Mothmen
Playable Species
A peculiar species of extraterrestrial being.
Do you want to believe?
Mothmen are a peculiar species, not native to Merlot at all! They are from an unknown galaxy far away, cosmic visitors new to a strange world. They typically avoid other species, but they've been spotted by accident often, leading to numerous cryptid stories.
- Natural affinity: PSI
- Key Features: tube body, cloak
Fun facts:
Groupings: A group of mothmen is called an "enigma"
Anatomy
Mothmen stand upright, with an almost tube shaped body. They have a band of fur around their head, neck, and back that is called the "cloak", it can be darker or lighter than the surrounding fur, but it is almost always present.
Mothmen canonically do not have mouths, but can be drawn with one if you want.
Body
Mothmen are bipedal and walk on the soles of their feet. Their peculiar anatomy can come off as uncanny to other species, especially being that they seem of this planet at a glance, but the harder you look, the weirder they seem...
Mothmen can have a variety of shapes, as long as they are amorphous and similarly abstract. Go wild!
Arms
Mothmen do have arms! They seem to come out from under the chin, and are usually hidden from view by the cloak. Hands can have 3-4 fingers and are good for manipulating objects.
Hands and feet
Mothmen typically have clawed feet and hands, but they've been spotted with almost cartoonish feet, or what seems to be tentacles for limbs...
Crests
Mothmen have a large variety of head features, but the most common are fluffy crests or growths of fur. More rare features resemble horns, tentacles, antennae, and more.
Cloak
One of the most notable features of mothmen is the 'cloak' that covers their backs. they conceal the arms, and typically resemble a cape. Rarer capes extend beyond the back and onto the chest or legs, or start resembling clothing or have overgrowths of fur.
Cloaks can be drawn with extra fur, but if they start looking inorganic or like clothes, then they start getting rarer.
Society and behavior
Mothmen are very individual, but tend towards neutral, curious, and friendly personalities. Though their appearances are unsettling to most, their behavior is usually far from frightening. Being that they're completely new to this world, mothmen are relatively curious about the people and activities of this world. Mothmen are eager to learn all that they can about the species that live on Merlot.
Mothmen tend to be very social, and oftentimes pair bond rather than work in groups. They get along well with their own kind, but are usually shy around other species, and don't like showing themselves to them. They tend to be more curious than outright malicious, but misunderstandings often happen, especially due to their habit of preferring to "watch from a distance" instead of approaching an individual. This can lead to a lot of unintentional anxiety between individuals, as the victim of being watched might think that there's something out to get them, when in reality the mothman is simply too awkward to try and talk to them face-first.
Mothmen tend to be very social, and oftentimes pair bond rather than work in groups. They get along well with their own kind, but are usually shy around other species, and don't like showing themselves to them. They tend to be more curious than outright malicious, but misunderstandings often happen, especially due to their habit of preferring to "watch from a distance" instead of approaching an individual. This can lead to a lot of unintentional anxiety between individuals, as the victim of being watched might think that there's something out to get them, when in reality the mothman is simply too awkward to try and talk to them face-first.
Mothmen learn quickly from information that they're given, which makes them quite adaptable (when their emotions aren't getting the better of them.) Being aligned with PSI, a lot of mothmen have high levels of empathy for others, even despite the differences in worlds and society. This often leads to mothmen quickly forming deep friendships when they actually gain the courage to approach a stranger. Their mannerisms can come off as very uncanny and alien, but the reality is that a lot of mothmen are deeply emotional beings.
Homes
Mothmen on Merlot tend to have no concrete homes, aside from potential spaceships and the colonies held within. Some may live out in forests or in the wilderness, cobbling together homes out of whatever they can find, but those who are capable of living in a ship often choose to do so, as they prefer the familiarity and security of their technology.
Innate magic
Mothmen have a light sixth sense towards detecting psychic powers, magic, and danger. They exhibit minor telekinesis and telepathy, able to lift objects with their mind, and speak to other creatures through their minds without knowing a language. Other magic powers exist as well.
