The star-dock was aged, the design only a few decades out of date and visible from the old trend of when people were more daring, willing to take risks, and there was good economics in order to build the thing. Now, it was a screaming sign of pending need for updating. The frequent visitors to the section called it "the retrofit" with an emphasis on "retro." It also looked as if it had not been cleaned save for the occasional sterilization or the floor cleaning robot that visited once a week. Brown stains on the drab walls, the occasional scorch mark, and long scrapes through the sealant and to the metal left ample evidence of a lack of pride in the work area. This was where the ships waited for service or the return of their crews. There was no grand view, no promenade, no viewing deck. Just a static security camera displaying on a visa-screen, and a closed airlock. (For security and safety precautions.)
The station airlock opened with a "woosh," however, the Dwarf hesitated and then groaned open like an old man complaining of having to stand from his comfy chair. Not that the craft was particularly old, but the years had not been kind. Immediately on the other side, the radiation detector sounded shortly as the door closed behind the group. Apparently it was a common bug in the system.
Their ears were met by a clattering and clanking, that was a relief to find that it was only Pip and not another equipment failure. She was carrying far more than she could really hold and dropping things as she made her way along. It was a random assortment so chaotic that you could imagine she had been dumpster diving.
"Look at all this cool stuff I found in the dumpster!" She excitedly explained.
Name: Mandrake (Given name, not what the species calls itself.)
Homeworld: 27 Centaurus Db “Avalon Centaurus”
Similar non-intelligent lifeforms: Tuber/Ginger/Tree/Grass
Appearance: A root-like body, they can range in form, size and number of limbs and sensory organs. Size is limited by lifespan and diet. There seems to be no lifecycle to a Mandrake, their lifespan is only limited by disease or accident.
Biological Traits: Photosynthesis, non-localization of life functions makes a Mandrake difficult to terminate. With the reproduction of budding, there is also a generational knowledge that is passed down. Likewise, the species seem to have an instinctual eugenics, thus producing resilient offspring. Because they belong to the plant kingdom, high salinity, heavy metals, and fungus are a serious threat to them.
Cultural Traits: Mandrakes are sedate isolationists, most of their culture involves silence, contemplation, and simply existing. Self-acceptance is big, so most mandrakes grow however their bodies form with limbs and sensory organs sprouting wherever they take root. Essentially their entire planet is mostly standing-room only, so it is not uncommon for mandrakes to have absolutely no social bubble. There is a strong generational sense, being that they have literally taken over the planet and are absorbing the decaying bodies of past generations. Likewise, they view animal lifeforms as hasty worrywarts that are more trouble than they are worth. There is a wide spectrum of religions and cultures. However, war is unheard of between Mandrakes, just like murder and theft. Ownership is a foreign concept (especially since identity is somewhat blended.) Some might consider the Mandrake life to be some sort of utopia since it lacks almost all of the major drawbacks of other societies. However, this also comes with a level of anarchy and apathy when it involves the week of their society. There is also indifference even to their own existence that can lead to compliance with death (which can also be used as a weapon by sacrificing themselves by being in proximity to danger.)
Specialization: Being isolationists, they do not really hold any form of trade, government, or planetary relations. While they do not want the presence of Sentient Animals, they don’t really do anything about their presence. Because of this, a number of species claim 27 Centaurus Db, but find themselves simply suffocated should a foothold on the planet be attempted. Conquest has been stifled, since there are so many Mandrakes with unknown technologies as well as the formidable physical characteristics of the species. Cost to reward ratio is poor. Thus, the local area species view Avalon Centaurus as a good place to vacation, but not a good place to live.
Tech: Most of the Mandrake technology specializes in production of co2, o2, environmental platforms, and long-term sustainability. However, knowledge of other technologies is mostly hidden, and seems to come out of nowhere to meet the need of any chrysis. They have many orbital platforms in the 27 Centaurus system, that mostly consists of more surface area to grow on. Likewise, they have been developing techniques to stabilize their host star to prevent nova or spectral shifting, and to prolong the duration of the star. These technologies should work, expanding the lifespan of their star from billions of years to trillions. However, they require such massive amounts of resources, that the Mandrakes can make little difference right now. The project is assumed to take about 100,000 years before the star is actually stabilized, but they are up for the task. They have almost no interest in interstellar travel or war.
Character Sheet
Name: Pipipsiwa “Pip”
Age: 11 (Adult)
Species: Mandrake
Appearance: Pip’s body is much like a carrot or potato, a tuberous growth that Pip has modified into a humanoid shape. It has grown two eyes that are entirely blue orbs, and its foliage sprouts where a human’s hair should be. However, instead of protein strands, it is half tentacle, half reed like growths that can be used as extra limbs. In order to accommodate vocal communication (instead of chemical as is the Mandrake default) Pip has crafted an orifice to meet the need as well as to ingest insects or small creatures.
