Karrigan'Xalda
Daughter of the Karishzar
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
Intent: Expand on the Xioquo and sub another worldship.
Image Credit: Here.
Canon: N/A.
Links: Four of a Kind, Twilight of the Goddess, Siobhan, Kar'zun, Order of Fire, Daughters of the Destroyer, Kaylah Danton, Quas'Ziru.
SETTING INFORMATION
Starship Name: Caverns of the Overealm.
Starship Model: Sky Cavern.
Classification: Colony/Exploration Ship.
Homeport: Arx Aeternae, Tygara.
Travel Route: No fixed travel route. The ship makes stop at its homeports, but they have no set route. The goal is to explore remote, often uncharted corners of space in order to find new worlds to settle on and establish colonies.
Affiliation: Firemane Industries & Technology, Xioquo, Seekers of the Sky, Liavondra.
Crew Complement: Moderately Manned. There is a lot of staff needed, but many of them are droids. The city population would be Heavy.
Notable Crew Members:
Name: Naal’Xhora.
Age: 80s. Xioquo age at a slower pace than humans and have a longer life span. They become fully physically mature at about 50.
Species: Xioquo.
Role: Noblewoman, Viceroy.
Description: Xhora acts as the Queen's representative and viceroy aboard the ship. When Lia is present, Xhora is responsible for the day-to-day administration. She rules in the Eclipse Queen's name when Lia is not there, chairing the council, passing laws, dispensing justice and handling negotiations. However, the Queen needs to be consulted for major changes. Lia is often on the ship, but not all the time. As a result, Xhora has a bit of autonomy. She has a good mind for logistics, infrastructure and administration.
Xhora comes from a minor noble family. In the old days, she was known to be a moderate who harboured doubts about orthodoxy, though she was careful about voicing them in order to avoid being purged. In that time her clan was the vassal of one of the old houses that sat on the council. Naturally, she was a slave-owner herself. Slavery was a fact of life on Tygara, and abolitionists were few in number. By Xioquo standards, Xhora was lenient in her treatment of the slaves, though this might have been due to the practical realisation that it would lead to an increase in productivity and a decrease in rebellion and sabotage. Of course, they were still slaves and thus her property.
Before the fall she was a regular noble. She was responsible for supplying food during the war. This put her in a good position to realise how bad the situation was. The Xioquo faced serious food shortages and their slave economy was inefficient. Even if the Xioquo won the war, cataclysm might be imminent. She was derided as a defeatist bean counter, but kept around because she was useful. Her daughter and heir was a 'guest' at her mistress' court. In short, Xhora was the practical bureaucrat who did the boring, unglamorous stuff that was actually really important and thus survived because people overlooked her.
Xhora's liege lady participated in the ritual to awaken Myrou. Xhora realised how insane this was and distanced herself from this decision. She holed up with her staff and showed the white flag. In the aftermath of the fall, she executed a smart pivot and position herself as a loyal servant of the new regime. Xhora played an important role in rebuilding infrastructure and preventing the outbreak of famine. She worked with the transitional governing authority Firemane established after the Underealm's conquest and secured a place in Lia's privy council. The old council that used to rule the Xioquo in Myrou's name had been decimated during the fall. So with the big players gone Xhora was able to advance her cause swiftly. A number of former slaves have vouched for her character. She is a proponent of the self-strengthening movement.
However, she has changed her colours too rapidly for the liking of some. Regardless of whether she is an opportunist, a sincere convert or a mixture of both, she has both wealth and influence, and has invested them wisely. She has used her wealth to help fund educational programmes meant to educate Xioquo about modern tech and contribute to the construction of the vessel. Xhora is an eager collector of foreign tech. Her lack of prominence in the old days has aided her advancement. Firemane would not let someone who was an obvious danger to them play such a prominent role, after all.
Name: Magda Steiner.
Age: 30s.
Species: Human.
Role: Firemane resident, officer.
Description: Tall, blonde-haired, blue-eyed and in excellent physical shape, Magda Steiner might as well have emerged from a COMPNOR propaganda poster. She is the Firemane resident aboard the ship. Thus she is responsible for representing Firemane's interests and providing advice to the leadership of the Overealm. Her employer is Firemane's Diplomatic Bureau. However, while her duties are primarily diplomatic, Magda is a career soldier with the rank of Major in Firemane's military. Moreover, she is a member of the Order of Fire, Firemane's Force-using branch.
Magda participated in the final assault on the Underealm, leading a force of Fireguard as a Captain. Following the cessation of hostilities, she remained in the Underealm, where she was promoted to assist the transitional occupation administration. One of its tasks was to hold trials for Xioquo war criminals. Magda was in charge of gathering evidence of atrocities. In this capacity she worked closely with former Xioquo rebels and freed slaves as well as Lia. This gave her a lot of sympathy for the drows as well as a strong resolve to ensure justice was served.
Her own past ties into this, for she grew up on Eriadu during the reign of Ranulf Tarkin, an imperialist, human supremacist dictator. Her parents were proponents of the regime and profited from it. After its fall, they claimed to have had no knowledge of its crimes, but continued to make excuses for it. Though accused of complicity, they were classified as fellow travellers due to lack of evidence and declared de-Tarkinised. Magda joined the Omega Protectorate after it overthrew Tarkin's regime. She is friends with Kaylah Danton, a fellow Eriaduan who used to be the Firemane resident in the Underealm. Kaylah is now Vice President of Firemane, so this gives her a friend in high places. Magda possesses a virulent hatred of Sith, Imperials and human supremacists. She is no career diplomat and thus not the most refined negotiator. However, she has worked with the Xioquo for many years and established a rapport with several of their leaders. Magda still views herself as a fighter, just one operating in a different environment. She is a serious woman and does not have much of a sense of humour.
