Oorgolian

Oorgolians look like small humanoid insects. Specific morphology varies with caste and gender:

Seekers

In general, the smallest of the castes. They can reach 1.2 meters (4 ft) in height and have six limbs: two legs, two rigid arthropod arms and two arms with the capacity to change the end appendages over time to preforms specific tasks. They also have a softer, more flexible exoskeleton

Drones

They can reach 1.5 meters (5 ft) in height and four limbs: two legs and two rigid stong arthropod arms.

Royalty

Divided into queens and matrons.
Queens are more armoured versions of whatever caste they were before moulting. Their exoskeleton is thicker and more elaborate than that of drones and seekers. They may also present luxurious and colourful hair or feather-like growths to on their backs and heads. The matrons look much like Queens with the exception of the lack of ornamental growths and a translucent overgrown abdominal sack where they keep their eggs.

See life cycle.

The species is divided into three genders:

Males

All drones and seekers are male, although only the leading individual of each group is fertile. Leading individuals are called alphas (alpha drone and alpha seeker). The alphas provide the queen with sperm when required as well serve as bodyguards for royalty.

Female

Also called the queen. Only royalty castes can be females and there is only one female per tribe. When the previous female dies, moults, vanishes or is, otherwise, unavailable, one of the alpha males will moult into a queen. Which male moults is unpredictable and out of the control of the males.
The queens serve as tribe chiefs and guides with unchallenged authority over the pack.

Matron

Only royalty can be matrons. Their main reproductive purpose is as an incubator for the eggs the queen lays. Once a Matron dies or is, otherwise, unavailable, the queen Will moult into a matron. Her lower abdomen will inflate and transform into a translucid egg sack with two openings for egg reception and larval deposition. In this state, they are unable to move by their own means and must be carried by drones.
The matrons serve as advisors and sages for the queen.

They deal well on hot or temperate climates and have difficulty adapting to lower temperatures.

Their digestive system is designed as an exclusive carnivore, however, they have developed a taste for fleshy fruits and badlands bulbs, the latter of which they plant on a limited scale. Apart from that, they can feed on any animal they find.

They start life as a white fleshy pupa. After their first year they moult into drones or seekers and, if they don't reach alpha status, they have a life expectancy of 30 to 35 years. If they reach alpha status and moult into Queens, their accelerated metabolisms give them a life expectancy of 20 to 25 years.

The Oorgolians organize themselves into tribal structures and have well-defined gender and caste roles. Each tribe has a number of seasonal settling spots they have claimed and keep, which are used to allow the tribal members to moult and stock up in relative safety. However, they are mostly nomadic in nature.

Intra-tribal relations

Within the tribe, the queen has absolute power and absolute responsibility for it, with the Matron serving as her adviser and the two alphas as her bodyguards and concubines. Any drone or seeker may challenge the current alpha at any point during a sedentary period which must be allowed by the queen, but the challenge usually results in the death of one of the contesters.

Seekers

Within a tribe, Seekers are in charge of primary scouting. They go out before any migration to confirm the safety of the target settlement and the status of the wildlife on the way there. They are also in charge of looking for prey when the tribe has settled, usually working in tandem with a drone.
Due to their elevated intelligence relative expendability, they are the first to test any artefact, cypher or, otherwise, any piece of numenera found by the tribe. As such, they are responsible and respected for the role of tribal armourers, artificers and architects.
Alphas of this caste are decided based on a combination of their skill in crafting, knowledge and control of the numenera (in the case of Nanos of the caste).  

Drones

Drones have the role of hunters, using the information provided by the seekers to gather meat efficiently. when they're not hunting or if they're not fit to do so, they fulfil other necessary roles in the tribe: cleaning, guarding, building, caring for young, etc... They are free to conscript any seeker and make use of their expertise or skills to aid in their tasks. Alphas of this caste are decided based on their physical prowess or agility, or the power of their numenera (in the case of Nanos of the caste).  

Royalty

There are usually only two members of the royalty at any given point in the tribe's structure: The queen and the matron. Once one of the royalty dies, one of the alphas moults to fill the role. The queen is in charge of allowing the alphas to inseminate her and, more importantly, guiding and assuring the survival of the tribe. Her word is uncontestable and her visage divine.
The matron is responsible for incubating the queen's eggs in her abdomen, as well as advising the queen with the wisdom obtained from her years.  

