Cancer
"Cancers are a species of half-human, half-crab people. They are also often referred to as Bubbler Crabs, Crab Humans, or Shell-Bubbler, depending on the area and the experiences with this relatively young species. Most of them live at the shores of the river Rhine." Short introduction of the cancers in a flyer about Slimea
by Drackzahn
Abilities
Cancer Soap
Cancer soap is a special chemical solution that is extremely potent in its abilities. It is produced through the filtering of water by the cancer. They have small holes in their shell that allows them to filter in water. The water is then released as filtered and fully clean water that is even drinkable. The dirt and filth that was in the water are synthesized by the cancer and stored as new soap in their bodies. The soap is used to clean themselves or others. Another very popular use is the production of the famous bubbles. Most soap and bubbles are transparent and have a typically soapy color. Through filtering, it can happen that the cancer filters stuff that influences the color of their soap and bubbles. These color pigments are stored in separate bags in their bodies, allowing the cancer to use them when they see fit. The color of the soap or bubble has no influence on the effect or duration.Bubbles
With the help of their soap, a bubble crab is able to release Bubbles through the pores in their shell. Bigger bubbles and the biggest amount of them is released through their bottom mouth. Bubbles like these can easily trap others in their inside and hold them for several weeks till they pop naturally. They always stay near the ground except the cancer commands them differently. For these commands, the cancer has a special organ. The “eyes” on the cancer shells are sensors and signal givers for the bubbles and through these, the cancer is able to control bubbles close to her. To pop the bubbles, the cancer is able to produce a special counter soap in their body. Bubbles are often used to clean others or for playtimes or entertainment. Bubble baths are for example one of the favorite entertainment ways with others.My pearl for you
For reproduction, the cancer woman is able to produce a special pearl. That little pearl is eatable. When a human swallows it and digests it, it will quickly become very soft, near liquid-like. The cancer girl uses that state and slurps the human in her body with her bottom mouth. The liquefied human is stored in a special pouch that is right behind the bottom mouth of the cancer girl. The pouch works very similarly to a womb of a human. After a 6 month stay, which can be referred to as the pregnancy of the cancers, the former human is released as a little cancer child. The child has a similar size to a 3-5 years old human child for their human half. They will see the cancer girl as their new mother, yet they still have memories of their old lives. The production of a pearl-like is very difficult for a cancer. It takes a lot of energy and is a stressful procedure. That is the reason why most cancer girls can only produce one every 5 years. The time can be shortened though with the help of a male cancer. Male cancers are able to produce a special liquid that they can feed with their bottom mouths to the bottom mouths of the female. The liquid is used by the female body as a source of energy which quickens the reproduction of the next pearl rapidly. A pearl that is produced that way has the extra effect that the child will identify the male cancer as their father. The liquid produced by males has a high nutrient content so it can also serve to provide additional benefits to the health of the cancer who takes it.Basic Information
Anatomy
Cancers are half human and half crab. The upper body is that of a Human and behaves exactly like that. The bottom body is the hard shell of a crab.
The cancer has 6 legs and two main scissors in its front. The scissors can hold a person easily or snap something in two halves. Humans included. The legs allow the cancer to move rather quickly sideways and slowly when walking forwardly.
Both body parts combined often result in body sizes of far over 2 meters. Males often reach heights of over 3 meters.
It is unknown if the growing process of a cancer really stops somewhen. Through eating much it seems that the shell can grow even beyond the 3-meter mark.
The shell can vary heavily in color from cancer to cancer. The outer shell of the cancer is hard enough to withstand most physical attacks, but not hard enough to withstand bigger caliber of guns. Swords and blade-like weapons are useless against the cancer half though and their scissors are able to cut even softer metal apart.
Through holes in its shell, the cancer is able to filter water and release bubbles or soap. The central hole is a membrane and is located between the human part and the crab area. The membrane is very soft and squishy in touch. It is very sensitive and the region of the cancer body that is most easy to arouse. Male and female cancers look identically down there. The area is protected by four sharp mouth claws that often lay over the area to protect it. This area is referred to as their bottom mouth.
The main difference between female and male cancers is their human part in the look. The outside of the shell looks identically. There are differences in the inside of the crab body though. The males have no reproduction pouch and no pearl organ; however they have an organ to produce the special support liquid. This liquid when shared by the mouths of the lower crab body can boast the female's production of pearls, as well as provide health benefits to the consuming cancer. These benefits include enhancing their immune systems particulary from polutants, or help recovery when sick.
A cancer is able to hold its air for several hours underwater. It is often used for longer filter sessions in deeper water. They prefer flat water areas though. Their ability to swim is there but rather weak and only for emergencies. Mostly they prefer to walk around on the ground of the river or lake.
Genetics and Reproduction
Cancers can reproduce in two ways. The first one is by transforming others into their species. This is done by a female and her pearl as described in the abilities section. In short, with the pearl, they are able to liquefy volunteering Human or demi-human and absorb them into their pouch. After the pregnancy, the new cancer is born as a child of the female and a potential male that helped in creating the pearl.
