Lorav

Overview

The lorav are one-third of the Triad species. They are the most technologically advanced and mechanically minded out of the three. They are credited with building the first FTL ships independent of The Ancients. Their homeworld is Levos in the Irradiated Fields. They are distinguishable from the Regalans and the Eldevians via a ridge between their eyes and up their foreheads.

History

For a more concise history, please see Lorav History.

Origins

When the Ancients sent in Galmok and Ramok, the lorav and eldevians were seen as one species called the lorelds. They were similar enough to be grouped like this, but the lorav species had already started to break away from the eldevians. However, only after Marok was sent in, in 1197, were the lorav were fully recognized. Marok saw a kindred spirit in that they were primarily viewed as outsiders, and Marok had been sent simply to temper Ramok. Only a year later, in 1198, Marok left with the lorav, officially splitting the lorelds, and took them to their new homeworld, Levos.

The Fall of Marok

The lorav thrived under Marok's rule, and technology advanced by leaps and bounds thanks to the freedom the lorav were given to do what they do best: invent. In 1430, the lorav came up with their own spaceflight technology independent of the Ancients and gave that knowledge to Galmok and Ramok upon the Ancient's final request that they work together peaceably. This opened up the quadrant to the Triad, though they maintained their distance from the less technologically advanced species.
Unfortunately, Marok did not enjoy the same long rule as his brothers. In 1447, Marok received a report from a survey vessel that Levos' sun in the Makoran subsystem was in the process of "freezing over." Marok had his doubts seeing as Levos' weather had not seen any drastic changes, so he went out in his own ship to verify the reports firsthand. The last transmission Levos received from Marok was his findings of massive amounts of unknown radiation permeating the space nearest the sun. He expressed his concerns that the unnatural radiation would reach Levos someday if preventative measures were not taken. Marok and his crew never returned, and Marok was presumed dead.
While it is still largely a mystery and might be pure coincidence, there appears to be a link between how old Marok was when he died and how old the average lorav lives. Marok was said to be just a little over 250 years old, which is the average lifespan of the lorav, barring sickness or premature death. This holds true for the other Triad species regarding Galmok and Ramok (regalans typically live to be near one thousand before succumbing to old age, and eldevians, likewise, at about 500).

Radiation

The apparent, unnatural radiation found by Marok did indeed spread throughout the Makoran subsystem and even further out into what is now known as the Irradiated Fields (it never had another name as most of it remained unexplored due to the fear of radiation). The lorav set up anti-rad nets that now make up the Irradiated Fields' boundaries to keep the rest of the quadrant safe. What is known as the northern border used to extend further into vlann space but has since been brought back to the border it is today.

Government

President

The lorav government most closely resembles a representative democracy, overseen by a President elected in a free election. A lorav president's primary purpose is to ensure the unity and prosperity of the people. They set the example and the tone during the time they are in office. For example, one president might focus on one particular area, like agriculture. Therefore, during their time in office, more energy will be put into growing crops more effectively or building better greenhouses. Some Presidents might take a broader approach and let the scholars deal with issues on a case-by-case basis if they feel one area needs more attention than others. Presidents are often elected based on these points and what the people think needs to be focused on at the time.
During Marok's reign, there was no president, per se, but Marok acted as one. He wanted to be entirely different from his brothers (a monarchy and theocracy). He allowed his people to elect those fit enough to represent them accurately. These representatives became known as the Scholars.

Scholars

Scholars are elected for each of the twelve branches that make up the House of Scholars. These branches are agriculture, justice, technological advancement, military, naval (anything involved with naval ships), economics, infrastructure, transportation, housing, foreign relations, education, and commerce. These Scholars meet and collectively decide what to change or fix with their respective branches. The president presides over these meetings and makes sure the will of the people is kept at the forefront of the Scholars agendas.

Presidential Advisors

The president has four advisors: a Scholar representative who relays information between the House of Scholars and the president; a Seer who helps guide the president spiritually and with spiritual matters; and two civilian representatives representing the two regions on Levos. These advisors work in tandem with the president to act as a system of checks and balances. If a president is deemed unfit, they may be impeached. This has only happened twice in Levos' history.

Language

Loravian is the language spoken by the lorav. At one point, there were two branches of the language: old Loravian and new Loravian. Old Loravian was spoken before Marok and created to separate the emerging lorav species from their eldevian counterparts. This original language was spoken until about 1229, when Marok and the Scholars reformed it, making it more streamlined. However, Common is the primary language in modern times, but Loravian is still taught in lorav schools.

