The Borellian Nomen (singular: Noman) are a warrior people from the planet Borellia who maintain a small presence within the Fleet. They are distinguished by their imposing physical stature, distinctive cultural practices, and rigid social hierarchy.
Borellian Nomen are described as formidably large beings with "excessively hairy" appearances and broad, imposing builds. They possess thick eyebrows and an overall intimidating physical presence that commands respect and fear from other inhabitants of the Fleet. Their size and strength make them valuable workers, particularly for heavy labor tasks.[1]
Captain Ironhand notes their practical value to ship crews, observing that Borellian Nomen "get the work done and don't complain about the quality of their rations" unless they are "on a blood trail," referring to their cultural practice of pursuing vengeance.[2]
Borellian society maintains a rigid class hierarchy distinguished by surgically altered voices. The noble classes undergo voice modification procedures to deepen their vocal tones, "making their class instantly recognizable" and separating "nobility from the masses." This surgical alteration serves as an immediate identifier of social status within Borellian culture.[3]
The noble class system includes the Drayliks, a specific subset of Borellian nobility that can be identified by their characteristic vocal modifications. Representatives of the Drayliks possess the surgically deepened voices that mark their elevated social standing.[3]
Borellian Nomen maintain several distinctive cultural characteristics:
Communication Style: They are typically taciturn and "stingy with small talk," preferring direct, minimal communication. This reticence is considered normal behavior for their people.[2]
Supernatural Awareness: Borellian Nomen possess the ability to sense the presence of other Nomen, a characteristic that appears to be innate to their species. As Lingk explains, "A Noman can always sense another Noman's presence," suggesting this is a fundamental aspect of their nature.[4]
Performance Restrictions: Borellian culture appears to prohibit or discourage theatrical deception. According to Lingk, "Borellian Nomen are not able to deceive others on a stage. Playing roles the way you do is unknown in our culture," suggesting that acting and performance arts are considered culturally inappropriate or impossible for their people.[4]
Blood Trails: Borellian Nomen practice a form of ritualized vengeance known as being "on a blood trail." When pursuing such vengeance, their normally disciplined behavior may be disrupted, making them potentially dangerous to others around them.[2]
Professional Ethics: Borellian Nomen maintain a strict code of conduct that prohibits certain activities. As Starbuck observes, "Borellian Nomen are not hired assassins. It's against their code," indicating that their warrior culture includes prohibitions against mercenary killing.[5]
Borellian Nomen have developed a reputation for volatile temperament that makes others wary of them. Dwybolt expresses concern about employing a Noman in his theater company, noting that "their tempers are notorious" and worrying about potential violence during performances. He fears that a Noman might "decide to beat up on somebody in the middle of a performance" if provoked by audience criticism.[6]
Despite their fearsome reputation, individual Nomen can vary significantly in personality. Some, like the disguised Lucifer, are perceived as having potential for violence, while others may be more controlled in their behavior.
The Borellian Nomen maintain a small but notable presence within the Fleet. According to Lingk, "there are so few of us Borellians in the fleet" and their leader Mega has attempted to contact all Borellian survivors to maintain community connections.[3]
Their presence is valued by ship captains despite their reputation for potential trouble. Captain Ironhand specifically notes his positive experience with Borellian crew members, stating he's "always glad to get a Borellian bozo for my crew" due to their work ethic and minimal maintenance requirements.[2]
Borellian names often carry cultural significance and may reflect social standing or characteristics. The name "Trogla," chosen by Lucifer as his disguise identity, is noted by Lingk as referring to "the most common variety of ground-mole on Borellia." Lingk expresses admiration for the "courage" required to carry such a name, suggesting that ground-moles are viewed negatively in Borellian culture and that bearing such a name would be considered socially difficult.[7]
- ↑ Larson, Glen A.; Thurston, Robert (1988). Surrender the Galactica!. Ace Books, p. 74-75.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Larson, Glen A.; Thurston, Robert (1988). Surrender the Galactica!. Ace Books, p. 121.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Larson, Glen A.; Thurston, Robert (1988). Surrender the Galactica!. Ace Books, p. 123.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Larson, Glen A.; Thurston, Robert (1988). Surrender the Galactica!. Ace Books, p. 137.
