Great Clans Of Lothric

> " In the relentless pursuit of security, wealth, and prosperity, the Republic, once a stronghold of unwavering resistance against the encroaching shadows of tyrants, slavers, and conquerors, now finds itself entangled in the very chains it had once shattered. The shattered legacies of hundreds of thousands of Loft champions, who once defiantly opposed the encroaching darkness, now lie in ruins. No longer does the Republic stand, for now, the dominion belongs to the Great Clans, ushering in an age marked by opulence and tyranny. " - Unknown
>
>

## The Founding

The First Republic of Lothric remains shrouded in the mists of time, with scant records or knowledge available about this era, but was universally regarded as utopia. What followed was the great folly which resulted in the collapse of the First republic. Deceived by the Northern Slavers the republic welcomed an army into their city. What followed was a thousand year era of enslavement of the Lothrians.

The Slavers executed a systematic destruction of Lothric and its rich culture, aiming to mold the Lothrians into a subservient race of slaves. Across the sea, Lothrians found themselves enlisted in the Slavers' armies, contributing to their conquests. They endured arduous labor in mines, toiled on farms, and served as household servants. Despite their grim circumstances, the Northern slavers met their downfall when the Great Loth, a formidable leader, rose against them. The ensuing conflict was an Epic Century long war, pitting the slave armies of the North against the First Revolutionary Army. In the ferocious battles that unfolded, hundreds of thousands of Lotharians lost their lives every year, drastically reducing near countless population of Lotharians to a mere fraction of its former size.

In the aftermath of the war and the collapse of the slave empire, a widespread famine swept through the region, leaving the entire area devastated. The famine was so severe that it rendered the entire area barren, devoid of any vegetation or animals. This ecological desolation was exacerbated by the robust nature of the Lothrian digestive system capable of eating almost anything organic.

The Short-lived Second Republic proved to be a short facade of hope, as the desperate circumstances led to its rapid and near collapse within a decade. Faced with the dire consequences of the famine, the successor state of the Lothric devolved into a grim state of cannibalism and tribalism. The struggle for survival and the scarcity of resources eroded the social fabric, plunging the region into a chaotic and tumultuous period of internal strife and desperation. The Third and current republic was what arose from the chaos. The Third republic is a sham of what the revolutionaries fought for and reminiscent of the Northern slave empire. While every Lothrian is declared free in name, the stark reality is that they are nothing more than slaves to their Clans and the Lothric Republic. They are destined to die and live for the republic and their clans.

## Politics

The governance of Lothric is woven directly to five Great clans: Pestule, Korau, Samshu, Uothar, and Rythine. Together, they form the Grand Council, presided over by the Great Loth who holds Executive power. This council serves as both judiciary and legislative authority within the Lothric Republic. Legislative power is shared with the Lothric Council, a body composed by the heads of the numerous lesser clans alongside their counterparts from the great clans. The Great Loth, the head of state and government, ascends to power through a ten-year electoral cycle, and as tradition dictates, must hail from one of the esteemed great clans.

The various Clans of Lothric are large communal family units ranging from thousands to hundreds of Lothrians. The Clan heads are typically determined by a clan by clan basis as each clan has a different tradition to choosing the head. The establishment of new clans is rare but require the approval of the Great Loft, The Lothric Council and the Grand council. Before an individual can establish their own clan they must complete great acts to the service to the lothric republic.

## Demographics

### Lothrians

The Lothrians, also known as the Loths, constitute a race of bipedal ratmen. An average Lothrian stands at a height of four to five feet, characterized by a distinctive hunched back and powerful legs. These creatures naturally thrive in tight underground spaces, having evolved impressive climbing abilities and possessing natural night vision for navigating their vast underground cities. Because of their small stature in a direct contest of strength the average lothrian would lose agaisnt humans.

One of the most remarkable aspects of Lothrian biology pertains to their reproductive and digestive capabilities. Lothrians can consume a wide range of sustenance, from rotting meat to wood, without suffering complications. As a result of their diet and evolution the taste of Lothrian meat is universally regarded as rancid, with only other Lothrians being willing to consume it. In terms of reproduction, a female Loth can bear a litter of 20 Loth pups within a three-month pregnancy. While approximately half of the litter may not survive the first year, the overall Lothrian reproduction and growth rate is exceptionally high. This prolific breeding contributes to the perception of Lothrians as a plague on the continent, as they consume anything in their path and propagate rapidly, akin to a wildfire.

#### Apex Lothrians

Apex Lothrians are born randomly amongst the population of Lothrians with greater rates within the great clans. These Lothrians are smarter,stronger,larger and live longer than the average Lothrian. They are the leadership caste within the Lothrians. They appear in a 1/50th chance of being born.

## Culture

### Religion

The Lothric Scripture is a religion created by the Great Clans over Two centuries ago as a measure of control over the populace.Primarily serviced by the great Clans they teach and indoctrinate the populace to serve and maintain the status quo

### Society

Lothric Society is structured around large familial units known as clans. Each clan is led by a Clan Head and a council of Elders. The methods for selecting Clan Heads and council members vary from clan to clan, often linked to the specialization of the clan. While many clans own and operate businesses like large plantations, sweatshops, or mines with a high degree of specialization, there are exceptions, as some clans adopt a more generalist approach. The Great Clans, the founding clans of the Lothric Republic dating back to the first republic, are held in reverence and high regard.

In Lothric, the individual worth of a Lothrian is relatively low due to the species' rapid maturation and reproductive ability. The majority of Rats engage in manual labor for their clans, although rare exceptions exist where some Lothrians prove themselves and ascend beyond their peers. Productivity is highly valued in Lothric Society, an instinct likely ingrained in them from their era of slavery.

In Lothric Society, the subspecies of Apex Lothrics comprise the leadership caste. A natural biological mechanism renders Lothrians more subservient to the Apex Subspecies.

## Economy

The vast majority of the republic's economy is controlled by its clans. The primary sectors of the Lotharian economy include mining, sweatshops, and agriculture. The clans manage an extensive network of mines, extracting minerals through manual "slave" labor. The nation's industrial capacity is predominantly sustained by vast sweatshops, where hundreds of Lothrians work in inhumane conditions, producing crude products. Additionally, the clans oversee large farms, both above and underground, specializing in the cultivation of fungus and rice.

Many Lothrians never encounter a Lothrian script throughout their lives, as the distribution and management of resources within the clans are exclusively handled by the clan heads and elders.

## Military

#### Organization

The Great Loth serves as the supreme commander-in-chief of Lothric. The military comprises a conscripted army, as no formal army is established for the republic. However, each Clan, based on its wealth, maintains a well-armed private army, typically utilized in minor skirmishes and for the protection of their assets. In times of war, the conscripted Lothrians follow the commands of their Clan heads, who, in turn, report to the Great Loth or the commander appointed by the Great Loth.

#### History

The first recorded military force of Lothric was the Lothric Revolutionary Army, which rose against the Northern slavers. This army was highly disorganized and employed intense guerrilla warfare to expel the so-called slavers from Lothric. Following the conclusion of the rebellion, the Revolutionary Army was disbanded, leading to the return of many soldiers to their families and clans. Subsequently, the Clanner armies emerged—a collection of irregular private armies comprising former soldiers who now served as the private military forces for their respective clans.

#### Equipment

The standard equipment for a Lothric soldier includes a wooden shield, a short spear with a bronze head, and a pair of weighted javelins carried on their back. Their typical armor consists of a gambeson, made from densely compacted sheets of fabric sewn together to form a protective garment. Wealthier soldiers, on the other hand, benefit from enhanced protection and gear crafted from bronze.