The Official Caeli Companion Handbook of Visla
An abridged version by Lahrian Foss
all location companions
NOCTILINGIntroduction:
Often overshadowed by more exotic companions, the unassuming noctiling (commonly known as bats, scientifically as Chiroptera Nocti), has long served Caeli as a reliable source of companionship. Regarded as a 'starter pet' the humble Noctiling is affordable, readily available and requires minimal care. They are well-suited for interaction with doots and are generally docile unless mishandled. Habitat: Noctilings have been domesticated for generations, research has shown that wild Noctilings are descended from these domesticated ancestors, now forming feral colonies. These colonies roam broadly all over Dravisdor, adapting to almost all conditions. Distribution: Widespread across Dravisdor, Noctilings inhabit nearly every region where dark, sheltered spaces are found. While their anatomy shows little variation across different locales, regional adaptations in pelt coloration can be observed. Marsh and Star Noctilings tend towards darker hues, while those in sandy coastal areas exhibit lighter coats. Feeding and Diet: Noctilings are primarily herbivorous, though they display voracious appetites for fungi, fruits, and processed foods, seemingly indifferent to taste. This indiscriminate eating behaviour occasionally leads to consumption of toxic or poisonous items. Behaviours and Notable Observations: Their petite size and undemanding diet make Noctilings easy to care for, with some Caeli successfully training them for simple tasks like delivering letters. While responsive to nurturing and physical touch, their nocturnal nature and diminutive stature render them less overtly interactive compared to other pets. Conservation Status: Common - Least Concern |
PHOENIXThe glorious phoenix is one of the most sought after creatures in the pet trade. It is coveted for its striking colours and regal demeanour, and is kept in high demand because of their slow breeding. Outside of the pet trade, the phoenix in the wild will eat anything it comes upon, being opportunistic it is easy to trap and train with food rewards. Wild phoenixes can be found across the whole of Dravisdor, but most reside within untamed Marsh territory. They have extended lifespans of up to 160 years in captivity, almost as long as a caeli lifespan. The phoenix has the unique capacity to exhale luminescent steam, which will often float above their head before dissipating. Reports of phoenix owners fainting from accidentally being poisoned by the fumes is not uncommon, as the friendly bird has the tendency to sit upon its’ owner’s head amicably before accidentally poisoning them.
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SHADE DEEROften seen only as a silhouette at dawn or sunset, the Shade deer is a very tricky creature. The Shade deer is known to change colour as the day changes, from bright crème at day to a dark brown at night. Shade deer are solitary and only congregate in spring to find a mate and reproduce. They tend to range across the Seashore and Star territories, though some have been spotted as far as the Marsh. The Northern nest is assumed to be too cold for their thin pelts, which also grows a special fungus on the surface of their pelt. If caught and processed, this fungus is said to help cure a headache. Thus far, the capture of a Shade deer causes their immediate death, so domestication has not been possible.
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LIDENLidens are named after their distinctive calls, sounding like a "Lid- el" type of low gobble. These birds are kept as an easy source of poultry kept in large free-ranging wild and domesticated groups by Caeli, although originating the Great Mountain and Golden Meadow regions. These birds are lanky and don't have much meat on their frame which means they are eaten as a lower-class food or during famine.Commonly sold throughout the nests, they are far more common than a phoenix and also more difficult to train. However their value comes from their egg-laying potential of nearly 150 per year. They have many breeders that have focussed on colouration and feathering, meaning that sometimes males can be confused as phoenixes in the pet trade. Liden have no capacity for flight and rely on their long legs to flee from predators.
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seashore natives
HESPIOATHHespioaths are known best for being a charming little bird which is well-suited to living as a pet. They are a flightless diving bird native to the Seashore territory, which are seen throughout all seasons. However, several different varieties have been spotted elsewhere along the coast of Dravisdor. This includes some cliff-side diving birds near the Star nest shoreline. They have retractable wings much like a caeli, but the long and triangular shape makes the deflated wing flap still visible as a sort of coloured stripe. Notably, it has two moth-like wing tails that are connected to the main wing. The wing-tails have independent muscles, meaning that they stay visible at all times and have a small range of expressive mobility, a bit like whiskers. These streamers, combined with their purring vocalizations and big eyes, are their primary forms of expression and communication. It is purported by avid Hespioath owners that they are actually quite intelligent, and can express emotion to their owners. According to owners, most of the time this complex communication system is utilized to say ‘Please feed me’. While Hespioaths are not capable of flight, the inflatable wings are strong enough to be effective rudders when swimming, so these birds have amazing underwater agility. Their narrow legs are surprisingly strong, so they can walk largely upright or horizontal, with their beaks to the ground. They waddle, strut, or hop when on land.
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PHILLEAOverall, Phillea make extremely active and mischievous companions and are usually suitable as being a doot's first companion. Phillea are native to the Golden Meadows, living in burrows hidden across the plains. Usually found in pairs, Phillea mate for life and will usually grow depressed if kept alone resulting in shortening their lifespan in captivity.
