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Post by Lulu on Apr 1, 2010 22:49:49 GMT -5
Humans
Species: Humans (Killers)
Overland Term: Humans
Name Formula: Human names are generally derived from Old English names, a list of which can be found at this link. Many of the humans also share names with Shakespearean characters, which can be found here: (A - K); (L - Z).
Typical Appearance: As the humans have not been in the Underland very long yet, the trait of violet eyes, silver hair, and translucent skin has not developed yet. Human appearances very in the Underland at this point in time, although all have very pale skin from years without sunlight.
Size: The average height of a fully grown male human is around 5'5''-6'0'', the average height of a female human 5'0''-5'5'', although this varies.
Childhood: Since we're going back to how the Underland was in the 16th century, a lot more is expected of a child than what the norm is today. They are expected to act like little adults and conduct themselves accordingly, so a child back then was a lot more mature than a child today.
Humans at birth are commonly around 20 inches long, but this differs in many humans. An infant learns to walk at around age 1-2, and talking at around age 1. As a generation of new children who have never been to the Overland begins to sprout up, the Underlanders are teaching their children the important aspects of life down here. At typically 3-4 years old, the children are learning to ride on fliers, to develop a strong trust for the humans' closest allies. Though it was rare for female children to be educated in the Overland at this time, the Underlanders are working to establish schools for all children in Regalia. At six, practically all Underlander children will begin training with a sword, as it is most important that this generation is brought up with strong military skills. If the family has a specific business, such as farming or smithing, they will begin to learn that as well. Learning continues throughout the late childhood years. Bonds with fliers are encouraged to be made around ages 11-13, but many Underlanders bond later. At 13-14 Underlander children should have completed battle training and may be sent to fight if necessary, and at 15-16 he or she is considered fully grown and can leave home and marry.
General Characteristics: Pale skin, typical Old English appearances.
Current Allies: Fliers.
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Post by Lulu on Apr 2, 2010 8:30:28 GMT -5
Fliers
Species: Fliers
Overland Term: Bats
Name Formula: Fliers are named for mythological figures, mainly Greek and Roman gods/goddesses/titans.
Typical Appearance: Fliers come in a variety of different colors, ranging from white to brown to black. Some have unique markings such as spots or stripes. A distinguishing feature of a flier is its overly large ears, perfect for hearing what the darkness prevents the eyes from seeing.
Size: The average wingspan of a fully grown flier can range from 15-30 feet, although this varies greatly.
Childhood: Fliers are typically a foot long at birth, though this varies. They stay with their mother for the first two weeks or so of life, and begin to learn their own tongue. The next few monts of a flier's life is spent learning the human tongue of English, as they are now allies with the Underland's newest arrivals, and practicing survival skills such as fishing and flying. At six months the flier should be capable of surviving on its own, but the vast majority of them remain in the nest at this age. At around a year of age, the flier is full grown and can leave the nest permanantly.
General Characteristics: Large ears, wings.
Current Allies: Humans and their friends.
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Post by Lulu on Apr 2, 2010 9:37:28 GMT -5
Gnawers
Species: Gnawers
Overland Term: Rats
Name Formula: Gnawers tend to have names based on either fighting abilities, i.e. Gorger or Ripred, appearances, i.e. Pearlpelt, or special skills, i.e. Twirltongue. Occassionally they are named for diseases, like Mange or Reekwell.
Typical Appearance: Just like fliers, the pelt of a gnawer can have numerous different colors and markings. The vast majority of the species have dull gray or brown pelts, but it is not uncommon to find a black, tan, or rusty red gnawer. One color that is NEVER found is white, for the white rat is the stuff of legends for the Underlanders, and only appears once every couple of centuries.
Size: An fully grown gnawer is typically 5'-6' feet long, although this varies.
Childhood: At birth gnawers are usually around ten inches long. After a week they begin to learn to walk and speak their own tongue. Mock fights begin to happen with siblings as soon as two weeks. At a month of age they can speak Gnawer fluently, and are now learning the human language. At this age they can leave the nest for short periods of time with parents, and by four months they can be unsupervised for some of the time. Throughout it's entire childhood, gnawer pups are taught to fight, and play-fights with siblings help with that. By six months they are strong hunters and fighters, and at eight months they are old enough to join the army. By a year of age most gnawers leave the nest, as they are fully grown.
