From: [r--dd--n] at [ttidca.TTI.COM] (John Redden) Subject: Others Suns : 12 ------------------ OS.12 ---------------------------------------- This is being posted to the net by myself for Niall Shapero. Others Suns is copyright by Niall Shapero. This gaming material is distributed on a shareware basis. If you do not use the material you owe the author nothing. If you do use it please pay him what you think it is worth at a fair price becasue it took a damn lot of work to develop and playtest. The USmail address is: Niall Shapero 2536 Short Ave Los Angeles CA 90066 USA Those of you with modems can dial into his BBS using this phone number: (213)822-6729 Please email any comments to my electronic mailing address and I will pass them on to Niall. ---------------- end of preamble ------------------------------------------- MAHAOLI (A new race for OTHER SUNS) (Part 1 of 5) (1D6 in INT and CON replaced by a 6 in DICE rolled) CHAR DICE EXPECTED SPECIES MAXIMUM STR 2D8+1 10 20 INT 2D6+6 13 21 WIL 3D6 10.5 21 CON 2D6+6 13 21 END 4D12 26 52 DEX 4D6+2 16 31 CHA 3D6 10.5 21 LEN 170+1D6 173.5 178 BLD 4 4 4 SIZ --- 18 19 TSC 1D6-5 -1.5 N/A TPR 1D4+1 3.5 N/A Armor= 1 point fur (impact protection only) Expected mass = 59 kilograms Expected ENC (native gee) = 93 kilograms Expected ENC (1 gee) = 91 kilograms Net ENC (1 gee) = 32 kilograms Natural Weapons' Damage: claw -- 1D4 bite -- 1D6 kick -- 1D6 Brief Background The Mahaoli are a bipedal tailed aquatic mammalian species native to Istrana, a terrestrial world with a surface acceleration of 0.98 gees. Istrana orbits Sisanek, a G1 main sequence star, at a distance of 1.03 astronomical units. The terrestrial mammal most More [Y,n]? closely resembling the Mahaoli is Lutra canadensis, the American otter; it is, however, only a vague resemblance. The basic unit of Mahaoli society is the "cluster": one adult alpha male, one adult alpha female, four adult male betas and four adult female betas, together with offspring and "helper" adults (non-breeders). A typical cluster will number some thirty five individuals, ten of whom are breeding adults, twenty are adolescents or children, and five are non-breeding "helper" individuals. The alphas are generally, though not always, the eldest members of the cluster; half the betas of a cluster are typically adult offspring of the alpha pair of that cluster. Mahaoli are considerably more gregarious than Humans. The Mahaoli were first contacted by the H'Reli during the Third Expansion; their homeworld lies within what is today Combine space. The Mahaoli do not have a representative on the Central Committee; they are instead represented by the H'Reli, the Altani More [Y,n]? and the Ata'a. The three independent Mahaolan subgovernments, the Confederacy, the Litaran League, and the Vispoka Assembly are respectively within Syind Combine, Suzrainty of Han, and Ata'an Assembly space. MAHAOLI (A new race for OTHER SUNS) (Part 2 of 5) Names among the Mahaoli A Mahaoli takes part of his name from his cluster, part from his position within the cluster, and part from choice at adulthood. Mahaoli cluster names have historically been derived from geo- graphic place names. More recently, with the departure of large number of Mahaoli from their homeworld, cluster names have begun to appear that are clearly derived from words in non-Mahaoli languages or are based on employment specializations. Cluster names derived from occupations typically (though not exclusively) end in -ti or -si. Given/adult choice names most commonly end in -a. Designators of position within cluster: Val = Alpha/leader male Mir = Alpha/leader female Ko = Beta male Sal = Beta female Ran = "helper" individual Common Cluster names (and their meanings): Teeka = Teeka river Varan = Varan mountains Chell = Chell islands Vokti = Star plotter (navigator) Nisenti = Starship engineer Ntensi = Interstellar explorer Common Given/adult choice names (and their meanings): Chensa = Quick witted Bropa = Lazy and clever Vandropa = Seeker after many females Iskanda = Seeker after many males Tokra = Jester Morga = Guzzleguts Funara = Prankster A full Mahaoli name is of the form . For example: Funaravalvokti (The alpha male, prankster, of the star plotter/navigator cluster). In common address, only the given name is used; in slightly more formal address, the given name with the cluster position designa- tor attached is used. So Funaravalvokti would be known to friends and associates as Funara, and would likely be introduced as Funaraval to new acquaintences. The full