Ki'isothei

Ki'isothei (pronounced Ky-EEE-soh-thigh or -thay), or Ki'i for short, are a plant-based humanoid species from the planet Lucigea

### Anatomy & Physiology

Ki'isothei are a bipedal species, with hair made of vines and patches of leafy scales across their shoulders, backs, and shins. They have clawed hands and sharp teeth. Their face is flat; they don't have noses jutting from their faces (but they can still smell), and their ears are pointed.

Ki'ii have two distinct variants, the Earthsiders and Oceansiders.

##### Earthsiders

Earthsiders, or the Gievra, are the landdwelling half of the Ki'i. They are visually distinct from their ocean brethren as their skin is warmer in tone and have wooden antlers protruding from their foreheads. The primary way to tell males and females apart, as sex isn't a thing in Ki'i biology, is how early their horns grow and how thick they are. Males grow their horns early, at about 11 - 14 radiances. Their horns are thick and don't really grow very far from the stem. Females tend to get their horns at about 13 - 17 radiances, though its not unheard of for them to get them earlier. While their horns take longer to sprout, they grow thinner and longer than males, often wrapping themselves around things like ears or hats if you leave one on too long as if they were vines.

##### Oceansiders

Oceansiders, or the Makqai, are the seadwelling half of the Ki'i. Their ears, hands, and feet are webbed to help them navigate the waters. Instead of antlers, Makqai have luminescent antennae, similar to anglerfish, that twist in unique ways. Their skin is often cooler and darker in tone than their surfacedwelling counterpart so that they may blend into the surroundings.

##### Reproduction

Reproduction is not sexual for the Ki'i, and is often accidental. All Ki'isothei have a special flower (or flowers) called the Creation Flower that resides in their hair. When it shares pollen with anothers flower, it slowly dies and gives way to a fruit, which, like the flower, is unique to the owner. Over time the fruit becomes larger, slowly cocooning itself in leaves. After a couple days being completely covered, the leaves fall away to reveal a small Ki'i child.

##### Growing Up

Earthside and Oceanside Ki'isothei raise their children very differently.

Not long after the fruit begins to grow, the government of the surface, the Great Gievaralis Empire (or GGE) confiscates the growing child and assimilates it into their nursery and schooling system. As such, parents don't really feel a familial connection to their offspring, and unless the child is royalty or nobility, the offspring likely won't know who their parents are. Nannies take care of the cocoons until they hatch, at which point they are taken into the schooling system until they are 18 radiances (equivalent of 36 earth years, physical equivalent of a 15 year old), where they are taught basic knowledge along with privileged knowledge based on their societal ranking, which they inherit from their parent. Once they come of age, the children are given basic housing in various cities across the Empire, and are now considered adults.

Below the surface, the ocean is much more dangerous than it lets on. The Makqai society is chaotic and brutal, and doesn't have a system like the GGE does. Instead, the parents take care of their offspring themselves. The parents are surprisingly sentimental, and very deeply care for their children. At about 14 radiances (equivalent of 27 earth years, physical equivalent of a 12 year old), the child leaves their parent to survive and climb the rungs of Makqai society by themselves.

### Society & Culture

#### Great Gievaralis Empire

The Earthside civilization is governed by a monarchy with roots going as far back as a hundred generations. Those not born into royalty are part of a ranking system that determines their lives.

##### Caste System

The caste system of the GGE is based on inheriting the caste of an individuals parent. There are five tiers; Royalty, Nobility, Middle Class, Upper Working, and Lower Working. Your caste dictates what you're allowed to do and how you express yourself. It also determines how many Petals are in your symbol.

**5 - Royalty**

Only those born into the royal family can be royalty. This includes the primary family and branches. The Empress is the leader of both the GGE and the royal family. Their signs have 5 petals, signifying their importance.

**4 - Nobility**

Highest caste accessible to citizens. Achieved through hard work and recognition from other nobility or royalty. These people govern provinces under the Empress's rule, and act as their ambassadors, guards, and advisors. Their signs have 4 petals.

