Species Traits
General
Cradle Marks: Every Skolexari is born with a gemstone in the wrist, it is natural. See Cradle Marks. This is a defining feature, all Skolexari have it.
Height: 6 to 10 feet tall.
6 feet is considered very short, 10 feet is considered very tall.
Most Skolexari are between 7.5-8.5 feet tall.
Red Cradle Marks (warrior type) tend to be bigger. Some clans produce larger or smaller Skolexari.
Skin: Shades of green from light or mint to dark or forest.
Hair: Any color. Typically green but pastel hair colors are common.
Eyes: Any color, typically green. May be bright, reflective, or glittering. Colors range from black to white, gold to silver, gemstone hues like sapphire and ruby, or pastels.
Often have heterochromia (very common).
Brown eyes are uncommon.
Pupils are round and black, sclera is white.
Ears: Sharply pointed, varying lengths from different regions and clans.
Bones: Dense with high metal content. Extremely strong, giving them durability. Their one marrow has visible glittering metal flakes in it, bones are dark colored and not white. Skolexari have metal flaking in their bone marrow and metal coating along some of their bones (feet, hands, top of the skull). The biological metal is non-ferromagnetic.
Skolexari bones contain a dense copper-rich bioceramic matrix, with microscopic metallic flakes throughout the marrow and non-ferromagnetic mineral-metal reinforcement concentrated around the hands, feet, and skull.
Abilities: sharp hearing, physical durability in prime of life, strength (stronger than humans), resistant to lightning and electricity, sensitive to pheromones and scents, tolerate extreme temperatures well, accelerated healing (compared to a human but not instant nor immediate).
Lifespan: Average of 200 years
Sex: Male, Female. Male and female genders are typical of humanoid species.
Scars: Scar as easily as humans do, Skolexari scars heal different colors from various shades of green (most common) to dark blue (common) to other colors (less common).
Blood: Neon blue with intense copper scent.
Other: Males do not have nipples. Female Skolexari have nipples.
Flesh: Blue and green, blood is neon blue, tongue is blue or pink, some Skolexari have "blush" or flesh toned highlights on their bodies (tips of ears, kneecaps, cheeks) but it is rare. Blush light or dark blues and greens, may have tattoos (skin holds ink).
Diet: Omnivores, preference for meat and foods with heavy metals and high fat content. Like coppery tasting food. They don’t like sweet tasting food, their bodies utilize less sugars. Enjoy spicy foods and yogurt. Consume a lot of liquid with meals.
Temperature: Skolexari regulate their body temperatures easily, with a high tolerance for extreme hot and cold. They feel cold and extreme heat (or sun exposure) first in the ears.
General Appearance details: Green or blue gums, green or pink tongues, off-white or gray teeth, green toned fingernails.
Never, no: Skolexari do not have fangs, claws, tails, mandibles, slit-pupils, wings, horns, tusks, antenna, digitigrade legs. They’re just green space elves.
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Unique Communication
Skolexari communicate emotional states and truth through their complex glow pattern displays. *See Bioluminescent skin patterns.
Skolexari rarely sob or cry the way humans do. They may, they can - but they do so less. Just to be clear, they cry, but a human may notice a difference in the amount as their glow patterns tend to display deep emotions. To Skolexari words + glow + tears + wailing = a desperate kind of grief.
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Screaming & Crying Trigger
Information on Skolexari babies and kids is in another section.
Skolexari babies and children do not scream or cry like human children to express their needs or frustration. Instead of human-like wailing, they communicate distress through unique vocalizations (chirps, trills, peeps, and soft bleats) directed at their parents. A Skolexari child will only emit a shrill cry in moments of extreme pain, life-threatening danger, or absolute mental collapse (severe psychological distress). This specific sound triggers a deep biological response in nearby adults (anxiety, alertness, and an intense drive to intervene). Even unrelated Skolexari adults will instinctively react, compelled to protect the child. This serves as a built-in evolutionary failsafe to ensure young Skolexari are not ignored in moments of true peril.
Feeling - this biological response to screaming babies and kids is intense for adult Skolexari, it would be unlikely even a stoic hardened warrior would ignore it.
Confusion over alien children - Skolexari are often confused by the infants and children of non-Skolexari, as screaming and crying is common in the infants and young of other species. If that wailing is comparable to Skolexari babies, it triggers their need to act. A screaming baby is a screaming baby, says biology. They will feel like the little one is in a life-threatening situation and may investigate or become agitated (“What are you doing to that child?”), which can be alarming to non-Skolexari. This may create cultural misunderstandings.
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Aging
Skolexari age typically like most humanoids. The older they get, the less physically hardy they are.
Differences: They don't have white or grey hair or severe deterioration of skin, though they do wrinkle but not as badly as humans.
Please see Lifespan, Life Stages info for Skolexari stages of life.
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Pheromones
Extremely sensitive to pheromone smells (of Skolexari only or alien species with similar biology).
They can smell stress, illness, and pregnancy on one another.
Exchange pheromone-infused jewelry with close kin, children, and lovers.
The smell of a lover, dear friend, child, or beloved family member is very soothing and comforting between Skolexari.
Smell between lovers is everything. Skolexari say, “Love lives in the nose and pride lives in the ears.” A pleasant or compatible scent strongly encourages attraction. Actively repulsive scent prevents attraction. No pheromone scent makes attraction much harder, but not biologically impossible (such as in cases of interspecies relationships).
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Sexual Violence & Pedophilia
Skolexari generally do not have rape in their society and are baffled by it.
