Venditchim
Overview
Physical Features
The venditchim, or ven, are a four-eyed humanoid race. They are slightly taller and thinner than common men, with two forward facing eyes like a man, and two side facing eyes more like a cow. This leaves their hair to be a narrow strip from their forehead to the base of their neck. Ven have a dark, swarthy skin, and have dark brown or black hair.
The ven evolved from an animal that exhibited both herd and pack behavior. Most of the time the proto-ven would graze, but when threatened they would attack, chasing down and eating any predators. This also allowed the prot-ven to survive when there was no vegetation to graze.
This has left the modern ven with the ability to eat almost anything organic. Grass, meat, and fruit can all be digested easily by the ven stomach. It also gave them their distictive four eyes. The side eyes are used when they are resting, or anytime they passively looking for danger. The front eyes are used when searching something out, and both sets of eyes are used in complicated situations like a melee.
Society
Ven society still retains the herd/pack mentality. The ven organize themselves into groups known as gangs. There is a definate pecking order in each gang, which in extreme cases can change who leads the gang. Changes in the pecking order occur when one member greatly advances the cause of the gang. Ven society has several tiers of gangs. A leader of a gang is also the member of a gang on the next highest tier of society. As the leader of a gang can change over time, the membership of higher tier gangs can also change. It is possible to work through ven society from the very bottom to the very top.
The ven have a hereditary monarchy, which when combined with the multi-tiered gangs becomes a nepotistic meritocracy. When the ven emporer dies, his heir assumes the throne. The first thing he does is select the members of his gang, to delegate his authority within society. He member of his gang then selects the members of their gang, to further delegate authority, and so on down. As the pecking order of the gangs change over time, the membership of the gangs will also change. This can change who is in the emporer's gang at the top of society. It can even change who is the emporer.
Wine Parties
The most important ritual of ven society is the wine party. Venditchim are wine fanatics, and frequently have parties to sample a variety of wines. Each person invited to the party is expected to bring a bottle of wine, and showing up with the same vintage as another guest is considered very embarrasing. Everyone sits around a table, and samples the various wines while talking.
At various points in the party, one member will stand. All the others will finish up their conversations and grow silent. Then the standing member will speak extemporaneously, either improvising poetry or a story. When they are done, conversation resumes. Each member is expected to stand and speak once (and only once) during the course of the party. Major social points can be scored by either bringing the best wine, or by giving the best speech of the evening.
GURPS Stats
Venditchim have DX +2 (20 points), IQ +1 (10 points), ST -1 (-10 points) and HT -1 (-10 points). Their racial advantages are Peripheral Vision (15 points) and Cast Iron Stomach (15 points). Their racial disavantages are Reduced Fatigue (2 levels, -6 Points) and Gregarious (-10 points). It costs 24 points to play a Vinditchim. It also requires an Unusual background to not have a duty to your gang.
Rolemaster Stats
- Body Development 0 · 6 · 3 · 2 · 1
- Chanelling Power Points: 0 · 6 · 5 · 4 · 3
- Essence Power Points: 0 · 4 · 3 · 2 · 1
- Mentalism Power Points: 0 · 7 · 5 · 4 · 3
- Lifespan: 81-100
- RR: Chan. +0, Ess. -5, Ment. +10, Disease +0, Poision +30, Fear +10
- Soul Departure: 12 rounds
- Languages: Ven 8/4, Common Man 4/2, Dwarvish 4/2. Allowed Adolescent: Comman Man 8/4, Dwarvish 8/4, Orc 6/3
- Stat Bonuses: St -4, Co -3 , Ag +6, Qu +4, Re +3, Me +2
- Required Sleep: 6 hrs
- Endurance: Recovery Multiplier: x1
- Race Type: 1
Adolescent Skill Ranks:
| Armor · Light | 1 |
| Soft Leather | 2 |
| Athletic · Brawn | 1 |
| Athletic · Endurance | 1 |
| Athletic · Gymnastic | 1 |
| Climbing | 1 |
| Awareness · Perception | 0 |
| Alertness | 6 |
| Awareness · Searching | 2 |
| Awareness · Senses 2 | |
| Sight | 2 |
| Body Development | 0 |
| Body Development | 1 |
| Communications | 3 |
| Language Skills | 16 |
| Lore · General | 3 |
| Own Region | 3 |
| Own Culture | 6 |
| Science/Analytic · Basic | 1 |
| Tech/Trade · General | 1 |
| Tech/Trace · Vocational | 2 |
| Wine Tasting | 2 |
| Urban | 4 |
| Weapon · 1-H Edged | 1 |
| Broadsword | 1 |
| Hobby Ranks | 8 |
- Everyman Skills (2): Wine Tasting (Tech/Trade · Vocational), Sense Awareness/Sight
- Restricted: None.
- Hobbies: Administration, Body Development, Broadsword, Contacting, Diplomacy, Foraging, Gambling, Geneology (Lore · General), History, Hunting, Leadership, Mingling, Observation, Poetic Improvisation, Public Speaking, Region Lore, Sewing, Streetwise, Swimming, Tactics, Tale Telling, Ven Culture Lore, Wine Lore (Lore · Technical),Wine tasting, Winery (Crafts)
- Talents and Flaws: Short of Breath (Lesser) (-5) Peripheral Vision (Major, +0 to flank, +5 to rear, 15), Omnivore (may eat anything organic, Minor, 7), Gregarious (Miserable and -10 to mental skills when alone, -5 to mental skills when in a group of four or less, Minor, -10), Sense of Duty to Gang (Lesser, -7).
- 5 Background options.
Last Modified 11/28/99
Created 11/28/99