Viari Banu
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OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
- Intent: Create a moth creature that produces a silk for a factory sub.
- Image Credit: Spireworlds
- Canon: N/A
- Permissions: N/A
- Links: N/A
- Name: Gloomwing
- Designation: non-sentient
- Origins: Rishi
- Average Lifespan: 12 Years
- Estimated Population: Rare
- Description: Gloomwings are described as large moths - roughly the size of a horse, that hunt amongst the Rishi canopies. Unlike similiar species, the Gloomwing moth possesses membrane wings, which are described to have a plastic like texture. Their bodies are armoured with a specialised iridescent chitin that is capable of absorbing light making them all but invisible in low light and gloomy environments.
- Breathes: Type I
- Average Height of Adults: 2.3 meters
- Average Length of Adults: 5.7 meters
- Skin color: Iridescent
- Hair color: Violet
- Distinctions: The species exhibits examples of dimorphism, with female antannae being smaller and more thread-like while the males possess larger and more feathery antannae, additionally females tend to lean towards the larger size while males are typically smaller, which has been attributed to the longer growth phase of female members.
- Force Sensitivity: Standard
- Twilight Predators - Much like their preferred prey, Gloomwings are nocturnal creatures possessing heightened awareness and the ability to conceal themselves in the darkness, even against moonlight.
- Natural Armour - Chitin provides some protection from small arms fire and slashing weaponry. It is not lightsaber resistant.
- Silkweaver - Gloomwing Moth produce silk for their nests, this silk consists of fine continous strings of fibre that can be made to be layered to be made durable and is naturally resistant to water and extreme temperatures. While it's possible to become tangled, it's adherence to objects is generally weak.
- Venmous Sting - Gloomwings can deliver a venomous sting, which causes localised necrosis. Most modern Antidotes are effective countermeasures, but left untreated the necrosis can spread.
- Light Sensitive - Gloomwings are vulunerable to flashes or bright and sudden light, temporarily dazing or confusing them.
- Driven by Instinct - With few exceptions, Gloomwings are predictable to anyone who has encountered or studied them in any great detail.
- Poor Endurance - Gloomwings are primarily ambush predators, they cannot sustain a fight or pursuit for long and, in most cases, will prefer to retreat over risking injury.
- Cold vulunerability - Gloomwings are vulunerable to extreme cold, this particularly true of their eggs and larvae.
- Clumsy - If knocked from the air, or otherwise grounded, the Gloomwing becomes very immobile making it vulunerable.
- Diet: Carnivore - Adult Gloomwings sustain themselves on a diet of carrion, typically prey is captured until the poison does it's work allowing them to eat. Occasionally prey maybe kept alive but this is usually a sign for the worst.
- Communication: Phoromones
- Technology level: None
- Religion/Beliefs: None, although the species, like many predators of Rishii, has religious significance in some Rishii tribes.
- General behavior: Gloomwings are territorial and solitary creatures who hunt during the night, they do not exert themselves, usually finding a spot they believe to be suitable and concealing themselves in the darkness until prey passes them by. When they strike it is sudden and quick, using their large size to apprehend a target and inject them with their venomous sting and then retreat back into the shadows, observing and waiting for another opportunity to strike. Their nests typically start small, growing in size and complexity with age. These structures are constructed for the protection of their eggs, larvae, and in some unfortunate cases prey. This event will usually only occur for gravid females, who may use their victims bodies to help incubate their young. This method of parasitism is common amongst the species and in times of scarcity females will not shy away from using their mates as suitable hosts.
Some members of the species exhibit signs of force sensitivity, reacting to force based stimuli and showing increased resistance to force abilities. However, such examples are usually either isolated or under reported due to their nocturnal nature with most known examples being isolated to the Auric basin territories.
Gloomwings have earned a mythological status amongst the people native to Rishii, they are perceived in a similiar vain to the dragons of other cultures. Beasts of chaos, desturction and nature, this mythos has led many to hunt them, either for capture as exotic pets or personal gain. Their silk is highly valued, particularly amongst the Rishii for it's natural properties and the few who wear garments crafted from this material usually garner respect from local tribes. The Gloomwing alongside the Maungur is credited as having inspired the Rishii proverb; "Fly from that which walks, run from that which flies." which is taught to young hunter-gatherers who may encounter these creatures.
This is particularly true of the Auric Basin tribe, who believe the Gloomweave to be one of the divine beasts of the triumvirate of Eostre which includes the aforementioned Maungur and the dragonlike Windshear. In this particular isolated culture, these creatures have come to represent Eostre's aspect of death, and in some isolated instances rebirth.