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LilKyubee — Pathogem Infosheet 1
Published: 2017-04-26 00:07:08 +0000 UTC; Views: 4804; Favourites: 96; Downloads: 7
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Description
ANATOMY CONTINUED:
Head
Humanoid Faces, Head Hair, and Animal Ears. Ears can be on top of head OR where human ears would have been.
Eyecolor -ALWAYS- Reflects Parasite Gem Color.
Torso
Torso is usually fleshy, lacking the fur of their original form. CAN show markings or tattoos. mostly flesh tones.
Arms
Arms are furred Either to their Elbows or Shoulders. Wrist to Elbows are normally Bulky.
Hands
Hands Can be Bulky or not, with either 3 or 4 Fingers + 1 Thumb.
Can be Clawed, Hoofed, have Pawpads or not etc.
Legs / Butt
Legs are Furred / Scaled / Feathered / etc to correspond with their original form. Tails come out of Tailbone.
Feet:
Feet are Digitgrade (Digigrade for short). Feet are paws/hoofs/claws/ W/E correspond to original form.
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Characteristics:
Satyr- All Pathogems are 'Satyr' like in origins. They have a humanesk face and a fleshy torso. From the hips and elbows down they show aspects of the animals they are. They can have a set of ears on their heads, horns, wings, whathaveyou.
Parasite- All Pathogems have a gem imbedded into their flesh somewhere which is actually a parasite. In fact, this parasite is actually what makes them a Pathogem. ALL Pathogems start as a Animal/creature, the Parasite is what gives them their Humanoid form. Read on for more info!
Glowies- Pathogems have a bit of a internal glow which mostly reflects in the embedded parasite stones. Their eyes, flesh and blood minimally are the same color as their parasite stone.
Gender- Pathogems do have genders. Some females (Not all!) may even have breasts, but no visible Areolas on either gender. All genitals are 'hidden' unless courtship is occurring.
Clothing- Pathogems will wear any variety of clothing. Settings wise think Fantasy, Medieval, Old-world. They pref not to wear shoes (or if they do its more stylized for paws). Same with Pants, stylized due to their leg shapes. See Gallery for samples!
Bodytype- Pathogems really can be any sort of bodytype. Tall, Short, Thin, Curvy, Fat, muscular, you name it!
History:
Once upon a really long ass time ago, an accident happened. A spell was cast in an attempt to cure a plague, a disease found to have started with an unknown plant spreading like wildfire killing crops. The spell was experimental at worst, successful at best. The spell merged with the plant, strengthening it. You see this plant was a parasite, drifting from tree to tree in search of a new 'sun machine' to keep its species alive and feed it with energy. This was the only way it could grow, and it was dying out quickly, thus why it was spreading so fast. A combination of this desperate plant with a spell gone awry? Magic sometimes did what it wanted to do, and nothing could stop it when it did.
They had been trying to do recon on this mistake for centuries.
They called them 'mothers', the infected would. The magical accident creating thankfully only a handful of them, but still that was one too many. They were beings so gruesome all avoided them, and if any tried take them on they were either turned or killed instantly. They were creatures seemingly a mix of Animal, Plant, and Humanoid. They couldn't be killed, captured, deterred or stopped. Once it was known one of the 'mothers' were approaching a town, the occupants would take what they could and abandon their home and their lives until their houses could be 'cleansed.' This usually involved fire, so taking what you treasured was a must if you had the time.
The mothers arrivals were seen to some as the new plague.
These 'Mothers' were the start of all the terror. They were the spreaders of the 'spore'. These spores would seek out a life form, anything with fur, scale, feather, small, large... It didn't matter. The parasites no longer craved trees and sunlight, but energy from other richer sources. If the spores came into contact with fire, or took too long to find a host, they would die. Fire does not harm the mothers, oddly. Some think it is the original spell still protecting them.
