Relationship Status: It's Complicated
- Intent: To create a unique species to add to the unique fauna of Stewjon.
- Image Credit: xXx - Pinterest AI creation. This is the best source I could find. Edits and Header bars were made by me.
- Canon: N/A
- Permissions: N/A
- Links: Stewjon
- Name: Solvarii
- Designation: Sentient
- Origins: Stewjon
- Average Lifespan: 150-200 years
- Estimated Population: Planetary
- Description: The Solvarii are radiant avian beings shaped by fire and renewal, known for their sweeping wings, luminous plumage, and a core of inner heat that pulses like a living ember. Their feathers glow with shifting light when they rise to the air, and their presence carries a warmth that marks them as creatures tied to rebirth. Though rare, the Solvarii are woven into the legends of Stewjon as heralds of transformation, appearing in moments of great change or as omens that the land itself is stirring. Some hunters claim the Solvarii guide travelers who have lost their way, while others believe they watch from the treetops to judge the strength of those who walk the wilds. Their sightings are treated with reverence, for a Solvarii seldom appears without purpose.
- Breathes: Type 1
- Average Height of Adults: At the shoulder 1 m
- Average Length of Adults: From nose to tail base 1.5 m
7-2.4 m - Skin color: The Solvarii have smooth skin beneath their plumage in warm gold, deep amber, or soft copper tones. These colors tend to deepen slightly with age, reflecting the strength of the heat they carry within.
- Hair color: Their feathers display vivid tones that echo living flame, most often crimson, gold, orange, and bright white. Some Solvarii develop accents of saffron or pale rose, especially along the wings and tail. In flight these colors shimmer through the air, giving the impression of fire drawn into a soaring shape.
- Distinctions: The Solvarii possess a brilliance that sets them apart from most sentient life. Their bodies carry a constant internal warmth that radiates softly through their feathers, giving them a glow that shifts with movement and emotion. Their wings are immense for their body size, rising high over their shoulders when folded and stretching outward in elegant arcs during flight. Unlike humans, their bones are lightweight yet reinforced by heat-hardened marrow that strengthens with age. Their eyes are bright and reflective, often appearing as molten gold or silver as if lit from behind. The voice of a Solvarii is melodic and carries a natural resonance, which many believe is shaped by the fire within their chests.
Males tend to carry deeper and more saturated feather tones, with more pronounced tail plumage that fans outward during displays of dominance or courtship. Females are slightly larger and often have brighter white or gold accents along the wings, and their feathers maintain a clearer sheen. Mature Solvarii of either sex develop subtle lines of glowing filaments along their breast and wing joints, signs that their inner heat has reached a steady and powerful state. Elders often show feathers with ash tinted edges and pulsing bands of light that travel slowly through their plumage, a mark of great age and deep connection to the cycle of renewal.
Regional groups show minor variations shaped by climate. Solvarii from the colder highlands have thicker underfeathers and cooler toned plumage, while those from the forest lowlands display brighter golds and a more intense glow as their bodies adapt to the dense canopy. These distinctions are cultural as much as physical, for each region attaches meaning to the colors carried by its Solvarii. - Races: N/A
- Force Sensitivity:Non-Sensitive
Strengths:
- Exceptional flight: Their powerful wings allow long distance travel and precise aerial maneuvering, even in turbulent weather.
- Inner heat: Their bodies generate natural warmth that can deter predators, ignite small fires, or defend against extreme cold.
- Rapid regeneration: Injuries heal more quickly than in most species, aided by their heat and the vitality of their plumage.
- Brilliant perception: Their eyes can track fast movement and see clearly in low light, giving them excellent awareness of their surroundings.
- Enduring lifespan: Their long life allows them to accumulate knowledge and form deep generational memory within their communities.
- Emotional resonance: Their voices can influence the mood of nearby creatures through natural harmonic vibrations that calm or alert.
- High stamina: They can sustain long periods of flight or exertion without fatigue, especially once they reach physical maturity.
Weaknesses:
- Vulnerability to water: Heavy rain or full immersion dampens their feathers and weakens their inner heat, grounding them until they can dry.
- Slow recovery from cold: Extreme cold suppresses their inner fire, leaving them fatigued and more susceptible to injury.
- Flammable environment risk: Their natural heat can ignite brush or dry growth unintentionally, making dense forests or old structures dangerous places for them.
- Limited physical strength on the ground: Their bodies are built for flight rather than combat, so they are less effective when grounded or pinned.
- High metabolic demand: Maintaining their inner warmth requires constant energy, and hunger can weaken their glow and regeneration.
- Observable presence: Their light and heat make stealth almost impossible. Even when hiding, their glow often betrays them.
- Stress in enclosed spaces: Confined areas restrict their wings and can trigger panic or disorientation, especially in younger Solvarii.
- Diet: Omnivore - The Solvarii maintain a diet that supports their inner heat and high energy needs. They favor high calorie fruits, nut rich seeds, and sweet tree saps found across Stewjon’s forests. Many also hunt small game such as forest hares or glowfin birds, using swift dives to strike before rising back to the canopy. Their bodies burn energy quickly, so they feed often, taking small meals throughout the day rather than large ones. Elders prefer warmer foods like sun dried berries or roasted nuts, which help maintain the strength of their inner fire.
