5 – Hybrid Biology

• A Comment on Mentality
• A Comment on Code
• Account Creation
• Syncs and Bleed
• Transition to Between
• Eggs
• Address
• Spawnlings
• Early Levels
• Vision
• Moon Phases
• Hearts
• Respawning
• Variants
• Chimeras
• Skins
• Dressing in a Skin
• Pixel Manipulation
• A Comment on Experience (XP)

See also, Chapter 2 – “The Digital World” & Chapter 3 – “An Overview of Hybrids”

A Comment on Mentality

Before discussing the life cycle, I wish to underscore the concept that Minecraft is a game, played by outside individuals who interact with this world through avatar characters. If this is true, then I am describing the biology of those who exist in this world and not in a world beyond; perhaps player avatar would be an acceptable term. While a spawnling is a newly created player in this world, I feel the term “newly created” rather than “newborn” is critical. The spawnling is created perhaps with knowledge of its outside player, or rather an early understanding of who its creator intends it to be.

However, the spawnling hatches without knowledge of its world. Between is a realm that exists away from the eyes of these “outside players,” or so I’ve been told. A spawnling may hatch with a child-like mindset, that of an adult in their prime, or even that of a world-weary individual. These mindsets may influence the spawnling’s interactions with the world once the spawnling ceases to be a spawnling and is capable of walking and communicating on its own. However, a freshly hatched spawnling is helpless and requires caregiving, regardless of what its mindset will be once it becomes more aware of itself and its world.

A Comment on Code

The player is not built from flesh, but from lines of information: 1s and 0s, letters and numbers. This is what flows beneath skin, carrying tiny packets of information through the soul. The soul is a bright blue and glows with energy, giving it an ethereal appearance. Souls do show hybrid traits, but are always considered humanoid (i.e. biped) because they need to fit inside a hybrid’s skin. Free-cam forms are a weaker and more ethereal embodiment of the soul and are always mob-shaped.

• Related: Tower Avatar
  • Minecraft Wiki

Code can be saved, modified, and transported. Some information cannot be modified as it is considered part of a player’s source code. For example, one’s appearance can be adjusted so they resemble another species, but the species they were born as cannot be edited by hybrid hands.

Code is strongest when a body is newly respawned, but it’s at risk of damage from strains, cuts, and sun exposure. It will grow stagnant over time, meaning it does not flow swiftly through the body. This can reduce one’s ability to sprint, hold breath underwater, heal, and the individual may require more frequent rests. Within 2-3 days, the player will become less aware of their surroundings, less quick to react, and may make judgment errors in physical, social, and emotional situations. Code needs time to repair, and can most efficiently do so while the body and mind are both resting.

• Sleeping (i.e. turning off the mind and ceasing excessive movement of the body) allows the code to strengthen again. Most hybrids sleep for at least a few hours every 3 days, but doing so requires access to the Overworld. Sleep is not possible in the Nether, End, or Between

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Account Creation

The spark of account creation will bring a newly formed player into existence. This player will awake in one of many thousands of world seeds that exist in the multiverse. This initial server is often called the player’s starter world. The player is in the creation state, where they are absorbing energy, but are not considered whole.

• I cannot personally comment on the experience of being “born a player.” Firstly, I am classed as a spectator rather than a player, and secondly, I had an abnormal arrival into this world.

From what I understand, this newly formed avatar feeds on the energy of the “outside player” who created it (or rather, the energy of the player who guides it through the world). It is uncommon, but not unheard of, for a newly formed soul to latch onto the energy of more than one individual.

I think of the card games I’ve played across the years. On occasion, a party outside the game may observe over one’s shoulder, or commentate on the happenings of the game. Perhaps a child may be seated in one’s lap while they play. I imagine situations like this could cause a newly formed soul to feed on the energy of more than one person, as it seems energy can be drawn from anyone the new soul considers “attached to the account,” or at least “present” while in this early state.

• If this world is a game, I cannot imagine it is possible for those who exist within it to cause physical harm or energy drainage to those outside. Perhaps a term such as “energy sharing” would be more accurate

The newly formed soul collects the energy it draws and uses it to stand, balance, and move its limbs. This energy remains with the avatar for as long as the outside player is providing their influence and energy.

Syncs and Bleed

A newly formed player acts as the eyes and hands of an outside individual (e.g. Outsiders) engaging with the Minecraft game. During this time, the avatar player draws energy through the bond they have with the Outsider who guides them. This is known as a sync.

The sync not only allows the player to draw energy, but to connect on a spiritual level with the one who guides them. As the Outsider engages with the game, they create a concept for their avatar character (often without intending to). Perhaps they play a character who is gentle towards mobs. Perhaps one who is quick to kill them. Perhaps the player loves to build, or prefers adventuring without taking the time to settle down. Over many sessions of play, the sync between worlds will influence what type of person the avatar character becomes. The attitudes they absorb are known as character bleed.

• Alternate terms include creator bleed (which typically refers to early-day influence), player bleed (a general term, sometimes favored as accounts can change hands and leave their initial creators), and emotion bleed (which often refers to reactions in the moment). However, these terms are largely interchangeable

Archivist’s Note – [Minor Series Spoilers]
– In the Pixels Imperfect universe, Martyn | InTheLittleWood had his sync with IRL Martyn snipped early on, implying IRL Martyn is emotionally separated from his character… presumably for the purpose of putting the little guy through The Horrors of his lore. Martyn had to teach himself to walk without feeding on IRL Martyn’s energy. Supposedly, he doesn’t know his creator has kids, but occasionally feels the influence of Martyn’s daughter when she’s sitting in his lap watching him play… and may consider her his actual creator.

– Some characters fear “ending up like Martyn” and will purposely mimic the influence of their creators even if it goes against their own preferences; this is a nod to Etho’s Let’s Play Episode 580, minute 39 where he said he preferred the blue armor trim, but felt his character would rather have the white. Later, Etho is seen wearing the blue. In Dog’s Life, Etho struggles with his wish to do what he’s asked (i.e. never change his skin) when he longs to shop for pajamas like his friends. How scandalous.

