Post by Birdie on May 12, 2021 22:18:22 GMT
Single: Sweid
Plural: Sweid
Group: Pod
Young: Calf, Calves
Communication: Mindspeech, though they tend to stick to their bonded and bond family unless needed otherwise. Can long-distance communicate with typical whale vocalizations.
Size Range: 10-40 feet depending on rank.
Coloration: Rank dependant.
Bonding Age: Between 6-9 months.
-General Information-
Though ranging in size quite a bit, all Sweid share the same general body shape; their main body looking much like a typical whale except with a slightly enlongated tail ending in the same flipper tail, and with six rudder fins, three evenly spaced on each side of the body with three short webbed claws on the backside of each, and two dorsal fins down their back- the second slightly smaller than the first. Another feature that sets them apart from whales is their elongated neck, ending in a pointed dragon-like head, complete with a set of sharp teeth and ear fins. Depending on rank, some may have spines, extra fins, or other adornments.
Having both gills to filter oxygen from water, as well as air-breathing lungs, Sweid may spend any amount of time above or below water. Though they are most at home in large bodies of water, all ranks have the ability to hover in the air for several hours or even days, though they will eventually tire and need to return to a body of water of some form for at least a few hours before they are able to fly once again. Rarely, a sweid may be born without the ability to fly and they are called sea-bound, though they can still survive above water if given some other form of transport.
Wild Sweid usually live in pods of up to 20 individuals, or as little as 3. Even when bonded, the Sweid tend to spend a good deal of time away from their bonded unless they live near a large enough body of water for the Sweid to comfortably live.
-Mating Information-
When ready to mate a Sweid will dive deep into the sea and call for suitors with their ultrasonic calls, once enough arrive they will direct the suitors to show off their best moves both in and out of the water. This includes showing their rank abilities off, breaching the water /without/ the use of their hovering ability, as well as doing tricks in the air with their hovering ability.
When the caller has judged them all to their liking, they will choose a winner and dive deeply into the water with them for up to three days before surfacing and parting ways.
-Bonding Information-
Once the calves are weaned, the mother will call for potential bonders in the area, or send other creatures more able to travel on land. Sometimes they will even send one of their own pod to fly over land and let others know, sometimes causing quite a scene.
Calves are most comfortable in the water and the bonding is always held in some body of water, usually a cove or bay that is well protected from the elements. The parents of the clutch will offer themselves as seats for potential bonds that aren't comfortable in the water, but encourage candidates to swim with the calfs. Most are very playful and still easily large enough to support the weight of potential bonds, and will encourage them to grab onto their back fins or neck so they can swim around with them and dive under the water for a short amount of time.
Calves will mindspeak with all potential candidates and ask a variety of questions while playing with each other and the candidates to determine who they want to bond with.
-Naming Information-
Sweid will accept any name given to them.
-Ranks-
Typhoon - *****
The largest of all and the only all female rank, the Typhoon queens range from 35-40 feet fully grown. They are able to dive the deepest and hover the longest out of water, up to a week if in dire need but easily for up to four days. Typhoons are named after their ability to create huge, devastating waves of water that can wreak havoc on ships and land if they feel their pod is threatened, often riding the waves to attack with their sharp teeth and the sharp, poisonous spines that line their heads and upper half of their neck, as well as along their tail and fins. They have the ability to retract all their spines except for two long ones just behind their finned ears, much like horns, and will often do so whenever they do not sense a threat to themselves or their family. They tend to be only cool colors, ranging from green, to blue and sometimes a cool shaded purple, and on the darker end of the range, sometimes even black, but they sport any color of markings with at least one shining silver mark somewhere on their body, though all markings may be the same metallic silver shade.
Whirlpool - ****
The second largest rank, the Whirlpool range from 30-35 feet fully grown. They can hover out of the water for up to five days at max, but are most comfortable at three. Whirlpools have the ability to create large, powerful whirlpools in the water, easily able to pull ships underwater and capsize them, though this requires fairly deep water to be very effective. They can control the intensity of this whirlpool, and will sometimes use the ability to create gently swirling currents for others to enjoy. This rank has two extra fins that run down from the base of their neck to the base of their tail that extend further in the middle, somewhat like wings that they can fold closer to their body if they need to. Though the majority of their body is usually a dull, murky shade of any color, the fins that extend down their body are always bright and contrast sharply. They can have markings of any color, though usually they have a dappled appearance and always have at least one pearly white marking somewhere on their body, though all markings may be the same pearly white.