General Characteristics: Furless tails, beady eyes, signs of agression towards humans.
Current Allies: N/A
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Post by Lulu on Apr 3, 2010 12:41:38 GMT -5
Nibblers
Species: Nibblers
Overland Term: Mice
Name Formula: Nibbler names are based on mathematics, either a mathematical term or the name of a famous mathematician.
Typical Appearance: Nibblers come in a variety of colors as well. Most are gray, either pale or dark, but plenty of other markings and colors are common as well. Unlike with gnawers, it is not unusual to see a white nibbler.
Size: Fully grown nibblers are generally about three feet long, although this varies, like all Underland species.
Childhood: Nibblers are about five inches long at birth. The first week of a nibbler's life is spent without leaving its mother's side, and its eyes haven't even opened yet. At 1-2 weeks they begin learning to walk and talk and are socializing more with siblings, and by three weeks they should be fluent in their own language. They don't start learning the human language until after one month of age. At four months the young nibbler is more equipped to be without its mother for a short period of time, and is learning to hunt for its own food. By five or six months pups should be avid hunters and gatherers, and along with this they should be learning to master mathematics, as nibblers are strong believers in the importance of math. Eight months begins adolescence and possible courting time, and a year marks the stage when a nibbler is ready to leave its nest.
General Characteristics: Somewhat like small gnawers, love of math.
Current Allies: Friendly with humans.
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Post by Lulu on Apr 3, 2010 13:37:41 GMT -5
Crawlers
Species: Crawlers
Overland Term: Cockroaches
Name Formula: Crawler names generally have something to do with time, such as Tick or Min (minute).
Typical Appearance: Crawlers mainly have dark coloring, with shells that are black, brown, or gray. They have six legs and antennae.
Size: Mature crawlers are around 4 feet in length.
Childhood: Crawlers are around three inches when they first hatch. The mother drops a capsule of around 40 eggs before they hatch, though every once in a while a crawler is born naturally. Unless this occurs, crawlers never know their parents, for newly hatched roaches are capable of surviving on their own. By the end of their first week they are close to a foot long. They pick up the human language from other crawlers around them, and by 3-4 months they are fully mature.
General Characteristics: Yoda-like way of speaking, minimal fighting ability, survival capabilities such as slowing down heart rate, going without air for up to 45 minutes, and living without food for a month.
Current Allies: N/A
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Post by Lulu on Apr 3, 2010 14:29:40 GMT -5
Spinners
Species: Spinners
Overland Term: Spiders
Name Formula: Spinner names follow a simple formula: female names end in -ox, i.e. Wevox, and male names end in -ex, i.e. Treflex.
Typical Appearance: Typical eight legged, many eyed overland spider, just much, much larger. They can come in all different colors and generally have all different kinds of markings.
Size: A fully grown spinner is around four feet long, three feet tall.
Childhood: Baby spinners pass all larval stages inside their eggs, laid in an egg sac by the mother, and hatch as miniature versions of adults. Some spinner mothers stay with their young and support them, but some don't. Spinners generally take around 5-6 months to reach full maturity, but this can very depending on the spinner.
General Characteristics: Talk through vibrations, prefer soft noises.
Current Allies: N/A, but trade with many species.
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Post by Lulu on Apr 3, 2010 21:43:18 GMT -5
Shiners
Species: Shiners
Overland Term: Fireflies
Name Formula: Shiner names have to do with light, i.e. Photos Glow-Glow, Zap.
Typical Appearance: Shiners look just like overgrown Overland fireflies. Females' rear ends can only produce yellow light, but males can make a variety of different colors.
Size: Shiners who have reached adulthood are around three feet long.
Childhood: Shiner eggs are hatched three to four weeks after the mother lays them. Shiners remain in the larval stage for about a year, some even longer. Towards the end of this the larvae may burrow under the ground, and after that they pupate for around three weeks before emerging as a fully mature adult shiner. Throughout the entire larval stage a shiner is always feeding, and this adds to their gluttonous appetites as adults.
General Characteristics: Glowing rear ends, colossal appetites, whiny, dissatisfied personalities, little willpower as a species. Extremely annoying.
Current Allies: N/A
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