Gemfae (species WIP)

Gemfae tend to live in underground caverns. They stick near areas that have both a flow of lava and a supply of water.
There are several societies scattered throughout their homeworld. Each have their own culture or mix of.
Their population is increasing but not very rapidly. They tend to have control over their population numbers.

Anatomy and Genetics

Organ and System Structures
Gemfae have a jellyfish-like (cnidarian) cell and organ structure. Due to this their skin and flesh can have a translucent like appearance. Their skeletal structure is cartilage-like in density. The outer layer of their skin tends to be tough despite it's almost jelly like appearance. When their skin receives a big enough injury the scar will appear as a bump or indent, or mix of, on the skin. Their scars do not have a different color as ours do. Their skin can have a wide variety of color hues and situations. However, it is never on the high end of saturation. The skin can have more than one hue. The different hues if any fade into one another vs have defining lines.
Their bodies are humanoid in shape. They have bit wider forearms and hands than humans. Their fingers and toes are stubbier. Also their feet and legs are more digitigrade like in structure. Their bodies are commonly in a pear like shape, but can vary. The ears are pointed at the top. The lengths and thicknesses of the ears can vary slightly but are never very long, wide, or droopy. Their teeth are omnivorous, but their canine teeth a bit bigger than humans. The nose appears as a bump on the face and does not have a define nose like appearance. The nostrils are at the bottom of this bump, they are thin slits vs holes.
They do have a lung like structure, but it is more so so that they can create sounds from their mouth vs breath. Like other cnidaria they are able to absorb the air they need throughout their skin. The digestive system is highly absorbent and efficient at storing food energy. Due to this they do not need to eat as much or as often. They are also unable to eat large quantities in one sitting as we are due to their smaller stomach. They do not posses physical reproductive organs or genitals. This means that they also do not have belly buttons or nipples. Also, this means that there is no reason for there to be large pockets of fat on their chests.

Integuments of the Skin
Gemfae have patches of scales that can appear anywhere on their body. Like freckles, but more common in high amounts. The scales can be highly saturated unlike the skin. The scales appear as a slightly risen bump on their skin. They non-overlapping tuberculate type scales.
Gemfae also grow feathers on their heads and some other areas human hair tends to grow, but not always. Most common other location for feathers is the mid to lower back, arm pits, eye brows, shins, forearms, and sometimes the lower front torso. The feathers can be all down or a mix of down and main feathers. The main feathers can be a mix of any type. Some types of feathers we are familiar with on Earth, others we are not.

The Gem (Horns)
Their body structure is built around their core gem. The core gem is elongated and always centered in the head. It is always long enough for each end to poke out of the head like horns. The gem itself can be any type of stone or rock known on earth or unknown to earth. No matter the type of stone it always has a polished shine to it on young Gemfaes. The amount of gem that sticks out like horns can be anywhere between a nub to about half an inch long. The size of the gem does not determine how strong the individual's magic is. The gem does not grow, it will be the same size throughout the Gemfaes life.
Their gem, despite being technically a non living object, is sensitive to touch. It is the core of their being and the sourse of their magic and psychology.

Race Variations
It is extraordinarily rare for a Gemfae to have two enhanced parts. It is also rare for them to have a lesser part when they have an enhanced part. It is even more extraordinarily rare for a Gemfae to have two lesser parts with an enhanced.

Enhanced Eyes- Very Common. These Gemfae will have 4 eyes and rarely 3. They will have enhanced sight that allows them to see outside of their own body and for far distances.

Enhanced Ears- Very Common. These Gemfae will have 4 ears and very rarely 3. They will have enhanced hearing that allows them to hear more pitches and for far distances.

Enhanced Horns- Common. These Gemfae will have 4 horns and rarely 3. They will have enhanced magic. Allowing them to have 3 elements with greater range and strength. They have a higher chance of having a rare element.

Non- Decently Common, but not very. These Gemfae do not have any enhanced parts. They have the regular two of each part. Their abilities are standard.

