ROYAL
Royal Mutation / Gigantism
Despite what the Queen might have you believe, Royal Viritails aren't a real subspecies. It's a genetic mutation that is ALWAYS passed down to offspring, which makes them grow up to double their average size. The mutation will spread through all affected “carrier” genes. Throughout Virilian history, there have been multiple lines of "royals". Communities have always worshiped them for their strength and power. When they were more abundant, families would often converge and rear offspring that would then rule over both of their parent’s colonies. Calixa's family wiped out all other ancient royal lineages 3,000 years ago. Her family has also kept the genetic nature of the royal mutation as secretive as possible. The public widely believes that Royals are a true subspecies. When this mutation happens naturally, as it still has a chance of happening in standard populations, it is referred to as Genetic Gigantism. Truthfully however, genetic gigantism and the royal mutation are one in the same.
This mutation is marked by abnormally large egg and hatchling size, and on average faster growth. This differs from pituitary gigantism, which can not be detected at the egg stage. A normal Viritail can reach a maximum height of 6’6” without being classified as having gigantism. Pituitary gigantism causes affected individuals to reach heights of 6’ 7” to 7’6”. Viris with royal / genetic gigantism will max out at a height of anywhere from 8’ to 11’.
On average, Viris stop growing when they are 17 - 19. However, Viritails with gigantism will reach their max height at around 20 or 23, often having a large final year of growth where they can grow an extra foot or more. This can make coronation dress fitting for a new Queen a nightmare, as the seamstresses will have to take into account the princess’s growth spurts.
Royal Coupling Tradition
CW: Ritualistic drugging, cannibalism.
Tradition states that for the female royal Viritail to have children, she must consume another Viritail to have the energy to make a royal offspring. The belief is that because they are so large, it takes more energy from the female to grow their egg. (This is scientifically false, but tradition nonetheless). Historically, sexual cannibalism was more common, especially in struggling communities. But as society developed, it became strictly a Royal tradition and a crime elsewhere. The Royal wedding is actually a ritual. When the sacrifice is wed, they wear a specially carved crystal to honor them. Their life is the sacrifice for a new royal to be hatched and lead their society. They live together until the female is gravid. The male is served a final meal. Then, he is blindfolded. The blindfold is soaked in herbs (hallucinogens/relaxants) to calm him. He won't feel anything. He won't know what's happening. The soak evaporates before the female gets close so that she isn't affected by them. The sacrifice knows that their life has led up to this. It is considered an honor. His horns are sawn off so that they can be hung in the castle. How the female eats him is up to her.
There have only been a few instances of a Queen not wanting to eat the male. This is often decided in private as to not make a scene. Queens have taken their husbands out of the castle while they are intoxicated and blindfolded. The castle is completely empty around the time of the ritual, save for the few staff who are part of the preparations. Castle staff will honor the King privately or in groups, and therefore it is easy for the Queen to sneak the King outside. She will usually take the King outside, hide them in a transport container, and ship them across Hysia, or even to another exoplanet. The drugs make them not remember what happened; it will feel like a dream. And with their horns cut off and in a completely different area, no one will know who they are. They look familiar but unknown.
If there is a royally born King, then this ritual doesn't happen. It's slightly rarer for a Royal to birth a male, but not impossible. Calixa's bloodline just happens to have had more females. The married Queen is still honored for her sacrifice, though, because the burden of growing an egg that's larger than average is immense.