Mothmen usually can't understand what threat will occur when they detect it, but they can recognize a danger, and they can use their knowledge to escort people safely. The time period between knowing and the threat incoming varies between severity, minor threats may get only a couple of minutes warning, but total planet threats may have months or even years notice.
Mothmen usually can't understand what threat will occur when they detect it, but they can recognize a danger, and they can use their knowledge to escort people safely. The time period between knowing and the threat incoming varies between severity, minor threats may get only a couple of minutes warning, but total planet threats may have months or even years notice.
Basic - everyone can use these
- Psychics
- Mothmen can communicate with other species, including those that may not be able to speak, like a dog, or those with a language they can't understand.
- Levitation, Manipulation
- The ability to make objects around them float. They may be able to pick up objects such as pencils, papers, rocks, small animals, anything that seems reasonable.
- Sixth Sense
- Mothmen have an innate sense for detecting magic, psychic power, and incoming threats.
- The range is about a mile long, and the mothman will get an odd feeling when in the presence of the supernatural.
- Mothmen can detect danger, whether malicious intent, or bad things that may happen. They can sense things in the immediate area, and can detect things ranging from potential minor accidents to potential life-threatening danger.
Gifted- mothmen with strong sight.
- Psychics
- They gain the ability to lightly mind read, such as being able to detect what others are feeling.
- Levitation, Manipulation
- They may be able to pick up objects such as people, large animals, desks, beds, other reasonably sized objects.
- Sixth Sense
- The mothman can sense things within a 5-mile range.
- Can recognize particular spells or PSI by sensing them, if they have seen these spells or PSI before.
- Can distinctly recognize and understand potential upcoming threats that might threaten the immediate area, such as a wildfire, tsunami, etc.
Prophetic - the powers of these mothmen are considered astounding, their capability to help is beyond most people's comprehension.
- Psychics
- These mothmen can mind read to the extreme, being able to tap directly into others' thoughts and distinctly understand what they are thinking and feeling. They can influence these emotions and soothe or elevate them.
- Levitation, Manipulation
- They may be able to pick up objects such as boulders, trees, or machines, other objects of similar sizes and weights
- Sixth Sense
- Can distinctly recognize and understand potential upcoming threats that might threaten entire continents, or perhaps even the state of the world itself...
Relation to Humans
Interaction with humans is not required, you can simply pretend they don't exist if you like. The lore below is simply to describe the potential relationship and consequences of interactions.
To humans, mothmen are either terrifying or outright threats. They're often only glanced in the middle of the night, on camera footage, or in their peripheral vision. They are a completely foreign entity that is nothing like they've seen before, so naturally they tend to feel threatened by them. Mothmen seem to understand the results of their actions and usually tend to avoid them back, however their resultant sneaky and cautious behavior may only help to elevate the level of fear as the mothmen continue to skirt through the shadows.
It's definitely possible for both species to get along and coexist, but they would have to cross the fear barrier first, and first contact will definitely be bizarre.
To humans, mothmen are either terrifying or outright threats. They're often only glanced in the middle of the night, on camera footage, or in their peripheral vision. They are a completely foreign entity that is nothing like they've seen before, so naturally they tend to feel threatened by them. Mothmen seem to understand the results of their actions and usually tend to avoid them back, however their resultant sneaky and cautious behavior may only help to elevate the level of fear as the mothmen continue to skirt through the shadows.
It's definitely possible for both species to get along and coexist, but they would have to cross the fear barrier first, and first contact will definitely be bizarre.
Gender, Reproduction, Babies
While it is currently unknown how Mothmen reproduce, there are working theories on the subject. The currently most widely accepted theory is that Mothmen reproduce by a form of budding, where they grow a second individual on their body. It is assumed that there is some psychic interference from the growth of this second Mothman within the first, as neither of the Mothmen seem to recall the event. However it has been observed that a Mothman will occassionally stray from its normal activities, only to return with a fellow Mothman in tow. This theory is further supported by the idea that Mothmen with dicephalous are created from a Mothman's failed attempts at budding.
Mothmen also have no concept of gender, simply accepting whatever they are called by.
Mothmen also have no concept of gender, simply accepting whatever they are called by.
Associated Prompts
Associated Companions
