Kiki tribes
The Kiki population generally divides into dozens of different tribes, with eight tribes recognized as the major ones. Each tribe has its own characteristic chemical signal, which is recognizable after a couple of minutes in a small enclosed space. Most Kiki can recognize the signal of each of the major tribes. The major tribes practically hold all empire-level power, controlling antimatter and other technology, and minor tribes that are local powers serve as their vassals.
After the Succession war, the tribes have aligned themselves into three loose power blocks. Within blocks, deals are more commonplace, and the tribes often support each other in decisions involving the Council. Outright rivalry exists within blocks, but is often avoided or resolved.
TLDR table of Kiki tribes
| Tribe | Government | Society | Values | Behaviour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plakhamat | Tribal? | Republican ; - | Social relations, knowledge | Calm, curious |
| Kaskadar | Tribal, centralized | Authoritarian; powerful, advanced | Progress, technology, social relations | Formal?, serious |
| Kilefti | Corporate, distributed | Competitive | Money, individual success | Energetic, resourceful |
| Pazhak-Fevar | Feudal | Competitive; powerful | Prestige, honor, power | Tough, brotherly, posing |
| Jigofarr | Feudal | Conservative; affluent | Prestige, loyalty | Tactful, warm but distant, arrogant |
| Hekremeht | Feudal | Traditional; mid-tier | Honor, professionalism, learning | Serious, respectful, proud |
| Staggare | Tribal, Feudal, distributed | ?; large but backward | Compassion, cooperation, loyalty | Warm, welcoming |
| Stakfremer | Tribal, Feudal, distributed? | Traditional? | Power, knowledge | Reserved, cherish friendships |
Block A
Progressive
Opposing the Emperor, the progressive tribes also sought to abolish the feudal society, urging that the Kiki as a species is ready to move forward. Eventually they were initiators of the Succession war, when the tensions escalated. Achieving marginal victory in the war, they were the strongest to rebuild, and their impact on what the Kiki are today is significant. Different tribes implement very different models of society, however, and sometimes you can see old structures from the Imperial times still operating.
A/Plakhamat
A tribe that is prime diplomats for the Kiki. They are open to contacts with foreign civilizations and they actively engage with aliens, but also they keep very active in alliance politics. They have a reputation as shrewd negotiators, but on the flip side, anything can be arranged. Some individuals would be willing to grant citizenship to aliens under the right circumstances, but this is never a very popular opinion even with this tribe. Citizenship is a very strong and egalitarian concept with the tribe, something which is uncommon even for the Kaskadar. The Plakhamat, like any other Kiki, seek the benefit of their clan and tribe first and foremost.
Similar to the Kaskadar, a number of Plakhamat served as regional governors during the Empire, as well as advisors and liaisons to the regional and imperial courts. Eventually they developed ideals of a more just and equal society than the Empire with its highly distinct ruling classes. When the Empire started crumbling, Plakhamat distanced themselves from the rulers and seized the opportunity. After the war, they were able to normalize relationships with the Hekremeht tribe, their old liege lords, and to this day there is a pact between them. Only, the roles of master and servant have now shifted.
They are a technology leader in some medical device technology.
A/Kaskadar
Run as a dictatorship, the tribe believes in technology and military prowess. Central in the winning coalition of the Succession war, their might has only continued to increase since then. Kaskadar have been in a position to invest heavily in their technological applications and since the War, this is has brought increasing prosperity, especially after Discovery. Kaskadar made starships are some of the best in the empire, and in the years leading to the Colonial War they have allowed even some license production. There is little doubt that they intend to be Number One as a political power.
The tribe's power structure is an oligarchy where most power is concentrated to the three leading clans. They have a formal system for marrying between the three clans, with matings declared in a round robin order (clans A+B, then B+C, finally C+A, rinse and repeat). Each clan decides eligible mates based on a meritocratic system. The offspring are reared as future leaders of the tribe, completely independent of the clans and without offspring of their own. Thus the ultimate power is in the hands of a very small, highly schooled and trained ultra-elite.
Their vision of society is always a controlled and managed one, but they also possess a sense of duty and approach their work seriously. Travel in their space is open to other tribes, but has some significant limitations. Security forces are ever present and laws that are in effect are enforced consistently. The other tribes often consider them a role model of kind, if in no other than just sarcastic fashion. Their outlook to the other tribes and partners in general is calculating, and often mistrusting. They have great initiative when it comes to the Kiki coalition politics, but are very utilitarian in foreign xenopolitics and not looking forward to cooperation. They have recently expressed increasing hesitation about the benefits of the ongoing Colonial war.
A/Kilefti
They are a smaller tribe from near the Takkou area, and were not affected that heavily by the Succession war due to living in remote pockets near the Strands of Takkou. Rising in power, they were recognized as a major tribe only a century or two ago. They are acutely aware of the budding potential of their civilization and are always seeking to expand and develop. They are notorious for eager opportunism and sometimes rash or arbitrary moves. Members are self-conscious, desire wealth and like to show off their success. Affluence seems to concentrate on the elites of the Kilefti Trade leagues.
