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--- species:notumi [2022/06/21 00:50]
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+++ species:notumi [2023/07/29 15:25] (current)
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 Within a hundred Terran years, they had discovered a form of warp drive, but lacked the shielding to make it safe and reliable. Again, nanotechnology filled the void, allowing Notumi FTL vessels to rapidly repair damage from dust and micrometeoroids entering the warp bubble. Soon, Notumi ships capable of 5c were exploring nearby stars and establishing outposts and small colonies. As these colonies in other systems began to prosper, Notumi society began to splinter, as cooperation between city-states dwindled due to increased competition to find new resources. A new cadre of elites arose, who controlled the remaining supplies of notum, ever dwindling in response to demand from the growing population and nanotech industry.
-It is around this time that personal, reprogrammable nanites were invented, along with a device called the Nanodeck - a compact personal computer and recharging station for these new nanites. The Nanodecks interfaced with neural implants and the notum in the user’s nervous system to control a swarm of generalist nanites that invisibly surrounded them. Where previously, Notumi nanomachines were programmed at their creation to perform a few simple tasks, which they would be limited to, the Nanodeck’s neural interface allowed for rapid reprogramming of personal nanites to perform a variety of tasks. The nanites were either general-use enough to perform an array of functions, or were able to quickly reconfigure themselves to each new task. Nanodecks used notum to inductively power their tiny charges, allowing them to persist almost continuously as long as they remained close to the Nanodeck user. This innovation caused the daily use of nanotechnology to explode among the Notumi, and massively increased the demand for notum to create nanites and nanodecks. Obsolete nanomachines were collected and recycled for their tiny quantity of notum, and personal nanites soon became a part of everyday life, for those who could afford them.
+It is around this time that personal, reprogrammable nanites were invented, along with a device called the [[:Nanodeck]] - a compact personal computer and recharging station for these new nanites. The Nanodecks interfaced with neural implants and the notum in the user’s nervous system to control a swarm of generalist nanites that invisibly surrounded them. Where previously, Notumi nanomachines were programmed at their creation to perform a few simple tasks, which they would be limited to, the Nanodeck’s neural interface allowed for rapid reprogramming of personal nanites to perform a variety of tasks. The nanites were either general-use enough to perform an array of functions, or were able to quickly reconfigure themselves to each new task. Nanodecks used notum to inductively power their tiny charges, allowing them to persist almost continuously as long as they remained close to the Nanodeck user. This innovation caused the daily use of nanotechnology to explode among the Notumi, and massively increased the demand for notum to create nanites and nanodecks. Obsolete nanomachines were collected and recycled for their tiny quantity of notum, and personal nanites soon became a part of everyday life, for those who could afford them.
 By 2100PT, the new Notumi civilization was highly stratified, controlled by a few wealthy leaders who controlled access to the dwindling supplies of notum brought from the Cerberus system, which was already in high demand. Wealth brought access to notum, which in turn bought more potent nanotech, which could be used for almost any task. The poorest in society, meanwhile, barely had enough notum to fulfil their nutritional needs. Meanwhile, their society pushed outwards, exploring and colonising new systems in search of other sources of the all-important alloy. Up until this point, small asteroids containing tiny quantities of notum had been found in a few systems, but nothing of the scale of the reserves they had taken with them from the Cerberus system. The great breakthrough came when a Notumi ship travelling at warp speed catastrophically collided with a rogue planet when travelling between two systems. Although the ship was obliterated on impact, its transponder was not, and was found several years later by a rescue party, which detected significant notum reserves on the rogue planet’s dark surface. Although the finder’s city-state attempted to keep the planet a secret, it was soon leaked to the others. The search for more rogue planets with notum deposits began, with each state hoarding their secret locations as best they could. A fresh supply of notum brought incredible wealth for each ruler, and improved lives for all of their citizens - such high stakes that minor skirmishes, piracy and espionage increased across the entire society as each state tried to monopolise every new notum resource discovered.
