Ferengi

The Ferengi are an Alpha Quadrant humanoid space-faring species. The Ferengi Alliance (name of the Ferengi government, overseen by a single appointed Ferengi with the title "Grand Nagus") is not a member of the Federation. The homeworld is called Ferenginar.

Ferenginar

Culture

Ferenginar is an M-class planet with a wet climate - so wet that there are 178 different words for "rain" in the Ferengi language. Ferengi culture is centered around capitalism - in fact, they are considered the 'ultimate capitalists'. Their culture has flourished for thousands of years under the guidance of the Grand Nagus and as codified in a book of primary laws called the Rules of Acquisition. The rules are taught to the children of Ferenginar, and they are expected to recite them by the time they reach their Attainment Ceremony. The unabridged Rules of Acquisition come fully annotated with 47 commentaries, 900 major and minor judgments and 10,000 considered opinions. They were codified by Gint, the first Nagus.

Recently, the Ferengi have undergone a significant societal change, initiated by Grand Nagus Zek and completed by his successor Rom.

Ferengi society used to be totally patriarchal, with females being treated as property with no rights at all, at least until the reforms of the most recent two Grand Naguses. Females could be bought and sold. They rarely left their homes. They could not own or wear clothing. They served their male owner, and even pre-chewed the food for her husbands and sons. There are still some hard-line Ferengi males (and even females), but for the most part, their society is gradually becoming more liberal in regards to their females.

Few Ferengi marry for love and those who do are considered unfortunate as a Ferengi male might then lack the willpower to discipline his wife. The Ferengi wedding ceremony consists of latinum dances and bridal auctions. The female of course remains unclothed throughout. The ceremony has a simple format and is considered a business contract.  Ferengi males are sexually attracted to all females, including those of other species, and can often be excessively overt in their pursuit or courtship of them. A Ferengi's most erogenous zone is his ears, and having them massaged is called 'oomox'.

In addition to the Rules of Acquisition, Ferengi must follow a rigid business code called the Ferengi Trade By-Laws, and adherence to these laws are monitored by a body called the  Ferengi Commerce Authority (FCA). 

The FCA is like the IRS but its power and remit is greater. The FCA keeps track of every Ferengi's profits, family, holdings, business and business deals and properties. Ferengi males require a business license in order to operate: the business is issued by, and can be revoked by, the FCA. An annual statement must be submitted to the FCA setting out the profit made during the year, although often Ferengi deliberately "forget" to declare certain profits. The FCA's headquarters is in the Tower of Commerce and is the tallest building on Ferenginar. It has 40 flights of stairs, at the top of which is the Chamber of Opportunity. The bottom levels incorporates the Sacred Marketplace.

Breaking FCA regulations results in penalties which can be severe. The FCA sends a registered liquidator to the place of business of the offending Ferengi. If the liquidator cannot be bribed into overlooking the incident, the liquidator can close down the business by placing a writ with the Ferengi Alliance's symbol on the wall along with a statement of the infraction. The business remains closed until the FCA is satisfied that the chosen punishment has been met. The penalty for a Ferengi who breaks a contract with another Ferengi is most severe. Everything he and his family own will be confiscated and sold, and they will be forced to live on the street as beggars. No Ferengi will talk to the offending male or do business with him.

A Ferengi's mother is known as his Moogie. Ferengi moogies are cared for in their old age by charging their children rent for time spent in the womb. The account is put in escrow with her oldest male relative until the child is old enough to earn profit and pay her back. Then the male relative puts the latinum into a high yield account to care for Moogie in her dotage.

Ferengi houses are large and dome-shaped, like an Earth igloo. The entrance incorporates a low arched passageway with the door at the far end of the passage. The home's interior is designed to show off the wealth, and thus status, of its owner. Immediately inside the entrance door towels are kept for wiping the head clean (as it is always raining on Ferenginar) and a collection box to collect the admission fee from guests. When entering a Ferengi home the host says, "Welcome to our home. Place your imprint on the legal waivers, and deposit your admission fee in the box by the door." Then he places his hands together at the wrist and says, "Remember, my house is my house." The guest replies, "As are its contents."

Food and Drink

Ferengi are omnivorous but they are primarily insectivores. Staple Ferengi food includes tube grubs, preferably pre-chewed (by a Ferengi female), snail juice, spore pie, razor-toothed gree worms, flaked blood fleas and millipede juice.

Sports and Games

Ferengi generally do not play sports - but they will gladly make book for any event they come across, from vole races to Domjot games.

Games, however, are well-loved by Ferengi. Especially games of chance. They enjoy Tongo, Dabo, and other forms of gambling. Games of skill or strategy are more apt to be bet on than played, but some do play them.

Religion

Ferengi believe that those who have earned a profit during their lives will, after death, enter the Divine Treasury. Before they enter they see a gold plaque outside which asks new arrivals to have their profit-and-loss statement ready for inspection. Inside, the Celestial Auctioneers of the Blessed Exchequer will allow them to bid on new lives. But those who have not earned a profit are doomed to the Vault of Eternal Destitution. The Vault of Eternal Destitution is sometimes used as an oath.

