Ryclin (Rie-klin)
Ryclin are powerful, tough-hide carnivorous mammals that have evolved across both natural and artificial merits. They exist as one of the dominant races in the rift-unstable realms marked as the Orbital Archipelago. Native to the planet now called Kyberus, they mostly thrived in older times as apex predators of the plains and rainforests. Ryclin have developed an odd reputation well known for being capable to devour nearly anything whole. Their jaws can unhinge, and are capable of consuming more than their own weight in prey on a daily routine. Between their adaptation, range of motion, and abilities like acidic projection, they were a formidable opponent even before coming across intelligence.
Since dimensional and planetary instabilities have interfered by bring across other species and technology, they've adapted to higher technology, and even transforming their kind to be evermore adaptable with genetic manipulation. They are even recognized across some other universes, known most prominently for the portion of their society that operates as Bounty Hunters that take pleasure in treating it as literal hunting of prey, swallowing targets whole and getting paid. However, their home society is more diverse, with a separate lifestyles that include philosophers, engineers, rift scientists, etc. Ryclins have mostly equal representation and governmental power with the later-entry Vahamin Humans that assisted to prop up the designated modern OA brand and identity. However as they once worked closer with Ho'naht, and Vyllk, some argue that they were among the original OA, or dub it a 'Proto-OA'.
Basic Information
Anatomy
They're bipedal creatures of traits resembling something between raptor-like and kangaroo qualities. They have elongated snouts, two pointed ears, sleek bodies, a tail, and two powerful legs that can jump to great lengths. A few may have patterns, but most colors tend to be plain with a main body, and an 'underbelly' going from the inner-chin, down the middle and sometimes through most of the bottom of their tail. They're also adapted to climbing small elevated cliffs, with three forward-facing toes and claws, and an extra two retractable set of curved claws at each side that can dig into tough terrain. Many features and adjustments have changed over time by their technological ability, and self-bioengineering prowess. For info on their ancestral older form, see the reclassified Primal Ryclin
Ancient ryclin were once fairly large as bipedal creatures, prowling forest grounds at a massive 3-4 meters. Most modern ryclin have adopted to a size of roughly 1.7-2.5 meters to fit in with other common sentient races, and to navigate forest terrain with more agility. They have a tough thick furless/hairless flesh that is resistant to high temperatures, and acidic textures, with internal organs made to suit their highly corrosive acidic stomach and glands. Since developing manipulative technologies, they've standardized five-fingers, and a bit of a self-confessed mistake in teeth. They originally wanted teeth to show better expressions with many other races that had them. Their jawbones were grown out in sharp spurs that all come from the same root, and look a bit mangled in display, making them shy to smile around species like humans.
Males tend to have more rectangular snouts, often with a more broad jaw. They have a tough dull-tip on the end of their tail that is once thought to have come from a poisonous barbed piece they've since lost the need of. Female ryclin have more rounded-tip thinner snouts, and a ‘softer’ jaw look. Their tail is lighter without a special tip on the end. The females also exhibit the curves of typical bipedal mammals, but this is often less pronounced than human women due to a different metabolism, with smaller average mammal glands until they're in a nursing state.
Genetics and Reproduction
Initially, females will often kick away at an advancing male. A male will often be required to bring food, and feed the female enough so she's either more accepting, or in extreme cases more mobility-compromised and can't kick back, with some suggestion the female's kick is a reflex. This has fostered a social culture where a male cannot give a female a gift unless it equates to consent. This likely evolved out of some primitive natural selection process where providing food means instinctual justification is enough that the male and female can provide for each other in a family unit. Once coupled with, the female undergoes stimulus from the male that actually restructures parts of their hormones and metabolism to change a bit for the child, reducing acidic gland stores and increasing milk & fat.
