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==Biology==
==Biology==
The Opifex have a simple avian biped structure, often with a long plumage tail, semi-rigid quills, and a beak. Their skeletons are composed of a lighter, more porous bone than humans, and they possess a two-channel redundant nervous system, which works well with the non-conductive qualities of their skin. On observation, one would note the rough almost scale like quality of skin covering their forms, which are actually a complex series of interlocking, organic plates, which can “lock” together to form a rigid seal. Opifex arms and legs end in lighter-colored plumage, while their claws and feet come equipped with sharp talons. Their bones are flexible enough to allow for a larger range of movement. For their size, they have an impressively dense musculature, allowing them to remain active for longer than humans. Though, after great exertions they tend to buildup lactic acid which cause muscle aches should they work themselves to hard. Much of their internal organs reside in their lower body; their head, neck, and upper body are dominated by a robust digestive tract, capable of breaking down most organic matter, in this way opifex are capable of extracting the maximum amount of nutrition possible from anything they eat, making the need for regular meals far less pressing of a concern.
Often referred to as birds by other species, Opifex bear more resemblance to feathered reptiles than what most would consider birds. Though at one time it is speculated that Opifex were able to fly or glide, changes to their biology over thousands of years have rendered their wings and tails useless except for the purposes of maintaining balance or courting mates. Excessive genetic and cybernetic augmentation have left the Opifex in a state where finding common traits amongst specimens is nigh impossible. One Opifex may be stocky and stout with almost no plumage, while another may be tall and lean and be covered primarily in feathers. The wing structure of Opifex also varies, with some possessing clawed wings in place of arms, and others possessing an entirely different set of limbs. Despite the inconsistencies, all Opifex have overarching similarities that make them easily identifiable, such as:


Though the use of there wings has long since atrophied many Opifex have feathers and wings along the back and arms that once served the purpose of aiding in flight but evolution has made these limbs vestigial at best. Now they are simply there for attracting mates and sometimes aiding in the movement of zero gravity, though it isn’t nearly as useful as Opifex wished. While wings and plumage are common, it isn’t ‘uncommon’ to meet an Opifex lacking back wings or tail plumage with only feathers along the head, neck, or back. Colors range from bright and vibrant to dull tones but usually have two or three variations in texture with the arms, tail, and main feathers have distinct colors in either hue or being different colors entirely. An Opifexi beak is usually darker in tone than their feather coloration and often matches their main plumage if not outright black in color.
* Beaks of various sizes and colors, with or without teeth
* Strong thigh muscles, with sturdy, avian-like legs and feet
* Leathery scales located around the eyes, hands, and feet
* Larger than average eyes
* Two-channel redundant nervous systems that, in combination with their leathery scaled hides, provide natural resistance to electric shocks
* Strong upper arms and upper body muscles, causing a more broad, humanoid appearance
* Nitrogen breathing lungs, resulting in yellowish blood and a requirement to wear specially-designed gas masks or synthesizers to be able to breathe in oxygen-rich environments.


But perhaps the most alien part of their physiology is their brains; Opifex are commonly implanted with a nano-gate, a device used commonly to interface with Opifex technology. These nano gates contain the access codes and functionality needed to pilot ships, command Opifex robots, or use most devices made for them. In this way, the Opifex are able to safeguard there technological designs to prevent others from easily stealing their schematics. Many opifex, even those separate from their fleet, will make open use of their nanogates to remain alive, employing robots and various reprogrammed nanites. Another noteworthy biological adaptation is their reliance on nitrogen; they were seemingly born from a nitrogen-dominated environment, and so, it is the stuff they breath. Obviously, this renders most places inhospitable without the assistance of a breath mask, a red lensed gas mask which easily marks one as an opifex as few can safely wear it.
Peculiarly, this dissonance in anatomy extends to Opifex reproductive systems; while most Opifex are oviparous, some are known to be viviparous; likewise, while most Opifex possess cloaca, there are some who have been modified to have entirely different genital structures. These Opifex can still reproduce with those who have cloaca, though the effort required for doing so is often considered to be too great to be practical. Growing offspring using vats and genetic modification is also common among more wealthy (read: successful at raiding) Opifex fleets.


