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Post by Insano-Man on Sept 22, 2018 20:55:02 GMT -5
This topic is a child of the Paleworlders article directory.GET IT OFFPaleworlders reproduce through microscopic spores, which are grown and stored within a small clutch at the end of their digestive tract. During or shortly after feeding, most paleworlders eject some of these spores in small clouds. Individuals with better access to food and more regular meals are more likely to emit spore clouds. Individual spores are immobile, but highly resistant to most environmental hazards. Paleworlder spores have been known to survive years in a vacuum environment. They have passed through decontamination facilities with few ill effects. They can remain viable for upwards of centuries in hostile environments.
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Post by Insano-Man on Sept 22, 2018 20:55:20 GMT -5
INITIAL SEEDING
Upon exposure to oxygen, the spores are activated and become fertile. Afterwards, they must make contact with organic material edible to their parent in order to grow. This may include other paleworlders, though immune defenses often kill the spores before they can take hold. An exception to this case is when the spores are ingested by another paleworlder; they linger in the digestive tract until they have successfully germinated. At that point, they are expelled along with other waste and continue their development outside the body.
Once a spore has successfully landed on a suitable host, it roots itself to the host's body. It then begins to grow long flagella in order to pull other spores to its landing site. New arrivals anchor themselves to either the host or another spore. They then grow flagella themselves and continue the process. During this time, the original spore pushes itself into the host's body and begins to swell in size. After it has reached sufficient mass, it absorbs its neighbors. While all individual spores carry out this process, the first to arrive is typically the only spore remaining by its conclusion.
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Post by Insano-Man on Sept 22, 2018 20:55:33 GMT -5
SPORE GROWTH
The spore retains its flagella in order to trap other spores, bacteria, and detritus as food sources. It continues to push itself into the host's body and feeds on surrounding tissue. Over the course of this stage, the spore takes in various proteins and genetic material from its host. Through processes still under study, the material is incorporated into the spore's own genetic coding. This significantly affects the spore's development process and, eventually, the resulting paleworlder. This process takes roughly 2-4 weeks, depending on the host's immune health.
As the spore grows, it gradually causes complications for its host. Initial seeding is rarely of consequence. Later development of the spore often causes rashes, swelling, and localized numbness in humans and redworlders. Boglanders often suffer from a hardening of their skin and significant immunological complications. Exposed unionites are typically killed in the process by severe allergic reactions and water loss. Under most circumstances, Zaschia and sorassan hosts experience only mild complications when the spore is finally removed.
Depending on the host, the spore will remain attached and growing for as long as possible. If the host has died or was already dead when the spore landed, it may grow to the size of a grape by the time it detaches. A proactive host that attempts removal may force the spore to eject itself before it has grown larger than a grain of rice. At this time, the spore develops a thick shell to protect itself as it continues to grow. After 3-5 days, depending on its size when it was detached, the spore hatches into a larval paleworlder.
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Post by Insano-Man on Sept 22, 2018 20:58:55 GMT -5
LARVAL STAGE
Larval paleworlders initially begin life as palm-sized, worm-like creatures, still connected to their spore's shell. Over time, the shell is eroded and absorbed into the paleworlder's body. Afterwards, they begin to develop rudimentary limbs and a head. As soon as the larva has developed legs, it is able to walk and move on its own. Once its mouth has taken form, it begins to search for small prey, such as insects. Core behaviors are learned during the larval phase through nothing more than trial and error. Ambush planning, threat evaluation, and scavenging are all honed during the paleworlder's early development.
Without the guidance of other species, paleworlders do not raise their young as children. Some may even prey on larval paleworlders, depending on food availability. At any given time during a larva's development, it may encounter a group of its own kind. Under most circumstances, the larva is drawn in as a pack member. Larval pack members typically serve as scouts for their group purely as a result of being forced to search for prey on its periphery. As larval paleworlders grow, they steadily accumulate status through either tactical skill or raw strength.
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Post by Insano-Man on Sept 22, 2018 20:59:05 GMT -5
DEVELOPMENT LENGTH & LIFESPAN
The larval stage of a paleworlder is not clearly separated from adulthood. There are no major morphological changes in the paleworlder's body following 2 months of age, when their beak has fully formed. They reach their full size rapidly, within at least 1 year after the beginning of their larval stage. For most, they become reproductively active at roughly 4-6 years of age. Significant cognitive development continues on for anywhere between 18-25 years. Host quality, spore detachment size, and food availability during their early years all play significant roles.
