From: [r--dd--n] at [ttidca.TTI.COM] (John Redden)
Subject: Others Suns : 12
------------------ OS.12 ----------------------------------------
This is being posted to the net by myself for Niall Shapero.
Others Suns is copyright by Niall Shapero. This gaming material is
distributed on a shareware basis. If you do not use the material you
owe the author nothing. If you do use it please pay him what you
think it is worth at a fair price becasue it took a damn lot of work
to develop and playtest. The USmail address is:
Niall Shapero
2536 Short Ave
Los Angeles CA 90066
USA
Those of you with modems can dial into his BBS using this phone number:
(213)822-6729
Please email any comments to my electronic mailing address and I will
pass them on to Niall.
---------------- end of preamble -------------------------------------------
MAHAOLI (A new race for OTHER SUNS)
(Part 1 of 5)
(1D6 in INT and CON replaced by a 6 in DICE rolled)
CHAR DICE EXPECTED SPECIES MAXIMUM
STR 2D8+1 10 20
INT 2D6+6 13 21
WIL 3D6 10.5 21
CON 2D6+6 13 21
END 4D12 26 52
DEX 4D6+2 16 31
CHA 3D6 10.5 21
LEN 170+1D6 173.5 178
BLD 4 4 4
SIZ --- 18 19
TSC 1D6-5 -1.5 N/A
TPR 1D4+1 3.5 N/A
Armor= 1 point fur (impact protection only)
Expected mass = 59 kilograms
Expected ENC (native gee) = 93 kilograms
Expected ENC (1 gee) = 91 kilograms
Net ENC (1 gee) = 32 kilograms
Natural Weapons' Damage: claw -- 1D4
bite -- 1D6
kick -- 1D6
Brief Background
The Mahaoli are a bipedal tailed aquatic mammalian species native
to Istrana, a terrestrial world with a surface acceleration of
0.98 gees. Istrana orbits Sisanek, a G1 main sequence star, at a
distance of 1.03 astronomical units. The terrestrial mammal most
More [Y,n]?
closely resembling the Mahaoli is Lutra canadensis, the American
otter; it is, however, only a vague resemblance.
The basic unit of Mahaoli society is the "cluster": one adult
alpha male, one adult alpha female, four adult male betas and
four adult female betas, together with offspring and "helper"
adults (non-breeders). A typical cluster will number some thirty
five individuals, ten of whom are breeding adults, twenty are
adolescents or children, and five are non-breeding "helper"
individuals. The alphas are generally, though not always, the
eldest members of the cluster; half the betas of a cluster are
typically adult offspring of the alpha pair of that cluster.
Mahaoli are considerably more gregarious than Humans.
The Mahaoli were first contacted by the H'Reli during the Third
Expansion; their homeworld lies within what is today Combine
space. The Mahaoli do not have a representative on the Central
Committee; they are instead represented by the H'Reli, the Altani
More [Y,n]?
and the Ata'a. The three independent Mahaolan subgovernments,
the Confederacy, the Litaran League, and the Vispoka Assembly are
respectively within Syind Combine, Suzrainty of Han, and Ata'an
Assembly space.
MAHAOLI (A new race for OTHER SUNS)
(Part 2 of 5)
Names among the Mahaoli
A Mahaoli takes part of his name from his cluster, part from his
position within the cluster, and part from choice at adulthood.
Mahaoli cluster names have historically been derived from geo-
graphic place names. More recently, with the departure of large
number of Mahaoli from their homeworld, cluster names have begun
to appear that are clearly derived from words in non-Mahaoli
languages or are based on employment specializations. Cluster
names derived from occupations typically (though not exclusively)
end in -ti or -si. Given/adult choice names most commonly end in
-a.
Designators of position within cluster:
Val = Alpha/leader male
Mir = Alpha/leader female
Ko = Beta male
Sal = Beta female
Ran = "helper" individual
Common Cluster names (and their meanings):
Teeka = Teeka river
Varan = Varan mountains
Chell = Chell islands
Vokti = Star plotter (navigator)
Nisenti = Starship engineer
Ntensi = Interstellar explorer
Common Given/adult choice names (and their meanings):
Chensa = Quick witted
Bropa = Lazy and clever
Vandropa = Seeker after many females
Iskanda = Seeker after many males
Tokra = Jester
Morga = Guzzleguts
Funara = Prankster
A full Mahaoli name is of the form <Given name><cluster position
designator><cluster name>. For example: Funaravalvokti (The
alpha male, prankster, of the star plotter/navigator cluster).
In common address, only the given name is used; in slightly more
formal address, the given name with the cluster position designa-
tor attached is used. So Funaravalvokti would be known to
friends and associates as Funara, and would likely be introduced
as Funaraval to new acquaintences. The full name is only used
for official (i.e. government) matters or in records keeping.
MAHAOLI (A new race for OTHER SUNS)
(Part 3 of 5)
Mahaoli Languages
Healaoie
The principal language of the Mahaolan Confederacy worlds.