**3 - Middle**

Average citizens. Those above poverty and servitude but below nobility and excellence. These people can become soldiers, run businesses, and live comfortable lives. Their signs have 3 petals.

**2 - Upper Working**

The higher working class. These people are responsible for caring for offspring before hatch, factory work, and construction. While they live in poverty, they are much better off than those in the lower working class, as they are allowed many more freedoms. Their signs have 2 petals.

**1 - Lower Working**

The lower working class. These people are responsible for most of the supply gathering, such as mining and lumbering. This class is mostly meant for those who have committed serious crimes, but it also houses the majority of mutants. They have a strict day-to-day schedule they must adhere to with higher Ki'i acting as guards. It is possible to work your way out of this rank, though depending on an individual's crime it could take anywhere between months or decades. Their signs have 1 petal, signifying how low they are.

#### Makqai Society

##### Caste System

Oceanside hierarchy is much more chaotic than its land counterpart. The rules of the sea are chosen by those who have survived the dangers of the water and prove they are worthy.

**5 - High Council**

For those who have proven their worth to lead. They control the population with an iron fist; controlling territories and food supplies, and keeping people in their place.

**4 - Seafloorers**

Strong and wealthy, these Ki’i live on the seafloor, deep underwater. They are the nobles of the ocean, serving the high council as soldiers, ambassadors and lords.

**3 - Mainstreams**

The middle class. These people make their homes in the middle of the sea, whether there are rocks to hold on to or not. These people, if strong enough, can make livelihoods living as aquatic soldiers to the council.

**2 - Reefers**

These folk live in shallow waters, high enough for a significant amount of light to come through. While still part of the middle class, people who live this close to the surface are looked down upon, regardless if they can help it or not.

**1 - Shallowfish**

Ki’i who live in the shores of beaches or, god forbid, land itself. These people are shunned in Makqai society until they move back underwater for good.

### Naming/Symbol Conventions

Ki'i have first and last names that are both 7 letters long. There is no specific way to make a name, but they tend to use letters or combinations of letters not often used in the English language.

Eg: Duaqomw Aekinwe, Miierla Puelaka, Kurosii Mujikey, Vemalli Zorikwo

Furthermore, nicknames can be maide using 4 consecutive letters in the name. (I only use the first 4 but I think having a nickname that came from the middle or end of a proper name is fine)

Eg: Duaq, Miie, Kuro, Vema

For symbols, Gievra and Makqai do it differently.

In the GGE, symbols consist of a black circle in the center, petals surrounding the circle that correspond to the individual's societal ranking. (Royalty gets 5, nobility gets 4, etc) The vines that encircle the flower represent the shape of ones horns. If someone hasn't grown their horns by the time they receive their symbol, it will instead represent the horns of their parent until they have grown in.

The symbol shares the duality of color that the individual has. The petals are the same color as their hair and eyes, and the vines are the same color as their skin.

In Makqai society... i havent figured it out yet :p

### Etymology & Inspiration

Originally, this race was inspired by the Florans from the game Starbound. They've grown since then, but there's still a bit of influence in there, especially with the savageness of Oceanside society.

The name Ki'isothei came from two Greek nymphs, Ansouthai (nymph of flowers) and Kissae (nymph of ivy). The earthside words Gievra and Okyevra (gievran word for oceansider, kind of a slur) are also from Greece. Gievra is derived from earth (gi) and side (plevra), and Okyevra is derived from ocean (okeanos) and side (plevra).

The Oceanside words, however, are derived from Hawaiian, and Polynesia in general. Makqai is derived from the word ocean side in Hawaiian (ma kai). The Oceanside word for the Earthsiders, Akau-ma, is derived from north (akau) and side (ma from ma kai), and is also kind of a slur.

I was also inspired by the fanspecies Glowans and Trifers. I liked how they had a color duality and their symbol systems were solid. I took an aspect or two from both of them and combined it with the plant motif and this is the result :D

Bloooood2Petal Ki'i named Miie Puelaka holding a cocooning baby5Petal Ki'i named Vema Zorikwo1Petal Ki'i named Kuro Mujikey