The most commonly met Opifex is known as a Populi who make up the bulk of opifex society. The average populi is only 4-5 feet tall and often use equipment and clothing ranging from scavenged to decent quality depending on the wealth of their fleet. Above them and making up a much smaller portion of the opifex caste system are the Dominus caste, hulking opifex averaging seven feet in height which often come equipped with extensive cybernetics, often making up a mix between opifex nobility, police, and military. Dominus are usually just as capable at as a standard populi, usually more so thanks to their better tools, and depending on assignment can be focused on combat, engineering, or medical work, usually leading teams of populi with the same focused training.
Another peculiarity among the Opifex is that they are divided into two castes, the Populi (singular: Populus) and Domini (singular: Dominus). These castes are effectively opposites of each other, with Populi standing between four and five feet tall, and Domini reaching as tall as 7 feet on average; Domini are also more outwardly aggressive and controlling, and, as such, are often characterized by haughty, aloof natures and a reluctance to perform menial labor. If a Populi is present, they will almost always delegate tasks to them. Despite being characterized by their aggressive nature, Domini rarely if ever fight with each other; instead, Domini tend to bond over simple similarities, such as preferred plumage colors or agreements in how they perceive others (e.g. distaste for populi who work with machines). It is theorized that this is a means of allowing multiple Dominus-headed groups of Opifex to operate simultaneously. Domini are easily identifiable by their towering stature and dull, subdued plumage. Conversely, Populi, while also aggressive, tend to fight amongst themselves and sabotage each other to rise in the pecking order. They tend to have more vibrant plumage and often behave more flamboyantly. Populi are naturally driven to be more cooperative with Domini, and will often attempt to court them in an effort to climb the pecking order.
Domini are more likely to be female than male, and Populi are more likely to be male than female. There are examples of male Domini and female Populi, and their behaviors and physiologies tend to match their peers, suggesting that they possess little to no sexual dimorphism; instead, dimorphism in the species stems from caste.


Above them both and making up a mere one percent are the fabricator caste, a mysterious and never seen group of technocrats that design and build the bulk of opifex machines. Compared to a populi and dominus caste they average somewhere in the middle in height at around six feet and most are nearly entirely machine, with extensive material augmentation covering the bulk of the body to fulfill day to day needs while working in their flag ships production factory. The true naked form of a fabricator, or even the form most have after augmentation, is rarely known to even the highest ranked dominus, let alone a populi.
Opifex of either caste, by human standards, are considered psychopaths and will very rarely act altruistically unless they believe there will be benefit for them.
The most alien part of Opifex physiology is the Nanogate, a small device slotted between the skull and spine that is present in nearly all Opifex. Nanogates are multi-purpose implants connected to the brain that allow Opifex to control swarms of nanites. While their uses on Nadezhda are far less numerous than their uses in Opifex fleets, these devices are still useful to improve the quality of life of both Populi and Domini. They, like all other native Opifex technology, are of exquisite make. Reproductions of the Nanogate have been created, with the Artificers’ Guild’s being more high quality than those produced by other companies, and the native Opifex design being superior to both.


Opifex in general, regardless of caste, do not live very long, with a maximum life expectancy of eighty years, though few live past the age of forty. A combination of raiding, piracy, combat, and controlled sterile ship environments often leave opifex with physically weak bodies put in constant danger while scavenging, defending against void wolves, or avoiding patrols from empires and factions who treat them with open hostility.
Opifex in general, regardless of caste, do not live very long, with a maximum life expectancy of eighty years, though few live past the age of forty. A combination of raiding, piracy, combat, and controlled sterile ship environments often leave opifex with physically weak bodies put in constant danger while scavenging, defending against void wolves, or avoiding patrols from empires and factions who treat them with open hostility. That being said, Opifex have been known to utilize nanogates or significant augmentation in order to prolong their lifespan.
==History and Culture==
===Fleets===
Opifex are not known to have any terrestrial colonies; instead, the vast majority of Opifex are born and die aboard vessels grouped together in fleets that dwarf the Wanderers’ Armada. Composed of anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand ships, Opifex fleets were slow-moving before the Bluespace Crash, only ever entering Bluespace to abandon areas devoid of resources. While a majority of the resources in fleets are produced domestically through asteroid mining or synthesis techniques known to only a select few opifex (typically those who inhabit Flagships), strike teams, led by cruisers carrying strike craft and composed of anywhere from three to five corvettes, are often dispatched from the fleet proper to scavenge and plunder other space-faring vessels, sometimes including vessels from other Opifex fleets. It is not uncommon for these strike teams to be destroyed in combat or suffer heavy losses, as the Domini in charge of these operations are often more focused on their own survival and profit than the survival of those under their command. Most Opifex are loyal to their fleet, regardless of caste, but some Domini are known to prioritize the survival of their ship and those aboard it (referred to sometimes as a ship-family). There is no recorded evidence that Opifex utilize any significant portion of their fleet for combat outside of strike teams.


