Larrokites look a bit like upright, bipedal frogs, about 1.5 metres tall. They have webbed hind feet and
spindly forearms ending in non-webbed hands. Their eyes are nested in bumps on the top of the head and may be
turned around independently. Skin colour varies widely, including spotted and mottled varieties. Larrokites do
not wear clothing, but often have tool belts or backpacks in which to carry things. Larrokites are native to
swampy regions of their homeworld, which is of earthlike mixed terrain, and has a gravity of 0.92 G and an
atmospheric pressure of 0.90, but with slightly higher oxygen concentration than Earth.
Larrokites get along very well with humans, since they share many of the same overall psychological tendencies. Furthermore, they are generally non-aggressive unless provoked. There are a few more mercenary Larrokites who will use violence to accomplish their goals, just as some humans are bad apples. The species as a whole, however, is non-aggressive towards other sentients. Larrokite history is nowhere near as replete with wars as human history, despite its much longer timespan. A Larrokite would much rather kick back and relax than get worked up enough to fight in a war.
Disputes between Larrokites happen rarely, but when they do occur their single-mindedness sets in and they argue it out until they reach a conclusion. In extreme cases, an athletic contest is used to decide which antagonist must back down, after which all is forgiven and two may resume being good friends. If one antagonist refuses the contest, he is deemed to have lost. Larrokites apply this behaviour to other sentients as well, so it is very difficult to make a long term Larrokite enemy unless you continually and deliberately provoke him.
Larrokites have a mild fear of heights, racially ingrained over millenia.
Larrokites are omnivores. Their native diet consists of slimy water plants and fish- and amphibian-like animals. They enjoy most human food, but only in bland dishes. Highly spiced food upsets their stomachs and internal water balance. Larrokite food is edible to humans, but not popular outside of avant garde sushi bars.
To reproduce, female Larrokites lay clutches of 3-5 large eggs in water, which can then be fertilised externally by a cooperating male. The eggs must be supplied with dissolved nutrients throughout the developmental period of 5 months (traditionally done by draping them with slimy weed and occasionally releasing animal blood into the water). They hatch into baby Larrokites, who follow a similar growth pattern to humans. Adulthood is reached at 16 years and aging begins at 65.
Amongst their own, Larrokites are a peaceful species, since they would much rather play than fight. Technology has globalised their homeworld culture over thousands of years. This led to the development of Rooplibb as the universal Larrokite language. Older Larrokite tongues are recorded for posterity but are dead languages.
Larrokite mating rituals are little more than being in the right place at the right time. Any suitable male in the vicinity may be asked by a female to fertilise eggs she is ready to lay. It is considered impolite to refuse without a good reason. Mothers play the major role in raising children, but friends of the mother, of both sexes, will assist. This may or may not include the father.
Larrokites have no structured religions. Traditionally they have no belief in any deities, but believe in a form of reincarnation similar to that of Buddhism. Cosmopolitan Larrokites these days carry a wide range of beliefs, although almost invariably do not worship, even if they do decide to believe in a deity.
Larrokite art, both visual and performing, is colourful and expressive. Their literature tends more to poetry than prose. All art forms are immediately accessible to humans, though critics tend to dismiss them as childish (which is precisely why they are so accessible to the average human non-art-critic!). More than arts, though, Larrokites like to engage in and observe athletic competitions. Many are keen followers of human sports and several Larrokite sports have been adopted by humans.
A Larrokite criminal could fill any role, from petty thief to powerful crime boss. They are adaptable enough to fill most of the same societal roles as humans. The only reason there are not as many Larrokite criminals as human ones is that crime is seen as too much hard work by the fun-loving Larrokites.
On Larrokite-dominated worlds, they tend to govern in a loosely anarchic Athenian democracy, patterned after their homeworld. Few Larrokites possess the drive to administrate or play an active role in government, but if elected to a supervisory position by their peers their sense of duty kicks in and they perform extremely competently and usually fairly.
Larrokites are broadly antagonistic towards the Pachekki, but only because for some reason the Pachekki seemed to take an instant dislike to them. On a case by case basis, the two species have been known to cooperate, but only with a strong Pachekki leader championing a good reason. The Larrokites are happy to forgive and forget, and always do so when approached by a non-aggressive Pachekki, but are invariably disappointed when the agreement ends and the Pachekki return to their unfriendly ways.
Larrokite worlds also bear much of the brunt of the Ulhuqqa offensives. One colony has already been lost and the distance between the Larrokite homeworld and the Ulhuqqa is dangerously small.
