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The Ecology of the Crystal Carrier
And its companion, the Orbiting Spirit
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CLIMATE/TERRAIN:Aquatic and Tropical saltwater oceans.
Crystal Carriers are only sighted in winter in the Redrock region, they appear over fairly calm waters and sandy shores.
Orbiting Spirits are spotted out at sea during the same winter weeks as Crystal Carriers, most often in the Kelp Beds region.
FREQUENCY: Seasonal, Rare
ORGANIZATION: Often single, in pairs with other creatures or in single-species trios.
ACTIVITY CYCLE: Diurnal | Nocturnal (Orbiting Spirits)
DIET: Unknown
INTELLIGENCE: Magical Beast
SIZE: Large (semi-corporeal)
TREASURE: 1500t
NO. APPEARING: 1 - 3
ELEMENT: Neutral
HIT POINTS: 1110
QUICK: 31
STRENTH: 34
AGILITY: 12
INTELLIGENCE: 34
DEFENSE: 28
MENTAL DEFENSE: 28
ATTACKS: Meditate and Contuse
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Appearance: These spectral fish appeared suddenly during the second winter solstice that heralds the appearance and spreading of previously isolated Nocturne dragon clans. They appeared common enough in their ranges that many dragon clans were able to procure specimens as familiars, and it is from those individuals that much of the current knowledge of them is gained.
They appear in two distinct color phases. The brightly-colored crystal carrier is shaded in orange, gold and cream with a distinctly sea-glass colored globular orb that it guards. In contrast, the more mysterious orbiting spirit is colored in pale blues, lavender and shades of smoky white; its globe orb is the color of blue pearl with reflective lavender undertones. The creatures are fishlike in build, but their fins are wisps with little to no substance. Despite this, they are agile, their movements are graceful and their swimming patterns, constant circling of their orbs, are mesmerizing to dragons.
Most notably, these fish can either appear below the waterline where they do not seem to be affected by currents or ocean movements. Or they hover several feet to three meters
above the surface of the waters where they appear. From a distance orbiting spirits can resemble sea-going foxfire as they circle their orbs beneath full-moons, and it is now under discussion by learned dragons whether cases of oceanic sundogs and foxfire were actually small schools of orbiting spirits and crystal carriers attracted to moonlight and sunlight at specific angles.
Combat: They are capable fighters. Their semi-substantial forms allows them to move quickly and dodge enemy attacks. They are only somewhat harmed by physical attacks and have high resistance to magical counterspells. In combat, their previously whisp-like fins expand and provide both a smokescreen and distraction to enemies that rely on clawing or biting, giving the carrier or spirit time to concentrate and build magical energy for its own attacks. Dragons that face either creature in combat do well to ignore being touched by the fins, as they do no harm until the creature performs a Contuse ability, and concentrate on attacking the body of the spectral fish before it gathers sufficient magical energy to do so.
It is unknown if crystal carriers or orbiting spirits have an elemental designation, during the long winter most were quickly dispatched by experienced field hunters before they could fully counter-attack and specimens brought home as familiars show no aggressive inclinations at all. Anecdotal reports do substantiate that the fish glow blue in signature Meditation fashion in combat and use their fins to perform the Contuse weakening spell. Both fish have only been seen to use Meditate, which is assumed to also only grant them 30 points of breath energy, and Contuse, which functions similarly to how fae dragons perform the technique. The Crystal Carrier inflicts 102 damage on an enemy ordinarily and 204 damage if it performs a critical hit. They also inflict the
Contuse effect on their target, which causes them to lose 25% of their strength in causing return damage and lasts for 5 turns. Little wonder that hunters did not allow them time to perform Contuse.
Habitat/Society: Their origins are largely unknown and much knowledge of their ecology is fragmentary due to the tumultuous and very brief and limited timing of their appearances. They appear to be cosmopolitan in their companions, often appearing solely with others of their kind or flanking other animal creatures in their area. When appearing with other creatures, the former do not appear to notice the strangeness of the hovering fish and treat them as they would any other creature.
Crystal Carriers are most active during sunrise and high noon and their colors often help them blend perfectly into the reflection of sunlight on waves, making them hard to discern from the water around them. As their fins can resemble foam when they are close to shore, there have been instances of dragons confusing globs of spume and the movements of waterlife beneath foam lines for crystal carriers outside of the winter seasons.
Orbiting Spirits, are most active at dusk and midnight and are easiest to spot under full moons as they appear to be attracted to round objects or round animals, and will endlessly circle them if given the opportunity. During the winter solstice, the first orbiting spirits were discovered as they circled the reflection of the moon in large tidepools. Later sightings showed the creatures circling mirage puffers and cast off life preservers from boats. It is undetermined whether their attraction is a hunting strategy or a means of attempting to gather what the creature believes are mislaid orbs.
Neither fish has ever been observed to eat in the company of dragons, which lends credence to their not wholly natural reputation.
Beastfolk: These fish are considered heralds of calm sea weather. Their appearances are considered lucky and with some effort, they can be led. With the baits of giant oyster pearls to attract their attention, maren have successfully encouraged the fish to follow them into deepwater caves, where they remain and form a kind of natural lighting. Above the sea, the Talonok and Harpy tribes have also seen the value of creatures that hover under their own power, are docile and produce heatless light.
Dragonkind: The crystal carrier and orbiting spirit are strange novelties, as far as dragons are concerned. They are placid, quiet familiars, and crystal carriers are excellent for elderly dragons who prefer soft reading light or and orbiting spirits for hatchlings with night fears. Parents often set a spirit to slowly circle a hatchling’s bed, and allow it to soothe the hatchling with their soft light and undulating movements as they float.
Because of their attraction to round objects, orbiting spirits are often seen around pearlcatcher lairs in the Sunbeam Ruins. Their behavior unnerves the generally cowardly dragon breed, and the creatures are often driven away out of the fear that they will steal the pearls of the unwary. If this happens outside of the winter months, the spectral fish will disappear into thin air, during the winter solstice they may drift almost aimlessly overland, following travelling pearlcatchers.
References
Flight Rising Wikia.
Orbiting Spirit & Crystal Carrier. Retrieved from
http://flightrising.wikia.com
Jones, B.
Online DnD Die Roller. Retrieved from
http://www.brockjones.com/dieroller/dice.htm
Sylvandyr.
Flight rising coliseum skills and monster stats: Redrock Cove. Retrieved from
https://fir-fr-coli-skills.firebaseapp.com/
Williams, S.
How to create a monster. Dragon Magazine #276. October 2000.