Undertow - ***
The Undertow rank ranges from 20-30 feet fully grown. They are able to hover out of the water for up to three days at most, but easily up to a full day, though out of all the ranks they prefer to remain in the water the most and will usually only hover over land if needed in the first place. Able to create strong undertow currents from deep within the water, they can easily suck down swimmers or other creatures into the depths, as well as smaller boats. This rank is unusual in that it has a stalk coming from their forehead that they can flip back and forth, with a glowing light at the end of any color, as well as a series of glowing spots down their back and sides that they can control to create intricate flashing lightshows. Each individual has between two and four colors they can flash their lights, in any pattern. Their base color is always some shade of gray, black or deep red, and markings are almost always black and red.
Rapids - **
Ranging from 15-20 feet fully grown, the Rapid rank is able to hover out of the water for a full day if need be, but are most comfortable at around 12 hours, though they are most comfortable existing on the surface of the water and will 'beach' themselves to be nearer to their bonded or just to enjoy some sun regularly. Able to create white water rapids in even calm, still water, they can easily knock around swimmers and might tip over some small boats, though rarely will they do much damage. This rank has thick, bony plates that cover the back of their necks and along their back and top of their tail, as well as the forward edge of each fin. Rapids are usually a light, pale color, even pure white at times, though the plates are always at least slightly darker than the rest of them and are a solid color. They can have markings of any color and shape, often having stripes more than other shapes, and the markings on their shell like plating will be a darker shade as well.
Swell - *
The smallest and most common rank ranging from 10-15 feet fully grown, Swells can only hover out of the water for half a day at most, but usually need to rest in some form of water after only six hours, though they are unique in that they can be replenished just by soaking their head and fins for less than an hour before being able to hover once again. They are able to create small waves at will, though repeated strikes on a swimmer or small boat may cause them to go under or tip, it is rather rare- they are more likely able to do damage by just striking the object with their body. This rank has unique side fins- instead of a paddle shape with short claws, they instead have long delicate claws and thin, flowing fins much like a betta. They can be any color imaginable, even matching those of other ranks, though they are always at least two fairly different hues and most often fairly bright. They are most likely to have smaller markings along the edge of their fins or on their extremities, the main two colors of their body taking on a blotchy spotted pattern on their own.
Basic body shape of Sweid without any rank features.
Size chart with max sizes for each rank.
Plural: Sweid
Group: Pod
Young: Calf, Calves
Communication: Mindspeech, though they tend to stick to their bonded and bond family unless needed otherwise. Can long-distance communicate with typical whale vocalizations.
Size Range: 10-40 feet depending on rank.
Coloration: Rank dependant.
Bonding Age: Between 6-9 months.
-General Information-
Though ranging in size quite a bit, all Sweid share the same general body shape; their main body looking much like a typical whale except with a slightly enlongated tail ending in the same flipper tail, and with six rudder fins, three evenly spaced on each side of the body with three short webbed claws on the backside of each, and two dorsal fins down their back- the second slightly smaller than the first. Another feature that sets them apart from whales is their elongated neck, ending in a pointed dragon-like head, complete with a set of sharp teeth and ear fins. Depending on rank, some may have spines, extra fins, or other adornments.
Having both gills to filter oxygen from water, as well as air-breathing lungs, Sweid may spend any amount of time above or below water. Though they are most at home in large bodies of water, all ranks have the ability to hover in the air for several hours or even days, though they will eventually tire and need to return to a body of water of some form for at least a few hours before they are able to fly once again. Rarely, a sweid may be born without the ability to fly and they are called sea-bound, though they can still survive above water if given some other form of transport.
Wild Sweid usually live in pods of up to 20 individuals, or as little as 3. Even when bonded, the Sweid tend to spend a good deal of time away from their bonded unless they live near a large enough body of water for the Sweid to comfortably live.
-Mating Information-
When ready to mate a Sweid will dive deep into the sea and call for suitors with their ultrasonic calls, once enough arrive they will direct the suitors to show off their best moves both in and out of the water. This includes showing their rank abilities off, breaching the water /without/ the use of their hovering ability, as well as doing tricks in the air with their hovering ability.
When the caller has judged them all to their liking, they will choose a winner and dive deeply into the water with them for up to three days before surfacing and parting ways.
-Bonding Information-
Once the calves are weaned, the mother will call for potential bonders in the area, or send other creatures more able to travel on land. Sometimes they will even send one of their own pod to fly over land and let others know, sometimes causing quite a scene.
