.
Roleplay Traits
- Hail from a great space-faring civilization, very proud of their accomplishments
- While dealing with low-level disputes, tend to favor their kin over the treeless
- Tend to view other species with a general sense of distrust. This does not mean they are unfriendly or immediately hostile however, just more on-edge
- Outspoken against anti-Vox sentiment, especially accusations of theft or raiding
- Annoyed and somewhat disgusted at the constant presence of "dust" (oxygen) in the air which most other species breathe