==History and Society==
Some strike teams are orchestrated by particularly eminent Populi.
There is next to nothing known about the Opifex before their days of nomadic traveling between the stars. The Opifex are a notoriously tight-beaked people, and refuse to speak of how their society works or how long it has lasted. What is known, however, is where most Opifex come from; the Scavenger Fleets. Fleets are comprised of many ships, with the primary factories, living quarters, and materials stored on the flag ship, a battle ship sized vessel usually covered in parts old and new that were scavenged from destroyed or looted space hulks. Smaller secondary vessels accompanying the flag ship range from the size of single family vessels and larger cruisers that shift between being combat vessels or merchant ships. Most fleets vary from ten to fifty ships, not counting utility vessels known as sweepers or skimmers that work as automated couriers or what are known as "scrap craps" which are disposable junk ships often used as literal canon fodder via using them to shield more expensive ships or having them ram into and destroy enemy vessels.  
===Flagships===
 
What little is known about Opifex history is scavenged from nearly ancient records aboard the flagships of Opifex fleets. These vessels are often massive and complex, spanning multiple miles and having docking locations that change shape and size to accommodate vessels of foreign make and model. Most flagships can accommodate around thirty corvettes, thousands of small strike craft, and, on rare occasions, have been known to dock with other flagships for diplomatic purposes. These ships house anywhere from a few hundred thousand to millions of Opifex, and are lorded over by extremely wealthy Domini. The number of non-opifex who have ever seen a flagship ranges in the dozens, and the number of non-opifex who have ever been inside a flagship and left with their life can be counted on one hand. Flagships serve as the seat of command for an Opifex fleet. There are some recorded instances of flagships being used as mobile shipyards, explaining the prevalence of Opifex-built vessels in spite of the heavy losses often suffered by fleets.
As stated previously, the Opifex bear with them a strong moral code tailored to their natural personalities; one that primarily consists of not getting into fights, and ending up with the most out of any situation. Opifex crews follow an ingroup tribalism, always looking out for each other first and limiting the damage or misfortune of their fellows, even if they belong to different fleets. An individual Opifex will try bribery, coercion, and haggling before resorting to fleeing, or violence (should things go very bad) when dealing with non-opifex. Interactions between opifex are often settled by ranking and caste, with populi submitting to a dominus' will and a dominus submitting to a fabricator. In the case of equal rank, opifex will often attempt to barter with each other to resolve disputes, but violence is not unheard of if diplomacy fails. Opifex names are also strange concept to those outside their fleet as opifex do not normally use actual words as names, often time they refer to a binary designation determined by their nano-gates serial number that other opifexi recognize when connected through their unique technology. These binary names however are difficult to pronounce in english and in opifexee they translate directly to words that usually refer to that opifexi's particular skills, attitude, or rank. Common names are "Engineer Populi One Four One", "Technician Populi Seven Two Five", "Explorer Dominus One One Zero"  and similar naming patterns, however, opifex outside their fleet will often adopt easier to understand names, usually defaulting to a 'front' name that will use a common bird species or human name as a way to seem more approachable by the most common race they meet in space. Even with a cover name, Opifexi will still use their real names between each other, usually spoken upon greeting due to lacking the usual connection network that an opifex fleet provides.
===Nauarchi===
 