Block B
Conservative
The conservative pro-monarchist tribes stood most to lose in the Succession war. Since the war, they have adapted to the tribe lead society, but still hold to old traditions and power structures. The Pazhak-Fevar have broken the most new ground, although they are explicitly feudal and even despotic. Jigofarr and Hekremeht had developed traditional clan based hierarchies in their social structure, and have changed less in the recent centuries.
B/Pazhak-Fevar
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An ancient amalgamation of at least two tribes, this is the strongest and proudest of all. They used to be king's men, but realigned late to the Succession war, bringing the conflict to a swift end. Most warlike of the tribes, they see not only war, but all politics as a competition, and keenly welcome it. Their interest is to build a strong nation, and a strong empire for the whole species. Often, it would appear that their power as a tribe is only limited by the ongoing rivalry inherent in their distinctly feudal power structure.
They are sometimes called the Pazfevar tribe for short, especially by the Kaskadar and Kilefti, but members of the tribe often feel this name dismisses the proud origins and history of the tribe from the Imperial era.
With long traditions in both people's militias and professional armies, they value physical prowess and see everybody as a warrior. Their economy is on a strong footing, but concentrated on resource production and industry.
B/Jigofarr
A large, powerful tribe with strict social structures. Authority is based on age, experience and credentials. The tribe is wealthy, but extremely conservative and emphasizes stability above all. Their wealthy core planets escaped much of the destruction of the War, and they were one of the first to rise from the ashes. Their economy is very versatile and covers all bases from mining and heavy industry to professional services and tourism.
Their support for the other Block B tribes is mainly due to the desire to build a strong species empire. Not always the most cooperative, they have also opposed a large scale invasion of the Colonial space. The Jigofarr military is not quite as large as for the other big shot tribes, but it is well trained and almost always well equipped.
B/Hekremeht
Main article: Hekremeht tribe
Pakhaz-fevar wasn't the only tribe fighting for the emperor - the high nobility also included members from the ancient Hekremeht tribe. They are not quite as numerous as the other major tribes, but they make up for it with an elegant, if not arrogant, personal touch. They fought for the Empire to the prolonged, and very bitter, end of the Succession war. Their number and especially their power base was shattered over the course of the Succession war as they formed much of the administrative and merchant classes of the Empire. It is one of the many reasons why the other tribes generally keep their distance.
Even with other block B tribes, they have their differences, sometimes including "living in the past". Citizens of core worlds have high standards of education but typically medium levels of income. They have evolved a peculiar rivalry with the Jigofarr, despite generally similar value sets - however their wealth is not in things of financial and material value, but in their arts and the complexity of their old culture. Old Hekremeht settlements are revered tourist destinations among all Kiki.
The tribe has an air of old ambition around it, sometimes bordering to the absurd. No kiki is more dedicated to a cause than a Hekremeht. Other tribes often have an amused, if very polite, habit of brushing aside their most pushy idiosyncracies. In general, the tribe does not get much acknowledgment and is seen more as a historical relic, even within block B circles. At the same time, some clans and individuals from the tribe can command respect and are still thought to have a formal status. They have some interesting connections and also can be seen trading exotic items through kiki space.
The Hekremeht military forces are neither large nor the best equipped. The bulk is formed by citizens who serve as regular troops for a few years. Their first-line units have a training standard roughly compatible to the most developed militaries of the Kiki. Hekremeht prefer light, mobile forces and have an emphasis on reconnaissance. They seem to be particularly fond of frigates in their fleet and they are commonly used for local power projection.
More info on Hekremeht clans
Block C
Isolationist
Block C tribes didn't escape the horrors of the Succession war. However they don't seem to have an outgoing political agenda, and want to focus on their own economies and post war rebuilding, still centuries after the war. Their primary common ground is a passive and isolationist xenopolicy.
C/Staggare
Largest tribe by population, however the economy of its planets is often poor and this tribe does not have the most bargaining chips. It was devastated by the Succession war, but the last century has been a time of remarkable political stability and positive development. Although living conditions have improved, most inhabited planets are considered frontier by their level of standards. The most developed planets now sport strong orbital economies and the tribe even delivers basic starships to other tribes. Their policy is heavily centered on acquiring resources for industrialization, and they don't appear to be a mover in alliance politics.
Often not the most steadfast ally, the tribe sees value in reasoned opportunism. In recent times has been supporting the war, and seems to be one of the tribes to benefit the most of it, likely because the tribe understands its good bargaining position in the broad pro-war coalition. Xenopolicy doesn't seem to be a focus for the tribe, besides supporting tribes that demand a build up of defense capability. Safety of the Kiki homeworlds is a priority, and a strong tribe-wide humanitarian interest is also evident.
The Staggare ground troops are lightly, even poorly equipped but numerous. Their starfleet is not quite as intimidating as for the other tribes. They seem to focus on defensive concepts and are very proud of their carrier fleets, which have evolved considerably during the last century or so. They seem to think that big is beautiful. Their politicians often aren't quite as hawkish as their military, and many see the tribe as a paper tiger, but it still has had a significant military contribution to the current conflict.
