Empire!7 - Into the Depths: Waters of the World (CWBG)

[Silent_Interim]

The Ornzol Superiority

Spoiler: Summary

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Leader: Chief Scorner Or’mitet'ol Wide-Eye
Diplomacy: 2
Military: 5
Economy: 3
Faith: 2
Intrigue: 5

Capital Region: Ornzol (40)
Resource: Ornzol Scorners
Desired Import: Meat

Holy Sites:

• Holy Site 1, The Perfectly Sized Rock: Loathing for Largeness
• Holy Site 2, The Hall of Learning: Detestation of the Different
• Holy Site 3, The Reflecting Caves: Odium for the Other

Faction Support:

• Aristocratic: Self
• Clerical: Self
• Mercantile: Self

Starting bonus techs: Bioluminescent Navigation, Filtration Grafts, Bitter Tourism

Spoiler: Geography: Ornzol

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Ornzol, much like the people that named it for themselves, is a land of contrasts; from the rolling brown sands leading up to the stony tide pools where the Ornzol raise their young, to the wide and colourful reefs that dot the seascape. Here and there among the reefs where fish dart in and out, villages sprawl in radial patterns, spiking outward from central plazas where the Ornzol gather for public events and commerce. In a few places, larger towns marking local seats of power sprawl even further, radial patterns budding off in a fractal from the central point. Occasionally, specially-bred rays carry important Ornzol above the fray, settling here and there.

Points of interest include the two Great Spawnings, mythologically considered the origins of the Ornzol, two islands ringed by a massive collection of tide pools which the Ornzol still use for raising their young. Outsiders are not permitted anywhere near them, on pain of pain. The southwestern island is called Orn and the northwestern Zol, in the traditional Ornzol style, though both are used for the raising of children of both constituent species.

Spoiler: People: The Ornzol

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The Orn (unless it’s the Zol) are a race of large sea urchins, with adults measuring approximately 50cm in diameter. Most of this length is a dense network of rigid spines in thick clusters emerging from the central body, with the test (shell) protecting a body about 10cm in diameter. Their colouration is highly vibrant, with bright reds and yellows to ward off predators.

The Zol (or possibly the Orn) are a race of sandy-coloured crabs, with adult specimens growing to about 20cm in length. They have long-stalked eyes emerging from rounded bodies, with long, slender legs. Unusually, only two of these pairs of legs are usually used for locomotion, with the other pairs extending upwards to secure a passenger.

Together, they form the gestalt Ornzol; similar to a carrier crab, the urchin portion rides atop the crab portion, providing protection, decoration, and, since their evolution to sapience, observation and advice, while the crab provides mobility, gripping power via their claws, and vision. While technically both organisms can speak, one can only speak loudly enough to be heard by their bonded partner (with the other vocalizing such thoughts if they feel it appropriate), and the Ornzol consider it a terrible faux pas to enquire which is which. They will respond to this faux pas as they will to most other social interactions- with bitter vitriol and highly inventive insults about the biology, personality, and ancestry of the offending party.

Outside of their home region, it is rare to the point of being unknown to see an Orn without a Zol, and equally rare to see a Zol without an Orn. Even within their home, it is comparably uncommon to see such a sight outside of the nurseries where each are hatched, as a pair will be bonded- typically for life- almost immediately. It is also extremely unusual for outsiders to be permitted access to these sensitive locations, meaning that most will only ever see the two as Ornzol, a single unified whole acting in perfect synchronicity. When separated, both become lethargic and dazed, largely unable to function properly independent from the other.

Spoiler: History and Government: The Clan That Clamours

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Once upon a time, the Ornzol were governed by a number of fractious and constantly-fighting clans. Although these clans still technically persist, in recent years one clan has informally subsumed and dominated all the others, by right of superior insult-craft as well as military and mercantile supremacy. All administrative matters are now formally under the jurisdiction of Clan Wide-Eye, who have the unenviable task of wrangling a populace who consider rudeness the highest virtue.

While it was certainly not the only reason, one of the biggest reasons the Wide-Eyes were able to take power was the recognition of a need for a unified front to present to the increasing numbers of outsiders. Realizing that, if they did not unite, the worst might happen, the Ornzol begrudgingly fell in line with the vision of the Wide-Eyes. While the many clans hold varying degrees of distaste for each other, it pales in comparison with their distaste for all non-Ornzul.

While individual clans are still notionally responsible for particular sections of administration, in practice they serve as instruments of Wide-Eye rule. There is still some internal jockeying for matters of prestige (and especially avoiding the singularly odious duties of trade and diplomacy), but excessive unrest is looked upon unkindly by the Wide-Eyes.

Traditionally, skill with insults was the primary metric upon which clans measured success and prestige. While this is no longer formally the case, with the Wide-Eyes instituting more formal and theoretically ability-based tests for functionary positions, there is definitely still a bias to those who can deliver a cutting jibe.

Spoiler: Resources: Fuel for Flagellation

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It is the eternal chagrin of the Ornzol that they have a need for things found beyond their own borders. Recent innovations in bio-engineering and expansion of the local population have led to a massively increased need for biomass, especially in the form of Meat, more than their own region can sustainably provide.

Though the finest Ornzol insult-crafters enjoy patronage from the ruling classes, many skilled scorners have to take their work on commission. Though it is shameful, they even hire themselves out to hideous foreigners and similar degenerates in order to make a living, some even stooping so low as to write non-insult material. But even the lowliest Ornzol Scorner is a fine wordsmith, able to rival the greats of other cultures.

Starting Bonus Techs: Bioluminescent Navigation, Filtration Grafts, Bitter Tourism.

Spoiler: Faith: A Philosophy Of Distaste

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The Ornzol are not particularly religious, but they have elevated the craft of the insult to an art form. They find most other forms of life disgusting, varying from mere sniffling superiority to outright hatred of those unlike them.

HS1: The Perfectly Sized Rock
Size, of course, is a classic vector for judgment. It is here, at a stone so perfectly sized for an Ornzol, demonstrating their superior nature, that they practice the art of Loathing for Largeness.

HS2: The Hall of Learning
Some creatures are so strange, so sick and malformed, that it requires research and expertise even to insult them properly. At the Hall of Learning, the finest Ornzol scholars learn to hone their Detestation of the Different.

HS3: The Reflecting Caves
A small network of caves with the peculiar property of perfectly resonating sounds made in a particular register of Ornzol speech. Specifically, that achieved in the most sublime state of disgust and hatred. Here, the echoes of the finest screeched examples of Odium for the Other ring down eternity, for posterity to enjoy.