She speaks Basic with a posh and clipped accent. This is a leftover from her Imperial education. Although she works for the Diplomatic Bureau now, Magda is still a capable fighter. This is pertinent since her job is not without its share of dangers. Thus she can take her place among the troops and participate in combat if needed. She carries a lightsabre, and is very skilled in its use. Her preferred lightsabre forms are Shien and Djem So. Both take advantage of her strength and tenacity. Her time as a war crimes investigator has given her investigative and analytical skills as well as an eye for detail. Force-wise she is a bit of an all-rounder with a focus on the Core Powers. She has the skill level of an experienced Knight. Magda has a friendly rivalry with Tempest.
Name: Karrigan'Iztak
Age: Xioquo.
Species: 70s.
Role: Chief Engineer, Technician.
Description: Iztak is a male Xioquo who used to be a slave. Slavery was the bedrock the ancien régime was built on. Moreover, it was extremely misandrist. However, he showed significant aptiude for crafts. This spared him from a worse faste, such as toiling in the mines. Instead he was among the teams that made the steam-powered warships of the Xioquo, especially their engines. The drows had not developed spaceships, so these were ships that traversed the water.
However, his lot was still a harsh one. He was chained up in a hole and only brought out when needed or when the captain was bored. Iztak performed an act of rebellion during the final battle. Knowing that they were going into combat he sabotaged the engines. He knew that it might kill him, but it would take out the hatred mistresses with him. However, the ship was boarded by Firemane troops. Firemane found out he had sabotaged it and recruited him.
While working for the sky people, Iztak was taught how to use their tech. He took well to it, and soon was a highly skilled engineer and technician who worked on their starships and other designs. He found their droids fascinating. In Xioquo society, slaves were not permitted their own surnames. Like many other former Xioquo slaves, he took the name Karrigan to honour Siobhan Kerrigan, as he was freed by her crusade. This makes him one of the many, as of now unacknowledged members of her family. Like most Karrigans, he has claimed the name unofficially, though Siobhan does not seem to mind the practice. Maybe she will legitimise him one day. Iztak had to put up with racism and sexism from certain Firemane employees, but did not let that stop him. After many years away, he has now decided to return to his people to give his skills to the ship. Old attitudes die hard, and so sexism is still very widespread among the Xioquo, but he is self-confident and unwilling to bend.
Today, he runs the engineering team of the Overealm. This makes him crucial in keeping the ship afloat. He is good at working with limited resources and coming up with creative shortcuts. While he has taken the name, Iztak is not a cultist. Moreover, the Daughters of the Destroyer would not let him in anyway. He participates in the communal feast services the Karrigans aboard the ship hold to honour the Karishzar. Iztak dislikes how a number of members of the old guard have been able to worm their way into the new regime's good graces. This also colours his interactions with Xhora. She may have been a moderate by Xioquo standards, but she was part of the system. He is very dedicated to his crew, but also hot-blooded.
Name: Navae'Zada
Age: 70s
Species: Xioquo.
Role: Priestess
Description: Navaea is a Xioquo cleric and a member of the Seekers of the Sky, a sect that seeks to spread the teachings of the Light among the Xioquo. It was founded by Queen Lia to show her people a new way. Navaea was already a priestess under the ancien régime. In those days she served the cult of Myrou. It was dedicated to the worship of the dark goddess, who was venerated and feared in equal measure. One day, it was claimed, she would return, conquer Tygara and judge her children.
However, Navaea was secretly opposed to its practices. One of the catalysts for her conversion was reading the diary of a murdered dissident. She pretended to be a loyal priestess because the alternative was joining the sacrificial victims, but tried to subvert things from the inside. But in order to do this she had to pass as a loyalist. The actions she had to undertake to serve a greater good still weigh on her. One of her activities was secretly housing fugitives who were being persecuted by the secret police and needed someone to provide shelter. Needless to say these activities put her in grave danger.
Navaea became a supporter of the new queen after Myrou's fall. Before the fall she had been more grey than Light, but she has become an eager convert to the tenets of the Seekers. She helped establish shelters for emancipated slaves and openly supported the new order, denouncing the old ways as evil and corrupt. She even testified against the old regime. This caused her former colleagues to brand her a blood traitor. An extremist cabal put a hit out on her. She still bears the scars of being abducted and tortured, but this has fuelled her resolve. Navaea was involved in the foundation of the Hall of Memories, a Xioquo history museum. She also participated in the battle against the Blood Wraiths, a dark cult of Xioquo necromancers that sought to raise Myrou again. She has a good working relationship with Magda.
While dedicated to the Light, Navaea is no pacifist. Having grown up in a society characterised by unfettered despotism, she rejects the idea that servants of the Light must wait for evil to strike. However, she believes that they must maintain a code of conduct. She sees the Light as law, justice, rightful action and harmony. She believes it can be served by virtuous government and representation. Navaea is no warrior, but can hold her own in combat. Like all priestesses, she is Force-Sensitive. Her skill level is that of an experienced Knight. Her mental abilities are particularly strong and she has a knack for illusions. This proved invaluable during her days as a secret underground operator. She is also a capable Earth Shaper.
Name: Karrigan'Xamak
Age: 90s.
Species: Xioquo.
Role: Garrison commander.
Description: Mamluks are a concept rather unique to the Qadiri and Xioquo. Essentially, they were slave-soldiers. Of course, giving slaves weapons and ensuring they were used only on one’s enemies was a tricky business, but the Xioquo had turned it into a process. Slave-soldiers were given better quarters and rations compared to other slaves. However, it was a wretched, brutal institution.
