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 come from the remote island of Vir. Of the handful that have appeared and offered their services to humanity, they are almost exclusively seen in the courts of nobility, 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 for use in their technology (which they have vowed to share).
All Vurg speak the Virian language, though the emmissaries all speak Canderian; they can at times, however, use their thralls for translation. They, being an ancient race, are also taught High Vinthish. How they came to understand Canderian is a mystery to humans, as is how their interpreters came to know Virian.
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, and are slender of build due to their special nutritional requirements.
Vitality
Because they have no mouth, they feed through a special attachment port and supplementally through intravenous injection. 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 true motivations are unknown. Each emmissary's mission is to assist the Royal Houses so as to foster the appearance of goodwill, mostly by offering technology and scientific advancement for the betterment of all. The Emperor suspects there is far more than meets the eye, and has designs of his own to subvert their efforts. 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 allies.
Vurg Society
Vurg society is very structured. From birth, each citizen is administered a variety of tests and closely monitored to determine personal aptitude that enables the Meges-Baran to select a profession that is most suitable for the individual.
Vurg Classes and Colors
There are several classes of society, but none of these supercedes any of the others. Each class is highly respected in Vurg society, as each individual is chosen for a class based on aptitude. Since each class is broad, an individual has plenty of room to maneuver in selecting a craft that lies in accordance with their interests. The only exception is perhaps the Meges-Gaman, or ruling class, but only because they are mostly comprised of females, which Vurg culture holds in high regard already. Once a class is selected for an individual, based on careful observation, the transition ritual takes place, after which one cannot change classes except in rare circumstances, but this requires that they undergo a second procedure.
- Gray - Government and ruling class, or gray class, called the Meges-Gaman. They are gray, which is considered the most neutral of colors, with neutrality being highly valued in Vurg culture. These are almost always females.
- White - Intellectuals and scientists, or white class, called the Meges-Baran; those chosen to teach and innovate are given white, a symbol of enlightenment.
- Black - Servants, or black class, called the Meges-Firol. Those chosen to serve are given black, a symbol of the shadow.
- Blue - Emissaries and communicators, or blue class, called the Meges-Emmon. These are the color of blue because of the sky and water.
- Red - Soldiers, or red class, called the Meges-Kedan. Those chosen to do violence are given red, a symbol of blood. Because the Vurg do not have anyone to go to war with, these are mostly used for enforcing laws and keeping the peace.
- Brown - Laborers, or brown class, called the Meges-Hadal. Those chosen to do labor and work are brown, a symbol of the earth.
- Green - Artists, or green class, are called the Meges-Dhola. Those chosen for their aptitude for the arts are green, a symbol of vibrance in nature. They are often employed as designers, and they often work hand-in-hand with others such as intellectuals and laborers.
- Uncolored - Human thralls do not go through the Agony Cleanse ritual, but are held in regard as a class of their own, which are called the Meges-Roshalan.
Apart from the skin colors, Vurg wear attire that can further denote which type of profession they belong to, essentially matching up with a color that best describes what they do. For example, a servant who works alongside government officials might have black skin but wear grey clothing. A soldier trained in interrogation and torture might have red skin and wear blue clothing. There is also some measure of cross-class proficiency, depending on the profession. For example, an architect might be predominantly a Meges-Dhola who is also trained in engineering, so they would have green skin with white clothing. Such an individual might also wear a mixture of both white and brown.
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 "agony 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, and nails 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. Prior to this, any alignment or deformities in the teeth are corrected so the mouth is aligned properly. 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).
Meges-Roshalan
The Vurg utilize human thralls called the Meges-Roshalan, or "rosh" for short, to act as liaisons with humans. These rosh are humans which were captured as children and raised on Vir to be completely loyal and subservient to their Vurg masters. Many of them act as secret spies under the guise of interpreters and liaisons.
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.