Pregnancy may last between 10-14 months, with development of the child's properties taking longer than a human after some of the species more bioengineering advances. In late-term the pregnant female will more often rely on their partner for support, and not hunt for themselves due to how taxing the inner childcare is. Ryclin genetics now matter very little, and heavy gene construction is often done more artificially. They have been known to change anything from the height-range, and colors, to such things as even giving their offspring fins, gills, decorative cosmetics like crests, taking off the tail-tip of males, etc. Often a mother will even wear a suit known in long-form as the Maternity Window Suit (MWS), which directly lets them see both statistical developments that let them know the health and well-being, and the developing infant itself. Suckling may last through the first year, until the ryclin can start to attain its diet of other creatures. The child then grows fast once born, roughly being 'mature' somewhere between the ages of 6-8 years - due to their original unevolved lifespan only having roughly 20 years
Common overhauled gene-modded appearances are:
"Fish"/aquatic Ryclin: Ryclin born often with a small back-fin crest type piece, mildly webbed claws, a dorsal fin on their tail, and gills around the neck. Males have their tail-tip replaced by the end tail fin, and females may have their breasts flattened a bit, both alterations making for a slightly better swimmer. A few have parts along their body that glow to signal to others when muted underwater.
Sun Ryclin: Often born of light, or pale colors, with heads that grow a long rim across them, making for a "hood" that shades them and helps their eyes. Many have a strange 'under-tongue' appendage that can poke out of their mouth like a straw, and puncture plants to gather water easier. Some have patterns that look a tad granular, or dark stripes, with the idea being this would help them camouflage in with dunes. A few are born with slower metabolisms, and taught to make food last, as hunting can sometimes be more difficult. This breed of ryclin is more prominent on Iskaar, but can be found on odd parts of Atlas and Kyberus. Albino: Technically an albino is any Ryclin with a mainly white coloration, but this is a very rarely picked choice, and most actually use it instead as a process where the white skin changes with colors of what it consumes. Enter the average Albino modified ryclin, where 'you are what you eat' is worn a little closer to its surface. They may absorb, and even partially control the pigment of their ingested prey, with metabolic arrangements made to collect and pump the pigmented colors of its victim to the surface skin cells. This has little practical use that tech couldn't out-perform, however its a glamorized cosmetic ideal making this variant quite popular in fashion, or entertainment. For some ryclins though, it makes them hard to consistently identify, and sometimes a known albino is suspect for mischief.
Sun Ryclin: Often born of light, or pale colors, with heads that grow a long rim across them, making for a "hood" that shades them and helps their eyes. Many have a strange 'under-tongue' appendage that can poke out of their mouth like a straw, and puncture plants to gather water easier. Some have patterns that look a tad granular, or dark stripes, with the idea being this would help them camouflage in with dunes. A few are born with slower metabolisms, and taught to make food last, as hunting can sometimes be more difficult. This breed of ryclin is more prominent on Iskaar, but can be found on odd parts of Atlas and Kyberus. Albino: Technically an albino is any Ryclin with a mainly white coloration, but this is a very rarely picked choice, and most actually use it instead as a process where the white skin changes with colors of what it consumes. Enter the average Albino modified ryclin, where 'you are what you eat' is worn a little closer to its surface. They may absorb, and even partially control the pigment of their ingested prey, with metabolic arrangements made to collect and pump the pigmented colors of its victim to the surface skin cells. This has little practical use that tech couldn't out-perform, however its a glamorized cosmetic ideal making this variant quite popular in fashion, or entertainment. For some ryclins though, it makes them hard to consistently identify, and sometimes a known albino is suspect for mischief.
Ecology and Habitats
Ryclins have most naturally enjoyed the atmospheres of Kyberus, and pre-pollution Dustin, with some very loose turf on Atlas before the humans. They love rainy, humid, and sub-tropical type lands the most. However they have since traveled to many other places, and prove to either be able to adapt to things with tech, their diets, or even breed new ryclins that can be changed to better suit their home such as longer ears to cool blood vessels in the desert. Space stationed ryclin may also have integrated synthetic biomes, and fostered farms of life or calm weather to sustain a more enriched planet-like life with its own hunting regions, though these efforts are considered expensive and difficult for other races to provide.
