Long before the first stone of Brighton was laid, the natural caverns beneath what would become the human city were discovered by nomadic skeva clans. These natural limestone chambers, carved by ancient underground rivers over countless generations, called to the wandering ratfolk with promises of shelter and abundance. The earliest skeva settlers were drawn to the flourishing mushroom forests and pristine underground springs that promised sustenance and safety.
With their naturally keen senses and affinity for darkness, the skeva thrived where others would falter. The early shamans felt something special in these depths. Places where the whispers of the Spirits seemed clearer, where the veil between worlds thinned to allow communion with forces beyond mortal understanding.
The First Settlement
It was the clan leader Mirzak who first received visions from the Spirits, guiding him to establish a permanent settlement in the central cavern system. This first true community was named "Xir" – meaning "safe haven" in the ancient skeva tongue. The earliest homes were simple affairs carved directly into the softer stone walls, but the settlement flourished thanks to the rich, fungal growing fields and the clean, cool waters of underground aquifers.
During these formative years, the skeva perfected their unique agricultural techniques, learning to cultivate specialized mushroom varieties and other subterranean plants that would become staples of their diet. The first shrines to the Spirits arose near the most sacred springs, where shamans would commune with the otherworldly forces that had guided them to this sanctuary.
The Age of Expansion
As families grew and new clans joined the settlement, the need for space drove the skeva deeper into the earth. Under the leadership of Chieftain Kraskel the Digger, they developed sophisticated mining techniques and specialized tools designed specifically for underground expansion. The settlement's name evolved to "Xirklx" – meaning "great haven of many homes" – as multiple cavern systems were connected through methodically excavated tunnels.
This era of growth saw the establishment of regular scouting of the surface by specially trained skeva who would venture to the world above to monitor the lands, weather, and any potential threats. For generations, these scouts reported minimal human activity – occasional hunters or travelers passing through the unsettled region above.
First Contact with Humans
The world of Xirklx changed forever when the first human settlers established a small fishing village along the nearby coast. Suddenly, the surface was no longer simply a place to forage but a realm of potential danger. The skeva watched these tall, hairless creatures with fascination and fear, observing their strange ways from hidden vantage points.
Chieftain Veska, recognizing the need for caution, established the first formal protocols for avoiding human detection – rules that would eventually evolve into the sacred rules that still guide skeva interaction with the surface world to this day.
The Rise of Brighton
The true test for Xirklx came with the founding of Brighton. What had been a simple fishing village transformed seemingly overnight into a burgeoning settlement as refugees poured in from eastern lands, fleeing some great darkness. The humans called their benefactor Lord Aleister Lightbringer, and under his guidance, they built the foundations of what would become a great city.
For the skeva below, this began a new era of danger and necessary caution. Chieftain Norkas the Wary implemented strict limitations on surface excursions and established hidden observation posts throughout what would become Brighton's sewers and cellars. The first emergency evacuation tunnels were excavated during this time as precautions against the day humans might discover their underground neighbors.
The Great Trembling
As Brighton grew from a settlement to a town to a city, the human builders began digging deeper, creating sewers, foundations, and cellars that intruded into the skeva's territory. This period, remembered as "The Great Trembling," brought terror as human excavations caused cave-ins that threatened parts of Xirklx.
It was during this crisis that the legendary shaman-engineer Pirkat rose to prominence. Combining spiritual wisdom with practical engineering, Pirkat designed new structural support methods that saved the settlement. The carved stone pillars created during this dangerous time still stand in the oldest parts of Xirklx, inscribed with spiritual invocations said to strengthen the stone itself.
The Shadow Market Era
Necessity breeds innovation. As Brighton's population swelled and the city's boundaries expanded, the skeva adapted to their new reality. Under Chieftain Zuskra the Bold, small groups carefully collected discarded items from Brighton's streets and dumps under the cover of darkness. These expeditions provided valuable resources but also increased the risk of discovery.
Inevitable encounters with night-dwelling humans led not to disaster but to something unexpected – clandestine trading relationships with some of Brighton's less reputable citizens. These connections formed the foundation of what became known as the Shadow Market – a secret exchange where skeva traders could barter their underground goods for surface items they couldn't produce themselves.
The Plague Years
When disease swept through Brighton's crowded streets, the skeva discovered that not even the earth could protect them from human calamities. The plague spread through waterways shared by both settlements, eventually reaching Xirklx with devastating effect. Nearly a third of the population perished before Shaman Verrax discovered that certain fungi cultivated by the skeva could be processed into an effective remedy.
In what would become one of the most controversial decisions in Xirklx history, Chieftain Laskrit authorized sharing this cure with selected human contacts in Brighton. This act of compassion deepened relations with certain trusted human allies, primarily among Brighton's herbalists and alchemists. The knowledge exchange that followed enriched both societies, though it remained hidden from most humans, who would have reacted with fear rather than gratitude.
The Great Expansion
As Brighton entered an age of industry and progress under the guidance of the Artificers Guild, the human city's growth accelerated dramatically. New districts, factories, and deeper foundations threatened Xirklx's security like never before. The dual leadership of Chieftain Nirket and Shaman Yorsa recognized the existential threat and conceived their most ambitious project yet – creating an extensive network of new tunnels and chambers deeper beneath the city, safely away from human excavations.
This monumental effort resulted in Xirklx's current multi-tiered structure, with residential areas situated in the deepest, safest chambers while workshops, farms, and trading areas occupied the middle levels. The uppermost levels were reserved for scouting, defense, and carefully managed contact with trusted surface allies.
The Purge
The darkest chapter in Xirklx's history came with the rise of Commissioner Harrick Dredge in Brighton's governance. Convinced that "rat-men" were responsible for warehouse thefts and disease outbreaks, Dredge ordered systematic fumigation of the sewers and extensive excavations that threatened to expose the entire settlement.
