Orion
| |
| Orion, Ur'eon | |
| INFORMATION | |
| Quadrant: |
Beta |
| Native System: | |
| Status: |
Extant |
| SOCIO-POLITICAL DATA | |
| Affiliations: |
Independent; Varies |
| BIOLOGICAL NOTES | |
| END OF BRIEFING | |
| Template:Species | |
At a Glance
The Orion species are native to a Rimward, Spinward series of sector straddling Klingon and Federation space: it is alternately referred to as The Borderlands, the Orion Neutrality, 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.
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
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
Pheromones
Childhood and Adolescent Pheromones
Female Pheromones
Male Pheromones
Psychology
Cultural Notes
Cluros
Main Article: Orion Cluros