Vezda
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The Vezda are an extremely ancient species of extra-dimensional lifeforms capable of possessing humanoid bodies. Exhibiting powers of telepathy, energy manipulation, great physical strength beyond the physiology of their hosts, and the capacity to traverse vast distances, they have been regarded by many cultures as a profound, ancient, and malevolent threat.
Encountered only briefly by Starfleet, in 2402 their presence and influence was found to have a long history in the enigmatic Shackleton Expanse.
History
The Vezda were drawn into this dimension thousands of years ago by an unidentified, highly advanced civilization experimenting with phase-shifting in their pursuit of immortality. Identified as dangerous parasites, they were imprisoned on Vadia IX, sealed in orbs within a layered dimensional prison.
Before this imprisonment, the Vezda had extensive interactions with a range of species. Both their malevolence and influence were so strong that they are believed to have shaped even the concept of mythical evil across thousands of cultures. Not all cultures rejected them, however, with some admiring their power and worshipping the Vezda as gods.
In 2261, the USS Enterprise accidentally freed a Vezda named Zeperez from the prison on Vadia IX, bearing witness to their powers of lethal possession. The Vezda ultimately escaped the Enterprise and attempted to liberate its brethren, before the containment of the prison facility was restored by the powerful entity known as ‘the Beholder.’ Before 2402, this was the last and only known encounter with the Vezda by Starfleet.
It is unclear if the prison facility on Vadia IX is the only one of its kind. Likewise, it is unknown if any Vezda escaped or evaded captivity.
Biology
Incorporeal and invisible to sensors in their natural state, the Vezda had a distinct form: small entities, barely larger than the human hand, with rounded heads and split jaws with large fangs. Despite their size, a single Vezda could generate energy comparable to a star.
Possession of a host caused brain death, marked by the violent ejection of the eyes, while leaving the body indefinitely animated. The Vezda retained all memories and knowledge of the host, and could perfectly impersonate them. Over time, they developed immense strength, resistance to harm, telepathy, and the ability to manipulate energy such that they could unleash blasts and manipulate forcefields. They could abandon a host at will or be expelled by powerful and lethal phaser fire.
They had a limited telepathic read on those around them. The Vezda Zeperez, for example, could learn information about others and use it for psychological manipulation, but could not telepathically extract the Enterprise’s command codes. Starfleet Science speculate that their telepathy is linked to the subject’s feelings, with the Vezda only able to extract knowledge linked with emotions, particularly painful ones.
Starfleet hypothesises the Vezda draw power from negative emotions, which is why they are drawn to and cause suffering. This was seen on Skygowan, where Zeperez whipped worshippers into a frenzy of self-mutilation and pain for unclear reasons - but soon after, confronted the crew of the Enterprise and demonstrated greater powers in energy manipulation than before.
The Vezda can travel vast distances using interdimensional ley-lines: folds in interdimensional space along specific, permanent lines. Even when possessing a physical body, the Vezda can cover hundreds of light-years faster than any starship, passing with their corporeal form into inter-dimensional space, and reconstituting the host body at the far side.
Culture
The Vezda’s legacy is one of fear and myth. Many species saw them as evil incarnate, while others worshipped them as gods. The Gorn in particular developed an instinctive hatred and ability to sense them. On worlds such as Skygowan, they sustained themselves through suffering and exerted influence by directing followers, commanding hosts, or manipulating leaders. They inspired cults, built monuments, and at times drove whole societies into war or fear. Where necessary, they have shared knowledge and technology, and left their technological and cultural mark upon societies and their achievements.
The Vezda show no evidence of community or hierarchy of their own. Their presence across history appears scattered, with lone individuals or small groups shaping events, but no known settlements or organized society.
Technology
The Vezda were imprisoned in a highly advanced interdimensional facility constructed by an unknown civilisation, yet demonstrated deep knowledge of sophisticated technology themselves, especially devices manipulating interdimensional space. On Skygowan, locals built a portal under their instruction that could access the prison on Vadia IX, decorated with imagery of ancient evil from many cultures. This aesthetic has been seen wherever they have influenced constructions, and appears rooted in revelry at their own mythic malevolence.
New Frontiers Campaign
Shackleton Expanse
The Shackleton Expanse, criss-crossed with interdimensional ley-lines, was once central to Vezda power. These routes let them move freely across the region, shaping societies with far fewer limitations than elsewhere in the galaxy.
Over centuries, the Vezda built their closest semblance of an empire here, ruling through possession, cult worship, and terror. Their dominion thrived on suffering: some worlds were left with only myths, while others still bear ruins, monuments, and technologies created under their rule. In some cases, the cultural and technological scars remain woven into societies long after the Vezda’s presence ended.