Transition to Between

Following a session of online play, the connection to the outside world withdraws. This leaves a newborn spawnling weakened. Lacking outside energy to draw from, they must sit or lie down as they haven’t yet gathered the strength to function on their own.

Account creation will prompt a newly created soul to “lock onto” the hybrid species they will be born as, which is believed to be the egg that has existed longest without a soul inside it (i.e. the next egg in line in the order they were laid by the dragons). Eggs are laid and hatch so frequently that it is not possible to confirm this, and some outside influence may also play into the final species selection. In any case, eggs that have waited longer will gain their souls before those that came later.

At this time, there is energy present in the egg. It will not hatch until the online player completes the first logout, which may be hours or potentially days (though hours are more likely). If the egg remains in a state to receive the hybrid soul – Again, it is kept warm and safe within a loaded chunk – then the newly created soul that linked to the egg will hatch as a hybrid. If the egg is left in an unloaded chunk, is trapped in a very small space, or grows cold, it is not suitable for a hybrid.

If the original egg is not suitable, the newly formed soul will latch onto a different egg, which may be a different species than the first. The cold, possibly ignored egg will hatch a mob in lieu of the hybrid that did not hatch.

• In other words, the soul is not present in the egg until the moment before it hatches. There is a sense of energy, but even if you believe you’ve cared for the egg well, it is possible the hybrid will not complete the transition (For example, a hybrid soul may skip over a cracked egg as it is not deemed suitable).
• It’s widely believed the soul isn’t fully aware of itself in this transition between worlds, as it has been newly snipped from its outside player’s energy. It is essentially a newborn that has no experience being a newborn. However, some believe the soul can also choose to reject a species if it doesn’t like the option initially presented to it. There is not a good way to research this theory at this time.

Because they are newly formed, they have not yet developed the internal energy stores that will allow their body to function offline in the future. An attentive dragon will detect the fading of energy and click or sing through the portal, signaling the weak player to remove themselves from the world they sit in by “logging out.” If a portal is difficult to reach, singing to the soul crystal is also possible.

• In the absence of a dragon, other forms of high-pitched clicking or very low-pitched singing can be used to signal an online spawnling. It is advised one researches the type of noise the dragon makes to ensure the spawnling will not be confused or receive mixed signals (Ex: a skeleton hybrid is not likely to log off if they hear the sounds of wolves).

Eggs

Hybrids cannot produce hybrid offspring. Rather, all hybrids are born of dragons, who form them in the belly with the atoms and milk they feed on. The spawn egg is laid near the soul spawner. A dragon does not seem able to lay eggs away from their own spawner, similar to the way a Deny field does not allow eggs to be placed elsewhere. It is possible to place the egg of another dragon near the wrong soul spawner, but this will not override the species the spawn egg will hatch.

Dragons do not differentiate the value of a soul between hybrids and mobs; they will nourish both. Some dragons (particularly those with large clutches) seem to purposely split their clutches by favoring some  (i.e. keeping some in loaded chunks) and ignoring others (i.e. moving them to unloaded chunks or burying them in the cool underground). Dragons do not split their clutches by choosing “quality” eggs to hatch into hybrids and “lesser” eggs to become mobs. Again, dragons do not seem to care for status, but simply seem pleased if their offspring survive.

Each species is built differently. Some are considered mammals while others are not. Some eggs, especially those of aquatic species, have a goopy feel to them and look translucent. These may tear rather than crack during the hatching period.

Typically, a hybrid hatches by kicking its eggshell or poking through it with temporary dragon-like claws and horns, which will fall from their body shortly after hatching. Hatching can take minutes or hours depending on the remaining energy in the hybrid. A dragon or another caretaker may help brush bits of eggshell from the spawnling. Brushes are advised; force is discouraged.

Address

I prefer the term “address” to refer to a hybrid’s name. However, many of my peers prefer the term username, which fits the gameplay aesthetic they are so fond of.

To my understanding, the username is selected entirely by forces outside of hybrid control (and even dragon control). In most cases, the player is the first one to latch onto the newly created account, which means the name is given to them. Their spectator half (which you may recall is sometimes called “a camera”) is assigned a name that mirrors them. A player named Turnip100 may have a spectator twin named TurnipCam, or perhaps Turnip_Cam, or TurnipCam_100; names must not overlap the username of another hybrid (although they can sometimes be claimed if the old player has been wiped off the record).

• In some cases, the spectator may be the firstborn of the pair. In this case, the player may be the one to receive the mirrored name: for instance, Turnip_Gamer or TurnipPlays.

An individual spectating on the ethereal plane exists in a translucent state, which is reflected in the grayed-out name on their communicator. Skinless individuals also make a mental shift to the ethereal plane and have gray names until they dress again.

Spawnlings

While the term spawnling could technically include newly hatched mobs, mobs are called “babies” while the term “spawnling” is reserved for hybrids. A spawnling is a hybrid with next to no experience points (i.e. XP). They are too weak to transition back to their servers on their own. Once the spawnling hatches, it will stay near the nest until flooded with energy from the outside player returning to engage with the game of Minecraft. While flooded with this outside player’s energy (through the sync-cord), the spawnling can walk, mine blocks, consume food, and interact with items. However, once this energy fades, the spawnling is once again weak and unable to provide for itself; it takes time to build enough XP to control the body without being fed energy through the sync cord.

• To better explain this part of the life cycle, I suggest envisioning a hybrid as having two separate bodies, which the soul changes between when transitioning between the online and offline states (with an additional body for each new world). For example, the player may logout with an empty belly, or in the process of drowning or burning on their server. However, their Between body may have a full belly at that time and find itself resting in a safe environment.
• The soul maintains memories and conscious thought between worlds; it shifts between one body at a time.