Lesser- Rare. These Gemfae do not have any enhancements, but do have at least one lesser part. Lesser parts have a quantity of one. Meaning one eye, one ear, one horn. The part with a lesser, will be less capable as they are normally. Weakened sight can mean color blind or blurred fission. Weakened hearing can mean sounds are muffled or slurred. Weakened magic can mean they cannot use magic at all or their element has a lesser distance and strength. It is even more rare for a Gemfae to have two lesser parts with no enhanced parts.

Physical Abilities
Commonly a Gemfae, without enhancements, are able to see, hear, and pick up scents very well. They commonly have one magical element that they can use. Their bodies all have high resistance to heat. They are able to swim in lava without harm. They are all very fast and strong and can jump high.

Due to being made of jellyfish-like cells, they are able to grow back body parts. However, the new part will be deformed a bit in some way. Most of the time the scales and feathers will not grow back the same way or at all. Regeneration does include eyes. The regenerated eye will be deformed slighly thus not be able to see as well. Also, like plants, their healing growth process can be controlled to grow in different direction, shapes, and sizes. They can also attach others' parts to their own body using the healing process. They cannot attach more ears, eyes, or horns. They can heal their own parts together or separated regardless of the original form.

Physical Weaknesses
They are very sensitive to the cold.
Just a ten minutes exposure to around 30 degrees Fahrenheit can give them frost bite.

Their gem is their life line. If too much of their body is separated from it they will die. If about 70% of their body is separated from their gem they will not be able to regenerate and will die. If the amount separated is put back in contact with the body in the correct location, and it was no more than 90% of the body, and was reconnected within an hour of separation, the body will heal to reattach the part. The part can be from a donor, but it must match up relatively close. If it is not reconnected within an hour, they will die in about 3 more hours. If more than 90% of the body was separated from the gem they will die instantly.

Damage to the gem itself does not effect their ability to use magic. However, too much damage will effect the Gemfae's ability to heal. If there is a large internal fissure or what was broken off goes into the head,  the Gemfae may not be able to regenerate parts. This will cause any missing parts to heal as a stump.

Reproduction and Life Cycle
Gemfae reproduce by two or more Gemfaes putting the magic into a stone structure that is at least 5 cubic feet of solid rock. This is not using their elemental magic on the rock, but rather focusing their magical energy into the same spot. If enough magic was used, the crystallization process will begin in a handful of hours. If not enough magic was used the crystallization may not even begin or the gem that emerges may not surround itself in the liquid. The gem that is formed will be similar to the gem of those involved; it may also be random. The race variation, hues, and integuments of the skin can be from any recent reletive in their immidiate family line. This can go back up to four direct past ancestor 'generations'. Meaning they might not look like their parents at all. If their direct family line is all orange and they have a blue anchester going back up to four 'generations', the Gemfae can still come out blue in hue.

Crystallization- Takes 2-3 years. Magic combines inside a stone structure. It crating the proper environment and conditions to form a gem in the stone structure. The process takes place roughly 4-8 inches from the surface of the stone structure which the magic was put into. The area of the crystallization process takes up about one cubic foot within the stone structure.

Formation- Takes 2-6 weeks. The gem has been fully formed. The gem is allowed to flow out of the stone structure by the magma melting an opening to it from the inside to the surface of the stone structure.  Once out and settled, a liquid will start to surround the center of the gem and begin to shape and solidify into a Gemfae. The height they solidify into will be the permanent height unless altered.

Youth- Lasts about 150 years. The Gemfae is fully formed and solidified. They have at least one part of them a fully saturated color. The color can be a pattern on or all of their skin, feathers, gem, eyes, or in their mouth. Along with a saturated color, their gem has a very polished shine all around it

Adolescence- Lasts about 350 years. The Gemfae's gem starts to dull. It will be less shiny either in patches or uniform. Their saturation will also begin to go down.

Adulthood- Lasts about 500 years. The Gemfae's gem is pretty dull. It will noticeably less shiny either in patches or uniform. Their saturation will also be noticeably less.

Elderly- Lasts about 100 years. The Gemfae's gem is very matte. It will be mostly uniform or fully uniform. Their saturation will be or practically be greyscale.

