Kit
Introduction
The Kit are warp-capable species hailing from the binary star system Rhak’t, with the dominant K9 Star Ztak’t and the smaller L8 brown dwarf Hkra’t. The Kit’s home world is an M-class plant Vrk’mz of the desert sub-type (a close approximation is Vulcan) and, as a result, the majority of Kit live underground.
System architecture of Ztak’t (A) and Hkra’t (B); Vrk’mz is the 4th planet
An image taken from the surface of Vrk’mz with Mount T’q’grin visible on the horizon
Physiology
The Kit are an interchangeably bipedal or quadrupedal mammalian species who stand approximately 1.1 - 1.3 meters (weighted average 1.175 meters) from the tips of their upright ears to their thick, padded back (or bottom) paws. They feature a triangular face, pointed ears, an elongated rostrum, and a bushy tail.
Commission by doodle sweet
Multigenerational image from the K’mnzi family archives titled, “Parsa” demonstrating various pelage center-right
Pelage
The Kit sport four distinct fur colors with a fifth usually attributed to advanced aging. They are, in descending order of regularity: Black (44%), Red (39%), Blond (17%), and White (>1%). As some Kit enter the last years of their lives (~47%), their base fur color will begin greying in part or whole. In less than five percent of cases, elder Kit will become completely grey.
Sense
Kit feature highly acute, independently rotational ears which are capable of detecting sounds at higher pitches than typical Humanoind species with considerable accuracy. Vision and tactile senses are approximately average among humanoid species of similar environmental factors.
Dentition
Kit have pronounced carnassial pairs, which is characteristic of a carnivore. These pairs consist of the upper premolar and the lower first molar, and work together to shear tough material like flesh. A Kit’s canines are pronounced, also characteristic of a carnivore, and are excellent in gripping prey.
Despite a mouth geared heavily toward meat, Kit diets include fruits, vegetables, mushrooms, roots, and insects.
Biology
Kit biology is heavily geared toward ancient hunting and foraging behaviors common to the Kit until several thousand generations ago when they were forced underground due to an ecological disaster that weakened their hydrosphere. Known colloquially as “The Thirst,” little data exists to explain the cause. Despite this, their strong sense of smell and hearing aided their ability to adapt to a mostly subterranean existence.
Reproduction is typical of a mammalian species which involves two distinct partners who exchange genetic material, where one partner bears the young for a period of 4-5 months which culminates in a live birth. Typical births are 2-3 kit (where “kit” refers to child and “Kit” refers to an adult), though as few as one and as many as six are not unheard of.
The Kit lack any directly observable signs of sexual dimorphism. When clothed, Kit reproductive roles are indistinguishable from one another, though specific genitalia can be observed beneath the fur. While a Kit’s role is indiscernible visually, their other senses help identify each other in addition to established gender and cultural norms common among complex societies.
Diet
Kit dietary sources are extremely limited due to the harsh conditions of their world. Their staple sources consist of the following:
| Food Name | Description |
|---|---|
| grvmra | A fungi-like organism that consumes minerals and trace elements which is converted into a green, gord-like object. The orange, paste-like contents within can be turned into a number of foods and beverages. It can even be fermented to produce a strong alcoholic beverage–the only one among Kit society. |
| nmt’z | A large, extremely dangerous reptile which stalks the deep tunnels of the Kit homeworld. Due to its conservation status (endangered) modern Kit do not typically eat the meat of the nmt’z except on special occasions, such as the assentation of a new Matriarch within a great family. |
| r’qnom | A type of sightless underground fish typically harvested for their scales in the creation of t’zat as the meat itself is toxic to Kit. |
| t’zat | This flatbread is created by harvesting the extract of a bioluminescent bacteria common underground, mixed with r’qnom scales, and cooked in an oven. The bread is typically soft with a slight fishy flavor. |
Society
Population
3,877,267,331 (2421 est) within the Rhak’t star system
Ethnic Groups
The Kit recognize over 300 (sub)cultural groups throughout the Rhak’t star system, though almost all trace their histories to the communities which migrated underground following “The Thirst” wide scale ecological disaster.