A newly hatched spawnling is a soul with no skin. Having no skin leaves it vulnerable to attack and illness, so a dragon will nourish and shelter it in these early days. The spawnling leaves the egg with a hard, white crystal in its chest, much like an end crystal. It’s known as the soul crystal, or sometimes player file. The crystal is a packet of information that will later be absorbed by a server core (i.e. through its roots). For now, it sticks in the spawnling’s chest as the mark of a newborn that hasn’t weaned.

• The crystal is kept in the soul slot. Its contact with the body allows the spawnling to transition online when called to a “play state” by the outside world. When the spawnling has weaned, the crystal will unlatch from the chest. After this, the player can equip an item there, as the soul slot becomes the only inventory slot the player has in the Between dimension.
• The player file contains core information about the hybrid. For example, it tracks physical development, applied mods, and aspects of creator bleed that translate into physical form (such as a very specific hair style that the outside player has deemed correct for their avatar’s design).
• Player files are further detailed in Chapter 6 – “Server Hubs” and Chapter 7 – “The Soul”

In this world, spawnlings are born blue. The soul appears to be slime-like and encased within a vessel membrane, which gives it shape. The membrane has a lot of give while the player is new to the world, and they won’t grow into their full shape until they’re a much higher level. The spawnling will gradually produce a white layer called chalaza, which will allow a skin to attach to the soul (i.e. without small parts slipping) after they wean.

Spawnlings are born blind as they have lens caps covering their eyes; eyes seem to be firm rather than squishy and allow the hybrid to adjust their vision settings (such as quickly adjusting to dark environments or zooming in on objects for away). These lens caps can be forcibly removed, but it’s widely recommended they not be touched until the spawnling gains enough XP to build their dexterity and remove them on their own. Removing them early can lead to eye or memory damage. A spawnling is a fragile newborn that lacks both the mentality and size it will adopt as it grows. Many spawnlings suckle from the bellies of their mother dragons, though some absorb nutrients in a different way, such as filter feeding or allofeeding.

Sometimes, conditions that seem poor will still be enough to spawn a hybrid, who may suffer from lack of nourishment. A newly hatched hybrid almost always lacks the ability to care for itself, though onlookers (such as other players or even wild mobs) may choose to care for it. Souls do not generally take damage and die, but very young spawnlings have not yet built their resistance. They are likely to die from injury, cold, or starvation. When this happens, the hybrid will respawn near the soul spawner, which is likely closer to the attention of its mother dragon than where it died. Some hybrids end up raised by mobs more than by their dragon mother. Survival varies depending on the species’ individual needs.

• Hybrids can be raised by other hybrids, but must be bottle-fed, spoon-fed, or allofed (either mouth to mouth or with the help of tools such as funnels). Hybrids cannot naturally produce a substitute for dragon milk and must brew or trade for it
• Mobs do produce milk, but theirs is very thin as it’s meant for nourishing baby mobs. Hybrids need a thicker, fuller substance. However, mob milk does provide a decent base for a more complicated mixture

Dragons care for spawnlings, but favor their own above other species; most do not take well to fostering as that requires investing resources in another’s offspring instead of their own. Caretaking includes sheltering the spawnling from the elements, providing nourishment, grooming them with tongues to eliminate excess data, and teaching them skills such as swimming or flying. Some dragons may be highly attentive to their offspring while others provide very basic care. Generally, dragons are motivated to ensure the survival of their offspring (mobs and hybrids alike) and will attack creatures or structures they perceive as a threat.

Early Levels

Experience points (XP) cannot transfer between worlds, including into the Between dimension. Newly formed players begin life in a weakened low-level state. As the spawnling feeds, its XP levels will increase, which unlocks more dexterity, strength, and awareness of surroundings. While attentiveness and caregiving does vary between dragons, most seem determined to feed and care for their offspring until they wean. Caretaking includes offering warmth, food, and shelter.

Soon, the spawnling will open its eyes, learn to walk, and even take itself off mute so it may speak. The soul crystal will push free of the body at this time, similar to the way young children in my world lost their baby teeth. Much like a tooth, the crystal cannot be returned to the chest area once removed.

Once the spawnling has removed its crystal and lens caps, it’s ready to wear a skin. Forcing the spawnling into the skin too soon may cause them to respawn as their crystal becomes jostled or overheated. Additionally, forcing a hood over the head of a spawnling would prevent it from removing its lens caps. Starter skins should not be applied until the spawnling’s body is ready. In fact, a spawnling should only be touched with clean blankets or gloves so avoid cross-contamination, as the exposed soul is fragile and easily made sick.

• Dragons are adept at removing grit from a spawnling’s gooey soul with their tongues. Dragons have rough, spine-coated tongues. I’ve seen traders sell brushes in a similar design for caretakers. Similar brushes seem to be common bathing items to eliminate contamination.

Dragons will lay soul crystals near the roots of server cores, or sometimes move a spawnling near the server core if they sense the crystal is close to falling out. Spawnlings who are raised away from dragons should have their crystals brought to server cores when possible, as this will allow them the ability to go online. Previously, the crystal’s connection with the spawnling allowed them to transition online and offline easily. Now that they are separated, the player cannot access the many worlds unless the crystal is plugged in.

• At this point, the spawnling should be able to walk on its own, as well as mine blocks and craft items. Some may be able to feed themselves. Some may still find the word “spawnling” appropriate in this state. Similar terms include “newbie” and “low-XP individual.”

Nearly all aquatic species are born able to breathe underwater, though exceptions do exist (such as dolphins, which require air). Their mother dragon may teach them to swim in these early years. The swimming process may involve searching for food, using sonar, and riding currents. Young dolphin hybrids may learn to leap above the surface between levels 10 and 20.

Winged individuals fledge in their early levels, generally between levels 10 and 15:

• Avians (such as parrots, toucans, and raven hybrids) shed their down and grow longer feathers
• Allay may take interest in nearby objects and climb or fly to reach them
• Blaze, breeze, and vex stop clinging to their mother dragon and practice with their wings
• Phantoms and striders grow stronger muscles

Most flying species can glide by level 25, though continuous practice is required to build strength and agility in this area.

