Overview
The Rodori are the sole intelligent native species of the planet Rodor, which is now annexed by the First Unified Imperial Combine as one of the Combined Worlds.
At the point of first contact between the cultures, the Rodori were technologically and culturally advanced but had not yet managed the feat of economically viable space travel. The civilisation as a whole was fragmented into a number of nation states, most of which were struggling to integrate die-hard tribal groups into emerging systems of regional governance. The population was generally happy to accept becoming a protectorate of the Empire in return for access to the local arms of the galaxy.
The inclusion of the homeworld into the Imperial Combine rendered the Rodori mode of government largely obsolete, and most affairs of state on the homeworld are now governed by an imperial proconsul. There is a figurehead council which presides over internal Rodori matters, however this is quietly acknowledged by most to be entirely performative. It is fair to say that the proconsul's office has inherited the same civic problems associated with the long-established Rodori tradition of tribal pride.
At the point of first contact between the cultures, the Rodori were technologically and culturally advanced but had not yet managed the feat of economically viable space travel. The civilisation as a whole was fragmented into a number of nation states, most of which were struggling to integrate die-hard tribal groups into emerging systems of regional governance. The population was generally happy to accept becoming a protectorate of the Empire in return for access to the local arms of the galaxy.
The inclusion of the homeworld into the Imperial Combine rendered the Rodori mode of government largely obsolete, and most affairs of state on the homeworld are now governed by an imperial proconsul. There is a figurehead council which presides over internal Rodori matters, however this is quietly acknowledged by most to be entirely performative. It is fair to say that the proconsul's office has inherited the same civic problems associated with the long-established Rodori tradition of tribal pride.
Biology
Rodori are cold-blooded, and on the outside at least they superficially resemble reptiles found on Earth. However their internal biology is markedly different, and they are not classifiable according to any familiar phyla. Being obligate ectotherms, Rodori must absorb heat energy from their surroundings. They cannot generate much of their own heat, except from certain processes such as muscular contraction, and they do not sweat. It is not unusual on very hot days for entire communities of Rodori to spontaneously shed their clothing in an effort to keep cool (→FSS).
A typical adult Rodori will vary between 240 cm and 320 cm tall (7'10" to 10'6"), weighing somewhere between 200 kg to 500 kg (30 to 80 stones, 440 lbs to 1100 lbs). There are of course statistical outliers, as there are with the individuals of any population.
There is no extreme sexual dimorphism; males and females have the same range of dimensions and body density, with some superficial variations in shape and a number of minor cosmetic differences. Juveniles tend to have brightly coloured markings on their faces which fade with age.
The body of a Rodori is covered with smooth lepidosaurian scales, like those of a snake. These are generally larger and darker on dorsal surfaces, such as the back and crest of the skull, but smaller and paler on ventral surfaces, such as the throat and abdomen. Rodori have broad faces with two widely-spaced eyes. The eyes are black, with white, yellow, orange, or red irises. The pupil is elongated laterally. The mouth is as wide as the face, and contains two rows of very tightly-packed narrow teeth. Rodori have no lips and, being similar to reptiles, no hair or nipples (→SFTD).
The Rodori are relatively long-lived, and individuals have been recorded as reaching ages extending beyond three-hundred solars. Until they reach an age equivalent to thirty-five solars, they are considered to be 'pre-life', or juvenile.
A typical adult Rodori will vary between 240 cm and 320 cm tall (7'10" to 10'6"), weighing somewhere between 200 kg to 500 kg (30 to 80 stones, 440 lbs to 1100 lbs). There are of course statistical outliers, as there are with the individuals of any population.
There is no extreme sexual dimorphism; males and females have the same range of dimensions and body density, with some superficial variations in shape and a number of minor cosmetic differences. Juveniles tend to have brightly coloured markings on their faces which fade with age.
The body of a Rodori is covered with smooth lepidosaurian scales, like those of a snake. These are generally larger and darker on dorsal surfaces, such as the back and crest of the skull, but smaller and paler on ventral surfaces, such as the throat and abdomen. Rodori have broad faces with two widely-spaced eyes. The eyes are black, with white, yellow, orange, or red irises. The pupil is elongated laterally. The mouth is as wide as the face, and contains two rows of very tightly-packed narrow teeth. Rodori have no lips and, being similar to reptiles, no hair or nipples (→SFTD).
The Rodori are relatively long-lived, and individuals have been recorded as reaching ages extending beyond three-hundred solars. Until they reach an age equivalent to thirty-five solars, they are considered to be 'pre-life', or juvenile.
Culture
Rodori civilisation arose from a tribal savannah culture, which was in turn heavily influenced by the evolutionary path of the species. As such it is highly ritualistic, even amongst the more progressive parts of the population.
The Sunshe
A sunshe is an artificial pod of siblings assembled from the young of any particular community. It is headed by a sunshe-parent, who is the lesson-giver for the children in the sunshe, responsible for their education as well as their social and spiritual development. Large communities may have more than one sunshe, but it is quite normal in most small towns for there to be only one (→FSS).
