OOC: as noted before this is all IC information unless noted and again can be found by simple record checks.

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The Flea’tan species is a genetically modified mix of three species from their home world of Fleatara. In this case, an insect like a flea, grasshopper, and spider. They stand between 5’4-6’0 in height. Generally females are the larger of the two though in rare cases males can grow to equal heights.

Cultural Standing of Males

In Flea’tan culture males are looked down upon as the lesser sex. Though in recent years they are held in more or less equal standing in their culture they are not allowed to hold positions in their government as leaders. Otherwise they pursue the same fields of work as their female counterparts.

Cultural Religion

There is a single dying religion still used in the more distant city regions of Fleatara and the Flea’tan colonies. Simply known as ‘The Elder’ faith, these faithful wait for the day that their god, cast out eons before, returns ‘in a sky washed in sea of flame.’ To reclaim his throne that was stolen from him by the heritage line of the three Flea’tan royal families. The faith demands of its followers to operate in secret and find ways to undermine, in small ways, the reliability of the general Flea’tan society and government. Furthermore, the faith demands that once every year the youngest child from the oldest family is sacrificed in a ritual to appease The Elder’s wrath when he returns and secure their safety in his sky cast divine fires.

Truth of the Elder and faith

The truth behind the Elder and his faith was that early in Flea’tan development the three developing species, still in the cave dwelling stages, were molded over several years by the Elder and his followers. These people were outcasts from the Andromeda galaxy fleeing some terribly advanced race known only as The Ancients. None of this is known by the common people, and indeed only the royal Queens hold the bits and tattered pieces of the truth handed down from the ages when they still were in their earlier medieval stages.

The truth of the faith is that the in old ways have been lost and hold no real meaning in the present modern day, other then to instill fear in young children.

Current Relations With The Federation

The Flea’tan Alliance is currently on friendly terms with the Federation. They are presently involved in diplomatic, technological, and limited personnel exchange programs. These programs are benefiting both cultures, as it allows the Federation access to newer sensor technology and the Flea’tans access to more modern weapons, shields, and conventional warp engine travel.

Due to the efforts of the USS Crusader, and USS Europa, both crews are held in high regard in the Flea’tan Alliance. They have both been knighted by the Flea’tan Queen herself. The added bonus to this is that any time any of these crews visit Flea’tan R&R facilities and vacation spots their stay is taken care of at the cost of the Queen herself.

Naming Structure

Flea’tan names are made by the following, the first three or four letters designate their family line followed by a ‘ with the following three or four letters designating their place of birth. The last names follow a similar pattern with the first three or four letters designating status followed again by a ‘ with the last three or four letters designating talents in their language.

An example as follows then would be: Sal’lesh Kost’dora. In this case Sal designates the family line; Lesh shows the planet or city if birth, Kost shows the standing of the person or family in Flea’tan culture and Dora shows the person’s talent. Usually a royal cousin, sister, etc or someone of higher standing have more four letter names then those who do not.

HISTORY
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Due to how the Flea’tan culture is structured only the Queen’s royal family knows their full history. As such most Flea’tans are simply concerned with the day to day affairs of life and current events over the past few months at best.

Player Note: What this means is that any player characters of the Flea’tans can not be from the royal families due to them never leaving their cultural responsibilities. As such players would come from the lower caste ranks.

Romance / Mating Rituals

Romance among Flea’tan society is quite different from more common practices. Being an insectoid race mixed together from three others. Such involvements often could be seen as quite alien to Federation members.

When a Flea’tan female begins to look for a potential mate among the male populace they will often hold challenges or similar events for the right to earn her hand in a marriage ritual. These events are often made to show interested male’s skills, strengths, and their prowess in providing for a potential family.

Once a winner is chosen from these events the female and male’s families will often discuss living arrangements and family duties while the pair court and learn more deeply of each other. In the case of those Flea’tans of high skill or standing in society the Flea’tan Queen or other royal representative may impart a gift or boon upon the courting couple.

Upon the sealing of their marriage and family vows there follows a month long cycle of mating between the newly wed pair, in some rare cases females once they have ensured they are pregnant will in a fit of primitive lusts eat their male mate. Thankfully this practice is rare due to recent advances in Flea’tan medical studies, but it still does occur in less privileged families.

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Exact looks of the Flea'tan are a grasshopper like head, with spider like eyes, the body of a flea and grasshopper, and four arms and two legs with arched claw like appendages

Gm CockRoach