Vision

By level 20, most if not all spawnlings should be able to toggle their vision to different views (meaning they can even see behind them without turning their heads). They should also know how to zoom their vision and adjust brightness levels (not to mention increase and decrease their ability to pick up sounds around them).

All hybrids have long, flat tapes inside their heads, called film (sometimes camera film or memory film). Around this time, most spectator accounts have learned to capture memories of their surroundings, which can be played back to themselves and others at a later time. Some player accounts also choose to develop this ability, though many see little value in recording memories of their early life, especially when they have not yet experienced a long lifetime of forgetfulness.

• Further reading: Portfolio
  • Minecraft Wiki

• Memories can be stored in a portfolio; most movies are transported in these and similar types of data packets
• In the sport of competitive camming, each team must present a portfolio of clips (taken by recording events in the arena and edited for appeal) to a panel of judges for review
• Spectators can pass memories among each other freely (splicing the film to limit disruption). Allay are the only species of player that can do this with natural abilities
• Memories can be forcefully cut or taken with tools such as scissors

Simple depiction of a hybrid’s brain

– Recorded information is preserved as film, which wraps the brain and acts as a cushion in absence of a solid skull

– Note the representation of a lever that swings between mob-dominant and human-dominant reasoning with the moon phases. Hybrid Behavior is further discussed in Chapter 8

Between levels 20 and 40, most spectators practice their ability to phase through solid blocks and crawl inside a player’s head to share their recordings and rest their bodies. By level 50, many are adept at these things. Spectators often struggle to walk on solid ground as they are not beholden to gravity in the way that players are, which may explain why they spend their early levels developing their eyesight rather than their walking strength.

• F3 – A state of awareness of one’s immediate surroundings, such as the biome one is in, the direction one is facing, and one’s position in the world (Ex: X, Y, Z values)
• F5 – A shorthand for “360° vision toggles.” As with F3, I am unfamiliar with the origin of this term
• Shaders – An adjustment to the lenses of the eyes that emphasizes details in the world, such as the way light filters through the trees or reflects on water
• Render Distance – As far as one can see from their current position, including if they were to turn and look behind them
• Line of Sight – An unblocked path between a person and what they’re looking at (while facing forward)
• Free-camming – The ability of a player to push their consciousness away from their body and into the surrounding world. The free-cam state takes the form of the mob the hybrid shares their traits with. The free-cam may roam the world, but is limited by gravity and collision the way a player body is (i.e. lacking the freedom of a spectator-born soul). Players who die on a hardcore world are sent into the free-cam state. Only cameras can enter the true spectator state.

Moon Phases

The full moon empowers mobs by strengthening those spawned while it’s in the sky. Mobs may spawn with a variety of “moon blessings” (i.e. positive status effects) during this time. One of the most dangerous to an on-world player is that of invisibility, which can make it difficult to fend off a hostile mob. In Between, the moon’s phases affect both hybrid biology and behavior. Behavior is discussed in a later chapter, and biology is best described in terms of visible mob traits.

• Mob Traits – May include behavior, but in this situation refers to visible aspects of a mob’s biology that did not evolve to exist on a hybrid but are present anyway; they may be beneficial (such as in the case of wings, claws, or fangs) or largely decorative (such as mob ears or tails)
• Mob Behavior – Actions a mob may take that hybrids are less inclined to under a new moon, such as growling, biting, aggroing, avoiding light, or acting highly skittish
• Coverage – Patches of fur, feathers, scales, hide, or similar body material. Coverage primarily shows on the chest area, but can sometimes show on the arms, cheeks, stomach, back, and/or legs.

The moon phases include:

• 🌑 New – 0 to 1 visible mob traits; may seem fully or nearly fully human (Some born under the new moon may not be certain what species they are); shows minimal mob behavior
• 🌒 Waxing Crescent – 1 or 2 visible mob traits. Usually, this means a light patch of coverage and one additional trait, such as wings, claws, or a tail. Shows little mob behavior.
• 🌓 First Quarter – Shows 2 to 4 visible mob traits. May show medium patches of coverage. Likely to have wings, fins, fangs, and a tail if relevant. May have claw-tipped fingers without talon-tipped toes, or facial coverage without mob ears, or mob ears without facial coverage. Generally there’s a sense of only half the traits being there, so you often see hybrids who look human from the waist up and like hybrids from the waist down.
• 🌔 Waxing Gibbous – Shows at least 5 visible mob traits (i.e. a coverage area and/or additional traits). Large patches of coverage along with traits like wings, tails, fangs, claw-tipped fingers, and talon-tipped toes. Shows a decent amount of mob behavior
• 🌕 Full – Shows so many mob traits that they resemble a bipedal, hybrid-sized mob, with minor exceptions (Ex: they might have coverage everywhere except on the face). Large amount of mob behavior
• 🌖 Waning Gibbous – Shows at least 4 visible mob traits. Shows large patches of coverage. Likely to show “big” traits like fins, wings, and tails, but likely to lack “small” traits (such as fangs, mob ears, claw-tipped fingers, or talon-tipped toes). Shows some mob behavior, but the moon influence is not as strong for those born on the waning side compared to the waxing side.
• 🌗 Third Quarter – Shows 2 to 4 visible mob traits. Likely to have a tail or wings if relevant. Possibly has claw-tipped fingers or mob ears, but lacks all coverage (meaning no random tufts of fur or feathers). Shows little mob behavior
• 🌘 Waning Crescent – 1 or 2 visible mob traits such as fins, wings, or a tail. Never shows coverage, claws, or mob ears. Shows minimal mob behavior

Sample moon phase variants using a breeze hybrid as reference

Archivist’s Note – [Minor Series Spoilers]
– Throughout most of the Pixels Imperfect series, Etho is in his third quarter form, where his soul naturally has a tail, claws, and ears. Notably, he modded his ears off so they don’t visibly appear on his form. However, they’re still part of his soul. In other words, you can mod the visual body appearance, but not the soul’s source code.

