[SPECIES DEVELOPMENT] COURIERS

[skinstealer]

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

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ORIGIN

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• Originated in ????
  
• Created by ???? in [year]
  
• First morph: Snail
  
• ????
  

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CULTURE

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• Couriers consider themselves messengers for both their own kind and other species, and many find themselves in jobs travelling around and delivering letters and packages to people around the regions in which they live.
  
• Slime over or under-production is a common health condition for couriers, and is easily treated with medication.
  
• Shell polish is a common good marketed towards snail couriers, and helps keep their shells looking aesthetically pleasing and clean. Non-toxic paint is also fairly common, and used for decorative purposes.
  
• Floor mats are typically used for sleeping, and are accented with hydrophobic blankets and pillows.
  
• Aquatic courier morphs tend to prefer kelp beds or soft patches of sand if taking the more natural route, though some are able to find particularly nice underwater-geared mats.
  
• Aquatic couriers value pearls and sea treasures, and consider them especially nice tips for their services.
  
• The typical courier is not skilled in hand to hand combat at all, and at best might be able to use their teeth in an emergency situation.
  
• To avoid their squishy bodies getting attacked by the far more dangerous species on their island region, couriers have traditionally taken up archery, and those known for travelling to dangerous locations often carry a bow and quiver full of deadly arrows.
  
• ????
  

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APPEARANCE

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• Soft, round shapes
  
• Markings imitate those of snails, slugs, nudibranchs, etc
  
• Voices are squishy babbling
  
• No paw pads
  
• Tails vary based on morph
  
• Hair not present
  
• Range from 5’6-7’6 for "normal" adult height range.
  
• Four legs, taur body plan
  
• Two arms
  
• ????
  

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BIOLOGY

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• Lifespan of 110 years, mature at 18-20 years old.
  
• Composed entirely of a spongy material capable of compressing down to an incredibly small size, and re-expanding back to normal size on command. It is not possible for a courier to expand beyond their normal size, no matter how much they try. Couriers are capable however of gaining/losing weight like most other species, and will return to whatever size they were at point of compression. This allows the snail morph to be sucked into their shells in an almost vacuum-style effect, and allows other morphs to fit into almost any space of their choice.
  
• Couriers have sharp teeth, but these appear to compress along with the rest of their bodies inexplicably.
  
• Omnivorous diet, capable of eating almost anything
  
• Low energy levels, very slow moving
  
• Very fond of hand and tail gestures for body language
  
• Soft ears
  
• Typically black dot eyes (when present)
  
• Antennae/horns typically present
  
• ????
  

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LIFE CYCLE/FAMILY STRUCTURE

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• Couriers reproduce sexually and have no sexual dimorphism.
  
• Couriers produce eggs and have 1 child at a time.
  
• Couriers often keep their children compressed while carrying them around, keeping them in cloth bags and taking them out when at safe destinations.
  
• Couriers prefer committed relationships, and tend to take partners for life.
  
• ????
  

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GENETICS

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• Morphs are inspired by gastropods
  
• Mixed morph children tend to have outer textures, antennae shape, and features like ruffles inherited from one of their parents or mixed.
  
• First morph: Snail
  
• Hybrids often inherit the taur body plan and ability to compress and expand their body, as well as a moist/slimy texture.
  
• Common horror mutations include size increase, hunger increase, extra eyes, claw growth, bioluminescence, teeth growth, carnivorous diet, speed increase, inability to compress, slime over-production
  
• ????
  

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MORPHS

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Snail
"????”
????

• Inspired by snails
  
• Moist
  
• Shell on their backs
  
• Antennae and “whiskers”
  
• Freckles
  
• Stubby tails
  

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Slug
"????”
????

• Inspired by slugs
  
• Slimy
  
• Antennae and “whiskers”
  
• Drippy
  
• Longer tails
  

Nudibranch
"????”
????

• Inspired by nudibranchs
  
• Moist
  
• Antennae
  
• Ruffles along body
  
• Back plumes
  

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Herald
"????”
????

• Inspired by sea angels
  
• No eyes
  
• Horns
  
• Flippers
  
• Primarily aquatic, amphibious in nature (though would have trouble navigating on land)
  
• Slightly transparent in water
  
• Long tail
  
• Considered a counterpart to harbinger morph
  

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Harbinger
"????”
????

• Inspired by deep sea creatures
  
• Needle teeth
  
• Extra eyes
  
• Glowing antennae and bioluminescent spots
  
• Webbed flippers
  
• Primarily aquatic, amphibious in nature (though would have trouble navigating on land)
  
• Long tail
  
• Associated with horror mutation
  
• Considered a counterpart to herald morph
  

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RULES

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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.

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Restrictions/No-go's

• Keep it SFW!!!!
  

[Clockwork Citrus]

is there special clothes for Couriers?

[King-Clod]

Is the No Eyes trait of the Heralds recessive or dominant?