An innocent is the term used to refer to the young shashnimyn when they are in the infant stage of their life. this stage follows weaning and procedes until they become a youth. 

The high mutation rate in the Shashnimyn peoples sometimes leads to some fairly grotesque and screwed-up looking innocents. Twins are more likely to have a high proportion of this mutation factor. The innocents can have extra arms, eyes shifted around on the face, body irregularities, an extra foot, horns, knobbles, geeks, phlups, spines or fur. Mutation level determines social reactions of classes towards you, but these can be offset the mutations going away.

There are a few tales of a child being completely shunned and banished into the wilderness, to be forced into primal conditions and become an animal. When they return they may not fit into culture and continue to be feral and aggressive, or of incredible beauty and nobility.

As a result of the Evolution war and NERB the innocents are left to wander free and unrestricted. This leads to many of the innocents becoming prey to the local wildlife or succumbing to some fate.

Baby Farms

After the birth of an innocent all parents are required to work service in the baby farms.  these farms are a feature of towns over 50 parent units.  The Womyn continue to provide nutriments in the form of milk.  a complete dietary source, the womyn are also provisioned with proper nutrition to ensure the health of all.  Nemyn are not able to make this output, so are asked to service, labour and shepard.  Nemyn are all parents who did not bear the egg itself and thus have not been triggered by hormones into nursing.

Sheparding is an activity that can happen only when the synergistic labour output of the Nemyn exceeds that required to maintain the Baby Farm of the population they live in.  This excess energy will pay Nemyn to act as heroes for adventuring baby units. 

Innocents are provided for somewhat while in towns, morals and societal agreements are taught so that they do not become feral thieves and scoundrels within a community. It is frowned upon but not rare for individuals to care for an innocent specifically. These 'adoptions' typically lead to the innocent becoming a youth more quickly.

childhood game - gamedesign discussion for the mechanics of playing an innocent.

Relevant Links

embryology