With the receint discussion of birthing I thought I'd mention my favorite race.
One of the things that makes the Mostali inherently different from
the other major races, ignoring dragonewts, is that they are not decended from
Grandfather Mortal. Not only does this make them functionally immortal but
should
have other repercussions. Mostali reproduction differs in that Uleria's magic
has
no place in dwarven life.
At the end of Storm season the Decamonic Council determines the number
of new dwarfs that are required for the duties of the colony. The gold dwarfs
then
determine which individuals would make good "parents". These individuals are
approached and scrutinized to ensure their worth. When this is done the the
dwarf
is fed high grade foodstuffs to accumulate the necesary energy for the coming
ordeal. A gold dwarf coaches the honored one in what he will have to do and
teaches him a special ritual that will be used in the middle of the process.
In the birthing chamber tin and copper dwarfs make ready a large tub
filled
with a hideous smelling muck made from appropriate organic and mineral matter.
The chosen one climbs into the tub and is sealed within. Approriate magics are
cast
by the tin and copper dwarfs. This tub is watched over by appropriate dwarfs
over
the year "gestation" period making sure that the basin and the dwarf within are
working properly.
In this basin the dwarf begins to consume/absorb the raw materials. In
the
first few weeks he does nothing but swell from the added mass. Then the dwarf
begins
to parthenogeticly (sp?) grow another dwarf using his own body as a template.
At first
only the head and chest form out of the ventral side of the dwarf, with the arms
and
legs starting to develop about mid fire season. When the head and torso are
complete
the parent dwarf performs the ritual that the gold taught him. This authorizes
the
summoning of a requisite amount of soul energy from the energy pool that is
guarded
by Ty Kora Tek. (I believe that this energy pool is actually the soul of
Mostal, but
that's a different post.) The success of this ritual determines the starting
INT and POW
for the dwarf. As the child dwarf becomes fully formed the two perform
isometric
exercises and begin instruction into the the Mostali ways. In late dark / early
storm
season the earthsense is developed and learned.
After the end of the year long process the valves are opened and out come
two dwarves were there once was one. The waste sludge is washed off and the
two dwarves are lead off. The child, fully grown and educated to a junior high
level,
is lead off to determine it's role in society. The parent convalesces for
about three
weeks. The parent dwarf has been awake for a FULL YEAR constructing and
instructing theis new dwarf.
Sometimes things go wrong. The parent fails from fatigue, or builds the
new
dwarf poorly, or even is attacked by the child dwarf. When such a crisis occurs
the
result is simple: boil it down and recycle.
Erich
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