R'ren'nkh'ia-jin types and genders

Let's start with gender. There are between 0 and 5 different gender types on R'ren'nkh'ia. These are:-

              Male. Pretty much as human male, although the testes of some types are carried internally.

              Female. True R'ren'nkh'ian females possess the reptilian equivalent of an ovipositor, and eggs are either fertilised outside of the body and incubated in nurseries, or fertilised inside the body of a brood and incubated internally.

              Hermaphrodite. Possessing both male and female sex organs. Depending on type (see below) the female organ is either the true type ovipositor, or something much more closely approaching the human female reproductive system.

              Brood. Broods are essentially sexless. They act as receptive vessels during male/female mating and incubate the resultant eggs internally until a few days prior to hatching, at which time they 'lay' them (much as birds do), and are wholly responsible for the rearing of the hatchlings for the first few weeks of their life. This fairly rare gender tends to be unusually maternal and nurturing - they are often employed in a secondary rôle to rear zn'hre.

              Mayia. The mayia are viewed with some suspicion by the other genders: they have the ability to add extra genetic material to the reproductive mix during mating (we're talking threesomes and foursomes - if a brood is to incubate the eggs - here), but the results can be a bit haphazard. Generally speaking, though, they help produce unusually powerful warriors. Not very intelligent warriors, admittedly, but the chiefs aren't really too bothered about that...

              Nulls. Sexless creatures used solely for menial tasks.

There are seven distinct types of R'ren'nkh'ia-jin. They are distinguished purely by their physical characteristics, as follows (and not in any particular order). (It should be noted that the actual height and size of individual R'ren'nkh'ians is very variable, regardless of type)

       Va'ha'da
       Generally speaking the largest and most powerful of the types - Zha'geekaan and Dhr'ovaanon both belong to the va'ha'da. In a culture where strength makes for domination, they most often become chiefs. Perhaps fortunately, not all that many are hatched. Generally grey, scaly, tail-less and hairless, this type comprises male and hermaphrodite genders only.

       Shr'en'an
       The shr'en'an consider themselves the warrior caste. Large, strong, loyal, mostly various shades of blue with heavy reptilian tails and legs with heavily clawed feet, hairless, with wide, lipless, fang-filled mouths. The shr'en'an are perhaps the most numerous of the types (with the exception of the gn'ick'lehe - see below) and comprise male, female (human-type system), brood and mayia genders (all reproductive organs carried inside the body).

       Ph'ti'pa
       Small, generally green-tinted, with elongated skulls and soft hair. Genders female (with human-type female organs), hermaphrodite and brood. Ishn'is is ph'ti'pa - of all R'ren'nkh'ia-jin this is the most 'feminine' type.

       Tz'een
       Clearly recognisable by their elaborately crested heads, the tz'een have a natural bent towards scientific matters, and their cool, logical minds are often employed by the diplomatic service. Generally quiet, background figures, they are nevertheless a force to be reckoned with - it was the tz'een who developed the drugs used on the zn'hre (of which, more later). Genders comprise male, female (ovipositor), hermaphrodite, brood, and (more rarely) mayia.

       Ko'ish'n
       About the closest to human in temperament, the ko'ish'n are generally relatively small, blue-skinned, hairless, intelligent, curious creatures who are naturally suited to research. Genders comprise male (testes carried inside body), female (ovipositor) and brood.

       Gn'ap'pa
       The production of gn'ick'lehe is this type's primary reason for existence. Almost a sub-group, the basically unintelligent gn'ap'pa are used for heavy labour when not incubating eggs. The gender is female and brood only.
              Sub-type gn'ick'lehe
                     This small, mute type (if it can be called such) is used - very effectively - by the R'ren'nkh'ia-jin for all menial tasks. Sexless and incapable of reproduction.

       Zn'hre
       The zn'hre are something of a unique case. Purely hermaphrodite (human type female organs, testes carried internally) and usually very attractive, the type is closely guarded and used primarily to produce exceptional offspring.
      Zn'hre have a number of unique physical peculiarities. The ability to transform into a far more powerful being when threatened is one, although the transformed state takes a lot of ki to maintain. The most significant -as far as the rest of the race is concerned - is that the passage to the female internal organs of the zn'hre is lined with sharp, upward pointing barbs, designed to hold the sire in place (and force orgasm): once conception has taken place the host eats the sire to provide protein for the gestation period (during which the zn'hre finds it difficult to eat normally: hormonal changes make it difficult to digest solid food). At least, that's what used to happen. Once it was noticed that zn'hre offspring were exceptional, steps were taken to prevent such an occurance. This mostly involves the use of a veritable cocktail of drugs:-
       the narcotic mix that affects the central nervous system, causing loss of muscular control and ensuring that the barbs stay relaxed. This also ensures that the zn'hre is unable to move very much.
       a secondary mix affects the sense of balance and co-ordination, preventing transformation.
       a further blend supresses mental control and is used to re-inforce the previously noted mixes. It has the side-effect of enhancing telepathic ability while supressing the ability to control it.
       Finally, a ki-suppressant is employed on those zn'hre who require it - those, like Zha'haabron, who have high ki to start with.
       The side-effects of the narcotic mix are disorientation, nausea, dizziness, blurred vision, trembling, lack of muscular control and loss of appetite. The mental effects include nightmares, depression, loss of self-confidence and panic attacks. However, not all zn'hre require - or are given - the full blend. Ti'aasaan, for example, is so conditioned to his state (and has low ki to start with) that he is only given a small dose of the first blend, enough to keep the barbs relaxed but not enough to affect his muscular control too significantly. His master likes him to do most of the work when mating...
       Zn'hres lives are essentially those of slaves. Forced to breed whether they want to or not, kept secluded and in captivity to prevent any but their masters- or carefully selected individuals - gaining access to them, and force-fed the narcotic mix every time they are required to host offspring (when required as sire the mix is different, allowing a certain degree of movement and physical control, but less mental control). They are often poorly treated by other types (possibly out of jealousy, both for their beauty and ability to transform).
       When mating with other zn'hre, the offspring run true to type - but eat their way out of the host's body and may kill each other instinctively unless separated at birth. When zn'hre breed with other types, the offspring are usually two-thirds the other type and one third a different type(s) (only very rarely zn'hre), though no-one knows why. Between three and seven offspring may be carried at any one time. Pregnancy times differ depending on what type the other parent is: if zn'hre, generally the equivalent of six (Terran) months. The young are usually delivered by a form of caesarean section: it's unknown if zn'hre could give birth naturally to anything other than zn'hre - the type is considered too rare and precious for this to be risked.




© 2001 Joules Taylor






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