Instead of being run by AI, the systems aboard flagships are often controlled by one or more vatgrown Opifex grown specifically for the purposes of running the systems of Flagships. These purpose-grown specimens are known as Nauarchi (singular: Nauarchus) and are easily identifiable by their gaunt, pale, featherless bodies, which have been mutilated and augmented beyond recognizability and are permanently attached to the Flagship by biomechanical tubing connected directly to their nanogates, which are far larger than those of other Opifex. It is not known whether or not Nauarchi are sentient, but it is assumed that if they are, their perception of reality is heavily altered. Nauarchi are responsible for the operation of entire flagships, carrying out commands communicated via the shipmaster’s nanogate at speeds only dreamt of by other species.
The opifex are also extremely zealous in keeping themselves and their fleets safe, to the point of giving sol federation and mar'qua territories wide berths to avoid active engagements. Those few opifex flag ships that are successfully defeated or captured are also often 'scuttled' a process from which the ship has a powerful EMP detonated inside followed by a nuclear device, reducing any potential scavenge to nothing. Though smaller ships are rarely scuttled, as it is easier simply to abandon them with what can be taken rather than expend the resources to blow them up. This has in the past resulted in stranded or captured opifex, but these populi and sometimes dominus rarely revealed anything of note about opifex society, showing either ignorance or simply lack of knowledge.
===Culture===
Opifex culture is extremely tribalistic, but, like other aspects of the Opifex, varies wildly from case to case. Some fleets are devoutly religious, with their flagships being great moving churches dedicated to technology and ritualized augmentation, while others are extremely utilitarian and choose to avoid decorating their surroundings. What decorations there are on Opifex vessels are very rarely produced domestically; rather, bits and pieces of scavenged or pilfered decor are used to accentuate vessels, much like crows building their nests with shiny objects. AI is generally frowned upon as a result of the manually-controlled nature of nanogates; why have a machine doing the thinking when your own thoughts are perfectly suitable?


Opifex music is extremely unusual. Whereas other species primarily utilize instruments or sounds derived from instruments to create music, Opifex have a taste for processed industrial sounds, electronic noises, and extensive use of synth notes arranged in peculiar ways that most other species would register as industrial ambiance, but Opifex find as pleasing as a symphony performance. While artists are very rarely credited or referred to, there is one recorded instance of a group of Opifex, known as synthsingers, being popular. These synthsingers are opifex that have modified their throats and beaks to produce low, processed growling noises similar to human throat-singers, but with a much more practiced ability to manipulate the sounds they make.
==Relations with Other Species==
==Relations with Other Species==
The Opifex typically see other organics through a lens of apathy or distaste; whilst some see potential deals to be made, others see dumb “meat” that can’t possibly be sentient, despite making so many wonderful things for the Opifex to haggle/steal. This has made them a subject of scorn for many species. The Opifex hold no special distaste for one species over the other; all are typically considered “inferior” to the Opifex, though whether that has any real merit is up for debate. The more antagonistic attitude is typically carried by the dominus class while the average populi can have mixed opinions. How a fabricator feels about other races isn't know, as no fabricator has ever left his flag ship to meet one.
Another belief that is consistent among nearly all Opifex is that other species, including synthetics created or controlled by those species, are wholly and utterly inferior, for any number of reasons. For some, this manifests as a disgust or distaste towards non-opifex; for others, they view non-opifex as similar to animals, able to be trained and manipulated into servitude; there are rumored to be some that take the latter viewpoint to the extreme, and slaughter other sapient species to be consumed. Certain utilitarian Opifex will neither confirm nor deny these accusations.
 
 
==Important Figures==


===The Fabricators===
Non-opifex are often referred to as “meat,” regardless of how much of their body is actually composed of meat.
Unbeknownst to most other species, the Opifex have a third caste. Or rather, a leadership caste that operates their flag ships. The fabricators are considered by the Opifex to be the purest of their kind, with the populi and dominus being little more than engineered sub-caste, fit for specific tasks. From the observations of an outsider one would believe the Opifex in charge would be the highest ranked or wealthiest Dominus, or perhaps a particularly savvy Populi, in truth it is the fabricators who call the shots for each fleet from the safety of their factory domains where they coordinate fleet operations.
 
The fabricators themselves are covered head to foot-talon in robes, with a special hood that covers all but their beaks. Their limbs are proportioned longer than their size, giving them incredible reach and speed. Were they interested in combat, they could prove quite deadly in close quarters due to the meticulous precision of their sharp talon fingers and long gangling reach. Fabricators however are extremely reclusive to the point of rarely even meeting with their dominus sub-caste, instead relaying orders through their nanogates or remotely controlled nanobots. Some fabricators, having spent so much time in isolation merely producing and researching new technology between coordinating their fleet, often do not believe that the outside world is even real.
 
