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Library Data: D Displacement : - If a vessel or ship was placed in a sea of hydrogen on a Terra gravity world the displacement would be the number of tons of hydrogen the vessel displaces. Dream Shit : - A vulgar, but extremely apt, name for a drug sold on the planet of Thagam. While taking the drug the user would feel like he was experiencing the dreams of others and could let himself go into anothers life as it were. Deemed originally to be a powerful narcotic the truth is the stuff is excreted by the Slake Moth. The Slake Moths suck the conciousnesses out of their victims and their excrement is used to feed their young until they are old enough to hunt for themselves. The stuff is literally the concentrated memories of the victims of the moths. Droyne : - Intelligent major race inhabiting scattered worlds within an area larger than the region of the current Third Imperium. The Droyne are a small race derived from winged omnivore gatherers. They vary in size depending on caste but generally stand one metre tall (large workers and warriors can be larger than humans). The history of their evolution remains a puzzle because their homeworld is not known with any certainty. Droyne society is divided into rigid castes determined when an individual reaches adolescence. The six castes of the Droyne each serve different functions within Droyne society. Although identical at the time of caste selection, caste members develop pronounced physical and mental differences by maturity. Different genetic programs are awakened by differences in diet and environment among the various castes. Young leaders, for instance, experience a nearly 30 percent increase in brain size in the first year after casting. The following are descriptions and definitions of castes: Workers - Manual labour and mundane ordinary activity are not too smart and are temperamentally suited to contentment with ordinary labour and subservient tasks. Warrior - Trained for combat and possessing comparatively well developed muscles and reflexes, the warrior is the security troop, the marine, and the policeman of the Droyne culture. They are common in frontier bases, and less numerous in civilised areas. Drone - Drones have a variety of purposes in Droyne society. They perform a reproductive role which makes them parents to Droyne young, and they have a role in the ceremonies which determine caste for maturing young. In addition, drones comprise a sort of middle management caste, which is responsible for many of the routine functions in business, trade, and administration. Technician - This caste is the science-orientated portion of Droyne society and is concerned with both research and practical implementation of technology. Sport - Although the caste system of the Droyne is rather rigid, the sport is the deliberately accepted exception to caste structure. Sports are special individuals who cross caste lines to become scouts, messengers, representatives, hunters, prospectors, and to take other occupations that require individual initiative or separation from Droyne society for long periods of time. A sport is the most commonly encountered Droyne outside their own worlds. Leader - Leaders are required to manage and direct society. They are ultimately responsible for everything that the Droyne as a whole do. Society: There is little individual freedom in Droyne society, and as a result, society and government join into one concept. Workers work. Leaders lead. All of society is dedicated to continuing the existence that provides all members with food, shelter and the other amenities that make life enjoyable. In addition, there is little discord in Droyne society when things are running smoothly, as each member of society has its own function to perform. Only when disaster occurs is the group forced to strain. A typical Droyne group consists of a variety of Droyne from the different castes. There will be many workers, few drones and leaders, and technicians and warriors based on current needs. Each group will also have several sports, although they may not be present; instead they may be occupied with their own solitary tasks. This is not to say Droyne are mindless. Leaders are-quite capable and responsible; warriors haveistrategic and tactical senses; technicians are inventive and clever. But all accept the central group as a part of their lives and work for its benefit above their own.