Betazoid
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Betazoids hail from Betazed, the second planet orbiting a single Type G2V star called Hainara. There are four other planets in the star system, three of which are Class J gas giants. An abundant source of deuterium, as well as the system's close proximity to other Federation core worlds such as Earth, Tellar, and Vulcan, makes Betazed strategically important.
Personality
Outgoing and friendly, Betazoids generally feel a genuine sense of satisfaction in helping others. Using their telepathic abilities, some Betazoids attempt to foster understanding between alien cultures or those with differing points of view. Many combine their telepathy with a study of psychology, to help others understand their feelings, anxieties, or phobias. Those Betazoids who join Starfleet often combine these two impulses into one, signing on as ship's counselor, where they can help fellow crewmates and advise on diplomatic matters.
Because they can sense the turmoil in the minds of those around them caused by discord, Betazoids have a strong predilection toward harmony. They prefer to resolve conflicts through non-violent means, and their dedication to peace and cooperation are well-known through the quadrant. Even the typical man on the street or shopkeeper works to resolve their disputes with a minimum of fuss.
Generally, Betazoids value candor and integrity (though they are capable of lying). Sometimes this rises to the level of brutal honesty, and those unaccustomed to this characteristic can find Betazoids arrogant, rude, or off-putting. They do not like liars; once lied to, it can be very difficult to regain a Betazoid's trust.
Physiology
Outwardly, Betazoids resemble humans in their physiology and appearance. They have the same range of height, weight, and build. Often, the only way to distinguish between the two is the limpid black eyes characteristic of Betazoids. They tend toward dark, olive complexions, and brunette or black hair.
They have a few internal and developmental differences, such as different placement of organs and a ten-month gestation period, but otherwise they have the same level of tolerance for hostile conditions and the same biological functions. One of the most notable differences in the development of Betazoid females is a period called "the Phase," in which a Betazoid woman sexually matures and her sex drive often quadruples. The Phase usually occurs in the mid-life of a Betazoid woman, in her late fifties to mid-sixties.
History and Culture
The earliest Betazoid legends tell the story of their struggle with mysterious enemies, an evil race of beings known as the "demons of pain and anger." These entities floated through walls and barred doors. When these entities descended upon a community, they brought with them anger and strife. Said to be able to make primitive weapons appear out of thin air, whole villages would be found to have massacred each other. An orgy of violence spread across the land.
The mystical hero Khrysaros used her great mental powers to defeat these flickering, ghost-like enemies. While it appears as though all Betazoids possessed some rudimentary form of telepathy, Khyrsaros found a way, according to the stories, to develop this potential. She gathered several acolytes and trained them to battle the entities. They, too, developed incredible telepathic powers. The greatest among them was Rixx, who banished hundreds of these demons.
The Terabian
As the Betazoids ventured out into space, they eventually came into contact with other sapient beings. Among the first to be encountered, the Terabians were at first fascinated by Betazoid telepathy. The two peoples became fast friends, fostered ties between the two peoples, and many Betazoids and Terabian emigrated to each other's worlds.
As more and more of the Terabian became familiar with telepathy, however, they came to fear unwanted intrusions into their private thoughts. Betazoids on Terab IV were rounded up and sent to internment camps to protect them from paramilitary groups roaming the streets and assaulting Betazoids. The Betazoids who avoided incarceration increasingly turned to violence to protect themselves; conflict erupted between rival Betazoid and Terabian gangs.
Betazed sent diplomats to resolve the situation. After lengthy negotiations, they won the freedom of interred Betazoids, persuaded the Betazed terrorists to lay down their arms, and orchestrated a mass exodus from Terab IV. The Ruling Council of Betazed promulgated the Code of Sentience in response to this disastrous event, to guide Betazoids in their conduct among alien species. As a result, Betazoids prefer not to use their telepathy on a non-telepath without permission.
With careful adherence to the Code of Sentience, the Betazoids have avoided a repeat of the Terabian situation and wide-scale persecution on other worlds. In fact, Terab IV eventually joined the Federation, their delegates requesting seats alongside Betazed's representatives, as a testimony to how far the two peoples have come.
Social Telepathy
Telepathy is the central organizational theme of Betazoid society. Among their own people, Betazoids communicate telepathically. Betazoid towns and cities are filled with an undisturbed (some off-worlders may say eerie) silence. Many resort to speech among non-Betazoids, out of respect, though this isn't universal. Betaoids dislike species whose minds they cannot read, such as the Ferengi, Breen, and Dopterians, feeling uncomfortable in their presence; this remains their only unresolved prejudice. Betazoids who lose their telepathic ability feel handicapped, frightened, and alone, with many choosing to lead their telepathically mute lives off-world among other non-telepaths.
