#kripints

-Senior: Their senior years (80-100) is when their health begins to trip. Their bodies begin to show signs of the age: wrinkles, lose of mass, growth in fur yet less keratine constructs (as well as their keratin constructs will gradually lose its color, turning into the color of the fur).

During this stage, the cartilage will begin to dissolve, so their limbs will lose strength, as the bone is not enough to carry their body weight, so its common for them to go back to just floating.

Another thing that could happen is that they will start loosing sign, usually from one eye at a time. Also, the pouch, once again, completely closes, so technically they wouldn’t need to wear clothes; many still wear them because of what they feel is basic decency, also to put a good example for the loosies who have to start wearing them.

At their latest years (after 95) they will also start losing the ability to impulse themselves while floating (as that’s done primarily with the tail, and the tail is 50% cartilage); so they’ll float low and impulse themselves slowly with the tip of their paws.

Other things that could happen is that the skin will get more thin, and the articulations will lose strength, so those who have retractile claws will begin to show them.

Usually this is the last stage, as 70% of kripints don’t go after 100. However… this is not necessarily because of biology, at least, not directly..

In reality, most kripints will try to have a peaceful more honorable dead.

As per their costumes, those over 80 can retire, for the obvious reasons listed up here. Yet, many kripints choose instead to continue working, even worse, they will ick the dangerous jobs, those that put their life on the line, and then, when worse comes to worse, they will sacrifice themselves for those younger than them; basically cannon meat.

This may seem like a honorable sacrifice, and it is, it requires bravery, however, the real reason they do it for, it’s because most kripints fear living long enough to become senile…

-Senile: This comes with the 100 mark, without fail, it’s even called the “curse of Stila”; no kripint who goes over this age will dodge it.

Any keratin constructs that they have left will fall in a matter of days, leaving them again in pure fur like a newborn, except it will get short, hard and brittle; the wrinkles will get more marked; the eyesight will be completely lost, their eyes turning grayish and opaque; they will lose all their cartilage and even more mass, being completely unable to stand up at all or move their tail, so they would just float aimlessly if anything; their memory will fail… getting into a state of dementia.

These kripints are kept together, being looked over by special caretakers.

Most kripints die within a few years of this, only a few go after the 20 years of senile.

-Elder: Also known as the “blessing of Stila”. Those very few who go after 120 years go through yet another metamorphosis.

They don’t get their eyesight back, but they will instead develop a new way to see, beyond what any other kripint could see. They are given wiseness beyond comprehension, to the point some even believe they can actually see the future.

Their keratin constructs come back stronger, with more and bright colors; their cartilage comes back and strong, although the bones are now more calcified, so the movement, although strong, becomes quite slow; their magic is what becomes the strongest, reaching an otherwise unreachable peak.

Elders are the core of the kripint communities. Each community, per their culture, will have one elder. Elders know when they’ll pass away, usually not living over 150, and that’s when, amongst the senile, a new elder will raise.

If a new elder raises before the current elder is near their end, it’s a sign for a new community of kripints to be formed, and so, the younger adults, specially those with children, must follow this new elder.

The elder is not necessarily the leader of the community, but rather a wise counselor for the leader or leader council.

Main systems

Although kripints do have some organs: eyes, several “hearts”, a brain, etc. They’re quite different from humans there.

The biggest similarity they have is their central nervous system, which, just as with humans, is composed of a brain and a complex net of nerves that controls every single part of their bodies.

Now, for the fluid (blood) system, instead of veins and arteries, the fluid travels through a complex system, but the fluid in general covers the entire central cavity, then it’s pumped to some of the extremities through several heart-like organs.

*If you see the skeleton, you can notice how it has several shield-like bones that humans don’t have (besides the knees) most of them are shielding one of this “hearts”, which vary in size and function. Having one heart damaged won’t put the kripint on immediate grave danger, because the other hearts will help the continuous pumping, as long as not all of them get damaged*

For the rest of the systems:

-Digestion: they have no digestive system like us. All the blood they drink is 100% used for nutrients, and, as mentioned before, they can eat whatever they want, with whatever they eat going directly to the central area of the fluid cavity, where it’s worked and converted into magic energy. Anything that’s not used for energy is transformed into liquid, which (as mentioned before) is excreted in the form of stinky sweat. When a kripints eat too many solids, they better be ready to take a long bath afterwards uwu (yes, “indigestion” is possible, but the whole cavity will hurt, since there’s no stomach).

Liquids are processed in the same way.