Ryclins that get overheated tend to pant out the heat, most often seen if they eat a big meal and provoke a lot of acidic activity. Panting can come as voluntary in mild conditions, or a forced reflex to extreme condition. Otherwise their bodies are used to depending on rain water for cooling, and they may use tech in worse cases. If too cold, ryclins have started depending on partially unnatural solutions, often using special equipment or modified food. Natural solutions may involve them eating heavier meals to kick up acid production at the risk of drowsiness, but this could also be a problem with more sparse wildlife in the remote cold. Its advised such ryclins bring their own preserved food. However, a lot of places employing ryclins in tundra weather are also preparing and feeding them a special synthetic fat gelatin that either digests longer for deliberately drawing on acidic warmth, or eventually - over reoccurring or large-volume use - will quickly fatten-up a ryclin for enduring the weather on their own insulation. Its common to see heavier set ryclin that live in colder environments.
Dietary Needs and Habits
A normal ryclin will only eat whole prey. On a technical level, a Ryclin can consume almost any material thing that can be corroded by their stomach acids. Their jaws can unhinge, and their throat and insides can stretch to hold most practical things this allows for. Their acidic level is much higher than ordinary, and their enzyme-to-protein development is rather streamlined and simplified, making for an organism that can eat things ranging from a whole person, to a metal pipe or a plastic bottle - though the latter benefits them very little. They will only bite food if it poses a known threat to their insides. Ryclin cannot truly chew, lacking a firm enough teeth-grinding structure with their flexible jaws. They always prefer to eat their prey alive. Depending on the size of the meal, they aim to eat only once daily, but they metabolize too fast for a large prey to sustain the days it might other species, and may eat multiple times a day if they're only having small meals such as mice-sized specimen.
Pictured: The recently fed appear notably different from such large meals.
This effect has even earned its own name, Prey-belly They're driven with an affinity to run and capture live prey, priding themselves on this whole system even if human processed food and technology are available. However, their diet and social practicality has made room for preserved food in the form of dead, cryo-preserved meals that are stored away for days when a hunt is too much work, as easy gifts, or if the ryclin isn't suited to hunt. Laws & understanding of trade prohibits them from enacting such carnivorous actions on some of the other sentient life forms, such as mankind. In odd cases of accepting processed products, Burgers, Meatloaf, Spaghetti, and more 'drinkable' variations of soup, yogurt, or pudding are more easily accepted. Baked grain are the least popular to them. Their drinking habits outside of water tend to favor fruits in the form of juices, dairy, and sometimes smoothies, wine, or milkshakes. They metabolize things differently, with most food going straight to use as energy, or stored as more acid. Some acid moves to their glands that can be mixed with saliva & mucus as a sticky projectile. They don't naturally store much fat on a balanced diet - even if they eat in vast quantities for their size. However in extreme cases, typical overeating results in a gland backup where they will involuntarily discharge acid from their nose and mouth for a period, feeling "sick" off what they ate or drank. If a bad habit continues, their body starts to recognize it'll be more useful to store some of it away, and they will begin to produce fat stores. However, at a certain point their proteins might confuse muscle with fat, and replace old muscles tissue with fat until the muscle itself is broken under gelatinous pressure. This is considered the Ryclin equivalent of "Diabetes" under human studies, even if it may function different from their own. Common forms of diabetic breakdowns appear as weakened hop muscles ("Hop-decay"), the muscularly lining of the stomach wall (making it harder to hold or regurgitate prey), or the tail (sometimes nicknamed "lock-tail").
