zeki

After establishing himself in Kilima Village as the owner of the General Store, Zeki secretly founded The Underground, Kilima's own black market, to do business with the cartels. He recruited Reth once the cook started doing deals with the cartels, and was the one who tattooed cartel tracking runes on the Majiri's arm. Now they both operate out of Kilima with intentions to pay off their cartel debts. Over time he slowly built rapport with the residents of Kilima Village, by chatting with his customers during the day and socializing in the Tavern during the evenings.

Zeki was born as one sibling in a litter of Grimalkin kittens to his ma and pa. In his childhood, he and his siblings would often get bossed about by the eldest child, Zarah. His mother was a hardworking Grimalkin who worked her way to second in command in the Mantis Cartel, and was very close to Zeki. Meanwhile his father was a rebellious bad boy but softie at heart. He would often spoil Zeki and his siblings, taking them out or sneaking them presents. One time their pa took them to look at the moon and celebrate Luna New Year. Even though Grimalkin don't believe in wishes, Zeki's father allowed them to make wishes on the tree, as long as their mother didn't find out. Zeki's father considered wishes to be promises someone makes to their self. Zeki fondly remembers sharing a candy box with his family, enjoying how beautiful Luna was, and making a wish to celebrate Luna New Year with his family again. Zeki never got to experience that again and wistfully wishes for simpler times.[1]

Once weaned, his family sent him off on his own to start his own business, like all good Grimalkin. However, he secretly maintained contact with his mother through letters. Making his own living was tough, so he trained in Flow device invention under the Adder Cartel in exchange for a debt he was never meant to pay off. Since then, he has made it his goal to pave his way to fiscal freedom and upset the cartel hierarchy in the process. With the help of his apprentice, Zoraya, he sailed the seas in his ship, The Golden Catfish, in search of valuable Grimalkin Pirate treasure that would pay off his debt. However, his apprentice caused the ship to sink, sending all the treasures and crew into the sea. Zed, Zeki's boss, had to rescue them and as punishment sent Zeki to live in Kilima Valley and Zoraya to learn from a different mentor.[2]

After establishing himself in Kilima Village as the owner of the General Store, Zeki secretly founded The Underground, Kilima's own black market, to do busi

Zeki is a mischievous and charismatic Grimalkin. A businessman at heart, Zeki is often focused on increasing profits or achieving his fiscal freedom. He's also a natural rule breaker - not just of Palian rules but of Grimalkin rules, too. He breaks Flow laws by trafficking Flow inventions and running the Underground as a black market under Eshe's nose, but also regularly writes to his mother, which is a taboo in Grimalkin culture. As an associate of the Grimalkin cartels, he is very secretive about his thoughts and illicit business, often playing dumb or using his playful and lighthearted demeanor as a cover for his true feelings. While sneaky and ambitious, Zeki is not selfish. He will go out of his way to care for his friends or ensure their safety when he doesn't have to.

Zeki often experiments with Flow inventions and respects others who invent, such as Najuma or her mother. His inventions don't always work according to plan, though.

Zeki has a large knowledge of legendary Grimalkin pirate treasure, and often uses his apprentice to test them for curses or booby traps.

He has a luxurious taste in home decor, and is an expert in creating marketing materials for his shop or decorating the town for seasonal events.

Zeki is very fond of seafood.

An excellent businessperson and the only Grimalkin (currently) in Kilima. Zeki is savvy, smart, and clever. He runs the local general store, and even has a special device that can grant you rare items (with luck!). Zeki is a Grimalkin resident of Kilima Village in Palia. He runs the town General Store and operates a Grimalkin Underground.

Ashura (Friend) Leta † (friend and business partner) Hodari (Friend) Najuma (Friend) Reth (Sort of "business associate") Zolo (Former Mentor) Zoraya (Former Apprentice) Zed (Boss) Zorn (???)

Zeki is a stout Grimalkin with long, orange fur and white on his face, neck, and palms. He has a pair of deep brown whiskers on his muzzle, and the skin on his nose and inside his ears is pink. He has two sets of ears; the pair on top is long and slender, and the pair on the side is shorter and fatter. His eyes are colored green, but his right eye is covered with a loupe goggle. His typical outfit is a long coat with a teal/brown gradient and bronze trims — with a glowing pin pinned to the left — a green ascot tie, a white high-collared vest with golden accents, deep brown pants, and rust-colored pointed-toe shoes. He adorns many golden rings on his fingers, as well as an earring in his bottom left ear and a golden molar on his left side.