Inter-tribal relations

Relations between tribes are ruled by tradition to avoid constant war from occurring. Each tribe occupies a rank in an ever-changing tribal pseudo-hierarchy, with higher tribes having the first pick of nomadic routes and hunting grounds in case of a contest.
When two tribes meet, one of the tribes immediately acquiesces inferiority, usually with a placating gift of concession (Some food, a good member of the tribe, an artefact, a set of cyphers, weapons or armour, etc...), the size of which usually depends on the difference in rank. Otherwise, they engage in traditional diplomatic rituals.  

You're better than us/
You're better than us/
You're better than us/
We're weak, our song sucks and our queen is ugly

— Diplomatic chant of the Urt'cktic tribe, considered among the weakest and smallest of tribes

Individuals are distinguished between one another using not only rough characteristics but also subtle exoskeleton markings in the body and face. Other races may learn to distinguish individuals in that way with some practice.

They are native to the continent of Adiath, with the highest concentration o the tribes occurring in the Badlands of Yulth. However, they can be found on any continent as some individuals have taken to travelling after seeing the example of humans and wenghians.

Though they may sometimes look whimsical and even comical to other species, their seekers are accomplished scientist and engineers of the numenera, and their queens are master tacticians.

They have two vertebrate type eyes, despite their insectoid anatomy, which allows them to see within the human visible spectrum.
Their sense of touch is limited to only heat and cold on the carapace, with the more complex contact senses isolated to the hands and feet.
They have drum apertures on their necks for listening.
Their antennae can sense chemical differences in their surroundings, giving them an advanced sense of smell, even underwater.

Due to the way their mouthpieces work their language does not admit any labial consonants. As such their names are a mix of clicks and guttural sounds. Individuals are usually given a single name which is chosen based on the first sounds they mutter in their larval stage. The royalty is addressed by adding the name of the tribe to their given name. Ex: individual: Oorgash, Royalty: Urtunk trick'ckick.

Most individuals, regardless of how vibrant their colours are, are considered dull and uninteresting. Any queen, however, even those suffering from emerophobia, are considered the pinnacles of beauty and elegance. Among queens thicker and more vibrant exoskeletons, along with more complex and flamboyant natural adorns are favoured. Due to their rarity and exotic status, the moulting of a purple queen is of such reverence that tribes may flock to gaze upon her.  

- Have you heard of Artrak lately? He never even talked to us when he was given to the trick'ckick - clicked Orgash, sunbathing on a Cliff by the Ravenous Basin.
- I hear she moulted from another hunter. She's their queen now. - Oolaardin responded.
- Man, that's a shame. Their queen was fiiiine - Orgash traces the general shape of the queen with his arms
- I hear Artrak came out even better looking.
Orgash jumps and points his arm at Oolaardin aggressively:
- Hey, don't talk about her like that, she used to be my friend.
- Fine, molted even better.

Males are to be submissive but show some initiative, especially the alphas.
Females are to be, by necessity, wise, confident and when the situation demands it, ferocious.
Matrons are mysterious and wise. Considered untouchable by combat.

Any drone or seeker has the right to challenge the current alpha if he thinks himself capable. The queen may deny the challenge but she usually seeks the best genes.

In terms of independent research the Oorgolians have developed animal husbandry, with many of the tribes having herds of domesticated caplyptors (see numenera bestiary 1 as well as rudimentary agriculture in the form of the habit to preserve the seeds and the planting of Badland Bulbs, a Hardy rock cactus with a fleshy slightly salty body.
Despite this, many of the tribes have found and even reverse engineered artefacts of the numenera. As such, it's not uncommon to see tribe member wielding what appears to be energy firearms and retractable shields.

Individuals usually go around naked or wearing bits of armour on their most exposed areas.

As mentioned before, the Oorgolian lifestyle is one of constant struggle against themselves and the environment around them, not unlike humans, only more so. I postulate that it is for this reason, that they tend to be pragmatically survival focused to the point of ostentatious over gathering.

— Exceprt from the notes of Arseem Bluebrow Redbreast, wenghian explorer.