Religion
Though holding no specific creator deity, Kit spirituality is heavily rooted in community, family, and individual roles governed by two competing groups of elite, matriarchal groups: Den Mothers and (Grand) Matriarchs. The former serve primarily as historians and scholars who weigh tradition against contemporary values. The latter serve as practical leaders of their respective houses and wield considerable social and economic power.
Language
noun: Kit (singular and plural)
adjective: Kit
non-adults: kit
| Language | % of Population | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| tnk-ki | 78.2% | the most common vocalization-based language that is so highly tonal it suggests a “perfect pitch” among the Kit |
| hrm’zn | 13.4% | |
| gro’t’q | 1.1% | a sign language common among Blond kit |
| other | 7.3%) | |
| note: data represent the language spoken at home, most Kit appear to be bi- or trilingual. |
Nearly all dialects and languages spoken among the Kit follow some basic rules which accommodate the species’ limited range of mouth articulation. As a result, all languages are:
- Heavily tonal, involving complex rules of note duration and oscillation to convey meaning
- Restricted in base sounds which only typically require a slight separation of the jaw and flex of the tongue
- Include yips and click sounds (Romanized as ’y and ’q respectively); clicks are made by creating suction at about the mid point of the tongue along the roof of the mouth
- Low guttural sounds typically reserved for urgency, warning, or pain (physical or emotional)
Age Structure
Kit lifespans are considerably shorter than the average lifespan most humanoids. According to Kit public records, the average lifespan is approximately 27.31 Earth years.
| Age/years | Descriptor | % of Pop |
|---|---|---|
| 0 - 2 | Preadolescence | 18.46 % |
| 3 - 5 | Adolescence | 12.91 % |
| 7 - 20 | Adulthood | 38.92% |
| 20 - 25 | Onset of post-reproductive adulthood | 12.86% |
| +25 | Geriatric | 16.85% |
Emancipation is generally recognized as beginning at 7 years while post-reproductive adulthood begins around 20-25 years. This gives the Kit a window of approximately 13 years to reproduce.
The longest-lived Kit whose age could be verified was Tel Q’har. She lived to be 33 (Earth) years.
Politics
The Kit government is split into two main sections: Elected and Unelected positions. As the name implies, the former is directly elected by the general population while the latter is built by a loose coalition of the largest Kit Houses.
Elected Institutions
President
The president is elected each year, without term limit. She is head of the Executive Branch of power and is responsible for ensuring the constitution is implemented. Though she is supposed to be the highest authority of government, in truth the Grand Matriarch (who controls the military) and the Den Mothers (who hold 1/3 of all council positions) typically hold significant political sway.
President Nah’hala was elected three cycles ago (~2418) after a major political upset. Nal’hala, a former lead Burrow Boulders thrower was an unlikely candidate to begin with went on to win her first election with the highest margin in Kit recorded history. Her primary platforms included male suffrage and major social programs to end poverty, in addition to heavy incentives to prominent Houses who worked primarily in STEM fields. Though not directly credited with its development, it is a wildly held belief that these economic incentives led to Kit society’s discovery of warp drive.
President Nah’hala defeated Former President D’kli Z’nar after her record eleven year tenure in office. Z’nar, a former Den Mother, was largely backed by the major Houses until several prominent inter-house upheavals left the former president with only a fraction of her support.
Cabinet
Members of the cabinet, or Council of Ministers, are chosen by the president. They must be approved by parliament, which in 2419 rejected four of President Nah’hara’s initial nominees for her cabinet. Parliament can also impeach ministers.
The Grand Matriarch is closely involved in defense, security and foreign policy, so her office also holds influence in decision-making. The cabinet is chaired by the president or vice-president, who is responsible for cabinet affairs.
