Dizyntk Factbook/Racial Information

[Dizyntk]

The Dizyntk are a bi-pedal mammalian race descended from a cat-like predator species. The average height is about five feet for females and two inches taller or so for males. Average weight is about 105 pounds for females with males running about 10 pounds heavier. As can be seen Dizyntk males are not significantly larger than females, nor are they much stronger.

The Dizyntk posses a layer of fur over parts of their bodies. On the torso this fur covers the shoulders, runs down the spine and runs to the front in strips that follow the ribs. It also covers the back of the neck and upper arms. The legs, lower arms, abdomen, chest, and facial areas have an extremely fine layer and, in some individuals, the chest, abdomenal and facial areas may be completely devoid of it.

On the head Dizyntk hair grows to about the waist in both genders, although this hair can be, and often is, cut and styled to the preference of the individual. The color of fur and hair is similar to that of humans, with the exception that some green and blue hues can be seen in some Dizyntk. The most common colors are brown and auburn. It is fairly common to see swirls of two related colors in the fur and hair. This tends to act as a natural camouflage by breaking up the outline of the body.

The varieties of fur colors were once related to the overall sub-racial group that a particular Dizyntk came from, similar to skin color among humans. Over the cyankas, however, this has become less and less an issue among the Dizyntk. The last remnants of this applied to the Darzen Dizyntk (the rarest of fur colors, black). Even this is pretty much a dead issue now. For the vast majority of the population, a Dizyntk is a Dizyntk.

Dizyntk ears are located on the tops of their heads and are movable in a fashion similar to terran felines.

Dizyntk also posses tails of varying length, but the average is about 24 inches. While they are able to control the tails to a great degree, they are not prehensile.

Dizyntk hands possess four fingers, one of which is an opposable thumb. All four digits are equipped with retractable claws of one half inch in length.

Dizyntk eyes are about 50 percent larger than human eyes and possess vertical pupils. Dizyntk eye color tends to be more vibrant than that found in most humans. Emerald greens, Topaz golds and Ruby reds just as examples. They also have silver flecking in the iris to varying degrees. Dizyntk possess excellent low light vision.

While Dizyntk are not very good distance runners, they are phenomenal sprinters. While an average Dizyntk can run for up to 3 miles at a decent pace, they will never be as good as humans at any longer distances. At distances of up to 400 meters or so however, Dizyntk can run at speeds of up to forty five miles per hour. A speed they can reach within five or six strides.

Because of their muscle structure, Dizyntk are stronger than they would appear at first glance. An average Dizyntk is as strong as an average human even though humans are physically larger.

Dizyntk females are born at a slightly higher rate than males. Approx. 120 females to 100 males.

Due to the effects of estrus on Dizyntk females, discussed below, this ratio grows more imbalanced by the time Dizyntk reach the average bonding age of Sixteen Cyankas (24 Terran Years).

Dizyntk females generally enter their first estrus cycle at 10 cyankas (15 years). Although this does vary a bit by individual. Their cycles last about ten to fourteen days and occur once every three months. While most of the effects of estrus on Dizyntk females are generally the same as for most mammalian type species known to Terran science, there is one significant difference. A certain hormone released into the Dizyntk female's system during estrus causes emotional reactions in the brain to be greatly intensified.

While their sentience does allow them to control their actions to a large degree, it is still not a good idea to irritate or anger a Dizyntk female at these times. Because young Dizyntk are less able to control themselves at these times, however, accidents still occur.

Approx. two-thirds of all deaths among Dizyntk between 10 and 12 cyankas can be attributed to a Dizyntk female in estrus being angered and slashing out with her razor sharp claws. As Dizyntk females are better able to sense when another female is in estrus than males when at this age, the vast majority of these fatalities, almost 90 percent, are young males.

These deaths are treated as regrettable accidents by Dizyntk society. As young Dizyntk grow and mature, these incidents become far less frequent. Not only do females learn to better control themselves at these times, but the males learn how to identify females in estrus and be more careful in dealing with them.

Thus by the time Dizyntk reach fourteen cyankas, while injuries are commonly inflicted, deaths rarely occur. By this time, however, the ratio of females to males is close to 2 to 1.

For this reason, among many others over the millennia, current Dizyntk society has been matriarchal for over 500 cyankas (750 years).

The flip side of this is that these same intensified emotions make Dizyntk females far more open in expressing affection towards others that they care for. Which can seem excessive to humans, as most Dizyntk have little problem expressing affection in the first place.

So if one is in the good graces of a Dizyntk female while she is in estrus, then they can expect her to nuzzle, pet, lick, and kiss on them, even in public. For this reason other Dizyntk take little notice of these things as anything other than signs of affection from a friend and accept them as a normal part of life.

[Dizyntk]

The Dizyntk Grand Imperium would be regarded, in human terms, as a true monarchy. Although in structure it is an unusual one.

There are actually three monarchs. The fourteen star systems that make up the Imperium are divided into three groups. These are the Imperial Star Cluster, the Second Star Cluster and the Third Star Cluster.