-Smells: although they don’t seem to have any nose, they do have nostrils under that fur, they actually have several all under their eyes, so they not only have a good sense of smell, but they’re also great at pin pointing where the smell is coming from. The nostrils are directly connected to the brain through the nervous system, and they’re so small (as well as covered in fur) they rarely have to blow them.

-Respiratory system: you may think is the same as with the smells, similar to humans, but no. Kripints breathe through all the pores of their skin, they also have no lungs, instead, the gases are processed through some tiny alveoli’s that are all over their bodies connecting the pores directly to the fluid system. Most of these pores are on the fluid cavity (chest and belly). Kripints can also process the gases under water, similar to fishes, so they can stay underwater for a long time. They breathe a wide variety of gases, not only oxygen (and speaking of oxygen, ozone is better for kripints than the normal oxygen we breathe, as its more similar to some of the gases on Stila. In other words, humans won’t be able to breathe in Stila without a respirator).

-Sight: explained before, they only have two huge eyeballs, divided by two pairs of eyelids, the top ones used to see underwater or in harsh environments (snow, sand, etc), the bottom ones used to see in the dark (they open both most of the time). The eyeballs are directly connected to the brain through the nervous system.

Disguise biology

*For how long and in which circumstances can kripints keep a disguise?*

The short answer is: for as long as they want and on pretty much any circumstances.

They can keep their disguises while they sleep, during stressful situations and even during mating (this is a biological adaptation since their bodies need to perfectly mimic the reproductive methods of the species they’re trying to breed with).

The only exceptions are:

-When having impaired senses due to consuming substances (such as alcohol or drugs). They need to get to the territory of impaired tho; come on, one beer is not gonna make Memo show his pretty scales, but if they’re drunk then there’s a big chance their bodies will mess up the disguise. This can be completely or partial.

-During illnesses. Maintaining a disguise implies maintaining a certain level of energy. Is not extremely tiring, and becomes easier the more the kripint does it. They can keep it awake and asleep as long as they get enough sleeping and food. But when it comes to illnesses, where the body uses all energy to work on recovering, keeping a disguise is impossible. *(More on kripint illnesses later)*

Genetics

Genetics in kripints are similar to humans, meaning that kripints can be born on their true form with traits from their parents, grandparents, great grandparents and up to the fifth generation. The most usual is for them to be a mix from their two families and the environment.

*What does this mean and how does it work?*

Well, you already know that kripints can adapt to any environment by shapeshifting into the species that inhabit it; however, this also applies to their true forms. Once a kripint is pregnant, the environment where they inhabit while the fetus is developing will likely impact on their image; more specifically: the type of fur and keratin constructs.

*This mean, for example, that two feathered kripints, from completely feathered families could have a cub with thick rocky scales and a chubby body if they’re living on the volcanic region*

Following this example, there’s a big chance most kripints born in human towns on earth are hair-type, since human towns tend to not be in climates extreme enough to require any different type.

*Is this my child?*

I hear what you’re thinking: if kripints can have offspring so different to the parents, can they then cheat and give birth to an affair baby?

Well, it would be basically impossible. Kripints actually watch the moment their two **seeds** mix and accept each other, then when one of the two receivers the **fertilized seed**.

As I explained before, once the pouch of a kripint closes with a fertilized seed inside, it’s nearly impossible to open, except for birth or in the case of a miscarriage, which are very uncommon for kripints, basically, the pregnant kripint needs to almost die before anything could happen to the fetus.

*Is it possible then to baby-trap a kripint?*

Well, yes and no.

First of all, I need to explain that kripints can willingly do their special dance for reproduction or just for fun.

The dance only produces a seed if the kripint consciously produces one. Even if the pouch opens, even if they reach *ahem* “total happiness”, the kripint cannot accidentally produce a seed.

This includes impaired senses. It’s an evolutionary trait to prevent unwanted pregnancies. So a drunk kripint will be completely unable to produce a seed during a dance.

*Because of this, kripints must have a serious talk with their mates before even having a dance*

How can they get baby trapped then? Short answer: peer pressure.

You see, unlike humans who either produce one egg per month approx and go through periods or have a constant production ready, kripints only produce seeds during the dance.

*So, they don’t go through any bad secondary effects from producing their damn seeds like us?*

Hahah, they actually do! Though, only if their seed is not fertilized.

If the seed is fertilized, then they only have the bad secondary effects of pregnancy. But if the seed is not, then it will stay around the kripint for 3 to 5 days.

During those days, the pouch will remain open, and the kripint will go through serious cramps, headaches, dizziness and will have a very hard time eating. They also won’t be able to have anything solid, only blood, and just a little bit.