This effect has even earned its own name, Prey-belly They're driven with an affinity to run and capture live prey, priding themselves on this whole system even if human processed food and technology are available. However, their diet and social practicality has made room for preserved food in the form of dead, cryo-preserved meals that are stored away for days when a hunt is too much work, as easy gifts, or if the ryclin isn't suited to hunt. Laws & understanding of trade prohibits them from enacting such carnivorous actions on some of the other sentient life forms, such as mankind. In odd cases of accepting processed products, Burgers, Meatloaf, Spaghetti, and more 'drinkable' variations of soup, yogurt, or pudding are more easily accepted. Baked grain are the least popular to them. Their drinking habits outside of water tend to favor fruits in the form of juices, dairy, and sometimes smoothies, wine, or milkshakes. They metabolize things differently, with most food going straight to use as energy, or stored as more acid. Some acid moves to their glands that can be mixed with saliva & mucus as a sticky projectile. They don't naturally store much fat on a balanced diet - even if they eat in vast quantities for their size. However in extreme cases, typical overeating results in a gland backup where they will involuntarily discharge acid from their nose and mouth for a period, feeling "sick" off what they ate or drank. If a bad habit continues, their body starts to recognize it'll be more useful to store some of it away, and they will begin to produce fat stores. However, at a certain point their proteins might confuse muscle with fat, and replace old muscles tissue with fat until the muscle itself is broken under gelatinous pressure. This is considered the Ryclin equivalent of "Diabetes" under human studies, even if it may function different from their own. Common forms of diabetic breakdowns appear as weakened hop muscles ("Hop-decay"), the muscularly lining of the stomach wall (making it harder to hold or regurgitate prey), or the tail (sometimes nicknamed "lock-tail").
Additional Information
Domestication
Ryclins have oddly become a pet unit in a more unlikely way, though this has roughly been bred and classified as its own category through the Doclin (The "nicer" nickname for Docile Ryclin). It occurred between peaceful agreements with humans, and the convincing of a small group of mothers to modify their child to be more socially adaptable with common culinary practices, but held far too many side-effects in the changes. Hormones, habits, jaw-lining and digestive structure, energy levels, and all were different, but many cognitive functions and traits were so reduced that the ryclin were almost considered 'defective'. Hundred were bred, and still retained full free will and ideas, but developed to be far less proactive. They almost had to be guided and tutored a different way, and paired with a ryclin or human superior, and a few were virtually kept like pets.
Uses, Products & Exploitation
They can be exploited in all manner of ways when considered as a political tool, but more physically there are only very limited values. The Grebel tend to get the most use out of them, as they aren't always as advanced, and more openly hostile towards them. They will sometimes use Ryclin hides as a form of defense against living ryclins, like acid shields, and bones as a flexible hard surface that can be crafted into use. Ryclin skulls can sometimes be ornaments, or grebel territory markers. However, even some humans have found good function for ryclin leather, though its a rare resource only obtained if a ryclin allows it in their will. Ryclin fat can be extracted for use in high proteins mixes, and sometimes even cleaning agents, and is often desired to be extracted in from ryclin who've developed Ryclin Diabetes and Hop Decay . Acid has been experimented on and researched for extended use, but most matters it can be used for, often have an easier alternative.
Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms
Civilization and Culture
Major Organizations
- Valdeen Metacode Council & Temple of Vyras - Two competing branches of religious thoughts, that ryclin mostly participate in.*
- Omniversal Link Council: Relay stations that often monitor, council, and assess the common natural distortions around their world. The top head council helps mark decisions for smaller communities to follow, or assists in communicating where problems occur.
- OARS: Standing for Orbital Archipelago Ryclin Senate, this is the group of politically powerful ryclins that meet and discuss their views with the overall government. They're the only power at equal ends with the Vahamin equivalent.
