Odenis
Additional lore
Here you will find extra lore and trivia about the Odenis species, that you may read at your leisure. They may be changed in the future depending on what I think fits best the species.
Feel free to interpret and adapt this information to your own headworld if you have Odenis characters living in it!
Affinity and aspect details
Below, you will find the table of aspects, that records more lore details about each aspect: its manifestations, as well as the habitual traits, tendencies, and powers associated with it.
Manifestations
Aspect manifestations are the physical and conceptual forms taken by an aspect, that an Odenis may be able to summon, manipulate or turn into, depending on the powers available to them.
Habitual traits
Each affinity and aspect is commonly associated with some design traits (colors, features), which means that a large proportion of individuals of this aspect feature these traits.
However traits are generally not specific to an aspect, and an aspect does not necessarily imply the presence of a trait on a design. “Habitual traits” may be used as inspiration guidelines for the design of an Odenis of a given aspect but they don’t have to be strictly followed.
For example, many Flame Odenis have red colors; but there are red Odenis who don't have the Flame aspect, and a Flame Odenis is not necessarily red!
Tendencies
Tendencies are temperament predispositions associated with each aspect. They are typical personality traits that Odenis of a given aspect are usually born with. It is important to note that tendencies do not lock individuals into specific types of personalities, since each being can learn and evolve over time; however they are deep penchants that Odenis might revert to when facing difficult situations.
For example, a Flame Odenis may appear fearful and timid due to its education and life experiences, but certain circumstances may prompt it to show signs of courage (a typical Flame tendency) that they used to suppress.
Powers
Powers are the Odenis' magic abilities and spells. Each individual may use and master each power to a different extent depending on their skills and preferences.
Magical energy
Most Odenis can use two types of powers: active and passive powers. While passive powers are available at all times, active powers require magical energy (also called "qi"). This energy must be drawn from their environment and/or from their own body.
At a young age, Odenis learn that using energy for magic always has a cost: drawing it from their environment will alter their surroundings, and drawing it from their own beings may exhaust them or even harm them if done to a great extent. Learning to control this balance between power and destruction is mandatory for them, which has led these creatures to be viewed as spirits of harmony and equilibrium.
Potential energy sources from the environment (classified from easier to harder to draw from):
elemental matter and energy (fire, water, air, electricity);
physical forces (movement, radiations, gravity);
life (vegetation, fauna);
souls.
Depleted energy may recover over time, though not necessarily in the same form as it used to be.
The strength of an Odenis' spells depends on energy usage:
the amount of energy available (environment and body);
their capacity to draw said energy (conditioned by the nature of this energy and their individual skills);
their energy efficiency (more experienced Odenis may use energy more efficiently, consuming less of it for the same effects).
Common power types
Many Odenis (especially elemental ones) share similar active types of power that manifest according to their aspect:
invocation = using energy to summon their aspect onto or around their body. The amount that can be summoned and its distance from the caster's body depend on energy usage (e.g. a Flame Odenis creating fire on the ground around them).
manipulation = controlling their aspect, bending it to their will. Energy usage affects the amount of aspect that can be manipulated and the precision of the manipulation (e.g. a Flame Odenis shaping and controlling a tornado of fire, or flying fire wisps).
exhalation = a mix of invocation and manipulation where the aspect comes out of the Odenis' mouth (e.g. a Flame Odenis breathing small flames or a large vortex of fire out of its mouth).
metamorphosis = taking the form of their aspect, making their body become their aspect to a certain extent depending on energy usage (e.g. a Flame Odenis looking entirely or partially made of fire). In this form, Odenis may fuse with their aspect in their surroundings, are more powerful against physical stress, but also more vulnerable to opposing elements or magic.
Passive powers don't require energy to be used, such as underwater breathing for River Odenis.
Some Odenis, in particular esoteric, use different kinds of powers specific to their affinities or aspects.
