Zambistan
12-06-2007, 05:04
The Crabfolk
http://www.tangrala.com/artwork/ch2_crab.jpg
The Crabfolk are large crabs, about four feet tall, that live in underwater and coastal villages. Suprisingly quick on land they are often called "Scuttles" by humans. They live for 200 years
Government:
The Crabfolk live under cheiftans who rule each village. Once a year each chieftan scuttles into the ocean and ventures to a secret meeting place. There, the Cheifs discuss the issues facing their race and decide on what to do. Cheifs are the largest males in the village.
Society:
The society is a primitve one. Each crabfolk does what it wants, expect if the cheif says otherwise. Life is centered around the village, and every member is viewed as a brother or sister. Generally peaceful, war is frowned upon as a waste of life, however the annexation of new village territories and the protection of the race are paramount in all issues. In the absence of the food the oldest of the village will be devoured by the youngest until only one remains.
Outsiders are seen with suspicion, and contact has been shyed from, as the crabfolk are usually taken as monsters.
The only communal buildings in a crabfolk village are graveyards and schools, where all the children are raised and taught by the eldest in the village. They live and are taught here for the first 50 years of life. The schools are also where any chapels to the various crab gods are also kept. The Cheif himself resides in a sacred partially flooded room kept withen the center of every school.
Depending on the enviroment, Crabfolk turn diffrent colors.
-If living underwater, the shell is a deep blue
-If living on the coast, the shell is a bright red
-If living in a rocky enviroment, the shell is a uniform gray
-If living in a river area, the shell turns brown
-If living in a swamp, the shell turns black
There are two "varities" of Crabfolk that are independent of the enviroment.
-"Hermits" are crabfolk who spend thier life wandering the world, exploring and learning new things. They never settle in one spot, although they do visit villages and pass on what they know. Thier shells are green with plants growing on them
-"Ghost" crabfolk are transparent, and are devotees of Crab Jebus. They have magical healing powers and can commune and command the dead. Very rare, they often leave their native village to live among other "Ghosts" in secluded monastaries.
Origin:
The origin of the species is unknown. One day they simply walked up on land and began building sand huts. Legend says they are descended from a clutch of normal crabs who fell asleep and dreamed of living on land.
Major Cites:
None. Villages of 30 to 300 are the only settlements of the Crabfolk.
Technology:
Technology is primitive: The Crabfolk live in huts built from the materials around them: mud, sand, coral, and rock. Some fish are kept in pools blocked from other water and farmed, but the majority of food is either grazed or hunted. Claws are usually used as weapons, but villages near more hostile forces craft large flails, clubs, axes, and lances built onto gloves that fit around thier claws. They live without any use of fire.
Religion:
Crabfolk themselves worship many idols, one being the Crab Gorilla. The Crab Gorilla can be related to the Four Horsemen, deciding who lives and dies and spreading death, pestilence, and war wherever he goes.
The Crab Gorilla when angered not only excretes caramel and chocolate but allegedly rapes, pillages and plunders the small crab people villages. The Crab Gorilla takes the form of an above average gorilla (aprox 13.4ft tall)with black pincers in place of his hands. He is recognized by his rage filled eyes and war song.
The only weakness of the Gorilla is that he can only run sideways. The crab people have a national holiday on June 4th to worship the Crab Gorilla and offer him bananas and shellfish.
Crab Ganesh takes the appearance of an elephant like being with six arms each with pincers. Paintings in crab temples depict Crab Ganesh as a hated figure who causes stupidity so no one worships him. Children are taught of his idiocy to provide fuel when bullying a less developed peers.
The wise and knowledgeable Crab Jebus is an ancient bearded crab who, legend has it, was a powerful necromancer who raised legions of undead sea-creatures to fight the dreaded Kraken. After the defeat of this beast, the Crab Gorilla offered Jebus a position as a saint. Crab Jebus rejected the offer and stole the secret of godhood. Jebus was the educator of all the Crab Prophets and is respected for his knowledge, hence preying to Jebus in crab schools before class.