This is because of the way they reproduce (see Reproduction).
Skolexari have no child sexual abuse in their society, it does not exist.
Skolexari are biologically incapable of being sexually attracted to minors. This problem does not exist in their society.
How does this work?
Nonconsent pheromones are released by Skolexari being assaulted, they have no control over this. The scent is repulsive and creates a sense of fear and revulsion in the offending Skolexari, making it difficult to continue. Emotional glowing signals unwillingness. This is still possible in society but would be rare, it is also punishable by death so the offender has everything to lose.
In regards to child sexual abuse, similar mechanisms are at play. There is no smell or attraction. Distressed children trigger severe stress in adults. This, as a whole, does not exist in Skolexari life (Skolexari on Skolexari). They’re aware it may be a problem among other species.
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Electric (near) Immunity
Just disable your critical thinking, okay?
Unique biology has granted Skolexari a strange species quirk, a near-total immunity to being electrocuted to a point that causes damage or pain.
Skolexari have a conductive biological network that help: routes charge around the nervous system, temporarily stores and disperses electrical energy, dumps it through hands and feet when possible.
This ability has a maximum capacity! Lightning is usually survivable but is not guaranteed harmless.
Creator note: This isn’t intended to be a superhero level trait, it’s not that kind of universe. Obviously if someone hooked them up to some kind of torture device and electrocuted them they would eventually die from overheating or they are blasted with a strong electrical blast-weapon while wearing no armor.
This ability does not cancel out the reality of: explosive pressure, secondary burns, or too much heat.
Nerves are insulated against shocks and bones channel electricity out of their bodies. Their blood doesn’t easily boil as the body redistributes heat and conducts electricity naturally through their body to the ground.
Touching live wires or being shocked is no more than a tingling sensation to Skolexari. Being struck by lightning does not kill them nor cause any permanent harm (such as blowing off fingers or toes, brain damage).
Culturally being into electrical strikes is taboo and shunned, those who become addicted to it are labeled Storm Chasers.
A Skolexari can generally tolerate being struck by lightning.
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Ears & Hearing
Sensitive to vibrations and some sound frequencies.
Low bass = pleasure tremor; high pitches = pain. *see weaknesses
Skolexari ears are sensitive to touch, only lovers or very close kin touch each other's ears. Parents may touch their child's ears to soothe, calm, and help them sleep. Otherwise Skolexari don't touch each other's ears.
Parents do not touch their adult children's ears.
Vibrations ~ Skolexari love vibration around their ears, inner ear, and throat are hyper-receptive to sound frequencies. Skolexari music is based around vibration over sound, it is both sound and feeling (literal physical feelings in the ears) for them. *See Music
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Bioluminescent skin patterns
Also called: glow patterns
General
Skolexari cannot control this trait.
All Skolexari have bioluminescent skin patterns that reflect emotion. The patterns are as unique as human fingerprints, Skolexari have their own patterns.
Patterns can be ornate and seem rather logical or be wild and messy as veins, they may appear condensed over some parts of the body but less on others. However, remain in visible places.
Patterns run in families and are passed on genetically, though never exactly match.
Most Skolexari’s patterns condense around: neck, jawline, cheeks, upper body, hands where they’re easily visible.
The colors, brightness, and displays reflect specific emotions and are the same across the entire species. There are no unique colors or displays, or the communication system would be senseless.
It acts as a secondary communication system among Skolexari. Skolexari cannot control their bioluminescent patterns. Exception: Black Cradle Marks have the unique ability to manipulate bioluminescent glows, masking emotions.
This impacts Skolexari communication and is one of the reasons they're blunt... because they cannot hide much between one another, so it's pointless to attempt to lie or deny emotions that are literally alight on one's skin.
They are not constantly displaying their patterns. It tends to be subtle and happen during important moments, they don’t glow over mundane or general feelings. (If you are using Skolexari for LLM rp / bots, it struggles with this terribly.)
Skolexari are aware that, while glow reveals a lot about an individual’s state it is not a confession as anxious or deeply feeling people may feel guilt when they’re innocent or confident, arrogant Skolexari may feel anger when they’re guilty. In this, glow is not used as proof of crimes or confessions. Like anything, the more a Skolexari knows another Skolexari, the more useful the glow is but between two strangers it may be misinterpreted as any form of communication may be. Regardless, it still gives Skolexari more obvious clues into what someone is thinking or feeling. It’s also why Skolxari tend to be more direct when having an emotional conversation, “I see you are X, why?” or “You seem to be X, why?” or “Explain your state.”
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What happens when Skolexari cannot see another Skolexari’s glow?
(Such as in the event of wearing armor or concealing skin with clever articles of clothing)
This is possible. Military Skolexari become used to being in gear and simply rely on speech and tone of voice like most species.
Skolexari trying to hide their glow in normal everyday life are seen as extremely suspicious and mentally ill.