Beauty Ideals
Vanity standards are harder to pin, but typically ryclins are drawn to each other over accomplishments, special lights or metallic sheens, and certain modded parts or fake augmented ones such as crests or hoods often making something like some Sun Ryclins stand out. Most ryclins, especially females, tend to also favor the idea of being tall, envying the giants and seeing it as fascinating. This is less common with males, who have an ideal 'modest' limit in mind to keep their heads under door frames, or tree limbs, but others may still admire height. In more direct romantic gestures, its more one-sided as its very rare females take an interest. They lack some of the same driving chemicals, and are also self-conscience of what maternity changes force upon them, and don't wish to stunt their mood or abilities for months. Some still host care to some standards and ideals of appearing proud, or recognizing a dignified male, but show less interest than a male might for the female.
Both sexes expect each other to be capable and strong. They may glamorize hunting and eating, but some also believe genuine gluttony can ruin the stronger appeal or the ability of a future's hunt. Fat tails tend to sometimes be considered a higher point of shame, whereas larger stomachs can more occasionally be conflated with a good hunt. Female body distribution changes from hormonal shifts the male adds after mating, with subtle alterations that distinguish them from virgin females. A larger waist or bust becomes tell-marks of a maternal conversion, instinctively signaling away males that want an unpartnered ryclin. Single females instead hold dominant curving around their hips from strong hop muscles, or because their default hormones send most of any accumulating fat to the rear.
Average Technological Level
Ryclins through various interactions, have achieved a very astounding and high level of technological innovation. Yet by their merit, and mostly non-competing form, they have depended on a pragmatic and simple solution where there is little variation for a tool that "just works". As such, guns, clothes, and building types, are most streamlined and similar to each other.
Ryclin in the end possess gene tampering technology, travel the omni-verse, have temporal distortion implemented so casually that its used as a building block tool to age-off bad parts, use teleportation almost for mail itself, and have advanced space travel. All in all, they're incredibly advanced for a race that started out more meek, and may share some traces of influence in their tech from a vast array of past visitors and other races and universes.
Some common & Basic items include:
- Teleport: Varies in purpose with different types of potential teleporters, but teleports are used often in their basic form for mail or getting items. Nearly all rylie homes have a basic form.
- Bed: Ryclins sleep in a circular bed with an optional dome lid, and sleep therapeutic options.
- Cryolockers > Fridges: Ryclins seal cold/preserved food in special larger canisters meant for whole critters. These can vary in sizes from hand-held, to large and wall-mounted. Cold drinks can be found in their own special cooling bottles that stay chilled until opened.
- Broadcast media: Ryclins stream most media, and prefer to save on clutter, but may download for work or personal value. Downloading is done so rare, laws are lax for professional jobs to access, while humans need a license for their own formats.
- Construction: Regular housing and pieces like bridges are quickly connected with quick presets, and basic geometry or familiar functional patterns (Ex: all bridges are plated walkways running on an energy tether for binding). More serious labor is still employed and done by special needs, and unique offices. Repairs involve degrading and copying the broken component.
- Toilets: Use a special waste-box that recycles the biomatter waste, into traces of energy that can eventually add up to certain eco-batteries or even contribute to facility power. No seating or gender differences are necessary to account for, with ryclin anatomy. However, the same toilets aren't quite comfortable for humans.
- Arts/Ryclin Printers: Personal art is digital, responding to motions by making colored strokes, or even using CGI & printers to slowly craft and graft parts together and using materials to recycle into forging it. These machines are often called ryclin printers, and require a lot of memory to physically replicate models by imitating the model-craft into real construct.
Common Etiquette Rules
The following are about ryclin social norms, including gestures, symbolic ideals, and mere principles of civil function.
Ryclin Calls:
Ryclins natively make sounds remarkable as deep, bellowing, and whooping or wailing type noises. While such communication is rarely used in place of language anymore, some sounds are used to locate others across the forests, or used in more simple instances of purely making noise, while other sounds like a 'ryclin chuckle' can occasionally be more of a slip. They often socialize normally, and sounds can be rare to hear outside of forest hunting groups.