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 Both sub-species of Notumi can now be found in numerous roles across the Ascendancy - Cerebri tend to stick to small enclaves of their own species, while Corpori are more likely to be found alone or in pair groups. Despite being integrated into the Faction for several hundred years, old attitudes remain, particularly around Notum. Both sub-species are wary of each other, and trust between them in any amount is rare. The Corpori remain fiercely protective of their access to Notum, as its use and creation is a core part of their identity. The Cerebri are still deeply resentful of their hoarding its secrets, and in part for the ravages of the Bane. Although the Ascendancy did perform some research into the use of Notum as a cure for the Cerebri’s inherited condition, the Bane has taken root so deeply in their genetics that infusions of the alloy cause little improvement. The Cerebri under Ascendancy rule have been granted enough Notum to satisfy the nutritional needs of their population, but for now the Elevation is still an essential rite of passage for all Cerebri who expect to live out a full life.
+====== Notumi Cerebri ======
+The Cerebri fared reasonably well from their surrender to the Ascendancy, wringing important concessions and preserving certain aspects of their culture from the Faction’s cultural hegemony. Ultimately, much of their society is centred around the legacy of the Bane and the solutions they have devised to keep it in check.
+==== The Elevation ====
+The Elevation is an expensive and gruelling process that all Cerebri must subject themselves to to provide them with some relief from the Bane. At the age of ten, each Cerebri is fitted with a series of input jacks, and internal ‘anchors’. Once the Bane starts to take hold, cocktails of various chemicals and metals are infused through their bodies and bind to their bones, skin and muscles. They are then joined with a small computer, blood filter and nanofactory, called an [[:Elevation Control Core]]. By using the computing power of the Control Core, and the internal ‘anchors’ as orientation points, they are able to adequately power a network of functional nanomachines inside their own bodies, which brings energy and support to their cells and organs. The Control Core tailors the nanomachines to its host, filters their blood of waste products, and provides the nanomachines with recharging, recycling and replacement functions, as well as monitoring them and providing new instructions. The Control Core and internal anchors overcome many of the difficulties of such long-term and diverse deployments of nanotechnology, although the price is high. The process is long and arduous, requiring many surgeries, infusions and constant monitoring. The metals and chemicals required are rare and expensive, and the nanites effectively supplant the Cerebri’s natural healing abilities.
+The Elevation allowed them to regain their former strength and function as a normal humanoid would be able to in most circumstances. It is not without its downsides however, as the Control Core requires power to function, and is itself vulnerable to external attack and breakdowns. The internal nanotechnology of Elevated Cerebri, combined with their acclimatisation to it, may offer the species some advantages in interfacing with other [[:Cybernetics|cybernetic implants]].
+The necessity of the Elevation in every Cerebri’s life keeps their society together to a certain extent, even as it spreads across the Ascendancy. A critical mass of Cerebri is required to sustain specialists who can perform the Elevation and maintain its systems throughout the life of each Cerebri. As such, Cerebri in other areas tend to cluster into enclaves, which allows them to keep their culture and traditions alive to a greater degree.
+==== Character ====
+Cerebri society prior to conquest was centred around the pillars of individual pride and working cooperatively towards shared goals, and these have carried through to the Cerebri of today. Cerebri like to outwardly express their individuality and the story of how they came to be themselves - often in the form of vibrant clothing and personal adornments. Although they adhere to the general styles common in the Ascendancy, Cerebri often customise their clothing to include elements that express their inner selves.
+Whilst each individual Cerebri can be very different from another, they believe in working towards a shared goal and work well cooperatively with other species. They are raised in efficient group environments, and enjoy the camaraderie of a well-functioning team, but are often taken by surprise when others they work with are unwilling to compromise their egos or ideologies for practical solutions. They’re keen to see their species be valued, and are known to go to great lengths to ensure that fellow Cerebri are recognised for their actions, or are not left wanting for Energy Chits.