Calves are most comfortable in the water and the bonding is always held in some body of water, usually a cove or bay that is well protected from the elements. The parents of the clutch will offer themselves as seats for potential bonds that aren't comfortable in the water, but encourage candidates to swim with the calfs. Most are very playful and still easily large enough to support the weight of potential bonds, and will encourage them to grab onto their back fins or neck so they can swim around with them and dive under the water for a short amount of time.
Calves will mindspeak with all potential candidates and ask a variety of questions while playing with each other and the candidates to determine who they want to bond with.
-Naming Information-
Sweid will accept any name given to them.
-Ranks-
Typhoon - *****
The largest of all and the only all female rank, the Typhoon queens range from 35-40 feet fully grown. They are able to dive the deepest and hover the longest out of water, up to a week if in dire need but easily for up to four days. Typhoons are named after their ability to create huge, devastating waves of water that can wreak havoc on ships and land if they feel their pod is threatened, often riding the waves to attack with their sharp teeth and the sharp, poisonous spines that line their heads and upper half of their neck, as well as along their tail and fins. They have the ability to retract all their spines except for two long ones just behind their finned ears, much like horns, and will often do so whenever they do not sense a threat to themselves or their family. They tend to be only cool colors, ranging from green, to blue and sometimes a cool shaded purple, and on the darker end of the range, sometimes even black, but they sport any color of markings with at least one shining silver mark somewhere on their body, though all markings may be the same metallic silver shade.
Whirlpool - ****
The second largest rank, the Whirlpool range from 30-35 feet fully grown. They can hover out of the water for up to five days at max, but are most comfortable at three. Whirlpools have the ability to create large, powerful whirlpools in the water, easily able to pull ships underwater and capsize them, though this requires fairly deep water to be very effective. They can control the intensity of this whirlpool, and will sometimes use the ability to create gently swirling currents for others to enjoy. This rank has two extra fins that run down from the base of their neck to the base of their tail that extend further in the middle, somewhat like wings that they can fold closer to their body if they need to. Though the majority of their body is usually a dull, murky shade of any color, the fins that extend down their body are always bright and contrast sharply. They can have markings of any color, though usually they have a dappled appearance and always have at least one pearly white marking somewhere on their body, though all markings may be the same pearly white.
Undertow - ***
The Undertow rank ranges from 20-30 feet fully grown. They are able to hover out of the water for up to three days at most, but easily up to a full day, though out of all the ranks they prefer to remain in the water the most and will usually only hover over land if needed in the first place. Able to create strong undertow currents from deep within the water, they can easily suck down swimmers or other creatures into the depths, as well as smaller boats. This rank is unusual in that it has a stalk coming from their forehead that they can flip back and forth, with a glowing light at the end of any color, as well as a series of glowing spots down their back and sides that they can control to create intricate flashing lightshows. Each individual has between two and four colors they can flash their lights, in any pattern. Their base color is always some shade of gray, black or deep red, and markings are almost always black and red.
Rapids - **
Ranging from 15-20 feet fully grown, the Rapid rank is able to hover out of the water for a full day if need be, but are most comfortable at around 12 hours, though they are most comfortable existing on the surface of the water and will 'beach' themselves to be nearer to their bonded or just to enjoy some sun regularly. Able to create white water rapids in even calm, still water, they can easily knock around swimmers and might tip over some small boats, though rarely will they do much damage. This rank has thick, bony plates that cover the back of their necks and along their back and top of their tail, as well as the forward edge of each fin. Rapids are usually a light, pale color, even pure white at times, though the plates are always at least slightly darker than the rest of them and are a solid color. They can have markings of any color and shape, often having stripes more than other shapes, and the markings on their shell like plating will be a darker shade as well.
Swell - *
The smallest and most common rank ranging from 10-15 feet fully grown, Swells can only hover out of the water for half a day at most, but usually need to rest in some form of water after only six hours, though they are unique in that they can be replenished just by soaking their head and fins for less than an hour before being able to hover once again. They are able to create small waves at will, though repeated strikes on a swimmer or small boat may cause them to go under or tip, it is rather rare- they are more likely able to do damage by just striking the object with their body. This rank has unique side fins- instead of a paddle shape with short claws, they instead have long delicate claws and thin, flowing fins much like a betta. They can be any color imaginable, even matching those of other ranks, though they are always at least two fairly different hues and most often fairly bright. They are most likely to have smaller markings along the edge of their fins or on their extremities, the main two colors of their body taking on a blotchy spotted pattern on their own.
Basic body shape of Sweid without any rank features.
Size chart with max sizes for each rank.
