Aitielkh
Basic Information
They usually just refer to eachother as "elkh", but aitielkh are named after their goddess, Aiti. While bepotelkh in captivity don't tend to be seriously religious, aitielkh are devout to Aiti. They shun captivity, living a semi-nomadic life and leaving their fate strictly to themselves and to Aitis whims. The lore of these elkh says that their markings were painted on by the velvet antler of Aiti herself and their eyes glow day or night, light or none. Aitielkh are capable of using magic, though much of their magic is used in their appearance without conscious effort. Some do know enough magic to do small amounts of healing or making plants grow slightly, for example.
Aitielkh fawns share the same bodyshape as other aiti, but do not have the repeating patterns, glowing eyes, or flower crown that adults do. The aiti fawn must survive one winter before they become initiated. At the first full moon after the frogs begin to sing in the spring, the aiti gather from all places to a hidden spring at the foot of the Buckh Mountains and north of Reheva. The spring is completely round like the moon and is a beautiful blue-green in the daylight. One can see all the way to the bottom, where the white sands churn as water springs up from the earth. Here, the aiti tell their creation story and then bed down around the lake for the night. The yearlings will then drink from the pool. They dream that night, and then awaken with their glowing eyes, markings, and a flower crown made of stones and everlasting blooms that reflect their dominant personality traits. The dream is considered a vision, and it may be a vision of the past or future, positive or negative. It's said that this can affect elements of their appearance.
Aitielkh fawns share the same bodyshape as other aiti, but do not have the repeating patterns, glowing eyes, or flower crown that adults do. The aiti fawn must survive one winter before they become initiated. At the first full moon after the frogs begin to sing in the spring, the aiti gather from all places to a hidden spring at the foot of the Buckh Mountains and north of Reheva. The spring is completely round like the moon and is a beautiful blue-green in the daylight. One can see all the way to the bottom, where the white sands churn as water springs up from the earth. Here, the aiti tell their creation story and then bed down around the lake for the night. The yearlings will then drink from the pool. They dream that night, and then awaken with their glowing eyes, markings, and a flower crown made of stones and everlasting blooms that reflect their dominant personality traits. The dream is considered a vision, and it may be a vision of the past or future, positive or negative. It's said that this can affect elements of their appearance.
Relationships with Bepotelkh and Humans
Bepotelkh and aitielkh don't mingle much. In fact, bepotelkh have certain rumors and folklore about the aitielkh because they know so little and stay so far away from them. They generally fear them, and whisper rumors that they can use magic. Many aitielkh don't understand at all why bepotelkh would want to live in captivity or what their relationship with humans is. They vanish quickly if humans are spotted in the wild as they do not trust them at all. They will let bepotelkh approach, but it so rarely happens that their relationship is an awkward one, so they typically ignore or avoid beps if they cross paths. It's rumored among aitielkh that their kind would perish in captivity, or that they would at least lose their color and magic.
In reality, there are some aitielkh that live with magic using humans that live outside of traditional villages. This is an uncommon arrangement, but aitielkh may be found with witches, wizards, and other magickers.
In reality, there are some aitielkh that live with magic using humans that live outside of traditional villages. This is an uncommon arrangement, but aitielkh may be found with witches, wizards, and other magickers.
Traits
All aitielkh have these common traits:
- Tall and spindly like a deer, with long necks.
- Long, flowing tailhair (if they have an aiti tail).
- Glowing eyes.
- A repeating pattern, usually telling a story about their personality or life (can be hidden with magic at will).
- A flower crown with several stones/gems (can be hidden with magic at will).
Flower crowns can be a traditional crown, a corsage, or floating (rare).
Special pupil shapes
Aitielkh can have any of these pupil shapes OR the original (cervine) shape.
The sclera must always be white/off white (dark sclera is restricted).
The sclera must always be white/off white (dark sclera is restricted).
Rare Traits
Bepotelkh and Sonoelkh traits have no rarity when used on Aitielkh. However, Aitielkh have their own rare traits, which you can find here. They are available to be bought with gildes earned from group participation.
Transformation
A bepotelkh that has surpassed their superstition and fear of aitielkh can join them. They must perform the same ritual as aitielkh fawns in order to transform. They will be able to use magic, but it will not come naturally as it does to natural-born aitielkh. Instead, they must learn it. Their color changes to either a bright, saturated version of its bepotelkh form, or becomes a dark, desaturated version of it, depending on whether their dream contained a positive or negative vision. They maintain their original bodyshape.
In order to transform, you must earn gildes by participating in group events. Once you have the necessary amount of gildes, you can exchange them and write about or draw your bep's dreaming vision. You'll then get new artwork of your bep in their aiti form. You can continue using either form in prompts, but in "canon", the change is permanent. In the case of prompts, you could draw your elkh's old bep form in a scene from the past, for example, but they can't transform back-and-forth at will.
When you transform your elkh, you can choose:
In order to transform, you must earn gildes by participating in group events. Once you have the necessary amount of gildes, you can exchange them and write about or draw your bep's dreaming vision. You'll then get new artwork of your bep in their aiti form. You can continue using either form in prompts, but in "canon", the change is permanent. In the case of prompts, you could draw your elkh's old bep form in a scene from the past, for example, but they can't transform back-and-forth at will.
When you transform your elkh, you can choose:
- elements of their repeating pattern
- two flowers and one type of stone for their crown
Magic + Trials
All Aitielkh are capable of some illusion magic from the start. This is what allows them to alter their appearance, which can change further as they grow more proficient in their magic. They can also cast illusions to hide themselves or create distractions. Fawns may have very minor control over this magic until they are initiated.
There are trials that can be completed that will earn your aitielkh varying degrees of control over elemental, healing, and creation magic. These can be used to manifest items, cleanse impurities, help other creatures, defeat monsters, and more.
There are trials that can be completed that will earn your aitielkh varying degrees of control over elemental, healing, and creation magic. These can be used to manifest items, cleanse impurities, help other creatures, defeat monsters, and more.