Asym

From Traveller Wiki - Science-Fiction Adventure in the Far future

Asym
Status	Minor Race
Classification	Omnivore/Gatherer
Size	1.4 M
Weight	75 Kg
Homeworld	Artoria
Multi-world	no
Canon	yes
Reference	Marc Miller's Traveller

Asyms embody every element of curiosity, tinkering, and collecting. They are asymmetrical bipeds from gathered omnivore stock. In their natural or defensive position, the head rests down into a fleshy cavity in the torso, making the Asym 1.3 to 1.5 meters tall. But when they need to they can extend the "head" with its single large eye and triangulated ears, on a telescoping neck another half meter. They have two arms, the left one very powerful and thick, the right very slender and delicate. They have two prehensile tails, one branching out from the base of the spine just above the legs, the other emerging from mid back. An Asym’s legs are short and muscular, with broad, flat, tough feet.

The Asym native language is harsh and grinding, depending on the snapping of the tongue against the teeth as well as barks and groans developed in the body cavity, but humans can learn to imitate it. They call themselves the kotch-cho-ba, which translates to "home people" or "people of the guided eye," depending on the region of their homeworld. To humans, the most notable feature of the race at first glance is that their upper torso is asymmetrical. They are known, therefore, as asyms throughout the Imperium. They are also known colloquially as "pack rats" or "double tails."

An Asym’s left arm is very strong , but clumsy, and is covered with a tough, resinous carapace The right arm, in contrast, is weak but dexterous In addition, Asyms have two long, prehensile "tails" which help in grabbing, pulling, climbing, or hanging .

The small head does not contain the brain, which is instead contained in the torso beneath the "high tail." The single eye can simulate a double pupil, so Asyms have no difficulty with binocular vision, and their triangulated ear structures are more sensitive than those of humanity. The head atop its telescoping neck can itself be used for defense, and contains only cartilage and muscles—the airway and mouth are located within the cavity between the shoulders.

As for the body as a whole, an Asym’s outer skin is like thin leather, while extensive muscle tissue lies within, and its bones are silicate rather than calcium-based. Extensive muscular control allows sheltering of most body mass in harsh environments. The "bounding" ability allows Asyms to travel some 75 miles in 10 hours with little conscious intervention.

Asyms reach adulthood at 30, with a life expectancy of sixty years or so. They are renowned as creatures of mystique and ritual, concerned with ecology and recycling (, ever given to experimentation, and generous and sharing of all they have. Adult Asym are typically of 50-80 kg mass, and 1.3 to 1.5 m tall at rest (with head recessed). They are uncommon in the Third Imperium, and are limited to TL 8.

This article was copied or excerpted from the following copyrighted sources and used under license from Far Future Enterprises and by permission of the author.

– Marc Miller's Traveller