Pholi society

            The Pholi seem to exist in a state of near perfect post-technological utopia, though they appear to have no technology in their settlements the powers to which they have access to seemingly without any mechanical aids clearly shows that they have passed through the age where there technology exists as cumbersome mechanical objects and have instead been superceded by perhaps an ethereal alternative.

            The Pholi live in village like settlements scattered about their colony worlds, there populations are rarely greater than a few hundred, though villages can be quite close together, say on a river or in a canyon. There are also a few ruins on the colony worlds, some suggest that there was once huge cities of stone, though whether these are verbatim or an elaborate fake is unknown. Apart from the villages there are also a great many isolated buildings, often with certain cultural significance, where Pholi will congregate for certain social events (most of which are seemingly random). Though undoubtedly the Pholi civilization is one people, there in a way many different cultures, the style of building is different in different climates (though may be found repeated across many colony worlds in similar climates), beliefs rituals and lifestyle are also variable, though despite these differences there is no strife or conflict.

            The Pholi population remains quite small, even if their worlds have been settled for millions of years, though children are born they act to replace rather than expand the population. Death is also a slight mystery, though some deaths have been observed this event seems very infrequent, and how the balance is maintained is unknown. Health always seems perfect, and infant mortality is unheard of, whatever passes for their current technology must either render them immune from any disease, or their medicine is miraculous. Physical decline does not appear to coincide with aging, and consequently the true extent of the Pholi lifespan is unknown.

            Because of the cultural diversity seen on the colony worlds it is difficult to piece together a holistic kind of race philosophy, they are by in large a friendly and carefree people, though they have no great fears (especially regarding mortality and the future) they are cautious and seldom reckless. Though they have no real interest in Federation technology it is supposed that the technology they now possess would make our current technology look like stone tools, and their disinterest is perhaps explained. They are far more concerned in their spiritual development, which often leads them on long journeys (often into the Federation), or into the various rituals they have developed.

            Society is effectively money-less though there is respect in materials and goods, but there is apparently no poverty in Pholi settlements, and there is never any desperate needs or desires. Agriculture is at the sufficiency level, the unusual flora and fauna around the settlements provide all for the villagers needs. Industry is mainly restricted to the necessary instruments used in the settlements, such as construction and agriculture, and all are made from natural resources (mostly renewable). Other essential components of what we would call society, communications, utilities access etc are either missing or rudimentary though they seem to be compensated for in one way.

            The technology that the Pholi do have is far beyond anything currently in the Federation it is not separate but perhaps woven into the world, what we think of as magic as they pull water out of the air, or make a tree grow in an eye blink is perhaps a mundane and accessible technology as us turning on a light switch. The Pholi perhaps represent the far future of the Federation, and it is understandable that the Pholi are reluctant to give up their secrets if not because of the harm it would do but the impossibility of trying to explain across the gulf between us. Perhaps the most important thing is that they are on the side of the Federation, though it is often speculated whether the Federation itself is perhaps some construct by the Pholi, carefully put together for some hobby.