Kran reproduction

[Seytra]

Hi everyone!

I have thought about Kran reproduction, as I don\'t know of any official or inofficial \"theories of operation\" on this subject.

Here\'s my idea:

Kran don\'t have sexes, but they do have variety. Therefore, they can\'t be utilising some sort of macro-mitosis (like some forms of worms and jellyfish perform AFAIK), at least not solely. However, I wish to add a great deal of novelty to it, therefore any conventional form of reproduction is out, including the merging of bodies in combination with mitosis, as can be found in one-cell beings.

However, the fact that they are stone-based gave me an idea. If we look at any stone, we can clearly see that every sample of it is different. Therefore, I propose that the Kran actually grow from stones.
A Kran \"seed\" is placed onto a stone, into which it then will bury itself by a combination of acids and bases that dissolve the rock but also recreate it after moving inwards, effectively protecting the growing hatchling.
Once inside, the seed starts to dissolve the stone from inside (morally acceptable since rock doesn\'t have feelings) and incorporates it into itself. When they reach full size, they break or dissolve the remaining rock to do their first shaky steps on the ground.
this means that Kran are \"born\" fully grown. The entire process would take long time, like 5 to 10 years, depending on the hardness of the rock, which however might determine the young Krans physical attributes, at least initially (i.e., hard rock (like granite) will yield more endurance but less dexterity than limestone).

The Kran body would produce those seeds in a shielded location, probably in the chest, from which they grow, shielded by a somewhat flexible fold (which is too thin to be seen unless closely examined. This growing will take about 7 months, but only happen once every 20 years. The seed can, however, just remain there, it doesn\'t have to be deployed at all if the Kran doesn\'t wish to do so.
The pleasure of reproduction would be more like planting a tree for a passionate gardener, though, but this very conscious decision will make the Kran care very well for their children (i.e., viciously guard the rock).
Kran can sense a rock that contains a deployed seed, so that they can avoid eating / destroying it by accident.
Therefore, Kran will have less frequent reproduction but their reproduction will be successful almost 100% of the time.

This was originally posted by me on this thread:
http://www.planeshift3d.com/wbboard/thread.php?threadid=11344&boardid=22&styleid=3
(maybe a mod can move the relevant posts from there to this thread, given the other posters are OK with that?)

The discussion on that thread yielded the addition that silicon is one of the building blocks of any rock, thus a Kran could indeed grow from a rock.

[Adeli]

I read this in the other thread, and I admit it makes sense.
Seems a little odd, but it works.
Good work Seytra.

[daecarne]

Originally posted by Seytra
The Kran body would produce those seeds in a shielded location, probably in the chest, from which they grow, shielded by a somewhat flexible fold (which is too thin to be seen unless closely examined. This growing will take about 7 months, but only happen once every 20 years. The seed can, however, just remain there, it doesn\'t have to be deployed at all if the Kran doesn\'t wish to do so.
The pleasure of reproduction would be more like planting a tree for a passionate gardener, though, but this very conscious decision will make the Kran care very well for their children (i.e., viciously guard the rock).
Kran can sense a rock that contains a deployed seed, so that they can avoid eating / destroying it by accident.
Therefore, Kran will have less frequent reproduction but their reproduction will be successful almost 100% of the time.

A subject very interesting. I  think, however, that the krans should have the seeds on their back and a reproduction frequency of five years (i think that twenty years is a long time for any specie ). If the seeds are on their back could give a sort of loving/social relations. For example, one Kran would need another one to extract the seed from its back, they would use some sort of loving, social and mystic ritual, it would provide them a great pleasure and something great to celebrate with their community. Yeah, one Kran more!

Good idea Seytra!

[Adeli]

That\'s a very interesting though Daecarne, scary but interesting. Getting pleasure from pulling things out of krans\' backs?

[Myrtl]

You know now that i think about it... i never even thought about Krans reproducing since they dont have sexes. Although in order to keep thier race from extinction they would have to reproduce but i never knew how.

[Seytra]

@ Everyone: Thanks!

@ daecarne: I somehow estimate that a Kran would live very long compared to a (RL) human. Therefore it makes sense to have them reproduce only at great intervals in order to prevent overpopulation.
As for having the seed on the back: I\'d like to emphasize the implication that comes with the fact that Kran have no gender: they don\'t need two individuals to reproduce, one suffices.
This is a (IMO) very important thing that makes them distinct from other races. Having the seed on the back and require another individual to get it out doesn\'t make sense to me in this light, because there isn\'t any reason for it. OK, evolutionary theories don\'t apply here as Kran are created by Talad, but OTOH why would Talad have them be asexual just to require another individual nontheless? Furthermore, I don\'t see this as a basis for a loving / social relationship (i.e., I don\'t think that the fact that we require two people to reproduce and that we get pleasure from the reproductive act is of any importance for the social relation known as \"family\". After all, there are lots of animals that don\'t form any sort of relationship despite requiring two individuals and getting pleasure from the reproductive act).
In fact, the social relationship would need to exist before the deployment of a seed, because it is important to make sure the rock is properly guarded at all times (and be it only to make sure that no dwarf digs a tunnel through it by accident).
Therefore, I\'d say they wouldn\'t necessarily create the usual 1-1 relationship, but maybe some sort of group relationship of several individuals, maybe five to 10. They may have developed social standards that require a certain number.
I feel that very much of the appeal of Krans lies in their great difference to everything else, and thus I would like to see their society to have created the distinctly different norms that one would expect given their different nature.