The seed will also gradually lose its brightness until it completely dissolves (that’s when the pouch finally closes and the kripint can finally go back to normal).

During this process, the more time it passes, the more possible it is for the baby kripint to come out with some illness or condition if the seed does get fertilized by another kripint.

*So, kripints can use this to force their mate into producing a seed to fertilize theirs asap*

This is a serious crime in Stila

Very few kripints used to even attempt this, because they knew that then the mate could just escape (which is quite easy since those who haven’t produce a seed can just immediately close their pouches and the one with the seed will not be able to chase in their state). Then, the other kripints would keep the perpetrator locked and prosecuted. This could mark a kripint for their whole lives as untrustworthy on the best case scenario. (More on crime and punishment later).

Unfortunately, although is still a taboo for most kripints, some of the most vile and obsessive families of the group that wants to repopulate the planet, have begun to force their adults into producing seeds against their will. Because of this, and many other things, a lot of young kripints keep leaving this obsessive repopulation groups and instead go to the ones who try to keep their culture (or straight up leave the planet to join the other group).

ECOSYSTEMS

Ocean forests

Similar to earth, Stila is covered in vast oceans all over the planet, water covering a good 70% of the planet surface.

In these vast oceans, however, there’s a particular type of tree that has the property to float on the water surface.

These trees grow in groups, forming random forests that cover certain areas.

As kripints are able to fly, is no surprise that they have colonized these forests and adapted to make a living in the ocean.

The trees making these forests grow a type of leaf that is long and extremely resistant. Kripints have learned to use these leaves to make nest-like houses, in the form of hanging nests. The wood from this trees is also very light yet sturdy and completely waterproof, so kripints use it to build bridges and certain types of furniture. This houses are great during storms that creates high waves, as they can endure them without issue and then dry out quite quickly.

The kripints on this area usually have scales, and their short hair fur is coated with an oil that protects them from water and dries quite quickly, similar to a lab dog.

The common jobs here are: fishing, knitting and wood working.

Volcanic fields

Stila is a planet with a very high volcanic activity. Although the volcanic eruptions here are not as catastrophic as they’re on earth. Kripints are creatures with bodies that can resist very high and low temperatures, and the magma is also not as hot as the one on earth.

The lava coming out these volcanoes forms intricate structures, that quickly harden into stone and metal, adorning the whole landscape with these weird shapes that make high chimneys and deep caves. This zones are rich in minerals and also produce all kinds of jewels and crystals.

Kripints here make their houses with the lava, which solidifies into stone. They usually get the lava out with special tools, then let it cool down until they’re able to work with it with their bare hands and it has a clay texture. They then build their homes directly with this clay, which leads to dome-like houses. The kripints also work with certain types of lava and sand to create colorful crystals to use as windows.

As you may imagine, the temperature in this areas is quite elevated, usually getting around the 70 degrees Celsius.

The kripints here need more muscle, and usually are more grounded (fly less) than in any other areas. So they tend to be thicker in bodies and have horn formations or thick scales, as well as big claws.

The common jobs here are: metal/stone work, magma builders, crystal crafting and jewelry works.

Underground

Stila, being a highly volcanic planet, is a very warm planet, having no ice or snow at all on its surface. But unlike earth, the closer you get to the core of the planet, the colder it gets, specially on the underground caves that occupy a huge area under the ocean.

These intricate cave systems are only accessible through deep tunnels that have their entrances on archipelagos, away from the volcanic fields (which are on bigger portions of land).

The underground caves are known to be extremely cold, always under the 0 degrees Celsius, and have snow and ice, which falls from the rocky ceiling by filtration of oceanic water, which freezes almost immediately.

Because of the way the tunnels and caves are, and the many entrances around the planet; wind is a common thing down there. Snow storms are not weird at all. And because of the highly mineralized water, the ice also tends to be of different colors.

These caves are illuminated by the different light organisms that grow from the ceiling and some that float around, besides the snow having a glow on its own. The light, however, is still way less bright than on the surface, so kripints that live here for a long period of time will have a hard time adapting to the light outside.

The kripints here live on ice homes that they build hanging from the ceiling. The ice also has magical properties and can be left floating around, so hanging the houses from the ceiling is just an extra precaution, but they have streets and even full common squares made out of ice that they just have floating in place.

The kripints here tend to be smaller and with bigger eyes than the ones in the surface, also usually having long and thick hair and fluffy coats, with thick tails that can hold their whole body (in case they want to get their paws away from the cold snow)

The most common jobs here are: ice works, cave exploration, excavation and snow cleaners.

