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DREAMWALKERS
MAGICAL ALIGNMENT: Dark and sin following, though mixed-magic (dim) dreamwalkers have been rarely recorded.
LIFESPAN: Even with medical intervention, a dreamwalker’s lifespan is unfortunately quite limited. (50-70 years). It’s debated whether or not this is caused by their nocturnal lifestyle being unsustainable, or whether this is simply part of their moth-mimicking biology.
APPEARANCE: Commonly mistaken for mothfolk, a subspecies of animalfolk, these beings are mostly humanoid with a few moth-esque characteristics. Namely, they possess large antennae protruding from their heads, large, cape-like wings incapable of flying for longer than a few moments, and small, downturned, cupped ears. These ears are just as silky and ornately patterned as their wings, and just as fragile. Dreamwalkers, more often than not, have rounded, bulbous eyes that shimmer in darkness. In comparison to other humanoids, dreamwalkers are relatively small, rarely reaching above five foot four.
Less common features of a dreamwalker include:
- Brightly coloured hair.
- Extremely fluffy or feathery antennae.
- Lacking a second set of winged ears.
- Fuzz across the body, usually around the neck or in place of eyebrows.
- Mothlike feet, with small claws and an abundance of fluff.
- A facial crest: a dark or brightly coloured 'v' shape, reaching down to
their nose.
ABILITIES:
The main distinguishing factor between mothfolk and dreamwalkers is their magic, and their incredibly specific subset of powers. From prophetic dreams to astral projection to creating dreams or nightmares for others out of thin air, there’s a wide array of abilities these beings may possess, but all are related to sleep, dreams and nightmares.
OVERALL BIOLOGY:
Due to being nocturnal and a lack of sun exposure, dreamwalkers are
often quite pale and appear sickly, regardless of skin tone. They have extremely photosensitive vision, and can often be temporarily
blinded if outside during the day. Their ears, wings and skin are
extremely delicate, susceptible to accidental damage, even if just
grazed with a fingernail. Strangely, their blood is transparent
and brownish, suggesting it contains very little hemoglobin.
DIET:
Dreamwalkers are mainly frugivores, with an undeniable sweet tooth. They are capable of digesting meat if necessary, but it may give them an upset stomach. They do not possess back teeth, and as a result, chewing can be difficult - some prefer a liquid diet. As the majority of their time is spent asleep, they require much less sustenance than other magical fauna.*
SLEEP/REST:
They can do their best to reject it, but almost all dreamwalkers are entirely nocturnal. The presence of sunlight dulls them to sleep, and they are rendered almost entirely blind when outside during the daytime. Their sleep schedule revolves around the seasons - sleep before dawn breaks, and wake when the moonlight begins to shine. They sleep significantly less during the summer. Being required to spend almost half of their lives asleep, dreamwalkers often find themselves napping during the night, too. They require 12-15 hours of daily sleep.
REPRODUCTION:
It’s quite rare that a dreamwalker conceives without medical intervention, especially when the paternal parent is not another dreamwalker. They have an incredibly short “gestation period”, around 8-10 weeks, and then proceed to “lay” anywhere between 1-4 eggs. In larger clutches, it is unlikely that all four delicate and translucent eggs survive until hatching (after another eight weeks).
*1-2 meals, or a steady stream of snacks, juice boxes and smoothies.
CHILDHOOD AND DEVELOPMENT:
Often nicknamed “dreamies” or “dreamlings”, a dreamwalker caterpillar appears incredibly mismatched from an adult dreamwalker. They do not possess wings, and have smaller, less sensitive antennae. In place of winged ears, a dreamie will have soft, felt-like cups and a fuzzy facial crest. Their colourations are drastically different, and vary hugely between subspecies.
SEXUAL DIMORPHISM:
Sexual dimorphism is extremely notable and obvious in dreamwalkers. From the length and furry-ness of their antennae, their colourations and patternings, and the size of both their winged ears and actual wings, males are typically larger and flashier.*
Dreamwalker young, as well as appearing far from human, develop slightly differently too - they are able to ingest solid food almost from birth, and are incredibly hungry. They are also incredibly talkative, but are prone to speech impediments. All dreamlings are able to produce silk from a small gland within their mouths.
​
As the first signs of puberty begin to make themselves known (between the ages of 8-12, usually), these caterpillars are caterpillars no longer. The cocooning process is rather sudden. Once it’s time, it’s time. The young dreamwalker eats excessively for a day or two, wraps themselves in a blanket of their own produced silk, and falls asleep. This process takes around two weeks, occasionally longer.
When they finally emerge, they’re a full blown dreamwalker, wings and all (albeit smaller).
*These traits may be altered via hormone replacement therapy, dying the fluff or careful trimming if desired.
HYBRIDISATION:
Dreamwalkers are not known to hybridise often. Strangely, however, when
they do, it is usually with light magic fauna. Animalfolk can interbreed with a dreamwalker, reproductive difficulties aside. This has a very minimal chance (5%) of producing a dim hybrid, a being of both
light and dark.
Though it is practically unheard of, a dreamwalker can potientially
hybridise with a vampire. (>1%)
CULTURE:
Though their overall culture is mostly dependent on ethnicity, there are a few values and religious beliefs that are extremely common within dreamwalker families. For starters, their fragile nature can lead to an extreme level of helicopter parenting. Family and community are incredibly important, and a dreamwalker dare not even think of disobeying their guardians, lest they be shunned entirely.
As for religion and spirituality, these beings have a great respect for and often worship the moon, and various goddesses associated with it. Holidays revolve around bathing in it’s light, and the winter solstice (the shortest day of the year) is the most well known of these celebrations. They drink, dance and sleep under its shimmer, if able to.
The majority of dreamwalkers believe in a very specific afterlife, gazing down upon the earth from the silvery rock above.*
The most common dreamwalker names are representative of the moon, and of the latter half of the year: Selene, Luna, Hala, Lucien, December, Ayden, to name a few.
​It is possible to daze a dreamwalker with the use of a flashlight or lamp, due to their light-sensitive vision.
Due to their shared nocturnal nature, a dreamwalker and vampire friendship can last a lifetime.
Dreamlings, and even some adult dreamwalkers, have been known to chew and eat fabric. It's unknown how they manage this, considering their lack of molars.
*Deceased dreamwalker family members are usually cremated under moonlight.