Donenians are a Semi-humanoid in appearance; they are from a little known world near Cardassian space, between the Cardassia and the United Federation of Planets.
Planet Spefications[]
Donen, is an M-class planet located in the Alpha Quadrant, along Cardassian space. It is the fifth planet in a binary system containing 11 planets and has two orbiting moons, N’moor and Tri’a. The days are 30 hours long and their solar year is equivalent to 1.5 Earth years. Donen's climate is warmer than that of Earth. It is primarily a land based planet, with a vast number of landlocked seas. The regional biomes vary from thick rainforests to elevated rocky crags. Lacking polar caps due to its two suns, they have been replaced with dry, relatively barren plains. The harsh environment, with its large undeveloped regions and teeming with dangerous indigenous life forms has forced the Donenians to become a hardy species. The planet has a higher gravity than Earth, and its atmosphere is thinner, thus in an Earth-normal environment Donenians demonstrate greater physical strength. The planet itself is rich in crystalline structures, this being a prominent feature in their architecture. The population of the planet is about 4 billion, and the capital city is located at E’habb.
Physiology[]
In terms of height, weight, and build, they may appear to be slim and on the shorter end of average height to a human, but Donenians have a dense skeletal frame compared to Terrans, which was a direct result of living on a world with a higher gravity and a thinner atmosphere. Due to this, the average Donenian is stronger than a human and physically has more stamina as well. But it should be noted that their internal physiology is what is astounding. Their systems are highly decentralized with redundancies for every vital organ in all limbs and throughout the torso. This makes Donenians difficult to kill since most weapons would be ineffective. They are physically more durable than most species. They can sustain injuries that would be fatal to a most other species, surviving injuries and battle wounds that would kill or incapacitate a human. They also have a powerful immune system and they can also control their metabolisms at will, thus regenerating quickly or faking death if need be. Because of their heightened metabolisms they can go for long periods of time without rest if need be. Existing in a harsh environment, they have also developed more heightened senses than average.
Longevity of the Species[]
Donenians can live upward to the age of 300, while they mature rapidly; Donenians consider their first 30 years to be their youth and adolescent years, followed by a very long adulthood. After reaching adulthood, their physical aging process slows a great deal. It is not uncommon for Donenians who appear to be young adults by human standards to actually be as much as two or three times older than their appearance indicates. For example, those who appear to be in their late twenties or early thirties by human standards are actually in their mid-sixties. The last 50 years of their lifespan is considered their senior years. It should be noted that Donenians do not venture offworld until they are considered adults.
Physical Appearance[]
Donenians are semi-humanoid in appearance, with slightly reptilian features along their neck and spine. They can be easily recognized by their pronounced facial ridges, distinguishable by the delicate segmented ridges along the brow and including several segmented ridges over the bridge of the nose. The boney structures increase as they circle the eyes in a more prominent crescent-like shape, creating an especially deep-set appearance. To add to their less humanoid appearance they also have a ridged chin protrusion which runs along their jaw, before giving way to an ornate pattern of scales along the sides of their neck. Their distinctive neck scales have made some scientists speculate that they could be of Cardassian decent but since they lack the stereotypical neck ridges, this can only be speculation.
As far as skin tone, their coloration ranges from purple to pink, with their hair color ranging from blue to red, including black and white to the extreme. Their eye color ranges from light to dark gray, having flakes of various other colors present. Donenians lack body hair, except for on top of their heads. They lack both eyebrow and eyelashes. Males are incapable of growing facial hair.
The final most notable feature is their various forehead tattoos. These date back far into their own history, to when their planet was divided into various clans, each one bearing specific facial markings. These designs today, though altered slightly to reflect the individual, continue as part of their culture, denoting clan familial linage. The Donenians are deeply connected to and very proud of their heritage to this day.
Other Medical Information[]
Donenians are blue-blooded creatures. Their bodies use hemocyanin, respiratory proteins in the form of metalproteins containing two copper atoms that reversibly bind a single oxygen molecule. Although the respiratory function of hemocyanin is similar to that of hemoglobin, there are a significant number of differences in its molecular structure and mechanism. Unlike human hemoglobin, hemocyanins are not bound to blood cells but are instead suspended directly in the hemolymph.
Donenians are monogamous creatures who mate for life. Because of their telepathic bond to their mate, they have an emotional bond that lasts a lifetime. It provides the Donenians with a level of intimacy unknown on Earth. The initial bond is both highly erotic and profoundly spiritual. From the moment of connection they are mated for life.
The Donenians reproduce sexually, in a manner similar to that of humans; their sexual anatomy is also similar to that of humans. While their reproduction mechanics are similar to humans and other mammals, it should be noted that their actual internal reproductive biology is quite different from Terrans. They are not placental mammals. It should also be noted that males have distinct ridges on their reproductive organs. While they may be able to carry on physical relations with other species, it is unknown if Donenians are genetically compatible with any other races, as to produce any offspring.
Society and Culture[]
I n the past their ancestors and offshoots colonized many planets across the quadrant, each breaking away to create its own unique society. Once a passionate, violent people whose civilization was torn by terrible clan rivalries and wars, once settled on their planet Donenians evolved into a peaceful space faring race two millennia ago. Little is actually known about the Donenian culture or technology, for they remain a secretive society, cut off from most of the galaxy. While relatively unknown to most, their history goes back some 30,000 years, making it culturally one of the oldest known civilizations.