The other way is sexual reproduction. This is primarily between a female cancer and male cancer. The female can create small eggs in her body, which are fertilized by the male in a kissing ritual by the central mouths of the cancer shells. This is their equivalent to sexual intercourse of other species and it only works between two cancers of different sexes, one male and one female. Reproduction with other species is possible with a male partner, however, it is different and harder to fertilize the eggs. The Female Cancer will have to take the male into the central mouth and use muscles and soap to coax the male along.
In the first weeks, the cancer female will hold the eggs in her body and carries them around with her while they develop. After around two months, the shells are hardened and reminded of bigger pearls with squishy inside. These bigger eggs are then laid into a nest by the cancer female and protected over the next four months till they hatch into small baby cancers of a similar size to a human baby.
Growth Rate & Stages
Cancer children grow at a similar time to Humans. In their first 12 years, their growth is very rapid and then slows down slowly up to their 20th birthday. Yet, differently to humans, the growth of cancers never truly stops, it just slows down. A cancer grows throughout their whole lives, letting them reach gigantic sizes with enough time and good access to food. The playful nature that most humans have during their childhood stays for cancers even in their adult lives.
Ecology and Habitats
Cancers require access to fresh water in the form of rivers or lakes. While they can live in saltwater, most highly prefer freshwater as it is much easier for them to filter it. They are also unable to directly drink from saltwater, differently from freshwater. Sandbanks and shallow water are best for them due to their limited ability to swim. Most of them live close to big rivers with a constant flow of water and near beaches that have flat access to the water.
While cancers naturally clean water, there is a limit to their abilities. Heavy industrial waste can't be cleaned and it can make cancers ill. That's why they prefer rivers with either no pollution or only a mild one to get access to byproducts while filtering the water.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Cancers are omnivores and they prefer all kinds of food that can be found either inside or near water. Many kinds of sea plants like seaweed forms the base of their food together with the plankton that they filter out of the water. A healthy population of cancers is able to keep any river and lake clear of dangerous levels of cyanobacteria and algae by just eating and filtering them out of their waters. Additionally, cancers enjoy the taste of fresh fish, which they hunt and eat raw. Due to their natural synergy with nature, they always try to keep a healthy population for all of their food sources around them, including algae, seaweed, or fish.
Behaviour
The love for clean waters is a very common trait under the cancers. The waters where they live are nearly always very clear and even drinkable through their filtering. This leads directly to their obsession with cleaning. May it be rivers, lakes, or even people or themselves. They like to have anything and everyone clean and free of any dirt. It is not uncommon that meeting a cancer leads to a bubbly cleaning session with them. Cancers also enjoy all forms of bubbles and spheres to a point that many trap each other or members of other species in their bubbles just for the fun of seeing them floating through the air.
People who throw garbage away, worse even in rivers or on beaches, are the natural enemies of the cancers and often will feel the revenge of the bubble crabs. There are many cases in which cancers raid illegal industrial facilities or waste dumbs near their rivers to prevent further pollution of their waters.
A natural enemy of the cancers are stairs, especially spiral staircases. Simply as they can’t climb them easily or even not at all.
Additional Information
Social Structure
Cancers live most often in smaller groups on the parts of their rivers. Depending on the size of their river or the lake, the exact number of cancers varies. Big lakes can easily hold colonies of several hundred, while most medium-sized rivers only have colonies of up to 10 individuals. Cancers have no social hierarchy or government system like humans. Alone their size of them let them naturally become more respected in their colonies due to their experiences and their strength.
A cancer colony will most often select a shore of a river or lake and begin building their homes there. These houses are often built into the ground with only a single floor and are often connected with the houses of other cancers. They use these as a place to rest. The doors and windows of them are made with soapy bubbles, allowing them to restrict access to their homes easily and control the flow of water. They are able to build their homes underwater while maintaining a dry inside, an air bubble, in their houses.
Cancers enjoy interacting with other species as long as they respect the water and its inhabitants. Most cancers that live close to human settlements operate cleaning services for them and help them to produce drinkable water with their filter abilities.
Uses, Products & Exploitation
Due to their water-filtering abilities, cancers are welcome at any river and lake around the world. Even nations that have very restricted access to non-human species, often allow smaller colonies of cancers around their rivers. While they are unable to clear heavy industrial waste, any mild pollution can be cleared by a healthy cancer population, allowing rivers to be naturally cleaned without much investment from the humans living close to them.
The soap and bubble production abilities of cancers allow them to trade with other species for goods they can't easily get themselves. Many enjoy the cleaning properties of their soaps and some even enjoy floating in their soapy bubbles during the night or for relaxing. There is a constant demand for products of cancers, giving them a very easy time in negotiating with other species.
Facial characteristics
Cancers always look young and fresh. Even while reaching higher ages, they maintain their young look and only grow in size. They often have colorful hair and eyes in many colors that are unnatural to humans like deep tones of green, blue, violet, or red.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Cancers live mostly close to water, that's why it is no big surprise that you can find them mostly along the big river in the Slimean Lands, the Rhine. Beaches and flat waters are their favorite place to be.
Some live in the underwater areas in the Goocaves of Slimea as well or in the old canalizations of the bigger towns of Slimea.
