| Contents |
|---|
 |
 |
 |
 |
Their bodies are insubstantial, being composed mostly of materials more akin to cartilage and collagen than
anything else. They lack blood entirely, have minimized internal anatomy and dont breath at all. These beings have
no brains, no neurons, they dont even have a nucleus in their cell or an analogue of it. Yet they think and feel
and perceive just fine, even sharing their minds over any distance no matter the obstacles between them. They
might even incorporate inorganic structures in their bodies like metal, wires, gears and other mechanisms all generated and maintained by biological processes!
This group of Strange beings are known as The 'Jaciforms' (Jack-eh-forms).
Jaciforms are named for their origin; the strange and mysterious being known as 'Jac' and are linked to them in a bizarre way.
it would be more accurate, at least in Jac's words, to say that Jaciforms would be as if each individual thought was it's own sapient being.
Despite this, they are invariably linked, if a single of their 'bodies' are destroyed there is no true loss of life, merely a
'discorporation' or temporary displacement from physical form until a new one is generated for them.
The bodies of Jaciforms are extremely complex, yet seemingly 'undefined' or 'unfinished' as if locked in a state of incomplete
development. Under greater scrutiny it becomes difficult to determine whether one counts as Multi or even SINGLE cellular
organisms with any other cells present being more akin to 'organelles' within a larger cell. Larger Jaciforms are
also known to occasionally form a large cavity within their bodies accessible via a slit somewhere on their being, allowing
for smaller jaciforms (usually curlys) to enter and 'operate' them as if they were a mechanized suit.
For reasons unknown, no macroscopic Jaciform will form neurons, brains or any analogous structures, apparently not required
for their bodies to function. The closest analogue would be a bundle of tube shaped tissues, filled
with long filaments constructed from DNA, apparently utilized for storing long-term information for both
themselves and the collective.
Though typically Jaciforms are constructed within physical and biological law the one anomalous property
they all universally retain is a property within their digestive processes. most macroscopic Jaciforms
have a special organ dedicated to collecting and sampling DNA and molecular data from whatever they consume,
after passing through this intense biological scan their Digestive systems -through unknown means-
take anomalous materials and energies (things that do not follow physical law as understood) and renders
them utterly mundane in nature, losing all anomalous properties.
Jaciform cells display their alien nature quite flagrantly. as mentioned they lack nuclei of any kind, but more pressingly
the base Jaciform cell resembles a motile stem cell roughly the size of an average bacterium more than any other cell.
Base Jaciform cells are fully capable of differentiating and changing their forms, shapes and function freely at any
point. Even when already differentiated these cells retain this ability, constantly refreshing themselves as they change
form and task.
Rather than a Nucelus, Jaciform cells retain a number of small organelles that hold their complex genetic data. This
data ranges from Carbon Based DNA to radically different "Genetic analogues" for different Biochemical forms, anywhere
from Silicon based to Boron based and even more extreme.
How these are organized, activated and regulated is acheived through two special structures that all Jaciforms retain;
their Dual 'Cognitosomes'.
The Cognitosome is a Microscopic Quantum Biocomputer created as 'sheets' only a single atom thick and folded and curled
many times over itself for maximum surface area at a microscopic scale. These structures allow each individual cell to
think somewhat independently and additionally stay in constant communication through principals of entanglement.
To this end all Jaciforms consciously control the shape of their form, at most using a 'template' stored in their
collective memory, using signals from the Cognitosomes to signal their organelles to express what traits they desire.
Jaciform cells are thus also constantly intelligently analyzing, constructing, improving and refining their DNA in real time.
whenever a single cell discovers a novel new genetic structure and product from it, a group of base cells are dedicated to
experimenting with it and refining it for any possible use before it is issued to all Jaciform cells that exist.
Jac is The Source, Origin and Leader of the Jaciforms. Progenitor and central intelligence in control of the entire collective.
more information will be added in a future update. :)
Curlys are stark white humanoid creatures approximately 1ft (30.48cm) tall with long flipper-like arms that extend past their body length and are dotted with three gripping fingers that allow them to climb sheer surfaces like a gecko or an insect.
