Gorothites speak by creating a resonance in their sinuses; they have no "voice-box" as such. When they speak their own language, their voices are dry and clicking, and their nostrils visibly close and open to create stops and plosives ("p," "b," "k" and similar soundes). When they speak Basic, their voices are thin and reedy.

With the Scouring, Gorothite civilization fell apart and many j'bers (clans) were decimated. The survivors banded together out of necessity: tiny fragments of what were once huge families, and individuals who were the sole heirs of proud bloodlines. Today, the j'ber are slowly regaining strengh, but it will be many centuries before the population grows to safe levels.

Most goods and services are provided by nationalized companies, their prices and tariffs set by the Colonial Government. There are still some independent sources for goods and services, but they are few and so small as to be irrelevant in the grand scheme. If they ever were to grow large enough to be noticed, they would be nationalized, too.

Predictably, there is a strong "underground economy." This is based largely on the old concepts of barter and influence, rather than on money. It is very difficult for offworlders to buy anything through the underground economy, becaue Gorothites have learned to be very cautious about admitting any involvement to non-natives.