History

There is not much that is known about the Ferengi's past history. Their culture has existed for 10,000 years. They boast to never have had wars, slavery, or other 'barbaric' practices, but this could be an advertising scheme. Most Ferengi don't care about the past - they prefer to look to the future.

The Battle of Prexnax, between the Ferengi and Lytasians, is the only military engagement ever made by the Alliance and is the most important battle in Ferengi History.

A huge financial decline struck Ferenginar during the mid-24th century. This decline involved rampant inflation and currency devaluation.

Starfleet came into contact with the Ferengi at the Battle of Maxia in 2355 but were not aware of it at the time. Official first contact occurred in 2364 at Delphi Ardu when USS Enterprise NCC-1701-D and a Ferengi Marauder vessel were for a time trapped in orbit together by the Portal of the last outpost of the ancient Tkon Empire. An away team from the Enterprise and three Ferengi crewmembers met on the planet surface - a far from friendly encounter.

Ferengi Death Ritual

Autopsy of a dead Ferengi is forbidden. To honor the dead, the deceased's body is cut into small pieces which are vacuum-sealed in small disk-shaped souvenir containers and then sold. The more noted the deceased during their life, the more valuable the containers and Ferengi will bid highly for them. A Ferengi can plan for this before death by placing a number of the disks-to-be on the Ferengi Futures Exchange. A Ferengi Certificate of Dismemberment accompanies the souvenir, attesting the identity of the remains.

Rules of Acquisition

The following rules were quoted during Deep Space Nine's run:

1. Once you have their money, you never give it back.
3. Never spend more for an acquisition than you have to.
6. Never allow family to stand in the way of opportunity.
7. Keep your ears open. 
8. Small print leads to large risk.
9. Opportunity plus instinct equals profit.
10. Greed is eternal.
13. Anything worth doing is worth doing for money.
16. A deal is a deal...until a better one comes along.
18. A Ferengi without profit is no Ferengi at all.
19. Satisfaction is not guaranteed.
21. Never place friendship above profit.
22. A wise man can hear profit in the wind.
27. There's nothing more dangerous than an honest businessman.
28. Whisper your way to success.
31. Never make fun of a Ferengi's mother.
33. It never hurts to suck up to the boss.
34. War is good for business.
35. Peace is good for business.
40. She can touch your lobes but never your latinum.
41. Profit is its own reward.
44. Never confuse wisdom with luck.
47. Never trust anyone whose suit is nicer than your own.
48. The bigger the smile, the sharper the knife.
52. Never ask when you can take.
57. Good customers are as rare as latinum, treasure them.
58. There is no substitute for success.
59. Free advice is seldom cheap.
60. Keep your lies consistent.
62. The riskier the road, the greater the profit.
65. Win or lose, there's always Huyperian beetle snuff.
75. Home is where the heart is, but the stars are made of latinum.
76. Every once in a while declare peace. It confuses the hell out of your enemies.
79. Beware of the Vulcan greed for knowledge. 
82. The flimsier the product, the higher the price.
85. Never let the competition know what you're thinking.
89. Ask not what your profits can do for you, ask what you can do for your profits.
94. Females and finances don't mix. 
97. Enough...is never enough.
98. Every man has his price.
99. Trust is the biggest liability of all.
102. Nature decays, latinum last forever.
103. Sleep can interfere with the acquisition of profit.
104. Faith moves mountains...of inventory.
106. There is no honor in poverty. 
109. Dignity and an empty sack is worth the sack.
111. Treat people in your debt like family. Exploit them.
112. Never have sex with the boss's sister.
113. Always have sex with the boss. 
121. Everything is for sale, including friendship.
123. Even a blind man can recognize the glow of latinum.
139. Wives serve, brothers inherit.
141. Only fools pay retail.
144. There's nothing wrong with charity...as long as it winds up in your pocket.
162. Even in the worst of times someone turns a profit.
177. Know your enemies...but do business with them always.
181. Not even dishonesty can tarnish the shine of profit.
189. Let others keep their reputation. You keep their money.
190. Hear all, trust nothing.
192. Never cheat a Klingon...unless you're sure you can get away with it.
194. It's always good business to know about new customers before they walk in your door.
202. The justification of profit is profit. 
203. New customers are like razor-toothed gree worms: they can be succulent, but sometimes they bite back.
208. Sometimes the only thing more dangerous than a question is an answer.
211. Employees are the rungs on the ladder to success. Don't hesitate to step on them. 
214. Never begin a business negotiation on an empty stomach.
217. You can't free a fish from water.
218. Always know what you're buying.
223. Beware the man who doesn't make time for oomox.
229. Latinum lasts longer than lust.
236. You can't buy fate.
239. Never be afraid to mislabel a product.
242. More is good...all is better.
255. A wife is a luxury...a smart accountant a necessity.
261. A wealthy man can afford anything except a conscience.
263. Never allow doubt to tarnish your lust for latinum.
266. When in doubt, lie.
284. Deep down everyone's a Ferengi.
285. No good deed ever goes unpunished.

Names

Some example Ferengi names are provided below:

Male names: Brect, Gint, Lux, Quark, Rom, Pel, Brunt, Gaila

Female Names: Ishka, Trix, Ootha, Lunda,