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==Anatomy==
 
==Anatomy==
 
They are shiny black, with six jointed limbs and bodies segmented like those of insects. A larger rear thorax has four three-jointed legs and then a smaller upper thorax, with two
 
They are shiny black, with six jointed limbs and bodies segmented like those of insects. A larger rear thorax has four three-jointed legs and then a smaller upper thorax, with two
almost [[human]] arms that can handle tools and weapons. Each forearm possesses a natural sharp ridge. Outside of the Tsurannuani Empire, Cho-ja display large variations of coloring, particularly in patterns, though black remains their basic coloration. Within the empire, only juvenile queens show any color, and are a dark reddish shade, which turns black once mature. 
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almost [[human]] arms that can handle tools and weapons. Each forearm possesses a natural sharp ridge.
   
 
Their faces are oval, with large multifaceted jelly-like sensitive eyes above two slits. Their jaws and mouths are human in appearance.
 
Their faces are oval, with large multifaceted jelly-like sensitive eyes above two slits. Their jaws and mouths are human in appearance.
   
They have chitin exoskeletons.
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They have chitin exoskeletons. Also, cho-ja can't see the color red.
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Cho-ja are basically black but with a large variation in color and patterns. Inside the [[Tsurannuani]] Empire, color is more uniform, except young queens who display a dark red shade.
 
==Culture==
 
==Culture==
 
Cho-ja live in hives built in meadows or valleys. A hive is ruled by a [[cho-ja queen]]. One is born less than once during a human lifetime. A hive has around 20,000 members. Occasionally because of population pressure, a hive could be split.
 
Cho-ja live in hives built in meadows or valleys. A hive is ruled by a [[cho-ja queen]]. One is born less than once during a human lifetime. A hive has around 20,000 members. Occasionally because of population pressure, a hive could be split.
   
They are brave warriors and miners, able to find precious metals and gems buried deep within the earth. Their artisans work jewelry of surpassing delicacy. The insectoid beings also held the secret of making silk, their most powerful bargaining tool. 
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They are brave warriors and miners, able to find precious metals and gems buried deep within the earth. Their artisans work jewelry of surpassing delicacy. The insectoid aliens also held the secret of making their famous and priced silk.
   
 
A cho-ja is taught their language already in the egg sac and they are hatched in creches.
 
A cho-ja is taught their language already in the egg sac and they are hatched in creches.
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Male cho-ja play when immature, but one day mature suddenly and take up their roles. They become [[breeder]]s who fertilize the queen, [[cho-ja worker|workers]] who feed the queen and take several roles according to the hive's need, and [[cho-ja soldier|soldiers]] who protect the hive and the queen, and occasionally ally with the Tsurani.
 
Male cho-ja play when immature, but one day mature suddenly and take up their roles. They become [[breeder]]s who fertilize the queen, [[cho-ja worker|workers]] who feed the queen and take several roles according to the hive's need, and [[cho-ja soldier|soldiers]] who protect the hive and the queen, and occasionally ally with the Tsurani.
   
When a new queen is born, soldier cho-ja are hatched and hastened to maturity for her protection and to form the initial warriors of the new hive. They are more aggressive and unpredictable than the seasoned warriors owing to both the haste of their maturing and also the circumstances. 
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When a new queen is born, soldier cho-ja are hatched and hastened to maturity; because of these circumstances they are more aggressive and unpredictable than the seasoned warriors, for her protection.
   
 
==Relationship with Tsurani==
 
==Relationship with Tsurani==
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Cho-ja build their hives in safe places and hard to reach places, not used by the Tsurani, resulting in scarce contact. Eventually their hives are found surrounded by Tsurani estates, and forced to coexist, isolated from the other hives. The Tsurani consider cho-ja as aliens and they can't understand fully their civilization, however the Empire and the [[Assembly of Magicians]] contacted the Cho-ja Queens. Eventually they decided that the Cho-ja were to be subjects of the Empire. The [[Great One]]s feared the Cho-ja magic, and part of their truce includes the prohibition to use magic (resulting to the Tsurannuani Cho-ja being less colorful than their cousins in the rest of Kelewan).
Since the cho-ja usually choose relatively isolated locations for their hives, there was initially little contact between them and the newly arrived tsurani. However, after several tsurani generations, the cho-ja hives found themselves surrounded by the avaricious lords of the Tsurannuani Empire and cut off from each other. To prevent a genocidal war, an agreement was reached by the empire, The Assembly of Magicians and the Cho-ja Queens, and though independent, the cho-ja became nominal subjects of the Tsurannuani Empire. In many ways they became an incredibly valuable commodity. 
 
   
To have a hive upon one's estate was more than an honour. It was a source of military and economic power. Cho-ja Queens bartered their warriors aswell as their jewellery, silk and other crafts - such as heatless glow-orbs. Their requirements in exchange are simple: grain and items fashioned of hide - items the cho-ja could not acquire for themselves.
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To have a hive upon one's estate was an honour, a source of military power and economic asset. In exchange of but grain and items fashioned of hide (things the Cho-ja can't produce themselves), they sipply their Tsurani Lords with superior warriors, jewels, glowing orbs, silk and other products.
   
