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| 30.4- Tales from the
Cycle 4 |
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It
is told that for strange reasons the larvae, so tight in the Traveler's
hair, could shift to another sex, so that a small Spiky could happen to
transform in a Thief or even a little Mermaid, in wich case the
Traveler had to go back to the Sea shore. |
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As they get close
to the Foundations, the small Centrals emit their first vocalisms, and
by the time they enter the City, they can sing, ready to learn the art
of war and prediction. Most talented are assigned to influential
families, and have more opportunities to climb the cast Pyramid, the
rest are destinated to remain Privates or Apprentices. |
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But
the Traveler does not stop, she climbs up the trees, by now luxuriant,
and hide the little Thieves on the highest branches, so to protect them
from their hungry brothers. |
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Now
the Travelers are very tired, among their hair only sleep the Spiky,
slowly sucking the food that they hold in their cheeks. Protected by
this powerful talisman, the Traveler looks for a group of Outer
Fathers, and approaches them holding the baby high over her head. |
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They
take the baby with their long claws, and pass it the one to the other,
each licking a drop of food from the baby's mouth, in what is called
the Welcome Ceremony. Then, without apparent hierarchy, one of the
Spiky leaves the group and delivers the first egg to the Traveller. |
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 | This
is how things worked when the Cycle was young, now things are pretty
different, and each Ice Age seems to weaken the Cycle more and more.
Centrals have tried to tackle this decadence eliminating all the
bottlenecks. Reproduction has been simplified, Travelers are hung to
the ceiling, their hair cut, never drawing a single step in their whole
life... |
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...Thieves
are modified to serve the only scope of reproduction, Spiky and
Mermaids are used for warfare, transportation, reconnaissance...
Despite all this, decadence increases, and Cycledwellers are menaced by
famine. Last but not least, the invasion by the Living Machines, an
event that could have united and strenghtened our people, has instead
emphasized divisions, breaking the alliance between Soldiers and
Scientists... Ok, I've talked about ourselves, now tell me about you! |
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31- Baptism of the
Zymachi.
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