+All Cerebri rely on technology to stay healthy and alive. As such, all Cerebri are trained in enough of the fundamentals of their internal technology to understand and maintain it. Cerebri society is organised from the ground up along technocratic principles - they defer to subject experts and relative status is often measured by one’s technical abilities and knowledge. All Cerebri are taught a solid grounding in the sciences from a young age, particularly materials and [[:corporeal science]]. The Elevation is seen by many as the beginning of a process of self-improvement, and these Cerebri often seek to continually improve their bodies over their lives. Cerebri out in the wider universe often find work with the [[:Corporeal Perfection Syndicate]], or use their resources to fit themselves with an array of cybernetic enhancements. Many breakthroughs in cybernetics have involved a Cerebri on their research teams.
+==== Appearance ====
+Cerebri share certain features with Corpori due to their shared ancestry as Notumi. They are humanoid, can have a blueish tinge to their skin and hair, and a purplish or pinkish streak of skin across the eyes and temples. There the similarities end, due to the effects of the Bane that manifest on their bodies. The Bane Gene impacts all Cerebri slightly differently, however there are a few common traits.
+Cerebri skin has a diversity of colour similar to [[Terran|Terrans]], although universally appearing sickly, pale and washed out in comparison. Their skin has a light blueish tinge, much paler than the deep blue of the Corpori. This blue colour appears especially around the face and hands, appearing like frostbite to those unfamiliar with the Cerebri. They have a linear streak of purple or pinkish colour that extends horizontally across their eye sockets and temples, and fades out gradually above and below this line. They generally appear gaunt and tired, with dark and hollow eyes, sunken cheeks and shadowed faces.
+As a culture that celebrates individuality and personal freedoms, they often wear extravagant or unusual clothing, piercings or have tattoos. Having reclaimed their bodies from the ravages of The Bane is a celebration, and something they are proud of. All Cerebri who have experienced the Elevation can’t help but show it - silvery or black subdermal circuitry is often visible through their skin, particularly around the face, collarbones and hands - wherever the skin is thinner. Some Cerebri have visible components of the Elevation piercing the skin - frequently sockets for flushing with fluids, or metallic anchors that extend through the skin. Considered unsightly by some within the Ascendancy, the Cerebri take pride in these features and often highlight them with jewellery, tattoos, engraving or precious metal plating and studs, which serve to draw the eye to these protrusions.
+The key identifying feature of the Cerebri is their [[:Elevation Control Core]]. Any Cerebri who have undertaken the Elevation possess a small device, usually at least the size of a small pouch, that connects to their internals. Control Cores are frequently attached to a belt or strap at waist height, but some can be incorporated into backpacks, strapped to the upper arm, or built into a bulky collar device. Control Cores are extremely diverse, and each enclave will have a favoured design, with the owners personalising it further. This device powers and controls their internal nanites, filters their blood and performs numerous other functions. Invariably the Control Core emits some light and is connected to the Cerebri’s body in one way or another.
+===== Cerebri Game Rules =====
+  * **Species Keywords:** Humanoid, Nanotech, Stricken
+  * **Default Faction:** [[:Ascendancy]]
+==== Cerebri Species Trappings ====
+  * Makeup
+    * Pale and sickly looking skin, that gives a gaunt and exhausted appearance. This can be accomplished with contouring of light and dark areas.
+    * Skin tinged with light blue, particularly around the high points of the face and hands. A purple/pinkish streak across the eye sockets and temples (a purple “beastkin stripe”).
+    * (Optional) Dark or silvery circuit lines on the skin, concentrated around the face, collarbones and hands, or anywhere the skin is thin. These lines are usually straight and branching or turn at right angles.
+  * Elevation Prosthetics
+    * [[:Elevation Control Core]]. The Control Core must be at least the size of a few slices of loaf bread, emit some light and be connected to the character’s body in some way (by wires, tubes, etc). A Control Core is a lammied item that uses [[:game items#Charges]], so ideally your physrep will have space to attach those.
