General Informations - The Rowa'ni

Biology: The Rowa’ni evolved from a highly adaptable omnivorous plant species on the planet Rowa and developed into a unique animal/plant hybrid species. Their DNA is highly adaptable, incorporating foreign DNA readily. They are highly capable of interspecies breeding as a result, causing many Rowa’ni to look like green-skinned versions of other races (Andorians, Vulcans, Klingons, Terrans), though with the distinctive features generally lessened somewhat. Rowa’ni DNA is always dominant, however, and most look similar to Andorians or Vulcans due to recent history. Rowa’ni are partially photosynthetic, and thus require a lot of light and water, though they can go for weeks without eating, if they need to. Rowa’ni produce pheromones that make them smell flowery or fruity that aids in attracting mates of other species and repelling insects. They can also produce a noxious odor if necessary. These pheromones are often linked to their emotional state and have been known to trigger similar emotional states in other species. It also sometimes tends to affect the allergies of other species. The Rowa’ni produce a toxic secretion as a defense mechanism. It acts mostly as a skin irritant, though it is poisonous if ingested or gets into the bloodstream. Rowa'ni breast 'milk' is a kind of sweet nectar that is a highly prized and rare wine in many cultures. Bone structure is actually a hearty hardwood, making it light, though it tends to break easier. The Rowa’ni do tend to heal a bit faster than most, however. If cut, sap-like blood hardens into an amber scab that can restrict movement if it covers a joint. Rowa'ni have highly intuitive minds and learn things very quickly. When reproducing, Rowa’ni fertilized eggs are deposited through an ovarian tube into a navel pouch where a birth pod is formed around the growing embryo for about six months. The mother then gives birth to the pod, which is transplanted into a nursery to gestate for another ten years. It takes another ten years for the child to reach sexual maturity, and every ten years females go into a month-long fertility cycle in which they are highly sexually promiscuous, taking in as much genetic material from various males as possible to fertilize the egg. Fertility starts to drop at around 100 years of age and the cycle generally becomes much less predictable. At around 200, the elder Rowa’ni start to ‘root’, and their bodies gradually become hardened and immobile. They then live for another 100 years or so as semi-sentient plants.

History: Rowa was located in the sector of space near Vulcan and Andoria and was a very green planet covered mostly in jungles and swamps. The Rowa’ni lived a mostly nomadic life in these areas until the arrival of the Vulcans and Andorians. Indistinguishable from the native plant life to the aliens’ sensors, both races thought the planet uninhabited and ripe for colonization. This brought the Rowa’ni into the border conflicts between the two races. The Rowa’ni tended to get along well with the telepathic Vulcans, occasionally interbreeding, enough to affect the Rowa’ni gene pool. Highly intelligent and eager students, they learned much from the Vulcans. Relations with the Andorians, however, were more strained. Periods of peaceful cooperation, including inbreeding, would more often than not collapse when tensions flared between the two aggressive species over Andorian habitat destruction that affected the Rowa’ni, which led to pogroms against the Rowa’ni. The interbreeding with the Vulcans and Andorians eventually led to two races of Rowa’ni that generally got along, though there were some tensions. When the conflict between the Vulcan and Andorian colonists heated up, the Rowa’ni were often used as mercenaries and proxies in the battles between them. Eventually, the conflict escalated enough that the Andorians used thermonuclear and biogenic weapons and initiated wholesale genocide against the Rowa’ni. After peace was achieved, the planet was so polluted that the Rowa’ni could no longer survive there. Part of the peace accord included granting asylum to the remaining Rowa’ni on Andoria and Vulcan. But the Rowa’ni found Vulcan too hot and dry and the Andorians held a great mistrust and prejudice against the Rowa’ni. When Rowa’ni were discovered to be involved in a coup attempt against the Andorian government, they were rounded up and interred in inhospitable camps, resulting in many deaths. The Vulcan Rowa’ni learned of this and planned a rescue attempt, stealing several Vulcan merchant vessels and a newly commissioned heavy cruiser from Vulcan. Using a nebula to mask their approach, they engaged the Andorian civil defense forces in battle while evacuating the Andorian Rowa’ni, taking many casualties but escaping. Since the 22nd century, the Rowa’ni have been space nomads, traveling in large flotillas of largely obsolete, scavenged, or stolen ships. Generally not tolerated by Klingons, Cardassians, or Romulans, they tend to stick to Federation space. In the early 24th century, one clan of Rowa’ni did try to resettle on Rowa, but that effort was ended when the planet was destroyed by the first Borg incursion into Federation space.

