Species

Dark Realm

Life shaped by shadow, silence, and the art of surviving unseen

Creatures of the Dark Realm evolved in a world where light is rare and sound can be fatal. Their bodies are built for subtlety. Things like bioluminescent markings for communication, hyper‑sensitive senses for navigating the twilight, and movements so quiet they seem supernatural to humans. Many species form tight, interdependent communities, relying on shared perception and collective vigilance to endure the realm’s hidden dangers.

Some Dark‑born beings appear almost human. Others are living silhouettes, flickering shapes, or luminous predators adapted to the physics of shadow. All of them carry the realm’s quiet intensity with them, even on Earth.

Dark-Clad

The dark-clad are the species most similar to humans. They appear to be humans except for hair and eyes. Their hair and eye color are the same, and they have black sclera as well. Their pupils are vertically slit, and they have cat-like vision. As such, they do struggle with close up vision in some cases. They are able to manifest a “cloak” of shadows around themselves which is how the first one looked to humans that encountered them. They have male, female, and neuter genders. They are generally peaceful, and they tend to be shy and self-isolating. They form close-knit family groups in the Dark Realm, sometimes with three to four generations in the same area communally raising their young. They are known for taking in orphans when parents are killed. They have longer than human life-spans of around three hundred years. They are compatible with humans for breeding as well as most other sentient bipedal creatures. Their native species name is unpronounceable by human tongues, so they adopted the name given to them by the first human they encountered. They cannot interbreed with any other species.

Demons

No one knows what to call these creatures other than demons. They have properties similar to the Earth mythos of demons. Some have horns, some have glowing eyes, some have claws, and there are even more variations. All demons can interbreed with each other and have been found to be compatible with most bipedal creatures in other realms. They generally live less than a hundred years, however, their short lives are usually brutal and many do not survive to die a natural death. They do not form family units, with the female leaving to bear the child alone, and she rears it until it reaches maturity, then she leaves. As such, humans avoid these creatures. For the most part, they live alone and avoid humans, however sometimes, one decides tthey dislike the life of being alone and seeks out human or other creatures for companionship. The concept of “love” is unknown to them, though some have been able to understand and feel the emotion after time with humans.

The Umbrases/Shadow People

The Umbrases are somewhat like living shadows. They are corporeal, however. In their native realm, their shadows lag behind or move on their own. To their annoyance, their shadows act normally on Earth. They have matte skin in varying shades of gray that absorbs light instead of reflecting it. They have the ability to thin themselves out to fit through smaller spaces than looks possible. They are sensitive to light, so they must wear sunglasses and clothing that protects them during the day, if they come out in daylight at all. They build their homes on Earth where shadows overlap each other if they can. Their main ability is shadow weaving where they can create any physical object out of shadow up to and including weapons. They have four genders, male, female, neuter, and intersex. Females are able to bear children, as are those of the intersex Umbases. Males can impregnate as can the intersex individuals. Neuters are sterile. They can interbreed with Dark-Clad and Nocturni, but cannot breed with anything from another realm. Humans, due to their shadow nature, have taken to calling them the Shadow People.

Gloomwight/Emotion Eaters

The Gloomwight feed on what humans perceive as “negative” emotions. They are not predators, however. They just metabolize these negative emotions as their energy. They do not harm those they feed on. They have a slightly smaller than human build, and generally are pale with light hair and eyes. Their eyes glow when near sources of the strong emotions they feed on. They can sense emotional states in general, no matter the emotion. Because they feed on negative emotions, people become calmer around them with their emotional state lowered by them. Their skin is cool to the touch, mostly related to the way they metabolize emotions. All Gloomwrought look similar, not showing any sex characteristics. They have both male and female genders and neuter gender. Neuters, like with Umbrin, are sterile and rare. They are able to interbreed with Nocturna and Demons, however not with others. Considering that they “eat” emotions, humans started calling them Emotion Eaters. Despite initial distaste at the name, they eventually warmed up to it and now use it rather than their actual name of Gloomwight.

Nocturna/Bat Folk

Adapted to living in total darkness, the Nocturna use an ability called echolight that allows them to “see” in that darkness, almost like a bat uses echolocation. They have large eyes that are black in color that reflect light, almost twice as big as humans. They use echolight by emitting soft clicks and hums. Their hearing, thus, is hypersensitive. They can be incapacitated by loud noises, and tend to stay away from busy areas. On Earth, they go underground and build labyrinth like cities where they use sound to sculpt the materials they use. This resonance can mean that watching them build is like listening to a concert. They believe music is the highest form of art. Nocturna are a matriarchal society, where females are larger and more aggressive, while the males are much smaller and submissive to their female partners. While the females do give birth, it is the males that take care of the children, even producing milk, an act that is triggered biologically when the female starts excreting pregnancy pheromones.

