Rokis

Rokis are a fictional sapient species created for speculative fiction and tabletop role-playing settings. They are typically described as humanoid beings with crystalline, mineral-tinged skin that helps regulate temperature in harsh, rocky environments. Rokis are usually portrayed as having long lifespans and a deliberately measured pace of life, with cultures that emphasize memory, lineage, and endurance.

Physiology and appearance

Rokis possess a dermal crust of crystal-like plates and a complexion that ranges from ash-gray to bronze. Their bones are dense but light, adapted to climbing and dwelling in cliffside habitats. They often display iridescent hues when exposed to sunlight, a trait thought to be linked to environmental adaptation rather than aesthetic choice.

Habitat and ecology

Rokis are associated with high-altitude deserts, canyons, and cave networks where rock formations provide shelter. They tend to inhabit cities carved into living rock or built alongside mineral veins. Their ecology centers on mineral processing and mineral-based energy motifs, with traditional knowledge surrounding the seasonal movement of mineral-rich winds and subterranean water systems.

Culture and technology

Social structure is typically clan-based, with a strong emphasis on memory, ritual stonework, and mentorship across generations. Rokis craft tools, architecture, and artwork from stone, glass, and mineral composites. Technologies are resilient and low-maintenance, including wind pumps, geode energy converters, and modular rockcrete constructions.

In fiction and media

Rokis have appeared in various works of science fiction and fantasy, sometimes with significant variation in physiology and customs. They are frequently used as symbols of resilience, stability, and deep connection to geological environments, and may be depicted as playable races or central to worldbuilding in RPG campaigns.