Golds are the highest level of Color within the Society of Red Rising. They are humanity's fiercely intelligent rulers, their physique tends to be larger and stronger than those of other colors (with the exception of Obsidian.) As of 742 PCE, there are about 40 million Golds in the Society.
Golds were originally created to shepherd lower colors out into the solar system to colonize planets. They were bred to withstand the harsher environments of space while being able to organize and lead the lower colors as they established colonies for use by humans across the Solar System.
Goldbrows’ first loyalty is to Color, then family, then planet, then House. Most Houses are dominated by one or two powerful families. On Mars, the Family Augustus, the Family Bellona, and the Family Arcos influence all others.
A lower color will often refer to a Gold as either Domina or Dominus (depending on gender, woman and man respectively), or in the case of a group of Golds refer to them as Dominii.
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Physiology
Golds have been genetically enhanced in many ways. Their bone density is 5 times stronger than average bone along with increased tensile strength in their tendons, ligaments, and muscle fibers. They can hold their breath for at least 5 minutes and have increased cognitive capabilities which is further enhanced by brain implants. Additionally, they all are of a height of at least 2 meters (6.5 feet) or taller. To be under 2 meters is considered short among Golds. They have golden irises, gold/blonde hair, and the golden sigil on the back of each hand. Their skin color, however, can vary from black to olive to white, and they have fewer nerves.
Due to their superior physique, Golds tend to live longer than humans of Old Earth, and Cellular Rejuvenation Therapy increases their lifespan further still. For example, Lorn au Arcos' father lived to 163 without any Cellular Rejuvenation Therapy. This also means that even Golds considered to be elderly are still fearsome in battle.
Pre-Conquering
The very first Gold ancestors had normal eyes and wore golden uniforms.[1]
Peerless Scarred
Pierce Brown stated on Twitter that a Peerless Scarred would be able to lift over 1,104 lbs (500.778 kg) while the average Gold would not, in response to Hafthor Bjornsson breaking the world deadlifting record on May 3rd.[2]
Classes
Social
- Iron Golds - The Conquerors that overthrew Old Earth's governments with their battleships and established the Society throughout the solar system. Used a term to describe any Golds who have performed a feat in comparison.
- Pixie - The gluttons of Gold society. Those who party without care for politics or their own health.
- Bronze - The lower stock of the Gold caste, the weakest and smallest, generally with khaki hair and eyes.
Official
- Peerless Scarred - Peerless Scarred are Golds who have survived and conquered The Institute.
- Graduates - The Golds who survive The Institute, but perform poorly such as being enslaved or not performing any noticeable feats.
- Shamed - The Golds that did poorly at the Institute, and are usually sent to the fringes of the Solar System for exhausting administrative duties.
Gold Culture
List of known Gold Houses
- House Aktler
- House Andromedus - The dead family of which Darrow impersonated.
- House Aphrodite
- House Aquillus
- House Arcos
- House Augustus
- House Barca
- House Bellona
- House Bretta
- House Caan
- House Carthii
- House Celinius
- House Celintus
- House Cern
- House Cerana
- House Cordovan
- House Corvo
- House Cylus - Former ruling house of Mars.
- House Daan
- House Drusilla
- House Fabii
- House Falthe
- House Faran
- House Gerard
- House Grecco
- House Grimmus
- House Janus
- House Julii
- House Ladros
- House Lagalos
- House Lune
- House Lux
- House Norvo
- House Raa
- House Rath
- House Rein
- House Rhodes
- House San
- House Sarna
- House Saud
- House Savag
- House Sejanus
- House Severus
- House Severus-Julii
- House Speranta
- House Tanus
- House Telemanus
- House Thorne
- House Trachus
- House Valii
- House Valii-Rath
- House Vardan
- House Velocitor
- House Vitruvius
- House Volox
- House Votum
Significant Golds
Allies of Darrow O'Lykos
- Virginia au Augustus - Love interest of Darrow, Sovereign of the Solar Republic and Primus of House Augustus. Best known as Mustang.
- Pax Augustus - Son to Virginia and Darrow.
- Fitchner au Barca - Father to Sevro, former Rage Knight of the Society; Ares.
- Sevro au Barca - Darrow's best friend, leader of the Howlers.
- Electra au Barca - Daughter of Sevro and Victra.
- Sevro au Barca - Darrow's best friend, leader of the Howlers.
- Victra au Julii - Sister to Antonia au Severus-Julii, and wife of Sevro.
- Kavax au Telemanus - Primus of House Telemanus and fiercely loyal to Virginia.
- Daxo au Telemanus - Kavax's eldest son and best friend of Virginia.
- Thraxa au Telemanus - Kavax's eldest daughter, Howler.
- Clown - Male, real name unknown, founding Howler.
- Pebble - Female, real name unknown, founding Howler.
- Horatius au Savag - Male, founding Howler. Best known as Screwface.
- Tactus au Rath - Wayward follower of Darrow.
- Lorn au Arcos - Former Rage Knight of the Society and Darrow's razor teacher.
- Alexandar au Arcos - Eldest grandchild of Lorn, lancer to Darrow, Howler.
- Cassius au Bellona - Son of Tiberius, twin brother of Julian and former Morning Knight of The Society.
Allies of Adrius au Augustus
- Adrius au Augustus - Twin of Virginia, former ArchGovernor of Mars. Best known as The Jackal.
- The Abomination - Clone of Adrius.
- Lilath au Faran - Adrius' companion, leader of the Boneriders and Queen of the Syndicate.
The Society
- Octavia au Lune - The Sovereign of the Society.
- Aja au Grimmus - The Protean Knight of the Society, Dux of Octavia and a student of Lorn.
- Nero au Augustus - Father to Adrius and Virginia, and former head of House Augustus.
- Tiberius au Bellona - Father to Cassius, Imperator of the Society's Sixth Fleet and former Primus of House Bellona.
- Roque au Fabii - Imperator of the Sword Armada and former friend of Darrow's.
- Antonia au Severus–Julii - Sister to Victra au Julii and love interest of Adrius.
Society Remnant
- Magnus au Grimmus - Former ArchImperator of the Society and Society Remnant, father of Aja and Atalantia au Grimmus. Better known as the Ash Lord.
- Atalantia au Grimmus - Dictator of the Society Remnant, best friend of Anastasia au Lune.
- Lysander au Lune - Son of Brutus au Arcos and Anastasia au Lune, heir to House Lune.
- Atlas au Raa - Brother to Romulus, Fear Knight of the Society Remnant, and best friend of Brutus au Arcos.
- Ajax au Grimmus - Son of Atlas au Raa and Aja au Grimmus, former best friend of Lysander au Lune and Storm Knight of the Society Remnant.
- Kalindora au San - Love Knight of the Society and Society Remnant, best friend of Anastasia au Lune.
- Apollonius au Valii-Rath - Elder brother of Tharsus and Tactus, Primus of House Valii-Rath.
- Julia au Bellona - Primus of House Bellona, wife of Tiberius, mother to Cassius.
The Rim Dominion
- Romulus au Raa - Former ArchGovernor of Io, former Sovereign of the Rim Dominion.
- Diomedes au Raa - Romulus' eldest surviving son and Storm Knight of the Rim.
- Seraphina au Raa - Romulus' youngest daughter.
- Dido au Raa - Romulus' wife, Co-Consul of the Rim Dominion, and Primus of House Raa.
- Helios au Lux - Co-Consul of the Rim Dominion and former ArchKnight of the Rim.
Conquerors
- Silenius au Lune - Founder and first Sovereign of the Society, Founder of House Lune.
- Akari au Raa - Founder of House Raa and best friend of Silenius.