C/Stakfremer
A tribe with the least dealings with the other major ones since the disaster of the Succession War. One of the Throne Tribes, their military strength was on par during the Empire, but they are most remembered for their active part in the court politics and often its secret plots. Nevertheless they were usually eclipsed by the Hekremeht and others - in the end they suffered much like many others in the hands of the Progressives and Traitors. They now lead a withdrawn life in the southern reaches of Kiki space, which is mostly off-limits for other tribes. Their isolation is prevalent enough that the other tribes know little of them.
The clans of the tribe are known to hold some rather eccentric beliefs and are likely hiding something. There are wild rumours about the genetic character of the tribe, as well as of dealings with alien civilizations, secret technology... But little substantial evidence is behind such stories. Some rumors are outright scary. The Stakfremer like to carve out the internal organs of their still living enemies... and worse. You think some of the rumors are true.
There is much mistrust between this tribe and the others. It doesn't help that the tribe engages in secret pacts and cloak and dagger politics. The tribe became a scapegoat for the Succession war and is believed to have arranged the assassination of The Last Emperor.
The Stakfremer are quick to anger and do hold grudges. It is said that not only romantic/family relations but also friendship and even business partnership is for life. It's not likely you'd usually prefer to deal with them...
Historic major tribes
At the end of the Succession war, only 7 of the original 13 great tribes were standing. After the devastation of the war, 5 of the tribes live on as minor ones.
"First tribe"
Once the strongest tribe in the Empire with many later emperors coming from the tribe, they were one of the original founders of the Empire. Sadly, they almost completely perished during the atrocities of the Succession War. Often, they were referred to as the "First tribe" - they were the strongest, proudest, the most extravagant and the most beautiful. The tribe carried the label with pride, being the stewards and governors of much of the Empire, but the label later achieved a more satirical and pejorative meaning in the use of the Progressives, due to the hubris and heavy hand of the late rulers of the Empire.
During the Empire, they maintained a mostly peaceful relationship with the Zootzshi with active trading and some cultural exchange, leading to a number of Zootzshi loans in New Imperial, the lingua franca of the Empire, being inherited via their native language as well as Old Imperial.
Sirkadar
Similar to Plakhamat tribe in size, the Sirkadar tribe was residing in the south-western regions of the Old Empire. Already from Middle Prosperity period, they had good economic connections with the core of the Empire and later on learned much from the ascendant Hekremeht tribe, trading actively with the Empire and the western reaches of Kiki space. Starting as independents, they gradually became imperial pawns and the Merchat Revolt of IY785 was a turning point in their history as they started to lose status with the Throne Tribes. Early in the Succession War, many Sirkadar trade hubs were occupied by Throne Tribes.
Fearing Hekremeht occupation, they sided with the Kaskadar and Plakhamat tribes in the Succession war. Unfortunately they were reconquered by the Throne tribes, and while many perished in the years of fighting and mass bombardment, a sad chapter was their eradication by the bitter enemy, such as the Hekremeht in connection with burned land strategy when the tides turned. While a number of planets were given to them in their old home sectors at the end of the War, many survivors fled for good and the Sirkadar diaspora now reaches through most of Kiki space.
They are no longer a major player in Kiki geopolitics however, and in many places have started to fuse with larger tribes. While they support mostly Progressive policies and maintain relations with Kaskadar, Plakhamat and Jigofarr tribes, they have no vote in the Alliance.
Other minor tribes
Darviga
The core planets of the Darviga tribe are enclosed in Jigofarr space but have been granted autonomy while swearing allegiance to the Jigofarr tribe lords. Their population reaches also to Hekremeht, Staggare and Stakfremer space, where they live as commoners and often serve the more powerful tribes as a labor force for hire.
Relationships between the tribes
Tribes within a block often align in species wide policy, but are often rivals as well in lower tier species internal matters.
In the feudal power/wealt structure of the kiki empire, Kaskadar, Pazfevar, Jigofarr, and to an extent even the Plakhamat, now hold significant fiefs and some other tribes, primarily Hekremeht, Kilefti and also Staggare, Pazfevar (both being very numerous) make up the commoners living under a cross-tribe liege lord.
Diplomacy matrix
| Tribe | Plakhamat | Kaskadar | Kilefti | Pazhak-Fevar | Jigofarr | Hekremeht | Staggare | Stakfremer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plakhamat | x | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Kaskadar | Warm | x | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Kilefti | Friendly | Warm | x | - | - | - | - | - |
| Pazhak-Fevar | Cool | Cool | Neutral | x | - | - | - | - |
| Jigofarr | Neutral | Cool | Warm | Warm | x | - | - | - |
| Hekremeht | Friendly | Cold | Cool | Neutral | Cool | x | - | - |
| Staggare | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Warm | Cool | Neutral | x | - |
| Stakfremer | Cold | Cool | Cool | Cold | Cool | Neutral | Cool | x |
