Orion

Orion, Ur'eon
INFORMATION
Quadrant:	Beta
Native System:	Orion, Vondem, Kolar, Botchok, others
Status:	Extant
First Contact:	2151
Diplomatic Status:	Non-Aligned and non-contiguous; Varies with Orion Colony. The Orions do not recognize one Orion quadrant-spanning government as theirs
SOCIO-POLITICAL DATA
Affiliations:	Independent; Varies Orion Colonies Orion Free Traders Consortium Orion Neutrality Pact Bank of Orion Kolari Vaj Thakolarivaj (extinct); Kolari Courtesan Houses Orion Syndicate Xo-a Kulkaadi
Government Name:	Varies
Government Type:	Qaj-based Corporate Authority Meritocracy Libertarian Oligarchy and Anarcho-Capitalism are most common planetwide
Head of State:	Varies; Tahedrin and Qaheedi
Economic Model:	Libertarian, Free Market Capitalism Criminal Enterprise is common
Population:	48.8 Billion quadrant-wide
BIOLOGICAL NOTES
Taxonomy:	Humanoid Mammalian
Atmospheric Requirements:	Oxygenated
Temperature Requirements:	Warm (Tropical)
END OF BRIEFING
Template:Species

At a Glance

A Botchoki Brother-Sister Pair

The Orion species are native to a Rimward, Spinward series of sectors straddling Klingon and Federation space: it is alternately referred to as The Borderlands, the Orion Neutrality, the Orion Free States and the Orion Colonies. Individual Orions can be found throughout the Alpha and Beta Quadrants and sometimes seem ubiquitous in the sectors along the Klingon, rimward Romulan and Gorn borders of the Beta Quadrant. They are less common in the Alpha Quadrant, save for around Farius Prime and the Navo Jetsam.

While Orion merchants and tradesmen can be found across the Quadrant, they are most well known for their affiliation with piracy, slavery and the Orion Syndicate, a complex, ill-understood criminal cartel. Only a small percentage of Orions have any regular contact or affiliation with the Syndicate. It is a rare Orion, however, who does not at least know of someone who is affiliated.

As wide-ranging as individual Orions can be, as a species they are not pioneers and have little interest in either exploring or conquest. To most, their primary interest is the exchange of trade goods and services. While the Orions have institutions of higher learning, they are sometimes not well-regarded by Orions in general. The enduring stereotype of the Orion race is that they are treacherous, sybaritic, and decadent, preferring both violent bloodsports and uninhibited sexual pleasure. It is a pattern of assumption that individual Orions may embrace or combat freely, but most acknowledge the stereotype as having some truth to it. However, Orions are not monolithic- as a species they are extremely individualistic.

Orion neutrality and the Orion use of slavery are well-documented socio-political phenomena, both playing complex roles within different Orion cultures. Most of the Orion civilizations have abandoned the idea of broad empires, viewing them as a waste of time and resources. Indeed so pervasive is this phenomenon that Orions have a kneejerk suspicion toward any form of Hegemony, and beyond their "Qaju" they are distrustful of large scale governments and institutions.

Ethnicities

Orions recognize the concept of Ethnicities (called Tenda'Nin) as being various genetic expressions around the regions of their ancestral homeworld. When the Orions engaged in the Diaspora, the local Qaju who left tended to be dominated by one or two local ethnicities. Over time, these ethnicities spread across entire worlds but there were centuries of little contact with other Orion groups. When the Thakolarivaj began to bring Orions across the Borderlands back into a singular corporate empire, Orions has to re-learn what it was to be Orion.

Modern Orions identify ethnicities by the colony the Orion comes from- Botchoki, Kolari, Ur'eon, etc. These "Tenda'Nin" have become "Ur'ei-vandi" or "Alien Orions." That is to say that many Orions look at Orion groups who are different than their own as Orions, but also as alien. Orion groups do not share the same kinship and sense of common ancestry as Humans of various regional ancestries do. They do not broadly speak the same Orion languages because they had thousands of years of isolation between the Diaspora and the First Orionic Empire. Orion Tribalism is an even stronger- and accepted- aspect of Orion culture compared to Humans.

Pre-Diaspora Ethnicities

Orion ethnicities follow similar differences to Humans- skin hue and lightness/darkness, hair patterns, body hair patterns, the shapes of the eyes, whether round or almond, hooded, mono-lid or creased. Before the diaspora, ethnicities followed similar patterns to Earth- by regions, continents, and island chains. Today these traits are recognized as colonial features. Builds and prevalence for Hypertrophy are also different across the various Tenda'Nin, as is the strength and chemical potency of pheromones. The prevalence of Erratics- which are either a genetic hiccup or rare recessive trait or else bi-racial traits- were found in most Orion ethnicities. Today Erratic expressions are rarer in some colonies than in others.

