The Ikta

Overview

Despite their culture originating in the same harsh environments as the Gavradi on planet Vakib, the Ikta are polar opposites. The Ikta value their small but very tight-knit communities greatly and are always welcoming to newcomers. They are generally considered kind and friendly people, who are exceptionally loyal to their friends and family, and will do anything to protect them. This is part of what lead the Ikta to join the Gavradi in their fight for independence from the Kepek Commonwealth, making them one of two entirely Kepeki cultures to not be associated with the Commonwealth.

The Ikta are descendants of the Kepek who chose to stay on the surface after the Gavradi moved underground. With the looming threat of overpopulation, the Ikta began, slowly but surely moving towards the dark side of the planet.

As a result of living in such a cold environment, however, they began to develop proto-feathers made of fibrous keratin. Their feathers became dark in colouration to absorb what little heat and light they did get, and like their Gavradi counterparts, they too lost the holes in their thighs and became shorter, stockier and generally plumper.

Ikta Culture

Ikta Names

Ikta names are somewhat unique among Kepek. Their names have no meaning in Xebriken like in many other Kepek cultures and are constructed almost entirely of vowels. When said out loud, they are said with a whistle and sound almost musical. The Ikta construct their names in such a way so that they can be easily heard over long distances and harsh winds. Some common names include

• Arae'ua

• Uieala

• Eaua

Ikta also do not have family names. As a result, when travelling the galaxy, they will usually use their home village as a surname on legal paperwork.

Iktan Communities

The Ikta prefer tight-knit village communities, as opposed to the large-scale cities found in other parts of the galaxy. These villages typically range in populations, with most having only a few dozen to a few hundred members at most, consisting of several large, extended families. To avoid inbreeding, young Ikta from larger villages who are interested in finding partners are sent to neighbouring smaller villages.

Iktan Fashion

The Ikta are one of the few Kepeki cultures who frequently wear thick, long clothing that covers as much of their bodies as possible, including their abdominal pouches, feet and hands. Synthetic furs made into big fluffy coats, hats and boots are a staple in their fashion, and vibrant, contrasting colours are very popular, especially reds.

Ikta who live in warmer environments (especially those who live off-planet) will often wear lighter and more breathable clothing materials, but retain their stance of keeping themselves covered as much as possible.

Relationships with other peoples

Gavradi

The Ikta have generally very positive relationships with the Gavradi whom they share their planet with. The Gavradi and Ikta were allies in their war of independence against the Kepek Commonwealth and the Ikta consider the Gavradi their siblings. This doesn't mean they always see eye-to-eye, and their two culture's conflicting ideals have made their relationship tense in the past, but they have never been directly hostile with one another at any point in their recorded histories, and today they rule all of Vakib together peacefully.

The Kepek Commonwealth

The Ikta's relationship with the commonwealth has been tense since Vakib separated from the empire. It has taken a while, but the Ikta re-opened trading with the commonwealth, under the condition that they were not dealing with the Eveni specifically. Vakib was formally forced to become a colony of The Evenilap Fleet, and the Eveni treated both the Ikta and the Gavradi terribly. The Eveni were supposed to act as a relay for the Ikta and Gavradi, ensuring their concerns were heard by the Commonwealth Council whenever they met, however, the Eveni never did this, repressing the concerns and issues of the people of Vakib while taking their resources and giving very little in return. Tensions eventually boiled over, and when their requests for a more equitable arrangement went unheard and their people were on the brink of a completely avoidable famine, both the Ikta and Gavradi rebelled and fought for their independence.

Today, the Ikta typically deal with the Artabeans or independent traders when trading with the commonwealth. While the Artabeans are also an Eveni colony, they supported the Ikta and Gavradi in their rebellion and risked the ire of the Eveni to aid them. Because of this and their relative proximity to each other, they are the Ikta's preferred point of contact with the commonwealth.