Population: Around 2 million
Military: Every member of the village is taught how to defend the village and himself, and contains no professional warriors. Guards and scouts however may be appointed by the cheif.
http://www.tangrala.com/artwork/ch2_crab.jpg
The Crabfolk are large crabs, about four feet tall, that live in underwater and coastal villages. Suprisingly quick on land they are often called "Scuttles" by humans. They live for 200 years
Government:
The Crabfolk live under cheiftans who rule each village. Once a year each chieftan scuttles into the ocean and ventures to a secret meeting place. There, the Cheifs discuss the issues facing their race and decide on what to do. Cheifs are the largest males in the village.
Society:
The society is a primitve one. Each crabfolk does what it wants, expect if the cheif says otherwise. Life is centered around the village, and every member is viewed as a brother or sister. Generally peaceful, war is frowned upon as a waste of life, however the annexation of new village territories and the protection of the race are paramount in all issues. In the absence of the food the oldest of the village will be devoured by the youngest until only one remains.
Outsiders are seen with suspicion, and contact has been shyed from, as the crabfolk are usually taken as monsters.
The only communal buildings in a crabfolk village are graveyards and schools, where all the children are raised and taught by the eldest in the village. They live and are taught here for the first 50 years of life. The schools are also where any chapels to the various crab gods are also kept. The Cheif himself resides in a sacred partially flooded room kept withen the center of every school.
Depending on the enviroment, Crabfolk turn diffrent colors.
-If living underwater, the shell is a deep blue
-If living on the coast, the shell is a bright red
-If living in a rocky enviroment, the shell is a uniform gray
-If living in a river area, the shell turns brown
-If living in a swamp, the shell turns black
There are two "varities" of Crabfolk that are independent of the enviroment.
-"Hermits" are crabfolk who spend thier life wandering the world, exploring and learning new things. They never settle in one spot, although they do visit villages and pass on what they know. Thier shells are green with plants growing on them
-"Ghost" crabfolk are transparent, and are devotees of Crab Jebus. They have magical healing powers and can commune and command the dead. Very rare, they often leave their native village to live among other "Ghosts" in secluded monastaries.
Origin:
The origin of the species is unknown. One day they simply walked up on land and began building sand huts. Legend says they are descended from a clutch of normal crabs who fell asleep and dreamed of living on land.
Major Cites:
None. Villages of 30 to 300 are the only settlements of the Crabfolk.
Technology:
Technology is primitive: The Crabfolk live in huts built from the materials around them: mud, sand, coral, and rock. Some fish are kept in pools blocked from other water and farmed, but the majority of food is either grazed or hunted. Claws are usually used as weapons, but villages near more hostile forces craft large flails, clubs, axes, and lances built onto gloves that fit around thier claws. They live without any use of fire.
Religion:
Crabfolk themselves worship many idols, one being the Crab Gorilla. The Crab Gorilla can be related to the Four Horsemen, deciding who lives and dies and spreading death, pestilence, and war wherever he goes.
The Crab Gorilla when angered not only excretes caramel and chocolate but allegedly rapes, pillages and plunders the small crab people villages. The Crab Gorilla takes the form of an above average gorilla (aprox 13.4ft tall)with black pincers in place of his hands. He is recognized by his rage filled eyes and war song.
The only weakness of the Gorilla is that he can only run sideways. The crab people have a national holiday on June 4th to worship the Crab Gorilla and offer him bananas and shellfish.
Crab Ganesh takes the appearance of an elephant like being with six arms each with pincers. Paintings in crab temples depict Crab Ganesh as a hated figure who causes stupidity so no one worships him. Children are taught of his idiocy to provide fuel when bullying a less developed peers.
The wise and knowledgeable Crab Jebus is an ancient bearded crab who, legend has it, was a powerful necromancer who raised legions of undead sea-creatures to fight the dreaded Kraken. After the defeat of this beast, the Crab Gorilla offered Jebus a position as a saint. Crab Jebus rejected the offer and stole the secret of godhood. Jebus was the educator of all the Crab Prophets and is respected for his knowledge, hence preying to Jebus in crab schools before class.
Population: Around 2 million
Military: Every member of the village is taught how to defend the village and himself, and contains no professional warriors. Guards and scouts however may be appointed by the cheif.