Code of Sentience
The Code of Sentience guides Betazoids in their use of telepathy among non-telepaths. Individual Betazoids follow it to a lesser or greater degree, each according to his or her nature. Like any social code, it outlines what is acceptable, proper behavior, to both reassure non-telepaths and safeguard Betazoids:
- Reading the mind of another without his/her knowledge is taboo.
- Even when permission has been granted, the code forbids reading thoughts separate from the purpose of the mind reading.
- The code discourages a Betazoids from divulging what he reads to another without permission.
- It is considered rude for Betazoids to communicate telepathically with each other in the presence of non-telepaths.
Government
The great noble houses, descendants of Khrysaros' first acolytes, govern Betazed. They are ranked in the order in which their ancestor is believed to have joined Khrysaros. Rixx, for example, was the fifth to heed Khrysaros' call, and his descendants make up the Fifth House of Rixx. No other privileges stem from this rank.
Betazoid society is strongly matriarchal. The eldest female in the family almost always leads her house, following in the tradition of Khrysaros' leadership.
Every ten years, the twelve great houses meet in what is known as an omaz to select the five who sit on the ruling council. This legislative branch passes laws, debates vital issues, allocates resources, and issues directives to the bureaucracy. The ruling council makes all its decisions by coming to a telepathic consensus. Unlike many other governments, Betazed has no single ruler, speaker, or high commissioner, such as the Federation President of Ferengi Grand Nagus.
A vast bureaucracy divided into many different Relzari, or departments, handles the government's actual day-to-day operation. The High Office of Defense, for example, commands the Betazed Defense Force (which served so valiantly against the Jem'Hadar during the Dominion War), while the High Office of Finance allocates resources to various government programs. Although by tradition only women may lead a great house or sit on the Ruling Council, there is no such restriction on men serving in the bureaucracy.
Marriage Customs
To cement ties between households, the ancient Betazoids practiced a tradition or arranged marriages, in which the betrothed are genetically bonded to each other at birth. In those days, Betazoids distinguished between these marriages of convenience and their imzadi, or beloved (and the term continues to have overtones of "true love" or "soul mate" in the modern day). Weddings customarily required the bride, groom, and guests to go without clothes, to honor the act of love being celebrated and symbolize that all parties entered the agreement openly. Only the most tradition-minded Betazoids hold to these customs in the modern day.
Betazoid Relics
Ancient relics like the holy rings of Betazed and the Sacred Chalice of Rixx are important symbols to Betazoid society. For most, they represent a touchstone to the past, or a symbol of office. A small group of Betazoids, however, believes these sacred relics possess true power.
Whether simply antiques of great historical value or enchanted relics capable of fanciful feats, not all Betazoid relics are accounted for. Certainly, such relics would be highly sought after, should there whereabouts become known. Some of these lost relics include, but are not limited to, the Mighty Spear of Vard, the Sword of Lexx, the Blessed Lantern of Javv, the Righteous Staff of Gand, and the Virtuous Wand of Kazz.
Notable Betazoids
Lwaxana Troi is the current Ambassador to the Federation for the government of Betazed. She is a daughter of the Fifth House, Holder of the Sacred Chalice of Rixx, and Heir to the Holy Rings of Betazed. She has a reputation as a free spirit and travels throughout the UFP. She especially enjoys visiting the mud baths on the Parallax Colony on Shiralea VI. Lwaxana's daughter, Deanna, currently serves in Starfleet as ship's counselor aboard the U.S.S. Titan under the command of her husband, Captain William Riker.
Talloc Morganth is recognized as the most renowned psychologist in the UFP. He teaches several courses at the University of Betazed, but often travels off-planet to attend conferences and investigate incidents at the request of Starfleet. He is an older nobleman, a member of the Seventh House and Guardian of the Seal of Vashti, an ancient spirit of healing. Talloc is a very spiritual person; he has an ongoing debate on logic versus spirituality which he enjoys taking up with every Vulcan he encounters.
The Betazoids also have a legend about the Silent One, he whose mind remains unknown. He is said to be part demon, and thus his mind cannot be read telepathically, even though he is said to possess the gift of telepathy himself. The Betazoids claim that he is immortal, chosen by the spirits to guard the Betazoids from their own arrogance. On several occasions, the Silent One has been captured by tyrants and put to death, but the legend persists.
Some researchers believe the Silent One may be the product of a rare mutation passed down through the generations. Others whisper that he is actually Khrysaros, returning periodically before his final summons to aid Betazed in times of need and deliver the Betazoids from their own failings. Regardless of his true origins, the Silent One plays a prominent role in several of Betazed's more outspoken faiths.
Reference(s)
- Bridges, Bill, et al. Star Trek Roleplaying Game Book 5: Aliens, Decipher, 2003. ISBN: 1582369070.