Kassaptu

The Kassapti (singular Kassaptu) are winged humanoid creatures created by Ahtziri. The Kassapti, otherwise known as Hags, are monstrous creatures whose interests are almost solely dedicated to manipulating, deceiving, and exploiting mortalkind at large--but as with all of Ahtziri's monstrous creations, they have all been given a choice to embrace mortality if they so desire. Kassapti that do so tend to keep their cunning and their deviousness, but use it to benefit their coven and the people they rule over or coexist with (but will still almost always value their personal interests over their charges). Kassapti are strictly female.

## Kassaptu

### Habitat

Primary: Hrana'as; The Monsoon Empire Secondary: Everywhere mortals are found

## Abilities

The Kassapti are powerful spellcasters, capable of manipulating all kinds of magical energies in all kinds of ways--they are not bound to a single specialisation of spellcasting, but often choose to focus on one particular type of magical energy or magic. Kassapti who come into their own, magically speaking, are always invited to a coven of other Kassapti and after a brief magical ritual they are magically entwined with their sisters. Members of a coven can draw upon the magical talents of every other member of the coven, which prompts individual Kassaptu to diversify their talents in order to gain access to as much power as possible.

Kassaptu are born with two distinct forms: their humanoid form (as pictured) and a raven form. The humanoid forms are grotesque beyond imagining, six pale-white wings growing from a chitinous exoskeleton and a writhing, sinewy tail tipped with an enormous stinger that contains an exceptionally powerful magical venom that lowers the imbiber's resistance to magic and reduces their mental faculties, leaving them more open to the Kassaptu's manipulations.

The raven form is sleek and black and the rachis of their feathers is strangely sinewy, pulsating with a strange, bloodlike substance. The feathers can be shed at will and regrow rapidly, and when a mortal touches the feathers the bloodlike substance within the feather infects them and allows the Kassaptu to possess them for a short period, directly controlling their actions. Such manipulations cannot lead the individual in question to harm themselves, and it only works on a given mortal once. The raven also has six sets of eyes, all violet, and is several times larger than an ordinary corvid. The raven-form is also preternaturally clad in darkness, giving them excellent camoflague at night but rendering them extremely visible by day.

Kassapti are, additionally, extremely long-lived--owing to their potent magic they can live for up to a thousand years. This longevity does come with a requirement, however, and the Kassaptu must make a pilgrimage every decade to Hrana'as in order to drink of its mists and bathe themselves in witchfyre. This is not necessary for their magical abilities, but does empower them when the pilgrimage is completed.

## Covens

Kassapti are wont to form covens at the earliest opportunity they are able, a group of likeminded individuals that agree to work together to serve their common interests. The dynamics of each coven are different, and very much depend on the Kassaptu that formed it--she is their leader, and her voice carries weight above all others. More often than not she is additionally more experienced than her sisters, and so takes the lion's share of the magic that the coven obtains in order to best put it to use. When in a coven a Kassaptu can draw upon the talents of her sisters, able to cast their spells (with their permission) and draw upon their reserves of magical knowledge. This is possible through the Ke’esath Sae’a, the mycelial network that serves as a font for arcane energy, and while it does not allow them to telepathically commune with one another in the traditional sense it does allow a limited transference of thoughts in the form of magical knowledge.

The coven's leader, in particular, is empowered. Sùga, secondborn Kassaptu, is considered the leader of all covens (except the firstborn Bišu's coven) and holds ultimate authority beneath Ahtziri. She additionally holds further sway over the Kassaptu aligned with Sa'a Malath Kaal in Hrana'as, and acts as the Sages' agent in the lands outside of Hrana'as. Leaders of a coven may forcibly draw upon the talents of her sisters, and may also draw from their reserves of magic to empower her spells in times of need.

## Reproduction

Kassapti reproduce unusually, in that their reproduction is not strictly sexual or asexual. The process of birthing a new Kassaptu requires that the Hag devour a mortal child, which will impregnate her with a newborn Kassaptu that will mature over the course of six months. During this time the Kassaptu is severely weakened and is unable to draw upon the majority of her magical might, which typically leads her to be forced to rely upon the protection of her coven in order to not be hunted and killed. Those Kassapti that elect not to birth a daughter are typically shunned by Ahtziri, and will typically strike out on their own in the service of other gods (or in a coven of likeminded sisters).