Fiction:The Firmament/Grooker

"Don't pull own tail when there are other tails to pull."

- Grooker wisdom

Grookers, otherwise known as monkeyfolk, are a species of intelligent monkey native to Khiiratsuna, who have through the ages spread to other lands through the use of pirate ships.

Biology
Grookers resemble almost man-sized macaques with long tails. They come in a variety of colours, with brown, black and white being the most common. While they can move on two legs, they generally walk on all fours in order to conserve energy. The average grooker is 1,4 meters tall and lives up to 60 years, though very few reach that age.

History
As they keep no written records of their history, the origins of the grookers is unknown. It is believed they reached other continents after pirate ships raiding the northern coast of Khiiratsuna stopped by their home and were taken over by the creatures, who proceeded to set sail elsewhere.

Culture
Grookers live in loose tribes where the strongest leads over the rest. While they are not afraid to use weapons, grookers determine merit among themselves exclusively via who is the best unarmed duelist, and all conflicts are resolved via slaps, punches, kicks and bites. Grookers are very lazy, impatient and aggressive by nature, and spend most of their time play-fighting when not actually fighting for real.

Many grookers have integrated themselves into the society of other nations through the years. Such individuals tend to be much more well-behaved than their wild peers, though are still noted for being impulsive and confrontational when provoked.

Religion
Most Grookers worship a figure known as the Monkey King, an apparent ancient hero of their kind who carried a staff he used to smack other deities over their heads in order to assert dominance. Whether this figure is actually real is uncertain, and any attempt to imply such to a grooker is bound to offend them deeply.

Language
Grookers speak Common, though their version of the tongue is filled with euphemisms and expressions most races find offensive.

Relations with other races
Wild tribes of grookers are generally not fond of outsiders and attempt to ward them off by throwing objects such as rocks, fruits or dung to keep them away, moving on to physical combat if their warnings are ignored.

Notable grookers

 * Ookin Dookinton - Pirate captain of the Ookin Ship
 * First Mate Eep Eep - Right-hand ape of Ookin Dookinton