Chieftain Morrat faced an impossible choice and made the painful decision to abandon the uppermost levels of Xirklx, collapsing access tunnels and sacrificing generations of work to protect the deeper community. Many families lost their ancestral homes, and several scouting parties were captured or killed by Dredge's hunters.
The skeva refer to this period as "The Hiding Time," when all contact with the surface world was severed. The community relied entirely on their underground resources, leading to hardship but ultimate survival. Commissioner Dredge eventually declared his "extermination" complete and abandoned his hunt, never realizing that the main settlement remained intact far below his feet.
The Age of Careful Renewal
In the aftermath of The Purge, Xirklx slowly rebuilt, cautiously reclaiming some of its upper chambers and reestablishing minimal contact with proven human allies. This period saw the formalization of the "Code of Shadows" – the strict rules governing all surface excursions and human interactions that remain in place today.
It was during this time of renewal that the shodeth was formally established – an elite warrior class dedicated to the protection and advancement of skeva interests. While skeva had always trained fighters to defend their community, the organized military force of the shodeth represented something new: a proactive approach to security rather than merely reactive defense. Trained in traditional skeva fighting techniques and adapted combat methods learned from observing humans, the shodeth became the backbone of Xirklx's security.
The shodeth's primary duty was defending against incursions from goblins and other underground threats, but they also conducted careful reconnaissance missions to the surface. Their training emphasized stealth, speed, and precise violence when necessary. The warrior class soon became a prestigious path for young skeva seeking to serve their community, with rigorous selection processes and training that tested physical prowess and mental discipline.
Under a succession of wise leaders, Xirklx developed the delicate balance it maintains today – a hidden society thriving in secret beneath a human city that largely remains oblivious to its existence. Trade routes were carefully reestablished, but with far greater precautions. The position of Shadowguide was created – skeva specially trained to navigate Brighton's underbelly and facilitate necessary interactions with the surface world.
Acharat's Rise
When a young skeva named Acharat displayed remarkable spiritual sensitivity, the aging shaman Vesper Gnarltooth recognized a potential successor. Taking the youth as his apprentice, Vesper guided Acharat through the ancient traditions of spirit communion and healing. As the years passed, Acharat's connection to the Spirits grew until it surpassed even his master's abilities.
The transition of shamanic responsibilities to Acharat was a joyous occasion for Xirklx, though bittersweet as it marked the beginning of Vesper's final years. The settlement had barely completed Vesper's funerary rites when tragedy struck again – their chieftain was killed during a foraging expedition into Brighton's lower districts.
With no clear successor and the community in turmoil, all eyes turned to Acharat. Though initially reluctant to take on dual responsibilities unprecedented in Xirklx's history, his sense of duty to his people prevailed. Acharat accepted both mantles – shaman and chieftain – beginning a new chapter in Xirklx's history.
Rising Tensions
Under Acharat's guidance, Xirklx has achieved a precarious stability. The settlement has expanded its agricultural capabilities, developing new strains of fungi and subterranean crops that strengthen their self-sufficiency. Trade with selected human contacts continues but under strict protocols to maintain secrecy.
Acharat's dual role as spiritual and political leader has brought a unique harmony to Xirklx governance. His connection to the Spirits provides insight and guidance, while his practical leadership ensures the community's physical needs are met. Though the burden weighs heavily upon him, especially since the loss of his lifemate Pujeel to illness some years ago, Acharat remains steadfast in his commitment to his people's survival through careful isolation and minimal contact with the surface world.
Yet not all skeva share Acharat's cautious approach. Within the ranks of the shodeth, a different philosophy has taken root, championed by their most skilled warrior, Rachna. Born to a respected soldier and a healer, Rachna has risen through the ranks of the shodeth with unprecedented speed and skill. His combat prowess in defending against goblin incursions and his strategic mind have earned him respect and a growing following among the warriors.
Unlike Acharat, who preaches survival through secrecy and non-confrontation, Rachna advocates for a more aggressive stance toward the humans of Brighton. Having witnessed the continuous expansion of the human city and the recurring threats of discovery, Rachna believes that only through strength and pre-emptive action can the skeva truly secure their future. In council meetings, he openly challenges Acharat's leadership, arguing that generations of hiding have only made the skeva weaker while humans grow stronger above.
Rachna's vision – one where skeva might one day live freely above ground, having demonstrated their power to the humans – has sparked an ideological divide within Xirklx. The shodeth, particularly its younger members, increasingly side with their charismatic leader, while older skeva and those close to Acharat fear such aggression would bring devastating retaliation from Brighton's much larger population.
Present Day
While the community thrives in its underground haven, the philosophical conflict between Acharat and Rachna threatens the unity that has preserved them for generations. Council meetings have become tense affairs, with factional lines clearly drawn between those who follow the traditional ways of stealth and those who believe that only through strength can true security be achieved.
Acharat feels his years advancing and has begun seeking those who might eventually take up his responsibilities, hoping to find leaders who can balance tradition with the adaptability needed to survive in an ever-changing world. Yet he watches with concern as Rachna's influence grows, particularly among the young warriors who have never known the horrors of direct conflict with humans that their ancestors experienced during The Purge.
For his part, Rachna continues to build support for what he sees as the inevitable confrontation with Brighton. He trains his followers relentlessly, studies human weaknesses, and waits for the perfect opportunity to prove that his path, not Acharat's, will secure the future of the skeva people.
The coming seasons will determine whether Xirklx continues its centuries-old tradition of hidden survival or embarks on a dangerous new path that could lead to a new era of skeva prominence or destroy everything they have built beneath the streets of an oblivious human city.