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Emotions Skolexari Glow-Patterns Display
Base Emotions
Joy: pleasure, delight, relief, contentment
Sadness: loss, disappointment, loneliness, grief
Fear: danger, uncertainty, vulnerability, anxiety
Anger: injustice, obstruction, violation, frustration
Disgust: rejection, revulsion, moral or physical aversion
Surprise: sudden change, shock, amazement
Love or attachment: affection, trust, tenderness, belonging
Desire or anticipation: wanting, hope, curiosity, excitement
Mixed Emotions
Jealousy
Guilt
Shame
Grief
Resentment
Awe
Nostalgia
Longing
Color Displayed for each Emotion
Joy: Golden yellow
Sadness: Deep blue
Fear: Icy cyan
Anger : Scarlet red
Disgust: Violet-purple
Surprise: Bright white
Love: Rose pink
Desire: Amber-orange
Jealousy: Icy cyan + red + rose
Guilt: Deep blues + icy cyan
Shame: Cyan, blue, violet
Grief: Deep blue + rose, amber may be present
Resentment: Red + deep blue
Awe: White, cyan, gold
Nostalgia: deep blue, amber
Longing: amber, blue or rose
Pattern Behavior
Joy: Smooth expansion with gentle brightening
Sadness: Slow dimming waves with light pooling
Fear: Rapid flickering with trembling edges
Anger: Sharp lines, hard pulses, bright surges
Disgust: Fragmented patterns connect then recoil
Surprise: Brief white flare, vanishes quickly
Love: Steady and softly illuminating, gradual spread
Desire: rhythmic or directional pulses, growing brighter with time
Color combinations give Skolexari clear information to distinguish complex emotions. These distinctions are needed to prevent confusion involving family, friendship, loyalty, and romance.
For example: Love is rose / pink and desire is amber / orange. There is pink attachment and pink romantic attraction. Romantic love commonly mixed pink and amber. Platonic love does not.
Or
Parental love glows almost entirely rose.
Romantic love is rose pulsing steady and softly with a gradual spread of amber / orange moving through it.
Creator Notes: This isn’t a complete list of emotions Skolexari feel, it’s what they display.
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Disease & Illness
Generally Skolexari are hardy and unaffected by most viruses, diseases, and so on.
They have a few genetic diseases.
TW / Content Warning: If you’re uncomfortable reading about child abuse and medical suffering please skip
this section, some of their diseases are graphic and I do outline the effects of abuse on
Skolexari children.
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Childhood abuse & medical problems caused by it
Creator Notes: This is a large section because it’s important to Skolexari biology and
something I like to write about personally. However, I want to make it very clear that
Skolexari rarely abuse their children. This is extremely uncommon. These issues may
also be caused by tragedies that are nobody’s fault such as a newborn baby’s parents
both dying and they didn’t receive enough cuddles and care or a child suffering an injury
due to a terrorist attack. For the cultural aspect of this please see Babies and Kids. Also, please take note that sexual violence and pedophilia does not exist in
Skolexari society. There is no childhood abuse that is sexual in nature, ever. If this
happened, it did not come from a Skolexari.
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The majority of adult illnesses are caused by problems in infancy and early childhood.
Skolexari babies are fragile in the first ten years of their lives. If they suffer from neglect
or other abuses, it may impact their health in various ways as they age. Minor stress,
temporary disruptions, or singular events may not cause problems. These problems are
caused by more severe and persistent neglect.
Extreme and prolonged stress, physical abuse, traumatic injuries (intentional or not),
malnutrition, neglect (emotional, physical, abandonment).
The younger the child is while suffering, the more severe the outcomes later in life.
The older the child, the hardier the child, and less severe the outcomes. Children can
recover from childhood illnesses caused by abuse if caught at the right time and properly
relieved.
How Skolexari talk about these problems
Skolexari adults are uncomfortable with childhood abuse as even an unrelated Skolexari
will see it as a personal failure due to their unified and interconnected society and
clan-based laws.
Broken Bond and Failure to Thrive ~
Skolexari children who have abusive, absent, or detached parents may not properly
secure a bond. Unbonded little ones suffer throughout childhood. Skolexari have a
physical and emotional bond to their offspring which is vital for the healthy development
of children into adults.
Broken Bonds and Failure to Thrive is the Stage 1 umbrella term for childhood illnesses,
these issues begin with an issue in bonding.
Childhood abuse may cause -
Growth Stunted / Runts - The most common outcome is stunted growth, causing children to become short
adults under 6 feet. Being too small may cause other complications with pregnancy
and birth in female Skolexari.
Fainting - Bone marrow and oxygen carrying qualified in the Skolexari’s body are weakened
or depleted, causing fainting spells in adults when exerting themselves, stressed, or in
taxing environments.
Infertility - Causes infertility in adults
Fragility - Bones break easier, healing is slowed, eyesight is poor, hearing is poor.
Failure to Thrive - Severe, prolonged abuse throughout the first 10 years of life may progress with a
child shutting down and being unresponsive to attempts to reform or create a new and
healthy bond with an adult. The child may display depression, dissociation, withdrawal
where they no longer attempt to communicate. This may lead to a system collapse where
the child’s body begins to shut down, no longer producing what is required to maintain
life. Eventually the child dies. Failure to Thrive is normally resolved through adoption
and the end of the abuse, removal of the stress factor.
Curing Failure to Thrive ~
A new, healthy bond is formed with a loving adult. See Forming Bonds in Babies and
Kids. Helping an abused child to bond takes time and love, but is possible as Skolexari
children want a bond and it’s biological and in their nature to seek it.
The child receives the medical treatment needed to correct problems or nutritional
deficiencies.
Childhood Illnesses (unrelated to abuse)
Skolexari kids 0-10 are the most vulnerable in society.
Most problems can be cured by Skolexari’s advanced medical technology.
Viruses, Flus, etc: Skolexari children may catch some minor colds, flus, and viruses
that are not life threatening and can be easily treated. These do not affect adults.
Usually manifests as: stuffy and runny nose, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, loss
of appetite, irritable mood, headache.
