Buzinya


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Species Name: Buzinya
"The Parasitic Invaders"

Buzinya | Buzinyas | Ambush
singular — plural — collective


Summary

Buzinyas are a symbiote species that were first discovered in the realm of Avalon. Their discovery took longer than usual, due to their use of illusion magic. Similar to the glamour of the Natbaktera, this magic allows them to appear normal to other Lythians, while they take over their host's body. This takeover is not the prettiest, as the Buzinya must render the host numb through a paralyzing agent before entering through any available openings. After converting the host's innards into more of its cytoplasm, the Buzinya then absorbs the host's brain into its nucleus, retaining the host's original consciousness. Though parasitic, their takeover is more of the symbiotic sort, gaining the ability to communicate to other Lythians as well as communicating with the host themself. Contrary to popular belief, the host still persists, living in tandem with the Buzinya. It takes a keen eye to tell which one is currently in control of the body…

When a Buzinya feels threatened, it drops its illusion magic in favor of showing its true face. This face — which is actually formed from the Buzinya's viscous membrane — can physically shift into a more intimidating state, while the nucleus relocates to a safer location in the body. More often than not, the shock of seeing the transformation gives the Buzinya enough time to attack and incapacitate its foe. However, as a last-ditch attempt, it is able to eject itself from its host, returning to its original state. When this happens, the abandoned body of the host melts away entirely and becomes harmless foliage. This experience is incredibly grueling mentally for both the Buzinya and Host, and is typically only reserved in cases where there's truly no other option.

Buzinyas overall are sapient creatures with their own culture, lifestyle, and language, although there are many that beg to differ. Most commonly they are thought to be controlled by a hivemind, and seek only to continue to spread the infection and nothing more. They are incapable of translation magic that Lythians naturally know, and as such can neither understand Lythians or be understood without a host. Instead, they speak amongst one-another through a variety of pitched tones, which can be replicated in a similar manner to morse code.


Anatomy

✦ Membrane
Composed of a viscous, translucent material, a Buzinya's membrane sits atop its host's head and protects the nucleus within. It may also appear on other parts of the body, such as a limb or tail, and is usually indicative of an injury the Buzinya attempted to heal. Strong digestive enzymes can be found within the membrane, but without a host, it is unlikely the Buzinya will be able to catch a substantial meal due to their slow movement. While they have the ability to extend their membrane to absorb objects, this is extremely energy-consuming without a host's body to do it for them. These enzymes are powerful enough to digest bone, scales, and even rock.

✦ Antenna
A Buzinya's antenna is an extremely important body part, as it is how they communicate with other Buzinyas. Severing or removing the antenna results in essentially removing the Buzinya's equivalent to ears and vocal cords, rendering them completely incapable of hearing and speaking. Pair this with their inability to understand Lythians without a host, as well as the pain, many Buzinyas with severed antennae tend to perish shortly after. On the rare occasion one survives, it tends to become incredibly dependent on the closest thing it perceives to be protection – often a Lythian.

✦ Nucleus
The nucleus of a Buzinya is simplistic, housing the mitochondria — the equivalent of its stomach — and the Nucleolus — the equivalent of its brain. While a mouth is visible on the nucleus, it is used exclusively for communication and not for food ingestion. Instead, microscopic pores found on the nuclear envelope are in charge of this, absorbing any digested nutrients from the membrane cytoplasm into the mitochondria. The nucleolus on the other hand has magic properties stored within it that, when viewed through certain types of magic, reveals that either the host's or the Buzinya's consciousness is harbored within, depending on which is currently in control of the body at the time.

✦ Graspers
Around the bottom of the Buzinya's membrane is a set of tentacle-like graspers, which are used both as locomotion for a hostless Buzinya, as well as for grasping onto a chosen host's neck. Once the host's head is fully digested and the rest of the body is overtaken by the Buzinya's cytoplasm, they may opt to hide their graspers due to no longer needing them, while others may keep them out for show.


Hosts

✦ Lythian
Buzinyas cannot be created via a normal character slot. Instead, players must obtain a Buzinya item, which can be found in certain shops and explorations. The item can be applied to a pre-existing character to give them the "Infected" label. The character will still be under its original species on the index, but can now be updated to include a Buzinya Form. You can choose to set this form as its main index image or use the FORMula Plus item to unlock an additional, toggle-able image. Alternatively, you can also submit a new character slot and apply your Buzinya to it to start off with a Buzinya form. However, you must still select another Lythian species to have the Buzinya infect, and follow the base core features of.

