---
# System prepended metadata

title: Saguar stuff
tags: [Lore]

---

# Lore: Saguar


### History:
Peaceful first contact was made with the Moghes Hegemony around 2498, with the Saguar nearly immediately entering a trade agreement with the Hegemony to secure advanced technology and precious resources that were largely lacking in the Casola System. The Saguar had little to trade at first given the scarcity of precious resources on their overburdened worlds. The Saguar primarily traded in manpower in those early days, with what were practically tithes of Saguar being sent across Hegemony space due to their value as laborers. As time went on and the Saguar acquired technology that put them closer to "modern" standards, they began to mine precious metals in the asteroid belt of their home system, alongside forming what would later become the economic powerhouse of the Saguar: their Trade Fleet.

### Modern Day:
Saguar began to trade with factions that were not the Hegemony, becoming far less reliant on Moghes for resources that were once scarce or absent on Casola. In turn, the Hegemony amped up pressure on the Saguar to formally join them. Several decades later and there is still a lacking consensus among Saguar as to whether or not they should join the Hegemony. There is a strong majority who hold a certain pride towards independence, alongside a not insignificant minority who believe the Saguar should be part of the Hegemony to reap further benefits from them. At the moment, the Casola system is something of a special economic zone within the Hegemony. Moghes gets certain benefits with the Saguar, such as being permitted free passage in and out of Saguar space whereas other groups must gain permission from the Hegemony, even if the Saguar are willing to let them in. Tithes still exist regarding manpower, though these are mostly fulfilled independently as Moghes corporations have prominent advertising across the Casola System. Even so, other corporations do get their limelight as well, despite ongoing attempts at pro-Hegemony politicians to reduce this. It's even rumored that certain Hegemony information warfare groups are attempting to subtly steer Saguar towards truly joining the Hegemony, though there's little proof behind these claims.

The Trade Fleet, as mentioned before, is the economic powerhouse of Saguar society. Trade ships are given vast independence for how they are run, traveling the far corners of the Galaxy in search of the next great haul to bring back to Casola...or to trade for an even better profit. Trade ships typically start by selling either cattle beetles or precious metals mined from asteroids, alongside the occasional piece of low-to-medium value item purchased from another trade ship. What happens is generally a snowball effect as Saguar traders increasingly work their way up to more valuable items from where they start, before returning to Casola with a bevy of loot to be sold off at massive markets that span for miles in all directions. Often, though, it's common for trade ships to remain sailing for months at a time, always searching for the next great haul.


Saguar are a largely uncommon sight out in the Galaxy. Beyond Casola itself, most Saguar can be found in, ironically enough, the Hegemony, still being used as laborers for Moghes corporations. That said, Saguar are widely valued across Galactic communities and corporations alike, their trade ships occasionally being seen under subcontract for specific factions or corporate entities, flying distinct colors while having the typical appearance of a Saguar vessel. While largely recruited in groups, individuals are not uncommon, either, as news from trade ships can bring strange opportunities to lone Saguar. Although Saguar are largely up-to-date on the Galaxy at large, there are still plenty who remain unaware of the galactic setting.

### Biology & Culture:
Saguar are best split between urban and rural, much like how Casola Major, Casola Minor, and Cetunia are divided between flat, barren terrain and rockier locations of varying altitudes, ranging from simple rock canyons to vast mesas and mountains. The majority of Saguar live within gargantuan cities designed to house an ever-growing population, and inadequately so. Saguar cities increase in their verticality closer to their center, with buildings that can almost scrape the clouds sprouting up from where the city was originally founded, while less developed areas sit on the outskirts of the city. Advancements both before and after first contact mean that these cities not only extend upward a significant distance but downward as well, with a not-insignificant number of Saguar living underground to escape the brutal heat of their red sun. The center of these cities is often made around a former oasis or some other underground source of water, even after the resource became far more accessible thanks to off-world trade.


Rural Saguar, meanwhile, live more akin to classic human farmers. Their properties can extend vast distances throughout the desert, though one would not find any crops growing on this land. Instead, they herd massive insectoids for their meat and other consumable parts. These pieces of "farm" land often have several houses on them, each belonging to the same family, but being separated due to the sheer size of an average Saguar family. It's not uncommon to have multiple generations working on the same farm. In turn, this allows for far more cattle to be raised on the land, making these Saguar a key structural support for much of their species. Following first contact, several farms have adopted advanced hydroponics systems, although these are primarily self-contained due to the inhospitable nature of Saguar worlds. Nevertheless, these have allowed the Saguar taste palate to diversify over the years.