Verdant Realm

Life that grows, adapts, and evolves faster than imagination

In the Verdant Realm, evolution is not a slow march. It is a constant, accelerating dance. Species here are shaped by relentless growth and rapid adaptation. Many form symbiotic bonds with flora, fungi, or each other, exchanging nutrients, signals, or even temporary traits. Others are towering, ancient organisms that have survived countless cycles of bloom and decay.

Verdant creatures are vibrant, resilient, and startlingly intelligent in ways humans rarely recognize. Whether gentle or predatory, they embody the realm’s core truth: life is always reaching for more.

Sylthes/Flower people

The Sylthes have vines or petals that grow from their skin at varying degrees depending on the strength of their emotions. They have green blood, coming from the chlorophyll-like compounds in it. They thrive in sunlight, healing any wounds almost instantly. One of their unique traits is the ability to grow protective shields and extra sensory limbs. They can also grow extra appendages that can be used for various purposes. On Earth, they need much more sunlight than average people, but can survive with UV lamps. They believe in the idea that every person gardens their soul, something they must tend to. Humans have dubbed this species the Flower People. They seem to enjoy the human version of their name, and take it in stride. Sylthes are gender neutral creatures and reproduce asexually.

Mycelans/Mushroom Men

The Mycelans are a fungal species. They have mycelial threads running through their bodies. They communicate exclusively through chemical signals and pulses of light. They can extrude a spore that allows them to telepathically speak with other beings. They are a collective consciousness, and generally calm. They are difficult to kill. Once on Earth, the Mycelans who fell through were severed from their collective, so they forged a new one on Earth. However, Earth fungi are too noisy for them, and they filter it out in their mind. They price connection over individuality. Though they have no gender, humans have started calling them the Mushroom Men. They are somewhat grouchy when someone uses the name, and they try to educate them on what their name really is in human languages. They reproduce by creating spores that grow in the ground until they are large enough to move on their own.

Arborwrought/Treeians

A hardy and hard to kill species, the Arborwrought have skin resembling smooth bark or wood, including swirls and whorls in it. Humans have started calling them Treeians, a trend started when a child saw the first one. They can sprout roots into soil and draw energy from it and heal with that energy. They are very slow moving, slow to anger, and can be incredibly formidable when angered or brought to violence. They have voices that creak when they speak and have some difficulty with human languages. Their natural language sounds noting like humans have ever heard. They believe patience is the greatest virtue and all will come to what they need in time. Arborwrought have two genders, male and female. They cannot interbreed with any other species.

Verdantborn/Lifeblooms

The Verdantborn, or also called Lifeblooms by humans, are the core species from the Verdant Realm. They are infused with pure verdant energy. Their skin is green with darker veining patterns on it. They have the ability to boost healing and vitality by those in a radius around them and are able to heal specifically with a touch of one of the leaflike appendages on their shoulders. These are normally kept flat against their back. They accelerate plant growth at a touch as well. They do have the ability to regenerate quickly by entering a trance-like state. They believe in life being sacred due to abundance of it. They often protect humans from other realm creatures, and will also protect realm creatures from humans. Life is supposed to end when necessary, and they find such things an affront to the natural order of life and death. Verdantborn are actually one of the few species that can interbreed with any other species and with humans, though they rarely breed outside their own species. They have intense emotions and love unconditionally when they do, however. They have three genders, male, female, and agender. Agender Verdantborn are capable of asexual reproduction.

Bloomwraiths/Death Flowers

Bloomwraiths are as beautiful as they are deadly. They have petal-like hair and skin, but their bodies contain intoxicating scents to influence another being’s emotions. Their body also releases toxins that they can launch from any appendage. Not really an evil species, they are more of predator. They are omnivores and will consume animals as well as other plants. They are sentient, but mostly live on their own in the wilds. They have unpredictable influence on creatures from earth. They believe predation is life feeding life in an ever-growing cycle. As can be expected, humans have started giving them another name, the Death Flowers, after a Bloomwraith was seen hunting and killing a bear. Bloomwraiths have flower-like reproduction, with females producing “seeds” that burrow into the ground until they “hatch” and grow a stalk-like appendage. The parent of the seed tend the stalk until it “blooms” and begins to fill out into an adult Bloomwraith. They only produce female children, who replicate the same way at maturity.

