Hapan AMA

[Dasquian Belargic]

Since all the other species are getting one... ask me about the galaxies most beautiful people :smug:

[Charley]

I understand the reasoning the Hapans joined the Alliance since the Sith are steering things in that direction, but what reasoning is given to those a bit further out of the power loop? They're fairly wealthy and well-off. It must take some convincing?

Now that they are in the Alliance, what is the status of access into the cluster? Are the Hapans still tetchy about outsiders coming in, or has that kind of thing rolled back?

Also, I'd written into Cizerack lore that the roots of the Feessaarro revolution a thousand years back may have been due to Hapan influences. What do the Hapans think of their fellow matriarchals?

[Mandalore the Liberator]

The Hapans regard themselves as being culturally superior to other beings in the galaxy. With them being pulled into a more active role in galactic politics, will there be any sort of cultural outreach trying to "enlighten" other worlds? Are there particular planets like Lantillies or Naboo that the Hapans might be drawn towards? Are there any worlds (non-human?) they will be particularly reluctant to deal with?

Also, further to Charley's question, will we see more Hapans leaving the Cluster? Will we start seeing Hapan outposts, embassies, or perhaps even colonies on other worlds? Is leaving the Cluster something that would be allowed for ordinary Hapans; would it be discouraged; and would Hapes do anything to facilitate that, or would adventurous Hapans need to find their own way out of the Cluster? Will we see much trade and passenger traffic into / out of the Cluster, or is it essentially under military lockdown?

How does Hapes feel about royal / noble families on other planets? Do they regard Bothan Clans, the Queen of Naboo, the royals of Onderon, etc as being their counterparts, or is everyone else too backwards and inferior for that?

[Salem Ave]

I understand the reasoning the Hapans joined the Alliance since the Sith are steering things in that direction, but what reasoning is given to those a bit further out of the power loop? They're fairly wealthy and well-off. It must take some convincing?

Before joining the Alliance, Hapes was importing a significant amount of goods from Onderon. Lots of animals for hunting, for instance. One of the big draws for entering into the Alliance is the opportunity to broaden the market they can buy from. To the court and the nobility, it's a hard sell because they have almost everything they want and are only really interested in politicking. To the average Hapan, it will be appealing to varying degrees, if only because they are now free to come and go from the Cluster. For males in particular, this could be life-changing.

Ultimately, it is a decision made by the Chume so it is something that everyone has to adhere to - though a significant proportion of Hapans won't/don't like it. They have a foreigner on the throne too, after all, and some of them might be aware that that foreigner was, prior to marrying the Hapan Prince, actually publicly romantically linked to the man who has brought the Consortium into the Alliance.


Now that they are in the Alliance, what is the status of access into the cluster? Are the Hapans still tetchy about outsiders coming in, or has that kind of thing rolled back?

Access to the Cluster is still limited. The Consortium maintains sovereignty over itself and will police the Mists much as it has always done, to maintain security of its borders. It's expected that there will be a greater number of requests to enter the Hapes Cluster now, of course, and with increased trade connections there will be more outsiders travelling within the Cluster, but they will not be particularly well received.


Also, I'd written into Cizerack lore that the roots of the Feessaarro revolution a thousand years back may have been due to Hapan influences. What do the Hapans think of their fellow matriarchals?

They might take a passing interest, but its a superficial interest at best. They perceive most all foreigners in the same way, as lesser beings. If their culture mirrors Hapan culture, they will seem less alien - but remain alien nevertheless.

[Salem Ave]

The Hapans regard themselves as being culturally superior to other beings in the galaxy. With them being pulled into a more active role in galactic politics, will there be any sort of cultural outreach trying to "enlighten" other worlds? Are there particular planets like Lantillies or Naboo that the Hapans might be drawn towards? Are there any worlds (non-human?) they will be particularly reluctant to deal with?

The less human the species, the more reluctant Hapes will be. They equate physical beauty - specifically, human looking beauty - with intellectual, cultural and martial superiority, so any alien species would naturally find themselves in lower regard. I see them looking down their nose at the majority of the Galaxy, and having no interest in trying to educate them as to why Hapes is better. They'd think of it as stooping to a lower level to convince people of something that should already been automatically, abundantly clear.


Also, further to Charley's question, will we see more Hapans leaving the Cluster? Will we start seeing Hapan outposts, embassies, or perhaps even colonies on other worlds? Is leaving the Cluster something that would be allowed for ordinary Hapans; would it be discouraged; and would Hapes do anything to facilitate that, or would adventurous Hapans need to find their own way out of the Cluster? Will we see much trade and passenger traffic into / out of the Cluster, or is it essentially under military lockdown?

I think this will be a slow process. The outside Galaxy is a big, strange and dangerous place. It's never been necessary to forbid people to leave, because.. no one wants to. They consider it a hideous punishment to be sent beyond the Mists. I don't think that Hapes will need to do anything to discourage travel outside of the Cluster, because most Hapan's would not want to leave, but there will be a percentage of people who do want to travel... and that's not something that will be restricted. Returning to the Cluster will mean passing through the Mists and border patrols, though.


How does Hapes feel about royal / noble families on other planets? Do they regard Bothan Clans, the Queen of Naboo, the royals of Onderon, etc as being their counterparts, or is everyone else too backwards and inferior for that?

As I mentioned to Charley, they are fairly uninterested. Unless there was some political gain, within the Consortium, to be had by striking up a relationship with another monarchy, I can't see it as being something they would pursue.

[Kale]

What is life like for Hapan members of the lower class? Or are they too enlightened to have a lower class? Are there crime-riddled portions of the capital with red light districts and drug dealers?

[Dasquian Belargic]

What is life like for Hapan members of the lower class? Or are they too enlightened to have a lower class? Are there crime-riddled portions of the capital with red light districts and drug dealers?

Hapan society is very much stratified by class. Each of the 63 worlds in the Cluster have a noble house assigned to it, and the Ducha of that house is basically the top of the food chain on that planet. Beneath her there are multiple, sometimes overlapping class tiers that are generally defined by a persons profession. Broadly speaking, you have the military, then Hapans involved in business/industry, then agricultural workers such as farmers and lastly the servant classes. With each of these, women are naturally superior to men - so you might have a male naval officer who is considered deserving of less respect than a female business magnate. This extends even to the point that any male children of the Chume are technically less respected than the Admiralty of the Royal Navy.

Quality life in the lower of the two class tiers would vary depending which planet you're on. Daruuvia has a lot of vineyards, so there is the potential for agricultural workers there to climb up a social class, if their vineyard is profitable enough. Tumani's main export is rubies, so the lower classes there would be down the mines and pits. There's a good chance that the life expectancy there is not great, but the ruling family will be incredibly wealthy. The wealth gap will vary from world to world.

Thinking specifically about Ta'a Chume'Dan, the capital city has a population of only a few thousand people, made up entirely of members of the court, noble houses and their servants. There is no need for a red-light district, as prominent families would keep consorts on hand for their women to make use. Drug usage is almost completely unheard of.