The Siboot universe
Once upon a time there was a planet called Lamina that had four intelligent species: Tayrans, Jomkars, Klasts, and Ripis. Since time immemorial, these species had fought vicious wars with each other, culminating in a huge war fought with powerful weapons that killed millions. That knocked enough sense into them to form an international organization to sort out their conflicts. As a demonstration of their new sense of global unity, they set up a colony on Lamina’s moon, called Kira. On this colony, idealistic young members of the four species worked together as a team.
Shortly after the colony was established, a nuclear war back on Lamina broke off communications. The colonists, thrown onto their own resources, somehow survived under the leadership of Siboot, an extraordinary person who had discovered eeyal, an ESP-type language that permitted the four species to communicate directly rather than in their separate languages.
The very best young eeyal-speaker of each species is designated its “acolyte”. When the current Siboot dies, the four acolytes engage in dream combat at night. The winner of a series of dream combats becomes the new Siboot. You are one of those acolytes.
Skordokott
Skordokott (’SCORE-doe-cot’) is a Tayran. The largest and most physically intimidating of the Four Species, Tayrans are reticent and private in nature. Although their armies were the terror of Lamina, Tayrans are not any more prone to violence than any other species and do not revere the military life.
Skordokott is complicated. He has a strong sense of personal honor and is very private, like most Tayrans. Skordokott has never been a member of any social group; he is a loner through and through. He is absolutely self-assured, but he’s also usually right in his opinions; this has given him an undeserved reputation for pride.
Camiggdo
The Klasts are represented by Camiggdo (‘kah-MIG-doe’). Klasts are tall, with long legs. Camiggdo is the daughter of Feslym, the previous Siboot, who has just died. She is a manipulator. She’s ambitious and feels entitled to be the next Siboot. She is highly intelligent and an excellent speaker of eeyal. Whenever she does the right thing, it’s only because she wants to be perceived as doing the right thing. She’s probably the only person who’s not intimidated by Skordokott. She trusts no one.
Zubenelgenubi
The Jomkar acolyte is Zubenelgenubi (‘ZOO-bin-el-geh-NOO-bee’). Everybody calls her Zubi. She’s young, naive, and full of fun. She likes everybody, and very much wants everybody to like her. She is completely unassertive and never stands up for herself; she has many doubts about her talents and doesn’t think that she deserves to be the next Siboot. She loves to gossip about people and their relationships, even if she does embellish the truth to make things seem happier than they really are.
Koopie
Koopie (‘KOO-pee’) is the Ripi acolyte, and he’s quite a character. He’s big with practical jokes and sometimes seems to rely on humor as a social tool to compensate for other weaknesses. He’s reasonably bright and has a good heart. He’s honest, but he’s still capable of the occasional act of misdirection. When pushed into a corner he’ll react with surprising fury, but otherwise he keeps his temper under control.
