RyverStyx: Sandbox

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Aging, Maturity and Fertility

Skrell reach physical maturity at about triple the age of humans, complemented by the Skrell understanding of adulthood going far beyond physical growth to include experience. A Skrell will reach biological maturity at roughly the age of fifty, but in skrellian society will only be treated as reaching "adulthood" after their second college, around the age of 60 - 80. A healthy Skrell can naturally live up to 250 years, but current medical technology within the Jargon Federation allows them to increase their lifespans to an impressive 450 to 500 years. Those outside of Jargon space can see lifespans topping out at around 350.

Due to the lingering effects of Glorsh's attempts to genetically manipulate Skrell, a sizeable percentage are completely sterile. Thanks to the intense research efforts of numerous skrellian, and non-Skrell, doctors and scientists, specialists have the capability to at least partially reverse these effects in most Skrell. The extensive treatments and investments needed to undergo the treatments for the Genopage give the reality that only about a third (33%) of Skrell can have children. These Skrell can have 1-3 children in their lifetime, whereas pre-genophage Skrell could have eight eggs hatch at a time. Without treatments, affected eggs remain inert, not developing.

Education Outside of the Federation

Skrell raised outside Jargon are reside in relatively new situation. They will not have access to the advanced educational infrastructure of the Jargon Federation. Private Skrell education facilities have been established by philopatric and entrepreneurial Skrell from Jargon; however, these schools do not report back to the Federation in any capacity. These facilities merely mimic the style, system and environment found in Jargon facilities.

Those who do not have access to either of these education sources must completely rely on their Quya to educate them. Most Skrell are only capable of educating their children up to a Reef Garden level with what would be the equivalent to a college internship in their Quya's field. If Skrell want to pursue a different field than their Qrri'Myaq, they will need to seek out a Skrell with the correct skillset and ask to apprentice under them.

Human Schooling has proven to be detrimental to Skrell for several reasons. Since Skrell mature mentally and physically slower than Humans, the socialization process critical to upbringing is thrown wildly off-balance. By the time a human reaches young adulthood, Skrell are still juveniles. This gap often leads to feelings of extreme social isolation, which can severely harm the development of Skrell children. Additionally, Skrell learning is partially tied to their relationship with psionics. Skrell Teachers can passively use the Nlom to help cultivate understanding of new concepts or skills. Skrell students rely on this phenomenon heavily, as in addition to their teachers, in groups they can easily communicate their own understanding and thoughts with psionic assistance. Human environments lack this component, which can severely stunt the rate at which Skrell learn from their non-psionic teachers.

This does not mean it is completely impossible for non-Skrell to teach Skrell, simple ideas that require little deep thinking or low-complexity concepts can be learned easily. But, in the long-term, Skrell learn best from other Skrell.

Federation Education

The Skrell have always believed that acquiring knowledge to be the basis of their society, with even their most followed faith, confirming this perspective. There are three climacteric stages within established education, usually marked by biochemical and physiological changes that are associated with age: Scuttle School, Reefgarden and Depth College. Although biologically based, it is not universal or inflexible. Skrell are regarded as commencing each stage according to their own assessments, as well as supportive examinations from instructors, rather than chronological age or other indicators. While rare, it is not unheard of for Skrell to descend the rankings when they realize they are not equipped to handle the higher levels.

Scuttle Schooling

Scuttle Schooling, or Ukutanii is a process that all Skrell undertake and commences shortly before birth. During the later stages of an egg’s utero-development, the entirety of the egg’s Quya will begin a process known as Aqi’qa (Tethering) in order to determine the egg’s designated Qrri’Myaq. The process of Aqi’qa will usually begin about a season before the egg is meant to hatch, and typically involves rigorous rituals and tribal chanting until the egg has developed a psionic connection with one of the Skrell in the Quya. The Skrell will henceforth undertake the role of Qrri’Myaq and solely tend to the developing egg until it hatches -- incubating them within their headtails. It is often said that those that do not engage in the Aqi’qa are creating those born without the ability to perpetuate deep psionic signals instead producing Listeners.