Curlys have a single small antennae on the top of their head that appears to be used in mental communications and as a whole the creatures are named for their small curly tail.
Curlys are by far the most common and well known of the Jaciforms, and make up a Grand Majority of the Jaciform Workforce.
They are also referred to by Jac as "Biological Thoughtform Bioconstructs", signifying the fact that they were created by Jac for the express purpose of providing Mental diversity to the hive mind.
In addition to diversifying and grounding the collective mind, Curlys readily take to a vast array of jobs and tasks, even requiring a figure they find interest in or see as an authority figure
to give them orders, lest they become understimulated.
All Curlys have a capacity to and reproduce through Division, rapidly splitting into two new individuals (like amoebas, or perhaps certain echinoderms or cnidarians) so long as their nutrient stores will allow.
Curlys lack individuality at their core when they first divide to the point that they do not even see themselves as truly 'people'. They're indistinct, unambitious, pretty listless and largely aimless. This is why they take to commanding presences very well, one who takes charge can easily get a large group of curlys under their control.
The problem comes when they start becoming individuals. While Curlys have a STRONG sense of loyalty to each other and Jaciforms as a whole, as they gain individual personalities and traits they develop even more mentally and are capable of commanding others of their kind.
Curlys have very little sense of self preservation due to their shared minds and asexual reproduction, an individual who 'dies' will simply move their mind to a new body that divides off of one of their fellows and they are essentially 'reborn' and as a necessity of their reproduction, their bodies are highly nutrient dense. This causes curlys to be a frequent target of many carnivorous predators, much to the amusement of their own kind.
Due to the fact that the individual minds of Jaciforms are retained regardless of the destruction of their bodies, mixed with a Curly's natural curiosity, sense of mischief and disregard for the concept of 'death' in general, Curlys retain a much Higher sense of aggression towards each other to the point that they wage large scale 'wars' against each other for fun.
Curlys do not hate their own kind, but their peculiar instincts results in a sort of perversion of their sense of play and so they tend to organize gargantuan wastelands wherein there is no overt structure or sides in a gargantuan conflict, only the smallest of factions and honor-system rule sets are retained.
These Curly War games can progress to the point that they are creating their own Jaciform Subforms for the pure purpose of battling in these endless wars.
It should be noted however, that curlys are acutely aware of Non-Jaciform organism's shortcomings with mortality and regardless of the intensity of their own conflicts take painstaking efforts to keep them out of their war games.
once a Curly's Body Dies it near immediately melts into a thick, white jelly that is edible. Other curlys will readily feed on this jelly, and even offer it to the previously deceased once they re-divide out of one of their fellows. Curly Jelly tastes like a mix of blueberries and marshmallows, with the texture of jam.
Stark rubbery white with hints of internal anatomy faintly visible beneath the surface, a Moon Imp is approximately the size of a horse, or roughly 6ft(182.88cm) tall at the shoulder.
Their head is massive and bulbous in proportion to the rest of it's rather lean body, featureless
save for two black eyes with peering white irises emerging from two long slits vertically along the sides of the head and an unseen slit
hiding their toothy, rasping, jawless mouthparts just under the head.
It is seemingly hunched over on it's long arms and massive webbed hands, focusing it's weight on them and balanced by diminutive, but
deceptively powerful back legs that allow it a substantial leap.
The Moon Imp's Body is decorated with Segmentation along major joints, two small wing or flipper like protrusions from the back and a
small, curled tail.
Moon Imps inhabit the Role of larger Mid-to-high tier predator and scavenger in various ecosystems, being the 'muscle' of most Jaciform groups.
Utilizing special sensory vents located within their mouth, opening to a branching structure that can pick up extremely faint traces of scents and chemicals
in the air a Moon Imp can trail prey from extreme distances.
In addition, Moon Imps have special Silicon-based structures within their body cavity that can be safely removed. These 'Ampules' often contain dozens of
purified gene samples they've managed to retreive from their environment.
