LIFE CYCLE
NESTS
There are two main rituals for Hornthropods when the subject is laying eggs: Family Nest and Community Nest.
Family Nest is when a Hornthropod couple lay eggs they will raise as their children, it can be done with eggs they gave birth themselves or eggs that they found and decided to take care.
Community Nest is when a lot of Hornthropod eggs are taken care all together by a bigger group of Caregivers, those Caregivers can be either their biological parents or voluntary adult ones who wish to help raise those eggs.
Hornthropods couples that are not compatible with each other naturally can not have babies in a biological way, but they can adopt an egg from the Community Nest and have them as their own egg. If the new parents offer some special Matiz Berries for the great spirit Matiz and kindly energize the egg with their Spiritual Gem Power, the baby will be born with some features of their parents.
EGGS
Hornthropods lay eggs in geodes nests, the most common ones are made out of pebbles but some Hornthropods might rather make crystals nests, gemstones nests, volcanic rocks nests and/or some other materials, it depends mostly on where they live and how far they would be willing to go to find exotic materials.
The eggs are perfectly round, usually 4 inches (10 centimeters) to 6 inches (15 centimeters) sized. It’s shell is made of a very thin gem layer, its color usually resembles the color of the cub’s Gem.
Hornthropods don't need to sit on their eggs for them to be born, they just keep near the nest to make sure nothing will steal their eggs.
When the cubs are born they are holding their Spiritual Gem near their chest and once they open their eyes the Gem starts floating and makes its way to the top of their heads, where it will remain for the rest of their lives.
They can be born with the following sex: Male, female, intersex or sexless (more details about it in Reproduction section).
Hornthropods don’t go through metamorphosis during their lives, it means that cub Hornthropods already resemble its adult appearance, they are not larvae.
CHILDHOOD
During their childhood Hornthropod cubs must be often breastfed, and when they grow up a little bit they must be often fed (see more about it in “Diet” section), since they use much of their energy to grow up and also to play with each other.
While playing cubs can run on all their limbs (hands, feets and extra limbs if they have some).
It is usually in this stage of their lives that Hornthropods find out their Spiritual Power and train to master it (more about it in “Culture: Learning”) and it's also when winged Hornthropods starts to grow their wings.
LEARNING
Both Family and Community Nest cubs are teached by Instructors when they reach a certain age, those Instructors are in charge of teaching them how to defend themselves, how to fight, how to survive in nature and they pass their knowledge about the Canyon and what they know about the outside worlds. In this age it is common for cubs to fight each other as a healthy game that helps them discover their Spiritual Powers.
ADULTHOOD AND RELATIONSHIPS
When a Hornthropod meets someone special they would like to start a more serious relationship there's a ritual they always do to show their affection to the chosen ones, they search for a pretty branch with beautiful leaves and/or flowers and attach it in the hair of their chosen ones, braiding it together. If the chosen one allows them to do that it means they have accepted their new partner.
But things are way more serious when a Hornthropod gives a necklace with a little glass bottle, containing an Eterner inside of it. If both share a necklace like this all other Hornthropods and intelligent creatures of Deep Lock know that their bond is for their whole lives.
POSSIBLE GENDERS
They can be born with the following sex: Male, female, Intersex or Sexless.
Males usually have a longer torso and short to medium muzzle.
They have only male reproduction organs and are compatibles with females and intersex Hornthropods.
Females usually have a thinner thorax, breasts, larger hips and short muzzle.
They have only female reproduction organs and are compatibles with males and intersex Hornthropods.
Intersex ones can have any of the above features or something in between it.
They have both male and female reproduction organs, they are compatibles with any other Hornthropod sex but sexless.
Sexless ones can have any of the above features or something in between it.
They don't have either male nor female reproduction organs, only a cloaca where they eliminate their physical needs, they are only compatibles with other none sex Hornthropods.
Regardless of their sex of birth, Hornthropods can identify themselves as any gender, romantic or sexual identities.
COMPATIBILITY
All subspecies are genetically and biologically compatible with each other, yet their offspring will always be categorized in only one subspecies since hybrids can't be born. Example: If a Horned Insect and a Horned Crustacean lay eggs, the cubs can be born as Horned Insects and/or Horned Crustaceans, but no hybrids.
This way we can oftentimes see siblings of different regular arthropod species.
They are only compatible with each other and it is not possible to reproduce with other species, yet it's very common for them to adopt children, so even tho this biological limitation exists it's easy to see any kind of Hornthropod families with all kinds of subspecies and other species as well.
LEAVING THE CANYON
If a Hornthropod can find a good Tutor to lead them outside the Gemmer's Canyon, Elafrý will compile their info in a document entry and allow them to go outside with this Tutor.
Tutors can be any kind of intelligent creature, humans, humanoids, anthros of various species, or even other Hornthropods if they are experienced enough.
Leaving the Canyon without this License will make the Hornthropod's Gem slowly lose its power, and it needs to be recharged in the Citadel for the fugitive to have its powers and ammortality back again.
OUTSIDER CULTURE
Even tho Hornthropods have their own culture and lifestyle, some Hornthropods can be very attached to their tutors and attach tutor's culture to their own, so it's not uncommon to see Hornthropods celebrating all kinds of cultural celebrations and enjoying foreigner's music.
AGEING
All Hornthropods are ammortals, but not immortal, which means they can't die of age, but can die by other causes, such as diseases or unnatural death causes.
They protect their Gems with their lives, not only because it carries their spiritual power, but because if they break their Gem their powers will vanish and the colors of their Gem will fade to grey (as well as their wings in case of Horned Insects), they still maintain their ammortality but their youth is no longer sustained by the Gem's power, and eventually they will age.
DEATH
When a Hornthropod dies their Gem finally stops floating.
If they die with their Gem still colored, its outside turns grey while its inside remains colorful, yet not shining anymore.
BURIAL AND MEMORY
When a Hornthropod dies, their bodies are not considered as important as their remaining Gem. Dead Hornthropods bodies can be buried below their favorite tree so their energy will become one as their favorite piece of nature, but their Gems will remain with the ones that were most important to them.
Usually Hornthropods build memory altars where they place the beloved one's Gem and some of their favorite belongings as a way to always remember those who are gone.