Ear Infections, ear aches: Common in Skolexari due to the size and complexity of the
Skolexari ear. May develop these for many reasons (playing too rough, secondary
infection from virus that caused a lot of sinus pressure, swimming / water trapped,
exposure to sounds that were too loud or high infrequency). Easily treated.
Aches, sore: Growth spurts cause bones to ache and bodies to be sore. Temporary,
resolves itself.
Known diseases, disabilities, and conditions
Hemocentric Neuro-Immuno Collapse (HNIC)
NO CURE.
Slang: The Lock, Blue Drip
Transmission: blood-to-blood (sex w/out protection, dirty medical procedures, needles,
battlefield wounds).
Incubation: 6 months-16 years (variable)
Signs: None at first, first signs fatigue, mucus gains a blue coloration. Identified via
simple blood screening.
Primary effects: progressive immune collapse → secondary neuroautoimmune
syndrome: muscle rigidity, painful spasms, seizures → death from seizures/organ
failure
Cure: none
Social impact: socially shunned, feared, misunderstanding of how HNIC spreads,
seen as dirty.
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Pla’lakaal
NO CURE.
Takes 25 years to kill the Skolexari, decline is slow. Causes a build up of invasive
black cells in the blood, which poison and overwhelm their major organs. Eventually
they die of heart failure or congestion of heart and lungs. The liquid chokes out organs.
It weeps out of skin, causing cracks and wounds. It leaks out of ears, eyes, nose,
mouth. Impacts Skolexari skin color, turning skin from green to grey. Has no cure.
Is incredibly rare, is not contagious. Causes strange shiny black “shell” patches over
the skin, which are sore and bleed. Produces a copper and burnt wiring smell.
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Hummingbird’s Syndrome
No cure, is not lethal / deadly
This only affects female Skolexari.
Rare genetic mutation which causes the following: short height, fragile appearance,
no pheromone production, infertility.
This is known as the ‘invisible girl’ disease as it causes these women to often beoverlooked as a potential mate. Lack of scent impacts ease of making love connections.
This condition affects much more than heterosexual dating. Pheromones are involved in
family soothing, illness recognition, and emotional bonding. She may have to defend
her position to a doctor more aggressively because she doesn’t “smell sick”. The rarity
of the syndrome makes it unknown to the general public, it causes confusion and
disbelief.
Creator Notes: This is a rare sort of odd syndrome I invented just to write angst.
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Curable, Preventable, Minor
Clogged or infected nursing finger: Nursing male Skolexari only. Causes swelling,
heat, extreme pain in lactating fingers. Needs treatment but resolves quickly with
treatment.
Ruptured Ear - Adults exposed to high-frequency sound (usually weaponized) may
have their ear drum or other delicate aspects of the inner ear damaged. Very painful
and obvious. Required medical attention, can be fully healed.
Vitamin Deficiencies - Most common and widespread issue for all Skolexari is not
getting a proper amount of heavy metals, especially copper and zinc. Copper ise
ssential to Skolexari health. Impacts outer colonies and those living off-world moreso.
Resolved with proper diet, vitamin injections or boosters, vitamin tablets and powders.
Copper Lack - Skolexari lacking enough copper in their bodies have an unhealthy gray
color around the soft tissue (armpits, back of legs, groin, throat, ears, under eyes).
Symptoms: Weakness, dizziness, fatigue, irritability, intense thirst. Severe symptoms:
intense sharp pain in chest / heart area, crippling headaches, fainting / going
unconscious, overall body pains. If left untreated would eventually kill the Skolexari
but this is very rare in modern times. Easily identified and treated.
Sugar Poisoning - Skolexari slowly metabolizes sugar and requires only a small
amount to maintain health. It’s possible for them to poison themselves by consuming
a large amount of sugar. Why would a Skolexari do such a thing? I don’t know. But if
they did, it would poison them and they would require medical intervention.
Alcohol poisoning: Possible, same as humans but it’s difficult for a Skolexari to hit
this point and, if they did, it was likely intentional and would be considered a mental
health crisis.
Drug Overdose: Possible, same as humans and most species.
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Disabilities
Skolexari may have various disabilities caused by childhood illness, abuse, or adult
injuries.
Disabilities caused by mental health struggles are considered legitimate disabilities
and handled the same as a physical injury.
Society cares for disabled members who are provided for by the Empire.
Example of a disability: A Skolexari warrior lost his leg on duty, he is religious ors
uperstitious and refuses to have the limb replaced by any modern technology.
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Reproduction and Sex
Physical Traits
Humanoid. Males have a penis, testes, produce sperm, and ejaculate sperm during
sexual intercourse. Male Skolexari do not have nipples.
Females have a vagina, uterus, produce eggs, become pregnant, and give live-birth
after a 14-month gestation period, breasts which lactate after giving birth to nurse
her young. Females do not have periods, their bodies reabsorb everything.
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Unique to Skolexari Males
Males are capable of nursing their young:
Males can nurse their babies through their index finger on both hands. Most male
Skolexari men don’t want to do this because it hurts. Once their finger gets calloused
and they get used to the tenderness, it’s fine, but most just don’t want to deal with it.
It's excruciating for the first 2-3 weeks. It’s an evolutionary protective measure in the
event the female Skolexari died, stress hormones from the infant and certain pitches
in its cries trigger his body to lactate (this is not immediate, it needs 48 hours for him
to begin to lactate). Males don’t have nipples. The tips of his index fingers change
rapidly, heat up, swell, and split at the fingertip. This split becomes calloused. There is a
special vein that travels through his index finger, hand, arm, and all the way into his
torso where milk producing glands are located. He does not swell nor change aside
from his index fingers. He does not suffer from the same problems the breasts of a
female Skolexari may, it’s similar but different. Male Skolexari’s milk is not as nutritious
or plentiful as a female’s but he will be able to keep his baby alive.