What sets a fabricator apart from the populi or dominus is their near machine-like intelligence. There ability to control and manipulate vast armies and factories of individual nanobots is what allows their often under supplied and under equipped fleets to manage well even against dangerous threats like void wolf reavers or confederacy military vessels. This singular focus and exceptional prowess is why no fabricator has ever been seen by anyone outside other opifex, for their value is too great to allow them to be put at risk.
 
 
===The God Machine===
God machines are a whispered rumor, a legend among outsiders and even the opifex that powerful sentient AI machines are used by the fabricators to operate their fleet at maximum efficiency. In truth, these rumors are real, each fleet contains a god machine within their flag ship from which it operates in conjunction with the fabricators. It is unknown to what extent what it controls or even what its real purpose is, but every opifex knows their fleet has one and all of them are loyal to keeping it and their fabricators alive, even at the cost of themselves. The supposed rumors whispered among void wolves say that the god machines are controlling the opifex, using them as metal and meat to keep themselves alive, but the opifex are quick to dismiss this as they are loathe to use AI to such a degree.
 
The veneration of the god machine can come across to many as near religious worship mixed with technocratic pragmatism, as opifex often upload any scavenged records, data drives, or files they find to their flag ships massive data banks. These files are usually subject to careful scrutiny by the fabricators, who look for interesting code, records, or data that could be of use as either blackmail or incorporated into opifex technology. Some opifex are of the belief that the god machine is entirely mindless, merely a 'helper' AI that the fabricators designed for the sole purpose of parsing, storing, and maintaining the big levels of data they harvest.
 
Whether this is true or not is subject for debate, as the fabricators refuse to speak on the subject, but many opifex still speak with reverence to their fleets god machine as no matter its purpose, it is key to their survival.


==Common Opifex Terminology: Quick Guide==
==Common Opifex Terminology: Quick Guide==
'''God Machine:''' The supposed reason scavenger fleets are so technologically advanced and powerful, either using or being used by the fabricators to coordinate and control their many ships, servers, and robots.
'''Flagship:''' City-ships spanning multiple miles, considered the capital of an Opifex fleet. Lorded over by wealthy Domini and operated by Nauarchi, flagships are the shining example of Opifex engineering at its finest.
 
'''Fabricators:''' The mysterious and reclusive "true" opifex, heavily augmented and bedecked in robes, they refuse to ever leave their flagships and are often eccentric and single minded. No one except the opifex has ever met a living fabricator.


'''Dominus:''' The caste above the populi and below the fabricators, hulking at nearly seven feet and often cybernetically augmented. They tend to lead large teams of populi and have their own ships, with a haughty and arrogant nature fitting the 'nobility' of their station.
'''Nauarchi (plural, singular is Nauarchus):''' Vatgrown, heavily modified Opifex characterized by being pale, featherless, and more machine than organic, Nauarchi serve as the Opifex equivalent of AI, controlling the systems of flagships through commands communicated by their Dominus shipmasters.


'''Populi:''' The most common of the opifex one can expect to find. Often short, grumpy, and covered in feathers. They have a wide range of personality, shifting from scrupulous merchants to ruthless raiders to honest mechanics. Mind the talons.
'''Domini (plural, singular is Dominus):''' The primarily-female, 7-foot-tall upper caste of Opifex society. Aggressive and controlling towards those under their command, Domini very rarely fight amongst themselves and have arrogant, haughty attitudes.


'''Meat:''' A slur common among Opifex, meant to refer to other species that don't utilize technology in the same or extreme degree an opifex does.
'''Populi (plural, singular is Populus):''' The primarily-male lower caste of Opifex society. They stand between 4 and 6 feet tall, and tend to fight amongst themselves more often. Populi often have vibrant plumage intended to attract mates.


'''Flag ship:''' The biggest and largest ship in a opifex fleet that contains the bulk of their production factories, living quarters, materials, and supplies. Also houses the fabricators and most important critical machines.
'''Meat:''' A slur common among Opifex, meant to refer to non-Opifex. Not exclusive to organics.


