Khepri

Information

Description

The khepri are an insect-like race whose males and females develop quite differently. The female khepri have heads that resemble the male khepri, but they have developed humanoid bodies, very similar to those of human women (except that their skin is crimson in colour) and have developed intelligence far beyond the simple minds of the khepri males. Because of this disparity, khepris have a matriarchal society. Male khepri, on the other hand, are lobster-sized, non-sentient scarabs, without the depending humanoid body. They mate by latching onto a female's head scarab and fertilizing her.

Mute, khepri communicate with each other through smell, giving off a chemical spray from the back of their heads that they can smell and understand. Khepri may use sign language or write messages down on paper when they need to communicate with non-khepri.

Khepri heads feature both an inner jaw and an outer jaw. The outer jaw can hold food in place while eating with the inner jaw.

The female khepri are noted artists, using a biological excretion to sculpt breathtaking works of organic art. Khepri-spit can form quick-setting resin used to make sculptures, dyed different colors by the artist's choice of edible colorberries; New Crobuzon's Plaza of Statues contains much of this artwork. In New Crobuzon, khepri dwell in the ghettos of Kinken and Creekside, many in buildings constructed from walls containing or formed from living insects, using odd techniques. In Armada, khepri have their own riding, Booktown, where they oversee Armada's library inherited from the riding's previous rulers (having compound eyes, they rarely utilize it themselves).

History

It is implied that khepri no longer have a homeland, forced to disperse from Bered Kai Nev in Mercy Ships due to a mysterious event known as The Ravening. Much of their religion and traditions are only half-remembered, but surviving cultural traits include the guard-sisters, stingboxes, and metaclockwork in general.

Religion

In rebellion against the old Khepri Gods, many new gods, called "strange gods", were adopted by the immediate ancestors of those who survived the Ravening, while the old gods were forgotten.

Old Kephri deities:

Broodma

"Awesome" Broodma seems to be the primary mother goddess of the Khepri.

Artspitter

Artspitter, or possibly "the Artist" seems to be the matron goddess of Khepri artists.

Nurse

This goddess tends the sick and injured.

The Tough Sisters

These three guardian gods protect the Khepri; one fights with hooknet and spear, one with crossbow and flintlock, and one with the khepri stingbox.

Strange Gods:

Elyctric Devil

A minor "strange" god worshiped by some Khepri.

Air Harvester

A minor "strange" god worshiped by some Khepri.

Wingsister

A flying Khepri god, whom some would apparently pray to in an attempt to gain flight.

Insect Aspect

An obscure Khepri deity, the Insect Aspect focuses on the males of the species. "The gloomy doctrine of Insect Aspect was that khepri women were cursed. Some vile flaw on the part of the first woman had consigned her daughters to lives encumbered with ridiculous, slow, floundering bipedal bodies and minds that teemed with the useless byways and intricacies of consciousness. Woman had lost the insectile purity of God and male." Women who pledge themselves to this deity live only to care for the mindless males of the species.