Kitatica

Kitatica is a special protein complex produced by Tinikeans. This complex is produced from their thorax at a rate of 1 cm per second. It has three forms: crystalline, web, or bonding. These are described below. A Tinikean can store enough of the liquid kitatica in its body to produce 100m. At the moment of production, the Tinikean decides which form the kitatica will take. This store of liquid is replaced at an effective rate of one meter every ten minutes. To fully restore the 100m potential takes just shy of seventeen hours.

Kitatica is an Anthrakeutic-based material that has one of the highest natural melting points known. Once formed, kitatica appears as crystal, almost diamond-esque in addition to two other forms. It is half the mass of steel while providing the same strength. The only draw-back is its tendency to dissolve in certain acids. Kitatica art and architecture, where it is available to other kinds, is considered some of the most beautiful in the world. It is highly sought after and on most worlds is extremely rare due to the restrictions of Echtinik society. On worlds where there are few to no Echtinik, kitatica is more available and thus cheaper to come by. Tinikeans can produce up to CON*5 meters of kitatica and CON*5 meters of webbing per day.

Crystalline
Crystalline kitatica is the form Tinikeans are most known for. This form spins out into a briefly shapeable crystal-like semi-solid. The Tinikeans can rapidly shape the material into whatever form they envision before it solidifies. After a minute, the kitatica will solidify and hold its shape as any solid. This solid form is many times more durable than regular glass-blown crystal. The material is strong enough to use as building material. However, most Tinikeans live underground and build in conjunction within existing cavern structures.

The kitatica in this form is clear up to 10 cm thick, though it will have hints of iridescence to it. Thicker than 10cm, the kitatica grows ever more translucent. At 2m thick, it is fully opaque. Crystalline kitatica uses the property of total internal reflection and is capable of sending light along its length much like fiber-optic wire. Master Tinkean Weavers can adjust the crystalline composition to allow zero degradation in transmission or to allow up to ten percent degradation. The kitatica that has degradation uses side-emitting properties to produce a glow which is used for display rather than transmission.

Web
The web form of kitatica is a holdover from the Echtinik roots of the Tinikeans according to scholars. This form is sticky and will hold weaker lifeforms fast. Tinikean, like Echtinik, have a protein in their exoskeleton that prevents the web's sticky chemical from functioning. A Tinikean cannot get stuck in their own webs, or any natural webs for that matter.

Bonding
Bonding kitatica is a grey pasted that is exuded to create shapable building material. This paste takes less of the liquid kitatica so a Tinikean can produce twice as much as the crystalline form. It's also more durable and lighter. The dull, opaque coloring means it is not favored by many who prefer an aesthetically pleasing construction. However, those who are looking for low cost, strong buildings with no regard for optics will certainly get more for their money with the bonding kitatica material.

Furthermore, the bonding material can be secreted into a container and sealed within a few minutes and retain its shapeability indefinitely. This way, the material can be transported and shaped by others instead of the Tinikean. Only the bonding kitatica is capable of this and it is always the same dull opaque look. After the bonding kitatica is shaped, it can be painted like dry wall, wood, or similar construction material. The bonding form reacts to acids the same way wood does.

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