Basic shared Animal & Human Gestures:
Ryclins use their tails, ears, and even artificial fangs to produce various effects akin to other animals. Tail wags can be excitement and joy, while lashing can be sudden reactions to things they like or hate. Ears perk or lift to concern or anger alike, and droop when the ryclin has lost enough hope or joy to omit any perky use. They have also come to understand snarling for anger, and adopted many common human forms of speak through things like winking, or some sarcastic patterns of speech or metaphoric meanings, and have some normal similar biological reactions like blushing for embarrassment. It is worth noting though, that many ryclins may not share food based idioms with humans, such as "Flatter than a pancake" or calling something "a piece of cake". It depends on their knowledge of food they may not even eat, or if they're just abnormal and enjoy culinary arts.
Snout-pat:
Patting or holding onto the snout is essentially a common gesture of a friendly ease, farewell, or mutual understanding. Roughly akin to a sympathetic handshake, or an "it's all okay" gesture. Frequent especially from parent to child. Hugs may still be supplemented in instances after wide adoption from other races, and other races may also be found respecting Ryclin social customs by interacting through snout-touch. It even Transends digital conversations, where video messengers may end calls or show sympathy by rubbing their own gesture, and "waving" it at the other as an intent for them.
Hops:
Hopping is often reserved as a measure of travel. Deep or strong powered (and more vertical) hops are used for tricky navigation, while small arching hops are for quick common travel (bigger ryclin may take smaller hops along all fours). Indoors its more polite to walk, but a few may still hop across stair inclines or just crude desire to simply hop anyway. Elaborate hopping may occur in dances, but often a hop only carries more mundane social meaning through a single small vertical hop in-place that equates to a human fist-pump cheer (often for one's own accomplishments). Other races usually refrain from communicating with ryclins in this manner unless they're mocking them. In other uses, hopping has been associated more indirectly with ideas of power and speed. Tapping the leg, hips, or rear to get the other to think of 'hopping' either urging them to literally hop, or figuratively to just hurry up. Some athletes and solavores may decorate their work suit's knees or rumps with personal decals, equating the hopping components with their own hard work-ethic & power.
Toe-tap:
Ryclins often have a natural nervous tick of tapping their middle-toe claw when lost in thought, often in parallel with a gentle tail twitch, and some have a bad habit of even drawing their climbing claws until they hook to the floor or ground.
Acid-cleans:
A small quirk some ryclins have is they may clean themselves with small doses of their own acid-ejections. They may clean off their claws, or spit into their hands and rub it along the bridge of their snouts, or the tail, cleaning off odd messes by searing off dirt. As acid only disturbs them under long-term sustained effect, it often sizzles away or drips off before it can harm them, but is a risk to their clothes, certain equipment, and close surroundings. In many places, ryclins may be fined a small amount for damaging interiors this way.
Tail-tugs:
Tail tugs are considered a crass gesture, at its best a last resort way to pull a ryclin's attention. A tail being held or pulled can stop them from expressions, or hopping, and is often associated with even the lewd act of a male trying to mate... sometimes even meaning the tail tug provokes a pre-mature kick from a female. Its also a bit dangerous with males, as some have mildly sharp barbs on the end of said tails.
Unlucky Number 4:
The number four is considered most widely as a 'dirty' number, but may also be associated with change and renewal, or control and order in superstitious ryclin culture and symbols. This association comes from the fact ryclin males have a secondary pair of testicles (4 total) that actually host different hormonal fluids which are intended to change the female to reduce her acid production, and make her more able to host a child, even changing her mood to more readily accept a family future. Females naturally don't care for these chemicals and changes, and may dislike the number four. As even the male is impacted and exhausted after a large loss of fluids, they also consider this number symbolically unlucky themselves when facing an important upcoming task. The number four is sometimes held as a more favorable symbol around those in power, leadership, or looking for change, etc. That said, some entirely disregard the superstitions entirely, or don't use its symbol very seriously.