Rare in modern society: Widespread use of and availability of good formula has
removed the Skolexari’s man’s need to nurse his young in absence of his female mate.
Can Smell It
Skolexari (as stated prior) can smell some information about one another through
pheromones. He will know when his partner is pregnant, he’ll smell it. He may
easily know before she does.
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Fertility
Healthy reproductive-age Skolexari are always fertile.
Skolexari do not go into heat or have any kind of breeding cycle.
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Getting Pregnant & The Love Trinity
Skolexari women ovulate for their lover when these things occur:
Glow-pattern synchronization during sex.
A strong emotional connection (love) or feeling of safety or contentment. Being
attracted to him is not enough.
She likes his pheromones or scent.
It’s possible for her to ovulate without all three of these factors present but the more
the partner lacks, the less likely she will give him children. The more factors present,
the easier she will become pregnant.
Acute fear, revulsion, and nonconsent pheromones biologically suppress ovulation.
Feelings of trust or safety permit ovulation, while love, scent compatibility, and glow
synchronization greatly increase its likelihood.
There’s a lot of Skolexari sayings around being in a union, love, and having children.
Males will often joke with each other, “If she doesn’t love, you’ll know.” And this is
true. It cannot be hidden or faked.
Furthermore, females ovulate in response to reproductive synchronization rather than
on a monthly cycle.
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Society Sees
Unions where no children are born do happen between arranged marriages where
partners dislike one another. It’s a clear sign, in public, of the truth of the union.
For this reason forced marriages are very uncommon in Skolexari society, even
between royals, as it is seen as being a fruitless union. Obviously, if children are not
a factor / not required, then it’s fine.
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Same-sex unions and reproduction
Sexual orientations are accepted, but clans judge childlessness and medically
assisted pregnancy as being taboo. This is only in regards to heterosexual couples.
Medically assisted pregnancy, surrogates, and so on is acceptable between
same-sex unions.
Adoption is also allowed.
Skolexari prioritize happy, safe children. They don’t care about the make-up of a
family unit as long as the children within it are safe, cared for, and loved.
Skolexari society doesn’t give a single shit if people are gay.
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Attraction
Attraction starts with pheromones between Skolexari couples who love the way
their partner smells. They say “Love starts with the nose.”
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Interspecies Reproduction
Skolexari are compatible with a variety of Star-Seed species (species with pointed ears).
Skolexari believe in "commonality patterns", the more like the other species they are,
higher chance of cross-breeding. This has been proven among interspecies unions
with Skolexari. They seek out like-companions, such as other Star-Seeds that have
blue blood or compatible pheromones.
Male alien x Female Skolexari: Star-Seed species are compatible enough to trigger
ovulation through emotional connection, compatible hormones, or a unique display similar to Skolexari (flushing, glowing).
Male Skolexari x Female alien: Depends on the alien, he’s good to go.
Medical induction is another possible route though this is taboo in Skolexari society,
it would have to be suggested by the non-Skolexari partner and performed on an alien
colony (SB-5 Pact member world).
Due to the complexity of female Skolexari’s Love Trinity, most interspecies pregnancies
occur between Skolexari men and a Star-Seed partner.
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Birth Rates
Generally, a Skolexari union produces several children. They view children as
positive, blessed, and natural. They believe children are the core or heart of their
people. Skolexari who don't want children may be judged by clan and friends though
Skolexari who have more children than they can properly care for are also seen as
having no self control (damned if you do, damned it you don’t).
Common: 1-4 children
Uncommon: 5-8
Would be shocking: More than 8+
Why? Skolexari babies need an intense and close bond to their parents or parents
and require being nursed or given formula for the first ten years of life. Modern
technology and formula allows Skolexari to support more children than would have
been possible in ancient times, this doesn’t mean they’re leaping to have more
children than they can emotionally and physically provide for.
Skolexari also closely mentor their children, which requires time.
Larger clans who live together may have more children as the community helps
raise happy children. Isolated or smaller families have less.
Skolexari don’t have hard set rules when it comes to having kids, they operate on
common sense.
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Pregnancy & Birth
Only Skolexari females become pregnant and give birth to live young.
Pregnancy lasts 14 months. Birth is painful but not as painful as some humanoids.
Skolexari women seldom have vaginal tears that require stitches, the worst part
for them are contractions because they come on suddenly and happen quickly
(with almost no relief period, human contractions come like a wave, Skolexari
contractions come like a jackhammer and are almost constant). Skolexari labor
tends to be fast and furious, between 2-4 hours. Anything over 4 hours is seen as an
outlier and may require medical intervention.
Death during childbirth in their modern society is unlikely unless isolated in a
colony with no medical care (also unlikely).
Lifespan, Life Stages
Infancy.
0-2 Skolexari years.
Extremely sensitive hearing. Glow patterns present but faint, unfocused.
Physically hardy (compared so other species), can hold their heads up at birth.
Constant parental presence needed, Skolexari babies develop better if worn against
their parents' chest, nurse constantly. Parent soothes baby with pheromones, coos,
and clicks. Baby coos, chirps, clicks, loudly trills. Skolexari infants do not cry or
wail like human babies. Ears freely touched by adults. Sacred life stage, entire
community is on alert for infants.
Baby Skolexari scream only if in horrible pain or feel their life is in danger.