Xamak was moulded by it. Darwinian natural selection and sheer sadism ensured that the corps always needed new slaves, but given how depressingly easy it was for a Xioquo to become a slave, there was no lack of meat for the meat grinder. Moreover, slavery was hereditary. Unlike many in her company, Xamak survived. The constant abuse, humiliation and terror left her with a deep-seated hatred towards her tormentors. She had an ear cut off at one stage for getting 'uppity'. The fact that she was Force-Sensitive was one of the reasons she was mutilated rather than killed, as her Force affinity made her valuable. She has the skill level of an experienced Knight and has elemental fire abilities. These are quite unusual among Xioquo Force-wielders. The Force and harsh physical conditioning give her a very high tolerance for pain.
Her moment came during the final battle, when Firemane and its allies assaulted the Underealm. The outsiders were foreign invaders, but they promised food, freedom and land. Moreover, promised vengeance. Xamak took fire and blood to heart. When the battle was underway, she and several slave-soldiers in her unit staged an uprising, turning on the mistresses. She killed the officers and turned some of the weapons on the other Xioquo before surrendering to Firemane on condition that they would not be executed. The Xioquo leaders had spread lurid stories about how Firemane would execute or torture any prisoners in order to deter any surrenders or retreats on the part of their soldiers. However, this turned out to be a lie.
The old Xioquo army was disbanded after the fall, but Xamak was part of a militia that worked with the occupation government. They helped keep the peace, cracked down on crime and insurgents. When Queen Lia was granted permission to create a new army, the former mamluk was accepted into its ranks as an officer. Xamak is a very cynical, stubborn and grim warrior who really dislikes nobles - understandably. These qualities make her a good counterbalance to the aristocrats and she respects Lia but very few others with authority. But she has the respect of the soldiers under her command. Like her, many of them are former slaves or members of the under classes. These sections of society provide a bedrock of support for the new order. Xamak is not a member of the Daughters or the Seekers.
Name: Karrigan'Quaere
Age: 65.
Species: Xioquo.
Role: Bodyguard, watcher, special operative.
Description: Quaere serves as a bodyguard for Xhora. She is supposed to protect the noblewoman with her life, and ensure that she does not manifest any subversive tendencies. In short, she is both guard and minder. After all, while trust is good, control is a lot better. Quaere is particularly qualified for this role not only due to her training as a special operative, but also due to her membership in the Daughters of the Destroyer.
This is an all-female, dark Xioquo cults that worships Siobhan. They refer to her as the Great Karishzar. In their view, the Karishzar proved herself the stronger goddess when she killed Myrou, thereby taking her place. Moreover, she put an end to slavery, purged the mistresses and gave the Xioquo access to advanced technology. In the eyes of the cultists, this makes her worthy of worship, though some are more fervent than others.
Quaere is a quite fervent, even fanatical Daughter. Because of this she has been put in place as a watcher, who is there to make sure the noble does not have any bad thoughts. She was a slave under the ancien régime. Qaere grew up poor, having been born into an impoverished, low class family. Trapped in an unjust, exploitative system, her family was deep in debt. She was required to pay it off by forfeiting what little freedom she possessed. Her mistresses severely punished her. Qaere was used as a guinea pig for medical experiments. She went a little crazy during that time.
However, Quaere was rescued and fixed up by Firemane. One of her rescuers was Karrigan'Xalda, a former mamluk who had sworn allegiance to Siobhan and would also become a member of the Daughters. As a result of these experiences, Quaere came to see Siobhan as a goddess who had chosen her for special purposes. Her body was enhanced with bionic implants to replace bits which had been 'removed' while she was in captivity. Quaere has embraced her augmentations as a mark of her liberation. They have made her more capable, both physically and mentally. They allow her to contend with Force-Users, levelling the playing field. She treats the process as a rebirth of sorts. Her intensity can make her seem rather intimidating and intolerant.
Name: Naxi'Xiarda
Age: 75.
Species: Xioquo.
Role: Warrior.
Description: Xiarda was born as the daughter of the Xioquo matriarch of a noble family. Though initiated in the ways of the Dark Side, she was considered soft and her siblings intrigued against her. Xiarda was captured by Qadiri soldiers after a failed Xioquo attack on Krolis. A Qadiri priestess bought her and taught her about the Light, eventually freeing her. Xiarda has been a follower of Lia ever since swearing allegiance to her shortly before the conquest of the Underealm. She is a member of the Seekers of the Sky and the Banishers of the Night, an order of warriors of the Light. She and her comrades see themselves as paladins who swear a sacred oath to defend the Xioquo people, protect the innocent and fight the wicked. Her mother is dead, so Xiarda could have tried to take control of her clan, but she has renounced her old life and wants to be a warrior of the Light.
She is a principled woman who strives to uphold a code of justice and honour, but also a warrior with a martial spirit. Striving to be a good person does not extend to giving free passes to the truly vile and horrific among their enemies. Her rather brutal childhood has left its mark upon her. She is emotionally guarded and slow to trust. She has served as a bodyguard to Queen Lia, though the sovereign is a formidable Force-User in her own right. Xiarda is a Force-User on the level of an experienced Knight, with a focus on elemental ice and earth abilities and traditional Light Side powers. Xiarda was an early follower of Lia, which is why she has been posted aboard the ship. She assists Xamak and helps out with Force training.
Name: Karrigan'Lalax
Age: 90s.
Species: Xioquo.
Role: Priestess.
Description: Lalax is a priestess of the Daughters of the Destroyer. She holds the title of Centurion. The Daughters see themselves as warrior-priestesses, hence the militaristic titles. Her experiences under the ancien regime have shaped her into a dedicated, but somewhat unconventional devotee of the cult. She was born a free woman, but it was easy for a freeborn Xioquo to be enslaved under the ancien regime. Punishment for crimes, demotion by the whim of one’s Lady or being captured in battle were all easy ways to be enslaved.
