The Lorath Matriarchy are a reasonably accurately named nation with a theocratic government and a rigid caste system, it's citizens are highly orderly and indoctrinated from birth into the state religion. The practice of non-chattel slavery is prevalent within the state, which exercises extreme control over the personal lives of its citizens to provide adequately and for all.
Physically the lorath generally resemble the humanoid shape, with vast genetic differences between castes and gender dimorphism. Their society also contains small minorities of other species, either believers or useful, along with the Helashio slave class.
Lorath society is highly structured and unyielding, and contact between members of different castes is often expected to be formal to the utmost among many orthodox citizens. The Four castes are Turlisten, Fyunnen, Occhestians, and L'manel, there are also Freemen, the slave class.
The Turlisten class are the exclusive ruling caste of the Matriarchy, they act as both members of state and religion, with the Goddess' mortal representation, the Xiaah, chosen only from their fold. Often near-worshipped by other classes, these lorath are rarely seen by any who do no frequent the halls of the palace, and so are not usually available as PCs.
The Fyunnen warrior class are breed from not only the strong, but the cunning and the ruthless. Devoted to their protective duties over the rest of lorath society, they stoically take their designated place as the primary demographic of the LSDF (ostensibly a volunteer military) and the protection of their Goddess' interests. They are among the largest lorath, with certain genetic quirks allowing extremely tall and strong female warriors, sometimes called Amazons by outsiders. They have small, pointy ears.
The Occhestians act as the scientific and engineering back bone of the Matriarchy, their smaller size belying their considerable scientific expertise. Often fulfilling specialist roles within the LSDF, Occhestian scientists are seen aboard many LSDF ships.
L'manel are an extremely nature-orientated caste and often work as agricultural experts and druids, they bond to animal partners for life, and each ritual is unique to every family within. They are also common among the ranks of low clergy. Their ears are long with three distinct points on the end.
Tolerated either as useful hangers-on from transition (although few quite remember exactly why they came), or as alien believers of the true faith, foreigners form a small minority within lorath culture as they are not slaves, but neither are they lorath. While many lorath look down upon these, they are a plucky bunch and prove their worth time and again.
For now, players looking to play as a Foreigner/Freeman should consult with their GM, and refer to the CCG of the species they wish to use if available.
Native to the same planet as the Lorath, these lemur eared humanoids were enslaved during the ancient wars for supremacy fought eons ago. Now they serve as the servants and labor for lorath society, and while they may never rise up very far within lorath society, their breath between the different castes they serve give them one degree of freedom their masters will never indulge for themselves.
Lorath have three names, two given to them by their parents, and a virtue name they choose to adopt for themselves. Native lorath names commonly feature an ' to break up vowels, while the Virtue name is taken to be used when dealing with foreigners and others outside of caste.
The typical upbringings of each caste are often extremely different and unique from one another, and you should refer to the more in depth guide for the caste you might be interested in.
While generally humanoid in shape and form, lorath are often very pale compared to humans, with noticeable, but vestigial black wings on their backs under their shoulder blades. The female of the species tends to be more physically dominant, and indeed the largest lorath are almost exclusively female.
Being born from eggs, Lorath lack bellybuttons.
For the specific features of each caste, please refer to the separate CCG pages linked above and below.
Majority historical events written in criminally brief detail.
Banished from the surface by the helashio in an apocalyptic war of ancient technology, the lorath fled underground and over the course of millennia they planned and prepared and waited for a their chance to seize the surface back. While the helashio waged war amongst themselves, the lorath hardened under the guidence of the Goddess, and when the helashio were weak from their wars and tired from their conquests, the lorath rose up and took their rightful place as rulers of their homeworld.
The advent of star travel and the meeting of alien races was not kind to the lorath, and through deception and confusion, the Occhestians caste accidentally rebelled against the Matriarchy en mass. In time these scars heeled and the rebels were brought to account, but some wounds still haven't quite closed for many.
With powerful enemies, the lorath engineered their own escape into a brand new dimension, taking their peoples, their helpers, and their slaves to a new and exciting galaxy.
Addi tonal links for your leisure.