Lagus

Lagus are a race of large sized humanoid lagomorphs known far and wide for their great psionic abilities and iron fisted control of the Warren Federation. Being the sole founder of the federation and having taken on kobolds as a vassal race, lagus were once the premier rulers of the federation in early recorded history before cultural norms shifted, in particular with the acceptance of the rodentfolk. While kobolds were by and large content and even happy with the status quo laboring under the lagus, the rodentfolk quickly campaigned their position as equals to raise up the kobolds as well, shifting what was once an authoritarian council consisting only of lagus clan matriarchs to a council of three racial representatives from each of the largest burrows. While this change was ultimately for the better, something even the lagus admit, they are loathe to give up their authoritarian natures and deep entrenchment within the governmental, militarily, and internal police of the nation. Much of their waning influence compared to the past comes from the reproductive limits that lagus suffer from, with only one male being born for every hundred females. While the average lagus woman can produce anywhere between one to six children every three months, the sheer lack of viable male offspring means that most male lagus are kept safely secured and all but enslaved within any clans seat of power. Male lagus are one of the mostly hotly contended criticisms of lagus society, as the rodentfolk and kobolds are keenly aware that these men are, by misfortune of birth, kept as breeding stock by members of their own clan and often traded or used as bargaining chips in both political and economic deals. So far, little reform has ever been done, as the only matter which will unite all lagus clans under a single unified banner that will bend all of its political might, both legal and illegal, is a threat to the status quo of how they treat their men.

Lagus political ability is well known, with lagus diplomats being rightly feared and well respected within their domains. Having a long history within entrenched authoritative power structures, both within their clans and socially, make the nature of lagus naturally inclined towards accepting their roles and positions within a hierarchy. In a way, this mirrors kobolds, as few lagus will have ambition and can find easy contentment even in simple work. Those few with ambition generally seek to start their own clans, usually upon securing a few males and enough influence, leading them to become matriarchs. Lagus are a common sight in any leadership, bureaucratic, or police role within the federation. Though it is long suspected (and never quite proven) it is believed that many lagus take leadership roles by using the natural influence generated by their psionic nature. Be it a diplomat reading the minds of those she is trying to convince, a commander carefully determining the state of morale of her troops, or even just an enforcer using the emotions and thoughts of a suspect to determine guilt, lagus have an almost supernatural understanding of how to lead others. The most famous (or infamous) example of the lagus psi-corps, a division of their internal enforcers who are given special training to allow them to directly read the thoughts and memories of others, with an even smaller sub-division rumored to be able to detect crimes before they happen and prevent them or capture the suspect the moment after. This division is largely why the federation burrows are considered one of the safest places to live, as crime is all but non-existent thanks to the lagus psi-corps and their ruthless enforcement.

Lagus are numerically smaller than kobolds or rodentfolk, as despite their rapid reproduction the sparingly few males make it near impossible to match the natural population growth of other races. Outsiders will often note the severe lack of males, with some thinking that lagus are an entirely female race, and may approach them with that idea in mind. Sadly for potential suitors, while a lagus will incorporate men of other races into their clan and raise these non-lagus children in a traditional manner through communal support, lagus struggle to conceive with men of other races. The chance is likened to a one in one thousand possibility, even with humans who are known for being able to intermix more readily with other races. These children are also of the fathers race and thus lack the psionic power that even the most humble lagus can boast of. The end result leaves lagus with lower numbers than most races across the world, a fact that frustrates many more ambitious lagus as the natural hierarchies that they form coupled with their innate supernatural powers would be a much greater force to be reckoned with if they merely had the population of other races. For now, lagus remain well entrenched in the power structure of the federation through careful labyrinthine political plots and intrigue and through careful use of diplomacy.

A quick-start guide:

• Hare-type lagus gain +10 vigilance and cognition and -5 biology. Hares have the ability to bypass or lower the cost of psionic abilities, if they are psions.
• Rabbit-type lagus gain -5 robustness and toughness but a massive +25 cognition. Rabbits gain a bonus to their total essence pool as psions and bypass or lower the cost of psionic abilities, if they are psions.
• Jackalope-type lagus gain +5 robustness, toughness, and cognition. Jackalopes cannot be knocked down and gain the ability to bull rush. Jackalopes are also carnivores instead of herbivores.

