A Warning on Mixed Relations

—A three-part discussion on differences between the Sentient Species, their races, naming practices, reproductive knowledge of each and which species in theory could be interfertile.

Information

Class: Sociology
Wc: 1,735

Publishing

Aut: Couik dul Waeynn
Dt: 179 A.T.
Ogn: Visage

On Races

Most of the Sentient Species have races, though the Avotoc, Sha’an, and Turath each do not.

Xiruen races are thought to be the result of different environmental stimuli. Particularly, Xeviin (pn. saeh-vihn) are the most prevalent race found in Sentii—and across Omneutta—notable for its cave-like dwellings. The race’s larger eyes to more readily absorb minimal light likely reflects this. Xemgen (pn. saehm-gaehn) have a conical head, smaller eyes, and a longer pair of upper arms. This race is found mostly in Xusoigar, the Local Group notable for its tall rock-plant pillars that must be climbed. Exposure to light for longer periods would lead to smaller eyes to minimize the amount of light absorbed, and longer upper arms would help in climbing. However, Xiruen maintain that the racial differences are codified in The Rux, and have thus existed from the species’ onset. There is a third race—Xegoir (pn. sah-goyr)—that seems to be a result of mixing of the two species, as it is neither mentioned in The Rux nor has environmental explanations.

The races of Kettlah exist entirely due to the first five tribes. Each of these races is descended from one of the first five kets—the only ones that Haket himself created according to The Kel—the differences are both physiological and reportedly certain races are more predisposed to magical talents. Roani (pn. rO-ah-nE) tend to have shorter lifespans, are shorter and stockier, and have dark gold skin. Niuni (pn. nE-ooh-nE) are a race that would have descended from Niu but there is no record of them being seen. Lueni (pn. loo-eh-nE) have a white-gold skin that luminesces brighter than all other kets. Maoni (pn. mA-O-nE) are taller with thinner tendrils and have duller gold skin. Keyni (pn. kA-nE) are the most common of the races currently, and have vivid gold skin a white eyes.

The differences in Poria races stems from the mineral composition of the molten material exchanged between both parents. Ylargi (pn. yuhl-ahr-gih) are the most abundant pori, with orange body and plates that resemble basalt. Yleia (pn. yuhl-ei-ah) have a redder body and plates of rhyolite. Yluiar (pn. yuhl-uh-ih-ar) are the rarest pori, with yellow bodies and dark obsidian plates.

Like the Xiruen, Quarryn races are due to variations in environments that persist for generations until a race is identified. This information was codified before both the Timekeeping Reset and when the Quarryn lost their eyes, so descriptions are clear and abundant in local records. Goilee (pn. goy-lE) are the most abundant quarryns for an unknown reason and are a deep green, with branch-veins that form long pointer/third fingers. Uiiseg (pn. U-I-sehg) have small gills on their necks, bluer skin, and have softer, spongey branch-veins. Craob (pn. crawhb) are a dark green with smaller, segmented branch-veins, long fingers, and longer feet.

On Names

It is important to note that while these are naming conventions for each Sentient Species as they are currently understood, there can be variances difficult to convey, discuss, and portray accurately in such a concise text. There are likely additional traditions that were not uncovered or disclosed in the research preceding this publication.

Despite family structure having little importance to xiruens as a species, given, chosen, and earned names carry weight. A xiruen can have one to three names, ‘Given’, ‘Given Chosen’, ‘Given-Earned’, or ‘Given Chosen Earned’. Given names are not often based on words from Barzacc, but Chosen and Earned always are. Given names end in doubles of the same vowel if it was the mother’s name and double of the same consonant if it was the father’s name. Neither doubling changes pronunciation.

Avotoc have two names that usually combine for no more than four syllables. The two names are separated by an apostrophe with no space, eg. Le’Re. The first name is the family (clan) name and is almost always one syllable and ended in a vowel for families connected to Davoto’s offspring, however family names that begin with a vowel and/or end in consonants have appeared more often lately.

Kettlah have a family name and a given name. The family name begins and ends with a vowel, usually the same vowel, and is put between a K, M, R, or L and an H. Given names usually start with a consonant, and always end with one, usually an M or N. Though Kettlah do not have a formal alphabet – as they communicate telepathically and through icon-based-morphemes – they are unfamiliar with the letters L, J, X, W, and Z.

