andorians
andorians 02Nov15
Andorians are a near-mammalian humanoid species native to the world of
Andoria, an icy class-M planet orbiting a blue-white giant star 30 times
larger than Sol and lying approximately 275 light-years in a roughly coreward
direction from the Sol system. If it were not for heavy background radiation
and what would otherwise be considered unstable volcanic tectonics, Andoria,
the 5th world in the system, would have been unable to sustain all but the
most rudimentary life, and so the life that has developed there is hardy,
falling under an odd taxonomic half-classification known as 'ghelnoid', which
is how Andorians refer to themselves in the same way a human might consider
himself a 'higher primate'.
Andorian cellular physiology is based as much on cobalt as iron, giving them
a skin-tint in the blue portion of the spectrum, ranging from cerulean to a
blushing purple, while their hair tends towards white, ranging from silvery
to platinum. They possess antennae rising from the brow, near the hairline,
five-to-eight-inch-long fluid-filled sensory stalks which are as much
mentioned about them in jokes and colloquialisms as their skin tone and which
extend their perceptions for sounds and vibrations further and deeper than a
human being's. Some Andorians can recognize familiar footfalls and heartbeats
close-up, but this is a skill which takes as much practice as a human
recognizing a good friend by his after-shave.
Continued in: andorians2 Top: theme
andorians2 02Nov15
In further comparison with humans, as the de facto baseline, Andorians tend
to have a higher cartilage-to-bone ratio in their skeletal structure,
instances of a chitin-like cartilage-bone fusion combining the former's
resiliency with the latter's toughness, and internal ridges of this quasi-
chitin which serve to compartmentalize organs from gross physical trauma.
Andorians -- as well as lower ghelhoids from their homeworld -- also feature
a redundant circulatory system which allows blood to seep osmotically through
tissues as well as through the usual travel through vein-like structures.
All of these things make them more resistant to pain, injury, and fatigue
than a human -- Andorians take impact differently, and the more efficient
blood flow means they rarely get sore or stiff from over-exertion; an
Andorian never suffers the indignity of having his leg 'fall asleep', for
instance, due to cramped posture, nor do they get frostbite from poor
circulation in cold weather.
Continued in: andorians3 Top: theme
andorians3 02Nov15
On the other hand, the unusual nature of their circulatory system also makes
it easier for some drugs to travel through their body -- Andorians, when they
drink heavily, get drunk quickly, and entire cottage industries exist in some
Orion Syndicate-controlled systems brewing poisons and drugs that work best
on Andorians. Because their bones have the tensile properties of cartilage,
as well, these bones break messily when they do break (which requires about
two to three times the force necessary to break human bone); any injury which
breaks an Andorian's bones will require a great deal of healing time, and
cause enough pain that even the Andorian nervous system cannot compensate for
all of it. The heavy cobalt base to an Andorian's blood and tissue make them
most compatible, on a cellular level, with Bolians -- Bolian blood and tissue
can be given to an Andorian with little effort, and vice versa, whereas both
race's blood would be incompatible with a Vulcan's, for instance, and
require great effort to make compatible with a human's.
Continued in: andorians4 Top: theme
andorians4 02Nov15
As might be assumed on a planet where weather conditions are severe and
predators abound, Andorians evolved a clan-based social structure which even
in modern times has not been discarded. Andorians live communally in one of
three basic social structures, from largest to smallest:
1) kethni (singular: keth), a clan of Andorians. The biggest 300 kethni
form the ruling council of the Andorian people, and clans come and go
under strict rules. A keth is ruled by an atlolla, best translated as
'chieftain', and in modern times tend to fall as much along lines of
social and cultural interests as bloodline. /kethni/ do interrelate and
intermarry (see below).
Continued in: andorians5 Top: theme
andorians5 02Nov15
2) 'lodges', or temporary-but-stable communities of Andorians living amongst
non-Andorian majorities. In Starfleet, each station, ship, colony, or
outpost with a heavy Andorian complement will combine several living
quarters to form a lodge where all Andorians can go and live. Families
(see below) sometimes do not; but it is very rare for any single adult
Andorian to live Outside The Lodge, a formal term with deep significance
(see below). Andorians in lodges do sleep and dine communally, even in
modern lodges were side chambers exist for private study, work, and play.
3) 'quads', or marriage structures. Andorian marriages consist of four
adults, usually two male-female couples. Andorians usually find their
beloveds, and then seek a compatible couple to complete a 'quad', after
which the two couples settle into their home, or a lodge, and raise their
children as one family. Children born to either pair of a quad belong
equally to the quad with only semantics or subtle word usage
differentiating between grades of kinship. A son born to couple 1 of a
quad would consider a son born to couple 2 his brother, no less than if
they shared one or both parents. Andorian quads, if they have many
children, sometimes split off from a lodge to have separate 'single
family' living space, but smaller quads can and do remain in lodges for
the sake of community.
Please see: andorians6 Top: theme
andorians6 02Nov15
Much more can be said about Andorian courtship, marriage, and social life.
Some salient notes:
Andorian marriage bonds are stronger than just about anything. To an
Andorian, the remaining three adults of the quad are life mates, even more
important than children born to the quad. An Andorian force to choose his
spouses over his children in a medical emergency, or forced to duel his own
father to defend the honor of his wife, will do so with little hesitation.
Andorians have little nudity taboos. Non-Andorian visitors to a lodge or
family home will see much blue skin.
