Race: Sepiidapus:
Sepiidapodes are a cuttlefish like race ranging from the size of a large rat to a medium sized cat with a twenty-five to thirty year life span. The rear finned part resembles a cuttlefish exactly, however the the eyes are on short stalks and they have developed two much longer and articulate tentacles stemming closest to their mouth. Being aquatic, they have no form of verbal communication and instead communicate via their photo-chromatic skin.
They have five genders: female, male, detmale, shell, and brain. Females lay eggs and then males and detmales fertilize them. Typically a set of eggs is only fertilized by only one male or detmale. A male fertilization can result in a female, male, or shell. A detmale fertilization can result in a female, detmale, or shell. Less often, an egg can be fertilized by both a male and a detmale. This can result in any gender. Shells and brains are sterile.
These phenotypes are the result of a mutant sex gene that contains three chromosomes. These chromosomes have two recessive chromosomes i and X, and two dominant Y and Z chromosomes. An egg can accept genetic material from both male sperm and detmale sperm. If fertilized by only one kind of sperm, then two chromosomes come from the female. If it is dual fertilized, a single chromosome is taken from each donor. For single fertilization, the symmetric chromosomes are propagated in the usual way. Dual fertilized symmetric chromosomes always have genetic information from the female, but have a split chance for either the male or the detmale (per chromosome). These are the karyotypes by phenotype and the approximate percentage of each phenotype in a population with a 10% dual fertilization rate.
- Female(50%): iXX, XXX
- Male(18%): iiY, iXY, XXY
- Detmale(18%): iiZ, iXZ, XXZ
- Shell(12%): iii, iiX
- Brain(2%): iYZ, XYZ
This is relevant to to the impact it obviously has on sepiidapode culture and behavior. Since females are more prevalent than the total of males and detmales, they perform more dangerous duties such as hunting, foraging and defending. The males and detmales typically remain behind to do chores in the village. Males typically rear children and ranch. Detmales perform administrative duties, such as organizing food stores, cleaning, and other chores. Shells are born without a brain, and are typically slaughtered soon after hatching. Brains serve as academics and elders, since they have potentially unlimited lifespans. When a brain's body deteriorates, it can transfer its brain to a vacant shell. A shell with a brain is called a host. English pronouns are insufficient to for sepiidapodes, however we must choose something. Traditionally, females are "she", and males and detmales are "he". Shells are "it"; they are seen as (rightly) soulless. Brains and hosts are trickier, since they are technically neuter. "It" is too impolite, so "he" is used since they lead a primarily domicile life like males and detmales.
Sepiidapodes have long been the merchandise of a relatively legal slave trade, the two principal markets being run by the Lee-Shron and Parthens respectively. Sepiidapodes, hosts and brains being particularly valuable, are bought and sold as pets and servants. Due to their dependence on their master for food and quality water, it is almost impossible for them to escape this fate. They are marketed as "squids", so this is a highly derogatory term. However, there are rumors of free colonies on various moons and planets. Because of their place in the current society, being bartered and traded, no one knows the actual origin of the species. Naturally, this leads to the likely unfounded rumors of the Atlantis planet of their origin, with all the expected speculation of treasure and free colonies.
Sex: Host (A brain in a shell)
Pronoun: He (though she is acceptable; avoid "it"; see note above about gender roles in sepiidapode culture)
Age: His mind is 302 earth years old, his body is 5 earth years old
Appearance: Due to his body's young age, he's still relatively small (25 cm). His thorax has a smooth squared look to it, curtained by his wide fin with a slight taper. His extra short minor tentacles are contrasted by his long, graceful major tentacles. It is impossible to describe his color and skin texture due to its consistently dynamic state. Since he is a host, he has a vulva like scar directly above his tentacles.
Abilities and Faults: (o means ability and fault)
+ Academic: Well versed in history, language, and star craft operation.
+ Ink: He can shoot ink.
+ Dexterous: His tentacles are incredibly agile and precise.
o Aquatic: He can travel through water, but can't survive for more than 5 minutes outside of it.
o W Eyes: He can see polarized light, but not color.
- Tank: This limits his freedom, though he tries to overcome it with his supermarine.
- Frequency Sensitive: Strong vibrations will temporarily stun him. This includes high amplitute radio waves below about 500 MHz.
- Slave race: He must be careful to avoid capture by slavers