Phillea come in both domestic and wild types. Both types are found in shades of golden-brown to white-creams with green and bushy tails perfect for camouflage. When frightened, these tails can be dropped. Domestic phillea have a larger range of colours for the flower-like bushy mane while wild phillea tend to have the same white-yellow-green patterning. |
marsh natives
WRACK NEWTNative to the Marsh territory, the elusive Wrack newt is well known for their expulsion of intense poison when frightened. This defence mechanism can be deadly to a caeli of any age, which is why Wrack newts are feared or hated by most Marsh inhabitants. Upon closer inspection they are simple two legged creatures that live in swampy ponds, and can swim or crawl at very high speeds when hunting for insects. The Marsh climate is quite stable meaning that they can be found all year ‘round, and in highly variable colours. Their captive lifespan is unknown though these newts are often kept by healers and royals, as the poison can be used in certain recipes and medicines. Additionally, the tails can be used in culinary dishes if they are killed before releasing poison. The unprocessed poison itself causes effects such as [CENSORED]
ASTERACUS SALAMANDERAsteraci salamanders (Asteracus singular, Asteraci plural) are arboreal amphibians native to the wetlands around the Marsh nest. It is capable of swimming, climbing, and short gliding, and uses these abilities to catch insects and small fish. It has been known to eat small salamanders or eggs of its own kind, though this usually happens in particularly scarce years, and it shows a clear preference for non-cannibalistic food sources. They compete with Wrack Newts for insects, but will also eat small fish, or baby rodents if they happen upon them. Asteraci have been known to form strong bonds with caelis if raised from hatchlings, although those captured as adults have sometimes tolerated caeli presence. They've been kept and bred in recent years, as they're easy to keep- a supply of fresh water and a tree or two will keep one happy and healthy. The pet trade of Asteraci is fairly new, but flourishing due to their hardiness in temperate climates. They've become most common in Seashore- because Marsh has plentiful access to them already, and they're sometimes considered a nuisance. The success of breeding Asteraci in captivity has begun a trend of breeding for caeli-imitative traits- short tails, variations in wing structure, or certain patterns resembling the colors of other caelis. Some breeders make a point of offering caeli-imitative Asteraci, which some find charming, but others find disturbing. These have had limited success, but more and more mutations are being seen every year, including a variety in which the first two legs are somewhat closer together, echoing caeli anatomy. The viability of these is tenuous at best, but is increasing as more is learned about their care.
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ARVALArval, meaning little wing in Dravisdorian. There is very little known about this solitary creature other than what unwilling victims have reported. It is most famously known for drinking blood from living beings, especially sleeping caeli. The Arval is easily recognised by its two large, circular eyes that appears to glow a light yellow. This is actually light reflecting back from its eyes as the small creature is nocturnal. The body is petite and feline-appearing, with a banded tail and small ears. Arval have two hind legs and two bat-like wings which have hooks for climbing or walking on all fours. They have only ever been seen in dark colours, with many striped markings along the body. Whether an Arval can be kept as a domesticated pet is yet unknown, though it is likely someone has tried.
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star natives
VEJFUNDAR
Vejfundar, or more commonly known as Pathfinders, can be in many ways a lovable family pet as well as a useful asset with day-to-day tunnelling and clearance jobs, but only with proper care and attention will a Pathfinder come to be an industrial level benefit.
These creatures are described as being marsupials, distant cousins of the bats so often found in dark caves around Dravisdor. Wild creatures have been known to reside in the abandoned mines and tunnels all throughout the star nest territory but every so often one will stumble out lost and confused, and be swept away in order to become a pet.
These creatures are described as being marsupials, distant cousins of the bats so often found in dark caves around Dravisdor. Wild creatures have been known to reside in the abandoned mines and tunnels all throughout the star nest territory but every so often one will stumble out lost and confused, and be swept away in order to become a pet.
northern natives
PORMINN
These sturdy yet docile creatures are the main staple in the Northern nest for a pet that can be used for practically anything. They are comfortable with children, are able to pull sleds many times larger than themselves, can be sheared in summer for wool, and in tough times can be farmed for food. Northern families report that their strong arms dig through snow easily, which makes them very useful for clearing land or finding items lost in the snow. These animals are herded from the wilderness into captivity in great numbers, this occurs every winter during the annual Porminn migration. Porminn were originally found in very neutral colours of white and red, though some crème and roan coats have been domestically bred into the species. However, despite an effort to breed a larger sized Porminn, farmers have not been successful. Even the most prized Porminn are approximately the size of a child. This may be due to their low-nutrient diet which consists mainly of hay, leaves and branches.
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LOPENDIThe standard Lopendi is believed to be natively a Northern species. They are typically around 2 metres tall, around the size of a Caeli child. Their scaly bodies are covered in a thick coat of waterproof fur that blocks out cold and moisture. Long curled tails used for balanced and for propelling them forward at their prey. Long claws stick out of their forked feet.
Domestic Lopendi are extremely loyal, rarely straying from their owner's side. It is highly recommended to bond with Lopendi as a puppy, but older Lopendi have been known to bond with a new owner. Northern Caelis use the Lopendi mostly as herders and guards, although in a pinch they will also use them as sled pullers. |