Table of aspects
Elemental affinities
BLAZE - Flame
Manifestations: fire, heat
Habitual traits: reds, oranges, yellows, black, white
Tendencies: outgoing, courageous, emotional, impulsive, defiant, reckless
Powers: invocation, manipulation, exhalation, metamorphosis, immunity to dry heat (passive)
BLAZE - Lava
Manifestations: magma, volcano, lava river, melting, eruption
Habitual traits: reds, oranges, yellows, black
Tendencies: protective, firm, resilient, reserved, cautious, irresolute
Powers: invocation, manipulation, exhalation, metamorphosis, immunity to dry heat (passive)
BLAZE - Ash
Manifestations: ash, coal, smoke
Habitual traits: grays, black, white, reds
Tendencies: reflective, patient, adaptable, careless, vindictive, apathetic
Powers: invocation, manipulation, exhalation, metamorphosis, immunity to dry heat (passive)
WATER - River
Manifestations: liquid water, ocean, sea, lake, stream, waterfall, rain, torrent
Habitual traits: blues, greens, white
Tendencies: sympathetic, forgiving, curious, stubborn, fickle, inconsiderate
Powers: invocation, manipulation, exhalation, metamorphosis, underwater breathing (passive), water walking (passive)
WATER - Steam
Manifestations: steam, boiling water, steam pressure
Habitual traits: blues, grays, white
Tendencies: adaptable, resourceful, methodical, timid, irresolute, delicate
Powers: invocation, manipulation, exhalation, metamorphosis, immunity to damp heat (passive)
FROST - Snow
Manifestations: snow, cold, snowflake, avalanche, blizzard
Habitual traits: white, blues, grays, greens
Tendencies: caring, sociable, emotional, careless, fickle, naive
Powers: invocation, manipulation, exhalation, metamorphosis, immunity to cold (passive)
FROST - Ice
Manifestations: ice, frost, tundra, glacier, iceberg, permafrost
Habitual traits: white, grays, blues
Tendencies: patient, discerning, firm, reserved, irritable, stern
Powers: invocation, manipulation, exhalation, metamorphosis, immunity to cold (passive)
EARTH - Ore
Manifestations: rock, stone, metal, crystal, gem
Habitual traits: grays, browns, black, white, any bright color
Tendencies: reasonable, resilient, respectful, rigid, indifferent, placid
Powers: invocation, manipulation, exhalation, metamorphosis, resistance to physical damage (passive), underground burying (passive)
EARTH - Sand
Manifestations: sand, dune, desert
Habitual traits: light browns, grays, black
Tendencies: loyal, generous, peaceful, reserved, naive, fickle
Powers: invocation, manipulation, exhalation, metamorphosis, resistance to physical damage (passive), underground burying (passive), sand breathing (passive)
EARTH - Oil
Manifestations: oil
Habitual traits: dark blues, black
Tendencies: patient, tenacious, methodical, rigid, solitary, irritable
Powers: invocation, manipulation, exhalation, metamorphosis, underground burying (passive), oil walking (passive), oil breathing (passive)
LIGHTNING - Spark
Manifestations: spark, static electricity
Habitual traits: bright yellows/greens/blues, white
Tendencies: outgoing, sympathetic, spirited, impulsive, impatient, defiant
Powers: invocation, manipulation, exhalation, metamorphosis, high speed (passive)
LIGHTNING - Thunder
Manifestations: lightning, thunderstorm
Habitual traits: bright yellows/greens/blues, dark colors
Tendencies: discerning, protective, tenacious, nervous, fickle, ruthless
Powers: invocation, manipulation, exhalation, metamorphosis, high speed (passive), resistance to loud noise (passive)
SKY - Wind
Manifestations: breeze, wind, tempest, tornado
Habitual traits: greens, white
Tendencies: adventurous, forgiving, spirited, impulsive, defiant, fickle
Powers: invocation, manipulation, exhalation, metamorphosis, effortless flight (passive), flight mastery (passive)
SKY - Cloud
Manifestations: cloud, mist, fog
Habitual traits: grays, blues, white
Tendencies: loyal, protective, wise, rigid, stern, placid
Powers: invocation, manipulation, exhalation, metamorphosis, levitation (passive), cloud walking (passive)
Esoteric affinities
LIGHT - Sun
Manifestations: daylight, sun rays, warmth
Habitual traits: yellows, white, oranges
Tendencies: generous, docile, sociable, naive, irresolute, reckless
Powers: invocation (light balls, light rays), manipulation, exhalation (light beam), metamorphosis (light), immunity to radiations (passive), resistance to fire (passive)
