X'zarra'ka

X’zarra’ka: Thri-Kreen Settlement in the Arid Steppe Founding Year: 857 Founder: A Thri-Kreen leader known as Vz’tchla the Silent, a visionary hunter and shaman who saw the potential of the harsh Arid Steppe and sought to unite disparate Thri-Kreen tribes into a single settlement.
X’zarra’ka is a hidden gem in the Arid Steppe, where the resilient Thri-Kreen have created a thriving community built around survival, hunting, and their unique culture.

Demographics

Thri-kreen: 85% Other races: 15% (humans, orcs, and a few Aarakocra who pass through for trade or protection)

Government

A council of chieftains called the Kreen Assembly governs X’zarra’ka, where each chieftain represents a major Thri-Kreen tribe. Leadership rotates between the chieftains every three years, and decisions are made through consensus, focusing on survival, hunting, and resource management. The city is guided by a mixture of ancestral wisdom, spiritual visions, and practical survivalist tactics.

Defences

• Natural Defenses: X’zarra’ka is surrounded by sandstorms that deter invaders and sand traps that camouflage the town from a distance, and their settlement is encircled by natural rock formations that act as a defensive barrier
• Town Guard: X’zarra’ka is defended by a warrior caste of Thri-kreen known as the Sharptalon, who are adept in desert combat.
• Defensive Walls: The hardened clay walls of X’zarra’ka are lined with spikes made of desert thorns to deter climbers.
• Patrols: Thri-kreen warriors patrol the desert on a rotation, blending into the sands and keeping an eye on approaching threats.
• Burrowed Escape Routes: Tunnels under the town provide easy escape or surprise counter-attacks.
• Watchtowers: Scattered across the outskirts, these towers are manned by sharp-eyed scouts who can alert the town of any incoming threats.
• Warrior’s Guild: A formidable guild of elite Thri-Kreen warriors trained in guerilla tactics.

Industry & Trade

• Hunting and Leatherwork: The primary industry of X’zarra’ka, where Thri-Kreen hunters provide both food and raw materials for trade. They craft high-quality armor and weapons from the bones, chitin, and hides of their kills.
• Herbal Remedies and Poisons: The desert flora and fauna provide ample ingredients for both medicinal and offensive concoctions.
• Trade: Nomadic traders pass through X’zarra’ka, exchanging rare goods, metals, and magical items for leather, chitin, and the town’s unique weaponry.

Infrastructure

The town is built in a circular layout to protect itself from the harsh winds and shifting sands. The outer walls of X'zarra'ka are made of hardened clay and woven cactus fibers, providing shelter and insulation against the desert's harsh extremes. Beneath the town lies a network of tunnels and burrows where Thri-kreen live during the day, emerging mostly at dawn and dusk. Main roads are dust-covered paths, and water is distributed through an intricate system of wind-powered pumps that draw from underground aquifers. X’zarra’ka is designed around functionality and survival in the harsh conditions of the Arid Steppe. The Thri-Kreen use burrowed tunnels and dome-shaped adobe structures to protect against the extreme heat. The town is split between surface and subterranean levels, with most Thri-Kreen preferring the cooler underground tunnels where they sleep and store resources. The surface serves as their hunting grounds and spaces for trade. Transport: The Thri-Kreen have dug deep, labyrinthine tunnels under X’zarra’ka for quick movement across the town. These underground tunnels also provide easy defense routes in case of attack.

Districts

• The Hunter's Nest: The central district, home to the largest trading post and hunting guild, where the best hunters of the region gather to trade and show off their latest kills. In this district, weapons are crafted, and there are several workshops for specialized hunting tools.
• The Burrows: An extensive underground network where most of the population lives. These interconnected chambers protect the Thri-Kreen from the harsh sun, and here you'll find residential spaces, water cisterns, food storage, and the council chambers of the Kreen Assembly.
• The Outskirts: The surface-level fringes of X’zarra’ka, where traders from other regions set up temporary stalls and tents. There are also several watchtowers and defenses stationed here to protect the town from threats in the Arid Steppe.

Assets

• Weaponsmiths: A small but highly efficient forge that produces unique, chitin-reinforced spears, bladed gauntlets, and other weapons suited for Thri-Kreen hunters.
• Apothecary: Focuses on the use of desert herbs and venom from local fauna to create remedies, salves, and potent poisons.
• Grocers and General Stores: Specialize in selling dried and preserved meats, carapaces, and other materials essential for survival in the Steppe.
• Magic Item Vendors: While rare, there are a few traders that deal in elemental-infused weapons or artifacts, often brought in by wandering Genasi or other nomadic groups.
• Tailors: Craft lightweight, durable garments and accessories from the hide and chitin of local creatures, tailored for harsh weather and combat use.

Guilds and Factions

• The Kreen Assembly: The ruling council of tribal chieftains who make decisions on behalf of the settlement.
• The Hunters’ Guild: The most respected faction in X’zarra’ka, responsible for the town’s food supply and defense. They also compete in prestigious annual hunting contests.
• The Poisoners’ Circle: A clandestine group of alchemists who specialize in the creation of potent poisons and antidotes, revered and feared for their control over life and death.

Points of interest

• The Great Burrow: The central hub of Thri-Kreen life in X’zarra’ka, this massive subterranean chamber serves as both a marketplace and the seat of the Kreen Assembly.
• Vz’tchla’s Monument: A towering stone obelisk honoring Vz’tchla the Silent, the founder of X’zarra’ka, located near the outskirts of the settlement.
• The Hall of Hunters: A grand hall where the trophies of legendary hunts are displayed. Visitors can see preserved creatures and artifacts from across the Arid Steppe.

