A Little More World Building for Halcyon Colony

I though some of my readers might appreciate a little information which goes into developing a new colony for a new book. I may have some more information later about some of the other animals and plants…Please forgive the bad photoshopping. Remember this is simply for informaiton–I’m not attempting to paint a masterpiece here.

2023 03 25

Up all night with another migraine. I wonder if its those new antibiotics they gave me for the bronchitis. I remember the Cipro did that to me. Well, I’ve finished them so hopefully it won’t reoccur. Still too droopy to write on Ambition though. My next chapter is on Napoleon’s relationship with Jason and his growing fascination with Scarlet. Going to shift the locale to Laughing Mountain because the next two chapters are where they discover Halcyon. Dagmar and the others are sent to explore it. Napoleon keeps Scarlet in Phoenix by saying her classes to teach the clones to blend into Normal society are too important to interrupt. The exploratory crew discover the Porcina herds and Dagmar, Hogun, Yael and Killian discuss adapting native animals for transportation and riding.

PORCINA Herd animals domesticated for transportation and for uses horses and donkeys were used for on earth. There are three main varieties: All have large heads and short necks, with relatively small eyes and prominent ears. Their heads have a distinctive snout, ending in a disc-shaped nose. Porcina typically have a bristly coat, and a short tail ending in a tassel. Legs are long to allow for fast running. The body is typically thick and round. A Porcina Equine can run about 30 miles an hour for short stretches. 

Porcina have a well-developed sense of hearing, and are vocal animals, communicating with a series of grunts, squeals, and similar sounds. They also have an acute sense of smell. Porcina are omnivorous, eating grass, leaves, roots, insects, worms, and even frogs or mice. 

The canine teeth are enlarged to form tusks, used for rooting in moist earth or undergrowth, and in fighting.

Porcina are intelligent and adaptable animals. Adult females (sows) and their young travel in a group while adult males (boars) are either solitary, or travel in small bachelor groups. Males generally are not territorial and come into conflict only during the mating season.

Litter size varies between one and four, depending on the variety. The mother prepares a grass nest or similar den, which the young leave after about ten days. Porcina are weaned at around three months and become sexually mature at 18 months. In practice, however, male Porcina are unlikely to gain access to sows in the wild until they have reached their full physical size, at around four years of age. In all varieties, the male is significantly larger than the female, and possesses more prominent tusks.

PORCINA MAXIMUS – About the size of a Clydesdale. They are Used primarily as a draft animal for plowing and pulling large loads.

PORCINA EQUINE are about the size of a quarter horse. They are used Primarily as a riding or carriage animal.

PORCINA PALAWANare about the size of a large pony and used to pull small carts or wagons, and sometimes as a mount for children.