Kua-Tin

“Get that goddamned, slime-covered fish stick in here right fucking now."

Odette[1]

The Kua-Tin are an alien race of tiny, water-breathing, humanoid fish.[2] They are the dominant species of the Borant System and principal owners of the Borant Corporation.[3]

See Also: BloomBorant CorporationBorant System

Anatomy

The kua-Tin are tiny, 2 ft tall fish-headed creatures with gills, an otherwise humanoid body, and webbed hands. All kua-tin are required to wear a badge indicating whether or not they are members of the Bloom.[2]

When not submersed in water, kua-tin may wear a barely-noticeable Kua-Tin Rebreather around their necks that covers their gills and occasionally sprays water. Alternatively, they may choose a centuries-old water suit: a round glass helmet filled with bubbling water piped from a bulky backpack, and a white mesh "spacesuit."[2] When kua-tin teleport in and out of the Dungeon, their arrival and departures are marked by a pop and a splash of cold water.[4]

Society

Loita gives an impassioned speech marked by Bloom newspeak and prejudice, but the speech suggests that kua-tin may lean toward a matriarchal society (by emphasizing "her mother and her aunts"[5]; note also that the three highest ranking kua-tin so far are Cascadia, Loita, and Zev), and appear to value younger generations as "the future of the kua-tin."[5]

Arts

Although the Borant Corporation is known for making the most interesting Dungeons, the kua-tin as a whole are not known for their dramas. As Zev says, "I’m afraid the nuances of compelling scripted drama are lost on the average Kua-Tin."[6]

If the engravings in the Dungeon Entrance and stairwells are representative of popular kua-tin art, then kua-tin art appears somewhat similar to "Asian-style" art. It also has a tendency to represent kua-tin as much larger than they are.[3]

Mythology

  • The Pollyslog is one of the most fearsome creatures in prehistoric kua-tin mythology, and also appears as a Dungeon mob. [7]

Slang

Slang terms used in Kua-Tin culture include "fins-on approach" and a "crutch of time."[2]

History

Several cycles ago, the Kua-Tin attempted to have the disparaging term "Mudskipper" listed as Syndicate hate speech. The motion not only failed, but also had the unfortunate result of popularizing the insult.[8]

Trivia

  • The Kuo-toa are a race of five-foot-tall sadistic fish people in the Forgotten Realms setting of Dungeons & Dragons,[9] and also appear in Baldur's Gate 3.[10]

References

  1. Dinniman, Matt. The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook (Epilogue) (p. 516). Dandy House. Kindle Edition.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Dinniman, Matt. Dungeon Crawler Carl (Chapter 36)
  3. 3.0 3.1 Dinniman, Matt. Dungeon Crawler Carl (Chapter 2)
  4. Dinniman, Matt. The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook (Chapter 25)
  5. 5.0 5.1 Dinniman, Matt. The Gate of the Feral Gods (Chapter 18) (p. 275). Dandy House. Kindle Edition.
  6. Dinniman, Matt. Carl's Doomsday Scenario (Chapter 12)
  7. Dinniman, Matt. The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook (Chapter 5)
  8. Dinniman, Matt. Dungeon Crawler Carl (Chapter 29)
  9. Kuo-toa. Forgotten Realms Wiki.
  10. Kuo-toa. Baldur's Gate 3 Wiki.