Heptopod Research Lab
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HRL Research Files
The History of the Heptopod
Origins
Reports of an interesting new species of anthropomorphic molluscs have been piling in lately. While individuals vary in traits, they very closely resemble known cephalopod species particularly such as octopuses and squids.
A particular distinction that is important to note would be that the great majority of individuals appear to possess seven limbs, which has not been documented or previously recognised in known species. Current research suggests that these cephalopods find themselves landing under the Coleida subclass, earning their own order of Heptapodistans and get to be colloquially known as Heptopods. Of course, there is no harm in calling them “Heptos” for short. This is not to be confused with their, not quite as evolved, precursors: the Heptriprimadus, otherwise also known as Heptrimos. It is not fully known what these may have appeared as, nor what happened to all of them.
It is believed that this species dates back around 200 million years from an early population of Heptrimos getting trapped in a deep sea cave network, theorised to have been shut off from the rest of the world due to tectonic activity. This sprawling habitat they flourished in has now been denominated the Suctucalix Chambers. It has been only a few centuries since this species has managed to make its way out of this ecosystem, but since then, many individuals have been adapting to the surface and essentially starting newer colonies.
History of the Suctucalix Chambers
The Suctucalix Chambers are a sprawling network of large cavities interconnected by tunnels and passageways.
Many of these chambers had their own individual biomes with their own obstacles and plentiful resources, with surprising biodiversity across the different regions. These caves were inhabited by diverse fauna and flora within the individual chambers too, with many species developing bioluminescent features.
These caves however were somehow not entirely submerged, despite being deep under the sea. Many of the chambers were entirely devoid of water, essentially being cavities of air, full of oxygen and various other gases that allowed greenery to thrive on the mineral rich rocks and ecosystems to flourish. The existence of these ‘dry rooms’ is speculated to be what pushed these cephalopods’ forms into a bipedal anatomy. There were also 3 particularly large chambers; these Spiral Halls ended up being quite significant to the Heptopod species. Despite being very far apart, the halls somehow shared a lot of similarities, most notably they each had a central spiral structure in the middle, looking not too dissimilar in shape to screw shells. Each hall also opened up into a “dry room” from the ceilings, of which particularly large specimens of glowing flora bloomed.
One of the leading theories on this phenomena states that the Suctucalix Chambers were a series of tunnels and remains of a few individuals of a currently unknown leviathan class species that burrowed through the rock. It is not entirely impossible that the local fauna and flora were brought here as the species migrated in some form of symbiotic relationship. Perhaps this species would have carried layers of compacted sediments, containing seeds upon its body, shedding them at intervals. This would certainly explain the high contrast of environments despite being so close to one another.
These environments found in the chambers of course had food chains, and the Heptrimos did not find themselves at its peak.
There were several predatory species wishing to feast on calamari, pushing the cephalopods to adapt to these threats. Records of this history appear to currently be lacking, but it is the leading theory that adapting to these threats is what managed to differentiate Heptrimos from the Heptopods. The Heptrimos that evolved strategies of strength, stealth and dexterity were what eventually became what we know as early Heptopods, while the other species are now deemed as extinct. These are the ones that managed to push themselves up to the top of the food chain, hunting on the descendants of the creatures that once threatened them.
While evidence suggests that initially the Heptopods inhabited the cave system’s many rooms, there’s further proof to suggest that as they advanced they ended up forming 3 colonies, each inhabiting one of the 3 Spiral Halls. Once settled, the colonies stopped exploring as far, and simply remained gathering the resources closer to their shelters. The tales of the other colonies eventually became simple legends among the clans. Certain tales even suggest a deeper branch of the Chambers, where even more colonies may have resided, but this has not been confirmed, and no other original clans have been documented as of yet.
Over many generations, these clans of Heptopods had found their biology and particularly their limbs specialising to their given environments. The clans were eventually populated with individuals of humanoid appearance, with certain tentacles evolved to split into what could be considered hands and feet. Each clan had developed advanced nests and tools, each having their own distinct history yet managing to run in parallel. The clans each had their own specialties, which eventually got pitted against one another.
As the clans expanded their capabilities, their territories expanded too. Confined within the cave walls, further chambers started getting explored more often. This eventually led to the clans proving their legends to be true. With none of the clans simply wanting to submit their space, conflict arose, and the clans started constructing fortifications, armour and weapons ready for combat. With times of war, their technology managed to make even greater strides. Each clan had their own specialties suitable to their biology, constructed out of the materials they had most plentiful.
History of the Clans
Need to research this more!!
Modern Colonies
Nowadays, colonies can be found all over the world, generally diverse with the different races living as one yet again. It is this intertwined lineage that allows so many modern heptopods to display the proficiencies of each clan.
One of the biggest factors as to why modern heptopod settlements are so widespread is due to many generations of events called Wildaflux. This is an instinctual tradition dating back to the early heptopods, where unhatched eggs were left unattended to hatch and fend for themselves in chambers outside the Spiral Halls. The hatchlings would then have to rely on themselves to make it back to the rest of the population.
While the exact reason as to why this behaviour has become so prevalent is not entirely confirmed, there are multiple interpretations with compelling evidence for why it may have emerged so strongly. One theory suggests that the Spiral Halls experienced one or more mass extinction events, making it more advantageous for the eggs left further to develop safer and carry on their legacy. Another theory suggests that the Spiral Halls were simply an unfit environment for eggs to develop, possibly due to the chemical composition of the particulates around the Spirals. Another compelling theory implies that certain heptopods simply found nooks they thought may be safe, and left their eggs there, leading to a positive feedback loop of stronger heptopods returning, more well equipped for the wild, becoming stronger fighters and leaders. Ultimately, it is very hard to disprove any of these theories with our current understanding.
Wilderflux has since been adapted to the freedom of the outside environment. Nowadays, it is a momentous occasion for heptopod parents to place an egg onto the ocean currents, often never to be seen again. Some parents may choose to attach items to the egg, such as trinkets or some form of camouflage; there are no particular rules for what is and isn’t allowed. Now while this may sound like a very bad survival strategy for the species as a whole, it actually provides many crucial developmental factors for a growing heptofry, namely that it helps them discover their many traits and proficiencies, sharpen their instincts and form their own sense of self with their unique applications of abilities. However, it is also entirely valid for parents to decide to not follow along with their instincts, and instead raise their heptofries with tutoring and a closer familial bond instead.
Many heptofries released in the wild end up returning to the original colonies they were released from, not all apples fall far from the tree after all. However it is not uncommon for heptofries to just end up going in their own directions and end up in different colonies, manage their way on their own, or run into a companion. Heptopods that grow up on their own may end up displaying more wild, animalistic tendencies, but usually it doesn’t take individuals too long to settle into welcoming communities, whether it be with heptopods, humans or whoever else it may be. Because it is important to note that many heptopods do end up finding themselves on dry land at this stage. Some experience dry land later than others, so experiences may vary quite a lot, especially if you also consider the many different physical and cultural climates they acclimate to.
With experiencing surface culture, heptopods by extension can encounter many different languages too. From our dataset so far, it is quite evident that heptopods overall are quite proficient in learning human languages and mimicking speech too. Like humans, it appears to be easier for a heptopod to learn and understand languages at a younger age, but can just as well learn a first (or another) language at a later age with practice. This of course, by no means excludes heptopods having their own languages, however these are yet to be studied in full detail.