Kriss
"HE'S A F████NG MONSTER" I could barely stand the sound of the blithering guardsman any longer than I could stand the menial tasks of his master. It was around this time that the rest of my companions began showing up - first the big one then her bright-eyed friend. "What did you do to the poor boy?" The golden-haired oracle queried. "I'dnt of laid a hand on the q'pasi" I should have presumed fools to react that way. "I'm gunn-" The moment the boy's hand met his gun the Trienni's steel was singing through the air towards his throat - stopped just a moment too soon, in my opinion. "Not smart." She was quicker than she lead on. "I appreciate your assistance, but I'm more than capable of handling my own dances." "Alright, alright - What's this about?!" The pasty-faced crime-lord had emerged from his office, the look of coffee-excited veins pulsating in the corners of his cateract eyes. "He ATE them." The slack-jawed boy shouted "HE WHAT?!" his employer gobbled back. I stepped in to interject and caught the bemused glance of my more tolerable companion from the side of the paralyzed boy. "That's not entirely correct," I begin. Stares all around, pointed at me - I don't see why the boy was so upset. His friends were dying as was. "I made them a part of me." More senseless anger. More guardsmen arriving. I feel my body tense, muscles ready the first steps of a dance I know all too well. I saved them, the fools. But Humans never understand.
- A memory of the Kriss
The Lesser Evil
The Kriss are a humanoid race ascended from the Ten'Tau that pursued a campaign of eradication across Tawdrii to push back the tide of The Drifters & proved an instrumental tool in uniting The Grand Courts during the first age. Often considered the lesser evil, the Kriss are the most voracious of all races officially recognized by the courts, and often have disagreements with them over being singled out despite their contributions. Often, the Kriss are accused of lacking the civilized & orderly mannerisms required of a race recognized by the courts, but the stigma that surrounds them is often overlooked in favour of their awesome individual capabilities.Not a Single Soul to Waste
The Kriss are obsessed with the usefulness of a soul - and believe it is their right & duty to ensure that each soul is used to its fullest extent. Rather than watch a dying soul fade into the veil or become forgotten, a Kriss may opt to merge their shape & soul into their own, making their fate synonymous with that of the Kriss. This act is often seen as taboo by most other races, no different than having consumed the flesh & blood of their kin. So it probably doesn't help when they decide someone doesn't deserve their soul.We Are Its Will
The Kriss claim to be the last remaining servants of a god forgotten to time and occasionally suffer visions & hunger pangs that may be the result of latent genetic memories from their ancestry. There is precedent for races with similar capabilities being tied to Ancient or Lesser Arcane forces - however, the Kriss lack any notable historical accounts or relics that would draw this conclusion.Basic Information
Anatomy
The Kriss generally show no morpheological or anatomical differences between themselves and Humans - however, a freshly fed Kriss will display spectral halos on the back of both hands & above their head.
Biological Traits
The Kriss have two specific genders; male and female - both of which have the same biological differences as Humans - however, Kriss are capable of changing between the two at will, changing their Shape to suit their needs.
Genetics and Reproduction
The Kriss reproduce through a form of psychointercourse where their soul intermingles with that of another entity. This can happen with any race, species, ect.
- Both parties experience sense-synergy.
- Intercourse with Kriss have a 100% pregnancy rate.
- The resulting offspring will be Kriss 5% of the time and other races 95% of the time.
Growth Rate & Stages
Kriss take approximately one day from the date of their birth to reach adulthood - this period varies based on a single factor:
- Diet
Ecology and Habitats
The Kriss are entirely ecologically independent; they can thrive equally well both in a tropical forest or in the center of a live reactor core.
- The Kriss' Shape is generally so interwoven with their Soul that no environment alone is capable of separating the two.
- A Kriss will not suffer effects from any form of physical environment.
- Kriss can only 'feel' the pleasure or pain of an environment through their Superempathy with others.
Dietary Needs and Habits
The Kriss consume their prey by enveloping it in their strands & breaking it down to its fundamental parts. The physical appearance of this takes the form of hundreds of hungering arms pulling the body & soul of their (possibly still living) subject apart & carrying the desecrated parts into an inky black portal. During this process, the Kriss cannot superempathize with their prey - a survival mechanic that has convinced them over ages that the process is painless... it is not.
As a voracious species with an incredible capability & need for energy, the Kriss must consume at least one full living or freshly killed creature per day.
Kriss are not ashamed of their feeding habits, and will gladly eat in front of anyone & in almost any environment - provided no-one stops them.
Additional Information
Social Structure
The Kriss lack any specific social structure, and often do their best to avoid one another, only coming together when outside forces call them together.
Certain Kriss prophesize that a chosen among them will emerge to end their hunger.
Facial characteristics
The Kriss very often adorn their faces with a number of scripts, symbols or arts that carry a myriad meanings to them.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Kriss tend to be isolationist, favouring environments & places where they can be as far away as possible from living creatures. Their superempathy drives them to avoid others for the sake of their own sanity. It is rare, but not unheard of for a Kriss to set foot in population centers due to a premonition or upon the summons of a powerful organization such as The Grand Courts.
Average Intelligence
Kriss are hyperintelligent, easily outwitting most everyone but the gods themselves in a challenge of wits. Capable of processing vast amounts of information almost instantaneously, the Kriss make excellent Archivists and certain organizations make use of them as the most dangerous of Silkfoots and Luminants.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Kriss are superempathetic and can read the strands & memories of the world with such accuracy that some believe their perception extends even into the future. The Kriss use their incredibly extensive extrasensory capabilities to enhance their perception of worldly things - rather than physically listening to a conversation across a room, they will merely perceive the conversation from the point of view of the listener.
Physically, the Kriss are naturally blind - incapable of perceiving themselves, they will use the eyes of the living things around them to take in their surroundings.
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
The Kriss do not follow any naming traditions, and adopt any suiting name, nickname or title given to them by any person for the singular purpose of communication.
Average Technological Level
The Kriss are able to theorize most worldly technologies, and are capable of incredible feats of invention, but prefer a life of simplicity, and have contributed next to nothing to the annex of public knowledge except a singular material.
Major Language Groups and Dialects
The Kriss speak a dialect unique to their own race.
Common Myths and Legends
The Kriss believes that their Ascension is near, and that Reminiscence will return their Memories so that they can finally ascend & serve at the hand of their long-lost god once more.
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
The Kriss maintain cold relations with all other species, mostly tolerating their presence.
by zhihui Su
Genetic Ancestor(s)
Scientific Name
Homo Corvus Superus Exsanguis
Lifespan
Unknown
Conservation Status
The Kriss are marked as endangered by the grand courts. Attempts were made to bring the Kriss into a protected breeding program, but were overwhelmingly declined. Only seventeen Kriss were registered with the government when the veil collapsed.
Average Height
1.75 meters / 5'9"
Average Weight
70.5kg (155lb)
Average Physique
The Kriss are of unnoteworthy physique, generally neither athletic or stunted, but maintain a great deal of strength when compared to Humanity. Easily as strong as three men & two times as fast, the Kriss are second only to the Trienni in their physical capabilities.
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
The Kriss are always ashen pale, and can carry a wide variation of coloured markings similar in style to eastern-oriental & southern-oriental tattoos. These tattoos can carry a variation of significance & meanings for the individual or their companions.
Geographic Distribution
Discovered by
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