The Vesk

The Vesk’s society is, unlike others, one that remained rather unremarkable until the last bastion of civilisation made its way to their doorstep. Before then, their species were distinctly isolationist. Not by choice, of course. There were few who were exactly willing to interact with this barbaric race of warriors wielding energy weapons. Before the Disarmament, Vesk society had already nuked itself into irrelevance a few generations prior. On their home world of Vefrides, the mass industrialisation of the Vesk had reduced the already-barren planet into a land only capable of sustaining life in a select few pockets. Battles for dwindling resources escalated into full-blown nuclear war, transforming Vefrides from a wasteland into a radioactive wasteland. The Vesk were left to their own devices as primitive, warring tribes trying their best to survive on a dying planet that they killed, only hoping to live long enough to see Vefrides’ death rattle.

That is, until four other civilisations made their way into the neighbouring systems – and the freed slaves of Tranquin descended onto their world. Not too long afterwards, the Vesk were gifted starships to interact with the rest of the surviving systems, farming technologies to ensure their new worlds would survive, and weapons to ensure they could act in their own defence, should the World Eaters come knocking. That was some time ago, yet the Vesk are still fighting tooth and nail to earn an equal say in the future of Salus. Despite everything they have promised to grow out of, they are still a deeply-survivalist race, concerned with ensuring their civilisation continues on, regardless of the fates of the rest.

Basic Information

Anatomy

All vesk have four limbs, with claws on their digits. A Vesk's legs are normally more muscular than their arms, with webbing in the limbs present in approximately 18% of the species. Like many non sapient lizard races, vesk have have 4-chambered hearts, and alveoli in their lungs. Their lungs are quite efficient and have a high capacity, enabling them to hold their breath for a long time. Vesk are ectothermic, which means that they require heat from their surroundings in order to keep their metabolisms running. They become sluggish in cold environments and can overheat more easily than mammals do in a hot climate.

Female vesk are often larger than their male counterparts, and whereas males are various shades of green, females often have vibrant, mottled coloration that’s considered an indicator of both health and attractiveness. Small horn spikes dot the skulls of both sexes, and protrude from their lower jaws in bony “beards” that sometimes extend down their spines to their tails, which are mostly too heavy to be used as anything more than a balance to the heavy vesk body.

Genetics and Reproduction

Vesk reproduce via viviparity (aka live birth). Fertilised eggs remain in the body of the female Vesk until the offspring is ready to be born (between seven to eight months). The female Vesk is rather vulnerable during this time, having to keep her body at an optimal body temperature to make sure her offspring survives. As such, Vesk maternity wear often includes small layers of fabric able to be heated through a small system of arcane fuel batteries attached to the back of the clothing. Because the offspring hatch from the eggs inside their mothers, Vesk women go through a period of the shells being ejected from her body; something equatable to a heavy menstruation.

by Rudy Siswanto

Dietary Needs and Habits

All vesk are carnivores with little to no ability to process plant matter. As such, their cuisine consists largely of lightly seared red meat, which would give any other species a severe case of food poisoning. Dairy products in small amounts are consumed alongside meats, and meat based sauces are a vesk speciality. Commonplace snacks include bags of seasoned insects, cuts of fatty meats stuffed with cheese and yogurts for the healthier individuals.

Biological Cycle

Whilst male vesk can mate for procreation at any given time of the year, their female counterparts are only receptive to sexual advances once a year, in spring time. This has led to businesses all over Manus to work over time in the early months of the year to make up for the lack of productivity in spring. Vesk also shed their scales on a yearly basis, losing them around the autumn period.

Additional Information

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Vesk are almost entirely found in the Manus system.

