#they're also the largest species of worm on Vytas

[zestyderg]

Ice and Fire Festelcan: People ask us why we don't relax more often. Girl the Worms.

[zestyderg]

You guys wanna hear about the Festelcan because I am ready to discuss the Festelcan!

Festelcan are an alien race native to Vytas, an earth-like planet with one main landmass that hosts a variety of different environments and lifeforms. They have long bodies, short legs, large eyes with no visible pupils, retractable claws, long pointed ears, and pitch black skin contrasted with brightly colored markings.

They can be mistaken for dragons, but Festelcan are not considered true dragons.

There are four different varieties of Festelcan; fire, storm, toxic, and ice. All have unique traits that allow them to thrive in different parts of the supercontinent.

A more in-depth look provided under the cut. Note that things are subject to change.

Festelcan themselves are omnivores, and typically eat anything in their environment, be it plant, animal, or even ore.

They have what we consider long lifespans, often living around 150 to 200 years. They reproduce very infrequently, and only have one pup at a time. Pups are born blind, deaf, and lacking any ornamentation or wings. Pups are typically raised by their parents, although it's encouraged for the rest of the community to pitch in and help, too. Once they reach young adulthood at around 18-20 years they'll cocoon themselves and develop into their adult form, adorned with functioning wings, horns, spines, manes, etc. Sometimes this transformation happens early, though it is extremely rare and often a sign that something is wrong.

Most Festelcan live in the southern portion of the supercontinent, the exception being the Ice Festelcan, who live up north, separated from everyone else.

Festelcan occupy four main regions that also serve as nations, and each region typically is dominated by a specific type of Festelcan.

FIRE FESTELCAN

Fire Festelcan, live mostly in Scorchrocks, a quite barren region located around a massive volcano on the western side of the supercontinent.

They commonly sport orange, yellow, and red markings, with spots being quite common. All adults have wings, and oftentimes horns, spikes, and spines. Fire Festelcan are also on average the largest Festelcan variant.

They can withstand extremely high temperatures, being immune to being burnt by fire and lava. They also produce a very hot stream of fire from their mouths, which is an excellent weapon against other Festelcan types.

They eat the ores and other minerals that are located within the volcano. They'll take any prey where they can get it, but the fauna that does exist is either massive and extremely dangerous, or small and escapes with ease. The few plants that thrive here are too tough and taste horrible to the Fire Festelcan.

Scorchrocks is ruled by a queen, and the role is typically passed down to her daughters. It's said that the first queen was chosen after she had saved her people from an unusually large infernal worm, large invertebrates that prey on Festelcan. Ever since then, it's been tradition for princesses to prove their worth by taking on an infernal worm in combat. If they fail, they are barred from being queen. This tradition has its critics, some deeming it too risky to send an heir to possibly die, especially if there is no one to take her place. In the event the current queen does die and leaves no heirs, with no female relatives that can be chosen instead, the people will vote on a new queen.

Festelcan as a species just aren't big on clothes, especially Scorchrocks residents, but the Festelcan of Scorchrocks do love one particular thing: Jewelry. Scorchrocks is full of precious gems that Fire Festelcan simply adore. They're excavated by miners and given to craftsmen to turn into the most exquisite jewelry on Vytas. Scorchrocks will trade their jewelry with other regions. Jewelry is seen as a status symbol, the more you have to wear, the more well off, important, and respected you are. The queen, for instance, typically covers her horns, neck, tail, and ears with the most high-quality of gems.

Scorchrocks isn't the best region for building structures for housing. Wood will burn if used, and the rocks aren't much better as building materials. Volcanic eruptions and other events can totally destroy anything they do successfully build. So, the Festelcan of Scorchrocks carve out elaborate tunnel systems underground. Their homes may not be comfortable for most, but Fire Festelcan find the hot, rocky tunnels plenty cozy.

STORM FESTELCAN

Storm Festelcan mostly live in Rainhigh, a large cloud forest just east of Scorchrocks. This region sees a lot of precipitation. That, combined with the high altitudes and thick fog make Storm Festelcan feel right at home. There are also small numbers of Fire and Toxic Festelcan who live here, though Toxic Festelcan are more common, since they find Rainhigh more comfortable.

Storm Festelcan typically come in different shades of blue, pink, and purple. Markings vary wildly but patterns resembling rain or lightning bolts are common. Adults may have antler-like horns, manes, fins, and barbels or tendrils. Adults can also fly, not needing wings to do so.

They thrive in bad weather. They are immune to being electrocuted and can control storms to an extent. They can't summon storms, but when storms do pass by Rainhigh, they are able to manipulate them. Some Storm Festelcan can control the winds, others the rain, and quite a few can use the storms to summon lightning bolts. They usually cannot control multiple things at once. Additionally, Storm Festelcan have breath attacks that they can use at any time. They either can spew powerful blasts of wind, beams of electricity, or spray jets of pressurized water.

There are a few species of plant in Rainhigh which bear fruit that Storm Festelcan find irresistible. There's plenty of small animals that they can also try their luck with, and a river located at the base of the mountains provide lots of aquatic life that Storm Festelcan eat regularly.

Rainhigh is ruled by a council of five Storm Festelcan, four councilors who typically make the rules and an archcouncilor who oversees everything. Councilors and Archcouncilors are voted in by the people and stay in power until they either die or retire. Archcouncilors break ties when the rest of the council cannot make a decision, and they meet with leaders of other regions while the councilors stay behind.

Storm Festelcan are often skilled artists. Rainhigh is home to painters, sculptors, musicians, and more. Music in particular is very popular, and Storm Festelcan have a variety of different genres, to gentle, graceful songs that incorporate rain or wind to bombastic, energetic songs that incorporate thunder and lightning. They dance a lot, too, usually by performing elaborate aerial maneuvers or busting it down on the ground.