+    * (Optional) Cerebri characters can have sockets, metallic plates or other external features of their Elevation visible on their skin. This can be simulated using prosthetics or attachments - although if you are using hard objects make sure your prosthetic won’t hurt you if it is struck or you fall on it.
+==== Cerebri Abilities ====
+  * 1 Locational Body Hit, 180 second Death Count.
+  * **Techno-Organic Metabolism**
+    * A non-Cerebri or Corpori [[:professional skills#Physician]] requires the assistance of a Character with the [[:professional skills#Engineering]] skill to perform surgery on a Cerebri. This can be the Physician themselves, but if it is another character then one engineer can add +1 Green Card as if they are an assisting character with Physician.
+    * Physicians can stop Cerebri Death Counts, and First Aiders can pause or Reset them as normal.
+    * Cerebri cannot regain lost Body Hits from a Physician facilitating their treatment. Instead, they can regain lost Body Hits with [[:Medicaments]], [[:Devices]], and via the abilities of their [[:Elevation Control Core]].
+  * **Technocratic Culture.** Cerebri characters gain the [[:professional skills#Scientist]] Skill for free, and 1 bonus rank of [[:professional skills#Corporeal Science]].
+  * **Cyber-Nanite internals**
+    * All Cerebri have an [[:Elevation Control Core]], which is a lammied Device that can be [[:calls_effects#sunder|SUNDERed]]. The Elevation Control Core is a device that allows a Cerebri to spend Charges to regain lost body hits after a short period of rest. The Elevation Control Core must be attached to their body at all times, and can only be removed via a Surgery requiring 3 successes.
+    * Cerebri with a working Control Core can use the abilities of their own [[:cybernetics|cybernetic implants]] at -1 Charge Cost.
+    * When hit with a [[:calls_effects#DISRUPT]] call that is not blocked, instead take the [[:calls_effects#FREEZE]] call for 30 seconds. This stacks with any [[:cybernetics#neural shock]] value from cybernetic enhancements.
+  * **The Bane**. Should their Elevation Control Core be removed or damaged in some way (such as if it is struck with a SUNDER call), they are affected by the full impact of The Bane.
+    * All damage to Body Hits are treated as a [[:calls_effects#LETHAL]] call, and start the character’s Death Count.
+    * They cannot move faster than a slow walking pace without the aid of others (similar to a character who is [[:combat#Walking Wounded]]).
+    * They become more susceptible to DISEASE, TOXIC and RADIATION [[:Conditions]] - notify a Referee if they ask you about Conditions.
+    * A SUNDERed Control Core can be repaired by an Engineer as normal.
+    * If an Elevation Control Core is destroyed or removed, an alternative means of power will need to be acquired/installed.
+====== Notumi Corpori ======
+The Corpori are much more heavily integrated into wider Ascendancy culture than the Cerebri, as they are more independent and tend to find niche roles where their unique abilities can develop and thrive. Their unique symbiosis with their nanite swarms, along with their deeply traumatic history as a species, has shaped the Corpori psyche so that its effects can be felt even in the modern day.
+For much of their history, the Corpori were directed by the Vertici elites who controlled access to [[:notum]] and the raw materials for [[:Nanodeck|Nanodecks]] and their swarms. Corpori lives were centred around the need for more notum, to create and sustain their nanite swarms, secure more valuable work and therefore gain access to more notum. Lower-class Corpori endured dreadful conditions and privation, hardship and even the horrors of brutal war were commonplace. To keep their population compliant and functioning, the Vertici developed nanite programs that altered the brain function of the Corpori, allowing them to block out trauma or events that caused painful cognitive dissonance. Use of these programs is still rife, despite attempts by the Ascendancy to prevent or regulate their use. Although the [[:Noble Houses]] have attempted to replace the role of the Vertici in Corpori society, they have had mixed results. When the Vertici were eliminated or fled, they took many of the secrets of the Nanodecks and nanite swarms with them, and the Corpori have not fully recovered from their loss.
