Karkanaks

Natural Artisans

Karkanaks are common denizens found on all sandy beaches of the realm’s shores. While they are great in number, their presence is seldom felt unless they are severely threatened. Karkanaks prefer to spend their day eating, lounging, crafting, and competing for a mate. Innate artisans, they make their living in the seas selling finely crafted wares; typically nets and tools, but sometimes well-made weapons and armor. They spend their earnings on simple pleasures, eschewing material possession in favor of food, drink, and attracting as many desirable mates as possible.

Craggy Crustaceans

Karkanaks look like an uprightwalking crab with six appendages instead of ten. The lower two legs are called "walking legs," and used primarily for movement. The first two legs are not really "legs" per se, but rather claws — technically they are called chelipeds. Females have two medium-sized pincers, while males have one small pincher and one large. These claws are used for attacking, and lack dexterity for fine manipulation. The middle legs (or arms...it’s all relative) of both genders end small, dexterous pinchers that are used for more delicate manipulation. Typical coloration is brownish red, but blue, black, green, and even yellow karkanaks are not unknown.

Gentle Giants

Karkanaks are surprisingly gentle despite their brutish strength, appearance, and mannerisms. They tend to avoid conflict whenever possible, preferring to flee. Most will keep to themselves. Young adults have been known to explore and be curious, but most quickly decide to return to a more simple existence. Karkanaks are usually simple hunter-gatherers, subsisting predominantly on carrion and algae. Much of each karkanak's day is spent hunting, filtering algae, or scavenging along the shore. Karkanaks usually live in coastal caves. Some tribes dig extensive burrows in seaside cliffs. Within a burrow complex, each karkanak has an individual lair, situated near a large, central meeting area. Karkanaks have innate ability to make things, and can be excellent artisans, engineers, and builders with little or no education.

Karkanaks have no particular fondness for other races, but instead have a deep respect for all life. They get along well with all individuals that can return that respect, and have great contempt for those that cannot. Most other races view the karkanaks as very simple, often underestimating their intelligence and mistaking their lack of sophistication for a deficiency of wits.