Parliament
Parliament
The 290 members of the parliament are elected by popular vote every year. The parliament has the power to introduce and pass laws, as well as to summon and impeach ministers or the president.
However, all parliament bills have to be approved by the typically-conservative Join Council.
The first reformist majority was elected in 2420 and held thin margins before male suffrage. As males begin to vote in droves–largely for reformist political hopefuls–conservatives among the Matriarchy and especially Den Months have grown increasingly agitated by departures from traditional norms.
Many reformist candidates were banned from standing.
Unelected Institutions
Grand Matriarch
B’da K’mnzi c 2421, the last Grand Matriarch
The role of Grand Matriarch in the constitution is based on the ideas of t’R’qze K’mnzi, who positioned the leader at the top of Kitdom’s political power structure.
The Grand Matriarch, currently B’da K’mnzi (the grand-niece seven generations removed of t’R’qze K’mnzi), appoints the head of the judiciary, six of the members of the powerful Joint Council, the commanders of all the armed forces, and head of state-run media channels. She also confirms the president’s election. The Matriarch is chosen by the clerics who make up the Den Mothers.
Periodic tension between the office of the Matriarch and the office of the president has often been the source of political instability. It has increased since the appointment of President Nah’hala’s initial election - a reflection of the deeper tensions between traditional rule and the democratic aspirations of many Kit.
Den Mothers
The responsibilities of the Den Mothers are to appoint the Grand Matriarch, monitor her performance and remove her if she is deemed incapable of fulfilling her duties. The assembly usually holds four sessions a year.
Although the body is officially based in the holy city of Q’ta-vm, sessions are typically held in the Great Warren, the largest population center and home to the rest of the government. Direct elections for the 86 members of the current assembly are held every four years and are next due in 2427.
Members are elected for an four year term. Only clerics can join the assembly and candidates for election are vetted by the Joint Council.
The assembly is dominated by conservatives. Its current chairman is former President D’kli Z’nar, who lost the 2418 presidential election to President Nah’hala.
Head of Judiciary
The Kit judiciary has never been independent of political influence. Until early last century it was controlled by the clergy. The system was later secularized, but after the revolution of 2380 the Supreme Court revoked all previous laws that were deemed violations of traditional views. New laws based on values popularized by the Den Mothers became common place.
The judiciary ensures that the Den Mothers’ laws are enforced and defines legal policy. It also nominates the six lay members of the Joint Council. The head of the judiciary is appointed and reports directly to the Grand Matriarch.
During the revolution of 2380, the hardliners used the judicial system to undermine reforms by imprisoning reformist personalities and journalists and closing down reformist papers. By 2420, Tra’q Kee, of the powerful conservative Kee House, made the surprising decision to support—then actively push for—male suffrage. Though President Nah’halah is often credited with popularizing male suffrage among the masses it was, in truth, Tra’q Kee who made it a reality.
Armed Forces
The armed forces comprise the Kitdom Guard and the regular forces. The two bodies are under a joint general command.
All leading army and Kit Guard commanders are appointed by the Grand Matriarch and are answerable only to her.
The Kitdom Guard was formed after the revolution of 2380 to protect the new leaders and institutions and to fight those opposing the revolution.
The Kitdom Guard has a powerful presence in other institutions, and controls volunteer militias with branches in every town.
Culture
Kit culture is heavily dominated by concepts of closeness and familiar bond between all Kit. State-run and private media typically follow stories that reinforce these values.
They are typically seen in groups and appear to remain in close proximity to other Kit at all times. It is unclear where this behavior originated; as an evolutionary survival strategy or a cultural development.
Kit are typically friendly and welcoming of strangers and demonstrate a high degree of tactile interaction. Most Kit, when observed in media, can be seen holding paws, interlocking tails, or sitting very closely to one another.
Kit may appear to lack concepts of physical boundaries and therefore may offend non-Kit who are more reserved with touch.
