Guigu

/ˈɡuigu/

Stats

XP Available at puberty: 180

Attributes: INT +1 CHA +1 BOD +3

Body class: A

Special Attribute: MAG -4

The Guigu are a race native to a system adjacent to Redland. They inhabit the larger body (Kennu) of a binary planet system (Kennesawu). As of the discovery of Kennesawu they are in the midst of their industrial revolution, with similar technology to Earth around the turn of the 20th century. Impressively, however, they already have a notable space program, with many spacecraft and even a space station in orbit. It turns out that getting there was far easier thanks to their planetary system in three ways. First, the two worlds of the system are very close together, so launching from a particular vector to take advantage of gravitational forces requires much less power than the average inhabitable world. Secondly, the strong magnetic field of the planet makes magnetic field drives extremely effective. Finally, another species native to the system, the Symtraya, have biological magnetic field drives which could be used in place of traditional rocket engines.

Together, these facts of Kennesawu have allowed the Guigu to achieve space travel as soon as they constructed pressure vessels capable of surviving vacuum.

Physiology

The Guigu's biological order closely resembles primates.

They are lightly, but consistently, covered in soft fur. Guigu fur is excellent at holding in heat, and they are capable of surviving for a fair amount of time well into sub-zero temperatures. They do still require food and water to survive, and if these things are freezing, the Guigu's fur helps none. For this reason, Guigu burrow during most of their planet's cold season, taking advantage of subterranean hot springs which provide clean, warm water. When the warm season returns, the Guigu return to the surface to harvest food, mate, and be merry.

This burrowing behavior is common among primate species on Kennu. While most such creatures use this time to hibernate, the Guigu do not; the lack of hibernation behavior is thought to be a result of the Guigu's cultural evolution to become hunter-gatherers. When they began to gather and stockpile food, bringing some with them into their burrows, hibernation became less necessary for survival; rather than hibernation, Guigu often study or practice skills during the cold season. However, this is a very recent trend in their evolution, and has not fully set in. Guigu have been known to occasionally (and without more than a day's warning) sleep for weeks at a time, especially if they are on rations or otherwise not well fed. These long naps are generally harmless.

Guigu feet, while not quite the same as their hands, are prehensile, capable of gripping and holding. When on the surface, Guigu are expert climbers, like monkeys and lemurs on Earth. Guigu have a tail that is used for balance, though it is not prehensile; when not climbing, their tail is tucked into the fur on their lower body to conserve heat.

Personality

Guigu are, in general, jovial and friendly. They are curious and inventive. Most other species who encounter a Guigu will come away from the encounter with fondness. Guigu culture evolved largely from spending half of their time in burrows with large numbers of other Guigu, and they are universally thought of as easy to get along with, especially in tight spaces. A typical Guigu is the perfect roommate.

Guigu are curious, inventive, and prone to experimentation. Guigu ingenuity has led to rapid technological advancement. Only about 150 Kennu years (or 300 Earth years) after the invention of the printing press, Guigu have already taken their first steps to space travel.

Magnetic Attribute

Some Guigu have a weak control over magnetic fields in relationship to their own body - in much the same way that a compass can rotate to face the north pole, they are able to both rotate and move position. The MAG attribute represents the strength of this ability; it must be at least 1 in order to use it. On planets or in areas with a magnetic field (which includes most habitable worlds), they are able to effectively exert force on themselves. While this is not enough to allow them to fly, it can cushion landings (reducing falling damage by MAG), and can be used to navigate gently in space. Thanks to their gripping feet and this ability, Guigu make ideal astronauts (not unlike their evolutionary neighbor, the Symtraya).

The MAG attribute, when multiplied by the magnetic field in which they are operating (usually 0, ½, or 1) and rounded up, represents the Guigu's effective Thrust Ratio when attempting to move only their own body mass. A standard Guigu pressure suit generally masses about the same as the Guigu himself, and the pressurized tank for their air supply masses about the same again, so the number should be divided by 3 in most cases. Guigu can survive in vacuum for short periods of time (a couple of minutes or so) with only small amounts of damage as long as they have goggles, so if they need to quickly make a short "hop" (generally to another ship within docking range), they may skip the suit and just go on their own, in which case they will enjoy their full MAG rating as their Thrust Ratio.

Guigu can also use the MAG attribute as a positive dice pool bonus on any Orienteering or Navigation test (personal navigation, not Astronautics) on a planet or in an area with a magnetic field.

Lineage

Guigu have three names: A given name, a maternal name, and a paternal name. When addressing a Guigu by their full name, the family name of their own sex is stated first, then the given name, then the family name of the opposite sex (which may be omitted in more casual settings). When a child is named, they receive the paternal family name from their father, and the maternal family name from their mother. Because familial names are generally recognizable as either maternal or paternal, the sex of the individual can be inferred from the order in which the names are given, and Guigu given names are gender-neutral.

Language

Guigu languages are a comprised of a set of whoops, chirps, clicks, hisses and hums; humans hearing Guigu communicate have likened the apparent sound to a particularly orderly rainforest. There are three major regional language families: Jigehai (Northern), Shudunehai (Southeastern), and Shukumehai (Southwestern). Each family has several languages within it, but only a few are noteworthy in terms of interplanetary relations. Kenuhi (of the Jigehai family) is the language of the nation which first began to use the Symtraya's proshu for propulsion, making it the dominant language in Guigu spaceflight. The other, Chsui (of the Shukemehai family), is spoken by (and shares the name of) the comparatively less-advanced nation in which humans crash-landed, and therefore the language of Guigu-human first contact.