Kiarren
One of the three Arren species, a collection of lizard-folk descended from an ancient culture born deep in the jungles of central Sur'Dhanza, the Kiarren turned from a nomadic life in the northern deserts to one of stability and agriculture thanks to the appearance of an inland godspout and the guidance of a dark god of order. Now their species is further divided, caught between cultural tradition and a totalitarian theocratic state, chaotic freedom and absolute order. With nearly all of their central power structure centralized on the capital city of Sharast, their society steadily degrades into a lawless expanse of survival of the fittest as the trappings of civilization fall away and the ravages of the desert are all that remains.
Despite this internal division, the Kiarren's relative proximity to the Tear makes them one of the nearest civilizations to the most convenient landing points available to colonists, explorers, and merchants from the northern hemisphere. This, as well as their capital's immense wealth and influence, has made them an important faction in the recent moves to reunify the two halves of the shattered planet.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Kiarren are incredibly tall lizard-folk, standing at well over two meters in height when accounting for their digitigrade stance. They are bipedal with two arms, as well as a particularly thick tail that can often be longer than they are tall, making it ideal as a counterweight or third supporting limb while traversing the desert sands and urban sprawls they call home. Their entire body is covered in small, smooth scales, though these will sometimes give way to spine or horn-like formations on top of the head, down the spine, and near the major limb joints. The nictitating membrane of Kiarren's eyes are thicker than those of their water-dwelling relatives, having adapted to keep wind-blown sand out of their eyes without totally obscuring their vision.
Female Kiarren tend to build slightly less upper-body muscle mass than their male counterparts, but more in the lower-body. As they are often fractionally larger than males as well, this tends to even out somewhat.
Genetics and Reproduction
Kiarren, like all of the Arren species, are oviparous. After mating, females will lay between 8 and 15 eggs. Of those usually only three or four will hatch, with every egg laid successfully hatching being practically unheard of. Once laid, eggs will usually hatch within six to eight months, and the hatchlings will be able to move about by using their oversized tails to slither around within several hours.
Civilization and Culture
Major Organizations
The Servants of Darkness, Watumishi wa Giza in their mother tongue, are the predominant religious sect throughout the civic centers of the Kiarren lands. Beholden to Vossos, dread god of night, death, and the natural order, they uphold his laws wherever they can muster the numbers necessary to do so. As one moves closer to the capital of Sharast, they grow in power and influence, and within the city itself, they hold more sway over the population than even the Watawala. While the Watawala may be chosen to rule the people by Vossos' own influence, it is his Servants who speak his modern word and carry out his orders.
Beauty Ideals
Dating back to their days as nomads, strength, endurance, and agility remain highly attractive qualities among the Kiarren. Powerful legs and a thick tail are the usual signs of a healthy, swift, and long-running individual. Tail length is also frequently a consideration. A The longer one's tail, their legends say, the greater and longer their lineage. Above the waist, beauty becomes harder to quantify on any universal scale. Everything from face shape to coloration to the style or horns on the head can vary between individuals, and the sheer quantity of individual characteristics leads to a wide array of tastes among the Kiarren population. Some Kiarren have even been known to strategically attempt to pair up with individuals not because of an interest in their looks, but because the combinations of traits between them would create more unique children, attracting attention down the line and further diversifying the species.
Interestingly, when Arren lost portions of their tails, they will always grow back, but at the expense of length. Up to a certain point, this can even be done intentionally in order to escape the grasp of an enemy or predator. As a result, individuals with shorter tails are frequently viewed as cowards or failures. Even if tail length was lost in honorable combat, the first impression of it will still be unfavorable.
Average Technological Level
Metal is scarce in the desert, as are materials such as coal and gunpowder. As such, the Kiarren never managed to develop much in the way of the steam- or combustion-based technology of the northern hemisphere. However, they've shown remarkable ingenuity in other areas, in particular developing advanced irrigation systems using screws and counterweights and sandstone pipes to evenly distribute water from the godspout of Sharast to official colonies throughout the northern Sur'dhanzan desert. They are also one of the leading nations in harnessing the win for everything from manual power to transportation. The power they manage to extract from open air for their sand-sailing ships rivals that of northern hemisphere galleons several times their size.
Culture and Cultural Heritage
Since their nomadic days, Kiarren culture has largely been centered around wayfinding and hunting. Both took on new meanings as they shifted to a stationary, agricultural lifestyle. Hunters never truly lost their work, as meat and pelts remain necessary into the modern day - and there was a significant stretch of time where many doubled as demon hunters as well, when demons were still believed to be monstrous pests. Wayfinders, on the other hand, briefly declined into near nonexistence while their people found their footing in a single location. As the city flourished and began expanding, however, the practice came back to the fore with new purpose. Navigating the shifting sands is a treacherous job, but it's a skill now taught to nearly every Kiarren youth. Traders, hunters, diplomats, surveyors; nearly every possible profession may at some point need to find their way in a lands whose shape and appearance change with each passing day. The lessons learned in ancient times by the guides of each of the nomad tribes still find themselves in modern classrooms, passing their wisdom on to the next generation.
Comments