Ss'akan

ss. ah-kahn

Originally dubbed 'si-akvan,' or 'the fallen' by the veran, the ss'akan have broken the word instead to mean 'the risen,' believing themselves to have been given a second chance to do better as mortals than they did as vhérga.

Vu'akan Male and Mave'akan Female by Sehanbrel

Basic Information

Anatomy

Ss'akan are a tall, strongly-built species. They walk upright, have digitigrade legs, a long, thick tail tipped in three short spines, one pair of arms, and a long neck and torso. They possess long, mobile ears, two small horns in the middle of their forehead, and a larger horn on each side of their head above their ears. Their dedicated sex organs are internal, and there is very little sexual dimorphism, the females identifiable only by having wider hips and a different vocal pitch than males.
They have a large, four-chambered heart, unidirectional lungs, a stomach, gallbladder, spleen, kidneys, liver, pancreas, a bladder connected to a cloacal vent, and a somewhat short intestinal tract, given their primarily carnivorous diet. They have 6 additional vertebrae, totaling 32, and 24 ribs, making for short chests and long abdomens and slightly longer necks, and allowing for greater flexibility in the spine.
Like their Shadreagh cousins, they also have a limited number of fat cells, along with these fat cells unable to expand past a certain point, limiting ss'akan to gaining scarcely more than fifty pounds in excess fat.
As a carryover from their existence as vhérga, ss'akan, like their shad cousins, retain many of their markings. They are typically several shades darker or lighter than their base skin tone, and are often in splotchy or striped patterns down their backs, upper arms, thighs, and tails.

Genetics and Reproduction

Being an egg-laying species, female and males go into heat and rut, respectively, for 3-4 days once every month, but usually try to seek out a suitable partner before then to make the times easier to deal with. They will only go into a cycle if the environment is safe enough and there is plenty of food, and if the subject is currently not under stress. The cycle will end and stall indefinitely under most stressors. Once the female conceives, a gestation period of 200 Vruanhaian days (250 Terran days) begins, and then the egg, roughly as big as a melon, is passed through the birth canal, a soft, leathery shell having formed around the embryo. Being soft and not full of bones, the laying process isn't excruciating for the mother, even though her hips spread to allow for enough room.
Only one egg is ever laid at a time, though it is possible for twins to be born if the embryo split into two, however, this is a highly rare occurrence.
Once laid and the incubation is begun, the egg takes another 100 Vruanhain days (125 Terran days) to develop, and then finally hatches.

Growth Rate & Stages

Infancy lasts around 5 years, with toddlerhood lasting around 10 years, childhood around 60, and adolescence for 70. Early adulthood is reached at around 150 years of age. Middle age is at 1000, with natural ending of life being around 2000 years.

Ecology and Habitats

Warmer climates, such as deserts, or cooler climates, like cavern systems. The aquatic breed will occupy just about any sufficiently large body of water, though they prefer oceans to any lake, and then warmer waters over cool.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Largely carnivorous with some omnivorous traits.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Clan-based; alternating rulership of 3 elders + 3 youths in the ruling family
Family heads have the most power
Majority of citizens are commoners
Below them are slaves

Facial characteristics

Ss'akan have a slightly elongated jaw. They have large eyes with slit pupils, shallow, narrow noses, and thin lips. Two small horns rest in the center of their forehead, aligned vertically, and another pair of horns sits above their ears, generally sweeping back and up.

Vu'akan Male Face by Sehanbrel

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Zekal Desert, Zekal Mountains, Ygeris Desert, Ygeris Mountains, Uran, northern Iera, and Magdonis Mountains. All oceans, with larger populations in the Viru and Avess Oceans.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Keen eyesight, hearing, sense of smell, and able to lay aura sight over their normal vision with some practice.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

They use names made up of words from their language, joined together in parts to form a whole meaning, which represents what the parents hope for or think of their child. Following below are just a few examples:
First Names
Click to show table:

First Name Prefix	Meaning	First Name Suffix	Meaning
Has	air	hawe	air/wind
Rel	amber	riniv	archer/arrow
Jazo	ambitious	lakia	artist
Ves	ash	ler	ash
Zani	aura	nak	aura
Neka	autumn	sitis	bearer
Uvai	beautiful	lakvi	bird
Kedi	benevolent	kiv	blade
Ved	blessed	ysani	blessing
Lour	blue	rik/a	brave
Gahe	brave	enoi	charm
Rala	bright	ket	child
Veker	champion	havo	cloud
Kuna	charming	isik	crafter
Ali	clear	wevi	creator
Lor	crafty, sly	kaiva	dagger
Fai	crystalline	une	dark
Ziduv	cunning/genius	ondu	defender
Zen	dark/black	lim	dew
Sha	day	yoria	diviner
Soru	delicate	sil	dreamer
Kuro	devoted	vrian	earth
Gren	dignified	kavlo	enchanter
Raol	earth	vand	endure
Ila	enduring	enuv	fate
Zie	energetic	deva	fighter
Rav	fair	raiz	fire/burn
Kada	fast	yuzilo	flight/wing
Akfe	fierce	hera	flower
Niraz	fire, burning	sarl	forest
Reak	desert	vreka	forger
Lovis	generous	anor	friend
Sua	gifted	unir	gift
Jes	gold/en	aretir	glory
Resa	graceful	zir	grace
Miva	great	ron	guard
Zuna	green	horos	harmony
Laen	happy	alai	healer
Neru	hardy	inz/a	heart
Ekshi	herald	shoa	helper
Lavi	honest	oroi	herald
Iya	honor	iraos	honor
Oka	ice	oluv	hope/ful
Ovu	jewel	arel	hot
Oro	joyful	kesa	hunter
Zhuta	justice	leas	keeper
Mirot	kind	idirv/a	lance
Kor	lawful	riwar	leader
Zharo	legend/ary	hiris	light
Sulef	life	zhir	lightning
Hala	light	koroa	luck
Lefa	lively	kidar	lurker
Lena	love	fabre	messenger
Souv	loyal	wos	mist
Heka	lucky	royo	moon
Lios	mighty	ridav/a	mountain
Uro	mystery/secret	ivres	music/ian
Rivo	nature	tewa	nature
Goi	new	roroi	oath
Ase	night	resvi	ocean
Nuol	noble	zidav	potent
Ledo	oath	vekal	power
Dasa	orange	selu	rain
Jina	passion/ate	roko	rainbow
Mek	patient	hasev	ranger
Roet	peace	nakev	rider
Resh	persistent	sanbri	river
Lezh	powerful	ovri	ruler
Keto	precious	azi	runner
Sur	proud	relar	sage
Siro	pure	reslo	sea
Yori	purple	asir	secret
Fis	rare	etro	seeker
Eso	red	sek	shadow
Roe	reliable	erano	shield
Veir	shadow	hira	shine
Zure	shining	liris	silver
Vaiku	silk	wasir	singer/song
Kuel	silver	vae	sky
Ulor	sincere	ufia	speed
Hel	sky	ael	spirit
Maol	solitary	eris	star
Kiva	spring	hokre	steel
Ivar	star	onir	stone
Tren	stormy	revu	storm/tempest
Kava	strong	vinor	strength
Krel	summer	surin	sun/sunlight
Ofu	sweet	tao	treasure
Mala	talented	faiv	trickster
Fero	twilight	uelta	twilight
Seka	vigilant	amvi	voice
Anbri	water	savi	walker
Leka	wealthy	nith	wander/er
Saya	white	mav	warrior
Kut	wild	ave	watcher
Tau	willful	brev	water
Vilas	winter	ulav	wild
Fava	wise	zhol	wish
Eles	wondrous	isora	wonder
Ijo	yellow	roak	wood

Surnames
Click to show table:

