During the Age of Corruption, those Varfahren (essentially humans) that had not succumbed to the Corruption were slowly being driven further north. These forerunners of the Schek began to take refuge beneath the earth, even beginning to build what would become vast subterranean citadels. Along with greater security, they also found an unexpected and rather unusual ally. Within natural caverns, they encountered sentient crystalline entities. It was discovered that these crystal beings could bond with the Varfahren to create a symbiotic relationship. Within their bodies, the crystalline entities found the freedom of mobility, and through the resulting physiological and mental alterations to Varfahren, the Schek were born. The Schek were generally shorter, stockier and stronger, but most importantly at the time, they discovered the symbiont made them immune to the Corruption. Other than the aforementioned changes, there is typically little that would indicate to an outsider that a crystalline symbiont resides within the body of a Schek. However, a small percentage of the population slowly transforms throughout their lifetime into a completely crystalline, though bipedal, being. The rate of change varies among individuals, but most develop crystalline growths upon their bodies during or preceding puberty. Schek society generally consider this transformation to be something of a blessing, as far as those that are experiencing it, individual response can vary greatly. This one is a bit of a riot of color... Thanks for looking and let me know what you think, if you are so inclined.