Nenyans

From NSwiki, the NationStates encyclopedia.
Jump to: navigation, search

Nenyans

Nenyan Species

The Nenyan species is not well known biologically, as Nenyan anatomical studies have not yet been carried out outside the ICEL. However, it is known that Nenyan DNA is unusually different to Human and Quendi DNA in that it is formed into a triple-helix format rather than a double-helix. It is unclear what effect this has on the organism, however, as only the knowledge that it is so is available, rather than hard facts.

The species is different enough to be instantly differentiated from other 'humanoid' Sentient species, most easily by their bright amber eyes and small, pinpoint pupils. Nenyan eyes are known to be exceptionally sharp, as Nenyan marksman and archers are disqualified from virtually all Human archery or marksmanship competitions in the ICEL. Nenyans are typically tall and lithe, and are not prone to obesity. Nenyans cannot contract Human diseases - Nenyan scholars claim that there are no communicable diseases capable of piercing the cell membrane in the Nenyan organism, but this has not been backed up with hard scientific evidence as yet, and so cannot be confirmed.

Nenyan muscle groups are more compact than Human muscle groups, and it is known that they have a bone-cartilage skeletal structure, and, although the specifics of that structure remain unknown, it is clear that Nenyans weigh significantly less than a Human of equal body size.

Nenyan Language

See Nenyan Language.

Nenyan Culture

The Nenyan culture is decidedly Noldor (see Elves) in its roots, with a disposition towards music, dance, and literature. Science - stubbornly referred to as 'Art' amongst some segments of the Nenyan scientific community - is also a primary pursuit, although much known Nenyan scientific achievement is based not in original creativity but efficiency of use of pre-existing technologies in new and creative ways.

It is believed that the majority of the true advances seen in the ICEL in recent years have come from both the Nenyan population and the Quendi population - and, curiously enough, not the Human population.

Nenyan culture dominates the ICEL, and is complicated in its requirements. Generally speaking, there is no true hierarchy, but traditions gained from Human cultures have created a three-tier structure throughout the ICEL that cannot truly be attributed to the Nenyans. But the manner in which this system is treated most definitely can be.

Unlike the average hierarchal Human society, the ICEL society derives from the Nenyan idea that rank deserves acknowledgement unless the individual of highest rank says otherwise - thus, it is considered polite for the person of highest rank at a function or party to 'drop the rank'. Although it is by no means a given that the person of highest rank at such a function will do so, it is likely that those present - especially the Nenyans present - will respond more warmly when this unspoken protocol is adhered to.

Nenyans do not have nudity taboos. This is a relatively 'new' occurrence, having come into effect at some point over the last two thousand years; the tropical climate and exposure to the local Human tribes (in the lands now named Iluvauromen) - most of whom at that time did not have nudity taboos either, and still do not - likely combined to produce the modern lack of nudity taboos. Thus it is common to see Nenyans without clothes at all manner of informal gatherings; however, it is traditional that clothes are worn at formal gatherings.

Titles are important in Nenyan culture. The longer the title, the more honour that a person has accrued; therefore, there are several different methods of proclaiming titles. The short form is considered non-familiar; the middling form is considered neutrally familiar; and the long form is considered warm. This has been a source of confusion in the past when dealing with 'outsiders' for the Nenyans, as most Human societies now consider lengthy titles to be arrogant and self-aggrandizing. The source of this tradition is, unfortunately, mirky and unclear even to the Nenyans - yet the vast majority of the species strictly adhere to it.

Tradition is exceptionally important to the Nenyans, who, being long-lived, consider it absolutely important to maintain what is referred to in Nenyan Sociology as a 'pure social structure'. What is exactly meant by this was once found somewhat difficult and impenetrable to Human eyes and minds (both Iluvuaromeni Humans and the non-Iluvauromeni), but some modern Nenyan-written texts on the matter are fairly clear. The 'pure social structure' is one that maintains ties between individuals, but retains individuality amongst the whole; this simple idea is the center of most Nenyan traditions and even the old Nenyan Law (made defunct by Imperial Law and then the current Commonality Law, but still observed as a kind of code of honour by many Nenyans today), according to many Nenyan scholars.

