What an awesome idea! I never thought of it quite like that, but hey, you’re right! Those four made the Wraiths what they are now and it wasn’t without sacrificing quite a bit. (And there is NO doubt Cassia’s a princess. She knows it, we know it, the universe should know it!)
Thank you so much! I’m actually really happy people enjoy reading my Fibonacci world building. I admit I don’t know either of those you mentioned (shame on me) but I’m glad the volus remind you of other media! I’m really excited to finally be done with the species data on my world building doc. Now I’m on characters! 😀 (I still have a TON left to do after that, lol)
Haha. Nah, she’s not that old. I tell ya, I love that Mass Effect has humans living to be around 150 years old. That means I can have characters like her and Jane and Garrus as they are in Efflux still able to fight!
So I finished the actual species information, so I thought I’d share 🙂
Volus – The Merchant
Appearance
Are around 3’ to 3’6” tall
Look very similar to an shorter snouted echidna
Older volus grow spines, but it can make it harder to mine, so many trim them
Longer spines can be used as a status symbol because it shows that the individual is usually high enough not to need to work the mines
Attire
Heavily inspired by dwarven attire
It is very uncommon to see a volus completely unclothed, though not all are fully covered
Often wear helmets outside of their caverns due to the fact that their eyes are accustomed to darkness and too sensitive to sunlight
The material of the helmet is indicative of the wearer’s standing and wealth
Metals are incorporated in many volus’ clothing
Many of those that travel outside of Irune tend to incorporate jewels or more expensive metals to show off their people’s wealth
Armor
Though they wear metals, they do not actively make armor for themselves, preferring to have others (typically turians) fight their battles
Religion
Volus do not have a set religion as they believe no set deity is responsible for devising trade and dealing with coin
Because is it simple mathematics
They are free to chose to worship as they wish
Politics
Vol Protectorate: Rather than being a fully sovereign government in its own right, Irune is a client state of the Turian Hierarchy. In return for falling under the protective umbrella of the turian military, the volus pay a tax to Palaven, as well as deferring to the Primarch in all foreign policy matters
Internal matters are dealt with either by a certain region’s representative group
The introduction of mounted animals to pull carts for volus brought about an easier way to converse with other settlements
As such, when politics involve more than one city or settlement, then representatives deal together to find a solution
Combat
Have done away with domestic war in Irune and do not see it as necessary
Any conflict is short and usually ends in social castigation, bargaining agreements, or harsh economic sanctions
Mount
Turians introduced the volus to the lacerta
Volus then used the lacerta to pull carts and wagons, transporting goods and individuals
Volus genders do not seem to have a distinct difference in the sound of their voices
–Female voices are only a fraction higher than males
—It seems only peoples with really sensitive hearing can tell the difference
–As a result, volus do not immediately take offense to any mistakes in gender
—They don’t however see any reason for others to ask
—Only few actually tell other people their true gender
—-Then they prefer to be called as such and often take offense if not, finding it rude to have their preferences ignored
—It is typical of many volus that make a living in the Citadel to distinguish their gender in order to limit any outside prejudice towards their people
Best known for their work establishing a unified system of coin exchange and maintaining this balance and order through banks and organizing the trade markets
Book of Plenix calls for charity and forgiveness of debts in case the volus do become involved in war
Have two names but no family names. According to volus sensibilities one cannot own a person, so using a family name would essentially be laying claim to their offspring
Nonverbal cues include laying one’s palms flat on a table, an action roughly analogous to humans steepling their fingers
interiors: describe your OC(s) bedroom/home/or a place they consider “theirs”. what’s in it? do certain items have a special significance to your OC?
Arcellie
I technically answered this one already here. Ellie lives with Arcanus, so she usually just follows his interior design with only occasional things to helped it look more lived in.
Shakarian
Their bedroom is actually quite big and open and they really enjoy it like that. They have big windows they can open up out towards the ocean. Garrus tries to keep the room clean and organized, but some things manage to slip past like the occasional thrown off piece of clothing or a datapad or book left out, but Jane is actually pretty good with keeping organized.
fragrance: what do your OCs smell like?
Arcellie
Arcanus smells a bit like sandalwood – Ellie likes to say he smells like a nice walk in the forest.
Ellie’s scent has a hint of her Earl Grey tea. She loves her tea nice and strong and may be a bit addicted to having a glass or two to start her days.