✦ Companion
A Buzimew is a smaller, less powerful variant of the Buzinya that can only infect Companion species, and can only vocalize through their original language and the Companion's vocalizations. Players must obtain a Buzimew item and apply it to a pre-existing Companion or submit it with a new character slot design. Said Companion will receive "Infected" as a label.


Core Features

✦ Buzinya
- A Buzinya or Buzimew must consist of two parts: the nucleus and the membrane.
- The nucleus is their true body, which must be a single segment with a simple face structure.
- The membrane is translucent and viscous, allowing it to mimic the shape of its host's head.
- They must have one antenna topped with a shape or object.
- Buzinyas have graspers for latching onto their host, which may be hidden while hosted.

✧ Extra Suggestions
- multiple nuclei of varying size
- small protrusions on nucleus (horns, ears, wings, etc.)
- mimic host features
- additional objects in membrane

✦ Lythian Host

- All core features above and the host Lythian core features apply unless overridden below.
- When out of illusion but not in attack mode, Buzinyas must be visible, replacing the host's head.
- The membrane can appear elsewhere on the host, but must be less than 50% of the overall design.

✧ Extra Suggestions
- membrane facial features or head appendages
- retain host's ears, horns, or hair
- visible graspers around neck

✦ Companion Host

- All core features above and the host companion core features apply unless overridden below.
- Buzimew membranes will take over the "head segment" or other key parts of the companion.
- This may be over 50% of the overall design depending on the companion's anatomy.


Origin Tale

Behoulos

There was one. One who wanted to see the world. One who wanted to explore the realms. One who wanted to see many new faces, to experience friendships and bonds, to know what it's like to live life surrounded by love, but her attempts were met with fear. She wanted to be among the others, but they wanted nothing to do with her. Reluctantly, she accepted her fate, outcasting herself away from everyone, never to be seen again. She wept and sobbed to herself, wishing once more that she could experience the outside, wishing to reach an understanding.

There was one, and now there's more. Every tear wept became her child, listening to her woes of wanting to be able to live in the safety, of love, of kindness. Her children would comfort her, tell her they will travel the world in her stead, tell her that they'll share their stories of their discoveries. Overcome with emotion, she sent her children off happily, wishing them well in finding their place in the realms.

If everyone else deserves to live, why not them?


Origin Quest

A Buzinya does not do well on its own without a host. They are fragile and slow-moving, and don't have the means to put up an illusion. As a result, some may be drawn to other Buzinyas with hosts and ride along with them, sometimes resulting in them being given to unknowing Lythians as "pets". Others may go into total hiding until a suitable body happens to pass by. In fact, though incredibly rare, a host may just outright offer to willingly be infected with a Buzinya.

How did your Buzinya find their host? Were they in a desperate situation, or did they get off easy? Were there any witnesses? You may depict your Buzinya either separately or already attached to their host.


See more information about origin story quests on the Origin Stories page.
Companions cannot participate in this quest.


✦ Frequently Asked Questions

I have a baby Lythian, will I need to do this Origin Quest?
No! The Buzinya Origin Quest is completely optional at all times. For babies, you should focus on the host's Origin Quest only. Completing this Origin Quest will not allow you to grow a baby Lythian. The Buzinya badge can be earned in addition to the host's Origin Quest badge.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a Variant Potion to make my Lythian/Companion infected?
No, as Buzinyas and Buzimews are not variants. They are their own separate thing!

Can I remove a Lythian/Companion's infected state?
Yes! With the help of the galibyte scientist Nill, you can use a BuziCure in order to cure a Lythian or Companion from infection! The purifying liquid appears to make the buzinya regurgitate and reform all that it had absorbed, freeing its host from its hold and ejecting it from the body. What you do with the Buzinya/mew then is up to you!

Am I allowed to draw my Infected Lythian/Companion with their illusion in art without an alt form on their Index?
Yes! However, only the areas covered in cytoplasm can be changed from the index art. If a FORMula Plus is used to add a toggleable image, more drastic changes can be made between the illusion and undisguised forms. Additionally, the illusion should not change between images without using a FORMula Plus to approve alternate depictions.
Do note however, Companions cannot display alt forms on their Index Entry and can only be drawn in their illusion through art.

Can I make a Lyaric Lythian infected for free?
No, the "Infected" indicator cannot be freely applied to Lyarics as Buzinyas don't count as a build or variant. You will need the proper item to apply it!

Can a Buzinya be a Lyaric Lythian's parent species?
No, as Buzinyas aren't currently recognized as a species in the game's system.