name is only used for official (i.e. government) matters or in records keeping. MAHAOLI (A new race for OTHER SUNS) (Part 3 of 5) Mahaoli Languages Healaoie The principal language of the Mahaolan Confederacy worlds. Roughly two thirds of the Mahaoli are native to one or another of the worlds of the Confederacy and speak this as their native language. Mirmiroiya The principal language of the Litaran League worlds. Roughly ten percent of the Mahaoli speak Mirmiroiya as their native language. Imaoha The principal language of the Vispoka Assembly worlds. MOST of the remaining Mahaoli live on worlds owing allegiance to the Vispoka Assembly. The Mahaolan Outlook (1) There is a passion for pleasure. (2) The three cardinal virtues are: honesty, responsibility, and a sense of humor. (3) A sense of proportion, and an ethical sense are also consid- ered important. (4) Power over another adult intelligent being has no justifica- tion. It may, under certain circumstances, be necessary -- but this does not justify the power, only explain it. (5) There is a basic natural law governing all intelligent beings. (6) Under this law, all intelligent life forms are basically equal. Attitudes of the Mahaolan Middle Class: Equality among sophonts is assumed to be axiomatic. The world view is optimistic (hedo- nist), and dignity is considered to be a basic virtue. Poverty is regarded as a vice. The "species" memory of the Mahaoli is extremely long. They are capable of assuming a position of galactic dominance at need; they have no desire to do so, howev- er. MAHAOLI (A new race for OTHER SUNS) (Part 4 of 5) Attitudes of the Mahaolan Elite: Power evokes respect, but the greatest political force among the Mahaoli is still diplomacy and consensus democracy. The hero image is the negotiator who satis- fies ALL parties in a dispute. Sophisticated aliens evoke wari- ness, and the primitive masses are regarded as children (to be protected, cared for, and nurtured). Ambition is tolerated in others. The greatest weakness of the Mahaolan elite is a lack of military aggressiveness. They are always ready to "borrow" from others' cultures. Dilettantism is strongly frowned upon. Lei- sure is a virtue, to be sought be all. Psychological Profile for Mahaoli Cautious - Reckless 01-20 51-100 Courageous - Cowardly 01-60 91-100 Forgiving - Vengeful 01-70 96-100 Generous - Miserly 01-40 81-100 Hedonistic - Stoic 01-90 96-100 Honorable - Treacherous 01-20 81-100 Humble - Arrogant 01-30 71-100 Merciful - Cruel 01-20 71-100 Optimistic - Pessimistic 01-70 96-100 Peacable - Combative 01-30 71-100 Trusting - Suspicious 01-45 86-100 Xenophilic - Xenophobic 01-45 91-100 MAHAOLI (A new race for OTHER SUNS) (Part 5 of 5) Mahaoli Physical Characteristics (1) Gravitational Norm and Tolerance Range: 0.98 g, 0-1.5 g, max 3g (2) Atmospheric Norm and Variation Tolerance: 60-400 mm Hg Oxy- gen, 10-25 mm Hg Water Vapor, 1.00 atmospheres. (3) Temperature Range Norm and Tolerance: 0 to + 30 degrees C mean; -10 to +40 degrees C daily. (4) Electromagnetic Range(s) Tolerated: 0-30 lumens per square centimeter; wavelengths greater than 300 Angstroms. (5) Size Range: 4' to 4'3". (6) Chemical Base: Carbon (7) Particle Radiation Tolerance: Less than 0.03 rem steady state (per week), less than 100 rem short term. (8) Sensory Types, location, and sensitivities: (8A) Electromagnetic: Coarse: 7,000-10,000 Angstroms; skin Fine: 4,000-7,000 Angstroms -- color vision; eyes (8B) Pressure Differential: Remote: 20-20,000 cycles; ears Contact: skin, guard hairs (end of message string) The Mahaoli, a new species for Other Suns (Part 6 of 5 ... well, can't win 'em all) (8C) Chemosensing: Coarse: Depends on substance; skin, tongue Fine:Nasal cavity (slightly more sensitive than human), tongue (8D) Damage Detection: Corrosion: skin. Other: internal nervous system (8E) Texture Sensing: skin (8F) Psi senses: varies with the individual. (8G) Other: No other senses (9) Substances absorbed: Oxygen, other creatures, fruits, water, miscellaneous trace elements. Carnivorous. (10) Substances Emitted: Water, Carbon Dioxide, miscellaneous solid, liquid, and gaseous organic compounds. (11) Reproductive Methods: Typical mammalian; gestation period 273 days (single birth). (12) Body shape and Natural Weapons: Tailed, furred bipedal otteroid; teeth, hands, feet, retractile claws on fingers. (13) Periodic Functions: 22-25 hour wake/sleep cycle (diurnal species); 30 day female menstrual cycle. (14) Non-sensory Psi Functions: Varies with individual And that's all, folks