- Communication: The Solvarii communicate through a blend of melodic vocalizations, shifting light patterns in their feathers, and subtle movements of their wings and tail. Their songs carry emotional meaning, while changes in brightness or color signal intent or mood. In close proximity they use soft trills and low harmonic tones to share more personal or precise messages.
- Technology level: None
- Religion/Beliefs: None
- General behavior: The Solvarii live with a strong sense of purpose shaped by the rhythm of the forests and the cycles of their inner fire. They rise with the light, taking to the air in small groups that move as if guided by a shared instinct. Their behavior is calm when undisturbed, yet they remain alert to shifts in wind, sound, and heat, reacting quickly to anything that threatens their territory. Solvarii prefer high perches where they can watch wide stretches of land and sense the flow of the day. They value harmony within their flocks and rarely quarrel, though younger birds sometimes challenge one another in short displays of light and song.
Solvarii are curious by nature and observe other species from a respectful distance. They approach only when they sense no hostility, often circling overhead before drawing near. Their bond to renewal shapes their choices, for they avoid needless destruction and guard places where the forest returns after storms or fire. When one of their own is injured or weakened, the flock gathers to sing, creating a low harmonic pulse that strengthens the fallen bird’s inner heat. Elders guide the flock’s movement from season to season, teaching the young to follow the subtle cues of the land. Their presence brings a sense of calm to the wilds, for the Solvarii seldom act without thought.
A Solvarii raised in close contact with another species develops a gentler disposition, yet never loses the instinctive independence that defines its kind. It forms a strong bond with the one who cares for it, often treating that individual as a trusted flock mate. Such a Solvarii follows its companion through familiar territory, perching nearby or circling above as a quiet guardian. It responds to voice and gesture, especially when these are paired with patience and respect, and may even mirror the moods of the one it trusts by shifting its feather glow.
Even so, a domesticated Solvarii retains a wild heart. It keeps a need for open sky and becomes restless if kept indoors for long. Its loyalty is freely given but never owned, for it will not tolerate cruelty or confinement. When frightened or cornered, its natural defenses flare without hesitation, and it may retreat to the wilderness for days before returning. Yet when treated with understanding, it becomes a steadfast presence, offering warmth in cold nights, alerting its companion to unseen dangers, and returning unfailingly to the hand or shoulder that has shown it care.
The first sign came as a hush that did not belong to the forest. Selinne slowed her steps, fingers brushing the hilt of her hunting knife as she listened. Dawn had only just broken through the canopy, and the mist still clung to the roots like pale cloth. Yet the air felt warm against her cheek, a warmth with no source she could see. She stood still, breathing through her nose, letting the quiet settle around her.
The warmth pulsed again. Not heat from the sun. Something living.
Selinne moved forward, easing past a curtain of fern fronds until the path widened into a narrow hollow. Light swirled in gentle currents above the moss, shifting through soft golds and rose pinks. At first she wondered if the morning haze had caught the sunrise, but the glow moved in ways light should not. It drifted in smooth arcs, gathering at the top branches like sparks drawn to each other.
A single shape separated from the glow.
The creature glided down as if borne on a quiet tide. Its wings spread wide, catching the air with an elegance that stole Selinne’s breath. Feathers lit from within, glowing gold at the base and fading into pale white at the tips. It perched on a fallen log only a few paces away and watched her with eyes that looked like molten metal.
A Solvarii.
She had seen one once as a child, a distant silhouette against the morning sky, but never so near that she could feel its heat on her skin. She dared not move too quickly. Her heart beat hard, not from fear but from awe. Elders in her village told stories about these birds. They were messengers of change, guides who moved where the land whispered.
A second Solvarii dropped into sight. Then a third.
More shapes appeared among the branches, until the hollow glowed as though the air itself had caught fire. Wings whispered against leaves as the flock settled around her. They did not scatter, nor did they shrink away. They watched her closely, as if weighing her presence in their gathering place.
Selinne kept her posture low and open. She rested one knee to the earth and set her free hand on the moss. The elder Solvarii, larger than the rest with striking gold tracing along its wings, leaned forward and released a soft tone. The sound passed through the hollow like a warm breeze. The younger birds stirred, their feathers brightening in response.
One of them hopped from its perch and approached her. Its talons touched the moss without a sound. Selinne held perfectly still as it drew close enough for her to feel the soft heat radiating from its chest. It tilted its head, studying her with a long, thoughtful gaze. For a moment she wondered if she should speak, but the bird moved first, brushing its wing lightly against her arm. A shimmer of heat followed the contact, warm and gentle.
The elder offered another tone. This time the sound held a sense of completion, a quiet dismissal or perhaps a blessing. The young bird stepped back. Wings opened throughout the hollow. Light swirled upward as the flock rose in unison, lifting through the branches in a single flowing motion. Their glow left a trail of warmth that lingered long after they vanished into the canopy.
Selinne stayed kneeling, her hand still resting on the moss where the young Solvarii had touched her. She exhaled slowly, letting her pulse return to calm. Encounters like this were rare, and flocks almost never approached so close. Whatever the forest had meant in guiding her here, she felt its weight in her chest.
When she finally stood, the hollow no longer felt empty. The warmth remained like a memory, and Selinne carried the quiet certainty that she had been trusted with a moment meant for her alone.
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