Slimen

Slimen are a hodgepodge race of numerous breeds of intelligent slime creatures, with a notable exception being Geloids, who are a distinct race of their own.

## Biology

As an aggregate race of Ib, specific details of Slimen biology tend to vary between individual breeds; however, there are several key physical characteristics that are common between a majority of slimen breeds. The most important characteristic of slimen is that they have bodies made of living slime, which is a colony of cells that have merged into a singular being. Slimen lack individual organ structures as each cell of their body has an identical set of organelles that are capable of sustaining themselves. Despite each individual cell being technically capable of survival one their own, each and every one of a slimen's cells are bound to one another through both a genetic and spiritual bond which compels them to function as a singular entity. A slimen's cells all share resources and pool their energy together into a common reserve which is controlled by a semi-centralized intelligence that is created as a product of their combined force. As each cell contributes to a slimen's physical, mental, and magical power, the loss of any part of its body mass will negatively impact its stats proportionately to its cell loss; furthermore, cells that are severed from the main body of a Slimen have severely decreased stats and are typically only partially capable of thought, generally having only a singular drive of seeking to rejoin with their main body.

Similar to regular slimes, all slimen can be acidic, basic, or neutral in nature depending on their breed, and all of them are coated in a hydrophobic oil which creates a protective membrane around their form. Slimen feed by engulfing their food and then releasing digestive enzymes which dissolve the food and distribute its nutrients amongst all their cells while waste material is secreted as nonliving slime which often trails behind them on the ground as they move. Slimen's ability to secrete powerful digestive enzymes throughout their body provides them with a natural resistance to most types of infections as they are capable of dissolving the vast majority of disease-causing bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites. Even so, slimen still tend to be vulnerable to most poisons and cancer poses a unique danger to them in that rogue cells begin to quite literally form a mind of their own and either absorb or otherwise assimilate neighboring cells into a tumorous mass which they cannot dissolve and must eject from their body; these expelled cancerous tumors then develop into cancer slimes.

Slimen have many options available to them when it comes to breeding as they are capable of both sexual and asexual reproduction. Asexual reproduction can be achieved once a slimen has reached a certain mass, at which point it can voluntarily fissure itself in a process superficially resembling cellular mitosis into four smaller slimen of the same breed. It is worth noting that while these offspring are genetically similar to one another, they are not genetic clones and will inherit an unequal distribution of their parent's stats. Alternatively, slimen can sexually reproduce by merging their form with another slimen, or slime, of a compatible acidity and releasing reproductive hormones instead of digestive enzymes. The mating pair will become one entity before fissuring into two offspring with an even admixture of characteristics inherited from their parents who feel close familial bonds to one another. Slimen are capable of breeding with unintelligent slimes; however, the biological process of such mating is inherently incredibly risky for slimen and the offspring of such relations have severely limited mental capabilities, often on the social level, rivaling that of horses and dogs. As such, reproductive relations of such kind are considered taboo.

Most breeds of slimen have a lifespan of approximately 10 years, though age is not as important a factor of their development as it is for most other Ib due to their stats being improved primarily through the direct increase of their own cell mass rather than the accrual of experience.

## Psychology

Slimen are generally a simple folk who focus mainly on their survival and reproduction while taking great pleasure from gustatory sensations. They typically try to live independently of one another and take great satisfaction in being able to fend for themselves. Slimen suffer particularly acute anxiety when in the vicinity of other slime creatures due to the ease in which one slime may digest and absorb another of their kind. This ease of digestion also makes mating and sexual reproduction an incredibly risky affair for slimen as at any point in the process after the mating pair have merged, one may betray the other and begin to release digestive enzymes to consume their mate and then utilize the nutrients gained to perform their own asexual reproduction. For this reason, relationships must be extremely close and committed bonds between two individuals in order for them to successfully end sexual congress. Slimen ultimately view such sexual reproduction as superior to asexual reproduction, but most view it as foolishly unrealistic for every member of their species to hope to achieve, and, as such, it is far more common for them to settle for asexual reproduction when they reach such a point in their lives.

It is also worth noting that Slimen are generally avoidant of slimen who have an opposing acidity. This is due to the fact that physical contact between the two of them puts them at risk of death through slime crystallization; however, this risk also has made romantic relationships between a basic and acidic slimen the ultimate and most pure form of taboo for the race. A slime crystal that has been formed through the willing fusion of two slimen in love has

## Society

Describe the structure of their society and relationships between members of their own species as well as other species of Ib

## Other

Other important characteristics of a species should be highlighted here such as unique developmental or cultural traits that are important enough to be explained in a separate section.

## Variants

Describe various subspecies

Ameboids - Shapeless Blobs of Ooze. Most are incapable of sight and hearing.

Gaseous Mist being. Most are incapable of sight.

Viscans - Have great control over their body and form and can make themselves indistiguishible from other Ib if given enough time.

Melten (Melties) - Can more rapidly alter their outside appearance but cannot maintain it for very long, giving them a "melty" appearance. Most are incapable of hearing.

Skelgel (Skelly Jellies) - Have skin and muscles made of ooze that wrap around more solid bones and organs.

Nomad Bone Slime - Uses improvised materials to create temporary skeletons to mold its body around.

Burblers - Bubblish humanoids that can absorb objects into their oozy bodies and fire them off at high speeds

See Also

Slimes