Unioning

Tower Races (dwarves, elves, humans, and orcs) do not reproduce sexually. Instead, they join in a magic-aided ritual (whose specifics are often closely tied to cultural norms) known as "Unioning." This intimate activity involves the partner pair maintaining unbroken physical contact for several hours while in a deep meditative pseudo-sleep. In this state, the partners communicate non-verbally in a shared dream space and negotiate the elements of the conception. Both males and females are capable of gestating offspring, with all Tower races developing a magical womb-structure in their abdomens and the progressive appearance during pregnancy of a seam or cleft just above the pubic bone which, when gestation is complete, provides access to the infant. The process of birthing a child is generally considered to be mildly unpleasant and uncomfortable, but not necessarily painful. After childbirth, the cleft typically disappears in a matter of months.   For this reason, same-sex couples are relatively commonplace in Feodris as there is no barrier to reproduction. Parents are referred to as a moon and sun pair with the parent who carries the child taking on the "moon" role and their partner being the "sun" role.   Thus, if a male and female union and the female carries the child, they are sunfather and moonmother. If a male and female union and the male carries the child, they are sunmother and moonfather. If two males union, they are sunfather and moonfather. If two females union, they are sunmother and moonmother.   Step or adoptive parents use the moniker "star" as in "starmother" or "starfather." Historically this is due to the belief that birth parents are there to illuminate and reveal a child's path, but in their absence, even a star can provide guidance and keep one from losing their way.  

Species and Hybrid Unions

Hybrid species originate from unions between unalike species members. Hybrid species have their own distinct biological characteristics (each are named and considered to be a distinct ethnicity) and, similarly, their acceptance in Tower Kingdom society or in the kingdoms within it is unique to each species.   If a hybrid offspring unions with an individual that is entirely or predominantly descended from one of the hybrid's parent species, the resulting offspring will still be considered a hybrid, but they will have more of the non-hybrid species' characteristics. If a third generation of unioning occurs with the same species, the resulting offspring is generally indistinguishable from a non-hybrid member of that species.   If a hybrid species unions with another hybrid or with a non-hybrid species that is not one of the parent species, the resulting offspring has characteristics of whichever species is mutually agreed upon during the unioning ritual by the parents. Rumors persist that it's possible to make three way (or more) hybrids, but it is also common wisdom that any such offspring would be fractured.