Familiar Cultures [Lesser Species: Group/Concept]
Groups, species or more broadly, cultures, that exist in service to higher-powers. Two of the more notable examples of this are the Trviolians, who have turned being a subjugated species into an ecological niche and the Ogrons who have developed a culture that views their own bodies as essentially technological in nature, to be upgraded and improved upon across generations to better attract “buyers.” Humorously, this makes them one of the few cultures to successfully engage in something resembling eugenics.
Indeed, the Ogrons have been so successful in fulfilling the Familiar role that they have formed a relationship with the Dalek Empire, this set-up is somewhat comparable to the relationship between pilot fish and various deep-sea predators. Oddly, despite the Dalek’s xenophobic hatred of most other lifeforms they have developed a number of familiar bonds, these include; the aforementioned Ogrons, the lupine Werelok and perhaps most infamously, the so-called Andromedans. [1] Other examples of this can be seen among the human and posthuman cults that treat the Great Houses and breakaway groups such as the Celestis and the Ermites with something approaching religious mania. [2] Of course, in the case of the Ermites these groups often worship them in a bid to become them, making it a less clear example of a Familiar Culture.
The Andromedans were of course, responsible for the extra-galactic invasion of Mutter’s Spiral towards the beginning of the third century under the New Calendar. The Daleks would ultimately be revealed as the true instigators of this invasion, having fled the Milky Way via unknown means following successive defeats during the so-called Dalek Wars of preceding centuries. So while the Andromedans truly alien nature caused a number of problems for the Terrans, the Dalek’s involvement would ultimately mean that it was a threat that originated within the Mutter's Spiral itself.
The philosopher Richard Harper-Vern would note similarities between Familiar Cultures and the relationship between Homeworlders and their timeships, of course he would also remark that in that case it was unclear who served who.
NOTES
Harper-Vern would die tragically young, slipping and cracking his skull open on a tasteful side-table/vase combo that his wife would later claim as having no recollection of either of them buying.
Text taken from “The Bumper Book of War/Time Facts.”
- Prof. M. Flowers
