Orz

Description

The Orz appear as gill-breathers who resemble yellow parrotfishes with eyestalks, though it is not known if this is its actual true form. (see below.) Orz is a newcomer to TrueSpace, that suddenly appeared out of nowhere in the vicinity of Vulpeculae constallation.

Orz seems to come from another dimension, which is not QuasiSpace as the Arilou tell. Orz explains that the Arilou are from *above* and Orz is from *below*. The precise meaning of this explanation is still up to debate.

There has been some discussion that Orz as it is seen in normal space is actually a projection of some higher (or lower?) being studying our reality. Orz refers to what is seen of itself in the known dimensions as its *fingers* and explains that it is not like other races who are *many bubbles*. Orz always refers to itself in the singular third person.

Translating Orz speech is problematic at best. Even the most sophisticated and powerful translators can't fully process its bizarre alien language, having to use many lingual best-fits in conversation. These are marked in text by surrounding the word with asterisks (*).

The Androsynth once lived in the Vulpeculae stars, but vanished about the same time Orz arrived. It is reasonable to think that Orz did something to them, but asking about it from Orz always seem to infuriate it totally. The Dimensional Fatigue Experiments that were being performed by the Androsynth (and apparently the Taalo before them) may have been what brought the constellation to Orz's attention.

Orz navigates our dimension with the Nemesis.

Theories

The following is unproven in game and not completely accepted by the community.

Orz is a single being that exists in another dimension. The normal space entities are projects of this being that give the appearance of individual life forms. They live, they die, they might even breed, but they are only *fingers* of the one entity called Orz. Orz is in some kind of long term and (mostly) non-violent conflict with the Arilou. The nature and exact purpose of this conflict are unknown.

The Arilou are no to be long-term and loyal allies to the Syreen and Humans and to a far lesser extent the Androsynth. They seem to believe these races to have a destiny that makes them very important to the Arilou race. This is not part of the Arilou/Orz conflict however. Even though Orz destroyed the Androsynth, he will readily assist The Captain in battling the Ur-Quan. The destruction of the Androsynth seems to be motivated entirely by their Dimensional Fatigue Experiments. This may have been seen by Orz as a threat, possibly a gateway to whatever dimension Orz inhabits.

Important Orz Phrases

• *camper* — one who is liked by the Orz — "Happy *campers* are the best."
• *frumple* — get angry — "Do not ask about them. You make me *frumple*."
• *dance* — combat — "I am *frumple*. It is *dancing*."
• *party* — alliance?
• *playground* — this galaxy/dimension? —
• *sad animal* — one who is disliked by the Orz — "The Kohr-Ah are *sad animals*."
• *above* — where the Arilou come from
• *below* — where Orz comes from
• *fingers* — an "individual" Orz