Surname Prefix	Meaning	Surname Suffix	Meaning
liku	alone/solitary	tok	actor
nazo	ambitious	los	alchemist
avrule	avrule (special metal)	leriz	archer
zek	axe	tek	artist
vuan	black	uke	avenger
kez	blade	uoj	baker
ysor	blessed	nuat	banner
ra	blood	griv	barber
lez	bone	gava	bard
lado	brass	rosi	bearer
hala	brilliant	ala	bell
sor	care	ret	betrayer
virek	confident	vara	bower
eila	copper	luv	bracer
varl	courageous	nai	breaker
sait	craft	vul	brewer
vre	dagger	seta	bringer
unai	dark/ shadow	ukto	builder
iler	dawn	jata	burner
okar	day	nura	candler
itenu	desert	riv	captain
nezhir	determined	vur	carpenter
zhiro	dusk	sauv	carver
vira	earth	veka	challenger
zherok	eternal	heizh	champion
lero	ethereal	verek	channeler
fehin	fierce	lafa	chanter
ida	fire	moi	chaser
evori	forceful	rayi	chemist
veri	fortress	jasu	cleric/priest
tiri	fortune	huka	controller
hila	free	dolu	counselor
reka	garden	renu	crafter
ivres	gold	azh	dancer
batir	grand	oku	defender
mot	great	golv	destroyer
zuto	grey/gray	muld	dominator
keva	hidden	voriv	drafter
yosa	holy	orisi	dreamer
lao	honorable	silv	dweller
huoz	illusive	fedo	enchanter
stev	innovative	relv	fighter
rao	inspiring	liunie	fisher
akve	intense	nus	fletcher
fav	iron	rakso	friend
jevesh	lake	muvi	gardener
lef	lefvada	nua	guard
hasir	light/bright	zina	guide
hirzh	lightning	vrek	harbinger
heru	lock	ioda	healer
bal	lofty	reko	herbalist
kur	lore	riov	herder
raz	luxury	vuto	horn
lezht	meadow	jaov	hunter
lize	memory	sali	instructor
lota	mind	hu	jeweler
lar	modest	ohir	keeper
roe	moon	sua	leader
vreda	mountain	nuri	linguist
hirera	music	sure	lover
horo	mystery/ious	kun	maker
kuvo	mythical	kais	mason
rez	night	vai	master
loros	oath	vrulis	messenger
asvro	ocean	dal	molder
jaro	passionate	jaf	musician
selai	peaceful	sug	noble
kusal	platinum	giv	observer
rida	potent	nur	painter
levi	powerful	gos	partner
shreta	pure/purity	ker	poet
uark	quick/ fast	nevir	power
sul	quiet/silent	leji	punisher
mada	rock/stone	gin	ranger
helar	safe	nito	recorder
jate	secret	rako	runner
zal	shining	jakus	seeker
kej	silver	lesh	seer
iroyo	sky	utai	singer
kuos	song	lavoi	smith
ylef	spiritual	hois	soul
kezo	steel	vro	speaker
treva	storm/tempest	vad	spear
nazh	sun	sur	spirit
krev	sword	iv	star
mor	talent	ser	steward
zolu	thrive	sot	storm
kuavet	transcendent	kine	student
hoka	under	vurz	tailor
losor	unrelenting	tao	taker
gavir	valiant	maiv	tanner
kuorv	vengeful	ira	trader
jezet	vibrant	red	walker
nuav	vicious	jasi	wanderer
aesi	water	niv	warden
latri	wealthy	vuav	warrior
zayi	white	reka	watcher
kri	wild	kedef	weaver
doyo	wind/air	vuasi	winner
lekz	wise	kel	writer

Beauty Ideals

Ss'akan will look for good hygiene and health first, followed by muscular form. They tend to prefer angular faces over softer or rounder ones, because to them it represents more strength, either mentally or physically, though it's not unknown for a fair deal of ss'akan to prefer otherwise.

Gender Ideals

Females are preferred with wide, shapely hips, and males are preferred to be broad through the shoulders. In both, strength is admired, so lean, muscular bodies are sought after more often than not.

Courtship Ideals

A male will grab a female's attention first, either by flaunting his appearance or showing off in some physical feat, and if the female likes what she sees, either she may approach, or beckon the male over. From there, if they get along, the actual courting begins, usually with dating, and eventually introducing eachother to their respective families.
Depending on one's gender preference, this can be done the same way with two males or two females, with slight variations depending on how the one trying to grab the prospective partner's attention perceives said potential partner. It could be flaunting, or it could be with words of admiration and praise.

Relationship Ideals

Generally, the agreement is that one partner will do most of the work; hunting, physical labor, and protecting their home, among other similarly themed tasks.
The other will mostly remain in the home as a housekeeper, but also may hold a more mentally-focused job, and focus on neighborly relationships and other social endeavors that might earn themselves and their partner greater status within the community.
Within the home, the tasks are divvied up close to equal, especially regarding child-rearing. Both take turns in maintaining their home and taking good physical and mental care of each other.
Neither can demand something the other is unwilling to give, and that includes their time spent in the bedroom.
While these are the ideals, it's not uncommon for relationships to go differently, dependent entirely on the desires of both partners.