Lalak was a bard and a poet. However, one of her performances was secretly satirical and judged to be seditionist. She suffered public humiliation and punishment, before being branded and collared. She was enslaved by a priestess, who was a dedicated follower of Myrou and fond of threatening to sacrifice her to the dark goddess. Lalak suffered physical and mental abuse, but her intellect and literacy kept her from being sent to the mines. Instead she was employed as a scribe. While she was Force-Sensitive, her affinity for the Force was too weak to merit serious training. This meant that she was not considered dangerous to keep as a slave.
Her time as the priestess' slave gave her a dim view of traditional religion until the Karishzar came. Unable to bear the defeat, her mistress decided to commit suicide and take her slaves with her. Fortunately, Lavak found out what she intended to do and switched the poison for a fake and played dead until her mistress poisoned herself. Lalak played a role in the post-war cleanup. Her role as a scribe had made her privy to secrets which helped convict some nasty people. Her strong code made her a good judge and advocate, who gave proof for and against convicted nobles of the old order if she believed them innocent or guilty.
Lalak is one of the Daughters, but in a mild way. She takes a philosophical view of the Karishzar as a prophetess or demigoddess and believes that her strength is what makes her worshipful. Thus she has a more intellectual view of the cult's icon, but still reaches the same conclusion. Nonetheless, Lalak is a good preacher and well-liked, though there are clerics who believe her views are too heterodox. She is adept at selling the story of the Karishzar, having written religious text in favour of Siobhan and the new settlement. She is something of a leader and a good influence on the extended Karrigan 'family'. Her views also make her useful for marketing when dealing with non-cult members or foreigners, as she is more approachable than say Quas'Ziru, the leader of the Daughters, who has been described as unsettling and very intense.
Lalak has a decent working relationship with Xhora. She knew the noblewoman since her mistress had dealings with her. This proved useful after the fall, as the priestess spoke out in Xhora's favour and helped clear her. Xhora is not a member of the cult, as the Daughters see themselves as the representatives of the oppressed, not of former leaders and profiteers of the old regime. However, she has helped them establish themselves on the vessel.
Name: Naxa'kavak
Age: Kar'zun.
Species: 300s.
Role: Captain
Description: The Kar'zuns are a silicon-based race of rock people who originated on Kaeshana along with the Eldorai. They are strong, tough and honourable, but also a wounded people. The rivalry between both races was fierce and they warred for centuries, before the Eldorai Queen Ariane the Great crushed the Kar'zun Ariane was not content with simply defeating them. She wanted to ensure Eldorai dominance for all times.
Relations were poisoned for centuries when she enacted a near-genocidal campaign. While her successors halted it, they forced the Kar'zun into reservations far away from their natural habitats. By then the damage had been done. It was a shocking near-genocide that decimated the Kar'zun, driving them to the brink of extinction. To the Eldorai, Ariane was a heroine who saved her people from destruction. The Kar'zun, on the other hand, regard her as a genocidal butcher. Queen Tirathana VII emancipated the Kar'zun, but relations are still tense to say the least. The Kar'zun have moved into the stars to seek out new worlds of their own. Naxa'kavak is one of them. By Kar'zun standards she is quite young, as her people grow extremely old. She did not live through the events of the fall, but experienced the repercussions. Her clan hid Kar'zun heirlooms and tech from the Eldorai, so that one day her people might be able to reclaim them.
Naxa'kavak serves as the captain of the vessel. Though conservative Eldorai insist otherwise, the Kar'zun were able more technologically advanced than them before the fall. She is a capable, navigator and astrogator. Before being posted on the Overealm, she served in the Firemane fleet and aboard the Arz'alor, the Kar'zun worldship. She has a history with Kar'zakush, a Kar'zun mercenary who now serves in Siobhan's elite Granite Guard. Much to her annoyance, the extremely old Kar'zakush still teasingly calls her pebble.
The appointment of an outsider has been the cause of discontent in certain quarters, but Naxa'kavak is not tied to any faction and thus quite objective. Moreover, the Xioquo have good relations with the stone people, who do not have any bad history with the dark elves and do not belittle them in the way Eldorai might be inclined to. She has formally left Firemane services and accepted a commission in the Xioquo fleet. As a tradeoff, a number of Xioquo have been posted aboard the Arz'alor, where they serve in technical roles and receive training from the stone people. The Kar'zun runs a tight ship, but has a sense of humour, though many of her references go over the elves' heads due to cultural misunderstandings.
Name: Zhull Khimrat
Age: Late 40s.
Species: Neimoidian
Role: Banker, Nova Bank representative
Description: Neimoidians are all slimy, greedy aliens with no morals. They are obsessed with status and wealth, but snivelling cowards the moment someone stands up to them. They are also lazy. That is the stereotype at any rate. Zhull Khimrat dislikes it and finds it racist, though he acknowledges that the actions of a good number of Neimoidians reinforce it.
Ironically, he is one of the first, perhaps even the first, Neimoidian the Xioquo have encountered. Zhull is a banker who is employed by Nova Bank. He heads their branch office aboard the Overealm. His boss Varisanthra, an Eldorai, has struck up a friendship with Queen Lia and so he is there to represent the bank's interests but also provide advice, especially on financial and business matters. He was born on Cato Neimoidia, but has ill memories of it.