Personality: Due to the sexual-cultural differences of the societies that Pip has ventured into, Pip has chosen to be identified as female, sporting some robust personality traits that seem to coincide with the female gender more so than that of the males. Contrary to most Mandrakes and Mandrake society, Pip is highly energetic, highly curious, and highly active. She is loaded with enough spunk to run a teenager ragged. She has a thirst for adventure and danger. She is an incorrigible match-maker, and keeps strange and sometimes dangerous pets. Due to the extreme difference in species, Pip is ill-equipped for certain social identifications. Inter-species wars and enemies and ownership seem to make no sense and have proven very difficult to distinguish.
Skills Overview: Pip has lived the length of her life on this exact ship. While she is a fantastic pilot and a decent navigator, she often fills the role of assistant when it comes down to minor technical work and repairs. Because of her astounding perception, and ability to overcome many injuries, she is often placed on landing teams. Her pay has not gone toward food or housing or or cultural stigma, and therefore she has a knack to spend her money mostly on toys, trinkets, and pets. Thus far she has found particular use of a jet-pack and a concussion blaster.
Position on crew: Pilot
Years on crew: 6
Pip began her life, as a budding growth off of her parent (Halimfalar) some 11 years ago. From the start, all of her eyes aimed toward the stars, and the strange visitors from the local cluster. Their behavior was fascinating and unlike any of the native animals on Avalon Centaurus. Shortly after separating, Pip sought to leave the 27 Centaurus system, and the Mandrakes were glad to see her go, since she could and would drone on and on day after day about pointless prattle.
It took a little time to get used to things, but eventually the heightened perception of Pip made her an ideal pilot. With a couple of modifications to the navigational system, she found that she could extend her sense of self to encompass the entirety and form of the ship with ease by using the amorphous body-image of the Mandrake physiology.
Not too many people were too crazy about hiring what seemed to be a very bizarre child to fly their ungodly expensive ship. However, miners don’t really care, and eventually she wound up on a K-3 Dwarf Mining craft. (The same craft that was eventually sold to Julius.) However, when she tried to stay on as a pilot, a more conventional candidate was chosen, and Pip was moved to the role of operations. However, after a few of their more adventuresome runs, pilots soon found the position not worth the pathetic pay. After about the 5th short lived crew-member, Julius allowed Pip to resume her original role, and he has not regretted it.
Cool, and just in case anybody is curious, no, the character is not a child prodigy stereotype. The reason Pip can function as an adult is that she actually has duplicated genetic memories from budding from her parent. Likewise, she only looks like she is young because she is trying to fit in with alien societies. Since she is 11, she has grafted herself into an approximation of a humanoid of 11 years old out of ignorance about their behavior and any social customs connected to it. Had she been aware of such social issues, she would have grafted herself as an adult since that is her mental maturity... if you can call it that.
Name: Mandrake (Given name, not what the species calls itself.)
Homeworld: 27 Centaurus Db “Avalon Centaurus”
Similar non-intelligent lifeforms: Tuber/Tree/Grass
Appearance: A root-like body, they can range in form, size and number of limbs and sensory organs. Size is limited by lifespan and diet. There seems to be no lifecycle to a Mandrake, their lifespan is only limited by disease or accident.
Biological traits: Photosynthesis, non-localization of life functions makes a Mandrake difficult to terminate. With the reproduction of budding, there is also a generational knowledge that is passed down. Likewise, the species seem to have an instinctual eugenics, thus producing resilient offspring. Because they belong to the plant kingdom, high salinity, heavy metals, and fungus are a serious threat to them.
Cultural Traits: Mandrakes are sedate isolationists, most of their culture involves silence, contemplation, and simply existing. Self-acceptance is big, so most mandrakes grow however their bodies form with limbs and sensory organs sprouting wherever they take root. Essentially their entire planet is mostly standing-room only, so it is not uncommon for mandrakes to have absolutely no social bubble. There is a strong generational sense, being that they have literally taken over the planet and are absorbing the decaying bodies of past generations. Likewise, they view animal lifeforms as hasty worrywarts that are more trouble than they are worth. There is a wide spectrum of religions and cultures. However, war is unheard of between Mandrakes, just like murder and theft. Ownership is a foreign concept (especially since identity is somewhat blended.) Some might consider the Mandrake life to be some sort of utopia since it lacks almost all of the major drawbacks of other societies. However, this also comes with a level of anarchy and apathy when it involves the week of their society. There is also indifference even to their own existence that can lead to compliance with death (which can also be used as a weapon by sacrificing themselves by being in proximity to danger.)
