#zenn headworld

[sarspax]

NewYear NewWips!  Some early development sketches for the 'waders' on Zennhome. They've got several names in the Zenn languages but I'm still sorting out their distribution and habitat range and how that overlaps with historic Zenn migration routes, regional cultures, and dialects. 

[sarspax]

Will you be revealing how Zenn sex for the sake of reproduction works? Ever since you said it requires three parties I've been very curious of how it would work. Similarly, will you show what Zenn sex organs look like?

I will be doing that at some point, yes! It’s something I’ve on and off worked on but currently have to prioritize other aspects of the world as I juggle fleshing out three separate projects. I’m super invested in talking about Zenn biology though since one of the parallels with our world that I want other people to recognize is how much of a spectrum physical sex characteristics actually are. What I meant in my other post was that I won’t be producing sexually explicit material for the sake of doing that. If it’s story relevant there’s a possibility of me implying it or handling it in a way that represents how casually the Zenn treat sex. That could change down the road but it’s something that isn’t a primary focus. 

[sarspax]

With Zenn, is every sexual encounter three individuals? Similarly, do Zenn have some cultural belief that sex is only sex if there are three people (or more) involved?

Not in the slightest. (to both) Sorry, not a complicated answer. Their social rules about sex are very relaxed and there’s no desire for them to enforce anything other than consent. 

[sarspax]

When Zenn have sex to make young, considering that there needs to be 3 to make one, do they have to all simultaneously have sex, or do two need to have sex with each other then the other has sex with the 3rd? How does one make da baby

No, not necessarily. Usually it’s orgy style in some fashion with everyone participating at the same time but in different ways. Sometimes they’ll take turns but if it’s really for trying to get kids going then they aren’t far apart from one another. It’s a long drawn out process for the Zenn unfortunately and they tend to try on and off over the course of a month to ensure that viable kids are in the works. 

[sarspax]

So Zenn never developed a cultural habit of keeping pets (or raising farm-type animals, i think?) What are Zenn thoughts on the idea of doing so, and are there any Zenn that would keep a pet after introduction to the idea? Is there a market for it in the ports where outside species frequent and cultural mixing is more likely?

Nope! It wasn’t a necessity for their life style either. There are a few other species that they had developed mutually beneficial relationships with like the Nonte but any animal, sentient or not, was considered to have it’s own agency and self determination. If it stuck around, cool, but it was free to leave whenever it wanted. Animal domestication wasn’t ideal or necessary for their lifestyle. They needed to move around too quickly. Trying to hold onto anything that wasn’t as quick or reliably as themselves was a liability. Some groups did however follow specific herds of animals and eat the sick or wounded while protecting the rest of the herd from predators when they could. The one exception to this rule in modern citystate society is aquariums. The Zenn have gone out of their way to bring large scale self sustaining aquariums to their cities. This is a city-owned feature that is used educationally as well as for helping Zenn cope with largely being confined within city walls. Of course they are allowed beyond the walls any time they want but they do so at extreme risk since most modern citystate Zenn aren’t immediately prepared for a trek out in the wilderness. Training and professional guides are highly recommended for civilians exploring beyond the walls. It’s not that they don’t understand or know about pets and domestication. They don’t generally like the concept of keeping something captive regardless that it may or may not survive on it’s own. 

[sarspax]

Can only one of the three Zenn sexes give birth? How many children are generally born at once?

That is correct. Usually between 1-3. They come out small but grow rapidly. 

[sarspax]

What are some intimate gestures within the Zenn? What about for the Sovos?

As far as specific intimate gestures go for the Zenn, they can all be used romantically, sexually, or platonically without any real difference but the context of the relationship and the intention.  Stroking or combing the longer fur on their necks is pretty universal. It’s a small step up from mutual grooming, and more for the feel of it than actual fur upkeep. Leaning the sides of their faces together or intertwining their tails together can be considered intimate as well. Gentle face or nose nibbles, clasping foot-fingers when sitting or laying down, and idly stroking each others knees are common, too. The Sovos will sing softly to/with each other, rub their nose feelers together, rest their heads on the others’ back, and tuck their heads beneath each others’ wing/arms. Long mutual grooming sessions can be considered intimate gestures as well. 

[sarspax]

Do the Zenn admire a specie or creature on their planet? (Like how some humans admire an animal for its size or strength or ability to do certain things?) Do Zenn have their own "favorite animals"?

Definitely! Traditionally this was of course based on the geographic region and biomes they lived in. There was rarely a single favorite, but rather individual animals admired for specific traits as applied to their native habitat. They would never say a fish was better than a deer because it could swim, or likewise that the deer could leap higher than a fish. They had favorites that were from both above and below them on the food chain. These animals were often used in motifs and in accessories like good luck charms. What traits animals represented varies from culture to culture but since I’ve been working on the Ska’akaro region the most lately I’ll use them as an example.The Ska’akaro are almost entirely a coastal based culture with only a handful  of nomadic groups staying to the inland portion of their region. Fish and crustaceans make up a large portion of their diet along with coastal greens, berries, and vertebrates about their size or smaller. These are just a few as I’m still in the process of naming things so bear with me; they’ll be specific animals in a week or so rather than generic names.Fish represent community. They stick together and watch the rest of their school for unseen signs of danger. They hunt together to maximize their efficiency. There is a type of ‘furred’ beetle I’m still working out the design of but it represents  the sense of direction. It knows how to follow wind currents, find warmer microclimates, and work out what direction it’s facing regardless of where it happens to be. They are often used to help find shelter before a storm hits.There is a type of ‘gryphon’ related to The Nonte (one of the other intelligent species on Zennhome) that are small and compact and are celebrated for their keen eye sight and resourcefulness. They often out-compete much larger predators.A large sea-scorpion like crustacean is liked for it’s patience and it’s ability to hide in plain sight. It often looks much like any other feature on the sea bottom until it begins moving quickly.Trees, particularly the large coniferous canopy trees that mostly are found in the interior parts of the continent (and almost universally in some fashion across all of Zennhome) often represent family in the biological sense. These trees reproduce by sending out runners that will begin to develop large bulbs as the core root-ball of the tree before it begins to grow vertically. If a tree starts to die it will be severed from the rest of the root network to conserve nutrients. If the tree makes a comeback it will later reconnect (or not) with its original network depending on proximity. Over thousands of years the forests will migrate as the climate shifts.