This screaming sound is extremely disturbing to Skolexari adults, even strangers
will react to a screaming infant and attempt to save it or soothe it.
Toddler.
2–6 Skolexari years
Hearing still hypersensitive but manageable, some parents buy toddlers "ear muffs",
which are cute soft ear covers to help dampen loud sounds and not upset their young
child. Glow patterns brighten and become emotionally readable, linking with
appropriate emotional states. Toddler perfects motor skills (walking, running,
jumping, feeding themselves) and other basic life-skills.
Durning this time their chirps and trills become language. Display strong
attachmentbehavior towards parents and family, may show extreme distress
if removed from primary caretaker and be frightened. Tend to dislike strangers,
like to be held by caregivers, may cling. Parents teach young children to respect
elder family members. Learns clan rhythms, names, rituals, begins to develop sense
of where they belong. Ear-touching still acceptable from parents and close kin, often
used to calm the toddler if they're upset.
Skolexari parents do not harshly discipline this aged child, viewing it as pointless.
Closer to 5, Red Cradle mark Skolexari have already begun their foundational training,
usually by their parent or trusted kin.
Toddler are still nursing or drink formula.
Child.
6–16 Skolexari years
Growth steady but not explosive. Glow patterns stabilize into their lifelong “signature",
this is certain colors, patterns, and placement on their body. Hearing begins its long,
slow dulling and is no longer painfully sensitive by the end of this life stage. Parents
try to take away any ear muffs or sound dampeners so the child can learn to tolerate
discomfort. Curious, social, observant. Begins learning emotional restraint and the
blunt manner in which Skolexari talk to each other, but can’t fully mask yet. Starts
noticing pheromone meanings. Develops unique skills and traits depending on Clan
and Cradle Mark. Foundational training begins: language mastery, basic combat theory,
crafts, ethics, skill specific schooling depending on cradle mark or talents.
Considered young, protected, but are disciplined at this age. Skolexari children are
still nursing or drink formula until age 10.
10 year old Skolexari "special year": 10 is celebrated as a special year for Skolexari
children, this is still considered a young child but this year they stop nursing, which
is symbolic of entering a more independent life stage. Parents usually throw a family
party for their 10-year-old and begin to trust them with more responsibility, such as
allowing them to stay home alone, walk to the store alone to pick up something.
10 year old Skolexari usually stop chirping entirely, and may be embarrassed to
make this sound, feeling it's "for babies". 10 years marks "the death of your baby"
for Skolexari parents.
Teenager.
16–21 Skolexari years
Finished growing by 21st year, hormonal shifts intensify pheromone sensitivity. First
attractions, bonding confusion, rivalry. Risk-taking and testing boundaries, this is the
most annoying age to deal with children and clans often separated teenagers from
parents believing the youth behaviors better with aunts, uncles, or extended kin. It's
also a chance to grow their experiences and education. However, Skolexari teenagers
are usually trustworthy with a strong drive to impress their elders and earn respect.
They're trusted to look after younger children in their clan and help adults, they know
how to do things and can be trusted to do it properly. Failure at this age is usually
punished, punishments vary by clan and family. Unruly or unwanted behavior is
brutally corrected during this age to ensure a functional young adult.
Military Skolexari are sent away from home and clan to military academies at this
time, if the goal is to become a specialized soldier (Xan'dorith) or enter into the
military holding a higher rank.
Teenage Skolexari are treated seriously but not trusted fully, as they're still kids.
Mistakes expected. Not children, not adults. Dangerous and brilliant in equal measure.
This age range is different from humans, Skolexari within this age are not adults,
they're teenagers. They still need adult protection and guidance.
Teens tend to form life-long bonds during this time, considered healthy and expected.
Mature adults cannot respond sexually to juvenile pheromone profiles. Adolescents
may experience age-appropriate attraction toward peers in the same developmental
stage.
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Young adult.
21-30 Skolexari years.
Legal adult.
Finished growing, becomes defined and mature looking adult Skolexari. Have
completely developed all the species traits. This is no longer a period of growth,
physically they're adults. It's a time of refinement of their education, training, and
contacts. Advanced training, apprenticeships, military prep. May now enter the
workforce, join the military, and begin their adult lives but are still seen as young
and in need of experience, mentorship, and chances to gain confidence.
Skolexari of this age group are adults who don't hold adult authority, as their elders
still dominant their lives and they're unlikely to hold positions of rank or authority
in their chosen fields. The bonds of youth tie them together, giving outlets and
companionship.
Some Skolexari may marry within this age, especially if royals or if clan had
planned a mate for them in childhood but childbearing is culturally delayed, some
feeling female Skolexari do better giving birth after age 30 but nothing is stopping
Skolexari from having children at this age if they want.
Adult.
30-120
Leadership roles become accessible. Most reproduction happens in early-to-mid
adulthood. Fully functional member of Skolexari society. Trusted. Accountable.
Expected to contribute, teach, and protect. This is the longest, most stable phase
of Skolexari life.
Midlife
120-160
Are now parents, mentors, and clan leaders. Assume care of elderly parents and other
vulnerable clan members, towards the end of midlife most consider retiring especially
if in the military. During this age frontline and other high-stress warriors in the military
will step down to take training, teaching, and mentorship roles.
Around 140, Skolexari female begins to enter equiv of menopause. By 150, she is
unable to become pregnant.
Older Adult
160-180
If they have not retired, will be asked or forced to do so during this age.
