World of Hadanum

The Urdreh

"It is subjugation of self to the needs of the group inherent to the Urdreh race which separates us from our Drone servants. They expect to be controlled. We merely fill a role that they would expect even amongst their own kind, and satisfy their need to be dominated." - Kasgen Broodwarden Insula

Known for their rapid reproductive capabilities and unusual social structure, the Urdreh initially bred themselves through hard times in the barren Northern Desert, north of the Jibai Mega, and have only within the last two decades began to see their race’s capacity for quick expansion with their Den-Noh's increased emphasis on genetically modifying them to co-exist with the megas of Hadanum. Though generally weak-willed as individuals, as a group they are a force to be reckoned with, and they now easily outnumber all other races on Hadanum.

Physical Aspects

First generation Urdreh are the shortest of the Hominids of Hadanum and stand at around 5 feet (approx 150 cm). Their slight builds are wiry and muscular. The Urdreh rest for only short periods of time during their waking cycles and need sleep only once every few days. They can subsist on surprisingly little food, and can work non-stop for several rotations before giving in to exhaustion.

The physical appearance of Urdreh individuals is surprisingly similar from one person to the next, and not only from an outsider’s perspective. There are few outward physical variations between Urdreh, and even differences in facial features are difficult to distinguish. Their noses are sharp and small, and their eyes wide and round with large dark pupils. Their expressions often appear open and blank, suggesting a passive nature, indifference or submissiveness.

Urdreh skin is bluish gray and smooth, sometimes, if rarely mottled with dark purple patches on the back, and the only obvious body hair is the jet black hair that grows in thick abundance on their heads and their eyebrows.

Females generally keep their hair unbound and wear robes and cloaks of a light fabric or fur-lined leather tied with plant fibers while males will often wear their hair in braided ponytails and go shirtless or wear furs tied over their shoulders. Clothing, body markings, bead jewelry and hairstyles vary somewhat between tribes. Many Urdreh wear conical short-haired fur hats reinforced with plant fibers that can be pulled tightly over their sensitive eyes if a dust storm precedes a rush-wrath or to protect from the sun.

Most Urdreh are not particularly strong or driven as individuals, but overcome this weakness by working in groups. If an Urdreh is working at a task alone, it is common for one or more Urdreh to join him or her in the task as appropriate. This is not out of a taught sense of goodwill, but is rather a natural drive. If an Urdreh is seen struggling with a task alone, other Urdreh feel an innate compulsion to help that borders on anxiety until the task is complete.

About 1 out of every 30 Urdreh born is a “leader”. These Urdreh do not share the submissive, group-first traits of most Urdreh and other Urdreh are quick to follow them. These natural leaders, called “Ahyar”, promote themselves to positions of power within the tribes and only other Ahyar will vie for those positions against them with experience and age considered a key strength.

Young Ahyar Urdreh males are often leaders of hunting or war parties, and Ahyar females who are not community leaders will help head up some other vital task that involves many Urdreh.

Much more rarely an Urdreh is born who does not have the natural drive to be leader or follower. These Urdreh have the choice of forcing themselves to fit into a role in their tribe or become outcasts.

Urdreh are multiparous. The average Urdreh female is capable of giving birth to 3-4 children in a “litter” with a gestation period of 5 months. Females are more common than males (65%), and reach sexual maturity around the age of 9, with males maturing at age 11 or so.

Urdreh heal much faster than Dead Earth Humans.  In addition, they boast a high resistance to sicknesses and poisons, and other toxic compounds of Hadanum.

Cultural Aspects

Urdreh society is ruled by Ahyar females called "Circle Mothers" (Yar Nayah) with male Ahyar figureheads called "Circle Leaders" (Yar Jeh). Urdreh society is primarily matriarchal, but to an outsider of another race might appear to be male led due to the visible position of power of the Jeh.

The Yar Nayah make decisions in groups of three chosen Nayah, and deliver their orders through a Jeh. The Jeh is not completely powerless to voice his own opinion (especially in matters of tribal warfare and hunting – traditional male roles), as he is usually an old and respected Ahyar male. A Yar Jeh’s words will be ignored, however, if the Yar Nayah feel their initial decision to be the correct one after careful debate.

The Urdreh favor the group over the individual -- in any situation.

Relationships within a group and between groups are regulated by strict societal rules that the Urdreh accept willingly. Important "personal" decisions are always made by Nayah or other Ahyar, who base their decisions on conservative choices and previous decisions made by other groups, or both. These previous decisions are often quoted, as are the names of the Nayah or Jeh who made them.

In the wastes of the Northern Desert where they were "accidentally" delivered, the Urdreh nearly perished. Only their ability to work for the group and, when necessary, die for the group, allowed them to survive. It was three decades after establishing themselves in the lands west of the Jibai Mega that this tribe made contact with Kasgen from Gentun.

Slavery of Urdreh by Kasgen and resistance through combat ensued. Unfortunately for the Urdreh, their population had already grown to the point where they had broken off into several sub-tribes. These splintered tribes warred amongst each other, allowing the Kasgen the upper hand for a time, and the ability to capture and breed Drones fully loyal to Kasgen leaders.

Indeed, it was Kasgen trickery that turned the once friendly sub-tribes of the original single tribe against one another. But a "re-unification" movement has swept across the Urdreh population, and three of the five tribes have joined the union of the "Great Circle". It is said to be only a matter of time before the Urdreh strike the Kasgen with the full power of their numbers.

Late Generation Urdreh

Arjehkuh, the Urdreh Den-Noh, has made significant advances in genetically engineering later generations of Urdreh to co-exist with the Jibai Mega and even control some elements of the mega itself. One way Arjehkuh has achieved this is by making late generations of Urdreh blend in to the mega so they are physically similar to creatures of the Jibai Mega. They present visual and olfactory cues that prevent gethab from distinguishing them from other mobiles of the mega. As a result the gethab do not see the latest generation of Urdreh as intruders even if "called" by grunt horns to defend an area. This modification has resulted in Urdreh that sport bony ridges and protrusions with dark red coloring and extra limbs with pincers that make them appear something akin to human-crab hybrids. These modifications go beyond cosmetic changes and make the Urdreh more resistant to the sudden onset of rush-wraths as their backs are similarly "armored" in a bony chitin-like shell. The benefits of the so-called "circle mind" of these Urdreh has been further enhanced, making them effective fighters and workers in groups.

- W.Robinson Mason III

Content copyright © 2009 by W. Robinson Mason III.