Zhull lived through the occupation when the Galactic Republic annexed the planet in response to the Neimoidians levying a tax on all ships moving through and about their system. The Republic's pretext was that the Neimoidians were abusing their power to blockade trade routes and being ruled by a despot. He worked for the Trade Federation, but found its nepotistic, cutthroat culture not to her liking. H ended up working for Nova Bank after being expelled from home for trying to report corruption and flagrant embezzlement. This made his decision quite easy.
While an Eldorai, Varisanthra is very pragmatic when it comes to her choice in collaborators. Species does not matter to her. So Zhull has risen fast due to his diligence and good work ethic. Among other things, he helped expose financial malpractice and served on a debt commission Varisanthra set up to supervise the repayment of loans she had granted an outer rim world. Now the Neimoidian is responsible for representing Nova Bank's interests among the Xioquo.
Accessibility: Restricted. The worldship is not isolated from the rest of civilisation, but will often stray from known hyperlanes and traverse uncharted star systems. It has a large garrison. The Xioquo are willing to trade with outsiders, but guarded. Newcomers will be vetted. The ship is affiliated with Firemane, so individuals and groups the corporation is hostile to will not be allowed aboard.
Description: The Caverns of the Overealm, often shortened to just the Overealm, is a Sky Cavern Class Worldship. It was built by Firemane to accommodate the Xioquo and help the drows seek out a new future in the stars. The name is a reference to the Underealm, the subteranean realm that was the Xioquo's home for centuries. Once they were confined to the dark caves and catacombs beneath the earth. It was their shelter from the sun that burnt them, but also a prison, as they were ruled by slavocratic tyrants. Thus the vessel is supposed to represent a new beginning.
In terms of design, it is quite similar to the Asur Class Worldship, which was built for the Eldorai and their cousins, but there are some notable differences. The Xioquo seldom look upon the sky in wonder. Indeed, they are more than a little unnerved by it, for their skin can blister if exposed to the sun. This is obviously not an issue inside a spaceship, but they still prefer a closed vessel that gives them the feeling of being inside a cave. They are children of the earth and the soil. As a result, Firemane has made the vessel rather geometric in shape. This means visitors must do without the phenomenal view of space that is provided by the traditional Asur. However, as a tradeoff this also eliminates a notable weak spot. The ship has a long hexagonal shape, large in scale and able to combine with others to form a larger lattice.
The vessel is carefully designed to ensure it would be able to accommodate a large number of people over an extended period. Efficiency is key, and thus no space has been wasted. In effect, the ship is a closed city on the move. High buildings dot the streets, and monorails connect the different areas. Space has been set aside for parks and production areas. The interior of the vessel is logically laid out in a grid pattern. There are some observation areas, but nowhere near as many compared to an Asur. Xioquo are not fond of too much light. So the interior of the city-ship has no bright lights. However, it obviously still has lighting, but soft colours are used. Far from being philistines, the Xioquo have a great love for art and mosaics. This is reflected in the interior of the city. Public areas are covered in mosaics on the floors and walls.
Firemane has built the ship and retains an interest in it. Thus a contingent of advisors is aboard the ship. Like their cousins, the Vashyada and the Qadiri, the Xioquo are new to spaceflight. Starships, faster-than-light travel and blasters are new to them. However, they were most advanced Tygaran race before the coming of the space people. Despite being confined to the Underealm and weakened by self-destructive power plays, they were able to build ironclads, steam-powered gyrocopters and tanks. The Xioquo are fast learners and eager to adapt to galactic technology. As a result, there is a higher proportion of elves among the technical staff than on comparable Qadiri or Vashyada vessels. Some of the drows' rivals and even a few Firemane officials view their adaptability with concern.
The worldship is governed by the Queen or an appointed viceroy. It also has a partly elected, partly appointed council. The members in the second category are 'distinguished' citizens. These are individuals who have performed important services to the state, be it through military service, financial contributions to the maintenance of the vessel, efforts to educate and uplift their fellow Xioquo or otherwise. This mode of selection is not that democratic, but light years away from the unfettered, totalitarian despotism that used to characterise Xioquo society.
Some of the old noble families have been able to make an oily transition into the new regime. If one were to count all the houses that claim they never participated in atrocities or followed Mystra and treated their slaves benevolently, one would probably have to wonder how the Xioquo were ever able to oppress anyone. The old guard has been gravely weakened and a good number of its members have departed, but others are more devious. Thus the followers of the new ways are on guard against them. Cohabitation between the different Xioquo cults and sects can also cause friction. The Daughters of the Destroyer are fanatically loyal to Siobhan, but this can also make them a double-edged sword. Their relations with the Seekers of the Sky are complicated, to say the least. The Xioquo are still getting used to freedom of religion and reactionary holdouts miss the days when they could sacrifice people on altars and rip their hearts out.
The Overealm has tried to build relations with the arkships of the other races. Relations with the Jewel of the Void are very poor. Qadiri and Xioquo have been enemies for many centuries, and Semiramis views the 'dark ones' with disdain. Wrapping herself in the colours of Qadiri nationalism is also a practical move for her. Moreover, Lia views the Shahbânu as a devious snake. However, the Overealm has exchanged emissaries with the Void Seeker, an arkship populated by emancipated Qadiri slaves.
Its patron, Shazora Jai Varhal, holds a grudge against the drows because she was enslaved by Xioquo raiders many decades ago. However, she is disdainful of Semiramis, viewing her as a deceitful despot who only abolished slavery to score political points. Moreover, the Seekers of the Sky have worked together with some of her people, such as Hasana Jai Anhala, a former mamluk and leader of a successful slave revolt. As a result, relations are distant, but cordial enough.
