Detlimse

The detlimse comprise a species native to the central mountains of the planet Raljikka. Far larger and longer-lived than any other sentient species found in the Ealdremen System, detlimse are an uncommon sight outside of territories they have historically controlled and primarily congregate in regions where they have had a long enough — or simply strong enough — presence to have infrastructure built with them in mind.

Overview

Detlimse are a quadrupedal sentient species with enormous lithe and serpentine bodies covered in a mix of often lustrous scales and thin silky fur along their backs.

The species as a whole is often regarded as isolationist and not inclined to interact much with outsiders with a variety of factors generally thought to contribute. Chief among them is that the detlimse have drastically different anatomy to even other quadrupedal Kin in Ealdremen, with significantly longer bodies and a resulting difficulty in fitting in spaces made for other species' use in mind. Sociological differences between other species are thought to also lead to the detlimse being more isolated than other Kin, as detlimse typically live in hierarchical societies with clearly defined social roles and rankings relative to one another.

Biology

Physiology

Locomotion

Detlimse have a quadrupedal symmetrical gait at slow speeds, moving each limb roughly the same amount of distance each step and moving one side's limbs in unison before moving the other. When they run, their gait becomes asymmetrical. They have digitigrade feet and use all four limbs to move and are naturally land-based in their locomotion. An average detlimse in good health can maintain a running speed of about thirty to forty kilometers an hour depending on their size. Smaller detlimse tend to be capable of greater bursts of speed. However, regardless of size, a detlimse can typically only maintain this speed for about five to ten minutes depending on the individual's fitness and training.

Generally, detlimse are too heavy to climb for any sustained amount of time; their relatively short limbs struggle to keep maintain their full weight on vertical or near-vertical surfaces. They are relatively adept at swimming, where they tend to "slither" through the water like aquatic serpents with minimal movement from their limbs. This method of aquatic movement enables a detlimse to make quick turns in the water relative to other non-aquatic Kin.

Reproduction

Compared to other Kin, the seemingly convoluted means and rare circumstances by which detlimse successfully reproduce is thought to be a major inhibitor of the species' potential to rise to greater political power in any broad sense. Detlimse take many years relative to other species to even be biologically capable of sexual reproduction. Though they are fully-grown before this point, detlimse that are biologically capable of producing eggs will not do so until they are approximately two hundred years old, with some being as old as three hundred before this occurs. Before this point, they are indistinguishable from both detlimse that are capable of producing sperm, which generally begin to do so around one hundred and fifty years old, or detlimse that are incapable of producing either sperm or eggs. Further complicating the matter is that some detlimse are capable of producing both, though not always at the same period of their lives, and it is generally not known if someone can or cannot until it "happens".

Of these distinct "sexes," about fifty percent of all detlimse are generally capable of producing sperm, thirty percent are capable of producing eggs, almost twenty percent never produce either throughout their lifetimes, and the remaining detlimse will produce both at some point during their lives. It is thought that the "infertile" detlimse is a leftover adaptation for population control when such an enormous species would put strain on the environment and result in intense competition even among relatives for survival; siblings or older offspring of a previous clutch could assist in tending to a nest of eggs without adding further to a crowded population.

Detlimse eggs have porous soft shells surrounded by a jelly-like substance and must be laid in freshwater, where they are externally fertilized. The jelly dissolves as the shells harden, a process which can take several days. During this period, the eggs are especially vulnerable, and they must be monitored even if laid in a controlled and enclosed environment, as the slightest deviations from survivable temperatures can kill the eggs near-instantly. Because detlimse eggs are externally fertilized and can be fertilized for up to several days after being laid, it is relatively common for a given clutch to have multiple parents, and some eggs may grow twins that have different parents. The eggs then take approximately five hundred days to hatch from fertilization, and in modern times, eggs are often removed from the water within a few days of their shells hardening. While there is no immediate detriment to eggs remaining in water "longer" than strictly necessary, detlimse parents or other tenders of such eggs typically find caring for the eggs easier if they are on dry land.

Unsurprisingly, many detlimse have taken to artificial means or assistance in reproduction to improve the success rates of reproduction. It is common for detlimse to store eggs or sperm in repositories built to house either element and then wait for an opportunity to use a controlled environment to fertilize the eggs; in situations where it may be desirable for a given clutch to have multiple parents, these controlled environments can also ensure fertilization occurs in desired percentages (such as fifty percent being fertilized by one parent and fifty percent by another). These facilities are expensive in "social currency" and have lengthy waiting periods, however, and they are may be inaccessible to less eminent detlimse.