LIGHT - Holy
Manifestations: sacred light, halo, cleansing flame
Habitual traits: white, yellows, blues
Tendencies: tenacious, calm, respectful, rigid, stoic, ruthless
Powers: invocation (holy fire), manipulation, exhalation (holy fire), metamorphosis (holy fire)
DARK - Moon
Manifestations: night, shadow, moonlight, night cold
Habitual traits: dark blues, bright blues
Tendencies: discerning, modest, wise, timid, cautious, solitary
Powers: invocation (darkness, small cold light moon), manipulation, exhalation (darkness, small cold light moon), metamorphosis (darkness, small cold light moon), resistance to cold (passive)
DARK - Dream
Manifestations: slumber, dream, nightmare
Habitual traits: dark blues/purples, black
Tendencies: resourceful, empathetic, protective, fickle, chaotic, delicate
Powers: invocation (sleep cloud), manipulation (sleep cloud, dreams), exhalation (sleep cloud), metamorphosis (ethereal)
SPACE - Cosmos
Manifestations: outer space, star, galaxy
Habitual traits: purples, blues, magenta
Tendencies: adventurous, resourceful, curious, impatient, fickle, inconsiderate
Powers: invocation (explosions), manipulation (gravity), exhalation (laser beam), metamorphosis (nebula), space flight (passive), void breathing (passive)
SPACE - Time
Manifestations: time, age
Habitual traits: blues, purples, yellows, oranges
Tendencies: reflective, tenacious, methodical, stoic, proud, irritable
Powers: slow time, stop time and revert time on surrounding objects/living beings, self time-traveling
LIFE - Wild
Manifestations: nature, flora, fauna
Habitual traits: greens, yellows, browns; antlers
Tendencies: modest, sociable, spirited, timid, defiant, reckless
Powers: metamorphosis (plants on body, or any animal while keeping the same jewel and colors), invocation (vegetation birth); wildlife taming
LIFE - Venom
Manifestations: poison, venom, medicine
Habitual traits: dark greens/purples
Tendencies: patient, discerning, resourceful, solitary, placid, vindictive
Powers: exhalation (poison, healing mist), poisonous claws/spikes, healing, resistance to physical disease (passive)
DEATH - Blood
Manifestations: blood, disease, bloodlust
Habitual traits: dark reds, black, white
Tendencies: courageous, resilient, emotional, aggressive, chaotic, ruthless
Powers: metamorphosis, bleeding strikes, blood feeding; may bleed but resistance to anemia and negative hemorrhage effects
DEATH - Specter
Manifestations: soul, phantom
Habitual traits: bright muted colors
Tendencies: discerning, protective, curious, timid, fickle, delicate
Powers: invocation (smaller phantoms), manipulation, metamorphosis, communication with souls
DEATH - Corpse
Manifestations: rot, flesh
Habitual traits: dark muted colors
Tendencies: calm, reflective, patient, stoic, solitary, vindictive
Powers: manipulation, metamorphosis, necromancy (raising dead corpses). When undead: immortal (unless burnt)
PSYCHE - Illusion
Manifestations: illusion, hallucination, memory
Habitual traits: any color
Tendencies: outgoing, adaptable, emotional, stubborn, cautious, deceitful
Powers: invocation, manipulation, metamorphosis (in mirrors, reflections, mirages)
PSYCHE - Love
Manifestations: charm, affection, friendship
Habitual traits: white, pinks, reds, bright blues/greens
Tendencies: empathetic, forgiving, tenacious, naive, delicate, impulsive
Powers: exhalation (charm cloud), manipulation, charming touch
PSYCHE - Madness
Manifestations: chaos, insanity, psychopathy
Habitual traits: strong, saturated colors; large mouth
Tendencies: reflective, resourceful, emotional, apathetic, chaotic, ruthless
Powers: maddening sight, maddening touch, mind distortion
Miscellaneous trivia
Life cycle
Odenis are ovoviviparous, which means they produce eggs that hatch within the parent's body, making it look like they give birth like mammals; although they don't produce milk. They only give birth to 1 or 2 cubs at once.
Newborn Odenis have no fur nor feathers, only soft scales and skin. After a couple weeks, they suddenly get very fuzzy, a soft puppy coat quickly covering their skin where there are no scales, and feathers start to grow as well. They shed their puppy coat at a couple month's age, and start learning to fly around the same period.
An Odenis can live hundreds of years.