Majority of Ukutanii is provided by a Qrri’Myaq, however, there are supplementary development courses that tadpoles are enrolled in to ensure that their initial education is well-rounded. Ukutanii typically involves the passing of basic knowledge onto the juvenile (such as motor or communication skills) which are required to prepare them for Untuk’mak, or Reefgarden. Nowadays, the Jargon Federation keeps a much more watchful eye on tadpoles, with many citing the X’Lu’oa (Genophage) as the reason for such. Scuttle Schools are also some of the most well-guarded facilities within the Jargon Federation.

Ukutanii occurs between pre-birth and 30 years of age.

Reefgardens

Reefgardens, or Untuk’mak, is a process that usually occurs after a Skrell has reasonably progressed in Ukutanii. Before a Skrell can commence Untuk’mak, they must undergo an Odurserr, or coming-of-age ceremony, to signify their readiness to advance to established academia. Odurserr is usually overseen by the Qrri’Myaq, and involves the Quya of the juvenile gifting items usually symbolic of what they wish the tadpole to achieve in their life. After the gifting is complete, one of the items must be burnt as a representation of the Skrell’s choice and what they wish to achieve. Once the Odurserr has been completed, the tadpole will commence Untuk’mak.

Untuk’mak is the equivalent of high school for the Skrell. It is here that the Qrri’Myaq is relieved of academically supervising the juvenile Skrell, and is instead replaced with Counselors tasked with teaching subjects such as language, math, galactic history and much more. The foundation laid during the Untuk’mak is considered critical and invokes increased observation from the Jargon Federation to ensure the levels of teaching are satisfactory. As Skrell progress through Untuk’mak, additional modules will become available and allow them to begin specializing in career paths decades before they start any dedicated degrees in Uyi’vesi, or College. Untuk’mak usually encompasses about two decades, however, it is ultimately up to the Skrell to decide whether they are ready or not to advance.

Untuk’mak usually occurs between 30-50 years of age.

Depth Colleges

Depth College, or Uyi’vesi, is the last stage of skrellian education and is equivalent to college for the Skrell. Whilst not mandatory, majority of the Skrell will undergo Uyi’vesi in order to further engorge themselves in all kinds of knowledge in order to climb the social ranks of skrellian society. Facilities dedicated to hosting those undertaking Uyi’vesi are usually hyperspecific on their education, such as the Aliose University of Medical Sciences which only educates those undertaking Uyi’vesi wishing to engage in studies related to medicine.

Skrell undertaking Uyi’vesi will usually devote about a decade of their life to complete a degree, however, many more will persevere and acquire roughly two or three degrees during their extended Uyi’vesi of about three decades. Over the years, it has become far more common for Skrell to extend their Uyi’vesi as employment opportunities begin to seek more and more individuals with advanced knowledge.

A skrellian degree is typically equivalent to a PhD outside of the Jargon Federation, however, internally there is no differentiation between bachelor, master and doctorate programs. Skrell will also often be awarded adornments for their headtails dependent on their academic success in the Uyi’vesi, with the longer adornments usually symbolizing great academic feats.

Uyi’vesi usually occurs between 50-80 years of age.

Notable Universities

The Gliutip'lyaz University

Among the most prestigious centres of learning in the Jargon Federation is the Gliutip’lyaz University. Founded in 2350 BCE on the Homeworld, the establishment has been hailed as having the most diverse and strenuous courses in the Federation, with the majority of courses offered by the university being science-related. Aside from science, the Gliutip’lyaz University primarily offers courses in liberal arts such as history and philosophy, as well as courses that teach martial arts, music, politics, and law.

