Ooooh! An early lore question! LOVE IT! First - Thanks for backing and supporting, but to your question...
So basically, the Kindred view outsiders as livestock or animals - They believe they're less than "Family" - While we will dive into social differences between Kindred colonies (they dont all live in one city - Think subfactions like 40k) for now, broadly I will generalize.
Like many royal families of old, they care about pedigree - The more pure your blood, the more family in your blood, the higher your social standing provided you are still functioning. The most successful families have managed to by genetic lottery or good selection, draw bloodlines 100% descendant from original settlers while also remaining relatively functional and unchanged.
Bringing in 'breedin stock' from outside, is basically a minor shame on your lineage, but it also needs to be done, most kindred are now somewhat influenced by this.
So why are they cannibals? Because they can be. They enjoy inflicting suffering upon those on the surface, its shocking, horrible and cruel - And thats part of why they like it. It is also DIFFERENT- They primarily eat seafood, so mammals are a unique delicacy.
This is all subject to change at this early stage, but it is also possible that various crisis during their time underwater forced them to at various times 'not waste food' - survival eating their own dead etc - This likely broke down the moral issues, and necessity forced them to somewhat normalize the idea.
Finally. They're evil. We're not shying off making factions in our setting just plain bastards. So why not make them even more loathsome?
Ooooh! An early lore question! LOVE IT! First - Thanks for backing and supporting, but to your question... So basically, the Kindred view outsiders as livestock or animals - They believe they're less than "Family" - While we will dive into social differences between Kindred colonies (they dont all live in one city - Think subfactions like 40k) for now, broadly I will generalize. Like many royal families of old, they care about pedigree - The more pure your blood, the more family in your blood, the higher your social standing provided you are still functioning. The most successful families have managed to by genetic lottery or good selection, draw bloodlines 100% descendant from original settlers while also remaining relatively functional and unchanged. Bringing in 'breedin stock' from outside, is basically a minor shame on your lineage, but it also needs to be done, most kindred are now somewhat influenced by this. So why are they cannibals? Because they can be. They enjoy inflicting suffering upon those on the surface, its shocking, horrible and cruel - And thats part of why they like it. It is also DIFFERENT- They primarily eat seafood, so mammals are a unique delicacy. This is all subject to change at this early stage, but it is also possible that various crisis during their time underwater forced them to at various times 'not waste food' - survival eating their own dead etc - This likely broke down the moral issues, and necessity forced them to somewhat normalize the idea. Finally. They're evil. We're not shying off making factions in our setting just plain bastards. So why not make them even more loathsome?