Ksskchi

Ksskchi ("Place of the Kssk") is the coastal nation inhabited by the crablike Kssk people. Nestled against the Fake Coast, it lies on the northern edge of the Western Continent. It is a rocky landscape pocked with the hundreds of lakes, ponds, and caves in which its people live.

Nation Stats

## The People

The Kssk people are a race of crustacean-like humanoids. They are born from eggs and quickly grow to about 4ft tall. They never stop molting and growing, and have been known to reach 8ft+ later in life. They are clad in a shell-like carapace that covers most of their body. This carapace is shed and regrows every time they molt, typically yearly. The males are born with a large claw in place of one hand/arm that is usually 10-15% of their body weight. This claw is very durable and can be used as a weapon, but is primarily used in competitions to attract mates. The females, lacking this massive draw on their bodies’ resources, tend to be smaller, faster, and far smarter than their male counterparts.

### The Language

The language shares a name with the people that speak it, “Kssk.” Not having much soft tissue around their mouths, the crabfolk are very limited to the sounds that can be produced. Their spoken language tends to sound like clicking and hissing with stuttering spurts of air. Affixes are spoken quickly together with the root word, with audible breaks between words.

Sentence structure is typically “subject-object-verb”

Prefixes are used to modify a following word, Suffixes are used to add to a preceding word. Affixes may have affixes attached, so the word-stings can sometimes get very long and convoluted.

#### Common Phrases:

***"kakak-kakak sh-sh"*** = *“The land is dry and the sea is wet”.* A sarcastic comment meant to call something obvious

***"ch sh-k-kch i-en"*** = *“You cannot see the darkest oceans”.* A proverb stating that there is no shame in admitting that you cannot do something.

***"kssk-shak shak kakak"*** = *“A sharp carapace cuts stone”.* A proverb meaning to keep yourself practiced and ready

## Religion

The Kssk people have very strong ties to the ocean. Not surprisingly, much of their mythos ties back to it. They believe in two physical Gods:

*Chiksskkakak*, representing the ground and dry land.

*Chiksskksh*, representing the ocean and water.

Together they are Chiksskss, the World's Embrace

The Gods are believed to be lovers locked in an eternal embrace. Their love produces the endless bounties of both the land and the sea. Both Gods are fickle and easily offended. Poor catches and terrible weather are both attributed to someone or something insulting them.

### Creation Myth

The "Kichi", The Place that was not a Place, was dark and empty in the time before time. In this void, Chikakak "The Wandering Land" met Chish "The Wandering Sea". They fell in love in the blackness of the Kichi and embraced. They became *Chiksskkakak and Chiksskksh, and their bond, Chiksskss.* From their love sprang the plants and creatures of the world. As *Chiksskksh flowed into every fold and valley of Chiksskkakak, her depths filled with the creatures and plants of the sea. As Chiksskkakak wrapped and twisted around Chiksskksh, his peaks filled with the creatures and plants of the land. From their love was born the Kssk, the perfect children of their union. Born of both Land and Sea, these children made their homes in the damp spaces between their divine parents. Thus the Kssk were born and given watch over all of the fruits of their parents union. The afterbirth of this event was cast deep into the sea. There, in the darkest of depths, it grew bitter and jealous at all that the children of Chiksskss had been given. It still lurks to this day as the Akisskkhak (Terrible Stranger), the great serpents that lurk the bowels of the deep.*

## Culture and Government

Ksskchi is a Theocratic Self-Proclaimed Tribal Monarchy, in which the king, or Kchsskchak (Great Father) must dive to the depths of the Kkchkkhak deep-sea trench and return with a brilliant red pearl. This pearl is believed to be given to those chosen of the Chiksskss for greatness. The current leader, Kchshek, is unique in that he returned from the swim missing his claw-arm. This was believed to be a sign that the Gods took away his strength in exchange for the wisdom to lead the Kssk to greatness. He is the first Kchsskchak to truly unify the entire race under one banner.

Families are very close knit in Kssk society. Most would die for an immediate family member without hesitation if they are threatened. Communities are viewed as a loose extension of family, and the nation as a whole is viewed as simply a larger community. The word of a parent is considered to be greater than that of the Kchsskchak. In turn, the town or village's leader is viewed as the parent of the entire settlement. They, in turn, are children of the Kchsskchak, who is himself a child of the Chiksskss. This unique familial chain of command ensures not only a cascading obedience, but also a sense of extreme familial loyalty to their entire people. Aside from friendly competition, there is very little actual violence between members of the Kssk. They are hospitable, but mildly distrusting of outsiders. Any aggression against their people is met with quick and violent hostility.

Being “clothed” mostly in thick carapace, nudity and modesty is unknown to them. Any clothing or jewelry worn is solely for decorative value.

## Wildlife Domestication

The Kssk have domesticated several breeds of crabs to serve them in service to the great Chiksskss