(Co-concepted with Sarah Kittell)
Bulleted list of items in chronological order describing the seed of the conflict planted in Vvellen culture through the culmination of the Raoli alliance with the Toridians.
Raoli evolve sentient life on their planet.
Vvellen evolve sentient life on their planet.
As is common with early civilizations, the vvellan begin looking for answers to existential questions and settle upon a religion dictated by three(?) gods: the god of the sun, the god of the moon(s?), and the god of the star-- one star in particular which shines brighter than all the others. This is not in fact a star, but is the Raolin planet. Pre-technology, they have no method of discerning the difference between this “star” and the others, except that its color and brightness are different from the other stars. The sun god, male, and the moon goddess, female, came together to create the Vvellen planet and all the stars. The bright star (name? I don’t know enough about Vvellen culture to properly name these gods) was created first as the daughter of the gods and through the bright star, the Vvellen planet was created and blessed as the homeworld of the only intelligent creatures in the universe and as the son of the gods.
A few hundred years later, astronomers make a discovery: the bright star, home of the daughter goddess, is actually a planet. News of this discovery spreads quickly and threatens the faith of the Vvellen in what is almost universally accepted as the truth is shaken. Leaders of the religion gather at a large convention to discuss this news. Ideas are bandied about, from killing and censoring the astronomers, to torturing them and forcing them to recant their discoveries in public. Finally, a decision wins out that is acceptable to all and doesn’t involve the tragic slaughter of society’s finest astronomers: the bright star planet is still the home of the daughter goddess; she has simply chosen now as the time to reveal her true form as an invitation to her brother. The people of Vvellen must reach towards the heavens and find a way to travel to her and claim their rightful territory.
The newly accepted sister planet spurs a massive push for better technology while solidifying the religion of the cosmos as absolute truth. The Vvellen believe that they will soon reach the sister bright star planet, claim it for their own, and expand their race-- the only intelligent race in the universe. This permeates their culture: festivals are held yearly where they feast and plan for the new world. Families with strong political ties and deep pockets begins bargaining for different plots of land on the sister planet. Maps of the planet are created and revealed by prominent religious leaders who have no experience with astronomy or cartography, but are immediately accepted as fact because these religious leaders were “told directly by the daughter goddess” about the planet’s geography.
Further technology advances finally allow the Vvellen to see the face of the sister planet. They find the Raoli looking back at them.
Brief look at Raoli history: Raoli religion holds that a sentient being created the universe and breathed life into it, but that this being is not interested in actively participating with its creation. Most Raolin believe in this, but it does not shape or affect their day to day lives in any significant way. Their society is largely capitalist and they follow a strict “live and let live” policy which does not allow much room for religious extremism at the risk of being ostracized. They reached sentiency before the Vvellen, giving them the upper hand in technology developments. They have known about their “star cousins” for over a century and have been waiting anxiously for the Vvellen society to develop enough technology to see the Raoli. Efforts to increase the speed of the Vvellon technological developments included attempting to send radio waves and other transmissions and one (failed) attempt at a probe. At first point of contact, or “The Day of Discovery”, the Raoli are hard at work trying to create viable space travel in order to visit the Vvellen planet.
Mass panic, hysteria, and rioting break out on the Vvellen planet. The Raoli are hugely confused by this response, instead expecting excitement. They begin to resolve themselves to the idea that this relationship may be more interplanetary war than interplanetary friendship.
Fringe Vvellen scientists who have long hypothesised that the sister planet may be inhabited already begin to come to the forefront of the public eye. They begin to work on methods of contacting the Raoli, currently known as “enter appropriate Vvellen name here” or “evil incarnate” depending on who you speak to. Feeling extreme pressure from the ruling religious hierarchy, the scientists also attempt to reconcile the discovery of alien life with the religion of the cosmos. They submit that perhaps the Raoli were created at the same time as the Vvellen, by the same gods, and that perhaps they have been longing to meet their brother planet. The various religious heads find this an acceptable solution to their conundrum and they begin to tell their followers that the revealing of the sister planet over a century before was simply interpreted incorrectly. However, this being the second massive blow to their previously unshaken faith, Vvellen religious congregations around the planet begin to disband. The religion is slowly crumbling, and gradually the political system moves away from a theocracy run by the religion towards something much more scientifically minded. Though there are still devout believers, the religion is no longer universal. Many Vvellen step away from their faith and turn exclusively towards science as further developments are made in contacting the Raoli.