With only one exception, all of the many Andorian religions view marriage as
a secular social contract, honored but not promoted by the religious
hierarchy. Some fringe sects of Borvaism, a semi-idolatrous, philosophical
warrior-religion referred to colloquially by some wags as 'Andorian
Buddhism', promote 'hexes', or 6-person/3-couple marriage structures, for
odd religious reasons. Most of these folks are considered 'fruitcakes' by
other Andorians, as respected as Borvaism itself is.
Please see: andorians7
andorians7 02Nov15
Other Andorian religions include Eila Clahd, a back-to-nature faith which
decries technological advancement; Emasha Yul, a polytheistic faith which is
to Borvaism what Hinduism is to Buddhism; Hastra Bei Hastra, a very common
non-idolatrous faith combining beliefs in reincarnation, purification of the
soul, and strict scholasticism, with one wild high holiday a year to allow
for a break from its relative asceticism; and Umarinism, a popular modern
religious construct advocating the duty of Andorians to keep their
passionate warrior natures alive and strong to set a holy example for the
less passionate races of the Federation. Much more can be said about all of
these Andorian religions, were space permitting. One thing to note: Seismic
instabilities and cold weather make the few freely flowing liquid water seas
on Andoria so treacherous that most Andorian religions conceive of watery
hells. Andorians are not fond of swimming.
Please see: andorians8 Top: theme
andorians8 02Nov15
Andorians have unique patterns to their senses of smell and taste. For
example, salt is spicy to an Andorian, and macho Andorians like to eat hearty
Andorian, Terran, or Klingon roasted meat dishes sprinkled liberally with
salt. Some Andorian Starfleet officers drink highly salted Margaritas or
Bloody Marys once introduced to them by humans at Starfleet Academy. Other
favorite drinks include sweet Agranu wine, as well as the earthy/rich ales
brewed by keth Endilev, and famous to non-Andorians as 'Andorian ale' in the
same way non-Irish humans think of 'Guinness' when they think of stouts.
Andorian concepts of community and team-effort show in their sports and
games. Andorians prefer team play to solo play, except when it comes to
fencing -- Andorian sports include kochek, a cross between hockey and
jai-alai played between three teams wearing spiked footwear on ice, as well
as team-based dueling and martial arts competitions. Andorians are a warrior
culture, and this shows in their fencing and unarmed martial arts styles.
The two most common Andorian blades are the chaka, an unwieldy three-bladed
hand-weapon similar to the Klingon bat'leth and serving a similar honor-blade
function, too heavy and awkward to carry in day-to-day use and reserved
mostly for honor duels and ceremonies; and the hrisal, a lightly curved
short-sword. Most duels of honor are performed with the chaka, while most
duty functions are met with the hrisal. Andorians practice a kickboxing art
known as kharakom and a brutal wrestling art known as hleshvalath.
Please see: andorians9 Top: theme
andorians9 02Nov15
The Andorian dueling code, as well as any ritual duel itself, is known as the
ushaan. Duels are fought traditionally on white linens over ice floors, so
that blood can be seen clearly and the duel ended at the appropriate time.
Starfleet regulations allow Andorian officers and enlisted men to participate
in duels -- anyone who takes part in the ushaan is considered a suicide if
death occurs as the result. The ushaan is fought with only the duelists,
between three and five supposedly neutral representatives of the governing
body or appropriate law enforcement agency at hand, and two professional
'recorders' of the duel. Starfleet regulations state that the Commanding
Officer of any Starfleet ship or installation is considered one of the
'judges' of the duel, regardless of his or her race and ignorance of the
code of ushaan; by tradition, the CO should choose at least one neutral
Andorian to stand as one of the judges, as well.
Andorians encountered the Orions and Rigellians first, then the Vulcans and
Tellarites, then Humanity. Relations with the Orions have always been love-
hate, while relations with the Tellarites are usually a hot-tempered loving
rivalry similar to a younger and older sibling. Vulcans, of course, are never
really understood, but some Andorians claim that Vulcan passion is simply
harder to ignite, but flares hotter when finally put to the torch.
Please see: andorians10 Top: theme
andorians10 02Nov15
Upon joining the Federation at its founding, Andorians fought for the same
right as the other founding races to reserve one starship of every
'generation' to be crewed mostly by their own kind. Since the 2240s, the USS
Eagle has been the name reserved for such, due to the similarities of the
Terran Eagle to a similar Andorian bird symbolic of honor and nobility and
the warrior spirit.
The original USS Eagle was a Constitution class explorer which served from
2247 to 2307 with regular refits; the USS Eagle-A, a Constellation-class
Exploratory Cruiser, lasted a similarly long 56 years until it was replaced
by the USS Eagle-B, a Ambassador-class Explorer, in the 2340's. When the
Eagle-B was destroyed at the height of the Dominion War, a year ago, there
was a short but intense debate as to what class of ship would supply the
Eagle-C. Some fought for the luxurious Andoria-class Explorer, meant for
long-term deep space missions, and in fact pointed out that the Andoria
class was designed explicitly to provide such a replacement Eagle, when
the time came. However, the needs of the war led the more heavily armed,
less luxurious, thinly disguised battleship that is the Sovereign-class
Heavy Explorer to be the model of the new Eagle, and the Sovereign-class
NCC-956-C, USS Eagle, was launched in early 2375.
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