Politics: The Rowa’ni are considered nuisances by many Federation races. They are often thought to be involved in shady dealings, including theft, illegal smuggling and salvage. They are highly sought as entertainers, however, as their females tend to be very appealing and very willing partners, as well as good dancers and musicians. As a race without a planet, the Rowa’ni have only a non-voting representative at the Federation Council. They exist in a kind of political limbo, with many races, particularly the Andorians, opposing their membership. Others, like the Vulcans, support them. The Rowa’ni themselves are also divided on the issue, with the two largest clans on opposite sides. The Mira’ni are pro-Federation and the current Rowa’ni representative comes from this clan. The Afri’ni oppose membership, mostly on religious grounds. They tend to be racial purists where the Mira’ni tend to take in anyone who needs a home or a sanctuary. The Afri’ni consider Rowa as the only true homeland of the Rowa’ni, and since its destruction see the Rowa’ni as a pilgrim people until Rowa returns in some eschatological period. Some factions of the Rowa’ni see this New Rowa as encompassing Andoria and Vulcan, as well. Most Rowa’ni, though, fall somewhere in the middle, being rather libertarian and suspicious of governmental intrusion on their freedom.

Economics: Rowa’ni are mostly technological scavengers, traders, and transporters. Some also occasionally engage in illegal smuggling, mercenary work and other such activities. They are mostly concerned with keeping their fleet flying. Individual Rowa’ni are well-known as phenomenal engineers and many also make livings as entertainers.

Religion: Rowa’ni religion is based on ancestor worship. Rowa’ni maintain communion with their Elders after they root and lose sentience. They are often sources of wisdom and advice. Clerics keep the sacred books and the history of the Rowa’ni. Caretakers tend the Elders and pods and are responsible for their education. On Vulcan, Rowa’ni and Vulcan priests tend the Rowa’ni sanctuaries where many Elders are transplanted, making Vulcan a pilgrimage site for many Rowa’ni. Many Vulcans, as well, are attracted to the Rowa’ni sanctuaries to commune with the Elders there. There is a small but growing fundamentalist movement among the Rowa’ni, centering on a hope for a New and Greater Rowa. Elements of this movement have committed acts of terrorism, mostly against Andoria, but occasionally against Vulcan.

Society: The Rowa’ni are a matriarchal society, as the only means of tracing descent is through the mother given the reproductive habits of the race. The different Rowa’ni fleets are generally independent of each other, though there is a Collective Council that meets annually, the chair rotating among the Clan Matriarchs. The Clan Matriarchs are the political leaders of the fleets, holding the highest veto powers over all matters. The Patriarchs are those males lifebonded to a Matriarch and are usually delegated with the actual running of the Clans. Matriarchs and Patriarchs make up the Collective Council, and Patriarchs elect the next Matriarch from among the Submatriarchs, which are all lifebonded female Rowa’ni over 100. The Clerics are the next level of society and include the Caretakers, those who care for the pods and the Elders. The clerical caste tends to be the cultural, medical, scientific and diplomatic corps of the Rowa’ni and are also responsible for the education of podded Rowa’ni. As a nomadic fleet of aging vessels, the Engineers are the next caste. It is their job to keep the fleet running. Finally, the Military caste is responsible for defending the fleets from outside threats and scouting for potential salvage. The social stratification is actually very porous, however. Depending on the needs of the Clan, Rowa’ni are allowed to move to various positions. While mother/child affections exist, they are not as strong as in many species due to the lack of any real nurturing contact between them. While children are under the authority of their mother, their affective bonds are usually more with the Caretaker responsible for their telepathic education.

Intellectual Life: All Rowa’ni are taught the history and culture of their people telepathically while still in the pod. Once hatched, all are taught a basic knowledge of engineering so that they can help keep the fleet running. They are then apprenticed where they are needed in Clan society. Due to the increased mental capacities, Rowa’ni often become adepts in many areas of study, especially the older ones.

Arts: Like most nomadic cultures, the Rowa’ni are particularly adept at storytelling, especially the epics of their literary and historical heritage. These stories are often enhanced by also being told via the pheromones produced by the bard. Song and dance are also important. Flower arranging is a highly developed art in Rowa’ni culture, with schools and master levels.