zeitgabberim

This page is about the morphology and culture of zeitgabberim. If you're looking for information about the virus itself, see Rumavec. If you want to know about the technology that included Rumavec, see Rumase. If you're looking for information about the illness, see Rumase-Associated Illness.
A zeitgabber (plural zeitgabbers or zeitgabberim), less commonly known as a zeitchaver (plural zeitchaverim), is a person infected with the Z-virus. This is an inclusive term, which means it also includes people who have the T and C viruses in addition to the Z-virus. Those who only have the Z-virus are specifically called X-Wry. Other names include rumasons (from Rumase) and zeds.
An older name for zeitgabberim is wry, derived from RAI as in Rumase-Associated Illness. Like "moose" wry is the same singular and plural. RAI, as in the illness, is pronounced are-ey-eye to differentiate it from the people (wry) who have said illness. However, the word has fallen out of favor as it was imposed upon them rather than created by the infected themselves. There is now a divide of sorts, with wry being the word more commonly used by non-infected while infected tend to prefer zeitgabber.

Basic Information

Dietary Needs and Habits

Meat is an absolute requirement.

Biological Cycle

It is well documented by now that zeitgabberim have a biological cycle of sorts, lasting about two weeks. This is most obvious in Cyclers but traces of it are also visible in the activity levels and moods of other subtypes.

Additional Information

Facial characteristics

Unlike Lycan or cachaemites, there is no statistically significant difference in body hair growth between non-infected and zeitgabberim, which the obvious exception of zeitgabberim who do not maintain shaving or haircutting routines when zonked out.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

As is necessary to perceive pheromones, zeitgabberim have a stronger sense of smell than non-infected, in addition to being able to perceive pheromones. This is thanks to the development of a vomeronasal organ (VNO) in their nose and upper mouth. By performing a Flehmen response, they can get a good "smell" of what's around them, although unlike in other mammals this instinct is lost in humans so most zeitgabberim not familiar with this technique will instead either use their nose as normal or will attempt to "taste" the air by extending their tongue like a snake, both of which are far less effective (and odd-looking).

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

It's been observed that when transitioning from non-infected society to infected society, many people change their name. For some people, such as Zero, this was done to obscure her true identity from local authorities. Others, like Shithead, have more mysterious motives.

Common Etiquette Rules

Drooling has been somewhat distigmatized amongst them, as it is a biological norm now.

Genetic Descendants

• Alpha
• Asymptotes
• carriers
• cyclers
• jiangshi
• Mercers
• Romeros
• trifected
• tufargan
• X-Wry

Discovered by

Michael D'arcy, PhD