Lcha
"Rule number one for meeting the Lcha; never call them rodents. Yes, I know what they look like. But they don't like it, so don't do it. You won't like an angry Lcha. Rule number two is don't make a Lcha angry. Believe me. I've seen what those teeth can do..."
Resiliant
The Lcha are reknowned for their resiliance. Their planet has suffered some major natural disasters, but the Lcha have survived through it all. This is in part because of their burrows beneath the surface, partly because they have an indifference to pain and partly because their biology and anatomy are resistent to a plethora of illness which would fell most other creatures.People of Holes
The Lcha are not actually called the Lcha. Their own language is grumbles, grunts, squeaks and whistles which are almost impossible to replicate without the oversized teeth. In their own tongue, the word they use for themselves translates roughly as "People of Holes".
However, as part of their agreement with the Peacekeepers, their name was changed to something more palatable to them. The Peacekeepers chose Lcha because it lined up with their renaming of the planet to Laurels, and sounds most like the original word.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Lcha are fur covered mammels, with naturally rotund bodies. They have two arms and two legs, sharp noses and whiskers.
Their eyesight is not good, but they have a strong sense of smell, and pick up on changes in the atmosphere around them without needing to see that something has changed.
No Pain, More Gain
Lcha are unique in the Peacekeeper Territories because they have a higher tolerance for pain. Their pain receptors are less sensitive, which means they can put up with hotter, harsher conditions than most.
Genetics and Reproduction
Lcha are community-focused creatures. In a group of between 40 and 130, there is one breeding woman called the queen, and the rest of the Lcha chip in to protect her and the colony from harm. Generally speaking the queen is the most agressive woman in the group, but this is not always the case.
The queen selects one to three men to breed with refered to as her consorts. Each litter may have multiple fathers, and the queen may rotate the men she chooses as her consorts.
Gestation lasts 15 months, and during the second part of this term, the queen is supported by several subordinate woman, known as hands. A litter contains between 8 to 12 young. The queen can be ready to breed again within two months.
"I had the pleasure of watching a choosing ceremony for the consorts of a queen from a southern province. If I'm honest I didn't understand what was happening, and I've been told they're not like that in all of the communities. I have struggled over how to properly explain the experience and have decided there are some things better left unsaid. Suffice to say there were teeth, and noises, and a smell will stay with me for the rest of my days."
Ecology and Habitats
Due to the relative toxicity of the atmosphere around Laurels, the Lcha live underground. They have vast warrens and burrows beneath the planet surface and rarely spend time above ground. The toxicity of the atmosphere doesn't affect the Lcha as much as it would most mammels, but they can get sick if they are exposed to it for extended periods of time. This is known as Sky Sickness.
Behaviour
The Lcha are naturally an agressive people. The men compete to be considered as consorts, and the women compete to be queen. Each community competes for resources and to protect their queen. This makes them paranoid and as a group, quite agressive.
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
Lcha names match their agressive and somewhat paranoid attitudes. In their native tongue they are difficult to for non-Lcha to pronounce. Since joining The Alliance, they have taken to choosing some harsh sounding syllables, followed by a rough translation of their Lcha name. The end result are designed to be intimidating to their enemies.
Example Names
- Frakak the Monsterous
- Gratatkt the Barbarous
- Vikitkf the Always Vigilent
Major Organizations
The Victalis Command is ultimately in charge of the Lcha, but on the planet surface there are 76,934 organisations who are all fighting for a level of power and dominance.
Beauty Ideals
Ideals of beauty vary from group to group, but generally, women are expected to be strong and hearty. Size matters, and a large Lcha is a healthy and attractive Lcha.
Foods & Treats
Consort Feast
The Consort Feast is only eaten on very special occasions and is gifted by the queen of a Lcha community to her three consorts. This is only gifted when all three men have worked together to do something special for their queen.
It consists of a good selection of meat and some fresh vegetables which are considered a delicacy on Laurels. The drink is a fermented berry drink, which is also considered a treat.
Laurels | Meal | Costly
History
The Lcha joined the Peacekeeper Alliance on 2 One 3720 PT, having been in negotiations with them since 3670 PT.
Before they joined The Alliance, the Lcha had a long history of warring and fighting against each other. Each faction has fought long and hard against any faction with whom they share a border, for reasons which go far beyond the realm of reason and instead are drawn from grudges so old no one can remember how they started and an unhealthy level of paranoia about the superiority of their queen.
This made their negotiations with The Alliance particularly difficult, as a standard part of the Peace Treaty Template is agreeing to a single point of contact for the planet. Even today, over 1,000 years later, there are still various factions who believe they should be representing their community, or that their needs aren't being properly represented. But as these disagreements don't impact The Alliance or their working with the Peacekeepers, it's mostly ignored.
Related Articles
| Organisations | Peacekeeper Alliance, Victalis Command |
|---|---|
| Locations | Peacekeeper Territories, The Victalis System, Laurels |
| Culture | Sky Sickness, Battle Drum |
Lifespan
250 - 350 years
Average Height
3ft 5in
Average Weight
170 lbs
Geographic Distribution
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