As the name implies the Imperial Star Cluster is ruled directly by the Empress herself. She technically rules over the entire Imperium, but her authority is delegated to the two royal houses who oversee the Second and Third Star Clusters. Each of these two houses has a Queen that rules over their respective clusters in the name of the Empress. While the Empress can, in theory, simply dictate how each cluster is to be ruled, she generally lets the Queens in question rule as they deem fit.

Below this level, the Imperium's various star systems are overseen by descending levels of nobility. This may seem to be a system open to abuses and that would be true except for one thing. There is an effective counter to the power of the nobility; the Temple of the Goddess. The Priestesses of the Temple hold actual power under Dizyntk law. They are responsible for upholding Dizyntk customs and civil law. In the majority of cases, it is the Priestesses who oversee the trial and punishment of lawbreakers. Even the Empress herself is not immune to their jurisdiction. When you consider that over 90% of Dizyntk are firm believers in their religion, this gives the Temple considerable power to counteract any gross abuses by the nobility of their positions.

The Imperial Star Cluster contains the greatest number of systems at six. Currently the other two clusters contain four systems each. There are six systems that are currently undergoing colonization. These are considered frontier worlds.

As their populations reach the levels necessary for entrance into the Imperium proper they will be assigned to either the Second or Third Clusters as location dictates. The current population of the Imperium is roughly 100 Billion Dizyntk.

[Dizyntk]

The Rite of Bonding is the single most important ceremony in Dizyntk culture. It is what forms their Bonded Mating Groups. The Dizyntk equivalent of marriage.

There are many similarities, but there also several important differences.The most obvious one being that more than two Dizyntk may be bonded to each other in this fashion.

Also there are no restrictions as to the sex of the Dizyntk being bonded, as there is no stigma in Dizyntk society over homo or bi sexuality. Although, since one of the two primary purposes of the bond is the bearing and raising of children, single sex groups are looked upon as being strange and their prevalence among Mating Groups is less than 2 percent.

However it is not uncommon for two Dizyntk of the same sex to be bonded with the intention of adding a member of the opposite sex. Once two Dizyntk are bonded they may, at any later date, add others to their Mating Group.

There is no theoretical limit to the number of Dizyntk that may be bonded to each other. There are practical limits however.
For any new Dizyntk to be added to the group, ALL current members must agree to the addition as they all must perform the Rite with the new member.

Therefore, while it is not unusual to have groups with three to five members, groups larger than this are rare. It is also not unusual for just two Dizyntk to never add another member.

The average size of a Bonded Mating Group in Dizyntk culture is between three and four. The largest group known is eight.

There is also no such thing as divorce in Dizyntk society, hence the serious nature of the Bonding Rite. Dizyntk bond with each other for life, literally. Therefore it is not unusual for Dizyntk to simply live with each other if they do not feel the time is right for bonding.

While Dizyntk society does not look at this non-bonded cohabitation as wrong, bearing children outside of a Mating Group is seriously frowned upon. Therefore non-bonded adults, both male and female, usually have implanted contraceptive devices that last about two cyankas (the Dizyntk year, which is equal to 18 earth months.)

Dizyntk must be twelve cyankas to be bonded, although the average age is sixteen.

The Rite of Bonding is presided over by a Priestess of one of the Orders of the Temple of the Goddess. All Dizyntk being bonded to each other kneel before the Priestess, join hands and recite the Pledge of Bonding to each other simultaneously.

Witnesses, other than the Priestess, are not required. Neither is the presence or approval of any family of those being bonded. As a general rule, however, both of these are present. Most Dizyntk would never think of undergoing the Rite without inviting friends to be there. Also, as family is such an important thing in Dizyntk culture, most Dizyntk would never even consider being bonded without at least the tacit approval of their parents and other members of the Mating Group in which they were raised.

At the end of the Recitation all those being bonded have a silver-titanium bracelet, inscribed with the names of their mate, or mates, permanently attached to their left wrists by the Priestess.

There is a layer of material on the inside of the bracelet that will bind the bracelet to the flesh on the arm within one hour of placement. Removal of the bracelet is, needless to say, a very difficult and painful endeavor. As has already been said, Dizyntk bond for life.

Upon the death of one of the members of a Mating Group, a thin strip of titanium reinforced copper is placed over that Dizyntk's name with the name engraved on the copper strip.

Dizyntk culture is just as opposed to incestuous relationships as any other. The problems arising from inbreeding are best left un-discussed. However, given the makeup of many Mating groups, it is possible to have "siblings" who share absolutely no blood ties.

In these instances if the "siblings" share a sexual relationship, it is not really looked upon as incest, although it is considered a bit odd. Siblings from a Mating Group can, theoretically, be bonded if they share no blood ties. The instances of this happening are exceedingly rare however.

Recently it has been discovered that an alien species, namely Humans, are genetically compatible with Dizyntk and can produce offspring with them. Much debate and controversy has arisen from the question of whether or not Humans can be bonded with Dizyntk through the Rite of Bonding.