Tradition maintains an integral part of their everyday lives. Breaking from it is an insult to society that is not forgotten easily. Respect, honor, and servitude form the basis of their society. They value clan and family above all else, so much so that this custom places the family name before an individual name.
Acceptable social behavior dictates that they are not to be touched outside their clan, with there only being a limited number of exceptions. On their homeworld they exist as part of a large close-knit communal lifestyle. While within their own familial clans, the Donenians are a very carefree and open people, overtly physical creatures by nature. This is directly opposite of what most outsiders see of them. To most observers they live a strict, private, reserved lifestyle.
Telepathy[]
Donenians are natural telepaths, either born with telepathic capabilities, or developing them very early in life. Children are joined in a ceremony at birth that links them telepathically to their parents. When they come of age, in the time of mating they are compelled to physically join together with their bonded mate, thus linking them telepathically as well. Their psionic abilities extend beyond sensing thoughts and emotions, to being capable of projecting their own thoughts and emotions to others. Because telepathy is seen as being both private and intimate their general education includes a dedication to strengthening their mind skills, basically rendering them immune to various mental attacks including Vulcan mind melds. To those outside their family, Donenians typically retain empathic abilities.
Education[]
Trained rigorously from when they are young they are able to read, learn, and retain large amounts of new information much more quickly and easily than Humans. Entering the Donenian Institute, their education becomes very broad based, encompassing their tribal and cultural traditions, intensive mental training, as well as math, science, and the arts. They pride themselves on being fierce, independent, dedicated and resourceful. They share an enthusiasm for hand to hand combat, which is also a part of their general education. Typically they use a fighting staff as their primary choice of weapon, as well as being a ceremonial weapon, but they are also taught a variety of other forms of combat as well. They will not draw a weapon unless forced to do so, and then shall do so only if they intend to use it.
As part of their culture and traditions and due to the nature of the Donen environment a premium is placed upon young men and women growing up to become exceptional hunters and warriors. They choose to live in harmony and natural equilibrium with their surroundings, as their ancestors did. Over the millennia, they have developed a healthy respect and reverence for their surrounding environment. From children they are taught to respect the planet and what it has to offer. They learn what it meant for their ancestors to survive in such a hostile environment without the aide of modern technology. It should be also noted that a Donenian never draw weapons unless they mean to use them. If a blade is drawn in a challenge, then blood must be spilled before it may be sheathed, even if that blood is one's own.
Ji'anna in her native garb | |
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Clothing[]
This issue has confounded many offworlders. The Doneians, when they are offworld, dress very modestly, choosing to cover most of their bodies from the eyes of others. On their homeworld, they are the exact opposite, choosing to dress in their native garments, which tend to be rather simplistic and revealing. This is in part due to the warm climate of Donen, as much of the planet is covered in dense forests and jungles. Their garments are handmade, with the use of traditional looms and sewing utensils. They consist of brilliant, natural materials in comparison to simple clothing pieces worn by other species. They have a rich handicraft tradition and engage in extensive body decoration signifying rank, activity, and individual tastes. Accessories are added to a Donenian’s attire as he or she moves up in the clan hierarchy. For example, as children they wear only a basic undecorated loincloth; as they learned more about their culture and begin to prove themselves as warriors, they may choose to wear armbands and elaborate necklaces to display their ranking.
Religion and Beliefs[]
Donenians are a very religious people. The Donenian religion does not have a central god figure, nor does it have a pantheon of gods. They believe in a universal soul that means the universe is all connected as one great being. Each part of this great being is a system, a planet, a race. Consequently, every being is a projection of a part of the universal soul. Because of this they have developed a sophisticated culture based on a profound spiritual connection to other life on their planet, each other, and an encompassing "spirit" they believe the universe to be.
They are taught from children to believe that they are set to follow a path dictated by their ancestors. They are to encompass everything that they once were, as well as everything they esteem to be. This is another reason why tradition plays such an integral part of their society.
They believe in reincarnation. They feel that after an individual has died, the soul of the individual joins with all the other departed souls. The souls then all meld together becoming one and are in time reborn into the next generation.
Technology[]
The Donenians claim to have developed warp drive more than two millennium before Earth. Despite this, most of their species have not tended to travel far, believing that there was sufficient exploration close to their homeworld. They are also a culturally private race, preferring to keep to their own kind as much as possible. They are indifferent towards alien species, neither liking nor disliking them but remaining friendly to them. For this reason they have not expanded particularly far from their homeworld, despite being warp drive capable. It should be noted that only a few Donenians have actually ventured as far as to attend various Starfleet and United Federation of Planets functions.
Government[]
Their government is an oligarchy, created by democratic vote. Their society exists upon the social structure of eight ‘Circles’. The Le’tai or elected ruling body of Elders governs their people. The Ren’u are their Spiritual Leaders, who serve to preserve their curltural history as well as maintain their religion and belief system. The other circles are made up of their military forces, their medical and science professionals, the Donenian Institute Trainees, various professional artists, and their society as a whole.