Cheskel

Cheskel are the most populous of the three sapient races on Sunit.

Cheskel are small ambipedal creatures with crystalline feathers that lay crystal-shelled eggs. The crystal is connected to their nervous system, allowing them to absorb energy and to perform minor magic by manipulating the environment around them. Their eggs take in energy and genetic information from its surroundings and the beings around it, influencing its appearance and traits.

Although quite low on the food chain, they make up for it with adaptability, intelligence, and teamwork. Bright and curious, Cheskel love learning about the world around them and thinking outside the box, able to pick up concepts and languages very quickly. Cheskel are also incredibly social with a strong sense of community, bonding with nearly everything for safety in numbers.

Appearance

Cheskel usually stand between two to four feet tall, and can easily switch between walking upright or walking quadrupedally. They have a head, two arms, and two legs, and will usually have a long prehensile tail. Their heads have short, blunt muzzles, slit noses, large eyes with colorful irises and slit pupils, and a crest of crystalline feathers on either side of their face. Most Cheskel also have a head of longer hair which they can style to their preference. Their hands and feet have five digits, with fleshy palms and pads to help them grip things as well as sharp claws. Their hands have a thumb on either side of their hands.

Aside from these basic features, Cheskel vary greatly. Their fur can come in every color, pattern, and texture imaginable. They can have manes and longer tufts of fur. Along with their ear feathers, Cheskel can have crystalline feathers in varying amounts on their shoulders, hips, chest, back, and tail. They can have long tails, short tails, curled tails, multiple tails, or no tails at all. In much rarer instances, Cheskel can also inherit scales, horns, and even extra eyes and limbs!

Reproduction

Cheskel are cosexed, with every individual having all parts needed to reproduce. They reproduce by laying clutches of crystal-shelled eggs naturally once a year. These eggs are roughly softball sized, and are inert and unfertilized, relying on their environment and the creatures around them to absorb the remaining genetic information needed. Typically, a Cheskel will choose or two eggs to raise, and the rest of the eggs will be recyled into materials for electronics, currency, and other things. Cheskel can also mate traditionally and will lay a fertilized clutch in about of week. These eggs already have all the genetic information they need to hatch. However, mating traditionally is incredibly taboo and is considered illegal in many Cheskel cultures due to a past overpopulation issue.

Magic

Because of the crystal symbiote, Cheskel are able to manipulate their environment in minor acts of magic. The amount and effects of their magic depend greatly on how experienced the invidual is at performing magic as well as how many feathers one has. The more feathers a Cheskel has, the more crystal they have, and the greater they can manipulate their environment. Cheskel magic is limited to things that can be physically produced or influenced, including fire, electricity, ice, water, air, plant growth, regeneration, and kinesis. Typically magic is used for conveniences in day to day life, but in the past it was instrumental in escaping from predators and for catching prey.

Culture

Cheskel culture varies from place to place in Sunit, but most groups value cooparation and intelligence above all else. Cheskel are incredibly social, with most choosing to live in large cities or in smaller communities. Relying on one another helps keep them safe from predators and helps them find food, whether that's gathering, hunting, or growing it.