Post by ryocker on Dec 30, 2012 19:01:42 GMT -5
Following the capture of Aiman by the CRL, a flock of portals will be popping up in two locations: Dimensional Island, and on the entire planet of Aerlos. What's being pulled in? Strangely enough, 100 younger Ventasale pups. Why? no-one knows. However, the otherwise friendly supply of Ventasales won't mind- their appearance might make it easier for certain people to get around the island faster.
Since they will be qualified as fauna, the pups are all NPCs- they'll be seen roaming around the streets, flying with birds (as well as co-existing with them) and even be seen as pets for human beings. However, since they're an invasive species, as well as all of their growth being dependant on their environment, they will be adapting to the island, becoming much smaller adults then they would normally.
This adaption- leading into their evolution into a subspecies of Ventasale- will need to be described for the Dimensional Island variation, as describing a normal Ventasale will mean the island would suffer under their growth. Knowing this, I will describe what changes will happen on the path to their adulthood, as well as comparing them to the original species.
-------------------
Growth: As a species, the Ventasales are commonly noted for their unique growth pattern- being horse sized as they grow up and drastically growing as they achieve their adult size. Typically, the small newborn pups are a foot long (2/3rds of that length going into their height), either with no legs and strong wings (female), or a pair of legs with dimpy wings (male). Every two years, they sprout an additional pair of wings and legs: by this regard, you can guess a female's age by the legs she's sporting. The males don't qualify for this- their additional legs makes it hard to determine their age if you're used to a female's body.
This growth of legs and wings slows down starting at age eight- from then on, the growth only happens every ten years (18, 28, 38, etc.), only stopping after their 13th pair of legs. Sadly, most Ventasales die at about age 60, so seeing their full set of legs was thought impossible at one time. (The full set was discovered on an empress Ventasale, but I'm not talking about her right now.)
As for the young'uns, From age zero to about age six, the pups get to predictable averages in length (their height still staying 2/3rds their length), those being 1 foot (age zero), 3 feet (age 2), six foot (age four) and Nine feet (age six). During this period, they learn how to individually survive- the females strengthen their wings by flying, and the males harden their muscles by constantly jumping day in and day out.
Since they lack the floating islands their previous world had, the pups have limited space and limited environment to bound around in. Females will get tired quicker without pit stops to touch down on mid flight, and males will lose muscle without reasons to slam the ground. This will cause an interesting development- The males will start using their wings more often, resulting in the growth of their wings and an increase in flight capability. The females will also start using their legs more, increasing the muscle in their bodies.
This will also correct something else- without floating continents to hop to, the pups are free to sprint whenever they want- allowing them to develop land speed. This also assists in their adult hood growth- in a more limited environment, the females drastically shrink is size. Originally growing to average 150 feet long, they will now be much shorter, and smaller over all- averaging 40 feet long, over 100 feet shorter. The males suffer less shrinkage- going from 37.5 feet long to being 20 feet long.
This drastic change comes from a lack of hunting need- with no naturally hostile fauna on the island, males have no reason to hunt- and females have no reason to carry the males long distances. Despite this, the now (proportionally) larger males still lay on top of their mates, possibly as a form of showing their status as "taken."
Originally this was meant as a way to travel, since adult males couldn't fly very well. But since males can now hold their own in flight and in running distance, they no longer require using their mate as a blimp service, which goes double for a female not needing to stay in the air for extended periods. Another important change is their litter sizes- though they've developed a way to make an average of twenty kids before, their new bodies won't allow that- meaning their litter amount will be cut to a lower average, possibly an average of 4 pups.
Their pressence in less industrial/urban locations will possibly assist in their acceptance on the island. This is partly due to their friendly nature, as well as their original role as fantasy based mounts. The only current problem is that newborn pups need to be fed milk- but that'll be remidied not long after their arrival.
One last thing: Without any predators, the females don't need to create powerful gusts of wind anymore. This doesn't effect their flight ability- just makes their lungs a little smaller.
and before I forget again:
--------------------
Color: The second most valuable part of a Ventasale. They can be ANY color- red, blue, yellow, purple, green, orange, black, white, brown and any variation mixed between the given selection. Strangely, for no other reason other than to further their sexual dimorphism, males are, decidedly, darker in tone than females. In regards to newborns, their color is very pale, lacking the shade they gain once they're older.
Although that would seem like a good chance to end this, there's actually one more thing: Within a rare amount of Ventasales lies a very unique gene. This gene, strangely enough, actually allows the Ventasale effected by it to grow spots, in a more natural way than freckles, which are effected by sunlight. The splotchy tones actually allow breeders to peer at their hidden coloration.
if this sounds strange, let me explain: Although it seems weird, Co-dominance of a Ventasale's coloration is impossible. It goes against nature, but whatever color shows up on their skin at birth is the color that will most likely pass onto their children- making it strange when an oddly colored pup crops up in a litter. This unique gene allows many a chance to see what non-dominant color is in their bloodstream, by popping up as the color on their spots. This can at first be mistaken for a disease or a rash- but that isn't the case.
If a Ventasale is born splotched, it's stuck with two colors- which can get a little sick when the colors clash. pink/blue, green/dark red, yellow/orange, and so on. What colors you end up with are purely decided by luck, unless the gene somehow ends up in a newborn without either of its parents holding the gene physically. (A red and yellow parent giving birth two a pair or red/yellow or yellow/red pups, for example.)
