Tekkui

The Tekkui are a race of sentient humanoids native to the Tekku system of the Reborn Universe.

Biology
The Tekkui are a sentient humanoid species that appear outwardly physically similar to humans in a way that could perhaps be explained by convergent evolution, but with a number of features that easily set them apart. The Tekkui from Kakamu's homeland have red skin, with most being dark-shaded, though lighter-skinned Tekkui are also commonplace. Albinism is also possible in Tekkui, albeit rare. The irises of Tekkui eyes can vary in color, but most have bright green sclera. The average Tekkui male is slightly larger than the average human, measuring between six to eight feet tall, though most fall within the six foot to six and a half foot range. Females are slightly shorter than males, usually measuring between five and a half to six feet with a maximum possible limit of seven. Tekkui can live for a maximum of around 250 years, but most do not reach this number; the average Tekkui lifespan is 0-150.

Though the sexual dimorphism of Tekkui is also similar to humans, albeit slightly more pronounced, Tekkui females have additional secondary sexual characteristics to those of human women, including short cranial horns, a prehensile tail, and retractable talons used primarily for defence. To aid in their nature as hunter-gatherers, the Tekkui metabolism prioritizes muscle development over fat when converting calories and can sustain muscle mass for long periods of time even without food or exercise.

Unlike human dreams, which usually depict bizarre fantasies and are forgotten moments after waking up, Tekkui dreams are directly inspirational and clearly remembered. The Tekkui subconsciousness remains active during sleep to work on problems that the Tekkui experienced over the previous day, ultimately presenting them with a solution that the Tekkui can carry out upon waking up. For example, a Tekkui couple could flee from an enemy, go to sleep, and wake up the next morning having experienced a shared dream of a way to defend themselves, or a Tekkui fisherman could fall asleep at his dock and wake up having experienced a vision of a new fishing device, down to the exact measurements.

Due to the experiments performed on the population by the Arokazek, most extant Tekkui bear some kind of mechanical augmentation which can in some cases even allow them control over a specific natural element. Children of augmented parents, while conceived naturally, can sometimes be born with augmentations of their own that have inexplicably developed in the womb, leading to rejection by the parents and ostracization.

Society & Culture
While Tekkui society is mostly patriarchal, Tekkui men and women take an equal role in hunting, with women accompanying the men even during the late stages of pregnancy. For this reason, Tekkui of both sexes are primarily attracted to strength. Tekkui society consists of dozens of clans that are constantly vying for control over territory and natural resources which are often consumed by the native fauna instead. Tekkui do not have a familial structure, though Tekkui couples are expected to raise their children themselves; failure to do often results in the clan leaders adopting the children and exiling the parents for burdening the clan leaders with additional responsibility. As a result, Tekkui do not have surnames, but can be referred to as "[Name] of the [X] clan". If a Tekkui is seen to perform an incredible feat or service to their clan, the clan's leaders can bestow them with a title, which in most cases replaces usage of their given name. For example, Kakamu's father, Kaulan, became known as "The Savant" after performing an exceptional feat in service of his clan.

Despite being separated into warring clans, most Tekkui share the same beliefs. The Tekkui believe that they originated from the planet of Tekku (hence the name Tekkui, which literally means "of Tekku") and were displaced on Nil'nara by beings of god-like power known as "Ancients". One story passed down through generations is that the Ancients resettled the Tekkui on Nil'nara in order to protect them from an unspecified cataclysm that would befall their world and return them once the disaster had passed; however, no Tekkui astrologers have observed any such calamity, and the Ancients, if they exist, have yet to return. Instead, the Tekkui were visited by the Arokazek, who subjected them to brutal kidnappings and experiments; as a result, many Tekkui have lost faith in the Ancients, making them susceptible to subjugation by the New Order.