Family structure:
Ryclings don't always call their parents by the labels of mother or father. It is common for them to say the name, save for contextual cases of submission, or orders. For example, apologizing for a wrong doing will often require the parent to be addressed as Mother or Father. However, simply saying hi, asking for attention, or introducing them to another, can all be done with their real name. A family tends to stay close together during the child's 6-7 year raising, and then it is common for some to split apart for different jobs, loss of interest, or for sheer curiosity. Partners distancing like this may still communicate affectionately, or even regroup and have another child, but some rare cases involve severing ties.
Stomach Rubbing: Ryclins consider their own stomachs to be a crucial part of themselves, and have spawned a complicated mix of different meanings around the method of grabbing another's stomach. Ryclins have long developed a natural dopamine for when they eat live prey, neurologically linking nerves or stomach movement with the joy of a successful hunt, so they often enjoy having their stomachs touched by others, but can branch into other meanings. The various intentions and meanings have been broken up into its own mini-section of the Common Etiquette section, measured between A-to-C... A) Health/Comfort/Concern: A recent social understanding stems from dangerous things still struggling inside the stomach, and another ryclin checking or messaging it with concern. Its meaning has become so used that it has even extended to those unfed, sometimes as a sincere show of "hope you're feeling well". Such rubs or pats may even be done to simply ease worries, akin to a snout-pat, and is often a complimentary practice within ryclin care or salon facilities. This is more often a ryclin-strict measure of communication, but a couple individuals may adopt this practice to easily show friendliness to an unfed ryclin, whereas one digesting a meal tends to off-put a potentially bothersome amount of stomach heat, and might simply disgust other races. A ryclin having actual prey trouble around other races, will typically have their stomach handled with caution (or left to sort it out on their own). B) Insult: Specifically pulling or pinching an empty or lightly-fed stomach can be considered more of an insult, often done by a fuller ryclin as a gesture that the other is too dumb or bad of a hunter to go and eat. A few ryclins also find this to be an insult when they've actually eaten too much at a consistent enough rate to accumulate fat, and may feel singled out by the gesture of having another ryclin touch or pull at it. C) Accomplishment/Envy/Submission: Rubbing, scratching, or petting a belly has for a while been associated with accomplishment or even submission, and unlike the other contexts , this only carries meaning when the receiving ryclin is recently fed. Such sensory behavior is virtually considered a social part of measuring their success and congratulations from a hunt. It may also be done by a ryclin that even envies the better hunter, or feel humiliated to fall short of fetching the same prey. In a rare instance a more mean-spirited ryclin may wish to brag by using their bigger belly to pin or push another around until they concede into acknowledging it. Other races getting involved is less consistent. Its common for some contractors of solavores to check their stomach in some capacity in a debriefing and congratulate them with a payment. Similar other scenarios may lead to the fed ryclin getting a quick pat like a 'hi-five', or even due to unusual curiosity if the thing inside is still responsive. Its far more rare to find a race that envies the hunter, or for the ryclin hunter to demand rubs as submissive behavior from another species, and these traits of a braggard are more seen just around other ryclins.