Death- The Gemfae's gem will have the amount of shine or matte it had when they died. Their saturation will be the same as when they died as well. Their body will begin to liquefy and eventually leave behind their gem.

• After about 4 hours after death the body to become rubber like. They do not stiffen like we do, they become more flexible.
• After about  3 days after death the body will begin to become gelatin like.
• After about 10 days after death the body will start to melt. It will deform and ooze.
• After about 2 weeks after death the body will be fully liquefied, leaving behind their still solid gem.
• After about 4 weeks after death the liquid will start to evaporate and leave behind a crystal like powder. Their gem is still as it was.

Psychology
Gemfae do not have what we would refer to as a brain. Their memories, consciousness, and thoughts come from their gem. Their memory capabilities are similar to ours as there is active memories, stored memories, subconscious memories, and sometimes repressed memories. From their gem they are also able to experience emotional responses and drives.

Gemfae go through periods of rest to recharge their magic and energy. The time it takes depends on how frequently the individual rests. Their rest schedules do not all line up, they tend to rest just when it's needed or when there is time. Cumulatively the rest periods take around 6-10 hours a day. During a rest period, a Gemfae can have dream like experiences. But un like sleep they can rest in up right positions. It is like a mix of out meditative and sleep states. They do not need to rest, however it is important for any healing process, recharging of magic and over all energy. Without rest healing can take up to two times longer, they might run out of usable magic, and they may struggle to find the energy to move.

When a Gemfae is suing magical energy they tend to glow in some way. How, where, and color they glow depends on the individual. Most commonly the glow comes from their gem or hands. Less commonly their forhead may glow. And even less commonly other parts glow. Rarely it is the whole body.

Common Elements
Fire- creation and manipulation
Molten- creation and manipulation
Earth- creation and manipulation
Crystals- creation and manipulation

Uncommon Elements
Explosions- creation and manipulation
Electric- creation and manipulation
Wind/Air- creation and manipulation
Ice- creation and manipulation
Water- creation and manipulation
Metals- creation and manipulation
Poisons- creation and manipulation (acids and bases)

Rare Elements
These elements rarely ever show as a single element. all can effect self and other targets.
Chaos- can only have one of the following abilities.
Illusions, ^{can effect all senses, but cannot cause real damage even if it can feel and look like it.}
Memory manipulation, ^{can last for a life time unless countered with special alchemy or magic.}
Emotion manipulation, ^{lasts as long as the target continues to feel the emotion or is being focused on.}
Physical clones, ^{if the receive high damage the will dissipate.}
Manipulation of atomic structures (morphing), ^{the effects are not permanent, but can only be canceled by users with this ability, cancellation or a special potion.}
Giving/creating life, ^{the effects are not permanent, but can only be canceled by users with this ability, cancellation or a special potion.}
Manipulation of laws of physics, ^{the effects are not permanent, but can only be canceled by users with this ability, cancellation or a special potion.}
Teleportation, ^{can accidentally teleport and overlap another physical object if not careful.}
Order- can only have one of the following abilities.
Fast healing / reconstruction, ^{the effects can be permanent, but can be canceled by cancellation ability or a special potion within a time frame of a day.}
Protection, ^{can enhance element resistance to any target, or put up a barrier.}
Predictions, foresight, ^{can see future possibilities and effects of actions up to 100 years, depending.}
Invisibility, ^{for self and targets. Includes making them unable to be heard.}
Phasing through objects, ^{can for for part of self or target or all of.}
Cancel magic effects or temporarily prevent target from using magic abilities.
Mind reading and communication.
Telekinesis, ^{moving objects with magic.}

Not all cultures are exactly the same. Each society of Gemfae has a different culture. It is possible for a Gemfae from a different cultural background to interact with another.

Government
There are some societies that have a monarchical like system and even fewer that have a democracy, communism, or a republic. Most tend to be a societal like system. Each job has their purpose and the community works together to vote for regulations other big things that require the communities' input. How the voting is done varies between each society. But there tends to be no one Gemfae or group of that is held in higher regards than the rest. They tend to see each individual and group as just as important as capable of mistakes as the next.