– The soul version of Etho’s ears crackle up (glowing blue) when he’s instinctively moving to prick them or lay them flat (See Dog’s Life Chapter 9, Chap. 31, the image for Chapter 32, and Chapter 35). The ears are still there… They’re just not in their “skin sleeves,” so they fizzle through his scalp and appear as glowing things instead of solid things. Etho also bites his nails to trim them down, citing this as his “Me time” when asked.

– Etho’s physical ears returned (i.e. no longer modded off) in “I Love You (You’re Obsessed)”

– Scott and Scar are both allay souls. Following the Allay Dragon’s death, their next deaths in Between will be their perma-deaths, meaning they can never again change their variant code by respawning (although they can make some tweaks at the coding table). Scott is permanently in his waxing crescent form; his two coverage areas are chest “feathers” and glittery hair; his visible trait is wings.

– Scar is in his third quarter form: No coverage (as in, no glittery or feathery bits). His traits are wings and long fingers (for yoinking things). When he became a vex, Scar was still a third quarter spawn. He gained fangs and sharp fingernails, but no vex claws (because he was already showing the long-fingered trait).

The above descriptions and images are examples, but not necessarily the rule. For instance, zombies are more human in appearance when spawned beneath a new moon, but will show more signs of rot if spawned beneath a full moon. Zombies spawned beneath the full moon may have fewer body parts (i.e. mob traits) instead of more.

When a player dies in the Between dimension, they respawn in the form that matches the current moon cycle. Those who first hatched under a full moon tend to have larger fins, longer tails, and wider wingspans by default, but even those who hatched while the moon had less of a pull can increase their traits with enough XP dedicated to those traits.

• Those who spawn beneath the three waxing moon phases (and the full moon) tend to favor mob instincts in their behavior (such as stalking, chasing, and tackling; alternatively grazing and foraging). Those who spawn beneath the three waning moon phases (and the new moon) tend to favor tools (such as traps, eating utensils, and farming equipment)
• Soul-twins are linked. They will always be first spawned under the same moon phase (with rare exceptions when one twin hatches just before midnight and the second minutes after). If one soul-twin dies in the Between dimension while the other is on a server, only one soul-twin will die and respawn. This may de-sync them from aligning with the same moon phase

A hybrid respawned beneath a specific moon phase has this data embedded in their code. This means the degree of trait expression must be modified at the coding table rather than changed with a skin design (See below). Ex: A skeleton hybrid respawned beneath the full moon can wear a skin that adds more shape to the body, but white stripes patterned like bones (usually raised off the skin) will be present nonetheless. Mods are required to accurately adjust one’s moon trait presentation.

Hearts

All hybrids are born with 10 hearts– Small data centers which push code around the body, keeping it active and limiting the coagulation that causes it to grow stagnant. As the body becomes damaged (usually physically, but sometimes emotionally), the hearts stop pumping (as swiftly as a toggled switch) one at a time. This reduces the likelihood of pushing the soul out through open wounds; the soul is much more fragile than the skin and should be kept within the vessel membrane.

Hearts are strong and not usually damaged long-term, even though heart beats that grow too slow (Ex: when freezing or stuck in slime) can lead to death. The chest is one of the most sensitive and vulnerable parts of the body. Cuddling with your skin off (soul exposed) is considered intimate as your partner could touch and potentially damage your hearts with enough pressure or poking. Many people enjoy the intimacy of skinless cuddles, though without skins, they may not feel many physical sensations besides the temperature of their partner’s soul.

A hybrid’s skin (which is made of pixels) flares red when damaged. This occurs when all the hearts pulse and evaluate the body to determine how many (if any) need to be switched off for safety. If you hit another hybrid with a weapon or body part (such as a smacking hand or kicking foot) in a way that causes the damage-checking sensation to ripple through the skin without actually causing enough damage to flare the body red, this is often called a love-tap,

• Love-tap – A non-verbal form of communication that involves expressing affection or an attitude of play towards another person. Often used to escalate situations from despondent or neutral towards affectionate (such as tapping to comfort a friend who dropped their desert on the floor or congratulate a friend who just won an award) or deescalate situations to avoid tension (such as tapping to indicate you still value your friend’s opinion even if you aren’t going to follow a suggestion they made, or tapping to indicate good sportsmanship after a fight)

Tapping can be a nonverbal signal during sparring or roleplay to signal participants and onlookers that your actions are in play, not aggression. For example, fight roleplay may involve a slap or punch to the face. A single barehanded hit should cause little damage if it connects, and may cause less than half a heart of damage. Even many hits in succession can be a way of buffeting someone back (often in jest) without intending harm. Individuals love-tapping in this way are expressing play behavior, so an outsider interfering may be a social norm violation.

• Some definitions of “love-tap” may include causing damage, so context clues – such as knowing the participants have been close friends for many years – are helpful

Archivist’s Note – [Minor Series Spoilers]
– In Chapter 5 of “Here’s to the Health of Married Men,” Grian and Scar hear a slapping noise. When they turn, Martyn is staggering with a hand clapped to one cheek, but Cleo then whispers in his ear. Scar and Grian hang back for a moment, then decide to intervene. When they do, Martyn and Cleo look at them in confusion. After a brief banter between Scar and Grian, Martyn strongly suggests they leave.

Only after Martyn’s warning do Scar and Grian realize they’ve “ruined the mood of the scene,” so to speak. After they retreat, Grian gripes that he wishes there was a signal to indicate when someone’s roleplaying vs. when there should be interference; he complains Impulse intervened for him and Scar when they were fighting, but he doesn’t understand why it was wrong to interfere with Cleo and Martyn when they also seemed to be fighting. Cleo and Martyn were signaling properly with love-taps, but Grian and Scar were facing the other way and didn’t see it, leading Grian to interpret something neutral as aggression (because that’s sort of his thing as a character).

– Notably, in Chapter 4, Impulse intervened in a fight between Grian and Scar where they were shoving and yelling. Although they weren’t causing damage, Impulse correctly clocked them as not giving each other proper love-taps, meaning they weren’t indicating to anyone that this was roleplay (and it wasn’t). Impulse separated them and told them to walk it off.

