Lorulians

The people of Lorule live a strict life of supply and demand, predominantly utilitarian in their methods and ideologies. Children are evaluated at the age of six to see what occupation they are best suited to, and once they have successfully been identified they proceed into ten year education plans in order to master their craft. Lorulians work in this position until the day they die, unless their occupation becomes unnecessary - at which point, they are moved to the next best-fitting occupation.

The Monster Cult
Approximately 60% of Lorule’s population is composed of the monster cult; a passive, unsettling cluster of people who worship monsters in an effort to become more like them. While they have never acted violently, their presence is disturbing to the rest of Lorule, and they are carefully watched by the authorities.

"Black Lung"
Lorule’s sole power source is a negative energy core that resides in the very bottom of the airship kingdom. It was created and harnessed shortly after the destruction of the triforce, and it acts as a surprisingly powerful and efficient renewable energy that the Lorulians have survived upon for hundreds of years.

However, this core is unreliable as it is radioactive and creates toxic fumes. In recent years Lorule has come to see the full effects of the core on its inhabitants. Those in the higher levels - Tier 1 and above - seemed mostly unaffected, suffering from mild cough and shortness of breath if outside for too long. Those in Tier B1 and below seemed to suffer from continued respiratory distress, with severe cases developing into permanent disease of the lungs and occasionally death by asphyxiation.

While the majority of Lorule is well aware that the core contributes to health problems, for the most part they are unconcerned with the full seriousness of it. It is informally referred to as Black Lung, named for the black phlegm seen in the later stages of the illness. Those who worship monsters completely ignore it as a factor, believing the fumes are a means of sorting out the weak from the strong in an eventual evolution from Lorulians into monster beings. Only the royal family - what remains of it - is truly aware of the peril Lorule currently exists in.