Velin the Lothorian in the process of bayoneting slaving scum with his Loresinger Reia, guarding his flanks (Art by Neutronboar)
Following my yesterday’s fruitful discussion with
about good and evil fantasy races, we decided that it would be best if I publish part of my extensive glossary here on Substack. You can find the essay titled The Necessity for Good Races, here:
Most adult Lothorians have dark hair and their skin is of white gray complexion. Their eyes are always almond shaped, ranging from dark-blue to gray color. Sometimes there are Lothorians with white hair, and the rare brunette hair, but the bulk of them have darkish hair. They are, after the Terrans healed them from genetic malformation caused by excessive malnourishment, and provided with normal amount of nourishment, tall and of stocky build. The average Lothorian could reach up to 6.9 feet and weigh – the males 250lb; the females 170lb.
The Lothorians were for generations a tortured, subjugated people. While their priest and lord elites enjoyed lavish accommodations, clothes, riches, and best of all food, the common people barely scraped by. Their short lives dominated by oppression and suffering, Lothorians shared many tales of noble heroes and leht of old. Such were deemed heretical and anyone caught retelling such a story was put to death by the priests. Reading, writing, dancing and singing were prohibited, unless one was a lord, one of the rich merchants, a priest or a Leht.
The bulk of all Lothorians were either peons, enslaved to their farmland farmers, or serfs, chained to a lord’s manor servants. The priesthood, those who avow the word of their supreme god Rot, have a set of religious laws called the Rottiah. Under these, common peons and serfs do not even own their lives. If one attempts to kill themselves, their family and relatives would end up being publicly tortured. According to the Rottiah, only low-brow, obedient Lothorians can ascend to heaven... where they’d continue to slave for their masters.
To keep their power, both the lords and priesthood rely on Lothoria’s warrior caste, the Leht. These look and act pretty much like early medieval knights, though nearly all of them swore fealty to lord and priest. Mercenary leht are oftentimes on the prowl across the lands; they raid villages, kidnapping and selling into slavery any peon they could catch. Most traders, who are of the same cast as the leht, hire these as personal guards.
The so called god Rot is a space alien, from a race called the Myrrans, who, by use of an olden memory transfer device, prolonged his existence. Throughout the centuries, and he did change many thousands of bodies, Rot gifted his established priesthood with some space age tech. Medicine, advanced scanners and communication devices, even shields, which they used to further strengthen their control over the commoners.
In the end, with the arrival of certain adventurous band of Terrans, and their allies, the entire order of Rot collapsed. He himself was slain, during an epic battle for the planet’s capital city, Ichtia. Now, having won their freedom through fire and blood, Lothorians vow never to bow before anyone, ever again. They have established, similarly like their Terran teachers, a Minarchy and are in the process of organizing efficient self-rule.
Blue in color, the national flag of the Lothorian Minarchy had a golden ankh in its center. The mighty, sharp claws of an Egyptian Hawk rested upon this ankh and the bird’s wings were spread, ready for flight. This central composition was surrounded by a blood red semi-circle, in which eleven white stars were embroidered. Each signified one of the original crewmates of IMS Starshatter – the Terrans who first led freed Lothorians into life-saving battle. Under the ankh, everyone could see the crossed khopesh sword and Eagle rifle. The flag’s long fingers were dark green and moved like young nekhtu stems, stirred by the spring wind.
The Avern’a Loresingers and much of their expanded lore was introduced for the first time here, in A Mandate Of Sword And Railgun. A story about one space age Magician, who wanders their post apocalyptic ruin of a homeworld, became the setting stone for another book series, that of Velin The Lothorian. A soldier who quests to free the Avern’a, on behest of his benevolent Human teachers.
I, Reia, a humble Avern’a Loresinger, am Velin’s chronicler and loving wife. Many a glorious deed did my matchless husband achieve. Through his valor and merciless ferocity in life-saving battle, thousands of innocent lives were secured.
Much pain did he deliver to the vile reprobates, who aimed to ensure their degenerate dreams of eternal slavery. These debased wretches, giddy with excitement at our eminent demise – they laugh no longer.
These were times of grand adventure! Days of hallowed deeds, unmatched bravery, and the triumph of Life Eternal. Before Avern’a could finally breathe free, her rusted, bloody chains shattered, he, Velin, would demonstrate his true quality.
This, however, is a story for another day...