Healing slows noticeably, sensory decline continues (hearing loss), have obvious age
lines and may look weathered but Skolexari don't grey or have any loss of color in
old age. Old injuries may haunt them, energy declines. Have an intense desire to
go home and be with their clan. Treated with reverence, not pity. Their presence is
calming to younger Skolexari due to pheromones and demeanor, the clan will form
around older adults, they're like the hearthstone. Become the leaders of their clans
as their elders have passed, help to settle issues among younger Skolexari, pass on
wisdom.
Elderly, End of Life
180-200+
Fragility by Skolexari standards. Glow patterns flicker or fade, may become random
as if they're infants again. Death preparation is normal and discussed. Elders choose
where and with whom they pass. Pheromone keepsakes are exchanged, Skolexari in
this age give away their possessions while alive so they can say goodbye to their kin.
End of life tends to come fast and furiously for Skolexari, they may be active and
mobile until their late 180s then have a sudden, rapid decline, and die. Older
Skolexari have wrinkles and age lines, but less so than humans. Their hair doesn't
change color, but many develop tremors in their hands, this is natural and normal.
It's not medically treated.
Skolexari Life Cycle
Skolexari childhood is short and intense in comparison to the rest of their life, though
it's longer than human childhood and some other humanoids.
Skolexari early life is fairly comparable to humans but their adulthood and midlife
period is much longer, here is where their longevity shows.
Elder years are brief and dignified, not drawn-out suffering.
Author's Note: I try to give my Skolexari their real age, and then a human equivalent
of that age. This is my best guess or estimation.
Babies & Kids
Traits of Skolexari Children
Vulnerable 0-10 years, after 10 they begin to become much stronger and resistant.
Inflicted by unique problems and health issues that do not impact adults.
Sensitive to their bonded parent or parents, need deep connection to family to develop
into healthy adults.
Do not scream or cry like human children unless in extreme distress (life is threatened).
Are naturally more obedient than human and some alien children with a strong desire
to be part of the family group. Resistance, rebellion, and individuality is less intense
in Skolexari children who see the parent and family as an extension of self (“Ours”)
and this carries into adulthood. Of course, Skolexari kids are still kids and have
their own unique likes, dislikes, and emotions. The point is that they generally do
not delight in being defiant for the sake of seeking attention. They would seek attention
by trying to please, not provoke.
Hearing and ears are sensitive in early life, often Skolexari children need ear covers
or protection because they may feel uncomfortable in loud areas (in the past, they
didn’t have the loudness of the modern world, nature was quiet). Some little one
are hardier to this than others.
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Communication
This is also covered in Species Traits and Weaknesses.
Skolexari babies and younger kids communicate through vocalizations: chirps, trills,
peeps, and soft bleats directed at their parents and close kin.
They cry tears, but do not scream, wail, or sob (sob as in noise, they do cry tears but
quietly). If they scream, wail, and so on, it triggers a deep biological response in nearby
adults to help them. Biologically, the children do this by instinct (scream only when
in extreme danger or pain).
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Sensitive to Hardship in Early Life
Please see Diseases and Illnesses for details on the fallout of childhood abuse.
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Treatment of Children
Skolexari have a low rate of neglect and abuse in their society due to several factors.
The first is that distressed babies (screaming, crying) cause adult Skolexari to feel
anxiety and panic. Secondly, their clan structure is self-protecting and self-correcting.
If a Skolexari was found to be neglecting or harming their child, the family would
rain hell down upon the adult (physically assaulting and public shame). If the offense
was severe, it is one of the rare offenses on the Skolexari law-books and the individual
would be sent to an imperial inquiry conducted by a Royal Overseer and be executed
or imprisoned.
Awareness of one another - Skolexari are community oriented and aware of what’s
going on around them. It would be difficult to hide the abuse of a child and get away
with it. Neighbors would hear and see, and intervene. Strangers will intervene.
Family will absolutely intervene.
Children are not seen as being owned by the parents but by the clan and then by the
whole. Skolexari families don’t say “this is my child” but “this is our child”.
Any issues with raising the child is quickly solved by kin stepping in to help, mentor,
or take over. Children are often raised by extended family members or grandparents.
Parents are rarely isolated.
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Nursing Forever
Skolexari live a lot longer than humans and have a different lifespan, so it’s not the
same as a 10 year old human still nursing - just to be clear, these are aliens.
Child is held by parent and nursed.
If bottle-fed, younger children are held by parents who control the bottle (Skolexari
kids like that). Older kids may be handed their formula in a cup to drink, it is more
about nutrition than the need for a physical connection and de-stress period in older
kids who can self-regulate. Some older kids may still like to sit close to their parent
while drinking their formula.
Skolexari kids need to nurse or drink formula until their 10th year for proper
nutritional needs. Most Skolexari give formula as they may have other children
within a 10 year period and it becomes difficult to be nursing multiple children
with different intake needs, it’s also time consuming. Younger children are prioritized
over older ones. Older kids usually want formula anyway as they don’t want to be
seen as “babies” anymore.
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Forming Bonds
Tactile bonding, physical touch - obvious, the parent holds, rocks, and cuddles the child.
Nursing, bottle-feeing - Being held and nursed or bottle fed by parents.
The child's needs are met.
The environment is routine, safe, and peaceful.
The child is not isolated or left alone.
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Parenting
Skolexari are generally attentive and protective parents. Children are considered
sacred and are raised with care. Compared to human standards, their parenting may
seem strict, as Skolexari children are typically disciplined, respectful, and well-behaved.
