szageki

The szageki are sapient lizards found in the Neszekotalo Basin in Kot Petaszi. Humans first observed szageki in 1886 Vol when a speculation fleet tabulated the island's resources, but they were not formally introduced to each other until 2046 Vol when the Dancinglight paid the szageki a visit.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Szageki are tetrapods, walking on all four legs, but are able to stand and even run on two legs for brief periods, using their tails for balance.

Genetics and Reproduction

Szageki mate annually, laying all eggs in a common nest guarded by nurse keepers. In the colonies, keepers continue to raise the hatchlings until near maturity; in the tribes, hatchlings are distributed among hunters to raise individually.

Ecology and Habitats

Szageki have adapted to the arid conditions inside Kot Petaszi's ring of mountains.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Szageki are primarily carnivorous, hunting snakes, but also supplement their diet with insects. They do not immediately eat what they catch, but bring it back to the colony to be stored and shared. They raise succulents for the moist leaves, also storing them to consume when needed.

Biological Cycle

As a cold-blooded species, szageki are endangered by the high temperatures in the Neszekotalo Basin.  The middle of the day is called the "Death Hours", during which all szageki must be sheltered in shade.  At night when the temperature drops, szageki enter a sleep-like stupor.

Additional Information

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Szageki colonies fill the Neszekotalo Basin most densely in the northeastern section, where the geography is predominantly eroded volcanic rock riddled with canyons, providing lifesaving shade. The sand dunes further to the south and west offer less protection, and tribes in that region are limited to the more scattered rock formations. Travel across the sand is possible, but extremely risky, since a szageki exposed to the sun too long in the middle of the day will overheat and die.  Therefore szageki dispersion through the sand dune region occurs at an extremely slow pace.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Standard szageki senses are visual, auditory, vomeronasal, thermal, and tactile. A single tribe, the kaji, also possess a strong hydrotropic sense.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Szageki are given any forename that is not currently being used in the tribe, followed by a surname that indicates the generation in which they hatched.

Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals

Because they live in a region of limited resources, szageki have no taboo against using the bodies of their dead for tools or materials, and in fact have an uncanny memory for exactly whose bones were used for which purposes. It can be startling for human visitors to be told they are about to meet a szageki's friend or parent, and then be presented with a throwing spear made from a sharpened femur.

Common Taboos

Szaegki connect the sun with the heat of the middle of the day, and believe that wandering too far to either the east or west will bring one too close to where the sun lives, and therefore certain death.

Genetic Ancestor(s)

• hive lizard

Lifespan

45 years

Geographic Distribution

• Kot Petaszi
• Neszekotalo Basin