Hey folks! I've been writing a sci-fi short story for a little while, and with the release of Stellaris I thought I'd make a sort of alternate history for my lil space bugs from it.
This is my first attempt at an AAR, and I hope you enjoy!
I'll be using a few mods in this, mostly cosmetic with the exception of Prepare For Ground Assault! which should make planetary invasions a little more interesting.
I'll also be following a few rules to RP the Khddari:
1) Other spiritualists are the enemy, and must be converted from their heathen ways - no alliances or non-aggression pacts can be made with them.
2) Workers on mineral tiles regardless of race are Drones, and must be enslaved. (Although, I'm not sure if this is too gamey with how the current Slave faction works - should I use this or not?)
3) No using the Encourage Free Thought edict - time spent a-thinkin' is less time spent a-praisin'!
4) Mining and research stations can never be built around stars.
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The Khddari are an anthropoid species hailing from the planet Khdar. Physically, Khdarri are quite frail individuals, being around 4 to 5 foot tall with slender muscle mass, covered in a chitinous exoskeleton of varying colors. They are well adapted for the harshness of their desert home: their eyes are naturally photochromic, able to darken and lighten in response to the level of light, and their digitigrade legs ending in 2 long, wide toes at the front and a single one at the back to enable rapid movement on the sand.
Their society is rigidly hierarchal, with 5 castes (Drones, essentially slaves, Workers, Soldiers, Priests, who also fufill the role of scientists, and Nobles) being assigned through a combination of birth and ability - while these castes are for life, and no social mobility is available for a Khdar once they have been assigned, it is not unusual for a large degree of mobility between generations. For example, the child of a Drone who shows great academic talent or particular gifts for scripture may be brought into the priesthood, while the child of a Noble who is physically strong but academically inept could find themselves in the army, or even working in the mines as a drone.
The Khddari are also fervently religious, to the point that it permeates their culture entirely: their sole god is Vanolion, who manifests Himself as the life-giving sun. While Vanolion posses a number of titles too numerous to mention, he is most commonly referred to either by name, as the Great Sun or as the Lord of Light. Prayers are offered in great public masses every morning and night, drawing the entire population to their local places of worship. Worship of Vanolion has been the only religion on Khdar in its entire history - early Khddari tribes were athiestic and fractured, the closest thing to gods being the various Queens of each hive, who were revered but not worshipped. Around 700 years ago, a Khddari known only as The Great Prophet began to spread the faith throughout his hive, which rapidly converted and engaged in a vicious excercise of annexing their neighbours, either through missionary work or massacres. Within 40 years, the Vanolion hive had assumed total control of the planet, with the religion being fervently enforced ever since.
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Part 1: Sunrise
Dawn broke over the Temple of Vanolion on Khdar, light creeping slowly through the dusty air to wash upon the towering brass-colored walls. Blazing hazily in the morning sun, the massive temple glowed like a beacon to the people of the capital. The priests were already prostrated in the street outside, offering reverence to the sun god, a huge crowd of various castes ever growing behind them as the Khddari woke and came for morning prayers. From a balcony near the peak of the tower, the Arch-Priest and the Queen, Sixteenth Mother, watched over the flock.
"The morning is bright. Vanolion offers us his favor," the priest chittered, voice strained with age, although still flanged and bright-sounding like all of his species. "A good day for such a historic endeavor."
The queen nodded in agreement as prayers drifted up from below. "We could not have hoped for a better omen."
She raised a hand into a sunbeam, disturbing the dust around her fingers, then stared up into the blazing white star in the sky, eye darkening dramatically in the intense light. "I envy them, Brother."
"My queen?" the Arch-Priest replied, taking his eyes off the crowd.
"Those in the vessels up there. To be beside Him, to witness His majesty in person."
"We each must play our roles, and we each receive our blessings, my queen. I, too, feel somewhat cheated at not being with them, but we must put our feelings aside. What Vanolion gives to one of us is shared to the many." The priest chuckled dryly. "Especially true in your case, my queen."
He guestured behind them, back into the cavernous chamber of the tower behind them, where a vast holographic map of the star system hung in the air in the center of the room, rotating slowly, the great white sun fixed firmly at the center. "Come. The Ascension and the Providence are about to begin their mission. May Vanolion guide our hands."
