Vulcan
The world of Vulcan is class M, and is home to a humanoid culture called Vulcans.
Vulcan is a hotter planet then Earth. Its gravity is 1:83g, and its atmosphere is thinner. The planet is very much desert like. Over 90% of the planet is land rather than water. Vulcan has no moons. Vulcan does possess several sister planets. Another name for Vulcan is Vulcanis.
Vulcans eschew emotions, and instead use Logic. Vulcans have three groups within their government, and the planet is a representative democracy.
Vulcans are one of the Federations oldest races. They were once a group of violent people, torn apart by terriable wars. Then Surak, now revered as the father of modern vulcan civilization, came along and preached twin ethics of peace and logic. Now the Vulcan people are peaceful. The pursuit of logic is a life long task for vulcans, which comes with much discipline and meditation.
One group on vulcans did not embrace Surak's teachings and left their planet. They are known today as the founders of the Romulan Star Empire.
Vulcans are touch telepaths, and psychic. Their skills have been honed by years of mental discipline. They also have limited abilities to project suggestions into other minds. Vulcans are also highly sensitive to powerful thoughts. Vulcans possess the ability to transfer their 'Katra', or soul into another person if nessasscery.
Physiology
Vulcans are taller than Terrans, and stronger. They have pointed ears and an inner eyelid. A Vulcan's blood is copper based, therefore it is a greenish colour and results is less short-term tiredness. The life span of a Vulcan is approximately 40% longer than terrans with an average of 205 years. Vulcans hide their emotions but due to hormones are subject to highly intense emotional outbursts. Their mating cycle happens every seven years and is called the Pon Farr, which can last for up to 2 months. The Pon Farr can be experienced by non-vulcans if they are linked with a Vulcan in the throes of Pon Farr.
Vulcans are tall and slim. Males average 2 meters in height and 50 kilo's in weight, while females are generally 1:7 meters tall and weigh in at only 50 kilo's. Arms and legs are long, slim and highly muscular. Vulcans are short bodied and very high waisted. A clear inner eyelid protects the Vulcan eye, developed to protect the eye against the intense light of the Vulcan sun. Otherwise, the eye is very similar to Terrans. A Vulcans sight is better suited to 'night vision' because the eye is more acute at picking up low frequency waves in the infa-red spectrum. Vulcans have sloping eyebrows. Vulcan ears are shaped to help funnel air and intensify sound. Their hearing is more acute than Terans. The Vulcan nose is shaped like Terrans but is not as efficient at smelling. It is highly adept, however at filtering air and passing to the lungs. Some sixty per cent of taste is smell, so vulcans have a very poor sense of taste.Vulcans only have 28 teeth. They also have very long heads. Their skull is on average 2mm thicker than a terran skull, and the Vulcan midbrain is also larger. Vulcans do not possess sweat glands, and their skin is a two-way thing. It acts as a waterproof barrier but also allows the body to extract environmental moisture.
A Vulcans heart is about where a terran liver is.
Culture
In the past vulcans used to kill to win their mates, and even now they will revert back to the ancient rituals during the Pon Farr. Elements of vulcan prehistory suggest that the vulcan race may have orginated with colonists from another planet. In ancient times, Vulcans were a war-like race, leading to their near extinction. Its ancients believed in gods, such as war, peace and death. As with other space-faring groups, the Vulcans use an easily identifiable subspace band frequency in communication. Cardassian mental disciplines may be a match for Vulcan's, although those of the other race do not employ telepathy. Vulcan IDIC pins are highly collectible and not usually available on Deep Space Nine. Healer Senva is nominated for the Carrington Award in 2371. The species is made up of many varied skin tones, including a dark brown. Lieutenant Tuvok serving on the U.S.S. Voyager is a full Vulcan, while legendary Ambassador Spock is half Vulcan and half Human. The Romulans are an offshoot of the Vulcan species.
