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Lifespan |
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Death |
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Kirnivaals have incredibly long lifespans. They can live for tens of thousands of years and have full lives. With no natural predators, they rarely die young unless born with blemished traits.
Kirnivaals are raised in safety on Apsis Major until they reach 100 years old, which is adulthood for them. At this time they set out into the universe to begin their journey. While they reach maturity at this age, they usually don't become capable of reproduction until they've lived to around 150 or 200. After kirnivaals reach adulthood they show no signs of aging. |
A kirnivaal's death is a spectacular event that occurs without warning. Their smoke trails expand suddenly to engulf their body, breaking the kirnivaal into pieces of stardust and rock. It then condenses into a crystalline meteor. When the meteor is fully formed, the remaining smoke from the kirnivaal (thought to be its soul) surrounds it and suddenly compresses the meteor creating an explosion similar to a supernova. While on a much smaller scale than a supernova, the event is often cataclysmic and a particularly strong kirnivaal can destroy even dwarf planets.
It is very rare for kirnivaals to die young. Because of their long lifespans, they don't have to worry about death until they've lived for thousands of years. Many adult kirnivaals avoid Apsis Major out of fear for dying near it. |