Related species

Although scientific research on the species is limited especially in the realm of genome sequencing, the kurmatti species is widely thought to be related to the detlimse on account of anatomical similarities. Kurmatti, like detlimse, have meters-long bodies covered in scales and fur, and have historically occupied similar ranges to the detlimse people. However, kurmatti have multiple gaping jaws along their serpentine forms and ravenous, all-consuming appetites to match their grotesque forms. Translated records from the Millennial Calm suggest that the kurmatti are a relatively new species, or at least newly acknowledged, as reports from around 3462 CGC comment on them being "unseen except by the detlimse before the 3300s". Under the assumption that this report is both correct and translated accurately, it is not clear at what point the detlimse were aware of the kurmatti, though the description of the kurmatti loosely aligns with pre-Estvoldian beliefs of detlimse exiled from society, modernly understood to be detlimse who lacked "eminence," the detlimse concept of social status and position, and how those two concepts correlate to the ability to manipulate magic.

Subspecies

Native to the Ijan Khezzem state of Zaman is the ijanten detlimse, also known short-handedly as simply "ijanten" in many languages. Ijanten detlimse are noticeably smaller than members of the main detlimse species and tend to have less full manes, but more pronounced horns relative to their size. Unique to this subspecies is that their eminence tends to correspond to the luster of their scales; other detlimse have no correlation between scale luster and their social standing in society.

Sociology

Integral throughout all detlimse cultures is the concept of "eminence". Eminence is a measure of an individual detlimse's power and responsibility in their community. While outside cultures may associate eminence with leaders with absolute authority, eminence can come from different roles in society and manifest in different ways, and a detlimse can be a follower to someone else while having eminence over others. From eminence, detlimse societies stratify themselves and maintain a strict order with linguistic cues to make one's position in not only society, but in the context of the people they are speaking to, abundantly clear. For someone to improve their standing in society, they must earn it by occupying higher roles of responsibility — and thus gain eminence. These ascensions through society are often regarded as slow even by detlimse standards, let alone those of shorter-lived species; anything "too fast" is a disruption of society and tends to result in a societal loss for the detlimse moving too quickly in accruing eminence, as their community will "see through" them and rebuke their right to rule. However, a rare few detlimse are shrewd enough to navigate these social pitfalls and achieve their goals in relatively short spans of time, and it's often only with historical distance that anyone realizes how rapidly someone rose to power.

Universal to eminence is the correlation with the ability to manipulate Chrono; more "eminent" detlimse have inherently superior magical ability and potential, and they lose this ability if their status in society dwindles or if they leave their community.

Notable cultures

Zaman

The Raljikkan nation of Zaman is the most prominent and populous country (or territory of equivalent importance and power) to be governed by the detlimse and to have a detlimse-majority population. Zaman has not been governed by a non-detlimse individual in any capacity since the end of the Second Imperial-Alliance War in 3045 CGC; prior to this, there were a few periods of history where the country was subservient to other major political powers such as the Alamír Empire. Because of this, Zaman has a history of staunch independence and refusal to rely on other nations except on their own terms. It is said that to do business with Zamanites, it's necessary to make it seem like it was their idea to begin with, as they are likely to perceive anything else as a show of disrespect at best and an attempt at seizing power at worst. On the other side, Zaman has a historical tendency of absorbing smaller nations or incorporating other countries into their own; if they make frequent use of a country's resources through trade, they are likely to try to gain political power over that nation and make it part of their own. Zamanites do not associate themselves with terms such as "empire," though other countries (particularly those they subjugate) are unlikely to see it in the same way even if Zaman does not go to war to secure the resources it seeks.

Social status

As a whole, there are no detlimse nations that are presently allied with a major political power. It is popularly held that the detlimse have no interest in such an allegiance because they would need to "submit" to powers above them. In the past, various detlimse cultures had associations with the Alamír Empire and eventually the Nazdrovie Pact, where they tended to occupy fringe parts of society due to their dramatically different anatomy and much greater size than the other species within either faction. They struggled to integrate into these factions' center of power or meaningfully participate in the interstellar warfare that dominated these eras. As a result, detlimse rarely rose to positions of importance during these stretches of history, and these historical periods are regarded as eras of "unimportance" for the detlimse species, as even the most powerful members of their society were subservient to others and consequently lacking in eminence.

Detlimse who have a great amount of eminence and occupy high positions of power in their society tend to be frustrated in interactions with concepts of "power" in other cultures, where a detlimse's power does not always translate adequately. These cultural misunderstandings are known to occur frequently, and special mediators are often on hand when important detlimse are meeting with counterparts in other governments or societies.

Alamír Empire

As a Raljikkan species, the detlimse have a shared history with the Alamír Empire. When the Empire was first formed, the detlimse initially did not agree to the alliance and wished to remain autonomous and handle the colonists from Estvoled in their own way. When the imperial forces started to show success in driving out the Estvoldians, various detlimse nations took this as a sign of proven power and allied with the fledgling faction. As the Alamír Empire grew, the detlimse did not feel their power was growing in relation to it, and they soon forsook the Alamír Empire for the Nazdrovie Pact when the opportunity arose.