'''Scrap craps:''' Junk ships held together by hope and duct tape, often staffed by unfavored or criminal opifex who are usually used as literal cannon fodder by either physically shielding more important ships or launching themselves into enemy vessels with an overclocked reactor.
'''Wrecker:''' Junk ships held together by epoxy and shitty welding, often staffed by unfavored opifex who are usually used as cannon fodder by either physically shielding more important ships or launching themselves into enemy vessels with an overclocked reactor.


'''Skimmers/sweepers:''' Small fast vessels often used for scouting, usually staffed by a single populi or a robot whose primary purpose is to traffic deliveries of materials, opifex in transit, or packages needing to be moved elsewhere fast.
'''Skimmers/sweepers:''' Small fast vessels often used for scouting, usually staffed by a single Populus or a robot whose primary purpose is to traffic deliveries of materials, opifex in transit, or packages needing to be moved elsewhere fast.


{{Species}}
{{Species}}
[[Category:Lore]]
[[Category:Lore]]

Latest revision as of 22:06, 21 May 2024

The Opifex are an enigmatic, nomadic species; plying space-lanes in their skipjacks and shuttles, most looking to trade, others to plunder. The Opifex are stereotyped by their heavy reliance on robots, their apathy towards most sentient life beyond their own, their ungainly avian forms, and their intolerance to oxygen. Opifex society is one of authoritarian structured hierarchy where all commands flow from the top to the bottom.

Quick-start Guide

  • Opifex are naturals with machines and quick learners, they gain +5 to Cognition and Mechanical. An extra +5 can be gained if their homeworld is chosen in character setup.
  • Opifex breath nitrogen and naturally find oxygen highly toxic to breathe, as such all opifexi wear a unique gas mask (Accessed through the load out option, be sure to select this, else you'll slowly die of poisoning)
  • Opifex are naturally resistant to electrical shocks and require half as much food as other colonists to survive.
  • Perk: Opifex gain the following perks smuggled circuit, smuggled path kit, and a toolbelt specific to their caste type. Smuggled circuit allows you to build an opifex scrap turret, a single shot .35 auto turret used to kill hostile fauna. Smuggled patch kit spawns an IFAIK medicine kit to quickly perform first aid. Your toolbelt is a special webbing belt that holds many items and comes loaded with a wide variety of useful tools and items specific to the caste you are, they come in medical, engineering, and combat varieties.

Biology

Often referred to as birds by other species, Opifex bear more resemblance to feathered reptiles than what most would consider birds. Though at one time it is speculated that Opifex were able to fly or glide, changes to their biology over thousands of years have rendered their wings and tails useless except for the purposes of maintaining balance or courting mates. Excessive genetic and cybernetic augmentation have left the Opifex in a state where finding common traits amongst specimens is nigh impossible. One Opifex may be stocky and stout with almost no plumage, while another may be tall and lean and be covered primarily in feathers. The wing structure of Opifex also varies, with some possessing clawed wings in place of arms, and others possessing an entirely different set of limbs. Despite the inconsistencies, all Opifex have overarching similarities that make them easily identifiable, such as:

  • Beaks of various sizes and colors, with or without teeth
  • Strong thigh muscles, with sturdy, avian-like legs and feet
  • Leathery scales located around the eyes, hands, and feet
  • Larger than average eyes
  • Two-channel redundant nervous systems that, in combination with their leathery scaled hides, provide natural resistance to electric shocks
  • Strong upper arms and upper body muscles, causing a more broad, humanoid appearance
  • Nitrogen breathing lungs, resulting in yellowish blood and a requirement to wear specially-designed gas masks or synthesizers to be able to breathe in oxygen-rich environments.

Peculiarly, this dissonance in anatomy extends to Opifex reproductive systems; while most Opifex are oviparous, some are known to be viviparous; likewise, while most Opifex possess cloaca, there are some who have been modified to have entirely different genital structures. These Opifex can still reproduce with those who have cloaca, though the effort required for doing so is often considered to be too great to be practical. Growing offspring using vats and genetic modification is also common among more wealthy (read: successful at raiding) Opifex fleets.