This is one of the core issues Grian and Scar have once Double Life SMP starts: Grian ribs into Scar using phrases like “Why does everyone get a real partner except me?” He dunks on Scar’s ideas (like the panda sanctuary), but never uses love-taps, hugs, cuddles, or laughs to indicate if he’s playing, which is emotionally hard on Scar since he wants to confront him but is afraid to do so. Grian is a foreigner to this world (like Herobrine in this piece) and doesn’t quite “get” love-taps, so a lot of his communication attempts can grow tense fast. He tends to gravitate towards people like BigB: someone perceptive who reads his behavior as playful teasing despite how harsh some of his line deliveries can be.

– Tango gave Jimmy several love-taps at the start of “Shack Up Like It’s Summer 2022.” When it comes to signaling intentions, Tango is all-in. After all, he’s a blaze hybrid and they’re a communal species. Those with social instincts tend to tap more freely than those with territorial/solitary instincts, who are often more guarded. Solitary individuals may favor love taps only for close friends, family, or their mate.

Hearts, which are part of the soul, can suffer soul damage– or, emotional damage that cuts so deep, the individual cannot let go of their hurt (See also, Chapter 7 – “The Soul”). This kind of damage can lead to jolts (frequent minor glitches). Most soul damage stops at this point. However, if negative feelings such as disgust and hatred fester too deeply and for many years, it can lead to shattered hearts, which are not easily repaired.

• The main cause of such damage is a trust violation: vulnerability was extended and was not returned, leaving the one who offered it to experience feelings of “once bitten, twice shy.” If not honestly examined and worked through (or at least around), these feelings can become haunting and traumatic, leading to permanent damage
• NOTE – Cutting film (memories) from the head may remove thoughts about what happened, but will not allow the individual to work through their feelings and move past them

Hearts can be modified while on servers (either up or down). This can alter the play experience while on-world. However, they cannot be modified in Between as they are part of the source code (which is why damage is not easily repaired).

• To put another way, shattered hearts can only be healed by the individual recognizing what happened and moving past it- outside modification is not possible.

Respawning

As with the Nether and The End dimensions, a player cannot use a bed to change their spawn point in Between. When a player dies, they will respawn at their soul spawner, which is likely in or near their mother dragon’s nest. The following things occur:

• The hybrid’s vessel body dissolves at its current location, leaving behind any gear they were wearing and an item the equivalent mob would drop at death
• A death message pings the communicators plugged into the server hub where their soul crystal is plugged in. The death message is followed by the words “PLAYER returned home”
• The soul-twin immediately dies, as they are linked (See Chapter 2 – “The Digital World”); exception being if the soul-twin is on a server instead of in Between
• The dimension processes the hybrid’s data. The hybrid reforms according to the information stored in their soul crystal, which contains their core information. Some mods that were placed on the original body may not carry over to the new one depending on their complexity and whether they required the hybrid to have a certain moon-influenced body type. If a soul is badly damaged or infected, there may be delays in the respawn or serious problems with the new body
• Within minutes or hours, the player and spectator reform at their spawners (which may be the same or different). They maintain the item equipped to their soul slot instead of dropping it
• The moon phase determines the level of hybrid traits the new body will show
• A random number generator (RNG) determines the player’s color variation, if applicable to their species (Possibly the same as the one they had before)
• Health and hunger are fully restored
• Minor injuries (including scratches, burns, and sun-tanned skin) are reset to default
• Some modifications (“mods”) may suffer loose code or may unravel completely

In Between, one’s levels are not reset to 0 after death. The player does not lose their XP or skills; rather, XP is distributed between skills without diminishing

Variants

Many hybrids can spawn in multiple variants. Cats, wolves, parrots, horses, sheep, foxes, slimes, and axolotls are examples known for their color variation. Golems can be respawned as a different material while spiders may respawn as standard, cave, icy, or bone variants. The Rotten Dragon produces the eggs for zombies, drowned, and husks, and her offspring may respawn as any of the three. The variants of each species are listed in future chapters.

As with moon phases, a hybrid respawned as a specific variation has that data embedded in their code. This means the traits associated with this variation must be modified at the coding table rather than changed with a skin design (See below).

• Ex: A parrot hybrid respawned with dark blue feathers can put on a skin with wing sleeves in another color. However, their code will forcibly express the dark blue coloration over the top of this skin design. Mods are required to adjust one’s variant traits

Some hybrids adapt to whichever variant form they are given and wear it until the next time they respawn. Others may immediately pick a fight with someone in their nesting hub (or jump from a high place, or drown) in an attempt to quickly regain a form they’re familiar with.

Wing placement is an example of intraspecific variation. That is, a trait that varies between hybrids, but is neither species-specific nor moon-specific. Hybrids whose hair does not reflect their mob traits are another excellent example of this phenomenon: hair can come in many colors without the influence of mob code.

Intraspecific variation seems to be tied to one’s personal biology (or rather, their UUID, to use my peers’ terminology). Hybrids that spawn (or respawn) under a new moon, when the moon’s influence over mob traits is weakest, will not display wings. However, no matter which moon phase the hybrid respawns under, each hybrid will always show their wings in the same placement. Wings can be tweaked somewhat at the coding table, but my understanding is that placement is embedded in source code and cannot be accurately altered. However, I believe hybrids without wing data in their source code can select placement while modifying their code, as their wings are not embedded in their source.

The three wing placements on a hybrid:

Shoulder (Common), Waist (Uncommon), and Ankle (Rare)

Chimeras

On rare occasion, a hybrid may be born a chimera: a hybrid that received strong species-related input from multiple sources which came into conflict. From what I understand, this is usually caused by multiple Outsiders influencing the early hours of a spawnling’s life. However, some researchers hold that a hybrid does have some ability to select its species and chimeras result when opinions between hybrid and Outsider directly conflict (as opposed to an Outsider having little or no opinion).

A chimera has the soul of a single mob, but may show traits and behaviors that belong to other species.