Family bonds between Rodori are not particularly strong in the same emotional sense experienced by humans. The strongest ties between Rodori and their blood relatives are more akin to an exchange of respect, and it is both expected and universal in Rodori culture that the ties between Rodori in a sunshe will become far more important in the pre-life of any given sunshe-member. Once young Rodori are accepted into a sunshe, the biological parents have no further obligation towards them (→FSS).
The Rodori now known as Bruiser, for example, is known to have sired offspring with The Intangible Hope of a Silver Dawn at some point between 3719 and 3731 ELC. After their progeny had joined the local sunshe, neither parent had any familiar responsibility towards them, nor the children to their biological parents. Intangible Hope left Bruiser to mate with another bull, and Bruiser later migrated away from the colony world of Naiaeg in order to join the Imperial CAGA. The couple have not reunited since and Bruiser has no contact with the offspring he sired. This is a normal state of affairs as far as Rodori are concerned (→FSS).
Family bonds between Rodori are not particularly strong in the same emotional sense experienced by humans. The strongest ties between Rodori and their blood relatives are more akin to an exchange of respect, and it is both expected and universal in Rodori culture that the ties between Rodori in a sunshe will become far more important in the pre-life of any given sunshe-member. Once young Rodori are accepted into a sunshe, the biological parents have no further obligation towards them (→FSS).
The Rodori now known as Bruiser, for example, is known to have sired offspring with The Intangible Hope of a Silver Dawn at some point between 3719 and 3731 ELC. After their progeny had joined the local sunshe, neither parent had any familiar responsibility towards them, nor the children to their biological parents. Intangible Hope left Bruiser to mate with another bull, and Bruiser later migrated away from the colony world of Naiaeg in order to join the Imperial CAGA. The couple have not reunited since and Bruiser has no contact with the offspring he sired. This is a normal state of affairs as far as Rodori are concerned (→FSS).
Rite of Acceptance or PersonificationIn most Rodori cultures it is customary for every individual coming of age to be given an Accepted name by their sunshe social unit. This name is usually a distilled, metaphorical description of their character which best matches the 'selfhood' of the individual, and it must be 'accepted' by them. Once an Accepted name is given to a Rodori, it is considered an insult for anyone but their biological parents to refer to them by their infant name. This is one of the only matters which continues to connect biological parents with offspring who have been a part of the sunshe.
For example, the Rodori with the infant name Grudden was — on coming of age — given the name The Bruised Heart of Faith in Others by his peers. When this name was accepted, the privilege of referring to him as Grudden was withdrawn from all but his biological parents. For convenience and brevity, his colleagues in the CAGA 951st Battalion called him Bruiser. None of them would have known his pre-life name, if they were even aware such a thing existed. Vertical Divider
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Rite of Preparation for EndingsWhen a Rodori expects to die, he or she will undertake the Rite of Preparation for Endings. This is essentially a ritualised meditation upon the life the individual has led, and the events and people for which he or she feels truly thankful. The ritual is not a means of paying lip-service to one's own ego by listing false gratitudes; it is instead a means of reaching a sincere peace in the face of certain death.
Wherever possible the ritual will involve the use of hand-crafted ceramic tiles, each emblazoned with a different rune representing the various aspects of life which the individual values. The tiles are not essential to the ritual: they merely assist some individuals in focusing the different phases of their meditation (→TRD). |
Influence of the Imperial Combine
The influence of the Imperial Combine on Rodori culture varies depending on location. Where the population is mostly Rodori, with little outside interaction, the technologies and social trends of human and other alien cultures have low levels of penetration. On colony worlds with mixed populations however things can be very different.
On the colony world of Naiaeg for example the capital city was designed, built, and governed by the Imperial Combine, and intended from the very start to be a place where Rodori and humans could live and work side by side. In this social melting pot, each species appropriated the more interesting, appealing, and profitable aspects of the other's cultural heritage.
On the same planet however, the small town which was home to Bruiser was a more traditional Rodori settlement. It was not until the construction of an aeroshuttle mini-port in the late 3670s that the town began to receive human visitors. Not long after that, the town became known in the distant capital as an accessible example of traditional Rodori living. A tourism economy sprang up within a few short solars, which rapidly changed the face of the town and resulted in its geographic and economic expansion.
One of the more divisive changes which came with increased tourism was the sex worker economy, which arose to cater to demand from elements of the visiting tourists. Some Rodori have proven to be both adaptable and accommodating in this respect, providing visitors with everything from simple dinner dates to aggressive sex (→FSS).
On the colony world of Naiaeg for example the capital city was designed, built, and governed by the Imperial Combine, and intended from the very start to be a place where Rodori and humans could live and work side by side. In this social melting pot, each species appropriated the more interesting, appealing, and profitable aspects of the other's cultural heritage.
On the same planet however, the small town which was home to Bruiser was a more traditional Rodori settlement. It was not until the construction of an aeroshuttle mini-port in the late 3670s that the town began to receive human visitors. Not long after that, the town became known in the distant capital as an accessible example of traditional Rodori living. A tourism economy sprang up within a few short solars, which rapidly changed the face of the town and resulted in its geographic and economic expansion.
One of the more divisive changes which came with increased tourism was the sex worker economy, which arose to cater to demand from elements of the visiting tourists. Some Rodori have proven to be both adaptable and accommodating in this respect, providing visitors with everything from simple dinner dates to aggressive sex (→FSS).