Major Language Groups and Dialects

They share one language across their entire species, that being Efvrega, having never had a reason to diverge from it. That said, there are some dialectal differences depending on location. Zekal ss'akan have some different slang and idioms from Ygeris ss'akan, and both of them differ greatly from their more aquatic counterparts.

Common Dress Code

Usually in varying states of nudity, considering their climates are anywhere from very hot, to relatively cool, to mild, or they've adapted to the temperatures of the oceans. Those of high status will decorate themselves in gaudy jewelry to show their status, so long as it does not hinder their mobility, but some will wear tailored pants, shirts, shoes, or even robes or gowns if they're feeling especially secure in their safety.
Citizens of lower birth can wear whatever they choose, so long as they don't pretend to be of a higher status than they really are.

History

Being a divergent of the shadreagh, descendants of the vhérga, the ss'akan retain more of their ancestry appearance-wise at the cost of a strong connection to the planet itself, resulting broadly in weaker lefvada-channeling capability. Why this is, no one is certain, but historians tend to agree that ss'akan descend from a relatively small group of long-term highly rebellious vhérga, and so were more strongly punished by the ysai after the failed attempt at overthrowing said ysai.
This particular group of vhérga was known to harry others of their own kind, and tended towards violence more often than not, either instigating it for kicks or deciding on it for resolving just about any disagreement - very much of a "might is right" mentality. Having been bred by an ysai whose domain largely involved violence in all its forms, it is no wonder these vhérga were troublesome from the start. This ysai was also one of the first to be killed in the vhérgan takeover attempt, and was later replaced by a vhérga who was ascended into the position by other ysai - one of similar violent bent, but with a wiser head on her shoulders, knowing when to back down when situations called for it.
The violence demonstrated by this breed of vhérga was most commonly physical, for to them it felt more real, more visceral, to be claws-on rather than manipulate lefvada alone to cause pain.
While highly aggressive, this breed was not without its positives, trending frequently towards steadfast loyalty, pursuits to learn all they could about the world and section of galaxy they were tasked with overseeing, compassion (if a little paradoxical), and a sense of responsibility and a near family-like bond with eachother.
This belligerence created a sort of divide between this breed and other vhérga, which, while it didn't make a significant impact on them while they were still guardians of Vruanhai, after the war and their subsequent downfall, the Shadreagh remembered. The breed was transformed into the Ss'akan, who took to mountains, deserts, and warmer climes, and were largely unwelcome in Shadreagh civilizations due to the past memories.
This divide slowly widened, and the Ss'akan remained shunned in all but a few very open-minded places where the citizens were willing to forgive their past so long as they did not cause problems. Over time, more and more Ss'akan proved themselves to be altogether different from their origins, and were welcomed more frequently by their Shadreagh cousins.
They continued in this fashion for a great many years, up until the War of Divergence took place. When the Feythis threat came to them, they joined in the war to fend them of. They proved invaluable, offering their might as foot soldiers and shock troops, and thanks to their weaker connection to the planet, they could not be as strongly affected by the Feythis tainting of lefvada.
In a way, this was an advantage, as they could fight harder and for longer than their more lefvada-inclined counterparts, and therefor send more Feyth back into Feythis.
After the war, the Shadreagh realized how different they were becoming, divided by their beliefs, and split into three: The Eleshad, the Foreshad, and the Maveshad. (Light-children, nature-children, and sun-children, respectively.) Peace reigned for some decades as everyone focused on rebuilding.

Genetic Ancestor(s)

• Vhérga

Origin/Ancestry

Vhérga

Lifespan

2000 years

Average Height

7'0" - 8'2"

Average Weight

280 lbs - 520 lbs

Average Physique

Lean to bulky.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

The cavern-dwelling breeds tend to be darker and less saturated in color, to better blend in with their environment, while breeds who see more sunlight are brighter and more colorful, frequently seen in such hues as red, blue, green, and yellow. In the aquatic breed, it depends on where they were hatched. If the egg developed in darkness, the ss'akan's skin will be darker to better blend in with their environment. If the egg developed where there is more light, their skin will be brighter, with more colorful markings.

Related Ethnicities

• Brel'akan
• Mave'akan
• Vu'akan