Mordax et al

Dersites are roughly humanoid, each possessing a torso, head, two arms, two legs, hands, feet, fingers and toes. Beyond that however, they come in a wide array of shapes and sizes with much greater variation than humans have; it is not uncommon to see Dersites anywhere from two feet to nine or ten feet tall, as well as some having bodies that would seem oddly proportioned to a human– too wide, too skinny, enormous shoulders, lack of hips/torso definition, wider than they are tall, etc.

Each Dersite’s body is mostly covered with a half-inch to inch thick shell made of a chitin-like substance. This shell, or carapace is quite strong, shiny, and resistant to injury, though it can be dulled or marked. Because Dersites do not grow in size during their life the carapace is not typically moulted except in cases of extreme injury. Instead the resilient shell is kept through all of the Dersite’s long life. (More on shell care in another post).

The shell is quite resistant towards most kinds of stimuli, including heat and cold. Pain is not felt generally unless the shell is deeply cracked, or the tissue beneath it is bruised. Pressure is felt to a degree– Dersites can tell when they are being touched, but the sensation is dulled in contrast to a touch on human skin; more comparable to if one were touched while wearing layers of thick leather. The shell is not subject to tickling, or itching or any other small sensations requiring a delicate sense of touch.

Parts of the dersite body not covered by this shell are the joints of limbs (shoulders, wrists thighs, ankles), and joints of digits, the backs of the knees and elbows, the central stomach, genitals, inner thighs and lower buttocks. The back of the neck is partially plated, and the front ringed to allow for full movement while still affording protection. The face, palms of the hands, fingertips, and arches of the feet are shell covered, but here the shell is thinner than on the main body to a large degree (and thus equally more sensate). The chest, back, limbs and skull are of course the most heavily plated areas.

Places uncovered by shell– colloquially termed ‘joints’, even when referring to the stomach and other areas– are much more sensitive than the carapace, and indeed generally more sensitive than human skin to all stimuli. They are considered erogenous zones, and harsh stimulation can be quite painful, therefore touching them is considered a very familiar or rude gesture. Joints in Dersites are a paler or darker grey color, depending on the individual, with a slight tinge of pink due to blood. When Dersites blush it is seen at the joints. In my personal opinion the contrast between hard shell and grooved joints makes them look rather like china dolls.