Without interference from their host or family traits, paleworlders in the wild have a lifespan of 13-18 years. Socialized paleworlders have more than four times that longevity, coming in at 60-65 years under favorable conditions. The few paleworlders living among the Space Loonies have an estimated lifespan of roughly 180 years or longer. Food availability has an unusual negative impact on a paleworlder's lifespan. Barring potential complications from starvation, paleworlders with limited food lead longer lives than paleworlders with more plentiful food.
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Post by Insano-Man on Sept 22, 2018 20:59:18 GMT -5
HOST EFFECTSPaleworlders display marked differences depending on host species, gender, and health. Many of these traits can be compounded over generations of similar hosts. These can have substantial impacts on lifespan, physical build, behavior, growth, and a myriad array of other traits. Paleworlders that are born from paleworlder hosts will appear largely similar. Instances of paleworlders being used as hosts by their own spores has resulted in identical twins. In addition, feral paleworlders are often encouraged to prey on favorable host species by sheer virtue of population success. - Paleworlder families largely descended from human hosts may have five fingers on their hands instead of three. Similarly, they may have five toes instead of three, arranged more alike those of the human foot. They are often shorter on average and have marginally shorter lifespans. Paleworlders with human and redworlder lineages are more likely to develop primitive facial features. Human and redworlder hosts are more likely to confer distinct thumbs. Bias towards a specific gender in either species may result in muted, superficial sexual characteristics. Human and redworlder hosts, regardless of gender, display no behavioral differences.
- Redworlder hosts have been known to push one toe forward on each foot to match that of the redworlder foot. They result in longer fingers, slight increases in height, and an inconsequential improvement to overall lifespan. Redworlder hosts emphasize sensitivity to electrical impulses and ultraviolet light, while reducing temperature sensitivity. In contrast, many of these mutations may be absent or already extant in many lineages. This stems from the significant impact of redworlder hosts early in their history.
- Zaschian hosts, though rare, impart significant improvements in overall lifespan for resulting paleworlders. Muscle mass, skin density, and bone elasticity are all marginally benefitted, as well. This comes at the cost of a noticeable loss in height, as well as substantially reduced spore output. Further, Zaschia-derived paleworlders often suffer from more limited color vision. Muscle disorders are common. Weaker, shorter fingers are prevalent. Difficulties with speech are frequent. In the face of Zaschian nature, Zaschian hosts often result in more social paleworlders, often in larger packs.
- Sorassan hosts confer largely similar adaptations, but in smaller proportion. In contrast, longevity, bone density, and upper body strength are all reduced. In turn, dexterity and lower body strength are noticeably improved. Long lineages may result in the shift of a finger to the base of the palm on both hands. Some may eventually lose their necks or suffer from shortened arms. Extraordinarily long lineages have been known to gradually develop a third, vestigial leg, emerging rearwards from the base of the spine. Behavioral changes include a stronger aversion to light, water, and high temperatures. Packs often center around a council of rival leaders as opposed to a central, alpha paleworlder.
- Unionite hosts cause a variety of deficits to paleworlders. This is generally accepted to be a result of their deep level of genetic modification and cybernetic reliance. The scarce few paleworlders descended from unionites often suffer from reduced lifespans, limited height, and poor dexterity. Weak sensory clusters, poor muscle density, and cognitive disorders are common. A heightened need for periods of torpor is present in most individuals. Bouts of cataplexy or narcolepsy are also common. Unionite hosts encourage smaller, less stable paleworlder packs, and a stronger inclination towards scavenging.
- Boglander hosts inflict similar problems. Longevity and skin health are negatively impacted. Complications with moisture regulation and temperature tolerance are frequent. Many suffer from back problems caused by spine deformation later in their development. Additional complications related to poor bone density cause frequent broken legs during ordinary activities. In contrast, dexterity, agility, and perception are all modestly improved. Paleworlders with extensive boglander lineages are noted for their impressive precision. Some are able to sense objects as small as individual microbes. Boglander hosts confer only negligible behavioral changes, regardless of gender.
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