Poria have fore- and surnames, with a preposition between the two. Forenames are a combination of given, chosen, and earned. Poria are not named at birth, and can be given, earn, or choose a name during their formative education. Forenames are usually based on words in Jibhaga, while surnames are the city where that Poria is from. The preposition dul is used for well-respected Poria, otherwise yla is used.

Quarryn names seem to not have any traditional structure attached to them, just a preference for whatever the mother seems to find aesthetically pleasing. An examination of recorded names through history yields the pattern that longer consecutive runs of vowel sounds are becoming more common and longer as time passes.

The Sha’an language, Jazt’a, has a different sentence structure than most. Names also follow this pattern of verb-noun-adjective. Sha’an go by this singular name, and characters in Jazt’a represent morphemes rather than letters. Nouns in names are mandatory, while adjectives are customary and verbs are optional.

Jistlek, the language and alphabet of the Turath is similar to the Sha’an. The language has shorter words for more abstract concepts and larger words for specifics. Names follow the formula of Given ‘Family. Family names are often replaced by Taken names, despite being raised by monogamous couples and a strong cultural affinity for families. Taken names often include professions, and may be earned or taken, hence the name. Earned taken names end with the letters ‘oby’.

On Mixed Relations

The analysis included at the end on interfertility must be clearly stated to be theoretical, as there is no known recordings of interspecies mating. That being said, the information about each species’ reproduction as well as interfertility is not recommended for young Omneuttians, despite being as accurate as possible.

Xiruen reproduce sexually, and during their average lifespan of 95 years, female xiruens are capable of childbearing around the ages of 25-50. This is one of the shorter childbearing timeframes in Omneutta, and is the shortest relative to the length of the lifespan. Anecdotal accounts exist across The Outcropping of females giving birth after the age of 50, in many cases dying as a result. As they age, xiruens lose bone density in their cores first, and shattered hip bones from childbirth past this age range are the usual result.

The reproductive process of avocs is the most understood relative to its complexity. Avotoc reproduce sexually—male and female—though from current understanding there is no penetration or fluid exchange. The pelvic structures of each sex fit together and some sort of interlocking mechanism triggers a hormonal response in the female – as presently understood. A female is capable of carrying a child between the years of 40-90 and males have a similar age range to be viable mates (from 50-80). It is not understood why these ranges differ in length and age. The unborn avoc is carried in a translucent water sac inside their hip cavity for a year until either the female’s or the child’s bones break the sac for an average of a year / 50 weeks.

As with much of their physiology and culture, Kettlah reproduction is little understood. It is known that some physical intermingling of the arm-based tendrils occurs, and that a child is carried on the upper back of a parent for some time. Births have not been witnessed by any who will describe them. It is known that kets can reproduce for the middle third of their lives on average—around 50-100 years of age—and that any two kets can reproduce. Same-sex matings will produce an offspring of the same gender.

Pori reproduce in a method that is both asexual and sexual. Despite being genderless, pori can produce offspring in alone, in pairs, or in theory larger numbers. Genetic information is contained in every drop of the molten material that makes up pori. When removed from the body, it will harden into an egg shortly after exposure to air. Whether or not this molten material is combined with material from another (or more) pori, an egg can hatch into a young pori if given the right conditions in as few as a few hours after it hardens.

Quarryn are similar to the pori in that their offspring come from eggs and that the reproductive method can be either sexual or asexual. Quarryn can reproduce their own daughters beginning at age 10, and if statistically lucky enough to mate with a male, can produce offspring around at age 20 from this method. Sexual reproduction is the only way to produce a male, and is not a guarantee to produce one.

Female shani are capable of having liters of two or three between the ages of 15 to 35, on average when mating with males. This roughly 20 year span is the smallest of all Sentient Species, but due to their short lifespans is a relatively long time.

Turath have a large variance of family units, though they can only reproduce sexually. Similar to the shani but for a longer range – females can safely reproduce between 15-40 on average. Though there is no evidence of more than two sets of parental traits in offspring, non-monogamous family units are not uncommon.

Due to their similarities it is widely believed by scientists who study the species’ biology that shani and turths would be the most likely interfertile pairing to produce viable offspring, though there is no way to predict which species would be the resultant offspring, or if there is a chance for either species from the same pairing. It is possible that two other species could mate—with each other or either of the aforementioned candidates—the Xiruen and Quarryn.