Biology

Lagus biology is differentiated by race and ethnicity but shares many similarities. Between genders, female lagus are taller, stronger, more broadly built, and often have thicker and more physically stacked bodies. A female lagus will generally be between eight and nine feet tall and tend to have much thicker, softer fur than males. Males tend to be between seven to eight feet tall, with slimmer bodies covered in shorter fur and much less stocky forms. All lagus have lagomorphfeatures, being a buttoned nose, rabbit-like tail, bunny ears, buck teeth, and paw-like feet and hands. Ethnicity between lagus is often but not always marked by the structure of the ears and the build of the body. Hares are often slimmer built with upward pointed ears that stand on their own. Hares will often have a 'runners' body, with long legs and forms suited to maintain distance and speed. Rabbit lagus will generally have ears that hang or flop around the head in a 'lop' style while having fatter, thicker bodies more suited for their mountain homes than the more nomadic hares. Jackalopes can wear their ears in either style, with their noted differences being more pronounced claws, antlers and horns, and their mouths full of sharp fangs, though they still have the trademark buck teeth with sharpened tips. Lagus colors come in the same earthy tones that can be found in regular rabbits, ranging from black, white, gray, to tan, wheat, straw, and even very dark blue navy tones. Eye color among lagus is generally black, but red, white, and even blue eyes are not unheard of as naturally occurring.

Culture

Much of lagus culture can be considered an extension to the federation, even the aspects changed by the introduction of kobolds and later rodentfolk. The federation considers itself an ancient empire, on par or even older than the dwarves and ogres as much of their mountain holds are marvels of engineering said to have been first built by the dragons themselves. These ancient fortresses were only later settled by the lagus, whose oral history maintains that after the dragons vanished they took control of their former holds in accord with the wishes of the kobolds who were left leaderless and helpless without their masters. Whether this is the true history or not is subject to debate, but no one can deny that the splendor of these mountain holds far exceed anything that any modern engineer, even legendary goblin masons, could ever hope to build. As lagus communities are naturally formed into stratified clans, lead by the most ambitious, the largely peaceful nature of lagus is the end result of their preference for order and their psionic abilities. While all lagus are in some degree or another naturally psionic, those whom choose to train and empower their abilities are quite common and surprisingly are rarely treated differently than those who don't train or progress their abilities. Lagus psions can be found anywhere lagus reside and in any role, but most tend to naturally gravitate towards leadership roles or roles on which their natural abilities are best suited for.

As a primarily female dominated society, they naturally are considered peculiar to other races. Lagus do not really make much distinction between gender, only purpose and role, and thus do not really care about the opinions of genders that other races or cultures may hold. To a lagus, a male of their own race is a resource to be used for the continuation of their clan and species, that is his role and purpose and his opinions on the matter have little importance. The highest positions within lagus society are almost exclusively lead by matriarchs, women who hold dominion over an entire clan, and thus largely occupy the highest roles within government structures that more often than not have entire departments made up of her other clan members. It is not unusual for an entire lagus clan to be solely devoted to a singular business or even civic department where they hold sway. This somewhat adversarial position is exceptionally good at rooting out corruption, as clans are loathe to let others benefit where they otherwise could, the constant competition and political posturing means that most civic departments are highly skilled and incredibly competitive to earn favors, more public support, and thus greater funding that goes directly to the clan controlling it. If the empire or legion can be considered models of culture and responsibility respectively, the federation can be considered the perfect model of efficiency, as it is in the best interest of each lagus clan and the public to always be improving, always be excelling, and to always do the job right.

This aspect of being within the workings of political power extend beyond merely civic duty, as many lagus make up leadership roles within the federation military and much of its structure across the board in civil protection. Enforcers are commonly lagus, given their much greater size and strength over kobolds or rodentfolk and their natural psionics making them exceptional at taking down potential criminals. Use of mind reading, augury, and other methods of psionic adapted telepathy are widely used and relied on by enforcers, who will proactively make an effort to stop crimes as they are happening or even before if they are capable. Much of the federations extremely low crime rates and incredibly peaceful society is due to the constant work of these dedicated officers. Unlike the legion or empire, where personal safety is considered a personal issue and thus few people go anywhere without a gun, weapon, or spell handy, the federation is one place where it is often perfectly safe to remained completely disarmed, a far cry difference in a normally hostile world, even in other places considered safe.

Mentality

Lagus share a similar blend of ideals that hit the midpoint between minotaurs and kobolds. Lagus love order, efficiency, and structure as minotaurs do while having an innate urge and desire to form functional clans between kin based on blood and ties. Lagus are an easily content race, their personalities often finding a role within their clan in which they can find a peaceful and simply life performing the duties that benefit themselves, their clan, and the federation as a whole. Unlike kobolds, however, lagus are still individuals and may choose to wander, as hares often do, or become ambitious and seek to form their own clans to garner power and influence. As natural psionics, lagus often look towards the most powerful psion among them as the authority, though this can vary depending on that psions individual abilities. Lagus greatly respect those among them who become exceptional in their supernatural powers and offer equal respect in other races who can maintain the same level of talent, such as the kaxxis. Relations with lagus among other races is often easy and diplomatic, being naturally skilled in dealing with others as a whole, lagus rarely have animosity among any race. While lagus are generally tolerant and accepting, a cultural mentality makes them loathe to be commanded or otherwise controlled by outsiders, as lagus see themselves as rightful rulers, even if they are a party of one.

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