Quet

The Quet are a reclusive sub-race of the **Zogardian**, often shy and preferring to keep to themselves.

## Settlements

**Igok** is a settlement dug deep into the earth to keep the Quet living within it cool and out of the harsh rays of the desert sun. The Quet use the oasis in the center of the settlement on the land as a general marketplace to trade with passerbys, as well as a source of water and crop cultivation. Within the settlement are tunnels digging into underground caverns, where Quet will often dig into the walls to harvest the precious minerals hidden within them.

## History

In Ancient 4,689, the first Quet began to make their appearance within the lands of Eprea.

The Celestial **Pafella**, with the desire to follow what **Ter’ot** had done, began to experiment upon the animals of Eprea. Pafella’s goal was to see if she could mutate creatures in the same way that Ter’ot had the **Aldi**, with the small lizards within the **Rahashi Desert** being among the first she worked with. She conducted her experiments through growing magical fruits and vegetations to feed to the small creatures, keeping a closer eye on them as some began to walk on their hind legs. As months passed, the Quet began to grow slightly larger and more humanoid.

The Quet, however, unexpectedly had an extremely shy and reclusive nature, and exhibited wariness towards the **Celestial**. Rather than seeing Pafella as a deity or as a mother, the Quet dug down into the sands to hide away from the sight of the Epreans. Pafella, feeling hurt by the denial she was met with, followed the Quet to confront them for answers.

The first leader of the Quet, **Barakat Navid**, came forth to speak with her. Barakat informed Pafella that the heat of the sun was too much on their skin, and their increased size only made it much harder for them. Instead of suffering on the lands and exploring Eprea, Baraket had led the other Quet deep underneath the land, hiding from the harsh sun and relaxing in the cool caverns and tunnels.

## Physical Appearance

Depending on the level of mutation that the Quet is at, their height can range anywhere from 1' (30.48 cm) to 7' (213.36 cm).

Most of them have the appearance of giant lizards, with bearded Quet being the most expressive. Their fins puff up as a sign of stress, and droop when happy. Quet tails are very long compared to their bodies, which can either be slender or thick, and the Quet are able to detach them as a form of defense. More mutated Quet lack eyelids.

All Quet have adhesive padding on their hands and feet, making it easy for them to climb what appears to be smooth surfaces. Some Quet have smooth skin with not a ton of scales.

### Lifespan

Quet typically live 200 to 250 years, with their average death age being around 200. They age like a Manna.

## Culture

The Quet do not leave their underground caverns during the day, and when they do, they only come to the top and trade gemstones from the earth to travelers passing through the desert. If the Quet feels that a traveler is dangerous and will harm them, they quickly burrow back into the ground to escape and tunnel back to their settlement. It is said that a Quet digs even faster than a **Parli'an**, and that it is difficult to capture them and stop them from making an escape when they are in the sands.

The Quet are renowned for holding the rarest **minerals and gemstones** in the world, with it being their bargaining card in getting supplies that they do not have.

Despite the Quet hiding underneath the sands during the day, they are able to withstand high temperatures. Their settlement is constantly expanding at a rapid pace, due to the high speed that the small creatures are able to dig at.

Despite being distant relatives of the **Pleot**, the Quet have a natural fear of them, choosing to be as far as they can from them at all times. They are typically wary around carnivorous races in general.

Quet society is very heavily female dominated, with the female Quet digging out the burrows and running the society in all aspects. Male Quet are assigned as the ones to go to the surface and do trades with travelers.

### Food

The Quet eating habits are primarily herbivorous, with their diet mostly consisting of fruits, leaves, and roots.

They enjoy creating teas out of the leaves and roots that they find, enjoying the teas with every meal. Quet specialize in a particular tea called **Ty’resius**, which is created with a powdered cactus and cherry root.

### Trade

The Quet trade away highly sought after **minerals and gemstones**, as well as creating bags of **Ty'resius** teas to trade away to other races as primarily a gift, rather than to get something in return.

### Worship

Due to their hatred of the heat from the sun, the Quet hold a disdain for **Ania** and a love for **Alene**. Despite **Pafella’s** efforts, the Quet believed Alene to be the **Celestial** who truly loved them the most, due to her bringing the cool of the night upon the desert.

### Romance

Quet typically mate for life, with their families sharing the same section of their tunnels that they dig out within **Igok**. It is not uncommon for Quet families to dig further into their burrow, creating a part of their settlement that belongs to their bloodline and only their bloodline.

Quet’s who desire partnership or breeding will leave their blood burrows to find a mate, singing songs to attract those available to them, and if the two decide to stick together for their remaining years, the male with follow the female back to her family’s burrows. If the two Quet are of the same sex, they will decide on their own to return to a burrow or create a new one for themselves.

Quet do not have weddings.

### Childcare

Quet are able to have children with **Manna**, other **Zogardian**, **Ceardian**, **Oril**, and **Vlennite**. Quet typically have 3 to 8 children at a time.

### Death

When a Quet dies, the community carries their body to the surface. The body is carried away from the oasis and to the large dunes of the desert, where their burial grounds are dug out. Once buried, the Quet mark the grave with a cactus seed, allowing it to grow over them. The locals of the **Rahashi Desert** believe that the **Burial Dunes** are haunted as a result.

### Language

The Quet get their name from their language, which consists of a mixture of chirps and clicks. Due to the reclusive nature of the Quet, the name of their language and translations of it are unknown.

## Leadership

**Safi Idris** is the current leader of the Quet.