Growth Guide

Growing your nerokata

While not every nerokata experiences growing up, it's quite common within Thalassia's Edge! Rather than being age-based, "growing up" is caused by a rapid mutation in a nerokata's body, usually sprung by The Abyss itself. Commonly referred to as the "growth mutation", growth is usually spontanious, coming on without warning and can be stressful and even painful as the nerokata's body rapidly grows and changes. Slow-growing is also possible, and is a gentler process, but is less common.

This is, of course, just general world lore- you by all means do not have to follow all of it if any of it makes you uncomfortable!

Perks of growing a nerokata!
- Access to Adult Upgrades!
- Access to Breeding!
- Access to Dangerous quests!
- Additional/bonus access to some events!

Do you just want access to adult upgrades, but don't want to grow a certain nerokata or aren't interested in adult mechanics?
Check out Pan's Curse!

Okay, but how do I do this?

The requirements for growing up a nerokata are pretty simple! 

There's no specific age a nerokata has to be to have their complex morph- a nerokata can technically morph pretty much right after they're approved! Due to this, growing a nerokata will be referred to as morphing them on this guide, as a nerokata isn't actually considered to be an adult until they're old enough to breed. A morphed nerokata may still have the same mentality they did as a fry- it's only their body that has changed! True adult nerokata are identified via scent, and as well, are bigger when they're adults as nerokata never really stop growing.

To morph a nerokata, then, that kata must have been submitted for at least one Abyss Dive. 

This is because a nerokata cannot morph if they've never been exposed to the wild magic of the abyss. Without it, nerokata would not be able to morph at all! Once exposed to the magic within the Abyss, a nerokata can technically Morph at any time- though it's often triggered by extreme stress, needs, or desires- such as the crushing weight of not being able to save someone, or likewise feeling the need to save a friend who's in trouble. This is why morphs are usually so dramatic!

For nerokata that, in personal lore, would never step foot in the Abyss:
Don't worry! There are workarounds for you. If you're struggling to figure out how to keep things in-character for your nerokata, here's a couple suggestions!

Non-Canon Abyss Dives: An Abyss Dive can always be non-canon to your character! If you want, you can always just draw them in an environment you like, pop it into Abyss Diving to get some rewards for it, and call it a day. For this, it's important to keep in mind that any drawing with a background can technically be submitted for an Abyss Dive.

Stay Near the Edge: The Abyss' wild magic is strong, even by the edges of it. Drawing your nerokata simply exploring along the drop-off to the Abyss will qualify them for morphing, as long as it's still submitted as an Abyss Dive!

The Morphs

Morphed nerokata take on a variety of body plans! Those stances being named Selkie, Siren and Leviathan.

Nerokata can change morphs later, so don't feel too pressured! If you don't end up liking what you chose, you can always change it later. Body diversity is both allowed and encouraged- you're more than welcome to make your nerokata have more or less body mass if you want! The ones shown are just the overall average per morph.

Making a Growth App

Filling out a growth application isn't hard at all!

Growth apps come in two formats; one horizontal, one vertical. Feel free to use whichever one suits your chosen morph best!

YES!

- Elongating the body to fit more glowspots, gills, etc
- Making the back fin a little bigger
- Making the tail a little longer
- Adding side references for eyes, teeth, paw pads, etc
- Eyeshine
- Simple, easy-to-read poses

NO!

- Adding accessories
- Adding new upgrades
- Fry and growth morphs facing different directions
- Placements warping between fry and growth morph
- Shading

The Character Tracker

When your nerokata goes through their morph, you'll need to fill out a character tracker!

In this tracker, you'll fill out all the upgrades your nerokata has, and link proof to those applications. You can find more information about this (as well as the tracker itself) in How To Apply Upgrades!

You MUST have this tracker filled out for EVERY morphed nerokata you own!

The Form

Name: Your nerokata's name! This should match what you had on their baby application.
Baby Approval: Please link your nerokata's baby app!
Chosen Morph: Your nerokata's new morph!
Upgrades: A complete list of ALL upgrades your nerokata has.
Character Tracker: Please link your nerokata's character tracker!
Abyss Dive: Please link the discord thread of your nerokata's approved and rolled Abyss Dive!

Once you're ready, all you'll need to do is fill out the form found in #growth-approvals in the Discord!