Their direct influence ceased roughly ten millennia ago - likely coinciding with their imprisonment on Vadia IX - but echoes linger. Civilisations across the Expanse preserve fragmented myths, imagery of blindness, and traces of dark religions. Starfleet explorers continue to find ruins, relics, and malfunctioning technologies linked to interdimensional manipulation, almost always on worlds aligned with ley-lines where the Vezda once walked openly.
The Shroud
On certain worlds at the intersection of ley-lines, over ten thousand years ago, the Vezda constructed towering spires using local labour. Each structure, identical in design, was a kilometre-high pillar of stone and masonry encasing empty space, with a now-inert energy orb at its base. Together, these orbs formed a vast interdimensional network that manipulated subspace and generated what became known as the Shroud.
The network projected a resonance field into subspace, subtly destabilising warp fields above factor 2. This prevented interstellar travel and unity among local civilizations, while the Vezda themselves remained unimpeded by travelling through ley-lines. When the Vaadwaur Blackout collapsed and local subspace harmonics were forcibly reset, the network’s calibration was disrupted, leaving the spires inert and the Shroud dissolved.
The Shroud likely ensured the Vezda’s dominance despite their small numbers, isolating even advanced societies from challenging their rule. Though the spires continued to operate long after the Vezda’s fall, their collapse after the Blackout appears final. No known civilisation has the knowledge or resources to reactivate them, as the manipulation of interdimensional space requires energy and expertise far beyond modern capabilities.
Vezda Technology
Remnants of Vezda constructions and technology are scattered on worlds across the Expanse, much of it fallen to ruin over ten thousand years. It ranges from incomprehensible rubble to hidden, functioning, sophisticated systems. When functional, Vezda technology - likely parasitically derived from those who first brought them from inter-dimensional space and later captured them - is powerful and sophisticated, so advanced it may meet Arthur C. Clarke’s famous ‘Third Law’ to Starfleet officers - ‘indistinguishable from magic.’
In the Expanse, remnants of Vezda presence were almost always physically constructed by locals under the influence or instructions of Vezda, posing as deities or possessing their leaders. It uniformly served one of three broad purposes: control, empowerment, or suffering, often overlapping.
- Control: Much of Vezda construction served to uphold or facilitate their rule. This included, but was not limited to the Shroud network, designed to prevent their vassals from allying against them. In some worlds, it is as simple as vast monuments to their might, seats of power where they ruled directly; architectural marvels which placed a mundane, social and psychological pressure on their vassals. They also constructed devices - or incorporated them into these demonstrations of power - that made use of telepathic technology, influencing populations’ thoughts or feelings, or deriving knowledge from them, often for the purpose of manipulation.
- Empowerment: Tools to support or empower a Vezda’s own abilities. While the Vezda could travel themselves through ley-lines, they may have had constructed other means of travelling vast distances. This might have been done, for example, to relocate slave labour populaces or travel to locations not covered by ley-lines. It may also include telepathic technology which enabled the Vezda to parasitically feed upon the thoughts and feelings of vassals, strengthening them.
- Suffering: Starfleet Science hypothesise that being in the presence of emotions linked to suffering empowers and strengthens the Vezda. As such, they often exploited and oppressed their vassals, or turned people under their influence towards war. While some constructions may have directly aided this - telepathic devices to enhance painful memories, or drive violent urges - they may also have simply shared ‘mundane’ technologies which made it easier for their puppets or vassals to inflict oppression, violence, and atrocities on each other for their benefit.
In Play
- The Vezda are the villains of Strange New Worlds season 3, appearing in two episodes. These are the only recorded encounters with the Vezda characters could learn of prior to the events of New Frontiers.
- The Vezda themselves have been imprisoned by an unknown and vastly powerful alien species in their interdimensional prison on Vadia IX. They are no longer a consistently present and malevolent threat.
- Lone encounters with a Vezda who somehow escaped imprisonment are permitted. They are incredibly powerful as a direct adversary. Remember that possession is lethal.
- Many worlds of the Shackleton Expanse show signs of the Vezda’s historic empire. This can be through the native culture’s own archives, buildings, history, myths, society, or religions - present, or long-dead. It may be through Vezda constructions: monuments to their power where they ruled directly, revelling in their supremacy and the suffering of others. They may have left remnants of advanced technology that would aid their vassals in inflicting this suffering.
- Over the course of the campaign, ships and crews may freely learn of the Vezda’s historic influence, explore Vezda ruins and ancient technologies, meet lingering cults or even rogue Vezda, and discover that they were once the cause of the recently fallen Shroud.
- The Vezda are not a reawakening threat. They were contained and imprisoned at the end of SNW season 3 - what is found in the Shackleton Expanse are the echoes of their malevolent influence, and perhaps the odd rogue Vezda.