Tsakki

Tsakki are a humanoid rat-like species. They live on their home planet Sete.

## Anatomy & Physiology

The Tsakki are a species that looks very similar to rats, and often has fur colors that are common within domesticated rats. They grow to be 3 to 4 feet tall, with hairless tails, ears, hands, and feet. Their eyes usually come in darker colors and red, with pupils that are a darker shade of their iris colors. Their sclera aren't visible. A Tsakki's frontmost teeth are constantly growing, and the top set often sticks out of their mouth.

## Society & Culture

Tsakki value community and connection over most things. Tsakki households are referred to as mischiefs, and often have both related and unrelated Tsakki living together under one roof. Their families and mischiefs play a role in their name structure. New mischiefs are often made when a group of young adults move from their main family and mischief home and decide to make a life of their own.

### Public Kitchens and Street Food

Despite the fact several Tsakki live together under one roof, their homes are rather small and lack a kitchen large enough for everyone in the mischief. Because of this, there are public kitchens in every neighborhood, where Tsakki can bring ingredients and cook for their mischief. Public kitchens often have several cooking stations stocked with spices and cookware, so multiple mischiefs can cook at once. While it isn't illegal, it is frowned upon to use a public kitchen to cook for yourself or one other person. Street food is also a common thing, as it's easy food that's relatively cheap and you don't have to cook it yourself. Since almost all Tsakki cuisine is eaten with their hands, it also makes it less of an issue because utensils aren't necessary.

### Government

Tsakki governments are most often oligarchies, with at least 3 members as the governing pack. These are elected officials, but with emphasis on the largest Tsakki getting elected to the pack, as Tsakki value size as well.

### Gender & Sexuality

Tsakki have a very loose idea of gender and sexuality. The only terms that are equivalent to men and women are not used as identity labels, and are only brought up when reproduction is involved in the conversation. It's incredibly common for a Tsakki to not know their lover or mischief's reproductive parts until they're told. Because of this, defining sexuality is also something that isn't considered. As for pronouns, Tsarkti (their native language) only has one third person pronoun, ra (singular)/raz (plural)/ratik (possessive). This means in English or other languages, Tsakki use whichever pronoun they wish to, often opting for one that's gender-neutral.

## History

The Tsakki homeplanet, Sete, was created by a successful 6 player human game of SBURB. The players created the Tsakki at the most basic of sapience levels, gently pushed them towards certain ideals, then left them to evolve. Because of this, there aren't any fossils or signs of life previous to the Tsakki and the non-sapient animals that live on Sete.

## Naming Conventions

Tsakki names are 4 to 8 letters in length, and include first, family, and mischief names. Family names are shared with parents and siblings, while mischief names are shared with those they live with. Due to their dental structure, the letters allowed in their names are: Ts, I, T, Ch, E, K, A, L, U, R, S, O, Y, N, Ny, Î, D, J, H, Z, and a glottal stop represented with a hyphen (-).

Extra rules:

* "Th" sounds aren't allowed, as their teeth don't let them make that noise.
* Y is only a consonant.
* Vowel clusters aren't allowed, and have to be separated with a glottal stop.
* Î is pronounced like the i in sit, hit, rim, etc. while I is pronounced like an e.
* E is pronounced like "eh."
* U and O are pronounced like in the words hum and run.

## Trivia

* Tsakki have a word for grinding their teeth when happy, and it is "chrîtch."
* A lot of Tsakki behaviors are based in actual rat facts.
* Tsakki have a base-8 counting system, because of the fact they have four fingers on each hand.

## Etymology & Inspiration

The name Tsakki has no real etymologic origin. However, the species itself came about after the author (glowingToxoplasmosis) decided to challenge itself by making a constructed language specifically for rats.

## Gallery

A Tsakki named Tisla Rattîk Heyate.Tsakki John, aka Jonn Et-tsert TsetaTsakki Rose, aka Roze Lalond TsetaTsakki Dave, aka Daye Strîder TsetaTsakki Jade, aka Jade Harli Tseta