Lorundan

			Intelligent Lifeform Index

Lorundan
Four Letter Code	LRDN
Federation Status	Neutral
Planet of Origin	Lorunda, Solerian Sector, Beta Quadrant
Encountered	Members of this species were encountered by the crew of the USS Atlantis on an away mission to Urlista Station in the Aelann system on 238207.26
T/E Rating	T0/E0
Current Tech Level	N+
List of Named Lorundans
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Lorundans hail from the Hanali star system, in the heart of the Lorundan Confederacy. Lorundans have a long neck which curls forward and ends in a t-shaped dome.

Lorundans speak Basic (Federation Standard, Galactispeak, whatever you want to call it), the common language of the galaxy, albeit with a peculiar twist. Lorundans have two mouths, one on each side of the long, curling neck. This produces a "stereo" effect when they speak that can be disconcerting to beings not familiar with them. Their native language fully employs this stereo effect, making it one of the most interesting sounding but difficult languages to speak.

Lorunda, the fourth planet in the Hanali star system, is a lush, tropical world teeming with a wide variety of animal and plant life. Much of it has been tamed by the Lorundans, but there are still large regions of wide, unexplored territory. Two land masses and numerous islands of Lorunda endure in their original, undeveloped state. Even the "developed" continents appear as overgrown jungles to most other star travelers. The Lorunda climate is tropical, and many humanoid races can function on the planet, although some find the heat and humidity troubling. It is a world where technology and nature beautifully coexist, supporting an advanced and peaceful civilization overseen by the ecologically minded Lorundans.

The Lorundans live in what have been described as "herds." They are actually cities that migrate about the planet's three civilized continents. Each herd is a complex technological wonder: disk shaped and several levels high, herds ride above the surface on antigrav engines, housing the Lorundans and serving as centers of commerce, industry, and culture. Developed over long millennia, herds represent a logical, elegant solution to the problem of conserving the ecological system of Lorunda while providing the Lorundans with a technological society. Herbivores, the Lorundans "graze" on the vegetation of their planet without actually setting foot on its surface, and their belief in ecological equality prohibits them from taking more than each herd's needs from the soil. In practice, for each vegetable a herd consumes it plants two.

This way of life led quite naturally to star travel early in Lorundan history: Lorundan ships are merely spacegoing "herds" equipped with superluminal capabilities. They travel the spaceways like caravans, bringing unusual merchandise from one area to another. Each herd-spacecraft is designed for Lorundan comfort, built to mimic the world's environment. They are indoor jungles complete with artificial storms, humid atmospheres, planetary wildlife, and vast corridors of lush vegetation.

For all their strange appearance and customs, Lorundans are gentle and peace loving. They manifest great respect for all life forms, and disturb their planet's ecology as little as possible. They remain in their floating herds, venturing onto the planet's surface only when necessary. But Lorundans are also curious and gregarious, which is perhaps why they went into space as merchants. As such, they are welcomed almost anywhere. In many systems, the arrival of a Lorunda herd is cause for celebration.

While Lorundans believe in peaceful coexistence, they also believe in protecting what they hold dear. Starfaring herds employ deflector shields and weapons to suppress smugglers and pirates. They are no match, however, for Valcarian Imperial warships. Lorunda itself boasts a highly advanced defensive system, allowing the planet-bound herds to travel armament free. While many skills are needed to keep the herds going, most Lorundans opt for training in the agricultural, artistic, or diplomatic fields, in addition to mercantile and spacefaring occupations. Many even choose to become ecological priests, serving the "Mother Jungle" and preserving nature on Lorunda.

The people of Lorunda practice a communal form of government. Each herd is autonomous and self-supporting. Once every Lorundan season (about five standard years), the herds gather for "the Meet." A grand sight for off-worlders to witness, the Meet draws tourists from all over. The herds join one to another in a regal ceremony that resembles a majestic dance above the jungle. At the Meet, storytellers spin tales of wonder, families honor longstanding commitments, couples exchange marriage vows, and Lorundans in general debate their place in the galaxy. Any space herds in the vicinity participate, but smaller versions of the Meet are held in space for those Lorundans far from the planet when the "Time of Meeting" comes.

The space herds trade with the Valcarian Empire, the Houses of the Par'tha Expanse, and the Freeworlds Region, but wish to avoid trouble. They have no reason to favor one above the other, so long as they are allowed to continue their activities in peace. The Hanali system is too far outside of Valcarian controlled space to be under the jurisdiction of the Empire. The Lorundans were a major trade partner of the Romulan Star Empire at one point, until the time of the Romulan isolation. The Romulans have yet to return to the area.