Belarth

Belarth Appearance and Characteristic Behavior

The Belarth stand about 1 2/3 to 2 2/3 meters tall making them one of the loftier of the space faring races in the Dragon Quadrant. They are quite hairy with the males having longer and coarser hair than the females of the race. Their large eyes are more to the sides of their heads in the fashion of herbivores and their fur varies in color from deep and dark browns to more greenish or yellow browns and more extremely to greyish color depending upon the climate and their genetic heritage.

They have develouped double jointed knees especially suited to climbing trees and their feet are almost prehensile with long strong knobly toes. Their fingers have only two joints in them with the middle metacarple being up to 2 inches long providing them with good steady hands for gripping but less fine manipulation than on species with more finger joints.

The dominant religion of Huanatha and the Belarth who inhabit it, is refered to as Huanarth which translates somewhat literally to 'Beloved Forest'. In essence Huanarth represents not necessarily the worship of Nature as an entity but the enthrallment with the natural ordered process of the biological world. This is to say very few of the Huanarth fellowships (as the sects of the ‘religion’ are refered to) actually believe in some type of Godhead. In fact the Belarths are one of the few races to have never really been dominated by a Godhead, but rather by a more holistic approach to encouraging natural order and preventing destructive chaos.

The Belarth view magic as a natural part of their world. Thus, the focus of their general religious beliefs is upon the healing nature of magic. It is interesting to note that instead of ritualizing the magic process of healing as one may expect from a society like the Belarth, healing magic is handled very casually and almost naturally by all members of the Belarth society.

Events that shaped Belarth culture

The Chuan Monarchy was established over 4,800 years ago and while many different noble families have controlled the government since then, the basic system of government has remained the same. Though the monarchy originally only governed a small portion of the primary continent, intermarriage, treaties and numerous wars expanded its power so that it eventually dominated the entire planet.

The Chuan Family was also the first family to begin the Tree Bonding process which now is standard practice for all noble families on Huanatha. In early times the Tree Bonding secrets were shared as a way of initiating a family into the Chuan Nobility. Many of the oldest and largest family trees on Huanatha were created during the uninterupted millenium of Chuan rule. After the Chuan Family lost control of the Monarchy 3750 years ago, the knowledge of Tree Bonding became more generally available and any family with the means could perform the ritual. Over 80% of the population lives within a Family Tree.

The Belarth Tree Bonding is still One of the modern marvels of Belarth biology. Tree Bonding is a process whereby Belarths spend literally generations training seedlings to behave in a certain ways through cross fertilization and other agrimagic methods. The tree is grown and trained much like Bonzai training using specially enchanted metal stakes and more recently biochemicaly patches placed in strategic places. The trees have rooms with biological lights, curtains created of waxy cuticle matter, showers and taps and some have furniture built in.

Hospitals are virtually non-existant on the Belarth homeworld instead with the larger Family Trees having grown White Rooms. The White Rooms naturally excrete a non-toxic disinfectant vapour into the air. These rooms are then used by the high level healers in the wealthier families to heal the ill. This position brings with it political power and hence there is always a willingness to help other people heal themselves. Belarths of all stations are entitled to heathcare provided by their leige.

The family unit is the core of the Belarth philosophy. Both parents are actively envoled in the lives of their children although it is the male Belarth which carries the child around in their pouches for 25 months Housing and Education are also both handled by the family unit. The Elder members of the family are responsible for the primary education of the young as well as being the arbitrators of conflict within the Family. This is especially important because up to 20 family groups may all be living within the Family Tree's confines.

The politics of the Belarth people

Currently Huanatha's land masses are divided into 12 realms, which are sub-divided into 172 seperate duchies and of varying size and power. The 172 duchies are each controlled somewhat seperately with the ruling families of each duchy having control over most aspects of life within their area. There are sometimes further subdivisions, but those are considered an internal matter of the duchy. Over the 12 kingdoms rules an Emperor or Empress.

The power of Dukes and Duchesses is hereditary and passes to whoemever the Duke and/or Duchess designate. This may be anyone with appropriate lineage. Typically the power will pass to the surviving Duke or Duchess and then to the child they consider most able. The Dukes and Duchesses are considered the Nobility.

The title of King or Queen for a particular Realm is semi-hereditary. It passes down from parent to child as long as there is a legitimate heir. Though the King and Queen may share power, the death of one or the other requires the passing of power to the next generation as long as the designated heir has reached the age of majority. If there is no legitimate heir upon the death of the ruler, the Nobility hold an election to elevate one of their number to the rulership.

The Emperor or Empress rules only for their life and does not designate an heir. The mate of the ruling Emperor or Empress does not share power and instead considered a consort. Upon the death of the currentn Emperor or Empress, the 12 rulers of the realms elevate one of their number to take over the Empire. A complicated process which must end with a unanimous vote of the rulers of the realm may remove the Emperor or Empress prior to their death.

Though this is primarily a form of absolute monarchy, the people are allowed to question any decision or law made by their rulers through a referendum. Should a simple majority of those affected by the decision or law object to it, the decision or law is vetoed and an immediate vote of no confidence is required. This is the only other way that rulers are removed from power. The Belarth people are not generally too concerned with the governance of the realm as their system of protocols to which rulers must abide is comprehensive as well as strict.