Venusian
"Like the Martians, the Venuisans are descended from survivors of an engineered plague. In their case, it gave their descendants the ability to 'read' and sometimes project brianwaves, and a higher-than-normal tendency towards cannibalism."
~Quazhe, Kheezer Humanologist.
The Curse
While the Waxies are the purest exemplars of the Curse, most Venusians have it to some degree. It is directly connected with their psychic ability, and those with the strongest abilities are the most effected. The Curse brings with it a terrible hunger and a wasting madness if it isn't fulfilled. Those afflicted require regular ingestion of certain chemicals or they don't benefit from sleep, if they can even lose consciousness at all. This causes a rapid degeneration of their mental state, eventually devolving into savagery. Fortunately, all of those chemicals can be found in a Medicine produced by Starlight Pharmaceuticals called Cupidine. Unfortunately, for those who miss their Medicine for too long, those chemicals can be found in the human brain, specifically the Hypothalmus and the Pineal Gland, which curse-maddened Venusians have been known to eat. -Venutians have a roughly 1% chance of being afflicted by the Curse of Venus, which gives possible access to the following traits: Less Sleep, Mind Control, Mind Probe, Mind Reading, Mind Shield, Mindlink, Neutralize, Psychometry, Racial Memory (Passive), Puppet, Teeth, Telecommunication, Terror. -The Curse ALWAYS comes with the following, mitigated by Cupidine: Bad Temper, Chronic Pain (Mild, 8 hours), Confused, Deluisions (Minor), Draining (human brains or Cupidine), Nightmares, Insomniac (Severe), Supersensitive, Uncontrollable Appetite. Additionally, having the Curse is either a Secret or a Social Stigma at -5. The Curse works out to a 60 Point Disadvantage, plus whatever psychic abilities that it might confer.Naming Traditions
Feminine names
The colonization of Venus and its terraforming has turned it into a garden world. Female names tend to be floral, or named after fruit.
Lily
Daisy
Violet
Poppy
Iris
Jasmine
Rose
Heather
Primrose
Hazel
Lila
Saffron
Indigo
Petunia
Moonflower
Camellia
Magnolia
Peach
Cherry
Plum
Lantana
Zinnia
Marigold
Coral
Briar
Ivy
Olive
Willow
Myrtle
Camila
Masculine names
The colonization of Venus and its terraforming has turned it into a garden world. Male names tend to be agrarian, or named after beasts.
Buckwheat
Oakley
Hunter
Ranger
Sawyer
Fox
Rowan
Thane
Briar
Beckett
Orion
Stag
Hawk
Ridge
Baron
Colt
Axel
Wolf
Kaius (Latin for "happy" and inspired by the natural world)
Terra
Bronson
Falcon
Oak
Brawler
Thistle
Shepherd
Riven
Hunter
Blackwood
Granger
Unisex names
Sage
Robin
Taylor
Morgan
Casey
Drew
Jordan
Jamie
Rowan
River
August
Sawyer
Sparrow
Phoenix
Indigo
Raven
Lane
Linden
Wren
Ember
Onyx
Piper
Remi
Reese
Terra
Sparke
Lark
Night
Orion
Skye
Family names
Venus 'bubble cities' were the homes of their initial colonists, who came from all over Earth. The viral attack that depopulated those bubble cities created a subspecies of humanity, the Waxy. The second wave of colonists that replaced them were wealthy Terrans, who initially were simply prey for the Waxies. Efforts to capture, study, and rehabilitate them produced more civilized mutants, which then interbred with the Terran colonizers. The result is that their surnames come from all over Old Earth.
Other names
As a matter of public safety, Venusians identify themselves with one of four surnames; Blue, meaning they don't have the Venutian Curse. Green, meaning that they have it, but only mildly and never lose control. Yellow, meaning that they have the curse but it's controlled with medicine. Red, meaning that they have the curse and it can't be contained with medicine, they will require institutionalization occasionally and likely eventually need it on a constant basis as their condition progresses.
Culture
Culture and cultural heritage
The original colonists on Venus were scientists. To supplement their income and provide support, corporate interests from Earth created a hospitality colony to cater to wealthy celebrities. The culture still carries a lot of that duality, with a slight edge of savagery provided by the Waxies.
Shared customary codes and values
Venusians seek simple pleasures and low intensity 'good times.'
Common Etiquette rules
Venusians seek to lower stress. Calm, soothing tones and balancing bad news with good are common, and more extreme versions of Venusian etiquette would be preparing a space with aromatherapy, soothing background music, and color arrangements designed to be pleasing, all arranged before a guest.
Common Dress code
A quirk of the soil makes cotton grow light and silky, allowing for smooth natural fabrics that Venusians wear and export. Their style is usually in the form of tunics, sometimes paired with light, airy trousers and comfortable shoes.
Art & Architecture
Venus' atmosphere has been terraformed to be breathable, and the gravity even outside of the gravplates is only slightly lighter than Earth, but they still prefer to live in bubble cities. Inside these cities, they live in domed towers connected by tubed causeways above ground level for related establishments, such as a corporate office connecting its top floor with the CEO's favorite five star restaurant.
Foods & Cuisine
Venusians, as a complete shock to most who become used to the soothing and calm atmosphere they give, love spicy food and intense, sometimes bitter flavors.
Birth & Baptismal Rites
Venusians when they're born go through extensive testing to determine their empathetic or psychic abilities, if any... and their susceptibility to the curse.
Coming of Age Rites
When a Venusian comes of age, it's traditional for their parents to give them a grav bike.
Funerary and Memorial customs
When a Venusian dies on Venus, they are taken to the Recycling Plant of their bubble city to be turned into fertilizer.
Common Myths and Legends
Rumors abound of a "Venusian Queen" with phenomenal psychic power that can command the wild Waxy hordes.
Ideals
Beauty Ideals
The atmosphere of Venus is still more acidic than humans are used to, though it's no longer a health hazard. Over the generations, Venutians have developed rich brown skin and their hair has bleached out, though if they spend a significant amount of time offworld their hair comes in without the bleach and shows a full range of human coloration.
Courtship Ideals
Venusians with the curse usually have at least some empathic ability, which leads to bright, passionate courtships.
Relationship Ideals
Venusians seek partners who make them comfortable.
Template - 3 pts
Advantages- 13 pts
Empathy (Sensitive) 5 pts, Damage Resistance (Acid, 1 lvl) 5 pts, Temperature Tolerance (heat, 3), 3 pts.Disadvantages- 10 pts
Low Pain Threshold 10 pts
Encompassed species
Related Organizations
Related Locations
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