Another peculiarity among the Opifex is that they are divided into two castes, the Populi (singular: Populus) and Domini (singular: Dominus). These castes are effectively opposites of each other, with Populi standing between four and five feet tall, and Domini reaching as tall as 7 feet on average; Domini are also more outwardly aggressive and controlling, and, as such, are often characterized by haughty, aloof natures and a reluctance to perform menial labor. If a Populi is present, they will almost always delegate tasks to them. Despite being characterized by their aggressive nature, Domini rarely if ever fight with each other; instead, Domini tend to bond over simple similarities, such as preferred plumage colors or agreements in how they perceive others (e.g. distaste for populi who work with machines). It is theorized that this is a means of allowing multiple Dominus-headed groups of Opifex to operate simultaneously. Domini are easily identifiable by their towering stature and dull, subdued plumage. Conversely, Populi, while also aggressive, tend to fight amongst themselves and sabotage each other to rise in the pecking order. They tend to have more vibrant plumage and often behave more flamboyantly. Populi are naturally driven to be more cooperative with Domini, and will often attempt to court them in an effort to climb the pecking order. Domini are more likely to be female than male, and Populi are more likely to be male than female. There are examples of male Domini and female Populi, and their behaviors and physiologies tend to match their peers, suggesting that they possess little to no sexual dimorphism; instead, dimorphism in the species stems from caste.

Opifex of either caste, by human standards, are considered psychopaths and will very rarely act altruistically unless they believe there will be benefit for them. The most alien part of Opifex physiology is the Nanogate, a small device slotted between the skull and spine that is present in nearly all Opifex. Nanogates are multi-purpose implants connected to the brain that allow Opifex to control swarms of nanites. While their uses on Nadezhda are far less numerous than their uses in Opifex fleets, these devices are still useful to improve the quality of life of both Populi and Domini. They, like all other native Opifex technology, are of exquisite make. Reproductions of the Nanogate have been created, with the Artificers’ Guild’s being more high quality than those produced by other companies, and the native Opifex design being superior to both.

Opifex in general, regardless of caste, do not live very long, with a maximum life expectancy of eighty years, though few live past the age of forty. A combination of raiding, piracy, combat, and controlled sterile ship environments often leave opifex with physically weak bodies put in constant danger while scavenging, defending against void wolves, or avoiding patrols from empires and factions who treat them with open hostility. That being said, Opifex have been known to utilize nanogates or significant augmentation in order to prolong their lifespan.

History and Culture

Fleets

Opifex are not known to have any terrestrial colonies; instead, the vast majority of Opifex are born and die aboard vessels grouped together in fleets that dwarf the Wanderers’ Armada. Composed of anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand ships, Opifex fleets were slow-moving before the Bluespace Crash, only ever entering Bluespace to abandon areas devoid of resources. While a majority of the resources in fleets are produced domestically through asteroid mining or synthesis techniques known to only a select few opifex (typically those who inhabit Flagships), strike teams, led by cruisers carrying strike craft and composed of anywhere from three to five corvettes, are often dispatched from the fleet proper to scavenge and plunder other space-faring vessels, sometimes including vessels from other Opifex fleets. It is not uncommon for these strike teams to be destroyed in combat or suffer heavy losses, as the Domini in charge of these operations are often more focused on their own survival and profit than the survival of those under their command. Most Opifex are loyal to their fleet, regardless of caste, but some Domini are known to prioritize the survival of their ship and those aboard it (referred to sometimes as a ship-family). There is no recorded evidence that Opifex utilize any significant portion of their fleet for combat outside of strike teams.

Some strike teams are orchestrated by particularly eminent Populi.

Flagships

What little is known about Opifex history is scavenged from nearly ancient records aboard the flagships of Opifex fleets. These vessels are often massive and complex, spanning multiple miles and having docking locations that change shape and size to accommodate vessels of foreign make and model. Most flagships can accommodate around thirty corvettes, thousands of small strike craft, and, on rare occasions, have been known to dock with other flagships for diplomatic purposes. These ships house anywhere from a few hundred thousand to millions of Opifex, and are lorded over by extremely wealthy Domini. The number of non-opifex who have ever seen a flagship ranges in the dozens, and the number of non-opifex who have ever been inside a flagship and left with their life can be counted on one hand. Flagships serve as the seat of command for an Opifex fleet. There are some recorded instances of flagships being used as mobile shipyards, explaining the prevalence of Opifex-built vessels in spite of the heavy losses often suffered by fleets.

