Nitaki

The Nitaki (alternatively known as Ysoki or ratfolk) are one of the most important races of Southern and Eastern Aenaz and other core regions; they can be seen running small communities and the occasional independent state, but often are not cohesive enough to maintain a strong, unified nation, especially in the political atmosphere of the post Silence galaxy, where even governance within systems with large Nitaki populations is difficult and tends to be based largely upon networks of treaties and loose confederations. Stubborn, resourceful, and closely knit, Nitaki will be quick to defend what they feel is right, and are quite resourceful, making up for their lack of unity and magical predilections with unorthodox solutions and frightening adaptability.

Origins

Nitaki evolved in the complex and constantly shifting environment of Szibersa XII's geologically active badlands, where vast shifting networks of thermoelectric biocables harness the gradients of heat that result. Early Nitaki civlization used the natural geological and biological formations to create many semi-industrial metallurgical processes at small scales. By the time they were first observed and contacted in 357 SSD only a few tribes had settled beyond the badlands, though some technologically sophisticated tribes had developed basic aircraft. Archival records indicate that their assimilation into interstellar society was relatively fast, with comsumer goods across the central regions being catered to their stature and preferences a mere 100 years later.

Biology and Appearance

 Nitaki are medium-sized  bipeds with pointed snouts, long, mobile whiskers, sharp eyes,  nimble fingers, and bushy prehensile tails. Hailing from uniquely hazardous origins, these adaptable beings are often prepared for the worst. Despite all this, however, most Nitaki do not appear to be capable of directly manipulating magic without extreme difficulty for unknown reasons— more research is needed on why this is so. As a result, Nitaki academics have been forced to focus their magical research on mechanical phenomena, laying the groundwork for modern resonant arcane dynamics.

Common Culture and Language

Nitaki are famously tribal, with most preferring to socialize in relatively small and tight-knit groups.