Specialization: Being isolationists, they do not really hold any form of trade, government, or planetary relations. While they do not want the presence of Sentient Animals, they don’t really do anything about their presence. Because of this, a number of species claim 27 Centaurus Db, but find themselves simply suffocated should a foothold on the planet be attempted. Conquest has been stifled, since there are so many Mandrakes with unknown technologies as well as the formidable physical characteristics of the species. Cost to reward ratio is poor. Thus, the local area species view Avalon Centaurus as a good place to vacation, but not a good place to live.
Tech: Most of the Mandrake technology specializes in production of co2, o2, environmental platforms, and long-term sustainability. However, knowledge of other technologies is mostly hidden, and seems to come out of nowhere to meet the need of any chrysis. They have many orbital platforms in the 27 Centaurus system, that mostly consists of more surface area to grow on. Likewise, they have been developing techniques to stabilize their host star to prevent nova or spectral shifting, and to prolong the duration of the star. These technologies should work, expanding the lifespan of their star from billions of years to trillions. However, they require such massive amounts of resources, that the Mandrakes can make little difference right now. The project is assumed to take about 100,000 years before the star is actually stabilized, but they are up for the task. They have almost no interest in interstellar travel or war.
Character Sheet
Name: Pipipsiwa “Pip”
Age: 11 (Adult)
Species: Mandrake
Appearance: Pip’s body is much like a carrot or potato, a tuberous growth that Pip has modified into a humanoid shape. It has grown two eyes that are entirely blue orbs, and its foliage sprouts where a human’s hair should be. However, instead of protein strands, it is half tentacle, half reed like growths that can be used as extra limbs. In order to accommodate vocal communication (instead of chemical as is the Mandrake default) Pip has crafted an orifice to meet the need as well as to ingest insects or small creatures.
Personality: Due to the sexual-cultural differences of the societies that Pip has ventured into, Pip has chosen to be identified as female, sporting some robust personality traits that seem to coincide with the female gender more so than that of the males. Contrary to most Mandrakes and Mandrake society, Pip is highly energetic, highly curious, and highly active. She is loaded with enough spunk to run a teenager ragged. She has a thirst for adventure and danger. She is an incorrigible match-maker, and keeps strange and sometimes dangerous pets. Due to the extreme difference in species, Pip is ill-equipped for certain social identifications. Inter-species wars and enemies and ownership seem to make no sense and have proven very difficult to distinguish.
Skills overview: Pip has lived the length of her life on this exact ship. While she is a fantastic pilot and a decent navigator, she often fills the role of assistant when it comes down to minor technical work and repairs. Because of her astounding perception, and ability to overcome many injuries, she is often placed on landing teams. Her pay has not gone toward food or housing or or cultural stigma, and therefore she has a knack to spend her money mostly on toys, trinkets, and pets. Thus far she has found particular use of a jet-pack and a concussion blaster.
Position on crew: Pilot
Years on crew: 6
Pip began her life, as a budding growth off of her parent (Halimfalar) some 11 years ago. From the start, all of her eyes aimed toward the stars, and the strange visitors from the local cluster. Their behavior was fascinating and unlike any of the native animals on Avalon Centaurus. Shortly after separating, Pip sought to leave the 27 Centaurus system, and the Mandrakes were glad to see her go, since she could and would drone on and on day after day about pointless prattle.
It took a little time to get used to things, but eventually the heightened perception of Pip made her an ideal pilot. With a couple of modifications to the navigational system, she found that she could extend her sense of self to encompass the entirety and form of the ship with ease by using the amorphous body-image of the Mandrake physiology.
Not too many people were too crazy about hiring what seemed to be a very bizarre child to fly their ungodly expensive ship. However, miners don’t really care, and eventually she wound up on a K-3 Dwarf Mining craft. (The same craft that was eventually sold to Julius.) However, when she tried to stay on as a pilot, a more conventional candidate was chosen, and Pip was moved to the role of operations. However, after a few of their more adventuresome runs, pilots soon found the position not worth the pathetic pay. After about the 5th short lived crew-member, Julius allowed Pip to resume her original role, and he has not regretted it.
I just ran across this, and gobbled up the idea (and info). I would like to join, but the rest of my day is going to be used up (otherwise I would build a character right now.) If you could give me until tomorrow by noon, I can build a character for you. I'm also a super reliable poster, and have seen many games to the bitter end, so don't think this is one of those "that's an awesome idea that I'm never going to follow through on."