Vurg are a cybernetically enhanced race of humanoid that no one knew existed until just after the rise of the Clavic Empire. A handful of them appeared out of nowhere in different parts of the world, and they are thought to come from the island of Vir. They are typically seen in the company of rulers or highly powerful people, particularly the emperor Vralius. Even these elite social and political powerhouses don’t know much about them, nor does anyone know of their purpose or their motives other than their desire for the substance byrridium.
All Vurg speak the Virian language, though this knowledge does not exist outside of the Vurg. This is because no one has ever heard them speak it to one another, as they are never seen speaking it in public. They, being an ancient race, are also taught High Vinthish. How they came to understand Canderian is another mystery.
Appearance
Their defining characteristic is their synthetic skin, which is colored according to their specific profession. For example, servants and followers are the color black, which represents the shadow. They also have no facial features. Where eyes, nose, ears, and a mouth would be is just more of the synthetic skin. They seem to speak through an electronic or cybernetic enhancement that transmits somewhere from their throat region as though from thought. They are typically larger in stature than humans are, standing between 6 and 7 feet tall.
Vitality
Because they have no mouth, they feed intravenously through a special attachment. Vurg can process human food into a usable format. In addition to this, they can convert anything biodegradable into food. They also undergo daily blood transfusions whenever they are outside their ship transports. They claim that this is not needed while they are inside their own structures.
Disposition
Vurg are the only current race that does not view humans as a threat, though they dislike humans as a matter of principle. They view humans as weak for their lack of self control, specifically with regard to emotions (Vurg are very stoic as a result of their culture). They also perceive humans as possessing a weaker mind and body, mostly due to their own relationship with pain and torture (see their rite of passage). They believe pain purifies and has transcendental properties. Because of this, females are viewed as being blessed because they get to experience childbirth (they also dislike humans because they mostly treat women poorly), which is why all of their leaders are women.
Motivations
Because most people did not even know the Vurg existed until very recently, their motivations are unknown to all but the Emperor himself. Even then, however, the Emperor suspects there is far more than meets the eye. On the surface, the Emperor knows they seek byrridium, as their technology depends on it. They allied themselves with the Emperor because he is the best option for achieving their ends without losing lives of their own in the process. Vralius was selected because of his ambition, which the Vurg feel they can leverage, and also because he is ruthless to his enemies, which they respect. They also dislike humans, so they do not care how many human lives are destroyed in the process. Ultimately, they aim to gain enough byrridium to completely migrate off their home island of Vir. Several obstacles stand in their way, however, and some of them are kept hidden from their new ally.
Vurg Colors
- Gray - Government - gray is considered the most neutral of colors, with neutrality being highly valued in Vurg culture
- White - Intellectuals - those chosen to teach and innovate are given white, a symbol of enlightenment
- Black - Servants - those chosen to serve are given black, a symbol of the shadow
- Blue - Emissaries and Communicators - the color of blue because of the sky and water
- Red - Soldiers - those chosen to do violence are given red, a symbol of blood
Rite of Passage
In order to make the transition into adulthood, all Vurg must endure an intensely painful rite of passage called the Medensatona (meaning "transition ritual" in Virian). The first portion of the rite involves plucking every hair from the body to make way for the removal of the natural skin (although this is done on a regular basis from birth), which is later replaced with a synthetic. The eyes, nose, ears, nails, and teeth are also removed prior to the installation of the new skin, and they are fitted with special sensory devices to replace the natural sensory organs, along with a vocal transmitter that enables them to communicate. The mouth is permanently wired shut once the teeth have all been removed. They are also fitted with a special port which is used for feeding. Most of their feeding is done through this external port, but other nutrition is administered intravenously. Included in this special compound is a chemical that prevents hair and nails from growing.
Since humans do not go through this rite -- it is forbidden for anyone outside the race to undergo the ritual -- they do not fully understand pain (the only known exception to this rule happened when Commander Sleika, who is a torturemaster, skinned Doctor Talmage alive and installed yellow synthetic skin as punishment for betraying the Emperor).
Notable Vurg
- Sleika - enforcer and assistant to Thagil
- Thagil - ambassador to Clavermark
See Also
In the time of the Befores there also lived another race of humanoid creature called the Cauthrians, but they were killed off during the Great Purge because they had magic in their blood.