Skintone and Hue

Eye Color and Shape

Hair Color and Shape

Hypertrophic Tendencies

Pheromonal Variations

Ur'eon

Ure'on Women

The Ur'eon are natives of Orion, which is likely the ancestral Orion homeworld. The Ur'eon are stereotyped by outsiders as the baseline Orion: greenish-yellow skin, black hair, deep-set, almond-shaped bedroom eyes, and tall, athletic builds. Ur'eon hair can be wavy to curly, though many Ur'eon adopt Kolari fashions and either shave the hair (if male) or straighten it (in the Kolari female way). Ur'eons can be anywhere from a khaki-green, to a deep olive in skin tone, but the most common tint of the skin is from green to green-yellow. Erratics are extremely rare. But the Ur'eon are not the whole of pre-diaspora Orions: they are the descendants of Orion Caju who were too poor or too stubborn to leave Orion in the Orion Diaspora. They are the "Left Behind" Cajus and many genetic expressions of pre-diaspora Orions which left the planet have not re-manifested in the Ur'eon.

Vondemi (Orion III)

Vondem, or Orion III, more closely resembles pre-diaspora Orion than Orion does today. Yet it too differs. Vondem was populated by Orion Caju and individual Orion merchants who sought alien interface. Vondem was colonized as a world to keep aliens and alien influences away from the homeworld. The Orions that came to Vondem were more liberally-minded than more conservative Caju on the homeworld. The Vondemi are the Orions that the Federation citizenry are most likely to encounter. The Vondemi can be any shade of yellow-green, green or green-blue, but the multi-racial blending of all the various ethnicities on Ur'eon makes the vast majority of Vondemi green. They often have wavy or curly black, brown or very dark green hair. Like many stereotypical Orions, they have almond-shaped, bedroom eyes and fine features.

Vondem has the highest percentage of Erratics in their population. Red-haired Erratics make up almost 25% of the population. "Gray Orions" have the highest concentrations here, at around 5% of the population. Vondem also has the highest number of bi-species, alien traits. Individuals with partial alien heritage are most often found on Vondem.

Kolari

Kolari Thakeedi

The Kolari have a distinct appearance and it is they that have set many of the enduring fashion friends of Orion societies. Though once a minority treated poorly by pre-diaspora Orions, the Kolari are now seen as "Imperial Orions" and dictate, to a degree, what is aesthetically pleasing. The Kolari have skin tones similar to the Ur'eon (though they are sometimes more vibrant). Their builds are also similar to the Ur'eon type. The key feature of the Kolari is the Kolar Fold. This is a monolid eye shape, usually with an Epicanthic fold to the eyelid. Kolari have black hair which is usually straight or wavy, though both sexes favor shaving. Kolari females currently wear elaborate wigs. Erratics are extremely rare on Kolar- less than 0.005% of the population.

Botchoki

Native to the world of Botchok in Klingon space, the Botchoki split from Ur'eon stock 200,000 years ago. The Sirrudi, Bilati and Tilar Cajus made up most of the Botchoki colonists who left Ur'eon in Exile. The signature appearance of the Botchoki is their skin tone shifts from a yellow tint of green, to a blue tint of green. Botchoki are sometimes described as "the color of a lime," though there is a spectrum of skin tones that are "cooler" than the warm-lean of Ur'eon or Kolari skin. Botchoki are taller and leaner than their Ur'eon cousins (Botchok gravity is lighter) and hypertrophy in males is less common. Botchoki are dark-eyed and their eyes may be rounder than their Ur'eon relatives. Botchoki hair is always dark and curly and can be loosely wooly.

Other Ethnicities

Rasticini

The Orions of Rastacine were the result of several waves of migration. The colony began as a Partreidi splinter group who broke from the Qolaadi-Partreidi exiles during an ion storm. After the rise of the Thakolarivaj, the once-independent Rastacini endured a second wave of Partreidi and Qolaadi, as well as several Rigellian Kalar and Tilari. Rastacini have a strong resemblance to Kolari but in modern times, they have expressed wavy rather than straight hair. They tend to be shorter and more powerfully built than Kolari; hypertrophic expression is relatively common.

After a fierce Thakolarivaj bombardment to eradicate the Chameloid "threat" that killed up to 80% of the Rastacini natives, the population has never fully recovered. Now occupied by the Klingon Empire, the Rastacini are an endangered species, much like their world.

Uryeisi

Uryeis (Oo-ry-ess) was settled not by individual Caju but by a pan-Orion spiritual movement. Uryeis may have once closely resembled what Orion looked like 200,000 years ago as individuals came from all Tenda'Ni groups across the planet.

Valaqi

Velodi

In most respects, the Velodi resemble the Kolari from whom they split from.