+==== Character ====
+[{{ :species:nanomage_eye.png?200|<html><font color="black">The old Symbol of the Nanomages, a Corpori soldier class. It is often worn by Corpori who specialise in using their nanite swarms for combat.</font></html>}}]Coming from a militarised, spacefaring society, the Corpori were able to blend in fairly quickly with the Ascendancy once the role of the Vertici was supplanted after their conquest. In general outlook they are very similar to [[:Terran|Terrans]], and integrate well in small numbers with other Ascendancy species. Due to their unique relationship with their nanotechnology, and the legacy of generations of exposure to notum, there are a few key divergences from the Ascendancy norm.
+Corpori view their nanite swarms they control as an extension of their being, rather than the single-use, effectively disposable servants that the Factions and [[:Megacorps]] treat their nanites as. The [[:Nanodeck]], the primary access point to their swarm, is treated almost as an organ of their body. Most Corpori will only disable or remove their Nanodeck reluctantly, and feel exposed when it has been damaged in combat. Many Corpori will use their nanites, rather than their hands, in order to interact with their environment, highlighting their particular species’ unique traits. Combined with their tendency to block out and alter audio-visual sensations, and their responses to the perceptual ghosts that only they experience can leave members of other species feeling uncomfortable in their presence.
+The use of neural blockers is common among the Corpori. These are a series of nanodeck programs that affect the nanites within the Corpori’s body and brain, effectively “editing” their perceptions and memories to remove references that the Corpori finds painful, uncomfortable or cognitively dissonant. The programs for neural blockers are poorly understood, as they were developed by the Vertici and the secrets of how they interacted with the Corpori’s notum-infused neurons still elude scientists. The neural blockers are not perfect, however, and persistent trigger stimuli can cause blocked memories to surface from time to time. All nanodecks contain these programs, despite the Ascendancy’s attempts to regulate or remove them - they seem to be part of the core operating system code, which has never been fully understood by scientists in any of the Factions or even the Corpori themselves. Although their use is frowned upon, most Corpori give in to their voluntary use at some point in their lives, as a way to regulate their emotions and fit in with Ascendancy society, or to lessen the notum-derived ghosts and neural artefacts that they experience. Nanodecks may even automatically deploy neural blockers if they detect neurotransmitter chemicals above certain thresholds that indicate stress or trauma in their user's system, making even Corpori who reject their voluntary use susceptible to the Vertici’s legacy. The effect of neural blockers on Corpori behaviour can be very disconcerting for others, as the Corpori may be unable to perceive or interact with them. As the neural blockers were developed for soldiers, active threats or hazards generally cause the neural blocks to dissipate in the moment, although memories may be edited or suppressed later on.
+The Ascendancy Noble Houses see the use of neural blockers to be akin to a species-specific problematic drug - a liability present in all Corpori, but one that has proven impossible to separate them from. Of particular note, the use of neural blockers tends to interact badly with the conditioning activities common in the Ascendancy for reinforcing unity and discipline. Rigorous parades, inspections and drills, are commonly either blocked in part or completely, or may cause traumatic memories to resurface. Many Corpori avoid these activities, which can raise suspicions among their fellows as to their loyalty and work ethic. Most commanders who have seen a Corpori in action give them a certain amount of leeway due to their effectiveness, but this does not always extend to rank and file colleagues.
+One of the reasons for the development of neural blockers in the first place is that the notum-infused neurons of the Corpori are prone to feedback loops, synaptic overloads and other issues. These frequently manifest as “ghosts” - small sensory hallucinations that effect each Corpori differently – these can range from auditory or visual hallucinations, to full conversations. The hallucinations can make Corpori appear paranoid and often distracted, though rarely these blips can warn them of nearby dangers they would otherwise be unaware of, making subconscious cues more apparent by giving them form.