As of this time, while the general populace is split over the issue, The Orders of the Temple of The Goddess have given at least tacit approval to the concept. While there is no precedence for such a thing, The Orders have stated the belief that since Humans can breed with Dizyntk, and that one of the two main purposes of the Bonded Mating Groups is to produce offspring, then any Human who is willing to adopt Dizyntk beliefs and live in Dizyntk society should be allowed to bond with any Dizyntk who agrees to the bonding.

As of this writing there has only been one test of the bonding of Human and Dizyntk.

The bonding of Crown Princess Feyalisa Fretheri Ariarisha Zerleen to her human mate, Michael Christopher.

[Dizyntk]

This is a very succinct version of the last civil war between the Dizyntk. It explains, to some degree, how our current judiciary system came into being.

The Dizyntk currently embrace a single religion throughout the entirety of their interstellar Empire. While there are some variations in their belief system these are minor differences. Approximately ninety-eight percent of all Dizyntk believe in the teachings of what is known officially as, The Temple of The Most Beloved Winged Goddess of Dizyn. In day to day use she is simply referred to as, The Goddess.

This is not to say that the Dizyntk have not had their fair share of religious problems. Even after the widespread acceptance of the current beliefs, there were still disagreements of interpretation. Some of these disagreements turned violent. For the past 400 cyankas, there have been major wars fought with at least some influence from the various religious sects. In some cases, priestesses even fought in battles. They were some of the most ruthless, and most feared, warriors ever seen on a Dizyntk battlefield.

The last instance of this started 120 cyankas ago. At that time there were five noble houses that controlled Dizyntk space. At the time, the Dizyntk inhabited all of the fourteen worlds that are currently in the Imperium. Two of the houses ruled four planets each, one ruled three, one house ruled two and a single planet belonged to the smallest of the houses. No Empress had ever been crowned to rule over this vast area. The last time that a single house ruled all of Dizyntk territory had been over 200 cyankas previously, when the Dizyntk had still been restricted to their own star system.

A series of attempts by the two largest houses to gain control of all of Dizyntk space led to the bloodiest war in Dizyntk history. Priestesses were a common sight on the battle lines. Half were there for healing purposes and the other half as religious warriors. The war lasted for 24 cyankas (36 years). During this time, nearly two billion Dizyntk lost their lives. This constituted almost three percent of the population. Some of the heaviest losses came from atrocities committed by the warrior priestesses.

In the end, the house that finally won the war was House Asarazyntk. Remarkably, the Asarazyntks were the smallest of the five houses at the beginning of the war. They had also not been involved with the various intrigues that led to it. They had been content, before the beginning of the conflict, with overseeing the single planet they controlled, Ishalitk (Sapphire).

The reason for their victory was twofold. The head of their house at the war’s outbreak was Duchess Rilaphenia Asarazyntk. She proved to be one of the greatest military strategists in Dizyntk history. Her opening victories against House Therazanik, which controlled the other three worlds in what would become the Second Star Cluster, were nothing short of brilliant. Reeling from these staggering and unexpected losses, House Therazanik was laid open to the influence of the second genius that House Asarazyntk possessed.

Eniakala Zerleen was a young Dizyntk who had bonded with the Duchess’ son, Harenfasa. She was a commoner and her family was well off but not wealthy. She had met Harenfasa while serving as a priestess at the temple near the Duchess’ palace. She was, at the start of the war, only eighteen cyankas old. She had been bonded with Harenfasa for two cyankas at the time. During that time, she had shown an extraordinary talent for diplomacy and espionage. Therefore, young as she was, she was sent as the ambassador to the Therazaniks after the initial victories. Between her skills at negotiation and intelligence gathering, and two more victories by Rilaphenia, House Therazanik was absorbed by House Asarazyntk.

This had taken four cyankas. Over the next twenty cyankas, this one two punch proved unstoppable. The most amazing thing about this feat was that House Asarazyntk never used priestesses as warriors. So when Rilaphenia’s eldest daughter, Torakashia, was crowned Empress, one of her first orders was to forbid the training of priestesses for war. They were to be forbidden from carrying weapons. In exchange, the Empress disbanded all royal courts and gave the ability to try and punish criminals to the Orders. She even decreed that the Nobility fall under their jurisdiction. Her family’s refusal to use priestess warriors during the war, when all the others did, gave her much credibility with the Orders in this matter. After only two days of heated talks, the Orders agreed to accept these new restrictions and responsibilities.

That is the current function of the Orders in Dizyntk society. They now support peace by adjudicating disputes between Dizyntk and punishing those who break laws. They also are the ones who decide the rules that Dizyntk society adheres to. There may not be warriors among the priestess class any longer, but they still hold a large amount of power. In a way they actually serve as an unspoken, but very real, check on the power of the Empress. The amount of influence the Orders hold over the average citizen is impressive. If the majority of the Orders disagreed with the path an Empress was taking, they could easily incite a revolt. The Empress is well aware of this and so takes care to consult with the heads of the major Orders on a regular basis.

There are about twenty Orders in the Imperium. The four largest are the Star, Silver, Ivory and Jade Orders. Together, these four Orders contain sixty percent of the priestesses in the Imperium. They are, therefore, known as the Major Orders.