Once infected, the spores would sink into the skin of their new host. They would move around in their bloodstreams and eventually settle on one of their chakra points. These points have the most energy flow through the body. The two most common points being the 'heart' (chest), or the 'Third eye' (forehead). The infected would not realize they had been tainted until it was much too late, and the parasite was too melded in with their being. After a short while a stone-like object would appear over their chakra points, visible for all to see over their flesh, and eventually grow in size. Once reaching a certain size (a few inches usually), the parasite might choose to grow some of the gemstones in other places of the body as well. Only the first stone needs to be on a chakra point. If a host tried to rip out the stone imbedded into them, they would die. Not only would blood-loss probably kill them, but the main factor is once the stone appears the melding is so complete the host can not live without the parasite.
The parasite feeds on the energies that the host gives, but in most cases thankfully these turn to be symbiotic relationships. In return for the energy, the parasite gives the host a harpy-like form, higher intelligence, and even a slight bit of magic. Somewhere it got written in them that "human shaped" was the way to mutate their hosts, a better way to ensure survival. All of the Mothers have an actual piece of the Wizard who cast the original spell as a part of them, so this probably plays a factor into the humanoid forms as well. The higher intelligence went along with the bodies. The type of magic depends on the color of the stone. The longer the parasite and host are together, the stronger their bond and thus the stronger their magic. Usually those with the most magic have more than the one basic starter chakra stone.
Eventually, through many means, the Host or the parasite nears the end of their life cycle. Complete relationships (Read Relationship Section) can have both living long and healthy lives, while tainted can mean the opposite. If something happens to the host, say a natural death by rocks falling or some sort, the parasite will die with them. This is why the parasites number one priority is keeping the host safe. Even if this means the Parasite taking over (see 'tainted'). If the Host ends up losing a limb somehow, it could go one of two ways. Either the Parasite seals the wound and the host has to find a new 'leg' to get around, or the parasite will end the cycle and take over. Eventually, if they have a complete relationship, the parasite will inform the host that the time for dying is soon... and willing or not, they will start the 'budding' stage. The parasite will slowly start to take more energy from the host, and once the host dies the parasite will have a minor window of opportunity to seek out a new host. If they fail, the parasite dies as well.
As history tells us, there have been cases of mass destruction where the uninfected have quarantined off whole areas and burned the entire section to the ground. No animal was allowed to leave a known infected area in these instances. Spores in their earlier stages lay invisible to the naked eye, so everything had to die.
Relationships
The relationships between the Parasite and the Host
Complete- Meaning their minds are together and are one. They both think together, and work together to both live a long life. This is the ideal situation if the host wants to live the longest life possible. This type are the ones who end up growing many more gems and gaining higher magical abilities. The parasite willingly protects the host.
Incomplete- The Host and the Parasites minds are separate, and tend to butt heads. A lot. They can get along at times, but can fight as well. Like new roommates, this is the 'beginning' usually, and their relationship can either go on to be 'complete' or be 'tainted.'
Tainted- The tainted are the third, and worst of the three. A Tainted Pathogem means that the parasite completely shoved the mind of the host out the door and took over completely. There is no going back once this is done, the hosts mind being fried. You can tell a tainted by looking at the flesh around the parasite stones, usually signaled by black veins or blood dripping like a never closing open wound. The host once in this stage will not live long, a few months tops, the parasite burning through the resources faster than the host can provide. In this stage the Pathogem is very volatile, and very strong. New spores usually have at least one or two experiences with this before they try and form a bond, though some nasty parasites enjoy tainting and killing all their hosts as fast as possible and are a reason the Pathogems get such a bad rep.
Culture
Since the 'great rise' or the 'great fall', depending on who you ask, occurred there have been cultural changes. Whole towns were built and bonds formed by the now 'parasitic cultures' scattered around. It was considered a great honor by some to become one of the infected. Some even were cocky enough to see their new 'higher form' as a gift from the gods with the 'Mothers' acting the roll of the earthly speakers for these gods. All infected were welcome, all outsiders considered to be 'mundanes'. Once and a while a 'mundane' would wander into the cities on accident. They were either chased off, or infected themselves and join.