Average Intelligence

The vesk tend to be a little less bright than other sapient species in the Salus galaxy. Studies have shown that the limbic system in the vesk brain is much larger than that of a human or lashunta, resulting in greater drives towards basic survivalist functions. This however comes at the cost of the neocortex, which is smaller than that of other species.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

The hearing of a Vesk is normally a little poorer than that of a human, but this does not impair their ability to communicate on a daily basis. Vesk see better in dim light than humans do, and have an easier time perceiving objects and people in motion (leading to the wrong assumption that Vesk struggle to perceive still objects, and thus creating a common joke that to hide from a Vesk, one must simply stand still.)

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Vesk names are often long and combine elements of their parents’ names, as well as those of other prominent ancestors. These are frequently shortened for daily use by friends, though abridging a vesk’s name without permission is a grave insult. In addition, some vesk take on epithets related to their victories in combat, which they sometimes use in addition to or in place of a family name, such as “Three Guns,” “Voidwalker,” or “Squadeater.” Some sample vesk names include Dmotralan, Evdokayo, Goromitali, Julakesh, Katara, Obozaya, Radokama, Sarangari, Sobok, Terikoraz, and Ymeros-Ahandi.

Major Organizations

The Vesk have gone from a tribal society to an interplanetary power, but their values have not changed all that much. They dance the dance their superiors expect of them, but their civilisation remains deeply-feudalistic. All who live in the Vesk’s domain serve one of a higher standing, with a clear hierarchy set in place to determine who serves who. The hierarchy is primarily based off one’s military service, combat prowess and bloodline. There are a handful of different clans in charge of the Vesk at this time, as listed below.

• Clan Cinis: The ruling clan of the up and coming Vesk civilisation. Ruled by a man named Svezod the Steel-Veined, so named for continuing a speech after taking a poisoned dart to the heart in a failed assassination attempt.

• Clan Glacies: One of the three subordinate clans of the Cinis Dynasty, tasked with the management of mining operations. Ruled by a woman named Zoza the Blizzard, so named for her light blue scales, white eyes, cold demeanour, and predilection for frost weaponry.

• Clan Lutum: The second of the subordinate clans, in charge of construction operations in Manus. Ruled by a man named Nasid the Black, so named for his reputation as a violent, dangerous being, even for a Vesk.

• Clan Caeli:The third and final subordinate clan, tasked with overseeing the many farms being established throughout the system. Ruled by a woman named Ega the Sharp, so named for her mutated, blade-like protrusions that run the length of her jaw, her very capable mind, and her talent with swords and more primitive weaponry.

Beauty Ideals

Metallic colouring, which is extremely rare, is one of the most attractive physical traits a vesk can have. In vesk society this is seen as a sign of strength and valour highly valued in a potential mate. In women, mottled spots on their scales is considered a sign of good health and attractiveness.
Taking care of ones appearance is considered universally attractive, with a lot of effort going into personal hygiene. Outside of Manus, specialised vesk body care shops are a curiosity, with specialised items such as:

• The Manusi Bristle Brush: A large brush (about the size of a human hair brush) with metal bristles used to clean the razor sharp vesk teeth. A seemingly mundane item, not available for purchase for non-vesk citizens largely due to its possible application as a weapon (a common torture technique used by the The Buccaneers is using the brush on non vesk teeth and gums)

• Wylee's Cold Shine wax: The most popular brand of scale wax, used to give the vesk scales a pristine shine, but also to make the process of shedding old scales in autumn much less painful, by softening the top layer of old scales, prompting them to fall off on their own.

• Voodoo paint: A brand of body paint used by Vesk women to add blotches of colour to their scales. The material is toxic to non vesk, made specifically from a type of frog living exclusively on Manus.

Gender Ideals

How do you tell a vesk man from a vesk woman? The woman can shoot further. - A popular joke

The vesk society has no concept of gender roles. Women are expected to be able to perform the same job as men up until pregnancy. During pregnancy, women are exempt from physical duty and may be temporarily moved to an office position, or dismissed from work with pay on the expectation that she will return once her children are born. The person who stays home and takes care of the children is one earning less.