Verexian

Kolari Moons

Orion System Moons

Xo-a Kulkaadi

Gothei

A Tilari Tah'e Bull

The Tilar Caju, originally Sirrudi allies, settled on Gothei with a series of outposts on the Outer Thurmald Isles. They initially traded with the native Etoshan people. The Tilar had an appearance similar to but distinct from the Sirrud and Bilat Cajus. Their skin tends to be exceptionally dark lime green and their hair and eyes have a tendency to be green-hued shades of black and dark brown. While they are often tall and lean due to the gravity of Gothei like the rest of the Botchoki, the Tilar have a strong propensity for muscular hypertrophy in males. Today the Tilar are known for producing impressive Tatharoqi Bulls which often draws the scrutiny of the Klingon governrors.

Erratics

Gray Orions

Gray Orions can express as a pure genetic variation similar to Albinism in Humans. Like those with albinism, Gray Orions suffer from a number of skin maladies and myopia (near-sightedness). They must cover themselves to avoid burning under most suns. On Orion worlds, most Gray Orions prefer to live nocturnally. However, Gray Orions can also be a genetic expression from parentage with an Orion and an alien. They are similar to Pale Green Orions, but have the added issues similar to Albinism. Gray Orionism as a mixed racial heritage is common among Rigellians, Vulcans, Romulans and Acamarians.

Red Hair

A Red-Haired Erratic

The "Curse of Alnilam," or the "Mark of Alnilam," is tied to the mythical, Atlantis-like stories of the Alnilam Caju. Those mythical Orions are often depicted as being red-haired and green or blue-eyed. Of the Erratics, red haired Orions suffer the least amount of tension in Orion society- though they are often stereotyped as sinister, exotic or supernatural. The Kolari and Velodi are the most notably hostile, while Vondem enjoys a high percentage of red-haired erratics in their population.

Pale Green

Peridot-colored skin with either a blue or green hue have become more frequent since sustained contact with non-Orion civilizations. Such Orions can express as pale green as an Erratic, but more often they have alien parentage or grandparentage. Such Orions or half-Orions will find some difficulty finding acceptance in some Orion groups like the Syndicate or the Xo-a Kulkaadi, but often find greater tolerance on Vondem. Kolar and Velod are notably hostile to all Erratics.

Evolutionary Origins

Because the Orion civilizations engaged in a diaspora from their homeworld over 200,000 years ago, as a species they have had time to evolutionarily diverge and diversify. This interstellar colonization created new Orion ethnicities and eclipsed some of those that once existed on Orion. However, they share a common physiology, descended from a mammalian primate species under a blue-white star, on a hot and very humid Class M world. They are placental mammals with high but age-limited rates of fertility.

Carno-Omnivorism

Orions descend from a proto-sapient primate species that kept to the trees of Orion's vast jungles. Evolutionarily, this has created a species comfortable with climbing as well as with heights. Very few Orions are acrophobic, though agorophobia (fear of openness/lack of escape routes) is a common phobia. Orions possess two full sets of canines (for a total of eight) and a post-canine tooth where Humans possess bicuspids. The pre-hominid Orion was a meat eater and expanded from obligate carnivorism to partial-omnivorousness. They gained unique amino acids and sugars from this addition to their diet, which expanded their neurological capabilities.

Ambush Predation and Enhanced Coordination

Orions descend from ambush predators, fond of small prey. Because of their arboreal past, Orions are excellent climbers, with a superior sense of proprioception (awareness of self in space) and balance (which may explain why so many are such sensual dancers). Because of the ambush tactics, Orions also tend to be quite stealthy and light on their feet. However, because of their high metabolism, Orions have reduced endurance and are more greatly impacted by sleep deprivation.

Anatomy & Physiology

Taxonomy

Muscle and Bone Density

Stun, Heat Exposure and Pain Resistance

Cold Exposure

Muscular Hypertrophy

Tah'e Bull Xo-a Kulkaadi

Muscular Hypertrophy- an extreme expression in muscle fiber growth and density of fibers- is a recessive gene in the Orion genome, carried on the equivalent of the Y-chromosome. Around 14.7% of Orion males carry the gene modifications for Hypertrophy, allowing them to gain muscle and strength with comparative ease. However, not all Orion males with these genes become the hulking, menacing muscled thugs that are characterized as Tah'e Bulls.

Diminished Resistance to Talata Vero

While the gene for hypertrophy makes an Orion male capable of gaining bulk muscle easily, it has side-effects. Most Orions with this gene have neuro-diverse brain structures that are similar to Human ADD, ADHD or Borderline Personality Disorder. They are also that much more susceptible to an Orion female using Talata Vero.

