Login

***skinstealer*** · 10-14-2020, 02:42 AM

NEUROTH
[CW: very simple/brief mentions of reproduction (literally just a mention cmon now it's a SFW thread) and gore/body horror]

ORIGIN

Originated in ????
Created by Elaine in [year]
First morph: Mantis
????

CULTURE

While neuroths were created by Elaine, they are not as associated with her as other species are with their creators due to the neuroth population’s general disdain for her and her ideals.
Very few neuroths worship Elaine, and worship for other gods vary based on region. Many choose instead to focus on respecting local, mortal authority.
While neuroths are mainly impervious to physical damage, there are various conditions that can affect them, with some examples being chronic pain (ranging in severity) affecting one or both of their cores (see biology section), issues regenerating or molting, and picking up errant signals using their psychic ability.
More traditional neuroths typically prefer to sleep alone in their own designated areas, though some have found that sharing bedding spaces with others can be quite comfortable.
Neuroths require a decent amount of space to house their families considering their size, along with their tendency to fight.
Neuroths traditionally take part in formal education, and send their hatchlings off to school at a young age, which they attend until late teenage years.
Neuroth biology leads them to consider combat as a casual if not entirely necessary affair, and fighting in the open is extremely common, especially among rivals and even within biological families.
????

APPEARANCE

Jointed carapace-like exoskeleton
Markings can either be simplistic color differences on joints/torso carapace and/or mirror those of Earth insects
Voices consist of hissing and clicking
No paw pads
Most morphs have tails
Hair does not show up naturally, but can be modded on
Range from 7’6-9’6 for "normal" adult height range.
Digitigrade legs, number varies between 2 and 4 depending on morph (bipedal or more pseudo-taur-like)
2 or 4 arms depending on morph, clawed hands
Some morphs have wings, capable of flight
????

BIOLOGY

Neuroths have exoskeletons and gel-like internals, with consciousness spread throughout said gel. This gel becomes more fluid-like on contact with the air, but remains more solid when within the body.
Neuroths are capable of regenerating any part of their body within a short period of time of its injury, severance, or outright destruction. This typically happens through the wound “bursting” with new gel and new exoskeleton hardening on top, with features such as eyes forming spontaneously along with the exoskeleton. New exoskeleton is weak until allowed to fully harden, and further injury is to be avoided. Regeneration time varies, and grows longer with each successive injury (and scales with severity) until the next molting period has been reached.
While there are no distinct organs to indicate this, neuroths have two “core” areas in the head and the chest, with both being the most sensitive to pain and injury, while also serving as the main “regen points”- regeneration will focus on whichever part of the body contains either the majority of the body mass OR the majority of the cores- for instance, while typically, a neuroth severed at the upper torso would be expected to regenerate from the bottom half due to more of its body mass being there, it would regenerate from the upper portion due to the cores being present. In the case of only one core being present (such as head detached from the rest of the body, or body cut into pieces), largest body mass is prioritized.
Neuroths periodically molt, a process that can last anywhere from a day to a week, depending on how many regenerations their body has sustained since their last molt. They undergo a period of frozen stasis for a few hours before shedding the majority of their exoskeleton, revealing a thinner layer of carapace that must harden over time. This leaves them squishy and vulnerable for the molt period, and many prefer to stay inside and away from danger.
In the case of one of their cores being temporarily destroyed, neuroths are prone to heightened emotional responses, often leading to comfort-seeking behaviors or more intense combat situations.
Neuroths are capable of limited telepathic communication, allowing them to communicate with people they have deep connections with (positive or other wise) without the use of verbal speech. This intensifies along with heightened emotional responses in the presence of core destruction, allowing them to call for help or backup if need be.
Jack o’lantern teeth
Omnivorous diets leaning carnivorous
High energy levels, easily restless
Neuroths are often twitchy in their body language, and tilt their heads at sometimes extreme degrees to enunciate their words and gestures.
No visible ears
Typically have some form of antennae/horns
Eyes are large and often extend off of the head
????

LIFE CYCLE/FAMILY STRUCTURE

Lifespan of 120 years, reach maturity of 18-20 years old.
Reproduce sexually and have sexual dimorphism
Lay eggs in clutches of 2-3 children, referred to as hatchlings
Hatchlings often get into play fights and injure each other, causing upsets as they don’t understand their own strength yet and regeneration can be frightening
Hatchlings are also far weaker than adults in terms of exoskeleton and are more prone to needing longer molt times due to more regenerations needed
Families often use strength as a measure of rank, with infighting being seen as a way of establishing who can make rules.
Families do not end up getting large out of more traditional neuroths fearing their positions as leaders being threatened.
Many neuroths leave their families when safely able to, and do not have close ties.
Neuroths tend to lean more into casual relationships over committed ones, but those straying from traditional culture find that their psychic bonds with those close to them make for ideal situations with committed partners.
????

GENETICS

Morphs are inspired by different kinds of predatory insect
Mixed morph parents often take body plan traits from one of the parents, such as amount of arms and/or legs, leading to some neuroths having an atypical amount of arms/legs for their perceived primary morph. Antennae/horn shape can also vary, as well as tail or eye shape.
First morph: Mantis
Neuroth hybrids are incredibly rare, but those that exist typically take on the size and regenerative qualities of neuroths at minimum, even if inheriting the more standard anatomy of their other parent.
Common horror mutations include size increase, claw growth, hunger increase, regenerative anomalies, extra core generation/splitting, psychic anomalies, mood instability, split regeneration
????

MORPHS

Mantis
"????”
????

Inspired by praying mantises
Petal-like carapace on shoulders
Rounded antennae
Head plating
Large hands
Two arms
Two legs
Large tail

Spider
"????”
????

Inspired by spiders
Exoskeleton sometimes covered in fur (but not always)- torso is kept bare
Extra fur on neck/shoulders
No antennae
Ear-like horns
Extra fur on head at times, not quite hair-like
Four arms
Four legs
Large tail resembling spider abdomen

Beetle
"????”
????

Inspired by beetles
Cape-like shoulder carapace
Helmet-like horns
Rounded antennae
Shell-covered wings
Two arms
Two legs
No tail

Scorpion
"????”
????

Inspired by scorpions
Shoulder pad-like carapace
Head plating
Horn-like antennae
Four arms- two with pincers, two with hands
Four legs, claw tipped
Stinger-tipped tail

Dragonfly
"????”
????

Inspired by dragonflies
Spiked shoulder carapace
Head plating
Curved antennae
Two arms, spiked
Two legs, spiked
Wings
Pointed tail

RULES

This is a species development thread! Here you can have discussion on the species presented, and offer suggestions/ideas for developing them- thus directly contributing to the species! Anything is fair game so long as it follows the restrictions (if any are listed). This main post will be updated as we go, allowing for people to always have an up to date resource on the species.

Restrictions/No-go's

Keep it SFW!!!!

Login
Username:
Password:	Lost Password?
	Remember me