Relationships
Kit appear to forge new relationships quickly and prefer community to confrontation. They appear to have the concept of marriage, but Matriarchs in particular are expected to take many partners. A combination of arranged or love marriages dominates the landscape, but it is difficult to find what specific advantage marriage plays in their community.
Matriarchs
Kit life is also heavily dominated by Matriarchs, a title given to the head of a particular Great House. These are the leaders of industry and population, often producing large numbers of elite, highly educated workers who, in turn, are appointed within those industries of control. Nepotism is wide-spread and is an accepted social norm.
Matriarchs are appointed via a Matriarch Trial, a contest of many competing Kit who must complete challenges such as: Recitation of old texts maintained by Den Mothers, recitation of the specific family linage from beginning to the candidate (in addition to the current Matriarch), and physical trials such as the slaying of a Nmt’z, a powerful and dangerous reptile found deep inside the caverns and tunnels of their home world, Vrk’mz.
Den Mothers
A close association of clerics who lead the Kit in matters of tradition and morality. Den Mothers operate at every level of society from running small community centers to operating in the highest level of government.
Though the Den Mothers do not teach of a specific deity, they hold strong reverence toward ancestors. In this, the Kit religion could almost be classified as a kind of veneration of the dead; though they lack typical concepts such as the belief that long-dead ancestors can communicate or intercede on their behalf.
Den Mothers carefully arrange marriages within the Houses which they believe will produce the best offspring possible. They covet white-furred Kit, who are believed to be lucky and a sign that the world will heal, as white-furred Kit as an established subspecies died out millennia ago during The Thirst.
Males in Society
Until recently, male Kit were unable to vote, hold political office, or have a controlling stake in an estate. The suffrage movement, which gained substantial movement in 2411, succeeded in the passage of a constitutional amendment which granted them the right to vote in 2420. Additional legislation granting further rights (such as those mentioned) is pending.
Regardless, most men continue to occupy low-wage service roles in Kitdome. While there are exceptions, they mostly appear in Houses with reformist views which sponsor males into female-dominated schools.
Still, males typically earn lower wages for equal work and find it difficult to gain recognition.
Rock Toss
If the Kit had one passion, it would be for competitive game: t’q-zhm localized simply as “Rock Toss” with a literal translation of, “To throw a rock with great force and precision” in the dominate tnk-ki language.
Historically, Rock Toss has been an important part of Kit society, as it was originally played to settle disputes ranging from territorial to personal grievances. Teams of two consisting of 5 Champions play a version of Last Man Standing, where the last ambulatory Kit wins for their whole team. Eventually, the rocks were replaced with weighted plastic discs which contain transceivers to accurately denote hits against opponents. While the game now has a point system and winners are technically declared at 100 points, Kit commonly play until exhaustion, continuing the practice of Last Kit Standing without the traditional lethality.
Nearly every able-bodied Kit will play Rock Toss at some point in their lives. Leagues have a heavy presence in primary and secondary education, with semi- and professional teams. Rock Toss strategy is commonly taught in schools, even at the lowest levels, with questions like: “Barda and Juna’la are playing Rock Toss. If Barda’s pile has five rocks and Juna’la’s pile has seven, how many more rocks does Juna’la have?” Other lessons on Rock Toss cover teamwork, strategy, and community service.
Current Kit President Nah’hara formally led the Burrow Boulders for seven years and credited with winning over 15 titles. Her wide popularity, charisma, and community service fueled her successful bid for president. Nah’hala credits working alongside men in the Rock Toss League as the catalyst for her support of male equality.
Relative Federation Ratings
Ratings are based on observational data and rated against the average Federation world’s internal rating. Ratings may fluctuate wildly based on new data.
Medical
RATING: Poor
Though Kit medical services are provided at no cost to all Kit, research and development of new technologies has languished in recent decades, in part due to the heavy push to industrialize and commercialize space.