Engineering and Architectural Feats

Spaceflight Technology

The Ancients were highly technologically advanced, but they did not want to share their technology openly. They felt that would unduly influence the natural progression of the technological evolution of the Triad. Marok knew the basics of spaceflight and came up with the first modernly recognizable FLT (faster-than-light) engine system. It could only reach about 2 FTL, making travel between the Triad planets possible.

Anti-Radiation Nets

After Marok disappeared, it was decided that preventative measures needed to be taken to protect the rest of the quadrant from the radiation. The lorav came up with a massive satellite system that would interconnect with anti-radiation nets to block any radiation that might get through. It is these satellites that make up the Irradiated Fields border. This netting method was later modified to make the atmospheric filter system on Eldev.

The Eldev Atmospheric Filter System

Buiding on the anti-radiation nets, the lorav developed an atmospheric filter system that worked similarly for the eldevians to use when their air became too toxic for them to breathe. The net system, when activated, covers the entirety of the planet by using small satellite-type structures placed throughout the upper atmosphere of the planet. The eldevians then expanded on this design - with the loravs' help - and added a defense system as well, making a nearly impenetrable shield to surround the planet.

Hydraulic Lifts

The lifts now seen in almost every building around the Main Sector are hydraulic. The design was created by lorav architect Maviin Notrre, who wanted to design a building that used water as a heating and cooling system. The use of water for the lift system was actually an accident, but one that Notrre capitalized on. Water lines needed to cross the lift shafts, so Notrre's original plans had the water flow around it in pipes. However, one of his builders misinterpreted the plans and accidentally made the water surround the lift entirely, nearly flooding the ground floor. When Notrre ordered the water to be flushed out to start again, he found that the movement of the water being forced through the system and around the lift made the lift move. He realized that keeping this method would allow for greater water flow and control of the lifts. Notrre went back to the drawing board and came up with an enclosed system that prevented leaks and flooding of the lift shafts.

Glass Buildings

Buildings made of glass were not an original lorav design, but the loravs perfected it, making it a viable option for constructing skyscrapers and things of the like. For the outside structure of a building to be made entirely of glass, there had to be certain architectural issues to overcome, namely, the taller the building is, the heavier it gets; therefore, glass buildings originally could only be a certain height before it would break under its own weight. The lorav solved this by creating what they call seamless glass. It does, in fact, have seams, but when two panes are put together, they appear seamless to the naked eye. The interior structure, namely the partitions between floors, hold these panes in place and take the majority of the weight, allowing incredibly tall, seemingly all-glass buildings to be built all over the quadrant. (Note: glass buildings are not recommended for seismically unstable worlds under Section 57b, Subsection 4-A of the Lorav Building Code).

Oceanic City Foundations

While there are not many ocean-covered planets in the quadrant, there are enough that various species have wanted to colonize them in order to use the abundance of water for resources. Many species have developed ways to build cities out on the oceans, but the lorav have perfected the design. The foundation is designed to work with the water to keep the structure level, stable, and resistant to the effects of the water. These foundations are also designed to be coral-like to provide a natural habitat for native sea life.

Spirituality

Views on the Triad and Triadian

Out of the Triad species, the lorav are the most skeptical of the so-called gods Galmok, Ramok, and Marok. While they do not deny they existed, they tend not to deify them as the eldevians and regalans do. They view the "gods" and their teachings simply as a way to live in a peaceful, thriving society, looking upon these things through the lenses of their science. The lorav tend to deny the existence of the Valnuir outright.

Seers

Despite the skepticism of the lorav in general, there is an inexplicable sect of lorav "seers," or spiritual leaders. These seers are highly respected by the common lorav in that sense but are often disregarded by high-up Scholars. The seers maintain that even though there may be a scientific explanation to everything, the soul still needs to be nourished by something. They may not look to the Triad "gods" for this spiritual guidance, but they teach of life beyond this one, and what one does in this life affects the next.
At one point in lorav history, there was a divide where those who believed in this were looked down upon and seen as weak-minded. That perception has since been changed thanks to the president always having a seer on their council of advisors.

Work in progress!

Lorav Flag by R. H. Stevenson

by PlanetMaker; R. H. Stevenson

Levos