Roughly two thirds of the Mahaoli are native to one or another of
the worlds of the Confederacy and speak this as their native
language.
Mirmiroiya
The principal language of the Litaran League worlds. Roughly ten
percent of the Mahaoli speak Mirmiroiya as their native language.
Imaoha
The principal language of the Vispoka Assembly worlds. MOST of
the remaining Mahaoli live on worlds owing allegiance to the
Vispoka Assembly.
The Mahaolan Outlook
(1) There is a passion for pleasure.
(2) The three cardinal virtues are: honesty, responsibility, and
a sense of humor.
(3) A sense of proportion, and an ethical sense are also consid-
ered important.
(4) Power over another adult intelligent being has no justifica-
tion. It may, under certain circumstances, be necessary --
but this does not justify the power, only explain it.
(5) There is a basic natural law governing all intelligent
beings.
(6) Under this law, all intelligent life forms are basically
equal.
Attitudes of the Mahaolan Middle Class: Equality among sophonts
is assumed to be axiomatic. The world view is optimistic (hedo-
nist), and dignity is considered to be a basic virtue. Poverty
is regarded as a vice. The "species" memory of the Mahaoli is
extremely long. They are capable of assuming a position of
galactic dominance at need; they have no desire to do so, howev-
er.
MAHAOLI (A new race for OTHER SUNS)
(Part 4 of 5)
Attitudes of the Mahaolan Elite: Power evokes respect, but the
greatest political force among the Mahaoli is still diplomacy and
consensus democracy. The hero image is the negotiator who satis-
fies ALL parties in a dispute. Sophisticated aliens evoke wari-
ness, and the primitive masses are regarded as children (to be
protected, cared for, and nurtured). Ambition is tolerated in
others. The greatest weakness of the Mahaolan elite is a lack of
military aggressiveness. They are always ready to "borrow" from
others' cultures. Dilettantism is strongly frowned upon. Lei-
sure is a virtue, to be sought be all.
Psychological Profile for Mahaoli
Cautious - Reckless 01-20 51-100
Courageous - Cowardly 01-60 91-100
Forgiving - Vengeful 01-70 96-100
Generous - Miserly 01-40 81-100
Hedonistic - Stoic 01-90 96-100
Honorable - Treacherous 01-20 81-100
Humble - Arrogant 01-30 71-100
Merciful - Cruel 01-20 71-100
Optimistic - Pessimistic 01-70 96-100
Peacable - Combative 01-30 71-100
Trusting - Suspicious 01-45 86-100
Xenophilic - Xenophobic 01-45 91-100
MAHAOLI (A new race for OTHER SUNS)
(Part 5 of 5)
Mahaoli Physical Characteristics
(1) Gravitational Norm and Tolerance Range: 0.98 g, 0-1.5 g,
max 3g
(2) Atmospheric Norm and Variation Tolerance: 60-400 mm Hg Oxy-
gen, 10-25 mm Hg Water Vapor, 1.00 atmospheres.
(3) Temperature Range Norm and Tolerance: 0 to + 30 degrees C
mean; -10 to +40 degrees C daily.
(4) Electromagnetic Range(s) Tolerated: 0-30 lumens per square
centimeter; wavelengths greater than 300 Angstroms.
(5) Size Range: 4' to 4'3".
(6) Chemical Base: Carbon
(7) Particle Radiation Tolerance: Less than 0.03 rem steady
state (per week), less than 100 rem short term.
(8) Sensory Types, location, and sensitivities:
(8A) Electromagnetic:
Coarse: 7,000-10,000 Angstroms; skin
Fine: 4,000-7,000 Angstroms -- color vision; eyes
(8B) Pressure Differential:
Remote: 20-20,000 cycles; ears
Contact: skin, guard hairs
(end of message string)
The Mahaoli, a new species for Other Suns
(Part 6 of 5 ... well,
can't win 'em all)
(8C) Chemosensing:
Coarse: Depends on substance; skin, tongue
Fine:Nasal cavity (slightly more sensitive than human),
tongue
(8D) Damage Detection:
Corrosion: skin.
Other: internal nervous system
(8E) Texture Sensing: skin
(8F) Psi senses: varies with the individual.
(8G) Other: No other senses
(9) Substances absorbed: Oxygen, other creatures, fruits,
water, miscellaneous trace elements. Carnivorous.
(10) Substances Emitted: Water, Carbon Dioxide, miscellaneous
solid, liquid, and gaseous organic compounds.
(11) Reproductive Methods: Typical mammalian; gestation period
273 days (single birth).
(12) Body shape and Natural Weapons: Tailed, furred bipedal
otteroid; teeth, hands, feet, retractile claws on fingers.
(13) Periodic Functions: 22-25 hour wake/sleep cycle (diurnal
species); 30 day female menstrual cycle.
(14) Non-sensory Psi Functions: Varies with individual
And that's all, folks