Romulan

Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek content.

"Romulans are treacherous, deceitful!" -- Worf, son of Mogh.

The Romulans are a vulcanoid species that live in the Beta Quadrant. They founded and rule the Romulan Star Empire.

For a list of Romulan individuals, see the category: Romulans.

Contents 1 Physiology 1.1 Telepathy 1.2 Medical Conditions 1.3 Splinter Species 2 History 3 Food and Drink 4 Culture 4.1 Beliefs, Religion and Mythology 4.2 Family 4.3 Psychology, Society and Interactions with Others 4.4 Games 4.5 Rituals 5 Connections

[edit] Physiology

Being descended from Vulcans, Romulans have pointed ears, eyebrows that are arched and upswept, a heart located where a Human liver is present and copper-based green blood. As such, they possess many similarities with only small differences separating the two species.

One of these noted differences is the presence of only a vestigial inner eyelid, as the Romulans no longer live under a bright sun. As such, the inner eyelid no longer possessed a function and became vestigial, though a small number of newly born Romulans do possess an additional lid. Romulan geneticists, however, believe that within another few centuries, the genes that produce the inner eyelid would be bred out.

Furthermore, due to the deceased gravity on Romulan worlds compared to Vulcan, the Romulans have lost the greater strength as well as endurance of their Vulcan cousins. (The Way of D'Era: The Romulans)

A Romulan possesses greater strength compared to a Human of similar height and weight. This is attributed to the greater muscle mass and increased bone density of their bodies. (TNG novel: The Romulan Prize)

Most Romulans have two brow ridges above the bridge of their nose, forming a V-shape on the forehead. A minority of Romulans lack the ridges, making them outwardly indistinguishable from Vulcans.

Whilst being direct descendents of the Vulcans the Romulans have not exhibited the physical strength and telepathic abilities common in Vulcans, this is possibly because the Romulans do not share the Vulcans mental discipline. Physiologically speaking, the Romulans have a much faster heart rate then humans, at an average rate of 240 beats per minute. (TLE novel: Serpents Among the Ruins)

In addition to this, the Romulans did not undergo the affects of Pon farr due to mutations faced between them and their Vulcan cousins. Despite this, certain Romulans are telepathically receptive to this condition. (TOS novel: Killing Time)

Finally, the Romulan lifespan is noted to be still prodigious and it's not uncommon for certain members of the species to pass two centuries of age. (The Way of D'Era: The Romulans), however in an episode of Voyager entitled "Eye Of The Needle" the crew encounter a Romulan with a 2 year old child who states that "in 20 years I will be an old man".

Like many Vulcanoid species, the Romulans require a daily diet of Kelassium in order to avoid intestinal scarring. (TNG novel: Red Sector)

[edit] Telepathy

Romulans do not demonstrate the telepathic traits that their Vulcan cousins possess though it has been hypothesized and speculated that the gene that allows the abilities does surface on the rare occasion among Romulans. (TOS novel: Captain's Blood)

• Vulcan's Soul Exiles states that the followers of Surak, who possessed the telepathic abilities among their kind, were banished to Remus while the others were killed on the journey across space. This could primarily explain why the telepathic traits of the Vulcan travellers did not get inherited by the Romulans.

[edit] Medical Conditions

• LV-132
• Myrruthesia
• T'Shevat's Syndrome
• Tuvan Syndrome
• Terothka virus

[edit] Splinter Species

• Chalchaj 'qmey
• Debrune
• Reman
• Watraii

[edit] History

See main article: Romulan history.

The Romulan originate from the planet Vulcan where they were one of many warring factions on the violent world. After the Vulcan race adopted the beliefs and doctrines of Surak the Romulans departed to find a world of their own in deference of the Vulcan culture.

They found the world Romulus and founded the Romulan Star Empire.

[edit] Food and Drink

• Romulan ale
• Carallun
• Kali-fal
• Jumbo Romulan mollusk
• Osol twist
• Viinerine

[edit] Culture

[edit] Beliefs, Religion and Mythology

Romulans believe in the Way of D'era which dictates that they are destined to rule the galaxy and is perhaps the source of their arrogant views as well as their belief in their own superiority. It comes from the teachings of Tellus who stated that their people were the children of the Vhorani who made the Vulcan race to become their inheritors to a great destiny of controlling the galaxy. Therefore, under these teachings, all other races were inferior to the Romulan people.

