Re: Tit'xka (Pretty Long Post)

> The second - without it, the population would swell rapidly, and then
> crash.  Their distant ancestors had many predators, which is why they
> needed both high fertility and high intelligence.  When they developed
> stone tools and fire, and, most importantly, the ability to build walls
> (even in the safest area, no city or town is complete without at least a
> ceremonial wall - it's an instinctive urge, analagous to the human
> desire for light of some sort, whether it be a fire or a light bulb) to
> protect them and their young, especially at night.  Their population
> grew rapidly, now only held back by disease and famine.  There were
> probably many famines in their ancient history, which may have
> encouraged their famous endurance and their intelligence - the smartest
> ones could find food better.  Eventually, somewhere, Root of Life was
> discovered, probably in a desparate search for edible food.  It's
> properties were discovered, and eventually narrowed down to the root.
> It was learned how much was needed to maintain a stable population (in
> fact, it's now possible to calculate the exact amount needed for a
> specific number of births - if 37 people died that year, you'd want the
> exact amount to cause 37 births).  This would've been as great a
> breakthrough for them as agriculture - they were able to have more
> stable societies, and a leisure class which wouldn't be constantly
> interrupted by famines.  Such a society could learn to expand at a
> reasonable rate, and neighboring tribes would've learned about Root of
> Life for them, much as agriculture spread on our Earth.  Also, with a
> more stable population, the average population could be larger - the
> land would be more fertile without being stripped of edible food every
> decade or so.
>
This leads me to consider the exploratory nature of Tit'xka, and their
hunting practices.  I might add a fifth Caste, the Hunters, so that they can
catch the population's food supply.  Tit'xka are definitely carnivorous, and
many clans keep huge flocks of large insects within their territories.
Also, the nanca is not capable of perfectly choosing the result of
fertilized eggs, thus out of a single batch, there tends to be a small
chance that one or two of the hundred or so hatchlings are indeed nanca
themselves, and are typically raised by the nanca and sent into exile upon
reaching maturity.  This is the most trying time for a nanca, when she has
no warriors to protect her from the natural enemies of the Tit'xka, those
being the more intelligent humanoid races of the world.  The possibility of
overpopulation of a clan occurs when the Priest Caste cannot be controlled
by the nanca, and when the other castes are to big for the Priest caste's
pheremonal control.  after this point, most Tit'xka "turn rogue" which is to
say, they discover the benefits of individuality, and usually pack up and
leave.  Those that don't are likely to be killed by the clan, to extinguish
all possible rebellions before they occur.