Rainhigh is filled with towers, open plazas, and and several kinds of housing. Many entrances are located above the ground, only accessible by flight. Because only adult Storm Festelcan can fly, most buildings have at least one accessible entrance for youngsters. They typically use dried plants, similar to straw as bedding.

Rainhigh is currently at war with Scorchrocks over territory, and while the fighting is growing increasing unpopular by civilians, their leaders continue the battling anyway.

TOXIC FESTELCAN

Toxic Festelcan mostly live in Greendepths, a dense jungle south of Scorchrocks and Rainhigh. It's filled with giant trees and little to no sunlight.

Toxic Festelcan are the lightest, most agile Festelcan variants. They are longer and thinner than the others, with adults sporting flexible spines and fins that let them glide around with ease. Their markings come in any bright color, they have prehensile tails, the largest eyes and best night vision of any Festelcan type, and they have both fangs to inject venom and a throat pouch so they can spray venom too. Even their flesh is mildly poisonous. They are speedy, excellent climbers, and can maneuver through Greendepths better than anyone else. Other Festelcan find them kind of off-putting and a bit intimidating. If they could fly, they'd be considered the most horrifying Festelcan on the planet.

Greendepths hosts many organisms besides the Toxic Festelcan who are either poisonous or venomous. Toxic Festelcan, being immune to both venom and poison of nearly any kind, do not care and simply eat anything they get their claws on. They are quite the chefs, and absolutely love creating exquisite dishes. Unfortunately other Festelcan will likely be poisoned by most of what they make and it's very hard to test what is and isn't safe without killing people.

Greendepths usually has two monarchs at a time. Toxic Festelcan aren't Matriarchal like the Fire Festelcan of Scorchrocks so gender doesn't matter. Both monarchs share the same duties, making decisions for Greendepths together. When a monarch dies or retires a new monarch is voted in.

The residents of Greendepths live in large tree houses, constructed out of wood. Rarely do they have their homes on the ground. The outside of their tree houses usually have "handles" that jut out so it's easier for the Festelcan, especially pups, to grab onto.

Greendepths never gets involved with whatever conflicts Scorchrocks and Rainhigh have. They readily trade with both nations, and no one is willing to start fights with Greendepths, as both Scorchrocks and Rainhigh are kind of terrified of it and it's inhabitants.

ICE FESTELCAN

The other Festelcan do not know that Ice Festelcan even exist. They live in the northernmost parts of Vytas, cut off from the other Festelcan types, in the frigid Everfreeze region.

Ice Festelcan are the shortest, stockiest Festelcan variety. They have pale, jagged markings, usually white, grey, or light blue, smaller ears, shorter legs, more body fat, and ice-like spines. Most Festelcan cannot tolerate the cold very well, but Ice Festelcan thrive and feel right at home in it, being immune to freezing to death. They can breathe freezing beams of ice from their mouths, and they possess webbed paws, giving them the best swimming ability of any Festelcan type. They can hold their breaths significantly longer than other Festelcan. They cannot fly or glide.

Everfreeze has little to no plant or animal life, being a barren icy landscape all the time. Everything the Ice Festelcan eat comes from the ocean. They dive to great depths to hunt, and often hunt cooperatively to bring down large game to feed as many people as possible. This is, however, very dangerous, as the waters here are filled with massive marine predators that will happily prey on careless Ice Festelcan. One of which is the Polar Worm, a relative of the Infernal Worm. Polar Worms are purely aquatic, and terrorize the Ice Festelcan as much as the Infernal Worm terrorizes the Fire Festelcan.

Everfreeze doesn't have a set leader or group of leaders. The majority of the population is divided into smaller villages, comprised of one to a few families and some unrelated individuals. The oldest members make decisions for their village. The Ice Festelcan are not unified in the way the other Festelcan are. There isn't that much major conflict between villages, most of it typically being family drama, as they don't fight over resources.

Since freezing to death is not an issue, even for newborn Ice Festelcan, housing isn't as big of an issue to them as it would be to other Festelcan. Most Ice Festelcan simply dig out burrows in the snow or ice, to hide themselves from the few terrestrial predators that may pose a threat to them. There are several villages that choose to make huts out of the bones, armor, and hide of their prey instead.

Many Ice Festelcan have tried to explore South of Everfreeze, but they do not handle warmer temperatures very well and every attempt led to them turning back. Who knows what would have happened if they had managed to find the other Festelcan nations?

OTHER INFO

Festelcan as a whole have only been around for a few thousand years.

Festelcan are basically still in the stone age. They don't have any forms of technology and are not space faring.

Festelcan did not evolve on Vytas. They didn't really evolve at all, actually. Festelcan are not a natural species and were instead created and then planted onto Vytas. They do not know this.

The Storm Festelcan considered Cerulean a terrifying anomaly. When she was a pup, her mentor had been teaching her to use her powers, and her electricity badly wounded him. The council quickly got involved and the archcouncilor, Shockjaw, was fearful of her power and wanted her dead. Cerulean's parents tried to defend her but Shockjaw murdered them both, chasing Cerulean deep into the forest before he lost her. He had hoped she died, but in reality she was saved and transported off world by Krim. Cerulean was presumed dead.

Shockjaw had tried to convince everyone that Cerulean was too dangerous to be kept alive, and hid the truth of her parents' murders. Downpour, Cerulean's former mentor, doesn't believe that she should have been killed, but the council silences and threatens him everytime he attempts to defend her.

Cerulean however, has held a grudge ever since, and plans to enact her revenge.