Chelgrian

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The Chelgrians are a fictional race in the Culture universe created by Iain M. Banks. They are described in his novel Look to Windward.

[edit] Physique

Chelgrians evolved from an apex predator resembling an earth tiger with six legs. In the course of evolving from animal to sentient the mid legs have fused. They are a mammalian tripedal species between three and four metres in length and one point five to two metres in height. They have two hind legs, one fused mid leg and two arms ending in six digit hands that resemble paws. They are furred with various markings, large carnivore teeth and two genders male and female.

[edit] Society

Chelgrian society takes the form of a rigid enforced caste system, sufficiently technologically advanced enough to be considered Involved. That is to say as advanced as the majority of space faring species. They are a notable race because of an event in their history.

Six percent of the Chelgrian population sublimed when they were only Involved for a few hundred years. For this to happen to a young race is unusual, there was another unexpected and remarkable outcome. The sublimed part of the population maintains links with the majority part of the population which has not moved on. The sublimed part is known as the Chelgrian-Puen, the gone before. This is a unique phenomenon in the culture universe.

[edit] War

The Culture had decided to change Chelgrian society to diminish the caste system that was considered an impediment to Chel’s development. Unfortunately Chel erupted into civil war as an indirect result of the Culture’s actions. Shocked by this disastrous turn of events, the Culture announced that they had been manipulating Chel all along. This admission succeeded in stopping the war.