The by far biggest concentration and de facto capital of the cancers is Fürstenhude. The town lays at the union of the eastern and southern Rhine rivers. The place is known for its clear water and big sand banks that go in far in the river.
Neueisen is one of the towns where cancers are very rare as it is just too dangerous for them with the Pink Mist close on the beaches. Additionally, the big cliffs give them no easy access to their natural element.
Average Intelligence
Cancers are capable of average human intelligence, however, they do not often care to seek knowledge that doesn't pertain to their task of cleaning their surrounding area, including the exact positions of rivers and lakes around them, and living comfortably in their natural habitation. They enjoy simple, playful lifestyles. Most cancers enjoy their simple lives and have little desire to train their brains. Exceptions of their species exist which thrive to gain higher levels of wisdom similar to humans.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Cancers can see very well underwater. On dry land, cancers have slightly weaker sensory than most land dweller species. They have one unique sensory organ: the eyes of their shells. With this special organ, they can feel the special soap bubbles produced by their species and can control them. With the pores of their bodies, they also have an excellent feeling for the composition of the water around them, letting them quickly realize if toxins or dangerous substances are in the water.
Civilization and Culture
Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals
A typical job for a cancer is a job that includes cleaning things or places. Most of them work in cleaning jobs, may it be streets, beaches, water areas or people. The abilities of their bodies allow them to do these jobs extremely well. Some even offer to clean houses near the river, but only on the ground floor to avoid using staircases.
They are able to clean big surfaces in groups. For this, they release big amounts of Soap and bubbles and slide them over the surface with their bodies. People close should be careful not to slip on the soap or end up in a bubble as the cancers can clean themself in a drug-like stance where they clean anything that gets too close.
Many cancers offer their abilities to people as well. They are able to clean a human rather quickly, but often enough it takes long as they make a wonderful experience out of the cleaning process. Together with the mermaids they work in wellness centers all along the Rhine. The biggest of these wellness parks is the one in Fürstenhude.
In these wellness parks, they offer massages, cleaning services, bubble rides, soap and bubble baths, and other activities. Together with the abilities of the mermaids, like their singing, their control of bubbles, and the water, they make the best wellness and water parks in the world.
An example of a big attraction in Fürstenhude Wellness is the big bubble slide. It is an over 150m height waterslide in the core. Though, it is no water that is used here but the soap for the cancers. The human that slides down this slide will be cleaned while going down. At the end of the slide is no water pool but a giant bubble bath. The guest will be deep in this bath and comes out trapped in a giant soap bubble to fly around.
It is very especially popular with children and their parents.
The cleaning services that are offered in the wellness parks and privately from the cancers are very popular with a big portion of the population and are even mentioned in tourist guides. They use their soap to cover someone in it and then rub their bodies against the lucky person. It tickles and is often described as a pleasant experience in which the person will be fully freed of any dirt.
The service is often more a massage than a pure cleaning service. Be careful though about their bottom mouth, as getting too close will often lead to getting trapped in one of the outcoming bubbles.
Common Taboos
Producing too much industrial waste or dumbing garbage into their waters is a huge taboo for cancers. If they see a human polluting their river or lake, most will act instantly and trap the human in one of their bubbles to prevent further pollution by them. If there is no one requesting the release of the trapped person, it can happen that the cancer holds its prey capture for months or even years till they are sure that it will never pollute water again.
History
After the events of October 2020, which is often referred to as “Monstertober”, the researchers Naomi Yuki and Jyx Forger started experimentations on the samples they got from the event. Especially from one monster they could harvest good samples and that one was the bubble crab that terrorized the beach.
They saw that the river area and the beach which the cancer called its territory were extremely clean. The water had a better quality than some of the drinking sources in the mountains even.
These two facts combined led the researchers to the will to bring cancers back. Not only one but a race of cancers. After some weeks of research and experiments on volunteers, the two could finally create three cancer girls. Through the very unstable way of changing their serums, they came to the result that it is best when the cancers reproduce themselves and stopped the production of the serum.
The rest of the serum was used on selected volunteers that seemed to have the best chances, to create the first big wave of this new species. As the experiments were done in Fürstenhude, the cancers began referring to it as their natural home and the center of their species.
Over the next years, many nations around Earth have requested that cancer colonies are formed on the shores of their rivers to help with cleaning them of Human waste products. That made the cancers one of the very few species that spread rapidly around the whole planet.
Genetic Ancestor(s)
Scientific Name
Homo Sapiens Cancer
Lifespan
200 years
Average Height
2 m (females)
3 m (males)
Average Weight
120 - 180 kg
Average Physique
Cancers are strong and agile. While they may look clumsy and slow when they move forward or try to climb stairs, nobody should think that they could escape them near beaches or underwater. They can move very quickly sideways and underwater due to their strong legs. Their claws can easily rip apart even wood or soft metal and their shells are hard enough to withstand most non-piercing attacks up to small calibers of guns.
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Depending on the region, cancers vary in the color of their skin similar to Humans. Their shells are most often very colorful as they have no need to hide from predators in their natural habitats.
Geographic Distribution
Discovered by
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