Relationship Ideals

I have seen a few vesk couple disputes in my life. In retrospect, I think I would have preferred to get devoured by a pack of hungry dogs. -Unknown

A perfect relationship in the eyes of a vesk will be one of complimenting skills and abilities. Two people must work as a unit, like a machine. All parts must fit well together for the whole to be stable. Home should be a safe haven from the outside, free from conflict. On the outside, the vesk society is a place of strict, harsh expectations. A relationship is supposed to be synonymous with freedom of self.
Whilst this is a desirable ideal for most vesk couples, in reality these are people who, when invested, are prone to emotional outbursts. This is in fact so common that it has become somewhat of a stereotype. TV shows detailing the rocky vesk relationships are popular on Ferven.

Average Technological Level

Vesk have were gifted much of their technology; star ships, modern social technology and farming equipment. To many of the ruling vesk, this was a debt rather than a gift. They have been making rapid advancements in technology of war, which has in turn been making their relationship with the Abbadon station more strained. To remedy this, the inhabitants of Manus have been making advancements in the domestic travel industry, creating advanced cars, motorbikes and other kinds of transport, which is then exported to other systems.

by Ivan Tantsiura

Culture and Cultural Heritage

Vesk do not view mystics in the same way their Tranquinian mentors do, sometimes opting to use their abilities for powering their up and coming technology. In other cases, however, they see the use that such powers can have in battle and other forms of labour, and allow them to enter into these lines of work so that their powers can be used to their fullest potential.

The denizens of Manus subscribe to the notion of learning through hardship, encouraging their youngest to go out into the world, get into fights and danger, and emerge from it a strong warrior of the Vesk. Even though almost all Vesk tend to follow in the footsteps of their families when deciding their career, it is common for young members of their race to advance in their society as mercenaries or members of the military. Others also enjoy a peaceful success from the merchant’s trade. Most value honour, respect, and strength, and while typically hesitant to express any emotions other than positivity or anger, Vesk are prone to bouts of sadness in private or in the company of those they love.

The Vesk do not put much value in formal education, believing more strongly in worldly knowledge. As a result, many of their people explore the various systems and worlds as wandering mercenaries in the hopes they will return having made a name for themselves – or at least gathered the knowledge necessary to survive in this place.

Common Taboos

There are a number of taboos one should be aware of when dealing with a vesk. Here is a compiled list of the most common social blunders committed by the unaware:

• Taking a vesk's shed scales is considered a horrible social misconduct. Shed scales are reserved as a gift for the closest loved ones and family. Asking to be gifted one is often a seriously huge step, and taking one without permission is a good way to have a vesk cut you out from their life, or fight.

• On a similar vein, vesk take their property very seriously. Whilst using a little of someone's hand sanitizer is seen as a rather mundane thing anywhere in Salus, amongst the vesk this is about the same as using your friends tooth brush. Invasive and absolutely not okay.

• "Banter" and "Talking shit" are common humour amongst the vesk. However, when it comes to family and romantic partners, any kind of joke bitchiness is reserved only for the person/people involved. At most, one is allowed to contribute with a nod and a "I hear you."

• Whilst on Vita you might be judged based on the composition of your outfit, the vesk will openly judge a choice of weaponry and its state. A man or woman with a badly kept gun might receive a similar treatment to someone who doesn't wash their hands after a bathroom visit.

• Passive aggressiveness is seen as an act of extreme immaturity. Conflicts and disagreements are resolved as they appear, and "hinting" at any disagreements with sarcasm or indirect behaviour is a surefire way to gain a bad reputation.

Scientific Name

Reptillia Squamata

Lifespan

90 years

Average Height

6'5" to 7'2"

Average Weight

190lbs to 260lbs

Average Physique

The vesk are a tall, bulky people, with generally broad shoulders and strong legs. Men and women both grow spikes and posses razor sharp teeth which can and are often used as an intimidation tactic in combat.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Vesk men tend to have mono-coloured scales in shades of blue, green, red and brown. Other colours have been observed but are extremely uncommon. Women can be recognised by much more vibrant scales mottled with different shades on their scales.

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