The Native Tribes are the original sentient inhabitants of VOI 700 D, which they call “Shang Gha Lha”. These towering, agile beings live in harmony with the planet’s diverse ecosystems. They are spread across the planet’s Habitual Belt.

Spiritually and ecologically connected to their land, the Natives view themselves as caretakers of the planet. Their shared language, mythology, and cultural structures suggest a mysterious common origin, which is later revealed to be the work of the Zonko.

The total population of the Native Tribes is estimated to be around 2.5 million individuals.

Natives exhibit distinct physical traits that set them apart from ExoHumans:

• Height: Average over 2.20 meters
• Eyes: Four eyes with extended visual range
• Skin: Color-shifting with seasonal cycles
• Hair: Human-like, may change with mood or season
• Ears: Large, highly sensitive; capable of long-distance hearing and echolocation
• Feet: Webbed, suitable for aquatic movement
• Limbs: Two strong arms and legs, highly athletic
• Teeth: Flat, suited for a vegetarian diet
• Sensory Organs: Specialized organs for sensing vibration and terrain

Although the Native Tribes appear to be purely biological beings, they are in fact highly advanced bio-engineered hybrids created by the Zonko. Their abilities are the result of embedded nanotechnology and biomechanical enhancements — though the Natives remain unaware of this origin and perceive their traits as entirely natural.

• Spirit Awakening: At age four, Native children experience a sudden leap into adult-level awareness and skill
• Regenerative Abilities: Capable of accelerated healing and even limb regrowth (powered by internal nanotechnology – wether the Natives or the Exohumans do know about that)
• Death Date Knowledge: From the Spirit Awakening, each Native knows their exact death date
• Non-Verbal Communication: Can transmit thoughts and emotions silently
• Cultural Cohesion: Deep communal bonds and spiritual alignment across tribes

The Native Tribes do not have a written history or scientific understanding of their own origin. Their oral traditions and rituals create the impression that they have lived on Shang Gha Lha for countless generations. In reality, this belief is part of a programmed cultural memory designed by the Zonko. According to ExoHuman timekeeping — which neither the Natives nor the Zonko themselves use — the first Native Tribes were created around the year 2500 AD, shortly after the Zonko initiated the tidal lock experiment on VOI 700 D.

The Native's culture and social structure consists of:

• Tribal Life: Each tribe operates independently but shares linguistic and spiritual foundations
• Parenting: No concept of exclusive biological parenthood; children are raised communally by elders and designated caregivers
• Rites of Passage: Major life events are marked with spiritual ceremonies, particularly the Spirit Awakening
• Spiritual Beliefs: Nearly all tribes share a creation myth (Vai'Sharin) in which they were formed by godlike beings and placed on Shang Gha Lha to protect it
• Language: Shang Telu is spoken across all tribes, with regional dialects
• Art and Ritual: Tribal identity is reinforced through music, storytelling, tattoos, garments, and seasonal festivals

• Natural Symbiosis: Tribes live in harmony with their environment, using sustainable tools crafted from organic materials
• Biological Enhancement: Unknowingly powered by embedded Zonko nanotechnology, allowing for regeneration and advanced perception
• No High-Energy Tech: Native culture rejects or lacks awareness of advanced technology as used by ExoHumans or Zonko
• Ancestral Tools: Weapons and tools include spears, bows, and herbal remedies, often enhanced with biomechanical precision

• ExoHumans: Initially saw them as invaders; many tribes participated in the Great War to defend their land. Following the Peace Treaty, the Natives became the dominant force on VOI 700 D. They now oversee ExoHuman behavior via the Permanent Native Supervisor.
• Zonko: Revered as divine creators in Native myths. Natives are unaware of their artificial origin as a Zonko creation. Their entire cultural memory and history were programmed.

• Alliance of Native Tribes: A diplomatic coalition in the Asari Region – formed after the Great War to negotiate and enforce the Peace Treaty with ExoHumans
• Spiritual Leaders: Respected across all tribes; act as spiritual guides, legal advisors, and keepers of sacred knowledge
• Warrior Castes: In some tribes, a warrior class protects territory and performs ceremonial roles; particularly prominent in tribes like the Honga and Zark

The Native Tribes are one of the central pillars of the storyworld of 102 Lightyears Away From Home. Their strength lies not only in their numbers and physical power but in their spiritual and ecological wisdom. They offer an alternative lens on civilization — one rooted in balance, ancestry, and planetary stewardship.

Use Native Tribes to:

• Explore themes of identity, memory, and artificial origin
• Create tensions between ancestral belief and hidden scientific truth
• Set up conflicts between tribal values and ExoHuman pragmatism
• Introduce moral dilemmas around technology, nature, and sovereignty
• Create diverse gameplay by distinguishing nomadic, sedentary, and semi-nomadic tribal experiences
• Maintain narrative mystery: Player characters in the Beta and early Gamma Age are unaware of the Natives’ nanotechnology or artificial creation. Treat these facts as high-level secrets to be revealed gradually. Dungeon Masters should decide carefully when — or if — to expose the truth.

• Zonko
• Shang Telu
• Vai'Sharin
• Alliance of Native Tribes
• Habitual Belt
• Known Native Tribes on VOI 700 D

The races of the storyworld:

• Exohumans
• Native Tribes of VOI 700 D
• Zonko