Crongeal

The Crongeal are a species of crustacean like folk, that live almost exclusively on the island of Brigcmund.

## History

The Crongeal once dwelled on an isle thousands of leagues away from Karvoun. Their rule there was unstable, constantly under threat by the hostile race of Shelck, which eventually culminated in a war between the two species over the Crongeals isle: one which the Crongeal lost after an indeterminate number of years. Badly battered by defeat, the last surviving and free Crongeal fled their newly lost home on great timber ships: in a desperate attempt to find a hospitable body of land. After two years of sojourning, the Crongeal arrived on a small island they would dub: Brigcmund, around the year 10,300 B.R.

After this fruitful discovery, they would build many sandstone complexes within Brigcmunds sandy and salty surface. The Crongeal did not even know of the existence of an island not too many leagues north of them: Karvoun. That was until the time of the Black Rot: a terrible disease that plagued Karvouns inhabitants, especially the city of Galanm. So much so that, many people went mad with grief and/or disease, wishing to find a cure to this seemingly incurable infection. A number of these madmen had journeyed to the island of Brigcmund, and attempted to kill a number of Crongeal, believing their blood was the key to a cure. Though, the Crongeal managed to easily defend themselves, and slay the deranged explorers. This encounter would spark a belief among the Crongeal that all such outsiders were savage beasts, not to be trusted.

This stereotype would only be reinforced by Aesear attempting a siege of Brigcmund not long after the end of the Black Rot. This would be a mistake on their part, as the Crongeal were well versed in the exploration of Brigcmund, and Aesears army were unstable on the salt dunes, clogging their machinery: leading to an embarrassing defeat. Levoncroff would attempt to make genuine bonds with the Crongeal. These diplomatic meetings would only be half successful, as Crongeal still do not fully trust humans, but manage to tolerate their presence. Enough that, King Brakgura authorized the exporting of their many spices and salts to Levoncroff.

## Physiology

Crongeals are covered in an armored carapace artificially created by themselves. This carapace helps to defend the soft vulnerable flesh underneath. Their lower body consists of four legs which can move both in a sideways gait and a standard one. Though the former is usually considered faster among them. Their upper torso is their most heavily armored segment of natural armor. Crongreal possess small squarish heads, embedded into the very peak of their torso carapace. They have small black eyes, which are surprisingly well equipped to deal with subterranean exposure.

If a Crongreal loses a limb, such as a claw or leg, it can manage to grow it back within a month of its loss. Crongeals shells do not grow with their inner flesh, and so they must molt at least twice per year, to bypass this. After molting, Crongreal wait around two weeks for their growth spurt to have finished, after which they can construct a new carapace for themselves out of a mucus they emit from their toothless maws, which hardens fairly quickly after being exposed to dry air.

## Culture

Crongeal are a naturally social people, and do not live well isolated. Even interactions with species not their own will cure them of loneliness. Crongeal speak to one another through a series of gestures made through waving and clicking their claws to one another, a language some call Cergin. These movements can be extremely precise and complex in nature, making it difficult for other races to understand such gestures.

## Notable Crongeals

* Bromiak
* King Brakgura
* King Baralith