Takat Kirtal

== Takat Kirtal (Galicia Luculla) ==
Takat "Tak" Kirtal (Reman Name: Galicia Luculla) is a Skulkikian bard who rose from the skulk beneath the Reman Republic's capital, Rema, in VE 57. When exploring beyond her home in the deep dark, Tak encountered the Reman Republic and, in search of both stories and community, they joined the Republic in VE 69. An enjoyer of both building and mining, Tak began excavation of a great mineshaft shortly after joining the Republic.
== Religious Belief ==
Tak is a follower of Skulkic Tribalism, an ancient system of belief within the Skulkikian people that encompasses a five-member pantheon, ritualistic tradition and philosophical understanding split among three of the five deities. The Skulkic Creation Myth, transcribed below, was moved from oral tradition to quill-and-paper by Takat Kirtal in their VE 69 book Skulkic Origincitation needed. 
=== Skulkic Creation Myth: ===
Long before the first light, before the scalding of the stars by the Great Evil, Tok, Kat'Tetk lived among the abyssal darkness. Kat'Tetk, all and not, seer of all things to come and what was yet to be, grew lonely within primordial millennia; from himself, he created Tot'lk, his daughter. Kat'Tetk was thence no longer alone, but by creating other, he was not all, and in division there comes creation; within the abyss, there came to be shades, variations upon myriad complexes of shadow; the rock and soil formed in this turbulence, and while Kat'Tetk, who was and will be, was not of impression to these stones, Tot'lk, being other, was. Both were among, yet Tot'lk was further among; thus came shadow to form, and in such form came the Rot. The words for such things that are spoken now--Skulk--were not yet to be, but were known to Kat'Tetk, seer of all; the Rot manifested Tot'lk's gentle care for her father's creation. Each tendril of putrescent decay that formed the lifeblood of the Rot was her tender embrace, shepherding the other towards communion with Kat'Tetk.
But, within this othering came separation. Tot'lk, once beside her father in sweet oblivion, was now apart. Though Kat'Tetk was among all, within separation came dissociation; more and more stone became, stretching ever-upward in avoidance of the abyss below. Tot'lk, then, searching for some being to act as her steward, brought thence from the Rot and Sweetling Shadow (of which held court the Amalgams of Scintillating Night) the god Ka, Convalescent of the Warden. All was thence rightly and proper within the darkness, within the embrace of Tot'lk and the Shepherd God, Ka; eternally, Kat'Tetk looked upon that which was other. 
The progression of other, as had Tot'lk and Ka, coalesced; the apex of difference rose along the sound of steps not Ka's, nor Tot'lk's; at opposing end to abyssal dark rose the Great Evil, Destroyer and Apollyon of Light: Tok. The light of vile radiance burned Tot'lk's careful touch, singed the hand of Ka, and drove further the distance between creation and creator via their difference. The Scourge, then, seeing that which was not his own, and seeking furtherance of the light--much the same as noble Tot'lk and her retinue--birthed the sun, moon, and stars to act as watchful eyes for the reach of Totlk's divinity. The flame--quenching, destroying, came from the twin-star eyes of Tok, destroying all that Tot'lk sought to caress, and a great battle was thence fought between Ka, her ever-steadfast shepherd, and Tok, the Destroyer. Ka was himself nearly reduced to the abyss, falling thence to the arms of his creator, Tot'lk, for survival. The schism between light and dark was then sanctified, and from the mixing ichor of darkness and light was borne Kraei, the God of Destruction. Kraei was not of the vile light, nor truly of the dark, but rather the intermingling of others amongst themselves; as Ka to Tok, was Kraei to Kat'Tetk. It is from Kraei that the surface-walkers were created, and thence set about themselves to destruction in their name; though destruction was not of Tok, but rather destruction to create, mirroring the duality of the Sacred Cycle and of Creator and Destructor. Tot'lk retreated below, to the deep stone of the near-abyss, in quiet contemplation of darkness among her court and the ever-gentle Rot.
Seeing that which Kraei had wrought, Tot'lk herself wished similar beings to take the place of Ka, whom was weakened by Tok, and thus were the first Rotlings (what surface-dwellers speak of as Skulkikians) borne from the Rot. Moving upon the murk of the Rot, they tended the grasp of Tot'lk, defended it from the Great Evil, and made many great cities near to their goddess, and to Kat'Tetk of the Abyssal Infinite. But it was not to be, or was not always to be; the surface-dwellers sought more for the Sacred Cycle, expanded further, and waged a great many wars upon the Rotlings; driving them near to extinction, leaving cities in ruin and Totlk's grasp untended--but hope, whether for decay or the sweet darkness, was not lost. the Age of Rot, whence the Cycle would upend and the Sweetling Shadow would cross even the step of Tok the Scourge, was prophesized by the last Rotling Princeps, Ket Kal'Tar. In this, those survivors of the Great Extinction hold solace, and tend what fingers of Rot they may; that the world above may know of the kind embrace that the below holds so dear, and that once more all may be united in the gentle peace of the Abyssal Infinite.
=== Skulkic Denominations ===
==== Tot'lkism ====
Tot'lkism is the adherence to the principles of the deity Tot'lk, namely the Ever-Consuming Rot (Skulk) and the Court of the Sweetling Shadow, which serve as Tot'lk's retinue. The traditions of Tot'lkism include:
# Reverence and care for the Rot
# Pilgrimages to sacred sites of Tot'lk worship
# Sacrifices to Tot'lk on holy days, and
# Kindness in emulation of Tot'lk herself.
==== Kaism ====
Kaism, designed after the Shepherd and Convalescent of the Warden, is a discipline of Skulkic faith that focuses on the world itself, safeguarding the growth of the skulk throughout it and ensuring the safety of all Skulkikians and those who practice the faith. Tenets of Kaism include:
# Expansion of the Rot
# Protection of Skulkic cities, citizens, and ideals
# Agriculture and Warfare, and
# Reverence and Summoning of the Warden in times of crisis
==== Kraeiticism ====
Kraeiticism is the embrace of the Sacred Cycle, an ideal of both creation and destruction by which one is able to elevate both themselves and the skulk. The precepts of Kraeiticism are:
# Construction of buildings to venerate the Skulkic tradition
# Skulkic architecture and design
# Technological and Supernatural advancement, and
# Safeguarding and maintenance of sacred sites