The detlimse have not allied with the Empire in any great numbers since its reformation in 4142 CGC, and to date not a single government under detlimse control is officially affiliated with the Empire. A relative few detlimse as individuals view the revival of the old empire as "rightful eminence" and follow it.

Nazdrovie Pact

The detlimse were part of the Nazdrovie Pact from the Second Imperial-Alliance War, but unlike many other nations that made up the group during this part of history, every detlimse nation withdrew officially from the Pact when the Alamír Empire dissolved. They have not since sought to rejoin the Pact, and the Nazdrovie Pact's own attempts at courting the detlimse back have been called "token" at best and "insulting" at worst.

Gerualdi Union

Individual detlimse are sometimes drawn to the Gerualdi Union notions of societal stratification by wealth and status or rankings and roles within corporations. Such detlimse tend to be regarded as unconventional but diligent workers, and their long lives often result in detlimse eventually rising to the top of whatever corporate hierarchy they have found themselves in. However, there are just as many detlimse who hold contempt for the Union's structure, viewing it as equally possible for the "undeserving" to rise to positions of high power and remain there. In spite of this attitude, the often-esteemed detlimse members of the Union mean that detlimse overall have a positive reputation within the Gerualdi Union, and other detlimse hoping to rise the ranks in the Union tend to benefit from this association.

Distribution

Because of their enormous size and relatively slow rate of reproduction, detlimse are not particularly populous outside of territories they have historically claimed throughout Raljikka. Even within these territories, their populations are relatively stagnant year over year.

There are an estimated one to two million detlimse living throughout the Ealdremen System outside of the planet Raljikka and around 360 million within Raljikkan territories, and approximately 320 million of these individuals live within the detlimse-controlled nation of Zaman.

Game Statistics

Traveller

This section details statistics, traits, and other "mechanical" elements for usage in TTRPGs. Because they are context-dependent for a given TTRPG system, they should not be viewed as "absolutes" or objective representations of a species in a purely narrative sense.

Mongoose Traveller 2e/MgT2

Characteristics

Detlimse Characteristics (MgT2)

Characteristic	Value
Strength	2d6+1d6+6
Dexterity	2d6+2
Endurance	2d6
Intelligence	2d6
Education	2d6
Rapport	2d6
Eminence	2d6
Social Standing	2d6
Fortune	2d6

Traits

Enormous Strength: Detlimse have a 2d6+1d6+6 characteristic for Strength; even their species’ most average strength is at or even beyond the peak of what other species can achieve with augmentations. Their maximum for Strength is 18, and their minimum is 9.

Notable Grace: Detlimse are often more dexterous than their size suggests, and they have a 2d6+2 characteristic for Dexterity. Their maximum for Dexterity is 14.

Hierarchical Magic: Instead of Chrono, detlimse have Eminence (EMI), which represents their level of social dominance and power as well as their responsibilities in their strictly hierarchical society. Detlimse with higher Eminence inherently have greater connections to magic, thought to be similar to ideas about gods deriving power from faith. Eminence is not directly related to an individual’s biological heritage, though more dominant detlimse tend to cultivate leadership in their offspring or other relatives and may have resources available to them that others do not. Losing Eminence results in a loss of magical potential, leading to some detlimse to resort to tyrannical means to maintain their power, only to lose everything when they are overthrown.

Detlimse do not take spell burn to Eminence when casting spells. Spell burn is instead allocated to Endurance.

Eminence can be used as a social characteristic in scenarios involving other detlimse or detlimse-dominated societies, but it will likely not work as such in situations involving other species.

Huge Size: Detlimse are significantly larger than other Kin with much of that size being horizontal rather than vertical due to their quadrupedal stance. Life support costs are doubled, and they take up four spaces (about 6 meters). Most attacks against a detlimse receive a +1 DM to hit.

Unconventional Anatomy [Major]: Detlimse do not have hands, and even if they did, their enormous size would make it difficult for them to operate most fine machinery made for other species. They take a -4 DM on operating equipment or tools not made with their anatomy in mind.

Species-Appropriate Tools: It is expensive to manufacture tools made for a detlimse, as they need to be built to be mounted on their bodies, operable with voice commands, or otherwise sized appropriately for them. Armor, weapons, and many tools cost up to 2x more for a detlimse. Modifications for detlimse render the tool extremely difficult to use outside their species, receiving a -4 DM for a non-detlimse to try and use a detlimse-built tool.

Blindsense: Detlimse are sensitive to sound vibrations and receive a +2 DM to rolls involving hearing.

Eminence Traits

Depending on their starting Eminence, a detlimse character gains one of the following traits.

13+ Eminence: +2 DM to any Leadership skill check, +2 DM to any Advocate skill check, or +2 DM to a single Chrono subskill of the player's choosing.

10-12 Eminence: +2 DM to any Leadership skill check or +2 DM to any Advocate skill check.

6-9 Eminence: +2 DM to any Advocate skill check.

5 or less Eminence: No bonus trait.