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| Species | Kadruman |
| Over-species | Lunarian |
| Classification | Demihuman |
| Sphere | Wealth |
| Origin | Lord of Wealth made them from gold dust and lunarians |
| Lifespan | 400 years |
| Habitat | Arable temperate islands |
| Food | Island fare and mashoaab |
| Description | Kadrumen are tall, thin beings with shimmering hair and skin that changes with their economic circumstance. |
| Procreation | Follows the mother. |
| Esoterica | Kadrumen can use any esoteric art. Faith, magic, and shebvic arts are common. |
| Cycle | Kadrumen are attuned to mashoaab, the energy of value, which is created by labor. This energy they create in a cycle of production, first in response to need, then in response to demand, then in response to their desired wealth, then in response to crisis. Need period: the kadrumen create products to meet a need in the community. During this time, they grow in strength as their production meets the need. They have improved bargaining skills in this period. Demand period: as demand exceeds the needs of the community, the kadrumen increase production to meet demand. During this time, the rate of their power increase slows and they push for more and more to keep gaining strength. They switch to improved promotional skills in this period. Desire period: demand slacks but the desire for more mashoaab does not. The kadrumen keep producing, finding new markets and altering the product. During this time, power increases at an improved rate as the product varies to meet new needs. They have improved creativity in this period. Crisis period: they have produced too much and the entire market crashes. The kadrumen lose their power and become weak and frail. They have no powers during this period. |
| Special Powers | All kadrumen can appraise objects on sight. They are resistant to the cold. Their skin relfects non-mashoaab energies and absorbs mashoaab, which is created as through their labor. They have a cyclic life. During times of production crisis, they are weak and must hide, and during times of need, they become stronger. |
| Weaknesses | In times of crisis, they can be easily killed. They dislike extreme heat. |
| Culture | A group of lunarian merchants went to Shem long ago, seeking to find new ways to trade. They found the environment hostile and had to use esoteric arts to survive. As their trade dwindled, their resources for survival did, too. Many died, and those that did not turned to locals for help. These locals introduced them to their crafts and faith, and showed them to the Lord of Wealth, who offered them a choice: become the kadrumen or return to the moons. Some returned, but most chose to become kadrumen. This first community made their homes on nearby islands and used their trading skills to survive. Since then, they have become a nomadic species whose original homes are in the south of Palhur. They travel in small groups, trading around the world, seeking to avoid being caught in their cycles. Most experience a crisis cycle at least 12 times in their lives, however, especially if they settle somewhere for too long. Their island communities are designed around the cycle, using its semi-predictability to protect themselves collectively. They trade with each other, but mostly with surrounding non-kadru communities. Each island is its own separate community, though they band together in times of danger. Islands are led by the richest and most powerful among them, usually, who often require the younger adults to work for them for decades until they can purchase their independence. Those who do not wish to be part of that system usually become nomads. Children are taught in schools based on what their families can afford and often are sent to other islands to learn if they are rich enough, keeping an exchange of ideas going. Nomadic kadrumen are more egalitarian, using barter as much as monetary transactions to get by. They are led by elders, not the rich, and they teach all children equally, because otherwise they would not survive--they cannot simply send their children to other schools, for instance. In times of crisis, they try to return to the islands, if they can. Kadrumen are all excellent sailors because of their island and nomadic lives. |
| Notables | Belcorn, ancient merchant on Merukis |
| Sample statistics | PRO 10 ATH 10 STR 9 AWA 11 WIL 11 ROG 10 Bargaining 13 (+3 in need period, -3 in demand, -1 in desire, -6 in crisis) Promotions 13 (+3 in demand period, -3 in desire, -1 in need, -6 in crisis) Creativity 13 (+3 in desire period, -3 in need, -1 in demand, -6 in crisis) Appraisal (AWA) Reflective skin 13 |
GrandGuignol
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