Moon Imps are generally seen as Quiet, reserved and spend long periods of time in contemplation and observation. Rarely do their metabolic requirements necessitate a proper hunt; instead preferring to
scavenge off of whatever organic matter is already dead or dying. Should it actually require enough food for a hunt however its mind becomes sharp and extremely focused on tracking and taking down its prey.
A Moon Imp Can lend highly insightful input and analysis on most situations and are quite content to enter a state of quasi-cryptobiosis that allows it to observe it's environment for even longer,
often excavating a burrow (should it not belong to a hive) placed in a manner that would allow it a wide range of it's territory to easily view.
Though Moon Imps are typically docile and hesitant to engage in unnessicary fighting, they can be difficult to handle as they are prone to aggressive outbursts from overstimulation and are Additionally
at risk of withdrawling emotionally from well aquainted allies and close friends out of regret should it succumb to such destructive urges.
The 'Newborns' is an umbrella term for the undeveloped or "Larval" forms of various Jaciforms. Often created through a variety of methods from traditional reproduction to literal Germination of cells within an ample nutritious growth medium such as nutrient rich water or wet mud.
(Pictured in the upper left)
the 'J-larva' is one of the most common newborn units, retaining
a high volume of 'stem cells' ready to differentiate and allow it to metamorphose into any other
unit as needed. J-larvae are the Newborn most frequently seen produced, propogated and reared
within the living, Moon-shaped Jaciform hives.
(Pictured bottom center)
Moon Imps are one of the most important general units (aside from curlys)
and thus have their own Newborn dedicated to their propogation. Moon Imps cannot produce more of
themselves without direct aid and thus rely on the help of others (most often Jac directly) in
order for more to be created to serve the needs of the collective.
(pictured in upper right)
Jaclings (also known as 'Mooncalves') are by far the most mysterious of all Jaciforms.
Like Most Jaciforms, they are almost completely incapable of reproducing themselves and like curlys, they resemble Jac.
Which is to say, they're largely identified by primarily being stark white and having hair which is rounded at the top, comes down around the head and flairs up slightly towards the end, leaving a gap for the face to peak through.
In Jaclings however the bangs are enough to obscure the eyes, of which there are 5. these five eyes are seemingly under-developed and have never been documented opening of their own accord. Otherwise Jaclings have a roughly seal-shaped body, having only two nubby, flipper-like appendages for arms and a single curled tail.
Jaclings move often by dragging themselves along with their limbs, utilizing the smoothness of their bodies or (through anomalous means) levitating above the ground. They are roughly the size of a human infant and make only various squeaks, eeps, beeps and peeps to communicate.
Nothing about the internal anatomy of Jaclings is known, and by unknown means Jaclings are completely and totally invulnerable to all forms of harm. No material can penetrate or harm them in any way, nor can any particle penetrate even the top layer of skin or hair for internal scanning to work. Jaclings do not shed skin or hair,
and in fact through unknown means Jaclings do not even appear to require food, water or air to survive, nor do they make any waste.
Alongside their total Invulnerability, Jaclings appear to be capable of warping and altering the very fabric of reality to their whims seemingly without limit. Fortunately, Jaclings have are almost entirely Benevolent in behavior, with the most malicious of them still being more mischievous at most and still incapable of causing harm to other beings.
Jaclings can only really be studied in their behavior and psychology. They display intelligence, creativity and curiosity that ranges from that of a perpetually cheerful infant to that of a playful toddler and have been known to suddenly grow attached to specific individuals or 'roles' in play, changing their colors and behaviors in various ways to emulate that which they've seen.
Jac sees these small creatures as their 'Children' and treats them as such; having an immense affection and protectiveness towards them, despite the fact that they do not require care or protection. All other Jaciforms also show a marked affection for Jaclings, with Curlys often incorporating Jaclings into their daily lives in one way or another.
It is noted that despite no Jacling having ever been documented causing permanent, lasting harm to anything, all Jaciforms and Subforms alike are highly protective of Jaclings and will immediately fly into a rage if one were to act maliciously towards them.