Ghyll:Ghyllian reproduction

A foching work in progress --Doctor Phineas Crank 08:32, 26 Oct 2004 (EDT)

Also known as the "graphorn with two tusks", Ghyllian "courtship", as it has sometimes been called, starts with the male of the species advertising his readiness to mate.

Quite often the male will start his display with preening of various kinds. A common strategy is to bathe. This is usually followed by brightly colored displays of both clothing and other "plummage", including, but not limited to: bright, shiny jewelry worn on the hands, in ears and hair; a finely sculpted coiffure, which sometimes includes not only hair on the top of the head, but also facial, chest and back hair; a particularly fine and expensive conveyance, either riding beast or carriage. When these measures are not apparently achieveing the desired result, the male of the species has been known to apply artificial fragrance to his body with the hope of luring a potential mate within range. The truly desparate may resort to cologne "enhanced" with the musk glands of a wild graphorn, though the effectiveness of such ploys are debatable.

If the female as been attracted within striking distance and has shown any weakness at all, a rather deplorable display of wealth and economic viabilitiy by the male of the species commences. This, of course, is followed by complete indifference on the part of the female. Now, the fun really starts. At this juncture, the male, sensing the underlying interest of the female, steps up his campaign. He will begin sending gifts of brightly colored dead plants and chocolate-covered fefferberries. If the female is still responsive he will purchase sparkly jewelry and invite her to join him at a theater production put on by the Amphitheatre aristocracy or for a fine dinner at an exotic local, such as the closest public park. After this happy event, the male presents the female with her hard-earned jewelry. If her reaction is suitably positive, the male will offer to repeat this process at least twice, possibly even combining the two events into dinner and theater. As these meetings progress the female will begin to wear more and more gaudy clothing and stronger perfume in the hopes of signifying her readiness to mate. Eventually, this process culminates in one of two fated outcomes. More respectable couples will then proceed to the Betrothal march, but the more interesting lower classes jump right to the main event.

In either case, Ghyllian physiology will take over once the soon-to-be-mated pair have secured a little "alone time" together in the dark. Once the lights are out, or at least dimmed, the pair will shed their fine, albeit artificial, plummage and fumble around until they find each other. Often this will be accompanied by quite a few bumps and bruises as they stumble into furniture and tread on each other's toes and fingers. However, while this part of the process seems somewhat dangerous and counter-productive, nothing could be further from the truth. It is at this juncture that the male's wang-dang-doodle becomes engorged with bodily fluids and ... Deathbug