Outside of these pockets of societies was a even larger world. While the infected were indeed plenty, compared to the rest of the world they were very very few. A infected could move around as a nomad if they were strong enough to avoid those who chose to hunt or challenge them. Newly infected were the most vulnerable, not creating a bond with their parasites just yet, and not able to access the magics, they were easy pickings for the 'anti parasite' activists. Hosts were not welcome in some cities, others allowing them only for trade and then to be on their merry way. A lot of the people were ignorant. Thinking the 'parasite' infected were some sort of disease, but one rarely passed on unless a mother was present or one of the hosts was 'budding'.
Pathogems are Omnivores. Though they can choose a lifestyle of only protein or only vegetation, they can get nutrition from either. Most tend to stick with whatever they used to eat before they were changed.
The setting is more medieval in origins, think something along those lines in terms of the settlements. Think game of thrones if you need a sample? Cities made of mostly stones or dried mud, though in rainforests its more likely the settlements are hidden in the trees. It's very open to interpretation!
Jobs wise theres the usual system. Not just nomads and traders, but even shops such as seamstresses and bakers. Maybe even a Guild here or there dedicated to the art of Potions making, or magic weaving. Theres masters and Apprentices - you name it! It is a very open world but the one thing i am adamant about is there is no such thing as technology. You want to get a message to someone? Deliver it yourself or used a trained bird or a messenger man to deliver it. You want to read? Maybe there is a special library for scholars in the pathogem community! There is sometimes a class system with aristos, there are guards, etc.
One special job in particular is called a seeker. The job of a seeker is to find new infected pathogems in the world (they usually follow the mothers around.) and help integrate them into society before the hunters (who also follow the mothers) find and kill them.
Spawning / Breeding
In pathogem society, being so small, it is not unheard of to hear the want for children between couples. Thing is, breeding in their world is not done in the usual sense. While pathogems can have sex for pleasure, their humanoid bodies are essentially infertile. Breeding is instead called spawning, because what it really boils down to is parasite gems are what create a new Pathogem child. The potential parents will seek out, or wait, for one of the Mothers to pass through the area. They will then petition the mothers, asking for the rights to have a child. The mother does not honestly care much for the opinion for the Hosts soul, instead asking if the Parasites are willing to give up some of their energy to instead make a new spore. Only if all are in agreement will the process be started. If yes, the parasite gemstones will combine energies to form a new spore. (So yes, same sex couples having children is common. Sometimes it can be more than 2 parents, Polyamory is not unheard of.) Once all is said and done, and a little magic in the mix... the Mother will bring the new baby Pathogem to the parents.
That said, actually being born a Pathogem this way is not common. It isnt exactly rare, but it is still seen as a blessing. Most adult pathogems will see a child in their town as a blessing, and said child will be spoiled usually. (Not always, some might be jealous or not like kids etc.)
It is hard sometimes to get multiple Pathogem parasites who are willing to weaken themselves a little bit to have a child. Normally it is to keep their hosts happy, happy hosts are better for the Parasites in the long run.
Pathogem children grow at the same rate as human children. Once the baby arrives they will at first look like a normal human baby, the only thing telling the parents they are different is the eye color of the baby will reflect their parasite color, thus their element. The childs animal species will be one of the parents, not a Hybrid. So if a Swan and a Wild Dog Pathos have a child, it will only be one of those 2 species - not a Hybrid. If a parent Pathogem has a mutation (say said Wild Dog from before had Wings or something) then the child does have a chance of inheriting that mutation. For the Parasite Gemstones color, that is also dependent on the parents. The rarer colors (Black, White, Pink, Silver, Brown) are recessive while the common (Red, Orange, Yellow, Blue, Green, Purple) are dominant. The dominant colors are more likely to pass to offspring unless both parents have a recessive color. The child will either have the color of one or the other parent, rarely sometimes a different color, or even more rarely multi colors.
Ask questions if you'd like and i will answer and add to their lore ouo <3
FAQ:
What is the world like?
Think something medieval? There are cities but they are more like clusters of stone buildings and wooden structures. No such things as cars or Technology. Think High Fantasy game-of-thrones ish.
