The Skikker

## Description

Skikker are a large amphibious frog that grow up to 4 feet tall. They are near-perfectly round and can camoflague their skin and internal tissue to become nigh-invisible. Their hollow bones allow them to be lightweight and fast hunters, and their specialized organs including a small pocket for lungs, a large stomach and hearing recepticals allows them to deflate and become around 1.4 feet tall when hungry, or 2 feet tall when full. These froge are not as large as other species, and as such have different ranges for noises. Their hands and feet contain hooked cups that allow them to stick to nearly any surface even when wet, making them the ultimate predator in the rainforest. Their eyes have wide pupils, and do not have the ability to see the colour green, making their eyesight quite similar to Deuteranomaly. Due to their poor eyesight they learned to distinguish different Froge by sound, and used sounds to deter others or attract others. While their eyes have some issues, they do allow a complete 360° vision and are highly sensitive to movement, making them able to sense even the slightest movement up to 60 metres away. They rely heavily on the trees of the rainforest for ambush and escaping predators. The very tip of their tongue contains a small tooth that will inject venom into their prey. This venom acts as a sort of aphrodisiac to the Skikker, whereas for other animals it is a highly effective sedative that renders the prey near immobile.

## History

During the great divide, some Froge felt the temperate rainforest was not the correct place to live, they wanted to be somewhere warmer to become more active and agile, much like they were in the warm tides. A select group went to the rainforest and grew to enjoy the intense humidity, even growing stronger because of it. Eventually, mates had to fight for food due to the lack of available food sources. This brought the particular species into an introverted period, where mating was done formally, and without any sort of emotion or care involved. They made their home in the tropical rainforests, and have lived there in silence since.

## Culture

### Mating ritual

If two Skikker can bear each other's presence for any amount of time, they will begin the hunt. The two will make the Gre noise repeatedly, signalling they are both in the middle of a hunt to other Froge. They will "score" points on one another by hiding or seeking and landing a shot with their tongue on the opponent. Once you are hit, you have an opportunity to try again, for the first hit signifies that they are serious about mating. In order for the ritual to be complete, the opposing party must score the next point by any means necessary. If they fail to do so, they will be mortally wounded and abandoned. Mating rituals are a fight to the death, unless they are evenly matched. Once they have tested each other, they will hide in the trees to lay their eggs, and part ways completely, most likely never meeting again.

### The hunt

In skikker culture there is a hunt held every so often where a bunch of skikker will gather to capture a particular creature. Those with the most impressive and intact specimen will be treated a bit differently, becoming a target for those who are interested in mating. This is one of the only times a skikker will actively be near other skikker.

## Habitat

Skikker live in the trees, half the time they are seen sleeping, it is an act. They will stick to the trees with eyes partially open, letting out a soft noise to let other skikker know it is "sleeping". If a skikker does not want others to know it is sleeping, it will not make this noise and hide in complete silence. While they are nomadic by nature, some have been known to be attracted to certain types of trees due to the shade they give off when they wish to rest. They have no real need for an abode, but they do choose the tallest tree to lay their eggs. The taller the tree, the less likely it is to be eaten by ground dwellers. The birds that inhabit the rainforest will rarely survive eating the eggs as they are mixed in with a form of rice that, when ingested by avians in particular, expand to make the bird feel full, and unable to make excretions. This kills the bird, and creates the hot, humid environment for skikker tadpoles to thrive until their legs and arms grow in.

## Ruling figure

There is no ruling figure in Skikker territory, only those who wish to join the annual hunt will reply and show up. The rainforests are a deadly place and with nobody to guide them, the Skikker rely only on themselves and their instincts.

## Official language

Skikker speak in froge tongue, but have the ability to make different sounds, due to physiological differences.

## Flora

### Long tree

A long tree has thick slippery bark. The humid air and constant rain doesn't help. Long trees are seldom climbed by skikker, and avoided in general while above ground. They have become a sort of bad omen, some skikker actively hang around these trees to discourage others from coming near.

### Jagged tree

These trees are carniforous trees  that are rarely

### Rice

Special type of rice that has long husks and

## Production

Skikker dont typically produce any goods, nor trade, but the occasional Skikker will leave the dense rainforest to become a hunter of larger, more complex prey. These Skikker are deadly in combat, able to blend in with near perfect accuracy, striking their target after waiting as long as months.

## Froglossary:

Subjects of the Great Divide:

The Froge

The Skikker

The Cx'Kn Brrgar

The Arktix

The Grenour

The Dawn

The OG

Other various pages:

The White

Frogcon