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Description
Some concept art for the semi-insectoid people in my setting.

The Torix Empire is a state with a social structure that resembles that of eusocial insects.

A "colony" is a family unit in Torix culture, consisting of anywhere between a few dozen to several thousand non-reproductive laborers, a handful of reproduction-capable members of the nobility caste (often called "princes" and "princesses") and a egglaying mother queen. The next level of organization above the colony is a "Noble House", consisting of many colonies either with a common ancestry or a similar cultural/political background. The governing bodies of each house varies wildly in structure, though one consistency between the houses is the fact that they are almost invariably led by the high born nobility caste, and the laborers rarely have a direct influence in the governance of their houses. Though the houses have their own semi-sovereign territories within Imperial space, colonies are rarely restricted to one area. All major cities within the empire likely contains colonies from nearly every house working together.

The noble houses of the Torix have been united into a grand empire many years ago. House Imperium is a unique house that exercises power over all the other houses. There are no reproductive queens within House Imperium: its laborer caste is made entirely of talented adoptees of the other houses. The noble Torix that make up the Senate that rules over House Imperium consists of elected candidates of the other houses. Above this all sits the High Empress, selected by the Senate from a pool of eligible princesses, who will rule over the Empire for life.

The majority of Torix fully accept the caste based system that has been part of their culture since the dawn of their civilization. Princes and princess are seen are stronger and more capable than commoners and generally occupy any and all leadership positions in the Empire, whether it be rule over an entire planet or being the manager of a small store. Though the nobility are physically imposing; towering over the laborer caste and possessing wings and an extra pair of arms that the commoners do not have, they are scientifically proven to be no more intelligent or creative (on average) than their subordinates, a fact that has been well suppressed within their empire.

Though the Empire is surprisingly diverse in terms of culture, nearly all Torix societies value social order, loyalty, duty, honesty, love and self-sacrifice above all else. Family is incredibly important to the Torix, and the success and unity of the Emipre stems from its leadership convincing its subjects that all Torix in the Empire are part of one single family and should behave as such. The Torix often refer to their union as an "Empire of Love". Despite such sentiments, the history of Torix is not one devoid of prejudice, conflict and bigotry. Tribal conflict between colonies was the order of the day for pre-Industrial Torix, and the formation of the Empire was not a bloodless union. Indeed, many rebellious Torix houses have been wiped from the historybooks due to such contentions.

The Torix is still a race of individuals, despite many outsiders' assumptions that their species is some kind of hivemind devoid of individual thought or creativity. Each Torix has unique opinions, ambitions, insecurities and personality. In the security of small groups they gossip, boast, criticize and argue like any other species.

An interesting trait that the Torix posses is the ability to memorize countless people. While many other species can only maintain a few hundred stable relationships at most, every Torix is easily able to remember thousands upon thousands of faces and personalities. Even more extraordinary is their ability to do this even in passing. Show a Torix a photograph of a person, and they will be able to accurately tell you whether they ever personally saw that person before, even if they only saw that person in passing in a large crowd several years ago.

Description
Some concept art for the semi-insectoid people in my setting.

The Torix Empire is a state with a social structure that resembles that of eusocial insects.

A "colony" is a family unit in Torix culture, consisting of anywhere between a few dozen to several thousand non-reproductive laborers, a handful of reproduction-capable members of the nobility caste (often called "princes" and "princesses") and a egglaying mother queen. The next level of organization above the colony is a "Noble House", consisting of many colonies either with a common ancestry or a similar cultural/political background. The governing bodies of each house varies wildly in structure, though one consistency between the houses is the fact that they are almost invariably led by the high born nobility caste, and the laborers rarely have a direct influence in the governance of their houses. Though the houses have their own semi-sovereign territories within Imperial space, colonies are rarely restricted to one area. All major cities within the empire likely contains colonies from nearly every house working together.

The noble houses of the Torix have been united into a grand empire many years ago. House Imperium is a unique house that exercises power over all the other houses. There are no reproductive queens within House Imperium: its laborer caste is made entirely of talented adoptees of the other houses. The noble Torix that make up the Senate that rules over House Imperium consists of elected candidates of the other houses. Above this all sits the High Empress, selected by the Senate from a pool of eligible princesses, who will rule over the Empire for life.

The majority of Torix fully accept the caste based system that has been part of their culture since the dawn of their civilization. Princes and princess are seen are stronger and more capable than commoners and generally occupy any and all leadership positions in the Empire, whether it be rule over an entire planet or being the manager of a small store. Though the nobility are physically imposing; towering over the laborer caste and possessing wings and an extra pair of arms that the commoners do not have, they are scientifically proven to be no more intelligent or creative (on average) than their subordinates, a fact that has been well suppressed within their empire.

Though the Empire is surprisingly diverse in terms of culture, nearly all Torix societies value social order, loyalty, duty, honesty, love and self-sacrifice above all else. Family is incredibly important to the Torix, and the success and unity of the Emipre stems from its leadership convincing its subjects that all Torix in the Empire are part of one single family and should behave as such. The Torix often refer to their union as an "Empire of Love". Despite such sentiments, the history of Torix is not one devoid of prejudice, conflict and bigotry. Tribal conflict between colonies was the order of the day for pre-Industrial Torix, and the formation of the Empire was not a bloodless union. Indeed, many rebellious Torix houses have been wiped from the historybooks due to such contentions.

The Torix is still a race of individuals, despite many outsiders' assumptions that their species is some kind of hivemind devoid of individual thought or creativity. Each Torix has unique opinions, ambitions, insecurities and personality. In the security of small groups they gossip, boast, criticize and argue like any other species.

An interesting trait that the Torix posses is the ability to memorize countless people. While many other species can only maintain a few hundred stable relationships at most, every Torix is easily able to remember thousands upon thousands of faces and personalities. Even more extraordinary is their ability to do this even in passing. Show a Torix a photograph of a person, and they will be able to accurately tell you whether they ever personally saw that person before, even if they only saw that person in passing in a large crowd several years ago.