This is my first attempt at an AAR, and I hope you enjoy!
I'll be using a few mods in this, mostly cosmetic with the exception of Prepare For Ground Assault! which should make planetary invasions a little more interesting.
I'll also be following a few rules to RP the Khddari:
1) Other spiritualists are the enemy, and must be converted from their heathen ways - no alliances or non-aggression pacts can be made with them.
2) Workers on mineral tiles regardless of race are Drones, and must be enslaved. (Although, I'm not sure if this is too gamey with how the current Slave faction works - should I use this or not?)
3) No using the Encourage Free Thought edict - time spent a-thinkin' is less time spent a-praisin'!
4) Mining and research stations can never be built around stars.
--------------
The Khddari are an anthropoid species hailing from the planet Khdar. Physically, Khdarri are quite frail individuals, being around 4 to 5 foot tall with slender muscle mass, covered in a chitinous exoskeleton of varying colors. They are well adapted for the harshness of their desert home: their eyes are naturally photochromic, able to darken and lighten in response to the level of light, and their digitigrade legs ending in 2 long, wide toes at the front and a single one at the back to enable rapid movement on the sand.
Their society is rigidly hierarchal, with 5 castes (Drones, essentially slaves, Workers, Soldiers, Priests, who also fufill the role of scientists, and Nobles) being assigned through a combination of birth and ability - while these castes are for life, and no social mobility is available for a Khdar once they have been assigned, it is not unusual for a large degree of mobility between generations. For example, the child of a Drone who shows great academic talent or particular gifts for scripture may be brought into the priesthood, while the child of a Noble who is physically strong but academically inept could find themselves in the army, or even working in the mines as a drone.
The Khddari are also fervently religious, to the point that it permeates their culture entirely: their sole god is Vanolion, who manifests Himself as the life-giving sun. While Vanolion posses a number of titles too numerous to mention, he is most commonly referred to either by name, as the Great Sun or as the Lord of Light. Prayers are offered in great public masses every morning and night, drawing the entire population to their local places of worship. Worship of Vanolion has been the only religion on Khdar in its entire history - early Khddari tribes were athiestic and fractured, the closest thing to gods being the various Queens of each hive, who were revered but not worshipped. Around 700 years ago, a Khddari known only as The Great Prophet began to spread the faith throughout his hive, which rapidly converted and engaged in a vicious excercise of annexing their neighbours, either through missionary work or massacres. Within 40 years, the Vanolion hive had assumed total control of the planet, with the religion being fervently enforced ever since.
--------------
Part 1: Sunrise
Dawn broke over the Temple of Vanolion on Khdar, light creeping slowly through the dusty air to wash upon the towering brass-colored walls. Blazing hazily in the morning sun, the massive temple glowed like a beacon to the people of the capital. The priests were already prostrated in the street outside, offering reverence to the sun god, a huge crowd of various castes ever growing behind them as the Khddari woke and came for morning prayers. From a balcony near the peak of the tower, the Arch-Priest and the Queen, Sixteenth Mother, watched over the flock.
"The morning is bright. Vanolion offers us his favor," the priest chittered, voice strained with age, although still flanged and bright-sounding like all of his species. "A good day for such a historic endeavor."
The queen nodded in agreement as prayers drifted up from below. "We could not have hoped for a better omen."
She raised a hand into a sunbeam, disturbing the dust around her fingers, then stared up into the blazing white star in the sky, eye darkening dramatically in the intense light. "I envy them, Brother."
"My queen?" the Arch-Priest replied, taking his eyes off the crowd.
"Those in the vessels up there. To be beside Him, to witness His majesty in person."
"We each must play our roles, and we each receive our blessings, my queen. I, too, feel somewhat cheated at not being with them, but we must put our feelings aside. What Vanolion gives to one of us is shared to the many." The priest chuckled dryly. "Especially true in your case, my queen."
He guestured behind them, back into the cavernous chamber of the tower behind them, where a vast holographic map of the star system hung in the air in the center of the room, rotating slowly, the great white sun fixed firmly at the center. "Come. The Ascension and the Providence are about to begin their mission. May Vanolion guide our hands."
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