Archivist’s Note – [Minor Series Spoilers]
– My upcoming ‘fic “Collector’s Fee” follows fox hybird Rhetoric caring for the chimera spawnling SnifferMyFeet, who refused to suckle because he had conflicting instincts telling him to seek food the way a sniffer does: by gaping his mouth and waiting for allofeeding. Pixels Sniff gets his endermite side from Joel’s influence (Joel being a firefly hybrid in this universe, i.e. an insect) and his sniffer side from Grian (bird-like behavior).

– Sniff is an endermite soul with shoulder coverage (purple chitin) and antennae. He also has feather coverage on his ankles, plus the ankle variant of sniffer wings, but they’re normally covered by his pant legs. He goes barefoot in most of the series because it helps the wings grow as they fledge. When people see his ankles, their next reaction is often “OH! SnifferMyFeet! That makes sense now.”

Skins

I previously described skins as like a clothing item that covers the entire body. These can be stripped on and off as easily as cloth, and in this world it’s utterly natural to do so. They can be washed with water and hung to dry, and what appears to be a morbid sight to me is merely laundry day for them. Once the soul and skin are synced, the hybrid can detect even subtle touch, such as a hand pulling hair; a skinless soul would not likely detect this due to a lack of nerves.

A skin must be tailor-made to match the vessel of the individual (i.e. the shape of their soul); I wouldn’t fit in my wife’s skin or even my brother’s as I’m taller than both. Skins can be custom designed with colors, hair styles, and additional details such as arm hair and freckles. Many defaults and simple standards do exist, but customization is the norm. It’s so commonplace (both affordable and accessible) that I feel many take it for granted. My younger self would have been delighted to have a world of possibility at my fingertips.

• It seems mildly taboo to wear a skin design that mirrors another person’s, especially if you share a social circle or server hub, though I assume it’s a matter of consent between individuals

The skin offers a thin, leathery barrier between raw souls. It protects the soul from physical damage and infection. It also reduces the full-body glow of a soul. If the skin is cut by a blade, it will first hit the white layer of adhesive chalaza that binds the skin and soul. If the cut is deeper, it will pierce to the soul. If the vessel membrane is punctured, blue ooze will swell in the wound.

• Two individuals who are wearing skins will phase through each other’s touch barrier at a slower rate than two skinless souls

The body is coated in pixels, which are like skin cells. Hybrids shed them occasionally while walking around (indicated by a faint glint as pixels fall to the floor). Pixels naturally attract to the skin (with ecto code), so they will merge back into the body if the hybrid lingers in the area. Sometimes these pixels may be left behind and picked up by another hybrid. It doesn’t seem to cause harm if one picks up another’s pixels, though the colors may not match. Many people wash or smooth them out if they notice large off-color patches on their body.

Because bodies are made of pixels, they will flash when hit hard enough to take damage; the game code uses a bright red overlay on the body’s pixels to indicate damage and pain. Pixels may be knocked loose from the skin. Also, bodies may glitch from damage or stress. When this happens, the hybrid jolts and seems to skip a step in reality, or at least flicker and wobble with a flash of blue and white that briefly overtakes their skin.

Dressing in a Skin

Most skins are designed with clothing “coded onto” them. This means the clothing will follow the skin even if it’s removed: for example, if you take off your shoes and walk a couple chunks away, the shoes will reappear on your feet, as they cannot be separated by a large distance. However, shoes, socks, and other clothing items can be set aside while sitting in a chair, bathing, or lying in a bed.

When a hybrid dresses, they dress in the skin itself, which is already wearing clothing in most cases. Many people wash their skins with the clothing still attached, though I’ve seen some more cautious individuals remove clothing from the skin and wash the items separately.

• As the locals are made from light, they do not sweat or produce stink from running around, which has led to a culture of infrequent clothes washing. It’s common to wear a skin for weeks before washing it, unless one has gotten dirty while playing, fighting, or building. The soul can also be washed in the shower, but bathing seems infrequent for the same reasons.

That said, a skin worn for several days straight will wear the pixels down, especially at the contact points (such as hands and feet). A thin skin is more easily damaged. Open tears put a hybrid at risk of infection. It is recommended to change skins on a semi-frequent basis, check them regularly for damage, and sew any gashes that expose the soul as soon as possible.

Dressing is a matter of personal preference, with small variation in the methods. Most skins are designed to separate down the front, making them easy to add and remove, but some may be designed to close in the back (especially among very young individuals who might strip and wander off, unprotected).

To dress, a hybrid would first take a clean skin (perhaps from a drawer or hanger). They can slide the legs of their soul into the skin’s legs, which fit like sleeves or giant socks. I then bring the skin up to my shoulders and take a moment to push my hands through the sleeves until I reach the ends, where my fingers fit the glove-like tips. Hybrids whose souls feature wings and tails should use tailored skins that include sleeves for these body parts.

If a body part does not sync correctly to the sleeve, it is not functional. If they are willing to endure the discomfort of limbs cramping up or numbness (i.e. prickling sensations, pressure, or pain), a hybrid can hide their wings inside a skin that lacks sleeves for those limbs. I speak specifically of wings and tails, but mob-like ears would be another example. Even if a skin has sleeves for wings and tails, these sleeves are only functional if the soul inside the skin has the appropriate shape of the soul. A wingless soul cannot fly even while wearing a skin with wing sleeves that appear to be solid and present. However, a wingless soul may choose to wear such a skin to pretend they have wings, such as to intimidate rivals or predators.

• The adhesive that syncs souls to skins is called chalaza– this substance is naturally produced by the soul. See also, the Egg Anatomy section of Chapter 3 – “An Overview of Dragons”

Wing and tail sleeves can also be stuffed with material that gives them shape and perhaps even allows them to bend, which can allow a hybrid to experience the basic weight and size without the use of mods. This is called shape testing and is common among those who are considering the long process of modding.