 
Wars had been fought to control the silk trade, until imperial edict allowed for neither guild nor noble to monopolize it.
 
Wars had been fought to control the silk trade, until imperial edict allowed for neither guild nor noble to monopolize it.
   
A Cho-ja soldier is as valuable as two Tsurani soldiers, whilst a cho-ja worker can hold a burden it would take five men to carry. Cho-ja are also extraordinarily agile and even at furious speed they can suddenly stop perfectly still. They are also terrified of losing their footing and are vulnerable when fallen on the ground, like during a struggle, when it is considered defeat.
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A Cho-ja soldier is as strong and able as two Tsurani soldiers, while a cho-ja worker can hold a burden five men could carry. Cho-ja are also extraordinarily agile and even at furious speed they can suddenly stop perfectly still. They are also terrified of losing their footing and are vulnerable when fallen on the ground, like during a struggle, when it is considered defeat.
 
Also, cho-ja can't see the color red.
 
 
The Assembly is greatly fearful of the magical affinity displayed by the cho-ja, and part of the agreement which allows the cho-ja to continue to exist/reside within the Tsurannuani Empire forbids the cho-ja from using magic. This agreement (and possibly the restriction from using magic) also suppresses the vivid coloration cho-ja outside the Empire show. 
 
 
[[Category:Kelewan creatures]]
 
[[Category:Kelewan creatures]]
[[category:cho-ja|*]]
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[[category:Cho-ja|*]]
[[Category:sentient races]]
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[[Category:Sentient races]]

Revision as of 18:36, 14 February 2013

Cho'ja

Cho-ja are sentient creatures of Kelewan.

Anatomy

They are shiny black, with six jointed limbs and bodies segmented like those of insects. A larger rear thorax has four three-jointed legs and then a smaller upper thorax, with two almost human arms that can handle tools and weapons. Each forearm possesses a natural sharp ridge.

Their faces are oval, with large multifaceted jelly-like sensitive eyes above two slits. Their jaws and mouths are human in appearance.

They have chitin exoskeletons. Also, cho-ja can't see the color red.

Cho-ja are basically black but with a large variation in color and patterns. Inside the Tsurannuani Empire, color is more uniform, except young queens who display a dark red shade.

Culture

Cho-ja live in hives built in meadows or valleys. A hive is ruled by a cho-ja queen. One is born less than once during a human lifetime. A hive has around 20,000 members. Occasionally because of population pressure, a hive could be split.

They are brave warriors and miners, able to find precious metals and gems buried deep within the earth. Their artisans work jewelry of surpassing delicacy. The insectoid aliens also held the secret of making their famous and priced silk.

A cho-ja is taught their language already in the egg sac and they are hatched in creches.

Structure

Cho-ja have male and female members. The females are winged.

The Rirari are females who put infertile eggs in the Cho-ja queen. Another unnamed caste are infertile and mindless and use their wings to vent air through the tunnels to the hive.

Male cho-ja play when immature, but one day mature suddenly and take up their roles. They become breeders who fertilize the queen, workers who feed the queen and take several roles according to the hive's need, and soldiers who protect the hive and the queen, and occasionally ally with the Tsurani.

When a new queen is born, soldier cho-ja are hatched and hastened to maturity; because of these circumstances they are more aggressive and unpredictable than the seasoned warriors, for her protection.

Relationship with Tsurani

Cho-ja build their hives in safe places and hard to reach places, not used by the Tsurani, resulting in scarce contact. Eventually their hives are found surrounded by Tsurani estates, and forced to coexist, isolated from the other hives. The Tsurani consider cho-ja as aliens and they can't understand fully their civilization, however the Empire and the Assembly of Magicians contacted the Cho-ja Queens. Eventually they decided that the Cho-ja were to be subjects of the Empire. The Great Ones feared the Cho-ja magic, and part of their truce includes the prohibition to use magic (resulting to the Tsurannuani Cho-ja being less colorful than their cousins in the rest of Kelewan).

To have a hive upon one's estate was an honour, a source of military power and economic asset. In exchange of but grain and items fashioned of hide (things the Cho-ja can't produce themselves), they sipply their Tsurani Lords with superior warriors, jewels, glowing orbs, silk and other products.

Wars had been fought to control the silk trade, until imperial edict allowed for neither guild nor noble to monopolize it.

A Cho-ja soldier is as strong and able as two Tsurani soldiers, while a cho-ja worker can hold a burden five men could carry. Cho-ja are also extraordinarily agile and even at furious speed they can suddenly stop perfectly still. They are also terrified of losing their footing and are vulnerable when fallen on the ground, like during a struggle, when it is considered defeat.