Asrai
The Asrai are a sentient humanoid species that are found on the planet Asrai Prime, located in Sector 6309. They are physically very similar to Humans in stature, intellect, adaptability and body form and structure. Like humans, the males of the species are usually more muscular and physically better built for the pursuit of works of aggression such as warfare and hunting.
Unlike humans, however, the Asrai have limited dermal pigmentation. They are pasty white in pallor and this is a very beneficial adaptation. The lighter pigmentation allows the melatonin in their skin to better produce the critical metabolic vitamin D. Due to the dim light of their Binary parent stars, this is a critical adaption.
As a result of this lighter skin color, Asrai tend to have hair in the lighter color ranges, usually blond, while darker tones such as blacks and reds are almost non-existent.
There are "crack-like" crenelations that appears on the dermal surfaces of Asrai as they age. This is completely normal, and is believed to be the vestigial remains of some primitive protective plates that are no longer present.
Asrai are very intelligent, and have a highly developed social structure and culture. They are a spiritual people, who believe in a race of deities known as the "Aowa" which means "The Most Ancient Ones".
Technical Development
The level of technical development of the Asrai is difficult to define, as different sectors of their lives vary somewhat on the Richter Scale of Cultural Development. For example, the vast majority of technological development is considered appropriate of the Pre-Industrialization age, Classification D-. There are, however, signs of extensive steam powered travel between major populations centers, which is a technology firmly within the grasp of civilizations that have reached the Classification D. Yet, even more rarely, there are signs of Electric Age technologies, Classification D+, isolated in areas predominantly controlled by the religious orders.
There has been some speculation as to the potential of the Asrai having once been much more technologically advanced, and due to unknown circumstances, losing that technology.
As a result of the most widespread level of technology being that of a pre-inductrial nature, it is best to assume that the general or average technological development of the Asrai civilization falls within the Classification D-.
Culture
The Asrai Culture is an exceptionally complex web of interlocking and hierarchal castes. There is a distinct series of caste controlled social levels. Those of the lower castes are generally only in direct interaction with those castes that border them directly, as well as those few castes that intersect with them. The lower the caste, the more menial and physically demanding the work that must be performed. The Inverse is also true, with the higher castes more generally focused upon intellectual or religious pursuits.
The higher the caste's position in society the fewer members of society within that caste. Thus through the application of the caste system, the members of the ruling elite within the upper castes rule the larger population of the lower castes.
There is a Slave caste, which is very close to the bottom of the Caste. The lowest caste however is that of the outcast. Each caste within the Asrai culture is hereditary, so that an individual is born into a specific caste. It is possible to transcend one's caste, but it is exceptionally rare.
One can also lose their current caste status and be placed into a slave or outcast caste, from which there is no hope of redemption. Only the Religious castes are non-hereditary, as those castes take in children for the purpose of filling their ranks and training the future stewards of their religion.
Asrai culture is rich in the oral tradition, as a very few members of the population have the ability to read or write. There are a large number of highly qualified artisans within the lower castes. There are also poets, scholars and philosophers amongst the upper castes.
Spiritual beliefs are very widespread and most Asrai are dedicated to the worship of the Aowa. This strong spiritual focus is a result of the religious castes command and control over the other castes as a result of their access and knowledge gained from the Aowa.
Asrai Religion
The Asrai have developed a religion based upon the discovery of some obviously ancient artifacts. The artifacts are believed to have originated with the Aowa, a title which literally translates as "the Most Ancient Ones"
These artifacts are believed to be gifts handed down from the Aowa, and are meant as puzzles that should be studied and unlocked in order to better understand the universe, science and their own lives. As a result of these beliefs, the Asrai, have developed an exceptionally complex religious caste to handle all matters related to the Aowa.
As the Aowa are believed to be divine and the Religious orders are believed to gain enlightenment from their studies of Aowa artifacts, texts and other teachings, they are de facto the leaders of the Asrai Society.
There are several orders, each having a specific function in the religious orders.
Some of them are:
- Chalo
- Scholars of the Reliquary
- Order of the Baneful
- Order of the Sovereign Sphere
- Voice of the High Oracle
- High Oracle of the Golden Temple
Chalo
A chalo is a teacher. Each of the orders possesses them and their entire task is to teach religious belief, dogma and lessons to the membership of their orders so that the traditions and work can be carried on. They hold a very high position, and an Acolyte can be sent for punishment or correction as a result of their word. It was Layeela's Chalo that sent her to the Voice of the High Oracle for determination of her punishment when she failed to adhere to his teachings.
Scholars of the Reliquary
The Scholars of the Reliquary are the members of the Order of the Reliquary. Their primary religious function is to unlock the meanings found within the ancient artifacts that have been left behind by the Aowa. They are highly trained, being similar in training to Engineers, but only just so. They are the religious members who are in direct contact with the devices and artifacts that are recovered. They often disassemble them in order to better understand their function, purpose and meaning. As such, this order is the most technically adept of all the orders.
Order of the Baneful
This order has the least connection to the actual Aowa. Their purpose is completely one of enforcement. They act as investigators, judges and police forces wherever they go. The majority of the members are highly indoctrinated in religious dogma. Among their tasks is the discernment and punishment of heretics, or breakers of the holy laws. They are brutish and are known for their unflinching duty to the orders. As such, they are highly effective and feared.
Order of the Sovereign Sphere
The Order of the Sovereign Sphere are astronomers. They are directed by holy writ to search the heavens for signs of the Aowa. They catalog heavenly bodies and make certain that all is the way that it should be. As there are no other moons or satellites in the system, they often study the Twin Stars that make up their binary star parent.
There is little room within this order for speculation. The rules are well established and the number of heavenly bodies are well known as well. Therefore this order is considered one of the least important amongst the religious orders. Many members of this order move on to other orders after acheiving some rank here.
Layeela was an acolyte of this order, being indoctrinated into the Third Order. She was cast out by the Voice of the High oracle after she challenged the order of the universe upon sighting the Rogue Planet Solyon. Despite the fact that her observations could easily have been verified, she was still cast out for daring to claim that the universe was not static as was believed at the time.
Voice of the High Oracle
The Voice of the High Oracle is the second most senior member of the Religious castes. His function is to interpret and communicate the orders of the High Oracle of the Golden Temple. He acts as the intermediary between the other members of the orders and the High Oracle. Only he sees and speaks with the High Oracle. It was he that determined that Layeela should be cast out as a heretic.
High Oracle of the Golden Temple
The High Oracle of the Golden Temple is the head of the religious caste, and therefore the entire Asrai Society. He is the supreme ruler, and he alone is permitted to interpret the findings and teachings of the Aowa. He is reclusive, and is only seen by the Voice of the High Oracle. The position is passed on by selection from one Oracle to the next. There is no direct ascension to the position and it has happened in the past that acoltyes have been selected by the prior high Oracle to succeed them.
MORE COMING SOON!
The Asrai were first seen in the USS Rosenante Mission The Third Law