If you respawn under a phase of the moon you have not respawned beneath before, you may need a new wardrobe of tailored skins that will properly fit your body. Modding your form may also require a new set of tailored skins. It’s not unusual for a hybrid who lost their wings after a respawn to tuck or pin the wing sleeves and continue using their usual set of skins.

Once my hands are fully functional, I seal my skin by pressing it together along the seam line. The adhesion is a form of energy. Some people drag their fingers down their fronts as though using a zipper. Others “button” or “tie” their skins shut. From my understanding any method of sealing would work (such as a key in a lock motion) provided there is enough intent behind the action. It seems that however you seal the skin when putting it on is also the way it must be taken off, so I would be cautious of exaggeration and silly pride.

• I’ve observed some hybrids pause play to fiddle with their skin’s adhesion, so I imagine each hybrid has their own level of comfort, efficiency, and ability to maintain focus when it comes to sealing it shut

After I complete the adhesion of my feet, calves, thighs, belly, and chest (and additional sleeves as necessary), I pull my hood far over my head so I am thoroughly covered. Skins are designed with thin mesh or gaps over the eyes so the wearer’s lenses can see out. Since souls glow, so do the eyes. The mesh over the eyes can be designed with the preferred shape and color.

• Endermen who respawn with the watchling variant have lenses (i.e. eyes) on many parts of their body, such as the front of the face, back of head, arms, legs, and chest (with the possibility of eyes appearing on modded wings as well). Designing skins for their needs can be complicated and living this way can be dizzying
• Many endermen choose not to live as watchlings and opt to respawn. Those who do live this way are often admired and respected for their ability to adapt to this form

Changing eye color is simply a matter of tweaking, as with any other aspect of the skin (such as hair or skin color). Skin designers seem to be high in demand, as this form of art creates entire identities. Designers aid in both function and appearance.

Changing skins is exclusive to hybrids; mobs do not do this. Their skins are firmly attached to their souls, and although their code may wear down, they rest and groom regularly to upkeep their bodies. Mobs denied regular access to food will begin to glitch or unravel.

Pixel Manipulation

Pixel manipulation is a skill that allows a hybrid to rearrange a portion of pixels on their body at will (i.e. shift non-essential pixels to another section of the body, though some must stay where they are in order to function). A hybrid backed in a corner may choose to puff themself up by drawing as many pixels up their legs and into their upper body as possible. A fish hybrid struggling to outpace a hunter might redirect pixels into larger fins, and a flying hybrid might adjust themselves to extend their wingspan.

• These tweaks are temporary and seem to correlate with adrenaline (or whatever the equivalent of adrenaline would be for bodies that run on programming instead of hormones).
• Pixel manipulation appears to be done by shifting ecto code, which holds pixels together; therefore, it’s easier to use this ability when one is newly respawned and has the highest amount of ecto code.

New pixels can’t be created in this process. A hybrid does not have the ability to dramatically change shape or species in this way (to the best of my knowledge), but there may be times when dissolving one’s clothes (or the pixels that make up their hair) is considered the best chance of immediate survival.

• Any hybrid can learn to do it, though it can take years of practice to master. It’s not uncommon, but not common either

Those who enjoy this skill tend to wear extra clothing layers so they’ll have a decent source of pixels in an emergency. It takes time for the skin to secrete ecto code and rub off on the fabric, so this practice is favored by those who expect to need the spare pixels as their code weakens.

Pixels that are pushed too far with these sudden energy bursts will “burn out” and collapse before long. I think of the story Rapunzel about a man climbing up a damsel’s long hair to reach her tower. I think it would not be wise to place too much faith in one’s abilities lest they snap away beneath you.

• Pixels burn out due to flared soul traits. See also, Chapter 9 – “Carroting, Co-Spawning, and Flares”

Archivist’s Note – [Minor Series Spoilers]
– Bdubs manipulated pixels in Dog’s Life Chapter 12 when he vaporized his and Scott’s shirts and recycled them into his wings for extra speed and strength. Martyn recounts a similar situation in One and a Half Birds Chapter 9, when he vaporized his shirt to escape the Void.

– Pixel manipulation plays a role in my WIP “Dear Future Captain,” where Martyn and Bdubs use pixels to amp up their sparring; notably, pixel manipulation is often cited as one of Bdubs’ best skills. Before the fight, Martyn was babysitting SnifferMyFeet, who began playing with the loose pixel supply in the closet and discovered he’s extremely good at pixel manipulation, probably due to having double player influence in his head. Martyn, who struggles to manipulate, was not impressed.

A Comment on Experience (XP)

Residents of this world do not have a defined childhood, adolescence, or transition into adulthood. A highly experienced player with a young mindset may play the role of mentor to a low-XP individual with an older mindset. A newly spawned player may consider themselves an adult and even raise adopted children soon after leaving their spawnling days- I imagine this may be common when Outsider families create and play their Minecraft accounts together, and the lore they create for their avatar characters involves them acting in a parental role.

Through my observations, I might say hybrids are in a mature, comfortably experienced state when their vessel membrane no longer causes their skin to sag around them- i.e. when they’ve “grown into their bodies.” Some of the locals do notice and celebrate these moments of adjusting to the body, though others don’t seem to care. Culturally, they don’t seem to have a sense of importance around adulthood.

• I think I understand this, as if I found myself in a busy city, I would happily take directions from a child who seems familiar with the streets than an older individual struggling as I am to read the maps

Instinctively, I hesitate to celebrate low-XP individuals who express interest in what I call more intimate aspects of life, such as co-spawning AI sparks with another hybrid. However, I hadn’t been in this world long myself when I felt curious enough to try the same. At the time, I didn’t see my inexperience as a barrier. I suppose this world is built for gameplay, and experience and familiarity are not tied to physical age. Youth can be some of the most knowledgeable folks around. Though I suppose that shouldn’t be a surprise.

• For further reading on XP and Skill Trees, see Chapter 10 – “XP, Magic, and Tables”

Further reading: Chapter 8 – “Hybrid Behavior” & Chapter 9 – “Carroting, Co-Spawning, and Flares”