- ↑ Larson, Glen A.; Thurston, Robert (1988). Surrender the Galactica!. Ace Books, p. 195-196.
- ↑ Larson, Glen A.; Thurston, Robert (1988). Surrender the Galactica!. Ace Books, p. 132.
- ↑ Larson, Glen A.; Thurston, Robert (1988). Surrender the Galactica!. Ace Books, p. 122-123.
The Borellian Nomen are an aboriginal warrior race and one of the most genetically divergent branches of the human species.[1]
The Borellian Nomen are descended from the original human homeworld of Parnassus. When Parnassus faced destruction, most humans migrated to Kobol, but the ancestors of the Nomen arrived on Caprica millennia earlier, after the initial exodus from Parnassus.[2]
Under the leadership of Borellus, the Nomen eschewed technology and dedicated themselves to perfecting their physical and mental abilities while blending with Caprica's biosphere. They sought to become the dominant lifeform and leave their human ancestry in the past.[1]
When refugees from Kobol arrived to establish the Twelve Colonies of Man, they found the Nomen already inhabiting Caprica as a disappearing breed. The Kobollian colonists defeated the Nomen easily with advanced technology and took control of the planet.[1][2]
Since this defeat, the Nomen have despised all other branches of the human race, considering themselves far superior in every way despite being conquered.[1]
Due to adaptive evolution on Caprica, the Borellian Nomen look barely human. Caprica's greater gravity gave them enormous physical power and strength, resulting in massive shoulders and a bulky, muscular build. Their appearance is marked by a heavy, protruding brow, a matted mane of dark hair, long beards, and sharp fangs behind leathery lips. They are much hairier than baseline humans, appearing almost lupine, and their height exceeds two metrons.[1][3][4]
The Nomen have diverged so far from the human model that they could be considered a human sub-species.[2]
The Borellian Nomen possess superior strength, capable of breaking Cylon exoskeletons with their bare hands and snapping a Centurion's neck through sheer muscle power. Despite their size, they possess speed that belies their bulk.[1][4]
Their perceptions are far more advanced than other humanoids, allowing them to see through illusions and detect beings that are not physically present.[5] In combat, they move with primal, liquid grace, described as "purely atavistic form, primal nature at its most brutal."[4]
The Nomen follow the teachings of Borellus, which emphasize rejection of technology in favor of natural abilities, perfection of the self as a being, and harmony with the natural biosphere. One of the first laws laid down by Borellus states: "Cultivate a thing and it will grow."[6] Gar'Tokk, leader of the Nomen in the Fleet, cultivates his hatred following this principle.[1]
From their background comes a belief in the oneness and the harmony of life. This does not mean there is no death, but rather that death, as everything else, has its proper place and time to maintain harmony.[7]
The Nomen view freedom as motion, rejecting the Colonial tendency to stay in one place. As one Noman expressed it: "Freedom is motion. These Colonials stay in one place and call it freedom."[8] They believe freedom can be found on a planet if they do not tie themselves to one rock or tree, but also in the freedom of space.[8]
The Nomen are capable of joy, though their comrades rarely notice because it runs so deep and does not give tongue to emotion.[9]
Honor is paramount to the Nomen. Just as a Noman would die before abandoning the bloodtrail, a debt of honor is placed before all else, no matter the sacrifice.[10] However, the Nomen will not ally themselves with the Cylons under any circumstances, considering them the most disgusting and inferior of races—lower than humanity by far. As Gar'Tokk declared, the Nomen would sooner stand side by side with their hated human captors and fight the Cylons to the death than aid the mechanical race.[11]
The Nomen also adhere to a principle that they do not make excuses for failures or shortcomings.[12]
The Nomen salute involves contorting the left hand into a claw and scratching lightly across one's own chest.[13]
The Nomen do not believe they are human and despise humanity without reservation, believing themselves far superior in every way. They are incredible warriors to whom honor means everything.[2]