Tourism

Though not a tourist destination in the traditional sense, X’zarra’ka draws adventurers and traders intrigued by its unique location, skilled hunters, and rare desert materials. Visiting traders can witness Thri-Kreen hunting demonstrations and sample the local cuisine, which includes exotic desert meats.
Celebration Grand Hunt - 7th Veritas The Festival of the Great Hunt is the most significant celebration in X’zarra’ka, honoring the Thri-Kreen’s survivalist culture and their founder, Vz’tchla the Silent, who established the town in 857. This holiday is held annually when the unforgiving heat of the Arid Steppe is at a peak. It symbolizes the Thri-Kreen's mastery of their harsh environment and celebrates the town's hunters, warriors, and the successful hunts of the past year.
Traditions: The Grand Hunt: At dawn, elite hunters and warriors participate in a grand hunt where they track down the largest and most dangerous creatures of the Arid Steppe. The goal is to capture or slay the mightiest beasts to prove their worth and provide for the settlement. Hunters work in teams, showcasing their prowess in combat, stealth, and survival tactics. The trophies of the hunt are presented in the Hall of Hunters to be displayed throughout the coming year.
Feast of the Desert's Bounty: After the hunt, the town gathers for a communal feast in the Great Burrow, celebrating the food harvested and the creatures hunted throughout the year. The Thri-Kreen prepare elaborate dishes made from the creatures of the desert—cooked scorpion meat, grilled carrion birds, and spiced water from underground springs are all part of the offerings. This feast emphasizes the community’s ability to thrive in a hostile environment and is a moment of communal sharing and storytelling.
The Dance of Vz’tchla: In the evening, a performance known as the Dance of Vz’tchla is held in front of the Vz’tchla’s Monument. Dancers, adorned in colorful chitin armor and cloaks of desert feathers, reenact the founding of X’zarra’ka and the silent wisdom of their founder. The dance tells the story of how Vz’tchla guided the Thri-Kreen to establish a home amidst the shifting sands, using gestures to reflect their battles against the desert and the founding of their settlement.
Trophy Parade: Following the feast, the Trophy Parade takes place, where the most formidable hunters of X’zarra’ka carry the carcasses or remains of the creatures they hunted through the town. This parade is both a display of strength and a reminder of the Thri-Kreen’s symbiotic relationship with the desert. Children and younger Thri-Kreen line the streets, marveling at the creatures and dreaming of the day they’ll join the Grand Hunt.
The Poisoner’s Contest: The Poisoners' Circle holds a unique competition during the festival. Alchemists and poisoners present their most potent creations, whether they are designed for hunting, defense, or healing. Competitors are judged based on the potency, creativity, and utility of their concoctions. The most skilled poisoner of the day is granted the title of Venomous Fang and serves as a respected advisor for the coming year.
Cultural Significance: The Festival of the Great Hunt is a deeply spiritual and practical event for the Thri-Kreen. It serves as both a rite of passage for young hunters and a commemoration of X’zarra’ka’s resilience in the face of adversity. The festival also reinforces the Thri-Kreen's bond with the land, honoring the creatures of the desert and their vital role in the town’s survival.
Role in Trade: Merchants and traders from other regions, especially nomadic groups, are invited to the festival to witness the hunting prowess of the Thri-Kreen and trade for goods. Exotic items, weapons made from the desert's beasts, and rare poisons are traded during this time, making the festival a bustling event for commerce.
Points of Interest During the Festival:

• The Hall of Hunters: Visitors can view the preserved creatures and trophies of past Grand Hunts, with new additions each year.
• Vz’tchla’s Monument: The central gathering point for the Dance of Vz’tchla and other ceremonial activities.
• The Great Burrow: The underground communal area where the Feast of the Desert’s Bounty takes place.
• The Poisoner’s Pavilion: A temporary structure set up for the poisoners’ contest, displaying a variety of potent mixtures.
• Conclusion:
• The Festival of the Great Hunt is a testament to the strength, unity, and adaptability of the Thri-Kreen of X’zarra’ka. It is a day of pride, reflection, and celebration, where the community comes together to honor their past, showcase their talents, and strengthen their future in the harsh yet beautiful Arid Steppe.

Architecture

• Natural Camouflage: The surface buildings of X’zarra’ka are designed to blend seamlessly into the Arid Steppe, built from local stone and adobe. Their dome-shaped structures are low to the ground, resembling natural rock formations.
• Burrowed Tunnels: The town’s underground infrastructure is its true marvel, designed to retain cool temperatures and allow rapid movement and communication.
• Shifting Dunes: The town itself is often described as “shifting” with the dunes, as the Thri-Kreen constantly alter and rebuild the surface structures according to the changing winds and sands.

Geography

• The Wastelands: X’zarra’ka is located in a relatively flat, barren stretch of the Arid Steppe, surrounded by distant rocky outcrops and treacherous desert canyons.
• Surrounding Dunes: The town is often partially buried in sand, with shifting dunes that provide both a natural defense and a constant challenge to maintain their surface structures.

Climate

• Harsh and Arid: The Arid Steppe is known for its extreme temperature shifts, with scorching hot days and freezing nights. Sandstorms are common, and the Thri-Kreen have adapted their settlement and lifestyle to survive these extremes.

Natural Resources

Chitin and Carapace: The local fauna, particularly large insectoid creatures, provide ample materials for weapons, armor, and building. Desert Herbs and Venoms: X’zarra’ka is rich in unique plant life and venomous creatures that are harvested for medicinal and poisonous purposes. Underground Springs: Rare and precious water sources are hidden underground, essential for the survival of the Thri-Kreen.

Founding Date

857AD

Founders

• Vz’tchla the Silent

Type

Town

Population

4500