The Lineage of Hermians

The planet Mercury was first colonized in the year 167, though robot missions had begun setting up infrastructure 25 years previously. The first few scientists were considered mad by most of the solar system, as their machines and habitats had to resist some of the coldest night and hottest days of the solar system. The early colonists of Mercury were motivated by money the mad geniuses of the solar system hoping to harness Mercury's bounty of mineral wealth. When Earth went dark in 182, the 2.5 thousand people living there were reduced to a mere 400. For the next 50 years, until interplanetary travel resumed, no one would visit or leave Mercury.

The inhabitants of Mercury's only base called themselves 'Hermians', after their only base. The small population developed a unique and irrational system of justice and leadership, where they followed 'King' Derek Kubler, who won his position in a series of space-suit duels with what was previously the board of directors of the planet's LunaCorp outpost. This system of duels, performed ritually at the planet's high noon, under the scorching heat of the sun, lasted a maximum of 15 minutes before one or both of the duelists were killed or fried, and hundreds of Hermian's died this way.

Throughout the years, though the rest of the solar system would remain out of their reach, the Hermians succeeded at thriving in extreme circumstances for many years. Eventually, King Derek died in an airlock incident, and his son Gherard Kubler succeeded the throne after another spat of violent dueling. He would have a notoriously large amount of children, though his daughter Emma Kubler would eventually succeed the throne. She is the most famous of all the Hermians, and supposedly the first human to reach interstellar space, and also the first to found an interstellar colony. After her escape during the Hermian war, more commonly known as the War in Heaven, Queen Kubler was never seen again.

The Hermians in general are famous for their short tempers, robust constructions, and violent practices. Immigration to and from Mercury was largely cut off by the so called 'mad kings' between 229 and 311, and after Queen Kubler disappeared into the void, people were understandably hesitant to move into the wasteland of robots and factories they left behind. The Hermians never lived down the 'warlike savage' stigma, and many are resentful to this day about what they see as unfair treatment from the rest of the Solar System, the ICG in particular. All considered, the Hermians currently number almost 1 billion, and those are descended almost exclusively from the 400 original Hermians who were trapped on Mercury when Earth went dark.

Culture

Culture and cultural heritage

Hermians descend from a group of 400 scientists who were trapped in Hermes base when Earth went dark.

Average technological level

Hermian designed and Mercury built ships are known throughout the Solar System for being tough, effective, and brutally simple. When the ICG brought a task force against the Hermian forces of Queen Kubler, they were all Mercury-built Balaena battleships.

Common Customs, traditions and rituals

Power was often passed on by system of duels to settle disputes. Adversaries would duel in pressure-exoskeleton suits designed for travel across the surface, using mining lasers or their various cutting and welding instruments to attack their opponent. These duels where traditionally held at ‘high noon’ the point on the planet’s surface where the sun was at its highest and the ground at its hottest. Temperatures at these places exceeded 430 degrees celsius, and duels were time-limited as most stuits would run out of coolant in under 10 minutes.

Funerary and Memorial customs

Most Hermians are jettisoned into space after their death, and the Kings of Mercury where cremated after being dropped into the sun.

Historical figures

King Derek Kubler, first King of Mercury and scientist to found Hermes base.

King Gherard Kubler, Second King of Mercury and assisted in the salvation of Earth.

Queen Emma Kubler, First and last Queen of Mercury and famous for instigating war with the Interplanetary Governance Council and then disappearing into the void. Also believed to be the first human to travel between stars.

Travis O'Connor, Scientists under Queen Kubler responsible for the development of self-replicating robots, and possibly space-grade fusion drives.

Parent ethnicities