The Ligonians are a humanoid race that is highly-developed but they refuse to use modern technology. The Federation doesn’t have a formal treaty with the Ligonians.
Following an outbreak of Anchilles fever on Styris IV, the Federation turned to the Ligonians for the cure. Lutan went aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise-D for formal treaty proceedings.
The Ligonians live and work by a rigid code of conduct. This allows for achievement and maintenance of personal honor.
The hierarchy is complicated. It involves the devolution of possession, wealth, land, ownership, and power. The males govern the society. The females are known as distractions, except they own the land and possessions.
Without females, the males have no basis of ownership. The duty is to protect and rule the possessions owned by the women.
The Ligonian code of conduct allows one citizen to take another’s possessions. They place great trust on trust, patience, and honesty. To reclaim the possessions, they must ask politely in front of a formally assembled crowd. If a female is taken, the male may refuse to give her back and instead claim her as his own.
It rare situations in which a male has already taken a First One, that female may demand to challenge the right of supersedence. The women train for such an occurrence. This leads to a ceremonial fight to the death. Upon death, any mating agreement dissolves. The victor is the male’s new First One. The male can also be discarded by the survivor.