Storm Realm

Life forged in motion, honed by chaos, and born of raw energy

Storm‑born species evolved in an environment where stability is a myth. They are aerodynamic, electrically attuned, and built to withstand constant turbulence. Some ride the winds like living kites; others store kinetic energy in their bodies, releasing it in bursts of speed or power. Even the more grounded species have adaptations for pressure shifts, magnetic fields, and sudden environmental change.

To humans, Storm creatures seem volatile or unpredictable. In truth, they are simply in tune with a world that never stops moving.

Chosnati

Touched by the elements, the Chosnati are mostly human in appearance with traits of their element. They are highly varied, and can include changed hair color, skin color or texture, eye color and type, and more. They are like a more human version of elementals. Their abilities vary according to how strong their element is. If an elemental has a child with a human, it can also form a Chosnati. Chosnati have male and female genders, as well as an intersex gender that can either sire or bear children. The only gender compatible with humans are the males. Humans often refer to them as their element + touched. (Example Storm Touched, Fire Touched) Most Chosnati don’t care what they are called as long as humans are respectful of them.

Elementals

Each elemental is different based upon their origin and each one has different powers and appearances. Some traits are the same no matter the elemental. All of them have eyes that are solid color and match the main color of their element, and many change with emotion and mood. For example, an Aetherkin’s eyes may swirl like the wind on a sky of blue, and when emotional, cloud over or become foggy. They have no iris or pupil. Many humans are put off by the strangeness of their eyes and many have taken to wearing dark glasses around humans. Each one also shares the ability to telepathically speak to other members of their kind. It is possible to communicate telepathically with a human, but it takes a strong connection to that human for this to work.

Aetherkin—Air

This species is bipedal and human-like. They have semi-hollow bones making them unnaturally light. Their hair moves around without wind or in opposite direction to the wind. They are able to manipulate wind and air around their bodies. They also have extremely heightened reflexes. They are able to live on earth though prefer not to be in high humidity areas. They have a belief that life is shaped by currents and a person’s choices. They can interbreed with humans or other elementals, but not with other species. Their species has only male and female genders.

Ignans—Fire

These elemental creatures have skin that glows like hot embers just under the surface. They also radiate warmth around them continuously. When angry or emotional, these temperatures rise. They are able to ignite small plasma and fire from their fingertips. They are immune to fire but vulnerable to the cold. On earth they have to consciously regulate how much heat they put out due to possible reactions with the oxygen in the air. Their philosophy is that emotions are fuel, each one burning in a different way. Like other elementals, they can interbreed with humans and the other elementals and have male and female genders.

Aquellans—Water

These elementals have skin that has a slight sheen to it. They are able to manipulate liquids of any kind they are near. This includes liquid inside creatures, so they can force blood or other internal fluids to move in different ways. Most do not use this ability as it is seen as taboo among their kind. They also can conduct electricity well and are immune to the effects. Water helps them heal if they are injured, and on Earth they have few limitations other than a need to constantly hydrate themselves. They also have some slight shape-shifting abilities, making them fluid in appearance, including gender. They believe a person’s identity is fluid. The Aquellans have no real concept of gender, thus can change themselves much as a shapeshifter might. They interbreed with almost any species, including humans, and are able to both sire and bear children.

Fulgury—Lightning

Fulgury have hair that has constant static which increases during emotional times. Their eyes will flash at times, especially when storms are going on in the area. Since they are the essence of electricity, they can store and use electrical charges. This means they can “throw” lighting. They have a faster than human nervous system, and on Earth, they have to continually discharge excess electricity into the ground so they don’t accidently shock someone. They have three genders, male, female, and neuter, with neuter individuals being sterile. They can only interbreed with humans and other elementals. They have an idea that life is a continual line of “sparks” between beings.

Terramas—Earth

These elementals are extremely heavy and dense, weighing about twice as much as they appear. They have skin that is also harder than anyone else’s, almost impenetrable. Their skin is also covered with mineral flecks or crystalline patters. They are able to sense vibrations in the ground, and have the ability to cause earthquakes or earth to move. They also are slower to heal than any other elemental. Because of the lower pressure on Earth, they are stronger than humans but they tire quickly. They enjoy being underground and find it comforting to be surrounded by earth. They can, in a pinch, meld with stone for breif periods of time. They have one gender, intersex, and are able to both sire and bear children. They can only interbreed with humans and other elemental. They believe that life should be taken slowly and enjoyed as one day at a time.

