#thank you moth for letting me draw your gal for this 💖

[styllwaters]

do mixes between mismatched hosts and helmets happen? Are they’re knight Hybrids?,both genetically and by a host and helmet of mismatched species?

(Also are the different types sub species or they’re own?)

Mismatched helmets and hosts do exist! Here's an illustrated example featuring Zetze-ka, a background character for Vivere 44, and Nalka-Imesh, a fan character by @strangecritters.

(Full answer below)

Zetze-ka is a Knight living on the Ihmna Stretch near the border between Ferhaht and Kaat. Their host Zetzeragh is a mountain host of Ferhahti origin. Souwutka is a Kaata plains helmet who was given a mountain name by their Ferhahti Order. It is often the case that a hybrid assimilated Knight takes up residency with the Order of whatever subspecies their host is.

Nalka-Imesh is a Knight with an Aikka polar host and a Fejga mountain Helmet. The names of her host and helmet originate from their respective cultures; Nalka is a singular polar name, whilst Imeshaka is a traditional mountain name. She wears a neck brace to support the extra weight of her helmet (as is common for polar hosts with non-polar helmets).

Hybrids like these are uncommon, but not unheard of. Zetze-ka's host and helmet were assimilated as a symbol of alliance between a Kaata and Ferhahti Order, rather like a Marriage of State. Other times, when a Knight has given birth and there are no other newborn hosts/helmets in their own Order to assimilate with their children, an allied Order of a different subspecies may offer their own newborns. There are many more reasons why hybrids might occur.

And yes, there are genetic hybrids as well! However, all hybrids between Knight subspecies are either sterile or inviable. Mountain and plains Knights can produce hybrids, though they will be infertile. Polar knights cannot hybridise with any other subspecies.

Mountain, plains and polar varieties are all different species of Knight.

#thank you moth for letting me draw your gal for this 💖 #and ty for the ask! #my art #ask #vivere 44 #knights #speculative biology #spec bio #spec evo #symbiosis #alien #art #worldbuilding