Species: Ermine (Stoat Weasels) Race Name: Sketteh (Sket-Tay) Racial Language: Chitters, churts and small barks, paw signs adding emotion or meaning to it. Body posture is also a large part as they are very observant. Their feral nature has allowed them to learn the Skree-Gore pawsigns and language.
Appearance: The Sketteh wears two "coats", a light brown summer coat with white underneath, and an all white winter coat. The tail is black tipped. The ermine has a typical weasel shape; a very long body, short legs and a pointed face with an almost triangular head. Its tail is about 30 to 40% of its head and body length. There is pronounced sexual dimorphism Males tend to be 40 to 80% larger than females.
Height: 5-6ft Weight: 90-225 Lifespan: 45-50yr Facial Appearance: The eyes are round, black and protrude slightly. The whiskers are brown or white in color, and very long. The ears are short, rounded and lie almost flattened against the skull. A very much feral stoat appearance.
Fur/Skin Color: The winter fur is very dense and silky, but quite closely lying and short, while the summer fur is rougher, shorter and sparse. In summer, the fur is sandy-brown on the back and head and a white below. The stoat molts twice a year. In spring, the moult is slow, starting from the forehead, across the back, toward the belly. In autumn, the moult is quicker, progressing in the reverse direction. In the winter, it adopts a completely white coat (save for the black tail-tip).
Biped/Feral looks: Completely Feral save for their front paws becoming hands. They like normal Stoats can stand upright but the length of their bodies makes any normal walking impossible so they lope around on all fours just as most weasels do.
Behavior: Sketteh being stoats are very curious and investigative. They always seem nosey and are peering into things around them as if a compulsion. Nice and personal to be around but always head scanning things around them. One who is not used to such behavior might think they are being listened to but that is false. Sketteh just have a hyper active sense of discovery and curiosity.
Distribution: Along the borders of Jel and throughout Nakti as curiosity leads some to wander outward. Few go inward as the Skree-Gore and Weavers make them uneasy with all the eyes watching and feeling like you’re in the backyard to someone.
Place or Origin: Jel
Beginnings: The Sketteh evolved just like any, competition with so many drove the Stoat to the need of intelligence. Living in burrows from animals gone or killed they were always looking around for anything to eat or see. That curiosity is what helps move them forward now, wanting to see and know more.
History: Evolving with the Skree-Gore in the area, it was inevitable for them to cross. The meeting was bloody to say the least. Several Sketteh were eaten in the first attack alone as the massive size of the Skree-gore made them monsters of power and combined with the Weaver were impossible to fight in a stand on fight.
Capital City: West Gate (Or the Border to Hell)
West Gate is the border Capital city of the Sketteh, built on the border of Jel and large. Established when the Skree-Gore targeted the Sketteh and drove them to the borders of their lands. During these attacks a deal was made. They were to remain in Jel but on the boarder areas, never to enter the dens of the Weaver. Built around an agreement where the Sketteh pay tribute to the Skree-Gore. Once every few months or sooner when summoned by the city or the Weavers they will come and expect payment. Payment can include such things as Meats (Dried, Raw, Rotten), Amber, Wool Clothes and Skins. Spices and herbs not found in the deep forests are also a valuable trade. Many are grown around the city or in known fields to harvest as part of the Tribute. When a payment can’t be filled to satisfaction the Skree-Gore will allow a grace of One moon phase to correct it of they will take a life and will so each day will it is rectified even if that is by making the dead count as that payment. Trade can even be making something they would find hard or annoying to do. Having digger paws they have trouble with quick fine manipulation and can have a Sketteh make something for them as part of tribute, hard work counts.
Death is usually a spider bite as an attack, but some are slain if encountered in the wild. Sketteh can’t defend or strike back or an even worse fate will come, their city will burn and their children eaten while the last surviving members watch. The Sketteh are a resource to them and to be farmed. Like aphids they allow them to grow and prosper as long as they pay for it in some way. Being like aphids and farmed this means they are under the protection of the Skree-Gore.
Skree-Gore will see any attack on the Sketteh towns or cities as an attack on their food supply or hunting grounds. Like ants they will swarm and when finding the raiders will show them the meaning of fear. Their bones will be smashed, their flesh consumed and the spiders will dance on their entrails as they eat and feast. Only then to follow the tracks of the invaders and destroy or probe the town they came from.
Pity the town where they just passed through and went to Jell as they would be the ones they would be led to. Unless it was a war ready town or city they would be dead.
Notable places or features: The grand stores, a large underground storehouse dug out by Chirts when they base camped long ago during their wars. Being instinctive diggers they dug it out well, sloping down and in a spiral it leads down to an impressive 120ft and into many large chambers. Sketteh have no idea what all of these were for, they took it when allowed to stay and had to remove tons of Weaver silks.
They kept them and used the silk to weave their banner of Red and Black with the emblem they designed. The Weavers laughed at such a weak attempt at crafting with silk. Feeling it was not fit to use as a banner the Weavers used the base design and improving it. All the art on the flags are weavers work, they pride themselves in their skill with silk and for an emblem they show off their skills. Flags now are only made by Weavers and it is with a sense of pride when they craft another as it symbolizes growth of the empire. ----------------------------------------------------------------
Notes: Sorry for the giant wall of text. Made for PLANET NAKTI a cooperative furry themed world build.
Really cool if you ask me, the creative possibilities are endless when building a world.