+==== Appearance ====
+Corpori are humanoid, with a similar diversity of builds to Terrans. Like the Cerebri, they have a blueish tinge to their skin and hair, and a purple or pinkish streak of skin across the eyes and temples. Their skin is a much deeper and richer blue than the Cerebri, and this colour extends across their entire bodies. It is thought that this blue colour tendency is related to notum in some way, and the Corpori have had many generations more exposure to high amounts of the alloy than the Cerebri. Their hair can be a range of colours similar to Terrans, but is often streaked with blue, or may be entirely blue. Corpori tend to wear their hair short, but this is not universal.
+The purple streak of colour across the eyes gradually blends into the blue of the rest of their skin above and below the eyeline, although in individuals more proficient with their Nanodecks, the purple band can extend wisps of solid purple colour above and below the normal line. These wisps have been described as resembling a solar flare outburst in shape.
+All Corpori bear a Nanodeck about their person, and are rarely willing to be separated from it. The nanodeck controls and sustains the swarm of invisible nanites that surround each Corpori, and is usually interfaced with by hand via a touchscreen or keypad. Nanodecks are small devices that can take many forms, but are have a few common elements. When in use they are always connected to the Corpori’s body in some way, usually by a socketed tube that can be unplugged when convenient. They always emit light along a few key wavelengths - this light acts as an information carrier and a locator for the nanite swarms, issuing commands and allowing them to return to the Nanodeck for repair and recharge. Nanodecks usually have a function to disable their emitted light for stealth purposes, although the nanite swarm cannot be used while the light is disabled. In some nanodecks that light source is a separate module that is connected to the main body of the nanodeck, and is usually mounted on a belt or elsewhere on the Corpori user’s body.
+===== Corpori Game Rules =====
+  * **Species Keywords:** Humanoid, Nanotech
+  * **Default Faction:** [[:Ascendancy]]
+==== Corpori Species Trappings ====
+  * Deep blue skin, with a purple/pinkish streak across the eye sockets and temples (a purple “beastkin stripe”).
+  * (Optional) Wispy, flare-like structures coming out of the purple/pinkish stripe across the face. These wisps tend to be more prominent in powerful nanomages.
+  * All Corpori characters have a [[:Nanodeck]] to use their nanomage abilities with. A nanodeck must be at least the size of a few slices of loaf bread, emit some light and be connected to the character’s body in some way (by wires, tubes, etc). A Nanodeck is a lammied item that uses [[:game items#Charges]], so ideally your physrep will have space to attach those.
+==== Corpori Abilities ====
+  * 1 Locational Hit, 180 Second Death Count
+  * **Nanotech User**
+    * All Corpori begin play with a [[:Nanodeck]], which is a lammied Device that can be [[:calls_effects#sunder|SUNDERed]]. The Nanodeck is a device that allows a Corpori to spend Charges to generate ranged [[:calls_effects#Calls]] and other effects depending on the Programs that they know. The Nanodeck must be attached to their body to be used. To mod a Nanodeck, an Engineer must have at least 1 rank of the [[:professional skills#Corporeal Science skill]].
+    * If a Corpori is hit by a DISRUPT call on their Armour or Body hits, then they cannot use any Nanodeck abilities for the next 5 minutes.
+    * Corpori characters start with knowledge of 2 Standard Programs and 1 Advanced Program from the list on the [[:Nanodeck]] page.
+      * Corpori characters can learn additional Programs by purchasing the Extra Programs [[:Species Skills#Notumi Corpori|Corpori Species Skill]].
+    * Corpori characters can attach the [[:Notum]] [[:Exotic Substances|Exotic Substance]] to a Nanodeck without the [[:professional skills#Corporeal Science]] Skill. Attaching the notum otherwise follows all the normal rules for Exotic Substances.
+{{tag>ascendancy species}}

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