Solenata

The Solenata are a race found in eastern Yehv, resembling a large ant with some modifications to their head and thorax which allow them to utilize tools and speak most other languages. Solenata are naturally quite aggressive, and with large mandibles and a venomous bite, they can be quite dangerous. In fact, the Solenata appear to be the only race found in the eighth realm that produces a natural venom, giving them an edge in combat. However, they can also be quite frail, and wounds that penetrate their exoskeleton can be difficult to recover from, requiring extensive care by another Solenata, since they cannot actually reach their abdomen. Although weak to attacks from behind, especially using sharp weaponry, the Solenata fare exceptionally well against most other types of damage, such as clubs or falls. Solenata are also able to control their bodies to be able to float on water or sink and walk beneath the waves, and this has allowed them to establish a presence on the outlying islands of Yehv. They do struggle in cold waters as well as cold temperatures, however, and although they do have the ability to survive, extreme cold is often devastating and fatal in most cases.

Like most other insectoid races, the Solenata have a rigid caste structure which dominates their society, each of which is made up entirely of women. The highest of these castes are the royalty, made up of powerful female rulers and other nobility. Typically, each Solenata domain has one ruler and a number of subordinate nobles who manage other parts of the nation, similar to most feudal societies, but sometimes multiple rulers coexist within the same domain. The royal caste is noted for their large size (up to 10 feet in length) as well as powerful wings on their backs. Royal wings are quite useful in their youth, allowing young royals to escape dangerous situations and survive attacks by older rivals, but as the royalty reach sexual maturity they become too heavy to fly and the wings become obsolete. In most Solenata cultures, a royal's wings are a symbol of her virginity, and they are cut off after the first mating, to show the people she is now committed to the land. In return for this nominal sacrifice, the people are expected to now serve this new mother as their leader.

Below the royalty stand the soldier caste, made up of large Solenata who reach up to six feet in length. Despite the name, the soldiers are not only used for military action, as they also make up law enforcement, take up general leadership positions, and manage the population as an intermediary between them and the royalty. Soldiers have powerful mandibles which allow them to take on most other races in an even fight, with their venom giving them an edge as the combat drags on. Soldiers have also been known to engage in the most outside trade with others, especially in regions bordering the Pogodorn, where larger trade routes exist. Therefore, they are often able to amass a generous amount of personal wealth while doing their other duties. Soldiers and all other castes besides the royalty do not have wings.

Underneath the soldiers are the middle castes, composed of various petty workers. These women are typically employed in bureaucratic or managerial roles, as well as being craftswomen and servants for the royalty. Seen as professional and trustworthy, they are often given significant liberties compared to the lower castes. Middle castes are defined by their dexterous fingers, medium size (around 5 feet) and small mandibles compared to the soldiers. Despite their smaller mandibles, the middle castes are able to handle themselves in a fight, especially when given weapons.

The final few castes are known as the lower castes. Although there are multiple, they are often grouped together. As the smallest caste, with just 4 feet in length, they are less than half the size of the royalty and generally seen as lesser by all other castes. These lower castes are expected to do most of the grunt work, including caring for children, cleaning, and farming or foraging for food. Typically guarded by soldiers to ensure their productivity, the lower castes are quite downtrodden compared to the others. They are also expected to raise the livestock and giant butterflies which are native to their inhabited plains.

With all castes containing exclusively women, men sit outside the system. The largest of Solenata besides the royalty, at 7 feet in length, males can easily be differentiated by their wings and small abdomens. Because the Solenata have a skewed gender ratio, only about 1 in 10 of the population is a male, making them the rarest type of Solenata besides the royalty. Usually, males are raised separately from the rest of the population, only interacting with the lower caste caretakers, and upon reaching maturity are expected to breed with one of the royalty to produce the next generation. In order to prevent competition for the favors of the royals or favoring of a male's own children, they are expelled from the royal's domain after the royal becomes pregnant. However, in cases of a particularly intelligent, trustworthy, or an infertile man, they might be kept around far longer and grow to become a valued servant without being allowed to lie with the royal. Once a male is expelled, they may be accepted into another region or might become a wandering mercenary, with males being valued in conflict between rival rulers and rival queens alike, or even finding employment by the Pogodorn or Yneratl. Some males are also expected to fight against the Chitis who often raid or attempt to conquer the northern Solenata.

There are several taboos regarding the interaction of males and females within the Solenata race. First of all, it is totally unacceptable to commit incest. Although the royals are the only caste who ever actually lay eggs and therefore the only caste with children, they exchange males with one another in order to prevent the bloodlines from being weakened by incest. This strengthens ties between the two royals and allows them to grow their subject populations without worry. It is also common for royals to raid one another and steal one another's males in order to obtain a competitive edge. Secondly, it is considered taboo to keep a lover. Although royals can often get away with keeping one male for a few sets of eggs, keeping a male for too long or, worse, falling in love with them, is seen as a threat to the natural order. Even worse is a royal who keeps all of her males in a harem, and royals like this are quickly deposed. Lastly, it is not allowed for a male Solenata to sleep with a non-royal. Even though such a pairing is unlikely or unable to produce children, it is considered a dereliction of duty for the male and a threat to the stability of the royal's domain. All such pairs are killed immediately.

In contrast to the taboo for male-female parings in the lower castes, female-female pairings are tolerated, and even encouraged. This is because such relations are believed to give the involved Solenata more of a reason to be loyal to their people and the region they live in. Typically, two Solenata who are subjects of different royals are not, however, allowed to be together, as this is seen as weakening the strength of each individual royal and introducing divided loyalties to their people. This means that nearly all female-female pairings are of either half or full sisters, with the exception of the child of a previous royal and a new one. Because Solenata don't see familial relations the same way, they don't see a problem with this, but most others are either concerned or disgusted by such behavior.

Solenata are a warlike race, but are surrounded by more threatening races and have their weaknesses to worry about. In the north, they must fight against the Chitis, who have the advantage of total coordination, which many Solenata royals envy. However, the insanity of the Chitis Overlords makes them a fickle foe, and the border is often back and forth. In the west, the Solenata must fight against Ogres, who often perform slave raids to capture members of the lower castes or outright purchase them from corrupt royalty. The Ogres' thick skin and resistance to the Solenata bite makes them deadly foes for the Solenata to face. Throughout their southeastern lands, the Solenata must contend with roving bands of Yneratl, whose militaristic attitude and sharp weaponry make them danerous foes when conflict erupts. Finally, the southwest holds the Pogodorn. Although not hostile towards Solenata, the Pogodorn inhabit the red plains, which are full of creatures that are deadly towards the Solenata, such as dragons and others which utilize fire, something the Solenata are quick weak to. Although many border royals have made use of mages to combat this threat and learned to work fire to their advantage in combat against other Solenata, this doesn't provide much protection against the fearsome beasts of the Red Plains.