Assoti



The Assoti was a race of sentient insects which inhabited the northwestern reaches of Syltör. Their population was almost exclusively located within the city of Rugo, though a very small population live within a network of subterranean tunnels near the northwestern tip of Rathnir.

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 inhabit 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 as they 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 which possess a complex, hard exoskeleton which 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.

Modern Assoti Culture
The majority of remaining assoti have joined nomadic groups such as The Gaians. Due to their monstrous appearance they are often faced with discrimination living in cities.

Ancient 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.

Modern Assoti Soceity
It is hard to pick out a specific society of Assoti as the few that remain share little in common.

Ancient 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 being 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 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. It's 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 hinderance to the full potential of an individual Assoti and are inherently sinful.

Traditional
During Ancient and Pre-Ancient times, Assoti queens laid eggs than 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 wants 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 prior warning. 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.