The Gliutip'lyaz University remains one of the most prestigious schools almost four millennia later, mostly producing a majority of the Jargon Federation's most accomplished individuals. It has since developed a "remote learning" branch in which Skrell can explore the Orion Spur and still attend their classes while abroad. Alumni of the Gliutip’lyaz University have historically been incredibly driven, with most graduates becoming pioneers in their respective fields. This trend of producing capable, well-rounded graduates has earned the establishment a colloquial title as “The Grand University.” Students of The Gliutip’lyaz University are subject to harsh testing and critique as their grades are periodically released to the public. Scoring under seventy percent on an applied knowledge exam, or any other graded activity is grounds for prompt expulsion. Each year, only a hundred Jargon citizens are accepted by the school’s board. In order to graduate, a student must attend the university for 23 years. New students are expected to have a working understanding of physics and chemistry before attending classes.

Relavant Careers

The Grand University primarily focuses on educating students in the fields of science, but some graduates are known to go into politics or law.

Famous Graduates

The most prominent example of the calibre of Skrell produced by the Gliutip’lyaz is Grand Councillor Weashbi Jrugl himself. Since becoming Grand Councillor, Jrugl has also become the current dean of the University.

The Aliose University of Medical Sciences

Founded in 500 BCE, the Aliose University of Medical Sciences was established as a means to further centralize research and development related to health services for the ever-growing population of the Skrell. It quickly shot to the forefront of medical, biomechanical and genetics research within the Jargon Federation, and is where the Skrell first began to develop their life-extending medical care.

The university quickly became the go-to university for Skrell wishing to enter the medical field, which resulted in its reputation as a prestigious university. Students are expected to have a working knowledge of biology at the very least, with chemistry or other fields being requirements based on what course an applicant is applying for. Graduates from AUMS are known to become well-renowned doctors, medical researchers, and geneticists within the Federation. With the university’s relationship with Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals, many students tend to find work almost as soon as they graduate, being offered contracts to work for Zeng-Hu abroad.

Since its establishment, the Aliose University of Medical Sciences helped propel Skrell forward technologically, making the species one of the most medically advanced in the Spur. With the rise of Glorsh-Omega and the Era of Synthetic Oppression, however, the university had a more sinister purpose. The Intelligence would have Skrell halt all research into certain fields, having the university staff begin new projects that would eventually culminate in the species-wide inoculation of the Skrell, causing irreversible damage that’s still being researched to this day. While most Skrell have grown to accept AUMS’ part in the genophage, there is a radical minority that has begun associating the university with Glorsh and its sympathisers.

In 2332 CE, Humanity and Skrell met. Almost as soon as first contact was made, academic talks had started between the Skrell and the various human megacorporations. The Skrell had concerns with sharing their knowledge with a species that was nowhere near their technological level, and most scientific leaders refused to work with the greedy, business-focused approach that many of the megacorporations had shown with their proposals. For the Dean of AUMS Lori'Eldap Joolro'Loveq, however, one company had stood out: Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals. Their vision, along with their emphasis on cooperative research teams over wanting access to Skrellian technology outright, impressed the staff of the university. Zeng-Hu was able to demonstrate the benefits of this relationship through the unveiling of viable limb-cloning techniques, and as a result brought AUMS to the forefront of medical research in the eyes of human society. This has resulted in a high number of requests from non-Skrell for attendance, with a small number of applicants being admitted. Although there are no official rules regarding non-Skrell attendance at the university, it is generally thought that the best way to attend is to apply through Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals. There have been claims of xenophobia due to the lack of non-Skrell students, but the university has denied these claims, insisting that all applicants are expected to fulfill the same academic requirements.

Relevant Careers

The university primarily offers courses related to biomechanics, chemistry, biology and anatomy, and even xenosciences. The relationship between Zeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals and AUMS has resulted in a number of graduates signing contracts with the megacorporation to work abroad almost as soon as they graduate, seeing it as an easy way of living outside of the Federation without taking a hit to their social credit score and with a stable job already lined up.

Famous Graduates

Lori'Eldap Joolro'Loveq is the Dean of the university, and the longest living Skrell in the galaxy - having lived for a total of 559 years. They are treated hourly with chemicals - and have had several organ surgeries. Although weak physically, they are very strong mentally and teach telepathically in the Dream, in an aluminium classroom. She is capable of standing for a few minutes, and has famously met the oldest Human in existence several times - and still continues to meet the oldest human every time the current oldest dies.