Can the infected start off as humans?
Most infected start off as animals, a GOOD chunk of them. Usually more humanoid shaped beings are smart enough to know to avoid the infected, or a known infected area. Most of the time if a spore attempts to infect a humanoid, it would kill the spore. Once and a while it IS possibly, but rare. If a spore does infect a human, they will look the same but with a gemstone imbedded over a chakra point, plus the eyecolor shift.
How does the transformation process work?
A animal is infected, and the spore lays dormant in their bloodstream for varying lengths of time. It could take a few hours, or a few days, for the effects to begin depending on the will of the infected. Those of stronger will would take longer to be fully infected. The host feels nothing for a while, a month or so normally, while the parasite slowly works through their system. Once that time has passed, a gem will start to form somewhere over one of the creatures chakras. Most commonly it shows on the 'heart' or the 'third eye' chakras. It starts with the host feeling super itchy in this spot. After a day or two, a small bead will form in the spot. It will continue to itch, and even hurt. It isn't uncommon to hear a yelp of pain and wonder if a creature is turning. The host will stay in this stage for a week or two as the stone spreads and the parasite grows stronger. Final stage of the transformation is... rather gruesome. Thankfully the final stage only lasts a couple of hours. The creature will form something akin to 'mange' on their front end, and lose their hair/scales/feathers/what have you. If they are a larger creature, they will start to shrink too. Smaller ones would grow larger. Their limbs will elongate and twist, their faces pushed back. Finally, they would rest in their new bipedal form. Most end up in a comatose like state for a few days right after, the energy exerted being too much. Once they 'awaken' again they would find themselves having a even better understanding of the world and higher intelligence.
Can they shift back to their animal forms?
Your choice! Yes or no. If you want them to be able to, it would take time for them to gain enough control of themselves to be able to. Even then they cant stay permanently in their animal forms, they need to shift back to their human forms at times too. When in animal form they will appear as they did before, only have the internal glow and the parasite gems still in place. (So if the Humanoid form has a gem on their heart chakra, it will appear on their chest in animal form as well. )
Can they have more than one magic
Yes. Pink colored Gemstones automatically do. They auto are a jack of all traits master of none (basically all hands in the pie but all magic is still weak and never will be stronger)
Sometimes more than one spore infect the same host. In this case one Spore will take over the other, absorbing their magic, and giving more than one ability to the same Host. The gemstones will be multicolored then, this is rare.
What IS a Pathogem in a nut shell?
Pathogems are Satyr-like Humanoids who were once creatures transformed by essentially being infected by a parasite. Any creature can become a Pathogem.
What happens just after a Pathogem gains their human forms?
A 'Seeker' is supposed to find them and help them integrate into pathogem society. Even then, they still maintain some of their natural skittish nature and fear. Like anyone else, they will change as they get older.
If a seeker does not find the pathogems, then they can sometimes remain wild like their original selves. Think jungle book haha. MAN CUB.
?? Difference Between a created and a Child Pathogem?
Created Pathogems are spawned from the Mother, the original spreader of the spores. Most of the time created Pathogems will have young adult / adult bodies once changed, because those spores seek out strong individuals.
Child Pathogems are created from 2 adult pathogems. Read the Spawning section above for more info!
As a general rule, Created ones remember once being a wild creature and had to work themselves into Society. Children Pathogems grew up in the pathogem society.
Sooo i can say my pathogem is a created or a child?
YUP. Either works fine, whatever you'd like for your personal story!
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Comments: 32
This is a super unique species! I'm definitely going to be keeping an eye out on them.
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These are so beautiful! I love all of your species designs, but I really wish this one was semi-open. They're so beautiful and the story building you've done with them is amazing! I'll have to keep my eyes peeled for adopts!
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Honestly i really want to make them semi open xD i just need to sit down and get the time to write up / draw a guide for them on the do's and Donts of the species being Open. Being only Semi-Open means there are limits on what can be made etc
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Is this a closed species? (Am I just blind and can't see where that's written?)