The Overealm has also reached out to Light of Yarkul, the main Vashyada arkship. Relations with the Vash are complicated because in the past the Xioquo often launched incursions in their territory to take them as slaves. Most Vash revere the Light and see the Xioquo as its antithesis, despite the rise of a Light Side sect among them. Old school Vash believe that the drows are disrespectful of nature. However, the relationship between Lia and Tylania is a good one, though a lot of work still needs to be done on the ground level. By contrast, the Xioquo get on well with the Arz'alor, the Kar'zun arkship. The stone people did not really encounter any drows until the latter had experienced the wind of change, so they have no negative experiences with them. Moreover, both races are tech-savvy. Some Xioquo have moved to the Arz'alor, and a few of the sentient golems have settled on the Overealm. The two arkships have exchanged emissaries and maintain lines of communication.
POINTS OF INTEREST
Broadly speaking, the ship consists of two areas: the facilities that pertain to running it, such as hangars, engine room, infirmary, reactor, bridge, quarters and so on, and the city within the ship, where the general population lives. It also has greenhouses to grow its own food. Aside from these standard areas, the following locations are of particular interest:
Nova Bank Branch Office: Nova Bank is an interstellar financial institution led by Lady Varisanthra Lycaeni. While an Eldorai, Vari is not beholden to the Eldorai Matriarchy. Indeed, she is technically a rogue, who fled Kaeshana during the closing stages of the Four Hundred Year Darkness. She is now one of the financial backers of the migration, space exploration and colonisation efforts of the various elf races. Her bank has opened a branch office aboard the worldship. Needless to say this is a way to keep an eye on her investment and exert influence.
However, Vari is also a personal friend of Queen Lia and eager to see her people advance. Nova Bank's presence aboard the worldship is not a large one. Vari is well-aware that Siobhan considers it to be her turf and would get suspicious if she tried to upstage her. However, its unobtrusiveness actually works in her favour when it comes to building bridges with the Xioquo. The staff is multispecies, but Nova Bank has started hiring Xioquo to make its presence seem less foreign. The Xioquo had a rather rough command economy during the old days with little coined money. With all the upheavals, this trend has continued, though there are more coins now.
Hall of Memories: A history museum. Compared to the triumphalist Halls of Wondrous Knowledge on the Jewel of the Void, the atmosphere is rather sombre and subdued. Instead of glorifying the past, the exhibitions are a sort of learning exercise for young Xioquo about the dangers of the old ways. Great efforts have been made to gather the testimonies of the victims of the old ways, such as former slaves, but also of perpetrators. Moreover, there is an exhibition on the perversion of alchemy by the Xioquo sorceresses and their use of blood sacrifices to power their machines.
They can be accessed in form of text, audio and holographic documents. There is also a section about Myrou, the dark goddess of the Xioquo, her reign of terror, rebirth and defeat at the hands of Siobhan. All in all, the museum tells a cautionary tale, discussing the dangers of totalitarianism and blind nationalism. The old ways were not only immoral, they were inefficient. Far from achieving dominion over Tygara and bringing prosperity to their people, the Xioquo were trapped in the Underealm. Now the Xioquo must break with the shackles of the past and build their own civilisation, free from Myrou's shadow.
Slavery is condemned in the harshest form. Xioquo conservatives criticise the museum for 'besmirching the proud heritage of the Xioquo people'. Ironically, some radical reformists complain that it does not go far enough. Siobhan Kerrigan has a section of her own in the museum. She is portrayed in a very positive manner. Her most fanatical worshippers among the Xioquo are not fully satisfied because the museum does not acknowledge her 'divinity'.
Circle of the Defenders: The garrison has its barracks here. Moreover, this area features extensive training facilities and an armoury. Here, soldiers and the militia can train, drill and parade. Force-Using warriors also reside here, as space is at a premium. Like their Eldorai cousins, the Xioquo have a higher proportion of Force-Users than humans. They are one of their biggest assets, so training is mandatory. The Xioquo army was smashed during the assault on the Underealm, so the drows have had to rebuild their military and its traditions from the ground up. Many soldiers have been recruited from the ranks of former slaves, especially janissaries, and the under classes. The new army is based on the citizens in armour concept. Soldiers are supposed to be dedicated, brave defenders of the Xioquo people instead of the muscle of the aristocracy.
Statue of the Karishzar: A big, imposing marble statue of Siobhan Kerrigan with lots of symbolism. Karishzar is the Xio word for Destroyer. It is the title conferred upon Siobhan for her campaign against the Underealm. The statue shows her as the liberating warrior queen. She is dressed in purple robes and wears a crown of stars around her head. The hair is painted with a red gloss so that it shines in the dim light. In her hands she holds the burning sun and a sword with which she destroyed Myrou and broke the chains of the Xioquo. Siobhan is rather fond of the statue. It is located in the grand plaza of the city and has an honour guard. It has become a place of pilgrimage for Xioquo who worship her. However, it has also aroused criticism from elf nationalists, who accuse it of representing a monkeigh saviour complex.
Sanctum of the Holy Names: Religion continues to be an important part of daily life in Xioquo society. Worship of Myrou is prohibited, as are blood sacrifices. But a plethora of cults operate freely. Thus space has been set aside to give believers a place to worship their deities. It is a very dark, little area. The place is quiet, and lit only by a couple of dim lights. There a number of different walls, one each for the cults. The faithful can venerate their deities silently. Moreover, there are small chapels for services. The Seekers of the Sky and the Daughters of the Destroyer are among the most prominent cults. However, there are also sects devoted to minor deities of the Xioquo pantheon or spirits of nature. Veneration of the Mother Earth is widespread. Rituals are also conducted to appease Azyr, the primordial embodiment of the sky.