Tah'e Bulls

Hypertrophy in Females

Kolari Tah'e Female

While far more rare compared to male hypertrophy, female hypertrophy can happen as often as two percent in the female population. However, the numbers seem to vary along ethnic lines. The Kolari have a higher percentage- about 2.8%- and those women are often recruited by the Kolari Vaj and Orion Syndicate to serve as personal guards of the Kaheedi. Hypertrophism in female is very rare on Botchok- only 0.5% of females. The Velodi have female hypertrophism around average but have sought to artificially boost their numbers through augmentation to combat any idea of a Kolari advantage. Female Tah'e are highly valued by their Orion Caju, but often are more feared than loved.

Hypertrophy in females seems to have a genetic marker- they would be similar to an XXX syndrome in Humans. It is linked to a genetic hiccup which includes a partial y-chromosome expression- but it can be passed on to offspring in the rare instance that the Tah'e Female is fertile (80% are not). Their ability to use Talata Vero is much diminished, and Hypertrophic Females tend to have male-like pheromone levels.

Orion "Animal Women"

An extremely rare expression of Tah'e Female Hypertrophy are the "Animal Women-" female Orions of an extreme, predatory cunning and an pathologically antisocial psychological profile.

Orion Cardiovascular System

Six Chambers

The Orion heart is a unique structure and does not resemble a human heart. It is closer in shape to a dumbbell or hourglass- two multi-chambered pumps between a powerful set of cardio-pulmonary pump reserve chambers which both oxygenate and filter the blood before transit.

Upper and Lower Heart

Hemocyanin-Based Blood

Orion Hemocyanins

Orion blood is bluish-green while within the circulatory system and oxidizes as bright green when in contact with oxygen-rich atmosphere. Orion blood is slightly thinner than Human blood, similar to some heavy-duty inks.

Blood Types

Orion blood is difficult to match- Rigellians, Romulans and Vulcans, despite being hemocyanin-based themselves, are not compatible. Orion blood comes in a large array of types as well, though they are more easily filtered for universal use than some species' blood. Orion blood expresses as positive, positive-plus or negative and negative-plus; there are additional chemical notes for clotting and oxygen absorption in the plus categories. There are several dominant blood types: B, K and O. V and Ve are recessive blood types. Despite their abbreviations, the blood types are only loosely based on planet populations. Kolari, for example, are roughly 65% Type K, but they also express O and V frequently. Type O can be found in some percentage on every Orion colony. Type Ve is the rarest blood type: it was discovered on Velod where it remains rare- about 13% of Velodi express as Type Ve.

Melanin Expression

Orion skin is naturally a cool green-gray color. Genetic expressions of melanin turn the skin green. As Humans have yellow or red variations, Orions have yellow and blue variations. Like Humans, increased amounts of melanin darken the skin tone. Orions can be dark or light green, with a yellowish, neutral green, or bluish-green hue.

Orions do "tan" which naturally darkens the color of green they are. An Orion sunburn is extremely uncommon, especially under any sunlight spectrum of less than a cool white star. Orions have a much higher tolerance for UV. When an Orion does get sunburned, it appears as ashy, freckly patching of very dark green which is quite painful- more akin to a scald than a simple sunburn.

Orion Albinism

See: Gray Orions

Pheromones

Childhood and Adolescent Pheromones

Orion males and females begin to express biochemical pheromones and the olfactory potency around halfway through puberty. Pubescent Orions see a sharp spike in pheromones and body odor that is erratic, very strong, and often distracting to others. As their bodies regulate these growth hormones, the odor, and effects diminish to mean adult levels but teenage Orions are known to "stink." Most adolescent Orions adopt a regime of daily odor control using Kriloxine Tartrate, which is applied similarly to deodorant and cologne.

Female Pheromones

Talata Vero

Male Pheromones

Though male Orions have a noticeable aroma, their pheromones do not have the same subversive effects as female Orions trained in Talata Vero. Orion males are often noted for having a very difficult to describe scent: some have tried with metaphors such as "fallen oak leaves on the forest floor," "freshly turned peat," "earthy musk," and "like the scent of sex."

Nerve Endings

Misconceptions

Photosynthetic Skin

"Ruddy" Orions

Outsiders unfamiliar with the Orion species sometimes encounter what they misconceive of as an Orion subs-species or ethnicity- the ruddy Orion. While there are ancient legends on pre-Diaspora Orion of "red-skinned people," the story is apocryphal. These aliens, often seen among Orion cadres, are Red Orions- a separate species and client race of Botchok.

Sensory Systems

Sight

Blue-White and Ultraviolet Tetrochromacy

Reduced Red Light Acuity

Smell and Taste

Savory and Salty

Sweet and Bitter

Proprioception

Other Senses

Dietary Requirements

Sleep Requirements

Psychology

Cultural Notes

Cluros

Main Article: Orion Cluros

Criminal Activities

Ethnocentricity

Religion and Mysticism

Orions in Play