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As of right now it is closed ;v; BUT! i am seriously pondering making them into a semi-open species tbh! Watch my journals? <3 its something i have been thinking on for a while.
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Ah, okay! Thank you! I'll be sure to watch for that XP
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I love the concept. Where did you get the idea?
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My head? XD they were made by me
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I mean what inspired it?
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OH
tbh it wasnt anything in particular. I just had an idea for a humanoid species and played with the idea for a while? I had notes jotted down for a few months before i strung them all together. Im constantly building on them too xD
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Is it too late to make characters for Pathogem?
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The myo contest is over unfortunately! They are a closed species so atm the only way to get one is through sales by me.
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When do you think it will be open again?
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???? The species will never be 'open'. But there will be ways to get one later on.
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OH HEY LIL me and faios had a good question.
Do Spores have ways to communicate with each other once they've taken a host? We know they can communicate to the bodies they eventually take as partially their own, but do they have a way to communicate spore to spore or not at all?
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THAT.........Is actually a damn good question XD Mind if i get back to you two on that one? Imma think it over and weigh some pros/cons. Just wanted to reply and let you know i saw it so you didn't think i was ignoring you!
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There's no problem, we were just curious!
Haha take your time. Gonna be interesting either way!
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Do Pathogems have children? If so, what is the resulting offspring? x3
Smooches this species
I'm so glad I found them yells
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AHAHHAHAHA
God you know honestly ive been pondering this for SO LONG myself XD because it brings up a lot of lore things.
Like....Hybrid animals????? like A bat Patho + Frog Patho WOULD THEY HAVE BROG CHILDREN? WINGED FROGS? SONAR CROAKING? NYOOM FLYING AMPHIBIANS!!
But then i think TBH im going to make it to where all offspring of the parents need to be one OR the other species, to prevent hybrids >>;; Because like... For example, a Fox with Wings is a rare thing XD the Wings are considered a mutation and thus rare? Tho if said rare traited thing DID breed i'd prolly allow for the wings to pass too hahahha. (mutations are legit a Trait that is not normal to the base species. Like if a dog had horns Etc!)
But colorations wise they can be a mix of both parents. So you can have a green bat XD LOL Im bad at examples XD
AS FOR THE PARASITE BIT, This is where i'm waffling because it is like.... Their own entities? Im thinking the Parasite energies would merge together to form a new parasite spore, Which would then also be born within the child too. The color of said gemstone would be one of the parents elements too.
ANYWAYS SORRY RAMBLING.
INNN A NUT SHELL - Answer is Yes they can, but i have a lot of kinks to work out XD
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omg no PLEASRE RAMBLE AWAY I love...learning about species
These are such good points heck!!
So my question comes from the idea that my final MYO entry will be a pathogem who has been in the culture for most of their life...Would it be acceptable then to have two parents of the same base species who had them + subsequent parasite?
If this is something that should be held off on until you have a more solid course I can totally come up with something else!! ^^
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HMMMM. (sorry fell asleep hi XD)
Im going to give a tentative yes? On the condition when i do actually release canon info you'd be willing to alter the story depending on it? I am A-ok with this i just am unsure of the little nuances i might add to breeding yano? (like im legit trying to decide if the female actually gets preggo or if Pathogem breedings are more ~magical~ in origin yano?)
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(Good morning lol)
Ahh gotcha! Yep, that works for me~
Thank you!
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Maybe I am just missing it, but how does the mating process
work, I suppose? I know it mentions somewhere that sexual
organs are hidden, so to speak, unless such a time is occurring,
so how exactly would it work? o-o
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When Aroused the males Genitals will show XD Their bits are sort of in a hole/slit? If that makes sense. So it is all internal.
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So kinda like a sheath, but instead internally hidden. c;
Makes sense.~ And females are kinda just, hidden with fur? xD
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Aaah, these look so cool and well developed!
I love how you put so much thought into this.
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Thank you! ;v; i've been working on their idea for a while now XD
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Such a good concept! Nice designs too. Seriously how did someone make something in line with so many of my aesthetics aaa
I might consider buying one of these at some point.
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