However, individual Nomen can develop respect for specific humans who earn it through honorable conduct or martial prowess. Gar'Tokk eventually becomes the sworn protector of Apollo, demonstrating that Nomen loyalty, once earned, is absolute.[14] While Gar'Tokk does not feel genuine sympathy for the Colonials as a whole, he does empathize with individual Colonials who have won his respect.[7]
The Nomen speak their own guttural Borellian tongue, distinct from Kobollian and other Colonial languages.[12]
Following the destruction of the Twelve Colonies, thirteen Borellian Nomen escaped aboard the Fleet, possibly the last of their kind in the universe. They were imprisoned aboard the prison barge Icarus.[1]
The Nomen were considered dangerous prisoners, becoming more dangerous and uncontrollable in larger numbers. Prison policy dictated that no more than two Nomen could be housed in a cell together.[15]
The Nomen's status within the Fleet became a matter of legal and philosophical debate. They argued that they were not subject to Colonial rule while their tribes remained on Caprica, and that joining the Fleet nearly twenty yahren prior was merely accepting an escape from the Cylons.[16]
The Quorum of Twelve eventually began discussions that could lead to the Nomen leaving the Fleet to found their own colony. The debate over whether Colonial laws even applied to them as a species continued.[17]
Upon arriving at Paradis, the Nomen felt an immediate affinity for the planet and its native Gamon people. There was an undeniable empathy between the natives of Paradis and the remnants of the Nomen who came to their world.[9] The planet called to Gar'Tokk's blood, and he felt as if he had come home.[9]
The Nomen on Paradis constructed a Spartan habitat in the hills from dismantled spacecraft, choosing to be closer to the night wind. They hunted together, including new companions H'Mal and Bu'Klin, who came to know each other better through their affinity for the hunt.[18]
Gar'Tokk later played a crucial role in translating the message from the Thirteenth Tribe discovered in an ancient space ark on Paradis, becoming something of a celebrity among the Colonials—though Borellian Nomen are not comfortable with celebrity.[19]
Gar'Tokk served as leader of the Nomen aboard the Fleet and later became sworn protector of Commander Apollo. Among his trusted followers were Snie'Goss, one of six chieftains appointed by Gar'Tokk,[13] and Naga, a Nomen warrior who did not speak Kobollian.[12] On Paradis, Gar'Tokk formed close bonds with H'Mal and Bu'Klin through their shared love of the hunt.[18]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Hatch, Richard; Golden, Christopher (1997). Armageddon. Byron Preiss, p. 43.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Hatch, Richard; Golden, Christopher (1998). Warhawk. Byron Preiss, p. 14.
- ↑ Hatch, Richard; Golden, Christopher (1997). Armageddon. Byron Preiss, p. 37.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Hatch, Richard; Golden, Christopher (1998). Warhawk. Byron Preiss, p. 239.
- ↑ Hatch, Richard; Golden, Christopher (1997). Armageddon. Byron Preiss, p. 90.
- ↑ Hatch, Richard; Golden, Christopher (1997). Armageddon. Byron Preiss, p. 44.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Hatch, Richard; Linaweaver, Brad (2004). Paradis. Tor Books, p. 153.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Hatch, Richard; Linaweaver, Brad (2004). Paradis. Tor Books, p. 55.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Hatch, Richard; Linaweaver, Brad (2004). Paradis. Tor Books, p. 23.
- ↑ Hatch, Richard; Golden, Christopher (1997). Armageddon. Byron Preiss, p. 240.
- ↑ Hatch, Richard; Golden, Christopher (1997). Armageddon. Byron Preiss, p. 270.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Hatch, Richard; Rodgers, Alan (2001). Rebellion. iBooks, p. 213.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Hatch, Richard; Golden, Christopher (1997). Armageddon. Byron Preiss, p. 154.
- ↑ Hatch, Richard; Golden, Christopher (1998). Warhawk. Byron Preiss, p. 238.
- ↑ Hatch, Richard; Golden, Christopher (1997). Armageddon. Byron Preiss, p. 42-43.
- ↑ Hatch, Richard; Golden, Christopher (1998). Warhawk. Byron Preiss, p. 10.
- ↑ Hatch, Richard; Golden, Christopher (1997). Armageddon. Byron Preiss, p. 275.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Hatch, Richard; Linaweaver, Brad (2004). Paradis. Tor Books, p. 54.
- ↑ Hatch, Richard; Linaweaver, Brad (2004). Paradis. Tor Books, p. 239.
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