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Vegan

An intelligent race originating on iluan Gwi (Solomani Rim 1717 A456A86-F) and inhabiting the Vegan Autonomous District (q.v.); they are named by humans after the bright star in their home subsector. Physiology: Vegans are upright, bipedal and bilaterally symmetrical, averaging 2.2 meters in height. They are bisexual, homeothermic oxygen breathers with an average life span of over 200 years. Because of their low-gravity origin, they are physically quite weak, and are unable to live on high gravity worlds. The head serves both as a brain case and sensory appendage. Auditory organs are located in the collar-like structure around the neck. Despite external appearances to the contrary, Vegans have to eyes. These are located in the fleshy hood-like structure that dominates the head. The paired eyes are covered by a transparent eyelid structure, which acts as a polarized light filter. This structure protects the eyes from glare, like built-in sunglasses, and also serves to keep windblown dust out of the eyes. This filter can be retracted when not needed. The eyes themselves are large, and pick up radiation well into the infrared portion of the spectrum, an adaptation to tuan Gwi's small red sun. Since the skull is fixed solidly in place, a Vegan cannot turn its head, but the fleshy hood containing the eyes can turn through a large arc. The mouth is a vertical slit in the upper thoracic region, with paired breathing/vocal slits on either side of it. Two mandibles are located inside the upper chest, and grind food with two opposing sets of teeth. Where the forearm would be on a human, Vegans have three tentacles, which serve as manipulative organs. Their legs end in broad, splayed feet, which prevent them from sinking into the soft sand of iluan Gwi. The urogenital opening is a vertical slit located ventrally in the lower abdomen. There are no external differences between the sexes. Vegans have a number of adaptations to the arid dry region of iluan Gwi where they developed. Their tall, thin bodies are designed for maximum radiation of heat. The torso is covered with a thick integument, whose convoluted surface is richly supplied with blood vessels. By increasing or decreasing the supply of blood to the integument, heat radiation from the torso can regulated to optimum effect. This arrangement makes perspiration, and the consequent water loss unnecessary. All bodily orifices can be sealed to prevent moisture loss. History: The Vegans received jump drive circa -6000 from Vilani influenced traders, and colonized several nearby worlds before being absorbed by the first Imperium in -4404. They were severely restricted under Vilani rule, as were all races that resisted integration into the rigid Vilani culture. Because of this they welcomed the Terran victory in the Interstellar Wars and the advent of the Rule of Man. the Vegan Polity prospered under the Rule of Man and survived the Long Night largely intact. However, with the emergence of the Third Imperium in the region, the Vegan area was broken into individual world states in accord with Imperial policy; non-humans were treated as full citizens, but in order to cement Imperial authority no multiworld governmental units were allowed. Under the Solomani, the Vegans were again restricted. human colonies were founded on many Vegan worlds to maintain Solomani influence there, and Solomani governors were installed on all worlds. After the Solomani Rim War (q.v.), the present Vegan Autonomous District was formed as a counterweight to the Solomani. Society: Vegan society is divided into hundreds of different tuhuir, which might be roughly translated as a culture, philosophy or tao. Each tuhuir has its own customs and traditions and its own interpretation of the proper way to live. The civil service which governs the Vegan District is a tuhuir that oversees and mediates between all the other tuhuir. Although rare, heretical and rebellious tuhuir do exist. Archaeology shows that the tuhuir were once separate societies, each associated with a particular geographic location, like the countries of ancient Terra. Now, however, they are mixed together in complex patterns. Tuhuir are not hereditary; when a vegan nears sexual maturity, he or she enters a period of search, which may last for many years. Eventually, the individual chooses a tuhuir; once made, the choice is for life. In practice, about 50% of all Vegans enter the tuhuir of their parents (the exact percentage varies between tuhuir); about 5% find that they enjoy the search as a way of life and never join a tuhuir.



Vegan Automonous District

After the pyrrhic victory over the Solomani at Terra in 1002, the Imperium found that it could not completely conquer and absorb the rest of the Solomani Sphere. The Imperial high command decided to create the Vegan Automonous District to act as a counterweight to the remnants of the Solomani Confederation. The Vegans have complete internal control over their district, but free passage is guaranteed for Imperial citizens and goods. Although many factors have contributed to the present peace and stability along the Solomani Rim, it cannot be denied that the creation of the Vegan Automonous District has achieved its original purpose. The worlds of the Vegan Automonous District are under a single, centralized government. State power is contained in a civil service and is chosen and promoted by competitive examinations.