"Lost trinketsss? Y-you dropped them in the d-dark, did you? Hehe... maybe I f-found them, maybe not. Sssshimmering baubles... mine now!" - K'tchka, a Scavenger

Brief.

They live in vast undercities of ramshackle shanty homes next to grand but horridly constructed buildings of industry.

A K'kchi undercity is divided up into qhrauls. A qhraul is similar to a city district with a distinct purpose. Some qhrauls are rather famous among K'kchi for producing incredible technology, terrifying warriors or desirable slaves.

A Labyrinthine Society.

K'kch society is a tapestry woven from bustling industry and brutal pragmatism. Their sprawling undercities, carved from the bowels of the world, are a stark contrast. Ramshackle shanty dwellings jostle for space with imposing, albeit crude, industrial complexes. Each undercity is divided into distinct qhrauls, similar to city districts. These qhrauls specialize in specific roles, some renowned for their ingenious technological advancements, terrifying warriors, or even the unfortunate trade of slaves.

"Ssssecrets... everywhere! See these w-wires? They t-talk to me, yes-yes! Tell me of p-power beyond the d-dark. J-just gotta f-figure out the right s-spark..." - Ix'tll Sparkfingers of the Flickering Tunnels

Aether-fueled Innovation.

The K'kchi are masters of artifice, their ingenuity fueled by a unique resource – Wraithstone. This crystallized aether, harvested from vast aethertraps deep within the Dark Below, powers their industry. The technology they produce remains largely a secret, as the K'kchi have had little contact with the surface world for centuries. Their isolation has fostered a culture of self-reliance, but also one rife with internal conflict. Advances in science often take a backseat to brutal power struggles for dominance within qhrauls.

Whispers of Origins.

The K'kchi themselves offer little insight into their past. Legends speak of creatures – perhaps driven by ancient instincts – following the roots of world trees into the earth, where potent aether transformed them. This tale hints at the K'kchi's possible connection to the world's very foundation. Yet, the K'kchi are a practical people, with little time for myths.

"S-strong ones fight... weak ones s-serve. Always the s-shadows... w-waiting... one day... the s-shadows rise..." - Z'grak, a K'kchi Slave-labourer

A Shadowy Reputation.

Surface dwellers rarely encounter the K'kchi. Those venturing into the undercities seldom return. Whispers paint the K'kchi as a race of terrifying rat-men, more scavengers than civilized beings. This perception is not entirely unfounded. The K'kchi's isolation has bred a certain paranoia and a ruthless approach to outsiders.