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off in cunningly constructed vents. Light provided by tiny oil lamps
or by refracted surface light (through glass prisms).
Ulgo society is totally involved with religion. Much time is taken
up with prayer. Prophecy and the casting of Auguries is enormously
important. Upon special dates certain special openings with special
glass prisms allow the light of certain stars to enter the caverns,
colors and shadows are then interpreted. (Ulgos are masters of
primitive optics because of their work in glass.)
They also have extensive knowledge of 'the monsters' and know
how to deal with most of them.
They are not prolific. Many restraints on population. Infant
mortality is quite high among them. A static, unmoving society
with no real hope of growth. Philosophical, somewhat melancholy.
Much emphasis on scholarship, study and attaining holiness or
righteousness - a mass effort at attaining sainthood - Essene, possibly.
Religious ecstasy or religious excess common. Hermits in the farthest
caverns. (Ulgo artifacts are so beautiful because they are the work of
zealots.)
The Ulgo Holy Books are the Journals of Gorim kept on his quest
in search of the God UL. These rather pedestrian daybooks have
been elevated into something mystical. Holiness is often predicated
on some new and unusual interpretation of a quite ordinary event.
The Book of UL-GO is a much later poetic version of the original
Daybooks of Gorim. There have been internecine wars in the caverns
of the Ulgos over interpretation of certain obscure and delirious
passages from Gorim's journals. A totally closed and
inward-looking society EXCEPT for their universal hatred of Torak, the one
whose action condemned them to the caverns.
UL-GO theology is split rather violently. One branch holds that
the caves are what UL intended. The others that a deliverer shall
come and destroy Torak and the Ulgos will be allowed to return to
the surface.
RANK
The Gorim - High priest and King.
Oldmen - Leaders of each tribe.
Tribal Elders - Seven in each tribe. Seven tribes of Ulgos - fairly
significant racial differences between them.
The priests of UL - very numerous.
The selection of Gorim, Oldmen and elders is a process that is
part election, part prophecy' part lottery and part gut-feel. The
Gorim is not hereditary. No one but an Ulgo can understand the
process. Age is very important in the selection.
MODES OF ADDRESS
To the Gorim -'My Gorim', 'Holy One', rarely, 'Holy UL-GO'
To the Oldmen -'Beloved of Ull, 'Wisdom'
To the Elders -'Righteousness', 'Selected of Ull
To the Priests -'Master'
To the Scholars -'Learned One'
To the Commoners -'ULGORIM John' - meaning approximately 'just
and righteous in the sight of Ull