Pride of Karrigan Orphanage: An orphanage created by the government to care for war orphans and former child slaves whose parents are dead or could not be found, as it was common for families of slaves to be torn apart in the old days. The orphanage receives funding from House Kerrigan-Alcori and Firedawn. Siobhan often visits when she happens to be aboard the worldship. Recently, the Queen adopted a young girl from the orphanage. Many of the children have suffered significant trauma, so the facility has a professional staff that includes social workers, therapists and psychologists. It also helps facilitate educational opportunities.
Open Palm Knowledge Centre: A technical college that focuses on engineering, technology, applied science, and natural science. In short, it focuses on practical skills that are very pertinent for the maintenance of the vessel and thus the sustainability of the community. It also provides knowledge in fields such as basic piloting and droid design. Compared to their cousins, the Qadiri and the Vashyada, the Xioquo were very technologically advanced. They have a reputation for having minds of metal and are adapting quite fast. This gives them a good way to repay their patrons and earn coin, as they are not wealthy.
Firemane Residency: The office building of Firemane's resident and her staff. It has a direct line to Firemane headquarters. Appointed by the megacorp's Diplomatic Bureau, the Firemane resident performs the duties of an ambassador and advisor to the worldship's leadership. The building is guarded by Firemane soldiers and a cadre of Order of Fire warriors. Proficiency in Xio is essential for posting. Firemane's intelligence service is also present. This includes a few Truthseekers. Though much has changed since the overthrow of the old slavocracy, Xioquo politics are still quite Byzantine behind the scenes. This means finesse and cunning are essential for any resident. Firedawn, Firemane's freedman bureau, also has offices here.
Palace of the Eclipse Throne: The seat of government. Lia is rather embarrassed by the title, but someone at either Firemane or her court felt they should use a fancy one, so she is the Eclipse Queen - the light emerging from the darkness. The court is a rather austere one. This is due to financial constraints, but also Lia's own preferences. The Xioquo are poor, so it would set a poor example for their rulers to live in the lap of luxury and flaunt their power. It stands in stark contrast to the decadent ancien régime. The palace is heavily guarded, but ordinary citizens can address petitions to the court and the council. When the Queen is not there, her Viceroy holds court.
The area in front of the palace has a series of statues. Monuments of the ancestors are considered impolitic since most of them were horrible people, so the statues are allegorical in nature, representing the virtues of the Xioquo. These stand in contrast to the sins they have abandoned. They are Charity, whose opposite is Greed, Humility, whose opposite is Pride, Temperance, whose opposite is Indulgence, Diligence, whose opposite is Sloth, Patience, whose opposite is Wroth, Mercy, whose opposite is Cruelty, and Piety, whose opposite is Apostasy.
SECURITY
High
- It is not a warship, so the external armaments are low. The vessel has some fast-mount turbolasers, few ion cannons and turbolasers. All these weapons are mounted on the edges and front/rear of the ship.
- However, the ship has heavy armour plating, an Eidolon-class Modulating Energy Shield (permission here), hundreds of quad lasers and point defences distributed evenly around the edges and front/rear, few flak cannons and heavy redundant shield generators.
- Internally, it has a large on board garrison and extensive defences, including ray shields, auto-turrets etc. The Xioquo soldiers who make up the garrison have been equipped by Firemane and is supplemented by a militia composed of all adult civilians. It includes a contingent of Force magi who specialise in elemental Force abilities. Moreover, Firemane has stationed a contingent of soldiers and Order of Fire warriors aboard the ship. A police force keeps order in the city.
- The ship is almost entirely populated by Xioquo. This also makes infiltration difficult as non-drows will stick out and most of the inhabitants do not speak Basic.
Xioquo society was built upon bloodshed, the Dark Side and slavery. A small clique of noble families used terror and propaganda to keep the under classes in line. Many Xioquo were kept as slaves. Xioquo society had always been steeped in the Dark Side. For centuries, the drows were governed by a ruthless mageocracy where only those who pursued the path of Darkness ended up on the top. Thousands laboured as slaves to serve the whims of the mistresses who sat on the top of the pyramid. The disobedient were brutally punished and often sacrificed in ghastly rituals to power war machines or be turned into abominations.
Generations of Xioquo were raised to worship and fear Mystra or, as the Xio knew her, Myrou. She was (correctly) regarded as the mother of their race. Though the dark oddess had slumbered in a tomb for millennia, it was believed that she would one day awaken to lead them to conquer Tygara...and judge her children. Believing that Tygara was theirs by right, the Xioquo warred against their neighbours and rivals, the Qadiri and Vashyada. While the technologically most advanced of Tygara's natives, their low population, incessant power struggles and the constant need to be on their guard against slave revolts kept them from fulfilling their potential.
However, Liavondra rebelled against her upbringing, despite the risk this entailed. Disdaining the power struggles and wanton cruelty of her peers, she developed her own moral code during her time in the army. Instead of serving the Darkness, she secretly embraced the Light. After running afoul of the game of thrones intrigues in her family, she was imprisoned in the Black Citadel. She would have undoubtedly been killed or worse, if fate had not intervened.
The fortress was stormed and the garrison destroyed by a Coalition force mostly composed of Firemane troops. Lia found herself facing the off-worlders whom she had heard much of but never seen. The experience was frightening to say the least, especially as these off-worlders wore armour and carried weapons far beyond those of the Xioquo or their usual Qadiri enemies. Still, Lia did not lose her cool and respectfully asked to see the commander of the invading force.
