Assoti



The Assoti are a race of sentient insects which inhabited the northwestern reaches of Syltör. Their population is mostly within the continent of Haven, while others travel the world.

History
The Assoti originated far west of Syltör in a distant continent. The Assoti were initially simple-minded animals who were more akin to Silverfish or Bees than the various humanoid that inhabits Rathnir. They inhabited massive, underground hives ruled by a single queen. When their queens mysteriously died off the Assoti had no leadership nor a means of reproduction. The Assoti's population either died of sickness and starvation or simply resorted to cannibalism. As the Assoti were at the brink of extinction a select few gained independent, complex, intelligence roughly akin to that of the Humans. This small group of Assoti managed to escape the chaotic dogma that their hive had become. They migrated east to Syltör and found refuge in the ruins of a partially subterranean Fortress, which would later become the city of Rugo. Later on, the city of Rugo was colonized and Assoti culture was nearly all but wiped from the area.

Appearance
The Assoti are insectoids that possess a complex, hard exoskeleton that can range in color from Navy Blue to Dark Grey, to Lime Green. They possess formidable mandibles and mouthpieces near the bottom of their elongated, triangular heads. They have two large eyes which aid them in traversing the dimly lit catacombs that made up their hive, and alongside their large eyes, they also have two large antennae that act as a form of long-distance communication between Assoti. They possess a pair of large, primary arms and a second pair of arms that is located near the center of their torso. They range drastically in height, some measuring a mature height of 6 feet, to some measuring a towering 9 feet. Assoti age much faster than humans and have shorter lives.

Assoti Queens
The most notable aspect of Queen Assoti is their extremely large they necessitate them simply for the fact that 90% of their existence is making babies most queens, usually lay hundreds to even thousands of eggs. Compared to other Assoti their stinger is much more durable, as it serves as a means of storing larvae and due to the much more frequent use. Their mandibles are also larger than other Assoti. Since Assoti are compatible with most creatures and require them for the process otherwise, it would be reasonable (and evolutionarily smart genetics-wise), for a Queen to have "suitors" of other species, if not multiple, along with a male King. Queens tower over other assoti at around 12-14 feet tall and live around 300 years.

Devrim Assoti Culture
The Assoti were initially deeply religious, reactionary, and traditional. Ancient Assoti culture was based around a strict caste system, and each Assoti was born with a certain body plan to fit certain roles. There were two primary types of Assoti; Grunts, and Elites. Grunts were usually weaker, smaller, and more submissive than their Elite counterparts. Grunts possessed only a single pair of arms and were usually mentally stunted at birth, to ensure they would not commit acts of insubordination against their leaders. The Elites on the other hand tended to be stronger, larger, and vastly more intelligent than their Grunt cousins. Elites possessed 2 pairs of arms and they could harness ancient nature-based forms of magick as a result of their higher intelligence. Most of the Grunts died off or gave way to the Modern, more sophisticated, and intelligent Assoti after the collapse of the Ancient Assoti civilization. Most of the Elites survived but some still cling on to their elitist, decadent, and reactionary values, plotting and scheming ways to return to their forming glory.

Canan Assoti Culture
After the devrim Assoti were wiped out the majority of remaining Assoti moved south to live on the continent of Haven. Their population in the area has exploded due to nations being preoccupied Uldarash Civil War. Others have joined nomad tribes and traveled the world.

Canan Assoti Society
Most canan Assoti live among nomad tribes. It is hard for Assoti to find a place in nations due to their reputation as thieves and criminals.

Devrim Assoti Society
The primary Assoti nation is, which is a semi-theocratic co-ruled monarchy. Rugo is ruled by both a King (who deals with diplomatic, legislative, and international affairs) and the (a religious head who deals with internal and judicial affairs), alongside a council of various political officials including The Representative, the primary diplomat of Rugo who deals with foreign affairs, The Warlord, a military leader whose purpose is to train and lead a powerful standing army and The Architect, who deals with the layout of the various settlements and the designs of the buildings inside of the settlements. Assoti society is racially and religiously based, with non-Assoti (particularly Humans) being treated as second-class citizens while Assoti and Celestial Elves are treated as full citizens. Humans cannot officially own property in Rugo and all property purchased by Humans are legally owned by the state instead of the individual. Humans also cannot partake in local meetings and have essentially no political rights except for a select few amount of nobles. Elves and Assoti tend to be treated as full citizens, who enjoy luxuries such as welfare, the ability to own private property, the ability to construct their own buildings within the said property, the ability to serve within the military, the ability to choose their occupation the ability to influence the outcome of bureaucratic affairs.

Modern
Most modern Assoti practice Rakauism and give thanks to Rakaku for sparing them from their species near extinction. While maintaining the vegetarian diet of traditional Assoti. While marriage is open freely, there are even examples of Assoti marrying other races that traditional Assoti would have shunned them for. Alcohol is considered sinful, as it clouds an open mind.

Traditional
The religion Sürkelism is practiced by the Assoti as a whole. Its primary beliefs are the practice of a strictly vegetarian diet, the belief that the Assoti are inherently superior to all other intelligent races, the inferior races can be redeemed and become equals through the means of "ascension", and the belief that close, emotional connections (I.E-Marriage) are a hindrance to the full potential of an individual Assoti and are inherently sinful.

Traditional
During Ancient and Pre-Ancient times, Assoti queens laid eggs that hatched into the majority of Assoti during these eras. Whenever a Queen died her corpse released pheromones' that trigger the transformation of another female Assoti into the next Queen

However, all the Queens have gone extinct and this method is no longer possible.

Ascension
Controversial among existing Assoti, but essential if the species wishes to continue. The process starts with a female Assoti using her proboscis to implant an egg into a Human or Elves sinuses. This can be extremely painful if not given a prior warning. The egg implant sprouts a nervous system along with basic capillaries to release pheromones into the brainstem and pituitary to create hormones that facilitate the transformation. The mucus gland production rate is increased due to this hormone production creating a slow build of a cocoon from this out of eye grit, etc. The victim's appetite will increase during a period of 4 weeks they will be completely turned into an Assoti. Attempts to forcibly cure the victim could possibly leave them disabled, with limbs or vital organs not fully converting.

Compatibility
While humans are the preferred victims to be Ascended, other races also can be affected but results may vary.


 * Lhuren: Dragon scales dot the exoskeleton
 * Goblin: The Assoti ends up smaller and the exoskeleton is softer
 * Crowfolk: Sharp limbs that can be used like talons, and downy feathers peek out of the side of the exoskeleton
 * Niedene: The Assoti keeps the Niedene's profeciency in magic.

Incompatibility
Attempted Ascension on some races can result in injury to the Assoti or victim being Ascended


 * Djinn: The Djinn's spark fills the Assoti's body with fire and cooks the insect from within.
 * Lesser Demon: The Assoti ends up getting corrupted and subsequently dies. However, the stinger will remain in the demon and must be removed.
 * Moonfolk: Resistance of their bodies or breaks the Assoti stinger or, if aimed properly, the stinger breaks the Core and the Moonfolk dies