Stomach Rubbing: Ryclins consider their own stomachs to be a crucial part of themselves, and have spawned a complicated mix of different meanings around the method of grabbing another's stomach. Ryclins have long developed a natural dopamine for when they eat live prey, neurologically linking nerves or stomach movement with the joy of a successful hunt, so they often enjoy having their stomachs touched by others, but can branch into other meanings. The various intentions and meanings have been broken up into its own mini-section of the Common Etiquette section, measured between A-to-C... A) Health/Comfort/Concern: A recent social understanding stems from dangerous things still struggling inside the stomach, and another ryclin checking or messaging it with concern. Its meaning has become so used that it has even extended to those unfed, sometimes as a sincere show of "hope you're feeling well". Such rubs or pats may even be done to simply ease worries, akin to a snout-pat, and is often a complimentary practice within ryclin care or salon facilities. This is more often a ryclin-strict measure of communication, but a couple individuals may adopt this practice to easily show friendliness to an unfed ryclin, whereas one digesting a meal tends to off-put a potentially bothersome amount of stomach heat, and might simply disgust other races. A ryclin having actual prey trouble around other races, will typically have their stomach handled with caution (or left to sort it out on their own). B) Insult: Specifically pulling or pinching an empty or lightly-fed stomach can be considered more of an insult, often done by a fuller ryclin as a gesture that the other is too dumb or bad of a hunter to go and eat. A few ryclins also find this to be an insult when they've actually eaten too much at a consistent enough rate to accumulate fat, and may feel singled out by the gesture of having another ryclin touch or pull at it. C) Accomplishment/Envy/Submission: Rubbing, scratching, or petting a belly has for a while been associated with accomplishment or even submission, and unlike the other contexts , this only carries meaning when the receiving ryclin is recently fed. Such sensory behavior is virtually considered a social part of measuring their success and congratulations from a hunt. It may also be done by a ryclin that even envies the better hunter, or feel humiliated to fall short of fetching the same prey. In a rare instance a more mean-spirited ryclin may wish to brag by using their bigger belly to pin or push another around until they concede into acknowledging it. Other races getting involved is less consistent. Its common for some contractors of solavores to check their stomach in some capacity in a debriefing and congratulate them with a payment. Similar other scenarios may lead to the fed ryclin getting a quick pat like a 'hi-five', or even due to unusual curiosity if the thing inside is still responsive. Its far more rare to find a race that envies the hunter, or for the ryclin hunter to demand rubs as submissive behavior from another species, and these traits of a braggard are more seen just around other ryclins.
Common Dress Code
Often, ryclin dress rather 'lazily' or to practical uniform, depending on the role. Most civilians wear a cloth fabric roughly akin to sweatpants, sweatshirts, and similar lounging wear. This is both a more obvious logic of comfort, but to also conform with their sometimes large diet in whole prey. Alternative clothing gets much more technical quickly, with roles like Crashers, Solavores, authority figures, Bio-Coder monks, and such all wearing more gadget wear over top of soft mesh-like layers. Vanity wear exists and may occasionally change more by trend or sudden new trade routes into other universes. They may wear such things as non-piercing rings, close-proximity levitational jewelry, or traditional jewels. Some fads may come and go including a Rylie Hunter Holographic Ring that was made like a partial belt to stick on the stomach, and pulls open when it stretches on prey to project a holographic image using the wearer's stomach as the backdrop. Something like this may come into a fad to brag about hunts, but then fall out when most realize they'd like to sleep out the prey anyway when the image is supposed to be shown. Other trends might die out because of material scarcity, or changes of hostile relations with its original place.
Crashers and Solavore bounty hunters may often be seen wearing a suit by the solavore name. This includes a set of armored pants that clip into a similar shirt & helm combination. In fully active form, the helmet engulfs the face, there's tail plating, a magnetic belt for utensils, and the abdominal compartment is folded together with locks that can unlatch for the mesh underside to flow out when the stomach expands. However, crashers are more dynamic, and might also wear constructs of scraps, or experimental tech they assembled more from local adventures, or their own curious tinkering.
Bio-coders wear a similar high-end suit, but often worn with more plating and white colors, with special distinctive goggles that display colors of emotion, and try to have more intensive environmental scans. Their outfit is more data and analytical focused, with hopes the priest/monk will find a new thing to store or ponder on the Metadata of their perceived 'simulation' of the world.
Common Taboos
- Gift-giving to the opposite sex, when no bond is established or wanted
- Habitually eating processed food (not including "drinkable" food)
- Abusing omni-versal transports to mettle in natural regions.
- Grabbing another ryclin's tail
Genetic Ancestor(s)
Scientific Name
Ryliem Kysien
Lifespan
80 Years
Average Height
2-2.5 Meters
Can be as big as 4 meters
Average Physique
Slender and lithe, with a lot of strength in the legs. Will often appear temporarily pot-bellied or more severely bloated for a short while after eating.
Geographic Distribution
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