Rumsha
Basic Information
Anatomy
The rumsha are a subterranean people. They have a mammalian leg and arm anatomy, and generally walk on all fours. They have a fat hump that allows them to go for a long time between meals and water. Bound by a strict caste system, they have evolved different body types for each societal role. There are several castes: Worker, Warrior, Nurse, Artificers Merchants, etc. Only one in ten rumsha are female, and their caste is that of Nurse. Workers are a bit smaller than humans, but more burly. Warriors are monstrously large and instinctually fierce when any social protection is triggered. (Such as mentioning women or children) Nurses are fairly small with many teats for feeding nurseries. And leaders are the size of small adult humans, and generally stand erect.
Biological Traits
Bound by a strict caste system, they have evolved different body types for each societal role. There are several castes: Worker, Warrior, Nurse, Artificers Merchants, etc. Only one in ten rumsha are female, and their caste is that of Nurse. Workers are a bit smaller than humans, but more burly. Warriors are monstrously large and instinctually fierce when any social protection is triggered. (Such as mentioning women or children) Nurses are fairly small with many teats for feeding nurseries. And leaders are the size of small adult humans, and generally stand erect.
Additional Information
Social Structure
As a eusocial species, what may appear to humans as terrifying totalitarian control is simply natural instinct at work. Though it would seem monstrous for a human to be condemned to work in mines their entire life, or sequestered in underground nurseries taking care of a perpetual rotation of babies, rumsha show no sign of wanting to do otherwise. This may part of the reason that they developed the philosophy and religion that postulates the idea that 'future' is not real and should never be thought about. For whatever downsides that may bring them (and there are many) their greatest strength is a near perfect peace within their society and very good mental health. (With the exception of those "head-sick" who are far enough out of the normal spectrum of thought and belief and mood that they become discontent with their lot in life.)
Their social structure seems to run almost completely on instinct. Workers and Warriors only know enough to do their jobs and learn as they go. Leaders, Artificers and Merchants receive a kind of formal education concerning the wider world, though there is no secret knowledge or prohibition for other casts to learn anything. Most rumsha are literate despite the lack of formal education.
Obviously, there are no nuclear families in rumsha society. Mating is highly organized and ritualized, serving to perpetuate the caste system. This makes their society, religion, philosophy, moral code, etc. dramatically different than that of humans. Many rumsha societies are propelled by the concept of the The Unfathomable Jester
It’s not uncommon for other races take advantage of this, by directing rumsha colonies towards valuable deposits. Then they trade the minerals and gems for paltry returns. As the rumsha are focusing on the goal of finding a suprise, the material they remove on the way is of little interest to them.
This unique disposition makes them naturally friendly and almost pacifist since they rarely compete for resources and are more than happy to relocate to uncontested territory to further their search.
Domestication
Farms are patrolled by "Farmers", trained to eat weeds and pests.
Average Intelligence
Warriors: 3, Workers: 4, Nurses: 5, Artificers: 5, Traders: 5, Leaders: 5.
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
Rumsha go unnamed until they create something with a group. When a creation is deemed complete the group of participants perform a kind of ceremony where they all chant their names at the same time to a beat. (It is very rare for a project to have no named participants) On each beat every individual tries to merge their name with that of the others they hear. Eventually a new name emerges. Those who previously had no name now have this new name. Those who had previous names add this new name to the end of theirs. The result is that the older a rumsha is, the longer their name becomes.
Major Organizations
Because they are a eusocial species there is very little organizing outside of the overall system of living that they all participate in. Their roles are assigned at birth, based on their physical characteristics, so each of the major social roles could be considered an organization, such as Workers, Warriors, Artificers, Nurses, etc.
Additionally rumsha have a religion of sorts, unifying around the Cult of the Unfathomable Jester
Beauty Ideals
Rumsha find anything that is surprising or juxtaposed to be aesthetically pleasing. This leads to a very patchwork look to most of their artifacts and personal accouterments.
Gender Ideals
All females live in the nurseries and provide full care for all the young. There is no other option, and with the exception of a 'head-sick' individual, this is all the females desire. "Females create rumsha, and rumsha create." Males have an overriding desire to be creating at all times. A male who does not create is seen as a bad joke.
Courtship Ideals
Courtship or romance are completely foreign ideas to rumsha.
Relationship Ideals
Every rumsha loves and respects every other rumsha equally.
Common Etiquette Rules
When engaged in a transaction, always roll a dice. On gold, you get the item for free. On iron, you pay double. On silver you get list price.
As a named Rumsha, If you see a creation happening, and all the participants are unnamed, you must join in to ensure that a name is produced for everyone involved.
Never speak about the nursery, females, or children to other species.
Common Dress Code
Most rumsha wear nothing excepts tool belts or other accouterments that contribute to their work. This exception is the Trader class, who find that many other species are more comfortable when they wear clothing. These wear colorful clothing of all kinds, and usually include bells.
Common Taboos
Never speak of the nursery, females or young with other species.
Common Myths and Legends
Their central creation myth concerns the Cult of the Unfathomable Jester
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
They get along very well with most other sentient species. There is always friction when it comes to trade and political boundaries since the rumsha refuse to consider "the future" as a real thing, and thus make no promises. However, they have been shown to be very stable and predictable partners, and so special accommodations are generally worked out.
They get along particularly well with the Tezledek
“What does it mean that a queen took the temple of the . . . mazies? Is that a nickname for rumsha?”
Scolla picked carefully over the mulig’s ears. “Szz. Our poor allies. You will never meet a braver or kinder people. However, rumsha fight only if directly attacked or if their children are endangered. If we thought herding humans over the rumsha lands would leave the rumsha unscathed, we would do it. Humans would destroy the dractils.” ~Scolla in The Scarred King 2
by Josh Foreman
Lifespan
Warriors: 40 years, Workers: 60 years, Nurses: 60 years, Artificers: 70 years, Traders: 70 years, Leaders: 90 years.
Average Weight
Warriors: 550 kilos (~1,200 lbs), Workers: 160 kilos (~350 lbs), Nurses: 70 kilos (~150 lbs), Artificers: 90 kilos (~200 lbs), Merchants: 70 kilos (~150 lbs), Leaders: 70 kilos (~150 lbs)
Average Length
Warriors: 3.5 meters, Workers: 2 meters, Nurses: 1.5 meters, Artificers: 2 meters, Traders: 1.5 meters, Leaders: 2 meters.
by Josh Foreman
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