Shakarian
Garrus smells like real leather (I love this smell).
Jane smells like natural roses thanks to her shampoo, but sometimes she can bathe in a peppermint body wash.
For Arcanus: interiors: describe your OC(s) bedroom/home/or a place they consider “theirs”. what’s in it? do certain items have a special significance to your OC?
Arcanus’ room is very well kept, everything in its place and almost so neat it doesn’t look lived in. He does, however, have large bookshelves for his numerous books, so that at least gives some character to the room. There isn’t much in his room that has special significance, though because he’s just become so used to keeping a minimal amount of possessions ever since taking up work as a merc.
For Damocles: photo album: describe one of your OCs’ favorite memories.
At the time of the event, getting a tattoo was the best, but currently if he looks back, then he’d say it had to be the day he stood up for Aeson and their friendship started. Aeson is probably the only person able to break through those walls Damocles has and he can’t imagine life if he hadn’t stepped in so long ago. Hell, he’d probably be a lot worse off.
I actually don’t really think it was crushing so much as they built a solid friendship and it just naturally turned into interest. Now, though, Ellie is never shy of telling Arcanus just how sexy he looks. He might not quite say it back, but he shows her in all the little things he does.
Who gets naughty in the most inappropriate places?
Hm … These two are very professional even in their sex life, so I’m afraid that they don’t really get naughty in inappropriate places. Sure, Ellie can have her fun and maybe goose him when he walks by, but never in front of their men because she knows that would really upset him.
Where is the strangest place they’d have sex?
They’re pretty vanilla, but they have had sex out on the beach late at night after a nice picnic and wine.
How often do they disagree with each other?
They barely ever disagree. Usually, it was in the beginning where they were still learning about each other and their preferences. Now, though, they only have lighthearted disagreements like what they want for dinner or she wants to watch a certain movie and he would rather read. Nothing earth shattering and really just a way to bond more.
During Ellie’s stay in the Normandy, was their any funny or awkward moments between Arcanus and Elyse?
Actually, things were really tense even after Jane and Garrus made them act right and suck it up. They hadn’t really had a chance to talk in depth over what had happened and what they were going through since her leaving him high and dry because she was only aboard for a short time. It helped that someone was there to practically babysit them because it forced them to be in each other’s company. It’s how they opened a dialogue after she left the Normandy.
–answer these however you like! some parts have multiple questions, you don’t have to answer them all. you can answer for one OC or many, or askers can ask about a specific OC. approach them however you like. you can use these for character development exercises too. just have fun with it!–
#squad: who’s friends with who? what are the squad dynamics like?
microscope: zoom in — describe the little, insignificant details about an OC.
fragrance: what do your OCs smell like?
photo album: describe one of your OCs’ favorite memories.
mixtape: 5 songs that describe your OC(s) or songs they themselves would like.
wardrobe: what’s your OC(s) style like?
lightning: who’s the most impulsive character? and who is their impulse control?
ufo: identity! what are some key identifying qualities or traits of your OC(s)? how to they identify in regards to gender/sexuality?
love note: who likes who? crushes? relationships? are they mutual or unrequited?
poison: vices/bad habits? what are they? how do they affect your OC?
compass: who’s the moral compass? in general: what are your OCs’ morality like? do they have high morals, or not? are their morals self imposed, or do they base their morals on religion/family/influence of others?
track & field: which (if any) of your OCs are athletic? what sports to they play? which of your OCs would go HARD in P.E.?
parachute: who does your OC(s) trust the most? who makes them feel safe? who would they do absolutely anything for?
conspiracy theory: what are your OC’s beliefs? are they skeptics or do they believe easily? who acts on blind faith? who needs to see to believe?
zodiac: what’s their sign? does it influence their personality? do they care about astrology?
spellbook: are any of your OC(s) supernatural? if so, what are they/what are their abilities?
contact: how does your OC(s) feel about touch/physical contact? are they affectionate? if so, how do they display affection to others?
interiors: describe your OC(s) bedroom/home/or a place they consider “theirs”. what’s in it? do certain items have a special significance to your OC?
hobby: what do they love? what captivates them? what are their passions?
psyche: what’s their head space like? do they have any mental illnesses? how do they process difficult or emotional situations? what are their coping mechanisms?
chess board: who is the most logical? or the schemer/planner?
shooting star: if your OC(s) could have one wish what would it be?
wild card: talk about any OC! anything you want!
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