It would also be possible that Kran have no relationships (as we know them) at all, and that they cut out the rock they wish to deploy their seed in, carry it home and put it into a sealed chamber in their house, or just have it stand in the \"living room\".

IMO, the parenting part will come after the young Kran leaves the rock it grwe from, because now they have to be taught and integrated into the society. I think that the Kran who seeded will (in most cases) be very engaged for the young one and thus maybe raise it alone. Or they then form groups, like indicated above.

@ Adeli: is there a difference between pulling something out and stiching something in?

Anyway, I don\'t think that they should get pleasure from this, because that is only one method of ensuring that reproduction is being performed.
Given the low failure rate of Kran reproduction and their artificial nature (i.e., they always had consciousness and therefore other incentives for reproduction aren\'t required)) as well as the method of reproduction itself it seems out of place to me. Furthermore, this is something that would help reinforce the distinct difference I am aiming for.

Last but not least, the back is less protected than the front, which makes it a worse place for something as important as the seed, so this would be another reason why it should go in front.

All this makes for very interesting possibilities for Kran society, which might even warrant another thread?

[Adeli]

I\'d be interested to hear your thoughts on Kran society. After you post them, we can all refine them until something is perfect, or perfect enough.
I guess you\'re right about the pulling out part, but you managed to make both sound very dirty.
I think any pleasure should not be sexual, as Kran are clearly asexual, sexual pleasure seems impossible. (But then, I\'ve never been asexual, so I don\'t know). They should be happy as they are furthering their race/species that is all.

[Efflixi Aduro]

Bah I already said they reproduce through budding

[Kiva]

I\'m not sure how interesting this thread is, but I guess you can get inspired or take some of the theories from it and insert those theories into your thoughts, and see what comes out:

http://planeshift.oodlz.com/wbboard/thread.php?threadid=8678&boardid=13

[Merdarion]

Actually Kran are made of sand (Sillicon) not of stone.

[Murais]

ok... how about this... Krans come from (bear with me here).... the mind of Talad! OMG!!!

[Seytra]

Originally posted by Merdarion
Actually Kran are made of sand (Sillicon) not of stone.

Yes, but silicon is also a basic building block of any rock, so there is enough silicon in rocks for Kran to grow from. Even better, rock contains various minerals, whereas sand doesn\'t, and the Kran don\'t consist entirely of silicon, but require various minerals as well. Therefore, it\'s more reasonable to have them grow from rock than from sand.


I have read through the \"Can Krans bleed\" thread and there are some interesting ideas in it. I posted my ideas on that topic on at the thread. I find it funny that the last sentence on that thread was asking about Kran reproduction.

[Parts]

Personally, I think that a couple of Kran get together and get a bit \'hot and sweaty\'.

In fact they got *so* hot and sweaty that the rock actually melts and becomes Lava; thus spawning their offspring

[Merdarion]

Originally posted by Parts
Personally, I think that a couple of Kran get together and get a bit \'hot and sweaty\'.

In fact they got *so* hot and sweaty that the rock actually melts and becomes Lava; thus spawning their offspring

Ehh, sounds like Harakiri.


I agree with you, Setyra. But they would need some stone, where silicon is included. Not diamond, etc. (What could be worse than a Kran made of Diamond {cannot move, cannot be destroyed, has to stay where it\'s born for his whole live, and did I say they wouldn\'t be able to move?})

[Under the moon]

Diamonds are carbon based.  Kran, by definition, have silicon skins.  Silicon does not occur in the free, elemental state, but is found in the form of silicon dioxide (or silica), SiO 2 , and in the form of complex silicates. The mineral quartz, varieties of quartz (such as carnelian, chrysoprase, onyx, flint, and jasper), and the minerals cristobalite and tridymite are the naturally occurring crystal forms of silica.

Therefore, kran skin must be made out of quartz or quartz variant.  There is no info on what they are made of on the inside.

Kran are not made out of sand.  Sand is not an element, nor is it made completely out of silica. Sand is only one form silica (quartz) takes. Others would be rocks, stones, pebbles, and boulders.