Jungle

Once the volcanic activity calms down on an area, the soil that’s left is highly fertile, which lead to thick jungles forming.

These jungles usually have strong trees and plants. These trees have a stone-hard wood that is very difficult to cut and work with, however it can be pierced for kripints to obtain some delicious and sweet tree blood, a delicacy for their species.

These are also the zones with the most normal (for human standards) weather and temperatures.

The vegetation here is also vibrant in color, so the kripints are usually just as vibrant to camouflage with the environment, as the highest threat here are predators. This is the are with the most dangerous predators of all Stila, as most of them will prey on kripints for food.

Since they cannot cut down the trees, kripints usually make their houses inside them. These trees have the property to get completely hollow once they die, but the bark will stay and stand strong for ages, so kripints will use other plants to wrap around the trunks and roots, covering any holes, and transforming each dead tree into huge communal homes, building them like apartment complexes. One single tree can comfortably have 50-100 kripints living inside.

Kripints with feathers and thin complexions are the most common here, as they need to be fresh, but also move fast.

The most common jobs here are: home leader (each tree-house needs to have one or a council), cooker, harvester and hunter/warrior (those who will fight the predators).

Croma wastelands

Despite chroma not being really present as much as it was anymore, the damage done by it persists to these days. These barren lands are now filled with polution and extreme natural disasters due to the destruction of the ecosystem.

There has been efforts to recover this land, but doing so is proving to be hard, as kripints sometimes have to choose between trying to recover the areas or just focusing on keeping all this destruction at bay so it doesn’t reach other areas.

Because of how important it is to keep what’s left of their world, some kripints are deployed from all the four ecosystems to the border lines of this wasteland.

All types of kripints are into this effort.

The most common jobs here are: explorer, regeneration, sentinel and border control.

And overall the planet has gotten good at these efforts, being able to increase populations to more than double in the past 300 years, trying to keep it at a steady pace that doesn’t compromise life quality.

However more issues arise over time. With an attack that fully chromatized or straight up killed 90% of the population, a good chunck of the planet and territory got compromised as well. Muzikbots got rid of all the chroma and did as many restorations as they could, but chromazomes also harvested chroma orbs like crazy from that planet and many places went completely ruined.

Because of this, new internal issues began to develop and different mindsets divided the masses:

-A big group continues to this day trying to hang onto the old ways: without pressure, kids are raised, those who want to get a mate can do so, those who want to start their own families are free to choose how and when to, there’s solidarity and culture is preserved. Despite the destruction, they stay strong, free and healthy.

-A second, more proud group, focus their efforts of forcing repopulation by all means and recover terrain by force if necessary, even if they have to go to other planets and do so by force. This group will force youngsters into get mating partners; some more considerate will allow them to choose but give them a time limit to do so, while the most hostile ones will arrange relationships for them once they’re on mating age.

-The third group is a rouge one, they consider themselves the most intelligent one because they came up with a “brilliant” idea: once adulthood is reached, kripints are encouraged to get out into the universe and mate with whatever species they can work their charm into. These group work under the method that, if the offspring is a kripint, they will bring them back into the planet to be raised as one of them; if they’re anything else, they get abandoned on that planet with their other parent. Everyone is free to use whatever method they want, and is even acceptable among these kripints to keep their own species secret from those they mate with; is not obligatory tho, some really try to be polite and explain everything to that other species, some even truly fall in love and say “fuck it” to their own kind, staying with their mate and family for life.

As for how they get from planet to planet: back in the day they used to have enough technology to teleport to nearby planets by channeling the magic of those with space-related magic powers; and they could even go further away by channeling those with reality magic, which is a very rare type. Even tho much of that technology was lost to the chroma apocalypse, some rudimentary methods were recovered and improved across time. The planet travelers basically jump from planet to planet with teleportation, as long as it is close enough and they have a special device on them, which uses energy from the environment.

From there, similar to fishes, the fetus forms outside, while the blood floats around and in between the two. The two different bloods mix until a product is formed, a tiny bright sphere of the two mixed fluids. Then it will get inside one of the puches and this pouch will close and seal for a whole year, until the baby is ready to be born.

How is the parent who’s gonna carry the baby in their pouch decided? Well, kripint scientists and investigators have researched it for millennia and the only conclusion they have come to is that its completely random. So random in fact that it can even change from baby to baby within the same family. There’s a common myth that it is the baby who decides it.