Thank you for reading this- provided the wall of text didn't scare you away. If you have any questions, please ask. ^^
Since they will be qualified as fauna, the pups are all NPCs- they'll be seen roaming around the streets, flying with birds (as well as co-existing with them) and even be seen as pets for human beings. However, since they're an invasive species, as well as all of their growth being dependant on their environment, they will be adapting to the island, becoming much smaller adults then they would normally.
This adaption- leading into their evolution into a subspecies of Ventasale- will need to be described for the Dimensional Island variation, as describing a normal Ventasale will mean the island would suffer under their growth. Knowing this, I will describe what changes will happen on the path to their adulthood, as well as comparing them to the original species.
-------------------
Growth: As a species, the Ventasales are commonly noted for their unique growth pattern- being horse sized as they grow up and drastically growing as they achieve their adult size. Typically, the small newborn pups are a foot long (2/3rds of that length going into their height), either with no legs and strong wings (female), or a pair of legs with dimpy wings (male). Every two years, they sprout an additional pair of wings and legs: by this regard, you can guess a female's age by the legs she's sporting. The males don't qualify for this- their additional legs makes it hard to determine their age if you're used to a female's body.
This growth of legs and wings slows down starting at age eight- from then on, the growth only happens every ten years (18, 28, 38, etc.), only stopping after their 13th pair of legs. Sadly, most Ventasales die at about age 60, so seeing their full set of legs was thought impossible at one time. (The full set was discovered on an empress Ventasale, but I'm not talking about her right now.)
As for the young'uns, From age zero to about age six, the pups get to predictable averages in length (their height still staying 2/3rds their length), those being 1 foot (age zero), 3 feet (age 2), six foot (age four) and Nine feet (age six). During this period, they learn how to individually survive- the females strengthen their wings by flying, and the males harden their muscles by constantly jumping day in and day out.
Since they lack the floating islands their previous world had, the pups have limited space and limited environment to bound around in. Females will get tired quicker without pit stops to touch down on mid flight, and males will lose muscle without reasons to slam the ground. This will cause an interesting development- The males will start using their wings more often, resulting in the growth of their wings and an increase in flight capability. The females will also start using their legs more, increasing the muscle in their bodies.
This will also correct something else- without floating continents to hop to, the pups are free to sprint whenever they want- allowing them to develop land speed. This also assists in their adult hood growth- in a more limited environment, the females drastically shrink is size. Originally growing to average 150 feet long, they will now be much shorter, and smaller over all- averaging 40 feet long, over 100 feet shorter. The males suffer less shrinkage- going from 37.5 feet long to being 20 feet long.
This drastic change comes from a lack of hunting need- with no naturally hostile fauna on the island, males have no reason to hunt- and females have no reason to carry the males long distances. Despite this, the now (proportionally) larger males still lay on top of their mates, possibly as a form of showing their status as "taken."
Originally this was meant as a way to travel, since adult males couldn't fly very well. But since males can now hold their own in flight and in running distance, they no longer require using their mate as a blimp service, which goes double for a female not needing to stay in the air for extended periods. Another important change is their litter sizes- though they've developed a way to make an average of twenty kids before, their new bodies won't allow that- meaning their litter amount will be cut to a lower average, possibly an average of 4 pups.
Their pressence in less industrial/urban locations will possibly assist in their acceptance on the island. This is partly due to their friendly nature, as well as their original role as fantasy based mounts. The only current problem is that newborn pups need to be fed milk- but that'll be remidied not long after their arrival.
One last thing: Without any predators, the females don't need to create powerful gusts of wind anymore. This doesn't effect their flight ability- just makes their lungs a little smaller.
and before I forget again:
--------------------
Color: The second most valuable part of a Ventasale. They can be ANY color- red, blue, yellow, purple, green, orange, black, white, brown and any variation mixed between the given selection. Strangely, for no other reason other than to further their sexual dimorphism, males are, decidedly, darker in tone than females. In regards to newborns, their color is very pale, lacking the shade they gain once they're older.
Although that would seem like a good chance to end this, there's actually one more thing: Within a rare amount of Ventasales lies a very unique gene. This gene, strangely enough, actually allows the Ventasale effected by it to grow spots, in a more natural way than freckles, which are effected by sunlight. The splotchy tones actually allow breeders to peer at their hidden coloration.
if this sounds strange, let me explain: Although it seems weird, Co-dominance of a Ventasale's coloration is impossible. It goes against nature, but whatever color shows up on their skin at birth is the color that will most likely pass onto their children- making it strange when an oddly colored pup crops up in a litter. This unique gene allows many a chance to see what non-dominant color is in their bloodstream, by popping up as the color on their spots. This can at first be mistaken for a disease or a rash- but that isn't the case.
If a Ventasale is born splotched, it's stuck with two colors- which can get a little sick when the colors clash. pink/blue, green/dark red, yellow/orange, and so on. What colors you end up with are purely decided by luck, unless the gene somehow ends up in a newborn without either of its parents holding the gene physically. (A red and yellow parent giving birth two a pair or red/yellow or yellow/red pups, for example.)
Thank you for reading this- provided the wall of text didn't scare you away. If you have any questions, please ask. ^^