Tekat

Much like their close relatives of the **Spical**, the Tekat are known and prized amongst the **Oril** for being scholarly and well versed.

Rather than enduring a trial by the Celestial, **Juena** purposely set out to find the creatures and recruit them as her own personal scholars, following the ideals of **X’fere** with the Spical.  Juena holds the race close to her, treating them well and allowing them to live in the richest areas of the **oceans** in order to do their studies in comfort.

## Settlements

**Seameet** - The new settlement built up after the old one had been attacked by a wild **Xevea**. Seameet is large and bustling with large populations of Tekat, and constantly has all types of **Oril** coming in and out of it for trade. Large stalls line the edges of the settlement, with the center area being left open and in the shape of a seashell for the Oril to interact with. Located within the **Agitas Ocean**.

**Seagrass** - A settlement built into the flowery, seagrass filled underwater landscape. It is said that the magical properties of the flowers within the **Rosewood Plains** of **Orifora** have bled into the waters here, allowing for a plains filled with tall seagrass and bustling bushes of flowers and coral alike. The Tekat living within it build their homes into the landscape, allowing the strange foliage to grow over their homes and build up on them. At the surface, rings of glowing lotuses and moss float to mark the settlement's location.

**The Shell** - Deep within the ocean, the Tekat came across a mysteriously massive conch shell. Intrigued by the shell, the Tekat built a settlement around it with the intention to study it. It is still unknown where the shell came from, or if it’s original bearer is still in the ocean or not. As time passed, the Tekat began to build their settlements and homes within the shell itself. Located within the **Enas Ocean**.

**Juena’s Spine** - Large, coral spikes stretch for hundreds of feet out of the continental shelf of Eulazus, creating the location of Juena’s Spine. Tekat have chosen to live within the area, connecting the spines of coral through colorful cloth and glowing lanterns. Many Tekat dig into the side of the shelf, creating open, communal homes for all of them to share and live within. Located in the Agitas Ocean.

**Trentani** - One of the only deep water settlements that the Tekat own. It is deep within a trench, with the homes and spaces being dug into the sides of the trench. Both sides of the trench are connected together with long strings of decorations, with the decorations sometimes cycling out to keep the settlement interesting for those living within it. Located deep within the Enas Ocean.

**Gillamoor** - A settlement built onto the shallow waters and lands of the **Blackwater Marshes**, with the Tekat within it preferring to live on the lands. The Tekat within Gillamoor are said to be much more feral, abandoning the way of knowledge to take on strength instead. Tekat who seek to become fighters come to Gillamoor to train.

**Ely** - Built onto the beaches of the **Tropa Breezes**, the Tekat within it typically use the settlement as a vacation area, rather than a place to study and learn. Strangely large **banana trees** are found around the settlement, with berry bushes and dragon fruits also found all around the settlement. All of the homes built within the settlement are open, with all of them having stairs to the top of them to allow for Tekat to sunbathe and relax.

**Little Seabury** - A small settlement built in the waters directly outside of **Chagos**. Some consider Little Seabury to be a part of the capitol itself, but others consider it it’s own place. The settlement is encased in a large air bubble, with libraries and scrolls stretching from top to bottom to store the knowledge that the Tekat wish to share. A small, airtight tunnel connects the settlement with Chagos, but has a guarded entrance to ensure no one will sneak in at night.

## History

It is said that they came to be around Year 200. Outside of this, there is not much known about where they had come from.

## Physical Appearance

Tekat heights range anywhere between 4 feet (121.92 cm) to 7 feet (213.36 cm).

Their bodies are sleek and thin, with a large shell against them to protect them from the waters and predators. Most Tekat have spots along their skin or scales, with one solid color for their eyes. Lots of Tekat enjoy decorating their shells with paints and a variety of natural found precious **gems**, such as pearls.

There is no sexual dimorphism within the race, with males and females looking almost exactly alike.

### Life Span

Tekat appear to be immortal, with their aging process being slower than usual. They are children from the ages of one to 25, adolescents from 26 to 40, and adults from 41 and on.

## Culture

The Tekat keep themselves tucked away, with most of them almost always having a piece of parchment and a quill on them in order to write down any changes in the **oceans** or new knowledge that they have received. It is said amongst the **Oril's** to be careful of what you say to a Tekat, because a Tekat never forgets. Due to their strong memory, they're the ones who help with the sea currents and migration cycles of the creatures of the ocean, taking on a role close to the **Celestial** herself. Some Tekat even take on the duty of ambassadors, making their way onto the lands to interact with the other **races**.

However, most Tekat who make their way onto the lands of Eprea are often in danger of other races. Their shells are seen as a novelty and beauty to poachers and hunters of the lands, causing many of the Tekat to be hunted down and slaughtered. To counter this, Tekat have a natural friendship with the **Ceardian** of the lands, often waving down the larger ones to escort them along to their destination safely.

Tekat make their homes all over the oceans, with the exception of the polar regions. They prefer the warmer waters towards the coasts of the continents, but a rare few can be found in the deeper, more open oceans as well. Most of their settlements are particularly built into the continental shelves, with some digging cave systems into the shelves for extra safety.

From birth, many Tekat are on their own. They typically hatch and bring themselves directly to the oceans, learning how to search for food and hide on their own without a parental figure. As the Tekat gets older, they may choose to seek out their parents, living within the same settlement as them to learn more about their race's culture and how they do things. Most Tekat typically take on an apprentice-mentorship relationship with their parents, rather than a parent-child. Despite this being unusual to many other races on Eprea, the Tekat view it as normal and see nothing wrong with it.

When the Tekat have reached full maturity, they will venture away from their mentorships to learn more about the world, documenting it and interacting with the world to discover as much as they can. It is common for Tekat to meet up with the **Spical**, sharing knowledge between the lands and oceans. As well as the Spical, the Tekat have a close relationship with the **Farsenth**, allowing the smaller Farsenth to hitchhike on their shells and come with them on their journeys.

### Food

The Tekat diet primarily consists of **seagrass**, seaweed, **mollusks**, jellyfish, and small **fish**.

At a young age, they are more omnivorous and focus on eating small fish as much as they do plantlife, but as they age their diets slowly become more herbivorous instead.

A favorite dish of the Tekat is a **seaweed salad**, topped with seagrapes. Some Tekat will even venture onto the land, foraging for fruits to add onto the salad.

### Romance

When attempting to court a potential lover, the Tekat will follow each other through the waters, seeing how well they can swim. During the following, the Tekat will discuss areas of the **oceans** that they have large amounts of knowledge for.

Once the two have fully warmed up with each other, they will begin to make their way to their birth beaches, spending time at them and using them as potential spots for their own children to be born.

Tekat mate for life, but they do not get married.

### Childcare

Tekat typically have one to eight clutches per season, with each clutch having around 50 eggs. The Tekat will allow the eggs to hatch on their own and find their way back to the settlement, causing a high fatality rate among them due to attacks or predation.

The gender of the hatchling depends heavily on the temperature that their egg had incubated at, with warmer temperatures producing females and cooler temperatures producing males.

Tekat are able to have children with **Manna**, **Zogardian**, **Vlennite**, and other **Oril**.

### Death

Due to their high death rate as children, the Tekat are used to death and view it as a part of life. They do not hold funerals, and allow for their bodies to be discovered by **Eiryot** on their own. However, the Tekat do greatly fear being killed, and will avoid it when they can.

### Language

The name Tekat comes from the speech patterns of the Tekat being clicky. They named themselves, with Eprean’s following suit on the term.