The mirror: Kevali

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The Kevali inhabit vast cavern systems beneath the surface of their hostile planet. The twin suns constantly boring down on the surface have created a harsh desert environment. The days are long, the nights longer (the normal day lasts 36 hours). The intense heat of daytime and the bitter freezing cold of evening drove the Kevali underground centuries ago.

Phosphorescent algae provides an ambient glow, while oil lamps set into carved niches in the walls provide most of the dim light.

The capital city of Andhakara'a is built around an inky black subterranean river, the water is mostly drinkable...

The air is stale, it's crowded and the air is filled with the sound of tools and working.
It never seems to stop.

Map

Max smiled again "I am glad to pass on any knowledge you may want to accept."

Kaliyani bowed her head. "It is a fool that allows their pride to stand in the way of learning."

Max chuckled and dipped his head at that "True, but pride makes fools of many." He replied

"We here have little in the way of vanity." Kaliyani told him, her face hiding was shame at her condition and the reaction it got, not her own personal vanity. "We are a pragmatic people, least, we try to be. I am certain the Ishvara will be eager to hear all you have to suggest to help the people to thrive. "

Max sobered quickly and nodded "True, your people have less pride than others we have encountered in space. I am very glad we came."

Kaliyani looked grateful. "As am I." She told him. "Fate works in mysterious ways, but I am glad it had lead to this collaboration. "

Max smiled softly again and nodded "As am I, it is always good to share knowledge willingly when you can."

Kaliyani nodded. "come, I shall show you the sleeping quarters, and the dining hall. Will your people be joining us for meal times or would you prefer to do so privately?"

Max glanced over to the twins then shrugged a little "We do not mind joining you, if you don't mind. It will be nice to be among others and not have to hide."

Kaliyani nodded. "Very well, I shall ensure your dietary requirements are known and well met. Do other races find your method of eating somehow upsetting?" She was curious as to why they hid.

"Yes, most races connect blood drinking with evil or a desire to kill." Max explained then shrugged "Usually it stems from some ancestors or past, extinct people that used blood in rituals to try to call 'evil spirits' or bring the dead back to life or some other thing like that. Others happened to meet a vampire, who does kill while feeding on the blood of others."

"That is extremely narrow minded of them. Why would you not drink the blood? It is fluid, in some situations the closest thing to water you may be able to access and why waste it? For us, every part of an animal's body is useful, from the blood and meat to the hide and the bones. Nothing goes to waste, if it does, the people starve. " She shook her head.

Max shrugged then smiled at her again "True again, though in their cultures they are taught to always cook their food thoroughly, removing the blood. They do tend to have better access to fresh water for drinking."

"That sounds like an unnecessary extra step. " Kaliyani shook her head. "The Kalvair cook their food, but only enough to soften the grains and such. Kevali cannot eat any plant matter, it results in terrible pain and discomfort. " And in her case, being a hybrid between the two races, she was almost always in discomfort. Fun.

Max chuckled then shrugged "It is their culture, the way their people have done things and the way it works for them. Even our sister race cooks their food that thoroughly. They are our flight crew if you want to meet some of them later." He added gently

"That would be interesting." Kaliyani told him. "You should see the farms anyway. Perhaps you will have some ideas to improve efficiency there as well."

Max nodded and looked around the market again "Anything we can do to help, though we can only go out there at night."

Kaliyani nodded. "I will organise something for us in the next day or so then. Do your crew require anything while they are here?"

"You are providing for all of our needs already" Max assured and looked to her again "If we think of something we need, we will let you know of it."

Kaliyani nodded. "Come, there is more to see."

She'd show them everything of the city she could think of. It was a fairly sprawling place but it was cold and dank and dark, not to mention really quite overcrowded. The noise from the mines never seemed to stop and Kaliyani warned them never to go near the shafts, they were prone to collapse. She said nothing of what happened to anyone trapped within.

Max and the twins followed her, looking around at the sights and the people there. It was always interesting to learn about another people and how they lived day to day.

It seemed a fairly miserable place, nobody smiled and barely anyone seemed to talk much. those who noticed them just watched them silently, the only sounds of talking they'd hear were the yells of the fishermen on the river yelling to their colleages on shore to haul in ropes or whatever.

When the tour was over Kaliyani lead them back to the Lord's chamber.

Max was taking note of all of that and thinking about ways to help the people here to have a better quality of life, that was a part of his studies after all. He stayed close to Kaliyani as they made their way back to the Lord's chambers, glad to see Andre and Jessica together as they approached.

Kaliyani bowed her head politely to the pair as they approached.

Andre and Jessica bowed their heads in return, smiling at her and the others. "This is a really interesting place" Andre said cheerfully.

"I am glad you find it so." Kaliyani told him. "I hope you had enough time to discuss all you needed to."

"Yes, we did, thank you" Andre said with a nod.