Thri-kreen are large insectoids —the least “human” of all the
intelligent races of Athas. Standing 7 feet tall at the shoulder
and growing about 11 feet long from end to end, they have six
limbs, sandy-yellow exoskeletons, and large, multifaceted
eyes. The two hindmost limbs are designed for walking and
leaping, while the four forward limbs end in extremely
dexterous hands.
In the Tyr Region, thri-kreen aren’t common in the citystates. They gather in packs devoted to the hunt that roam
the wastes and have little understanding of human society. If
encountered in a city, a thri-kreen is either a slave or attached
to a group of adventurers (whom the thri-kreen has adopted
as his pack). As slaves, thri-kreen are used on the farms or as
laborers, though some make it to the gladiatorial pens to offer
a different kind of entertainment to the crowds.
Many things make the thri-kreen strange and alien to those
of the other races, not the least of which is their appearance.
Add to that the fact that thri-kreen don’t sleep, that they don’t
collect wealth or possessions, and that they sometimes eat
other intelligent creatures, and the differences between
humans and thri-kreen seem vast and imposing. When thrikreen join up with a group consisting of members of other
races, they seek to establish dominance as they do in their
own packs.
Once the matter is settled, they abide by the outcome, though
party members who aren’t prepared for such behavior often
experience moments of genuine terror as the hulking insectmen make menacing threats to dominate the group, or
“clutch.” Is it any wonder that most people fear the thri-kreen,
or that they are viewed as treacherous and unreliable?
However, those who have won the trust and friendship of a
thri-kreen wind up with a friend for life. The pack mentality is
so ingrained in thri-kreen culture that they apply it to every
situation they find themselves in. As they would in an all-thrikreen pack, they leap to protect their clutchmates (regardless
of race) whenever danger strikes, no matter the risk to
themselves. The thri-kreen of the Tyr Region employ a few
exotic weapons, most notably the gythka and the chatkcha. A
gythka is a polearm with blades on both ends. A chatkcha is a
crystalline throwing wedge. When not hunting or gathering
food and water, thri-kreen spend their time making or
repairing their weapons.