This also became the source of the Romulan concept of honor which differs greatly compared to the Klingons for it was not a warrior-like concept but a reflection of the accomplishments made by the individual on a family, personal and imperial level. (Unicorn Games RPG: The Way of D'Era: The Romulan Star Empire)

Romulan myths stated that their race was forged in Vorta Vor. (TOS movie: The Final Frontier) Known as the Wellspring of Creation where the ancient Vhorani created their race.

Another concept that is viewed religiously by certain Romulans is a belief in the Elements which they believe embody the universe itself. (TOS novel: My Enemy, My Ally)

Interestingly, the Romulan have their own concept of a mythical creature that would die in fire and be reborn such as the Phoenix of Earth myths. It was known as Alth'Indor in the Romulan language. (DS9 novel: Millennium The War of the Prophets)

In addition to this, certain demons existed within Romulan beliefs. One such creature was a demon lord called Bettatan'ru who certain Romulans prayed to in order to achieve their goals. (TOS novel: Killing Time)

[edit] Family

Details from the Eridam Papers state that the Romulan Way allows for no room for individuals who are not physically able to serve their obligations to the Star Empire. As such, children born with physical deformities or attributes that impede their ability to serve their society are not allowed to live which means that the Romulans practice euthanasia. The development of the child is monitored closely until the age of 5. If the child is fit then they enter a rigorous training program of schooling, cultural indoctrination and physical training for 15 years. During this time, the child is regularly tested as the Romulans are reluctant to spend resouces on a child that is unable to compete; such children are forever left behind.

Till the age of 20, the child is judged on whether they are physically and mentally fit by Romulan standards. If they are not then they must prove that they have the right to live by fighting a youth of the same approximate age. This trial by combat is to the death with the winner proving their worthiness while the loser being shown to be unsuitable to become a Romulan citizen. Once this is complete, it is compulsory for all Romulans to spend at least 5 years in the military with both sexes serving equally which provides the bulk of the Empire's military forces. After completion of this tour of duty, the Romulan is accepted as a citizen and may marry. (FASA reference: The Romulans)

Within Romulan society, there exists the family structure known as the House who are an extended family of nobles who sit in the Imperial Romulan Senate. The leader of the House tend to manevuer its members to positions of power and authority in order to enhance the Houses power, prestige and wealth. Houses can be divided and merged which can lead to new Houses forming or old Houses being destroyed. (TOS video game: Starfleet Command)

Family is important to a Romulan, most notably among the upper echelons, the pseudo-aristocracy that rules Romulan life. Family is a source of pride. It is a way to amass great wealth and power within the empire. Notable Romulan families control entire fleets and worlds, and most often send a family member to sit on the Senate. They are patricians in the classic sense, believing they have the right to rule, but caring for their subjects as though they were beloved children. (ST reference: Aliens)

[edit] Psychology, Society and Interactions with Others

Romulans are known to fear disgrace over death. (TAS episode: "The Practical Joker") This was one of the reasons why Romulan parents were known to kill offspring who possessed any form of birth defect as they would be a waste of resources as well as a burden on the family. (TNG episode: "The Enemy")

Part of Romulan behavior was influenced by the belief in D'Era which stated that they were the caretakers of the universe.

Part of their races belief that they are a superior form of life and destined to rule the galaxy stems from the fact that the early Romulans, once they settled on their new home world, encountered very few alien races and tended to believe that they were the only advanced race in existence. (TOS video game: Starfleet Command)

Paranoia was etched deeply within the Romulan psyche and character background which was made evident when the Romulan Senate's floor held a picture of the Romulan Neutral Zone, a symbol of everything that inhibits and threatens the Empire. (TTN novel: Taking Wing)

Among the Romulan people, the race developed the concept of Final Honor which was something that requires a Romulan to sacrifice their life to prevent them from being captured or for their honor being taken from them. (TOS novel: Vulcan's Soul Epiphany)

Romulans tend to consider themselves, as well as their distant Vulcan brethren, as superior to other races. (TOS video game: Starfleet Command II) However, this being said, the Romulans also consider the Vulcans to have strayed away from the warrior teachings of D'Era and have abandoned their destiny that was given to them by the Vhorani. (Last Unicorn RPG: he Way of D'Era: The Romulan Star Empire)

The Romulans possess a caste based society with a high caste given more respect due to the nature of their birth. (TNG novel: The Romulan Prize) The Reman species, being an offshoot of the Romulans, are considered an undesirable caste within Romulan society. (TNG movie: Star Trek X: Nemesis) Romulans are also known to make use of slaves. (TNG novel: The Romulan Prize)

[edit] Games

• D'elo
• Trayatik
• Khariat
• latrunculo

[edit] Rituals

• Eitreih'hveinn

[edit] Connections

Romulan article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.