Economics
They use a trade system rather than a currency system. With this everyone gets what they need and gives back what they can or is agreed upon. It is unheard of for a Gemfae to want more than they need, they tend to be a very greedless species. If an individual does get greedy and hoard what they have or ask for too much, they end up receiving less than what they need until they start giving back to the community again. Every little bit counts, so even being an assistant for any of the main jobs is enough. They will simply be denied if they ask for too much unless they have something very special to trade. There are a few societies who do use a monitory economic system similar to one of the ones that we know of.

Kinship
Gemfae are tend to be very family oriented. Those that put their magic together to form a Gemfae will visit the spot often. And even care for the young Gemfae that they made together. Their family homes are rarely ever nuclear. Only reason it would be nuclear in most cultures is because a large family tragedy happened. The whole family and loved ones tend to all live under the same roof. Some time part or one of the family may want to move or be on their own or with others. This is upsetting, but respected by the other members. If they can they all visit each other often. Movers tend not move far from their original home.
They tend to not kiss as we do. Due to their sensitive gems, they tend to show high physical affection through touching their gem horns together or with their hands/face.

Pets
They do keep pets. The specifics of the situations depends on the specific culture.

Lava Pet- Very Common.
Said to by made by an ancient Gemfae who used their magic to create the creatures and add permanence to their existence.
Their bodies are shaped like cat/lizard while made completely out of dense lava. Ash forms around their bodies like fur. The lava on their faces harden to form a mouth and eyes (skull like). They can behave feline or dog like, or a mix. These creatures reproduce asexually, through splitting. They can only do this when they feel a high amount of love and adoration. They do not die of age, but do die from grief or high negative emotions. As they die they deform and melt into regular lava over the course of about 3 days. (Anger or protective does not count as a  negative emotion) Reproduction is almost instant, but they can only do it 2 times max and rarely 3. They need at least 5 years time before the can split again. Reproduction can be prevented with a special collar.

Livestock- Less Common.
Insects and small enough lizards and rodents.

Language
The language seems to be consistent between the different cultures of Gemfae. They all have the same written language as well as sounds like avian and reptilian sounds.

Prejudices
Unlike our cultures, most Gemfae cultures do not have extreme or harmful discriminations. They do not identify with genders so do not have that for means of prejudice. Gem types  and colors are not segregated by the masses. Even their structure variations are not harshly discriminated against by the masses. While some individuals may have certain prejudices or assumptions for types of structure variations, gems, colors, or age. The general societies tend to not. There are some societal cultures that hold certain segregated groups higher or lower than others, but it is not common and they are not regarded positively by the other societies and cultures.

War
Most wars tend to be between the societies with high prejudices and discriminations. However, sometimes those societies threaten or preemptively strike one of the more common society types. Also some more protective like societies involve themselves in others' wars to try to minimize damages. Regardless, every society has a form of military, army, or warriors. Not just for Gemfae wars, but also for protection from larger wild invading wildlife or other intelligent/magical beings. Gemfae tend to never pick fights with other instinctual species unless provoked.

Technology
There are societies that utilize technological growth. Others prefer to keep innovations and inventions minimal and only for necessities.

Food and Drink
While they can eat their food raw, most societies prefer cooked and seasoned foods and mixed drinks. Since the larger majority of Gemfaes in each society live in deep caves, their farmed food tends to be fungus, mosses, ferns,  insects, small rodents, small mammals, and small reptiles. There are Gemfaes whose job is to travel outside of the cave. They bring back outside plants and animals for food, spices, and drink.

Other
All Gemfaes have an appreciation for any form of art. Most do not have a religion or religions within their culture. They tend to look up to positive historical figures rather than deities. Gemfae do not care much about clothing usually, although most cultures dress for the style or fun. Few dress for modesty or religious purposes.

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Government
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Economics
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Prejudices
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Wars
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Kinship
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Lifestyle
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Technology, Buildings
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Food and Drink
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Arts and Dress/Appearance
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Beliefs and Rituals
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