 

Settlement creation and upkeep

The tribes have a mostly nomadic lifestyle but tend to follow set routes between permanent settlements built at or near the main hunting and agricultural spots. The edges of forests, cliffs overlooking herd migration routes, the main rivers of the badlands or places near known trove of numenera are usual spots for the placement of settlements.
These settlements are, for the most part, dismantled before moving on, and rebuilt upon arrival. Some materials may be carried by any unburdened members of the tribe or calyptors, in order to be recycled into the new construction, but the largest part of the materials is harvested on spot. For this reason, the features of the environment that already provide natural protection from the elements are points of gathering.
The settlements are then reinforced with local resources. Wood, stone and bone are used to provide the skeletons for huts and tents. Skins, pelts and leafy branches serve as protection from the elements. Metals, synths, precious stones and other more exotic materials tens to be used in the construction of the tallest buildings or at the borders of the settlements in order to show the wealth of the tribe to any other passing rivals. Through the collaboration between drones and seekers, the tribe is able to erect a livable settlement in less than ten hours, depending on the size of the tribe; dismantling the settlement takes even less time.

Despite this rebuilding behaviour, the major tribes hold one or more permanent settlements at good agricultural sites or places of prominence. These may include high cliffs in the badlands, the skulls of Hulking Walkers (see title image), fertile valleys, points where good prey gathers and entrances to ruins which can be used as a source for numenera. The more prominent and ostentatious the spot, the more effort may be expended in the creation of a permanent settlement.
These settlements hold garrisons of tribe members responsible for the upkeep and, if possible, expansion and improvement of the construction therein. They are also responsible for the maintenance of any cattle or fertile ground they may occupy as well as the exploration and investigation of any ruins they may retain.
In addition to the practical role of the settlements, these are also used as a symbol of power and rank. Permanent sites are adorned with colourful leathers, precious gems and artefacts of numenera that generate light, fireworks, lightning or any other spectacular manifestations. The garrison tends to build large habitations and monuments to the wealth of the tribe in order to show the high rank of the tribe to any passing rivals.  

The exploitation of the land

The Oorgolian view on sustainability is limited to whatever crops and cattle they may maintain, and even then the total consumption of a domesticated herd is not unheard of. They tend to aggressively hunt whatever edible prey may come across, many times without regard to necessity or consequence. The excess of resources is, many times, displayed to other tribes as a sign of strength, resourcefulness and rank.
Due to the advanced technological devices which many of the tribes have access to, they may end up exhausting the resources of an area if they settle for too long.  

The seekers, while scientifically driven to an extent, tend not to keep a census of the species they hunt. However, after investigating the not too old skeletons of beasts I did not recognize, and questioning the matron about them, I can conclude that total extinction of several life-forms due to the Oorgolian lifestyle is a very likely possibility.

— from the notes of Arseem Bluebrow Redbreast.

 

The views on the world

While it is true that the tribes tend to keep to the continent of Adiath, slowly expanding throughout the available land as the number of tribes increases, the contact and interaction with humans and wenghians has inspired many individuals to travel the world. Individual travel is prevented by the emerophobia, but some tribes have developed the tradition of sending out a group of drones and seekers to join a human settlement or migration group to eventually go further and explore the world.
Tribes with this tradition have, over time, developed a propensity to keeping records and histories for prosperity, even going so far as to try and develop a rudimentary written form of their language. The stories brought back by the explorers are told to the tribe, with the best being selected to be maintained and retold to pupae as lullabies or to the tribe as fireside stories.

Due to their relatively isolated origin, they have not had a lot of contact with other species. Despite this, some tribes have come in contact with human migration parties and wenghian explorers. The results of these interactions were initially bloody as the foreigners were considered food.
They stopped attacking human parties when these started learning their diplomatic rituals. This confused the Oorgolians at first, but after cultural exchanged, some tribes have taken up the tradition of sending out seekers and drones every few generations to explore the world like along with human parties. Some tribes have come to respect the long lifespans of humans and wenghian, resulting in the tradition of sending some members of the tribe along with human migrants or wenghian explorers.
Attacks on Wenghians dropped drastically after the first tribes discovered that not only were wenghians not edible and tasted horrible but also that consuming their meat could damage several generations of pupae. After that, the wenghians were mostly ignored unless they interfered with tribe procedures.
After the explorer Arseem Bluebrow Redbreast stumbled upon a tandem of scouts and managed to comunicate his intentions, he was allowed to live among them as long as he could provide for himself. This allowed the wenghian to chronicle the life and customs of the tribes, as well as the sharing of scientific knowledge between him and the seekers of the tribe.