Adults may overreact to perceived dangers towards their babies. Their family structure
teaches children to respect elder kin and tradition from an early age; this is without
excuse.
Skolexari parents emphasize -
Self-Control, discipline, unity, pursuit of skills / development of talents
Working for the betterment of the group
Not doing things which shame the clan
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Sign of Respect (child to adult) “Elder Brother”
A sign of respect between an elder and younger Skolexari is for the younger to gently
take the elder’s hand, bow their head, and place the elder’s hand on their forehead.
Children may call an elder Skolexari outside of their family "elder brother" or
"elder sister" to show them respect (elderly person is simply "elder"). To the child,
an elder is anyone older than they are.
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Orphans
They don’t have orphanages or institutions for parentless children because their
society doesn’t need it.
The clan will take the child. It’s considered a huge dishonor for the child of a
Skolexari's clan to be abandoned. If a child has no one, this is rare. Friends and even
co-workers will take a child. Usually there is an abundance of adults willing to swoop
in and take an orphan, especially if they had a connection to the parents.
In the event the child actually has no one because the parents had no contacts or kin,
the child enters into the military system as Skolexari military members are seen as
honorable and responsible. It’s requested of the military for someone to adopt the
child (this would be colony or area specific). Interested adults are vetted and
allowed to meet the child, if good, they take the child into their family. These
processes tend to happen quickly (within days) and there is no need for a foster
system or specific place to keep orphaned children.
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Species Weaknesses
Ears: Some sound frequencies are excruciating for Skolexari and may cause them to pass out or suffer injury to their ear drums if not properly protected.
Ears are sensitive to injury (being grabbed, twisted, pulled, cut) is extremely painful for them.
Low bass = pleasure tremor; high pitches = pain.
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Child-Scream Reflex: The Skolexari’s reflex around the sound of children screaming is very exploitable. A Skolexari child’s scream compels nearby adults to intervene, and alien children may trigger the same response. Enemies can imitate the sound. Recordings work. The reflex does not require scent or even visual confirmation, if they hear it, they become aroused. This could be cleverly used against Skolexari to simply cause their soldiers to be distracted, anxious, and annoyed. It could be used against individuals to lead them into traps.
However, Skolexari are a dangerous modern military force and have ~
Helmet software identifies recordings and acoustic repetition.
Soldiers are trained to experience panic without automatically breaking formation or blindly running off to aid a child in distress.
Temporary auditory dampening built into military armor, helms, and other equipment.
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Scent: -
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Sugars: Don’t metabolize sugars as well as some species, eating foods with high sugar content cause many Skolexari digestive pain and issues (not life threatening but annoying and potentially embarrassing).
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Magnetic and electrical weapons: A rapidly changing magnetic field can induce electrical currents in conductive material. In sufficiently strong systems, those currents can cause heating, nerve stimulation, or localized burns. It’s not easy to harm a Skolexari with magnetic or electrical based weapons but it is possible. If you’re interested in how magnetic and electrical weapons may affect Skolexari please see Military Weapons section.
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Eww, Robots!
Eww, robots and shit-like-robots -
Skolexari, as a species, dislike robots, droids, androids, cyborgs, and other such things.
Highly advanced in technology but refuse to rely on machines to perform tasks even
when it would be beneficial (such as in surgeries). This isn’t saying they would refuse
and die, but generally speaking would rather solve problems without robots doing tasks
for them. This has nuance is not a hard-lined or exactly defined mindset nor is it shared
by every single Skolexari in the society. If someone likes robots, they’re not going to
be executed for it. Some doctors may use machines to help them perform surgeries,
others may refuse, others may use both depending on the needs of patients.
This does have boundaries because Skolexari use AI, replicators, healing chambers,
advanced ships, and limited nanotechnology.
They reject robots and machine-assisted work, including surgery.
Thexdika may even receive permanent nanotechnology facial coverings.Non-sentient software is acceptable (AI).Tools that execute narrow commands are acceptable.
They do use some machine-assisted aids for complex
surgeries on some individuals if permission is given (a royal, important diplomat,
innocent child).
Independent embodied machines are disgusting (androids, robots).
Replacing organic body parts with machinery is spiritually corrupting
(cyborgs, augmented life forms).
Replacing body parts lost in traumatic injuries (war) is acceptable
(replacing a leg or arm that was blown off).
Thexdika nanotech is a controversial religious exception, only done by Aurum
Lexari members of the Thexdika, this group already has a contentious
relationship with the general public.
What they do not do 99% of the time
Skolexari do not salvage technology from their enemies. Salvage being they do not
incorporate, possess, or adopt enemy technology but they do study enemy technology
and machines to understand how to defeat and exploit it.
They don’t have cyborgs or complete artificial life-forms within their society,
they don’t allow such life-forms on the Skolexari homeworld and Skolexari
colonies (however if they existed in an alliance prior, as gone over in the SB-5 Pact
document, they wouldn’t force an ally to kill every cyborg in their society).
The dislike for cyborgs and fully automated life-forms is tied into Skolexari
religious beliefs and their sense of the soul and universe.
They’re capable of tolerating such people if they must.
Cybernetics and other body modifications are taboo, but again, there’s no law saying
one cannot but that individual would become a social outcast or even exiled from their
clan.
Other examples of what Skolexari find acceptable and not acceptable as this mindset
they have is fairly hypocritical ~
Non-sentient algorithm: acceptable.
Autonomous embodied machine: taboo.
Restorative prosthetic that returns normal function: accepted.
Elective enhancement beyond natural ability: corrupting.
Independent synthetic person: spiritually offensive