Difference between revisions of "Category:Rishan"

The Rishan

Lexx is a Rishan, a genetically enhanced race of humans who originated from a small population that were taken from Earth and then altered to make them usefull as a created slave race. Galactic laws stated that any naturally occuring being with a planet of origin could not be forced into servitude and bought and sold as a product, but if anyone managed to CREATE a race without using previously existing genetic code, then they would fall under the category of 'artificial life'. They would be as soulless as any machine, but simply made up of different materials. It is a generally accepted theory that one cannot create life from nothing and has thus far, ... no-one has had any success attempting it.

The Rishan were to be the first of these and were originally raised as such. They were treated as servants and responded as servants from the moment they were born. Rishan were seperated at birth from parents and adults had no knowledge how to care for their own, nor were they taught any sort of basic cultural structure other than their place was to do what they were told. Research was done, but because of so many differences between the Rishan and carefully crafted research records,... a few bribed officials here and there to overlook small things,... they were passed off as a truly created lifeform.

This was only contested when several generations down the road, Rishans were being freely bred by private breeders and suddenly, imperfect genetic code would show through in the combination of two lower class Rishan genotypes. A child would be born with unusual skin tone, eye color, hair and features. Research on these abnormalties led to the discovery that they were human throwbacks. Sloppy engineering had worked its way through. (The original test subjects were the purest, although would often have variations in eye color for appearance. These were the ones that were used to show the best qualities of their created products. They were work intensive to engineer and after they were accepted, lesser qualities, more docile and less tweaked versions were created to raise future generations.)

Rishan genes are dominant. The first set of Rishans were not discarded, but simply not continually made. They were improved too much - they thought they'd dilute the strain by breeding them with subsequent lesser strains, but it's held pretty well... especially when combined at several points once they were free with others who were descendents of that first set.

Children born with human like appearances were often returned to Earth if the parents desired it, but some have remained with their families or are on their own.

The Rishan were eventually released and many of them have attempted to reclaim their heritage and learn how to 'live'. Many remained with their previous masters as hired help. Many of their masters, mainly among the Littans were horrified to learn what had occurred and attempted to the best of their abilities to make up for their treatment. They have shared their homes, cultures and sent their own people to Earth to help bring the heritages of Earth to the Rishan. (This has had reprucussions of its own for the Littans who, while well meaning,.. fell to temptation.)

Currently, the Rishan as a population are still working on trying to survive on stations and planets that are occasionally hostile. There are a few places where they are becoming increasingly more and more adept at becoming cohesive communities. Mostly on Litta and their own stations.

Records were kept of all Rishan children born, even if they were taken from their parents. These records were sealed from the adoptive parents and only the child, once they reached the age of maturity, could access their family records. [1]

Risha roughly translated was a derogatory term for "Children of the Stars" Meaning as well, one without a beginning or previous life, because they don't have a homeworld anymore. They aren't looked upon very highly and they usually aren't welcome on any of the other worlds because they don't want to be overun with them, and are not treated well on stations that are not run by them. Their children are taken away and they're heavily discouraged, even now from even considering having children or marrying. They're considered the trash of the galaxy and shunned by many, although most of the races that are somewhat like them in appearance are a little helpful: The Littans, the Sairah, and the Kourwine; there are only four in all, five counting the Risha that look human, the rest are very... inhuman and in the majority.

The average Rishan who is from a station or Litta will be more 'sympathetic' to their own kind, have an understanding of family, relationships and the ability to work with others in a way that would be considered normal. They still have problems they're working to correct in raising their own children when several generations back, they had no idea what to do with them. Many Rishan babies died after they were freed, unless someone was there to help the parents understand how to care for them and often, it would only be a mother who was there. The fathers did not in general, have an understanding of any responsibility. This caused a general dislike of the Rishan because their children were unsupported and when they did survive, were a pull on resources and often led their mothers to be very influential in crime to support their children. There was a push for forced birth control upon the Rishan and on some planets this was carried out without the choice of the mother. (Note that female Rishan are EXTREMELY respected and feared in some corners because of how high they've risen in the criminal underworld.)

'Elf' is an insult in their language... the definition is a mischevious troublemaker with no parental heritage.

Normally, a Rishan can live up to 140 years.

Appearance

Rishan stand slightly taller than normal human heights. The females average 5' 9" in height. The males are usually around 6'7" and don't stop growing until they are in their mid twenties. Most are of a moderate to slender build. They have pointed ears which extend to just beyond the back of the skull. Their eyes range prominently from gold to brown, with certain genetic strains possessing green and blue eyes. Hair color is solid white or grey to any variation of blue, violet and a very dark red, to black. Skin tones range from a very pale light blue to darker shades of blue and violet. Light blue will burn rather than tan in the sun, the darker shades will darken to blue-black and violet, often showing off markings that were not visible before. Markings come in a variety of shapes, sizes and locations, depending on what their jobs were and who owned them. These are genetically embedded.

Most Rishan do not have hair anywhere on their bodies except for their heads, but some that are of a lower quality will have slight facial hair and hair elsewhere.

They're smart, quick and in general picked on by the other races to a point in which they are VERY defiant and rebellious. They are also VERY sensitive to differences in that they ignore them due to their treatment. They are very anti-racist.

Rishan Naming

Rishan are normally named with a variation of the mother's name and the father's family name. The format is Family Name first - Individual Name second, Mother's variation- (Optional name that parents like) - Mothers family name.

Primary Job Training

Rishan are primarily pilots, engineers and gardeners. The later generations are most likely starting to deviate from this to other fields, which might include the arts, but very few will because of the pressures and competition there. Most go for what they can start making money at fastest. There is nothing keeping them from following careers in the entertainment fields, just that the opportunity isn?t really there for them because most other people still see them as slaves/servants and tend to keep them in those roles.

Pure Strains

There was said to be several classes of Rishan originally developed. The first pure strain was overly modified to a point that they were too adept at adaptation. They were too smart, too strong and way too human to be handled if there were a number of them. Instead of disposing of the strain, they thought they would mingle them into their secondary strain to weaken it. They thought it had worked, but the original slaving corporation only had first generation progeny. It was kept a secret, even when the descendents of the first strain began showing that they were physically and mentally more capable at the jobs they were given. Naturally, the most promising Rishan's were paired up, creating a few family lines that were exceptional in everything. By this time, all documentation on them had been destroyed by the original slaving corporation and they could care less. They'd made their fortunes. [2]