Taken before Siobhan Kerrigan the two could see that the other was both similar and yet very different from the other. Lia followed her version of the Light and was technologically primitive, yet she had a steely resolve and reliability of character which made Siobhan at least respect her. Further, Siobhan recognised the uses of a Xio who was not a murderous Dark Sider; as puppet she could be a useful pawn to control the Xio once their threat had been dealt with. Her Light Side alignment ironically made her more reliable as a vassal. For her part Lia recognised what Siobhan wanted with her and did not argue against it. She knew in her heart that the Xio could not face this enemy and that the old, bloody ways had to be broken if her people were ever to survive and move on. Thus a deal was made; Lia would advise on the Xioquo defences and capabilities and would be their puppet, and in return she would rule them afterwards.
The campaign against the Underealm was a bloody affair, even with the technology of the off-worlders and the numbers of their allies. Lia had little part to play in this beyond providing intelligence, for only a very few of her people joined the campaign to rise up against their mistresses. Still, she was present to witness the cataclysmic rebirth of Myrou and the final battle. When the coalition forces breached the Underealm's outer defences, the Council grew desperate.
In desperation, they voted to awaken Myrou. Not so long ago that would have been unheard of. However, two members of the ruling group dissented. Qual'Zyanya and her sister realised that Myrou's awakening would bring only ruin. So they tried to sabotage the ritual by blowing up the sorceresses carrying it out. Unfortunately, their actions hastened Myrou's awakening, as she fed on their deaths. Zyanya's sister was murdered and the aristocrat had to flee. It soon turned out that they had been right, for Myrou was a mad goddess who did not care about the survival of her people. They were merely slaves to her.
The reborn goddess was confronted by Siobhan. The two Dark Masters, one primordial and one comparatively young, both icons of personality cults and seeking to exact their vision of the future upon the Xioquo, confronted one another. With the help of her allies, Siobhan was able to prevail and slay Myrou. In the aftermath of the final campaign the Xio were shattered. Many were dead, maimed or lost. Many were unredeemed followers of the old order. Many resented the fact their people had been defeated by invaders. Into this volatile mix was inserted Lia, as she was crowned as queen – a title no Xioquo save Myrou had ever had. Some, maybe a majority, hated what they saw as a traitor who had been placed over them as their overmistress by the invaders.
Lia initiated a reform programme. Swiftly, and with the blessing of Firemane, she removed all remnants of slavery and bonded servitude. She then turned to the people utterly disenfranchised by the old order; the lower classes and the servile groups. These people had no loyalty for their old mistresses, and so flocked to her willingly as she implemented nothing less than a total reorganisation of society. The old houses were broken up, the client and patron networks shattered, and the redistribution of assets by all those who had fought the invasion gained her an immediate and loyal following. Further, many mistresses saw the way the wind was blowing and pledged their loyalty to her, though this did not stop them from plotting in secret.
Indeed, Lia had to survive many assassination attempts. One assassin, a bodyguard, came close to killing her. However, the Queen was able to thwart this attempt. Rather than take revenge, she spared her would-be killer. But she did not forgive and forget. To her, the Light was justice, truth and virtue. This did not mean she had to be naive or 'nice'. Thus her enemies were banished to remote lands as servants or put to work rebuilding the capital.
A further complication was a proliferation of cults and groups brought about by the end of the old order. Groups which saw Siobhan Kerrigan as the Karishzar, or Destroyer, and worshipped her power. To the Xioquo, Myrou had been a goddess and it was Siobhan who had slain her, thereby proving herself the stronger goddess. Moreover, she had abolished slavery and was providing the emancipated slaves with education and future perspectives. Cults like the Daughters of the Destroyer were a double edged sword; on the one hand they were skilled and loyal warriors, but on the other they were difficult to control and Dark Side in leaning. To counter this Liavondra started forming her own group of Xioquo she could impart her teachings of the Light to, named the Seekers of the Sky.
Years passed and the Xioquo finally began to settle down. Those who were deeply opposed to her had mostly died, fled or been forced to bide their time. Lia worked with Firemane’s chief observer in the Underealm, Kaylah Danton, forming a close working relationship. Though poles apart in upbringing, the two appreciated the need for order tempered with understanding. This gave the 'dark queen of the light' room to manoeuvre. She was a vassal of Firemane, but not a puppet. The Xio had suffered great trauma, but with time that could heal and make them productive.
But with the fall of many factions in the galaxy, Tygara quickly became isolated and was deemed at risk. Firemane hosted a conference of the elf races on what was to be done. Lia entered space for the second time. At the conference it was decided that the elves would move off into space aboard massive arkships. The Xioquo had little to offer, being both few in number and having more destructive Force users. However, the Xio were swiftly learning to accommodate with modern technology and so could offer that service.
Firemane built the Sky Caverns to accommodate its Xioquo and Kar'zun allies. Both races were had low numbers, which was why the Sky Caverns had a lower production run than the Asur Worldships. The Overealm was the first ship of its type that was commissioned by the Xioquo. Lady Varisanthra Lycaeni agreed to become a financial backer of the enterprise. Lia struck up a friendship with the Eldorai banker at the summit. This led to Nova Bank opening a branch office aboard the worldship. Siobhan, who always preferred big projects to daily administrative minutiae, took a personal interest in the construction of the vessel.
Once the vessel was ready, it was handed over to the Xioquo in a formal ceremony. Siobhan attended the celebrations that accompanied it. She also paid the community of Karrigans a visit and gave a speech. Firemane assigned a resident to represent its interests. Their choice was Magda Steiner, a career soldier who had worked with the Xioquo during the post-war occupation. While Lia would be there often, she could not be on the worldship all the time. So she appointed a Viceroy to represent her interests. The two main Xioquo cults, the Seekers of the Sky and the Daughters of the Destroyer, established a presence on the ship. Lia was understandably wary of giving the Daughters any significant influence, but could not exclude them entirely. Fortunately, High Priestess Quas'Ziru chose one of her most reasonable clerics to guide the flock.
