Shulamit fiddles with a tiny drone for a moment before it begins flying around, taking video of the proceedings. "Hoo, as you can see, Picram, tiny drone, today we are looking upon a stone cradle from Azme on Gunurash." Shulamit fiddles for a bit before making sure the drone gets a good look at the antiquity. "This cradle is rudimentary and harsh with its stone construction, but engineered for incredible stability and security of the occupant. A thin runner of curved stone allows the unit to rock in place and several bars would ensure the small creature within could not escape without assistance. "

Shulamit says, "I don't know much about cradles. Not something Decheeran...have ever used, I think? It would be odd. What would one do? Place dirt inside one, then grow, then...rock a dirt filled cradle? I think rocking the dirt would make the growing Decheeran sick, maybe."

Shulamit says, "Picram. Are designer potted Decheeran a thing?? Hoo, tiny...Decheeran? Seems horrible. Horrible idea."

Picram says, "I'd doubt a cradle like this would hold enough soil to let proper roots develop anyway. There are some Decheerans who are more on the shorter side, yes, but I don't know of any Decheerans grown in a pot. It would be odd, too, as that would mean the proto-Decheeran would need to be constantly looked after."

Shulamit acknowledges the point with a grave nod of its head.

Shulamit says, "Which would be odd. Perhaps on the outer wilds of a world somewhere there is a colony of Decheeran that grow each other in pots. Perhaps anything is possible in the universe."

Shulamit says, "But this cradle makes sense, as it is for Krona and not Decheeran. And they are not grown. I think."

Shulamit acknowledges the point with a grave nod of its head.

Picram says, "The question would be... why though? Growing in proper soil works well enough and does not require constant watering or attention for multiple decades. Looking at this cradle construction, it would appear the constantly looking after part is something the Krona parents wished to at least be partially rid of too."

Shulamit says, "Hoo, I have met some weird Decheeran, myself included. I could see one wanting to raise a sapling more like how non-Decheeran raise theirs, maybe."

Shulamit seems unconvinced it's a good idea at all, bark face in a mild frown.

Shulamit says, "And yes, it seems the kronan parents wanted a bit of time away without the hooooo...huge insects carrying their saplings away."

Shulamit shudders at the memories of the giant insects, bark creaking.

Picram says, "Perhaps, but for the first years that would be very similar to a regular plant. As for young Krona, I'd be more worried about the large insects. The Krona are a sturdy bunch, and this cradle seems more made to keep something in than to keep something else from getting in."

Shulamit says, "Hoo, could be both. But yes, likely more to keep the sapling in rather than insects out. You'd probably want a shield generator against the insects. Did they get that small? Oh hoo, they did. The shields have them in them! But maybe that's expensive for a cradle, those shields use very expensive gemstones."

Shulamit says, "Could also use meshing against little insects. Which it has! Although the fabric is...almost nonexistant. And brittle. And delicate."

Shulamit carefully eases away from the cradle, trying to not breath on the delicate fabric as much.

Picram says, "It may be hard to imagine nowadays, but there was a time before shield generator technology. I suppose they used things like doors and barred windows to keep insects out back then."

Shulamit says, "Yes, but hoo. We know they had shield generator technology at the time of Azme. The shields recovered there have it in them, and according to the Historian h...hoo Nergal I believe, the walls did too!"

Shulamit nods its head slowly, looking very wise.

Shulamit says, "Buuuut most were either veeeery big or veeeeery expensive."

Shulamit says, "Making more saplings is cheaper."

Shulamit says, "Yes, Historian Nergal."

Picram says, "Hm.. they might also have been unable to sustain a proper shield for very long. I'd have to have a look at one of them, but there's also a chance the shields didn't even work on insects. You can fine tune a shield to work against certain things, but it will become less helpful against other things in return."

Picram says, "So if you're worried about your village being burned down by another... clan wielding laser weapons, you'd likely want to shield your homes against that, but this would mean insects could get through easily and vice versa."

Shulamit says, "Hoo, indeed. The shields would have been for very sudden...things, and an insect can be sudden, but are more constant. So you'd want a generator on for a long time."

Shulamit says, "And on for long time is harder."

Picram says, "I suppose there's a reason good old doors never went out of fashion."

Shulamit says, "Regardless, the technology of "Oh my goodness so many stone bars" seems to have worked well for the kronan saplings instead of shields, so it worked out."

Shulamit acknowledges the point with a grave nod of its head.

Acknowledging Picram's point to be true, Shulamit nods its head gravely at it.

Shulamit says, "Just some are fancier than others."

Picram says, "You can make it fancier, but it's still just an iteration of "board in the way"."

Shulamit pulls on a many be-tentacled glove on its stump tendrils, carefully running a finger along the cradle. "Do you think it once held something soft for the sapling to sleep on? Or perhaps not. The krona are a hardy people, perhaps you want to toughen them up before they're out ambulating around?"

Acknowledging Picram's point to be true, Shulamit nods its head gravely at it.

Picram says, "Hm... I think they might have added some padding to it. Or not, I really don't know much about Krona. Do we know what age range the occupants would fall into, and whether they would no longer be placed in one of these child-prisons because they had outgrown it, or because they were easier to handle, or would have typically learned how to escape this model?"

Shulamit says, "Ah, hoo! I remember that one. Once they could escape by themselves, they were allowed out."

Shulamit nods its head slowly, looking very wise.

Shulamit says, "Historial Nergal spoke on that one."

Shulamit says, "Hoo, those nanite beings are...something."

Shulamit acknowledges the point with a grave nod of its head.

Shulamit watches as a swarm of nanites appears then disappears quickly.

Picram nods.

Picram says, "So being able to escape a certain type of confinement was basically a sign of the offspring's development?"

Shulamit says, "Hoo, I think so. Old enough and strong enough to fend minor things off, at least."

Shulamit ponders the cradle, tapping it with a gloved tendril. "I do think we should put it away for now. I must head back for some rest soon. Also possibly make plans to speak with Historian Nergal some more."

Shulamit nods its head slowly, looking very wise.

Picram nods.

Picram says, "Yes, rest well, cousin."

Shulamit carefully bundles away the cradle, placing it back into storage and turning the drone off.