OLTHARIANS

SYSTEM DATA:

Homeworld: OLTHAR PRIME
Location: GIRAX System
Quadrant: BETA

Specifications:
- Planetary system comprised of 10 planets orbiting a Class 6 Red Giant

- GIRAX I, E-Class, standard elliptical orbit
average distance from the sun: 56 million km, solar rotation: 71 EARTH days

- GIRAX II, H-Class, pronounced elliptical orbit
average distance from the sun: 114 million km, solar rotation: 242 EARTH
days

- GIRAX III (OLTHAR PRIME), M-Class, standard elliptical orbit
average distance from the sun: 203 million km, solar rotation: 334 EARTH
days

- GIRAX IV, K-Class, standard elliptical orbit
average distance from the sun: 247 million km, solar rotation: 738 EARTH
days

- GIRAX V, G-Class, standard elliptical orbit
average distance from the sun: 322 million km, solar rotation: 917 EARTH
days

- GIRAX VI, J-Class, standard elliptical orbit
average distance from the sun: 725 million km, solar rotation: 3,814 EARTH
days

- GIRAX VII, I-Class, standard elliptical orbit
average distance from the sun: 982 million km, solar rotation: 8,257 EARTH
days

- GIRAX VIII, J-Class, standard elliptical orbit
average distance from the sun: 1,679 million km, solar rotation: 14,284
EARTH days

- GIRAX IX, C-Class, pronounced and erratic elliptical orbit
average distance from the sun: 2,817 million km, solar rotation: 34,889
EARTH days

- GIRAX X, C-Class, pronounced and erratic elliptical orbit
average distance from the sun: 4,522 million km, solar rotation: 62,434
EARTH days

========================================
PLANETARY DATA (OLTHAR PRIME):

Polar axial tilt: 18.3 degrees
Standard surface temperature range: -35C to 40C
Planetary water coverage: 67%
Planetary rotation (1 day): 38 hours, 2 minutes and 12 seconds (EARTH time)
Solar rotation (1 year): 334 days (EARTH days)
Atmosphere composition: 76% nitrogen, 24% oxygen
Planetary surface gravitational pull: 1.85Gs (EARTH = 1G)

========================================
CIVILIZATION DATA:

Population: 118 million (much fewer than expected for a planet of this size)
Governmental system: Entire planet ruled by a "Council of Elders" comprised
of 7 officials elected from 1 of 2 lesser Councils. These secondary
councils are the 'Religious Circle' and 'Scientific Circle', each comprised
of 7 appointed officials.
Major Cities: Oltharia (Capital), Sallarr, Giraxa

========================================
MYTHOLOGY:

According to legends, the planet was created when Girax, the all powerful
god of the heavens, saw that the universe was in chaos and allowed a single
tear to fall from his eye causing the sun, the system and planets around it
to, as well as all life to be formed. Hoping that this new creation would
be saved the chaos that he had seen across the universe, Girax ordered his
two daughters, Dara and Rada, to keep watch over the planet and its people.
Both daughters were instructed to teach the inhabitants of the planet
respect for all life and the ways of nature, which they did leading to the
creation of what would later be referred to as the 'Religious Circle' and
'Scientific Circle', the first being responsible for the teachings of
respect and life, the second being in charge of studying and learning about
the ways of nature.

========================================
SOCIOLIGICAL HISTORY:

According to written records, the peaceful teachings of the Oltharian
society had been in place since the beginning, the 'Religious Circle'
advocating the sanctity and sacredness of all life and the need for its
safeguard while the 'Scientific Circle' taught its followers to co-exist
with nature and not impose their presence on the world around them. Thanks
to these teachings the Oltharians enjoyed a uniquely peaceful history which
was darkened by a single event that eventually led to the creation of the
Council of Elders.

Although both the Religious and Scientific Circles had been able to coexist
without any real issue, the desire of the Scientific Circle to broaden their
understanding of the universe placed the two sides on a collision course
that almost lead to a civil war. To the Religious Circle, the heavens above
were the territory of their deities and could not be trampled upon by the
tools of the Scientific Circle. Or course those who had been taught from
the start to explore and research without causing harm disagreed, stating
that this had been perfectly acceptable as per their ancestral teachings.

Just as things were about to deteriorate, an agreement was reached between
the two circles and the Council of Elders was created. Although this
central governing body did agree that the research suggested by the
Scientific Circle had been acceptable, the strict limits imposed on the
researchers delayed by more than five centuries the Oltharians' reaching for
the stars.

With each new discovery made by the Scientific Circle, the Religious Circle
grew in apprehension, and when it was hoped that they would be able to use
their new technology to reach one of the orbiting moons, the threat of
another conflict soon presented itself. Despite the many restrictions
imposed on the Scientific Circle, the development of warp-drive was not
halted, only its testing to reach other astral bodies which allowed the
researchers to break the warp barrier and make themselves known to the
Federation. Because of this First Contact with the planet's inhabitants was
made just in time to prevent an all out conflict. Unfortunately this also
caused another major setback in the society's overall development as the
learning of the existence of *multiple* other races placed in question many
of the foundations they had taken for granted in regards to *their*
universe.

========================================
POLITICAL AND ECONOMICAL DATA:

Being unified under a single ruling body, that of the Council of Elders, the
Oltharians enjoy a peaceful existence that is made only made more tranquil
thanks to the absence of any economical issues. Driving by a sense of
wanting to do the best that they can, each individual works to better the
society they are a part of by offering their skills and resources to those
who need them. In addition of creating a society in which there are
virtually no class separation, this has also served to bring the entire
population closer as they strive to accomplish common goals.

========================================
SPECIAL NOTES:

* Upon their 12th birthday, members of the Oltharian society are put through
a variety of tests to grant them access to the Circle of their choice.
Builders, researchers and other jobs requiring some sort of science falls
under the jurisdiction of the Scientific Circle while the rest, including
the Klaj-Ra-Shall, the equivalent of a military force, falls under the
purview of the Religious Circle. The only profession that is considered to
be within the jurisdiction of both circles if that of medicine since science
is used to heal the physical wounds while religion and faith are used to
heal the emotional and psychological wounds.

* Because of this unique position, "Healers" as they are referred to, are
revered to the point of almost being worshiped, an attitude that is carried
over to all Starfleet medical personnel when encountered by an Oltharian
regardless of which Circle they may belong to. This of course has led to
the high praises of the world by many Doctors who have spent any amount of
time on the planet's surface.

* The Klaj-Ra-Shall, or the Warrior Priests has they have been nicknamed by
Starfleet personnel, are the only individuals within the Oltharian society
permitted to bare arms and even kill, doing so only when multiple lives are
at stake. Following the teachings of the Religious Circle, the sacrificing
of one life to save another is not sufficient to kill, therefore the
Klaj-Ra-Shall have learned to be experts in arts of defensive tactics
against any sort of opponent.

Written and Created by Francois Charette