[Loser]

I've got a quick-n-dirty idea... but it might not fit their traits.

Originally created by the United Flora for independent thought and administrative duties, the Tessellate were bred from parasitic flowers.

Their biology can be divided into three separate functions: the parasitic limb, the reproductive system, and the intellectual system.

The entire Tessellate race is dependant on members of [a certain tree species]. Sticky Tessellate seeds are carried to the surface of these trees by carrion flies and grow into the tree. The parasitic limb burrows itself, over time, under the bark of this tree and along whatever limb it inhabits all the way to the trunk of the tree. It must reach the trunk before it can properly developed it's intellectual centers.

The Tessellate race consists of two sexes: a floral male and female. Both produce a single huge flower that is indistinguishable between them save for the tiny sex organs at it's middle. The flower is a dark mottled red and smells of rotting flesh. This attracts carrion flies which, fed by a sugary at the center of the flower, carry the male gametes to the female flower, who is then able to produce seed.

The intellectual center of Tessellate biology is thought to originally have been a defense mechanism of some sort. Due to UF intervention and manipulation the defensive portions of this area of its biology are nearly undetectable and all that remains is the large swollen synapse-cluster that previously control the defense features.

When they mutinied their way out of UF, the Tessellate rebels took with them a whole slew of 'liberated laborers' from UF. These slave species continue to serve the Tessellate and provide the manual work of their civilization.

If they are not already in here (and I'm about tolook), could you post the Tessellate Racial Traits in this thread?

[ May 12, 2003, 16:23: Message edited by: Loser ]