Science
RATING: Average
Scientific research among the Kit is a current priority, though much of it is geared toward economic interests, such as mining asteroids for rich minerals and understanding space. Though they have only recently encountered non-Kit life, they generally appear capable of understanding and working with advanced concepts, such as subspace dynamics and warp field theory.
Engineering
RATING: Poor
The Kit only achieved warp capability as of 2418 and have used this technology largely within their own star system as they continue to colonize and harvest resources to fuel their consumer economy.
Kit appear to love gadgets and their economy is heavily fueled by planned obsolescence and consumer waste.
Sentient Rights
RATING: Poor (tracking Average in 5-10 generations if current trajectories are maintained)
Though males have recently received the right to vote, anti-male legislation, redlining, education, and matriarchal dominance still permeate Kit society. It will likely take generations for men to achieve true equality despite a current push for rights. Systemic issues are not resolved overnight; even with the passing of new legislation.
Star Trek Adventures
The Kit are a meter-tall vulpine-like species with pronounced snout, ears, and tail. Originating from the desert world Vrk’mz, the species is comfortable underground, where they build their subterranean cities.
Kit society is said to be dominated by values such as protecting one’s family, developing strong community relationships, and fierce competition. Though their lives are short–typically no more than twenty years–they are fast learners and passionate kinsmen.
Attributes
- +1 Control
- +1 Daring
- +1 Insight
Trait
Kit. The Kit possess highly sophisticated senses, allowing them to perceive their environment keenly. This trait may reduce the Difficulty of Tasks to hear, smell, or feel people or things in their environment. The Kit are also short of both life and stature, the longest-lived reaching about thirty years old and tallest recorded coming only to only about 1.2 meters.
Kit are extremely social creatures and are most comfortable in large, close groups. They love crowds and gatherings. Most Kit become distressed when left alone for more than an hour, developing panic attack-like symptoms which, over time, may even result in death.
Talents
T’q’nah’hala
Requirement: Kit. Most Kit participate in a regular, regimental daily martial arts routine called the t’q’nah’hala. Practiced for hundreds of generations, it focuses the mind and hones the body. Central to that teaching is the nah’hala itself, a Kit-sized pole arm with a razor sharp blade-head and heavy counter-balanced bludgeoning tail. Though ceremonial in most occasions, the t’q’nah’hala is a central part of the Matron Trials; a rite of succession held after the ruling Matron has died. Regular sparing and tournaments are a staple of life for those who invest time and commitment to master the skill. Whenever you attempt a melee attack with a pole, staff, or similar object against a taller opponent, you reduce the difficulty of that Task by 1.
Matron Trial
Requirement: Kit, female. You participated in a Matron Trial, the rite of succession performed when a ruling Matron has died. Thrown naked with your sisters and cousins into the deep tunnels beneath your home, you were given nothing more than a nah’hala and the expectation to hunt and kill a Nmt’z: a massive reptilian beast of prey, then return its intact heart to the family elders. Many are slain in the trials and not all those who succeed can claim the Matronhood; that falls upon the first Kit to return with a heart. You have one additional Value, reflecting your experience in the Trial.
The Promise
Requirement: Kit, fur color predominantly white. You are among one of a few Kit born each generation with white fur. Long held as hope that snow would return to your world, you are an ancient reminder of the lush, beautiful place Vrk’mz used to be. As such, you were given the opportunity to attend the best schools, with the best tutors in all of the Kit Commune. You receive an extra Focus, typically one of these categories: Ecology, History, Finance, Chemistry, Aerospace Engineering, or Warp Theory.
Rock Toss Competitor
The Kit love sport. Whether that’s fighting in a t’q’nah’hala tournament, wrestling for fun, or watching their favorite game: t’q-zhm, most commonly translated simply as “Rock Toss.” This fast-paced game involves the hurling and catching of smooth stones gathered from ancient riverbeds, some sanded and polished to a brilliant shine. Competing in these games is a physically daunting sport, requiring tight teamwork and dexterity. Whenever you critically succeed a ranged attack, receive double Momentum.