Nenyan society and culture remain largely impenetrable to Humans, but Nenyans tend to mingle very much with their Human counterparts nontheless. This, however, is a recent occurence, and it remains to be seen whether old hostilities and mistrusts resurface between the Nenyan culture of the ICEL and its Human counterparts.

Nenyan culture is strongly influenced by the innate empathy of the species. All Nenyans are empathic after two weeks in the womb, and Nenyans are known to have a short gestation period - just four months. However, it is well known that Nenyan infants are educated in part in vitro, and are thus usually born with rudimentary language and numeracy skills.

The Nenyan psionic differs in some ways to other psionics, as seems common from species to species and culture to culture. Some psionic talents elsewhere are developed; others are already pre-existing. The Nenyan species belongs to the latter group.

The degree of talent and the areas of talent vary from individual to individual, but statistically the strength and number of each particular talent amongst the population is easily chartable - and forms an unusually perfect, albeit extremely steep, curve.

The curve steepens dramatically at the 'upper' end of the spectrum; there are three types of psionic Nenyan, with the 'lowest' (the empath) being the most common, and the 'highest' (the telekinetic) being the most rare. Telekinetics are born at a rate of one per five million, and telekinetics with the capacity to lift more than one-point-three times larger mass than their own body are born at a rate of one per thirty million. Telepaths are more common, but strong sending telepaths are more rare than strong receivers; indeed, despite this, Nenyan telepaths can always send - even when they cannot receive.

There are no recorded reports of Nenyan telekinetics capable of moving more than two-point-eight times self body mass; however the longest telepathic 'signal' sent thus far has pegged the current outer range at around six AUs with, oddly enough, half the lag time as compared to via radio signal. This is a matter of curiousity, as it destroys previous theories regarding Nenyan telepathy being entirely EM-based; this is a subject which warrants further investigation, and Nenyan learning societies are attempting to do just that.

The Nenyan psionic abilities have given rise to all number of cultural devices; fencing is the favoured sport of the Nenyan, and there are many styles: many of which involve the use of empathic ability to deceive or confuse an opponent, and all but all of which heavily depend on evasion rather than parrying. Furthermore, Nenyans communicate on several different levels amongst themselves; they describe it as 'tasting' or 'gaining a sense' of the other person or people involved in a conversation; telepaths also communicate silently with one another, although this is considered rude amongst non-telepaths. There is a strict honour code dictating what is allowed and what is not; a Nenyan will never scan an individual who has not consented, but it is considered expected and natural to 'listen' to surface emotions or thoughts - although an effort is usually made to avoid listening to surface thoughts by telepaths wherever possible.

Telepaths often find work as 'Pathfinders'; the symbol of the telepathic eye is hung over a great many shops in Nenya, displaying the fact that a telepath works there and is hired to scan the customers, to provide them with that which they desire before they ask. Pathfinders more frequently run businesses exclusively for the purpose of helping people 'find themselves'; in fact, many Pathfinders earn more than prominent businessmen, simply due to the huge demand.

Telepaths and empaths alike find work especially promising in the fields of psychology and medicine; and those few telekinetics that there are almost all practice medicine. Telekinetic healers do not charge for their services, and are often in the employ of the government; society provides for their needs utterly, as their services are almost invaluable in cutting the overall cost of healthcare. As a result, the healthcare market in the Commonality is decisively competitive, dragging prices downwards.

The Imperial Guild of Sociology - also known by various variations on that theme - is closely tied to the telepathic and telekinetic societies in the Commonality. The majority of the upper echelons of the Guild are occupied by TKs and TPs - empaths tend to find rising through the ranks exceedingly difficult.

Nenyan History

Nenyan history is largely stored in what other cultures would refer to as myths and legends, written in an almost fictitious-sounding format, with often exact and precise records on what was said by who and when and where and to whom but in lofty, near-mythical style; it is also largely in poesy and sung format, passed on from generation to generation. The Nenyans are adamant that they 'do not forget', but it is unclear how such a largely vocal record could remain untainted. The vocal record is backed up with written records, but many of these are put down in a format called High Literal Nenyan - a language zealously guarded and kept unspoken by the Nenyan scholars, believed only to have been shared with the Menelmacari. It is therefore unclear how much of the vocal record is accurate, and how much is inaccurate.

See also: ICEL, Iluvauromeni, Iluvauromen, Nenyan Language, Menelmacar, Noldor