Nauarchi

Instead of being run by AI, the systems aboard flagships are often controlled by one or more vatgrown Opifex grown specifically for the purposes of running the systems of Flagships. These purpose-grown specimens are known as Nauarchi (singular: Nauarchus) and are easily identifiable by their gaunt, pale, featherless bodies, which have been mutilated and augmented beyond recognizability and are permanently attached to the Flagship by biomechanical tubing connected directly to their nanogates, which are far larger than those of other Opifex. It is not known whether or not Nauarchi are sentient, but it is assumed that if they are, their perception of reality is heavily altered. Nauarchi are responsible for the operation of entire flagships, carrying out commands communicated via the shipmaster’s nanogate at speeds only dreamt of by other species.

Culture

Opifex culture is extremely tribalistic, but, like other aspects of the Opifex, varies wildly from case to case. Some fleets are devoutly religious, with their flagships being great moving churches dedicated to technology and ritualized augmentation, while others are extremely utilitarian and choose to avoid decorating their surroundings. What decorations there are on Opifex vessels are very rarely produced domestically; rather, bits and pieces of scavenged or pilfered decor are used to accentuate vessels, much like crows building their nests with shiny objects. AI is generally frowned upon as a result of the manually-controlled nature of nanogates; why have a machine doing the thinking when your own thoughts are perfectly suitable?

Opifex music is extremely unusual. Whereas other species primarily utilize instruments or sounds derived from instruments to create music, Opifex have a taste for processed industrial sounds, electronic noises, and extensive use of synth notes arranged in peculiar ways that most other species would register as industrial ambiance, but Opifex find as pleasing as a symphony performance. While artists are very rarely credited or referred to, there is one recorded instance of a group of Opifex, known as synthsingers, being popular. These synthsingers are opifex that have modified their throats and beaks to produce low, processed growling noises similar to human throat-singers, but with a much more practiced ability to manipulate the sounds they make.

Relations with Other Species

Another belief that is consistent among nearly all Opifex is that other species, including synthetics created or controlled by those species, are wholly and utterly inferior, for any number of reasons. For some, this manifests as a disgust or distaste towards non-opifex; for others, they view non-opifex as similar to animals, able to be trained and manipulated into servitude; there are rumored to be some that take the latter viewpoint to the extreme, and slaughter other sapient species to be consumed. Certain utilitarian Opifex will neither confirm nor deny these accusations.

Non-opifex are often referred to as “meat,” regardless of how much of their body is actually composed of meat.

Common Opifex Terminology: Quick Guide

Flagship: City-ships spanning multiple miles, considered the capital of an Opifex fleet. Lorded over by wealthy Domini and operated by Nauarchi, flagships are the shining example of Opifex engineering at its finest.

Nauarchi (plural, singular is Nauarchus): Vatgrown, heavily modified Opifex characterized by being pale, featherless, and more machine than organic, Nauarchi serve as the Opifex equivalent of AI, controlling the systems of flagships through commands communicated by their Dominus shipmasters.

Domini (plural, singular is Dominus): The primarily-female, 7-foot-tall upper caste of Opifex society. Aggressive and controlling towards those under their command, Domini very rarely fight amongst themselves and have arrogant, haughty attitudes.

Populi (plural, singular is Populus): The primarily-male lower caste of Opifex society. They stand between 4 and 6 feet tall, and tend to fight amongst themselves more often. Populi often have vibrant plumage intended to attract mates.

Meat: A slur common among Opifex, meant to refer to non-Opifex. Not exclusive to organics.

Wrecker: Junk ships held together by epoxy and shitty welding, often staffed by unfavored opifex who are usually used as cannon fodder by either physically shielding more important ships or launching themselves into enemy vessels with an overclocked reactor.

Skimmers/sweepers: Small fast vessels often used for scouting, usually staffed by a single Populus or a robot whose primary purpose is to traffic deliveries of materials, opifex in transit, or packages needing to be moved elsewhere fast.


Canon Species in the Sojourn Universe
Core Species
Akula - Kriosans - Humans - Mar'qua - Sablekyne - Naramad - Abhuman
Non-Core Species
Opifex - Cht’mant - Cindarite - Mycus - Folken - Aulvae - Minor Factions
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