Some period of the later, “The Day of Contact” arrives. By this point, the Raoli are not sure what to expect from their star cousins, but the Vvellen in charge of making contact decide to leave out any explanation of the riots and discord, choosing instead to offer friendship to this alien race. Once contact has been established, the two cultures being attempting to learn everything about the other, starting with their languages. Every year, when the two planets are closest (a day previously held as a festival by the Vvellen religion for the future conquering of the daughter goddess planet), a new festival is held celebrating the friendship of the planets. Most Vvellen accept this, but the fringe religious extremists resent the change made to their holiday and quietly allow hatred to fester in their hearts against the Raoli.
Raoli develop space travel first. They send a team of five Raolin to the Vvellen planet, where they are given a hero’s welcome. They are also protested by the religious extremists, who start riots and picket any event that the Raoli attend. The truth comes forth about the Vvellen religion and everything has to be explained to the Raoli. Their visit is cut short when a Vvellen attempts to attack one of the Raolin guests. They return to their home planet disappointed, but bringing with them a team of Vvellen who wish to explain everything to the Raoli people.
Eventually, after many years of travel between the two planets, the Vvellen religious extremists are almost non-existent. Vvellen live on the Raoli planet, Raoli live on the Vvellen planet, all is well.
As more Raoli travel to the Vvellen planet, a discussion is brought forward about marking off a small section on each planet for “embassies”-- really more like a large city that mimics the home planets of either race. This would provide an essential cultural learning center for those who could not afford to travel, or were prevented from space travel by other reasons, as well as allowing a seat for the Raoli in Vvellen politics and vice versa. The idea was received enthusiastically on Raoli and building of a “Little Vvellen” began immediately. Building of “Little Raoli” was halted almost immediately when the few religious extremists left came forward after years of silence to protest the building of any Raoli buildings on what had previously been religiously hallowed grounds.
Though the strength of the Vvellen religion has been greatly weakened, many still nominally ascribe to it, and this is the first instance of the Raoli actively encroaching on their religious rights. (Even though the Raoli didn’t choose the location for the embassy.) Discontent grows in many of the Vvellen, and religious leaders make bids for political positions, now enjoying the support of the Vvellen in ways they hadn’t seen in years. Many nominal believers now become more sure of their faith and it is declared that the Raoli were sent to test them, and that they must now throw away the bonds of friendship and take back the bright star planet as their rightful inheritance from the gods.
The Vvellen who do not agree with this attempt to downplay the severity of the problems facing them when explaining the problems to the Raoli. They cite “religious differences” as the reason for the delay in the embassy building, but not wanting to concern the Raoli with something they see as a strictly Vvellen issue, they are not transparent about everything that is happening.
The Raoli remaining on Vvellen are much more aware of the issues they are facing, but are suddenly under strict watch and placed on restrictions that do not allow them to go certain places or have unmonitored contact with their home planet. Curfews are implemented. Many Vvellen refuse to even speak to Raoli, even Raoli that were born on the Vvellen planet and have lived there for their whole lives. They become outcasts.
A prominent religious extremist moves to the forefront of the political scene, encouraging harsh measures be taken against the “invading Raoli”. Ghettos are created, then camps. The Raoli homeworld, concerned at the sudden lack of contact, begins seeking answers. Upon discovering what has taken place on the Vvellen planet, serious conflict breaks out. Vvellen who are born on Raoli take up arms with the Raoli against their planet of origin, as they consider themselves to be Raolin. Small pods of Raoli begin landing on the Vvellen planet, armed to the teeth and ready to break out their brethren from the ghettos and camps. This is perceived as further evidence of an invasion and strengthens the extremist positions of the religious Vvellen. On the crest of a full blown war, the Toridians arrive.