Gulunes—Cold elemental

Gulunes have skin that is cool to the touch, and there is fog from their breath when they are excited or emotional. They can lower temperatures of objects (and beings) with a touch, all the way up to freezing them. They are immune to cold but vulnerable to heat, meaning they also cannot live in hot climates. They do have the ability to manifest ice spears that can be thrown at enemies. They can become different degrees of cold with emotional shifts, leading to their idea that clarity comes from calming oneself. They have two genders, male and female, though they rarely have children. It is possible for them to breed with humans and the other elementals, but they rarely do. Many of them are asexual and choose abstinence for their entire lives.

Tempesta—Storm

Tempesta are rarely seen and usually live in the most chaotic and violent areas of the Storm Realm. Their bodies flicker with different elemental traits, and their abilities vary; even they don’t know what they can do in a given day. They are the essence of a chaotic storm made physical. They have the ability to call storms and bring about lightning when under great stress or emotion. They are very unstable on Earth without training to ground themselves. There is only one known on earth at this time. It is unknown if they can interbreed with others, as they generally are not in contact with other elementals for very long.

Echo Realm

Life woven from resonance, emotion, and the architecture of thought

Echo Realm species evolved in a landscape where mind and matter overlap. Their bodies often reflect their inner states, like shifting colors, patterns, or forms in response to emotion or intention. Many communicate through resonance rather than speech, projecting impressions, memories, or harmonized thoughts. Others navigate by sensing the psychic “echoes” left behind by past events.

Some Echo‑born beings are serene and contemplative. Others are overwhelming, their presence pressing against the edges of human perception. All are shaped by a world where consciousness is as tangible as stone.

Memnons

Memnons are flatworm-like symbiotes who seek out willing hosts. They collect and copy the host's memories to their own minds, while sharing their own knowledge, and keeping the host healthy. They live as long as the host lives. They are genderless creatures, and in the Echo Realm, live in small communities and help each other find different creatures to inhabit. They are particularly fond of the more physical creatures that have sentience, though they will take a non-sentient host. Shortly after they die, their body splits into four young memnons, each one carrying a portion of the original's knowledge

Sophians

Sophians have two life stages. They start off as incorporeal orbs that 'feed' on knowledge and emotions. These feedings do not harm the target creature, and they can feed on sentient or non-sentient beings. They prefer sentient beings, however. They must feed at least once a week or they start to weaken. Once they've gained enough, they become corporeal, genederless humanoids that can shapeshift. They shift form when it suits them or the situation. They can speak any language they have learned through feeding on someone.

Resonants

These humanoid creatures are one of the few semi-corporeal beings from the Echo Realm. They at times appear as a solid construct, and others they can be seen through as only after images. Their skin is constantly shifting between colors and textures depending on their mood and emotions. They do not speak, but only send emotions and memories to other minds. When overwhelmed, they project strong emotions to the point of disrupting reality around them. They are incredibly perceptive, and even though they have no language of their own, only borrowed memories and feelings, they are easy for humans to understand. There is now information on how, or if, they reproduce.

Mindshapers

Mindshapers are creatures that can become corporeal with some effort. Their exact appearance is dependent on the features of their mind. For example, a dominant mind will be strong, larger, and have confidence in their manifestations. A Mindshaper can have any traits a human can have, and it is usually almost to the extreme. While in their natural form, they resemble a small cloud of shifting sand floating in the air, usually in any color that they choose. Mindshapers are able to reproduce asexually, but only do so when necessary to help increase their group. They typically live in colonies that balance each other out. On Earth, they like quiet spaces without much disturbance.

Reverences

Predators of the Echo Realm, these creatures feed on strong emotions that humans consider negative. They typically can be found in places where these emotions are the strongest. They are dangerous because if a human is dwelling in one emotion entirely, they can drain them completely, leaving them catatonic. Their appearance is like waves of filaments that flow through the currents of psychic energy shared by all beings. They are generally made of scintillating colors and become brighter as they feed. Their reproductive capabilities are not know at this time.

Archivists

The true name of this species is unknown. They do not reveal it to others, though they no doubt have one that only they know. Archivists literally archive memory. In the Echo Realm, they do this by encountering dying creatures when Realms come close to the Echo Realm. They don’t leave their home realm, but they can reach through the barrier to another realm easily without damaging it. They collect these memories in small, round capsules that are attached to their bodies. These capsules are impossible to remove unless an Archivist allows. When they wish to, they can remove a memory capsule and allow another being to experience the memory as though living as the creature that formed it. They are believed to produce more Archivists when the existing one runs out of room to hold memory capsules, but without more research, it is impossible to know if that is true.