Species
Papillix
Visual Trait IndexSummary
Soul Essence Location: Eyes, Paw pads, glow patches, mouth, blood, innards.
Required Traits: Eyes, Ears, Glow Marks, Texture, Glow Pockets, Pawpads
Bone/Teeth/Nail colour: White, or off-white.
Average Height (when upright):
Standard: 3ft - 4ft
Pixie: 2ft
Sylph: 4ft - 6ft
Diet: Papillix are herbivores, primarily subsisting on a diet of plants. Flowers, fruits, and nectar are their favorite delicacies.
Location: In most grassland and woodlands areas where it would provide them with ample space to frolic and readily available flowers and grasses for sustenance. Papillix construct remarkable nests. They weave intricate huts on the ground or in trees, using materials like sap, twigs, and grasses.
✦ General Info ✦
General Info
(Pah-pi-licks)
Papillix are a type of mammal that resembles a playful cross between a pixie, a cat, and a ferret. Mischievous by nature, these creatures delight in games and frolicking about. They make their homes hidden amongst the tall grasses of fields and within the dappled shadows of forests.
Papillix possess remarkable abilities. They can gracefully glide and float through the air using their wings. More surprisingly, their flight produces a trail of shimmering dust that sparkles like scattered jewels.
This magical "pixie dust" results from the Papillix's ability to absorb charged particles from flowering plants and even other glowing objects. It's this stored magic that allows them to sustain extended flight.
✦ Anatomy ✦
Anatomy
The Papillix is a fascinating creature with a unique blend of features. Their short, sleek fur resembles that of ferrets and otters, providing a smooth, streamlined exterior. Atop their heads sit butterfly-like wings, but unlike their namesakes, these appendages don't grant them flight. Instead, they function as highly sensitive detectors, picking up vibrations in the air and surroundings to compensate for their lack of hearing.
Glowing pockets adorn their paws, snouts, and whiskers, and these luminous markings can appear in various locations across their bodies. Despite being primarily active during the day, Papillix possess exceptional night vision thanks to their double-glazed eyes. This remarkable adaptation even allows them to stare directly at the sun for extended periods, a feat that some speculate is linked to their superior night vision. Their paws lack nails completely, but they are compensated by a long, agile tongue reminiscent of bees and giraffes, likely used for foraging or manipulation. Small canines/fangs can be seen on them.
✦ Head Shapes ✦
Head Shapes
Papillix exhibit a range of head shapes, from slender features that aid gliding to rounded faces favored for their enhanced cuteness in the companion market. Feel free to adjust your Papillix's head shape for a unique personality and explore a full spectrum of hair lengths and styles to further personalize your creature.
✦ Anatomy - Wings ✦
Anatomy - Wings
(This example show the "style" of drawing a Papillix's wings - 1) it can have a "shell" covering, or 2) fully as wings.)
Papillix wings, located on their heads, resemble ears. When joyful, these wings release dust similar to moth scales. The amount of dust produced can indicate a Papillix's well-being; less dust suggests unhappiness or illness. However, inhaling excessive amounts of this dust can cause hallucinations or a euphoric state.
In fae society, cropped or missing ears on a Papillix are often a sign of abuse or permanent exile. Similarly, injuries and damaged wings are more common among elderly Papillix or those who fight frequently.
Wings come in a variety of colors and patterns, but the dust they produce always matches the Papillix's soul color. While wings can be cropped, removed, adorned with accessories, or sustain injuries, remember that such modifications or damage will impact the Papillix's daily life.
✦ Number of Wings ✦
Number of Wings
Papillix typically possess two sets of ear-wings. However, individuals with more than two sets become increasingly rare. In fact, Papillix with just a single pair are virtually unheard of, as this disrupts their flight patterns significantly.
✦ Glow Marks and Pockets ✦
Glow Marks & Pockets
These features all emit light, reflecting a Papillix's general well-being and health. Active and spirited Papillix glow brightly, sometimes even flashing with a brilliance rivaling stars. Conversely, sick or sad Papillix exhibit a dull glow.
Papillix paw pads emit a gentle glow alongside dust particles. This glow intensity correlates to emotions, with the brightest signifying joy and the dimmest indicating sadness.
Papillix can have whiskers or not. Regardless, their tips glow in the same color as their glow pockets. The whisker glow can either mimic the shape of the glow pockets elsewhere on their body or remain circular.
Common glow marks appear on the paws, snout, and whiskers. Their rarity increases with specific locations and shapes. Typically, glow patches are round and smooth, mirroring the shape of the snout and whiskers.
Locations of Glow Marks:
The highlighted areas indicate typical glow mark locations, with rarity increasing as there are more areas where the glow marks can be found.
✦ Behaviour ✦
Behaviour
Papillix are playful, fun-loving creatures with a natural curiosity that often leads them into mischief. They can't resist poking their noses into any situation that piques their interest.
Highly sociable, Papillix form close-knit communities primarily consisting of friends and partners. While polygamous relationships are common, lifelong partnerships also exist.
These ferret-like creatures are playful and energetic. They engage in roughhousing with each other, both on land and in the air, and spend time grooming each other to maintain their appearance.
Despite their inquisitive nature, Papillix are not easily intimidated. However, when threatened, they will hunch their backs, bare their fangs, and hiss while gathering a cloud of their own dust to aid their escape.
The Papillix diet is primarily composed of fruits and nectar. This high-sugar intake fuels their activity levels, keeps them happy, and likely contributes to their ability to stay airborne.
Their teeth are mainly used for nibbling on fruits and playful biting with companions, not for inflicting serious injury. While there have been documented cases of Papillix consuming blood from a host, this behavior is strongly disapproved of within Papillix society and offers them little nutritional benefit.
✦ Life Cycle ✦
Life cycle
Birth:
When a Papillix couple desires offspring, they embark on a unique ritual. They locate a specific flower to serve as the incubator for their child. Both parents then perform a graceful dance around the plant, sprinkling and combining their dust upon the flower until it seals shut. This initiates the incubation process, which lasts for several weeks before the flower reopens to reveal an egg-like droplet nestled within.
The markings on the egg reflect a blend of the parents' colors and patterns. During incubation, the couple often share childcare responsibilities, taking turns tending to their soon-to-be offspring. Papillix groups are generally unwelcome during this period, as some parents have been known to steal eggs.
Upon hatching, the young Papillix is blind and helpless, with wings too weak for flight. The parents continue their nurturing duties for the next few months, providing care and nourishment within their abode until the young one's wings are fully developed for flight.
Death:
A healthy Papillix can live for an average of 80 years or more. As a Papillix ages, its coat loses its sheen, and its once vibrant fur becomes dull. This decline also affects its glow, making it dimmer and slower to produce.
Death typically occurs when a Papillix reaches its natural lifespan or succumbs to a severe injury. In either case, the Papillix's pelt colors and glow fade rapidly within seconds. This is followed by a remarkable process of bodily degeneration: the body disperses into a shimmering cloud of dust, carried away by the wind like dandelion seeds. No physical remains are left for mourning.