cannikin xs profile

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[unfinished]

Character Profile:[/b]
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[b]Species Profile[/b]

[b]Name of Species: [/b]Cannikin
[b]Place of Origin: [/b]Cannia, a planet mostly covered in green oceans with the land masses covered in purple vegetation
[b]Average Lifespan:[/b] Immortal (living 30 - 40 years as a mobile communicative sentient being before reverting into a vegetative poylp state)
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[b]Diet/Cuisine: [/b]As filter feeders their common food is plankton and artificial nutrient broths with more exotic animals and plants processed into soup.
[b]Language: [/b]Two major languages, one based on sounds made from collapsing bubbles and one using bubbles to communicate visually which their writing is based on. 
[b]Typical Naming Pattern:[/b] Swarm (family) name and a short one syllable given name which they might share with other members of their swarm. They may also use epithets if appropriate.
[b]Government: [/b]The swarm (family) is the basic unit of society. Individuals are legally considered a part of their swarm and have no socially given rights of their own. Public policy is decided by a council of swarms which is theoretically a direct democracy where every swarm has an equal voice. In practice the largest, oldest, and most powerful swarms have a disproportional say.
[b]Technological Advancement: [/b]The cannikin have been colonizing their native land for some time with technology to handle the lack of water and the air pressure. They've also explored and landed on other planets on their solar system. For those measuring technological progress by space faring status, it should be noted that as an aquatic species without regular access to viewing the sky it has not been a high priority. 
[b]Presence of Magic: [/b]No Cannikin has discovered true magic or psychic abilities but they do have the potential
[b]Religion/Beliefs: [/b]A major focus of Cannikin beliefs focus on the polyp stage of life (see biology and reproduction). Since polyps cannot communicate, religions steps in to explain. In many ways it serves the same purpose as the after life in other species as the big unknown at the end of a mortal life time. Dying a natural death instead is considered a bad fate for missing out on it and choosing not to transdifferentiate deliberately is unthinkable to most. Most will under go a spiritual journey before transdifferentiating to prepare themselves. Offerings are left to ancestor polyps, heroes, and polyps one knew as adults.
[b]Customs:  [/b]The swarms (families) have their own variety of customs and specialties. Cannikin are representatives of their swarm at all time and it is taboo to actively oppose one's swarm. Individuals do try to find their own niches and socialize with members of other swarms. An important relationship is the sowpair which is an agreement between two cannikin that the younger will look after the older's blooms after they become a polyp. Sexual reproduction happens at the swarm level with whole swarms courting each other in elaborate political dances. Individuals engaging in sexual reproduction is highly taboo although features a lot in literature. 
[b]Biological Notes: [/b]Cannikin are unable to withstand air pressure let alone breath air.
[b]Reproduction: [/b]Cannikin bud off polyps asexually resulting in large blooms of near genetically identical individuals. Later in life cannikin will revert into polyps a bud off new cannikin. Rarely cannikin from different swarms will come together and create an egg which will grow into the first polyp of a new swarm
[b]History: [/b]Swarms have risen and fallen in power. Some have had internal wars leaving just a single cannikin to revert into a polyp and start anew. Cannikin government as a whole has not had any major changes or revolutions in recorded history and is seen as a source of stability which could be destroyed if individuals were given rights. 
[b]Current Politics/Affairs/Issues/Situation: [/b]Overpopulation is a major problem as Cannikin have naturally high reproductive rates and their final form is effectively immortal. Reductions in the natural death rate thanks to technology has made the situation worse. Debates over the use of artificially reducing blooming rates rage. Territorial disputes between swarms are common.
[b]Misc:[/b]