Symphony

Symphonies are a small, amphibious Lythian with a resemblance to animals like frogs and newts. They are highly social creatures that prefer living in groups and are very protective of each other and of their home. They are not violent, rarely fighting with each other and preferring to run from conflict than confront it.

Symphonies are equipped with a large sac filled with air that allows them to produce loud beeping noises when threatened. This sac is also what allows the Lythians to “sing.” Even if the sound might not be the most melodious thing you’ve heard, a Symphony’s song will be, in most cases, pleasing to hear by their fellow members.

A group of Symphonies is called a choir, while a collection of choirs is called an orchestra. Choirs will usually look for places where there’s both a source of clean water and a bit of dry land to reside. Being amphibians they can be both on land and water, being able to breathe through their skin, but should always make sure to be able to hydrate their delicate skin.

An orchestra is always under the protection of a Mythical, a variant that morphed into a stronger version of the average Symphony. It is said that a Mythical’s song creates a protective barrier around the area where an orchestra is settled, this allows for the water sources to remain clean and not dry and repel threats from their home.

Despite their appearance and how their lives begin, Symphonies are not particularly attuned to magic. The only magic related to them is the protective barrier created by Mythicals and the very rare mutation some experience that allows them to create items that may appear out of nowhere or float. Their traits might appear “magical” but, again, this is just their appearance, probably meant to scare off potential enemies.

✦ Body
Symphonies appear to be squishy, but they do possess a skeletal structure, albeit a very flexible and resilient one. They can be dropped from a great height and get away with little to no injuries, plus a short period of being stunned. They come in many different shapes and sizes, which will be described in a later section.

✦ Head
A Symphony’s head is somewhat large and very round. They have a small, rounded snout with two fang-like barbs that help them tear their food. These Lythians don't have teeth — with a few exceptions — but can have lower “fangs,” as well. They don’t have nostrils on their snouts, as they breathe through their skin, and they possess a very long sticky tongue like frogs and chameleons. At least one ear or head appendage is found in every Symphony, as that is how they hear or process vibrations.

✦ Pouch
A key, defining feature of a Symphony is its pouch! Every Symphony has either a neck pouch or two cheek pouches, though some variations have been seen. This sac fills with air and allows them to produce their distinctive sounds. It cannot be deflated under normal circumstances, as it is very resistant to any sort of damage. Should the pouch be scratched or popped, the Symphony would be seriously wounded.

✦ Tail
Most Symphonies possess at least one tail that can be of any shape and style.

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- Symphonies come in one of the five builds described in the next section.
- All Symphonies have at least one head appendage, which can be ears, nubs, hair, etc.
- They have short, flat snouts with no visible nostrils or teeth.
- Symphonies have one or two pouches, which are distinct from the rest of their body.

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✦ Sharp

Sharps are one of the sturdier variants. They have a preference of living in rocky, underwater caves, therefore, their bodies have evolved accordingly. They are covered in hard rocks, gems, and retractable spikes that look like scales and are visible on their skin regardless of its texture; their pouches have also developed a metallic casing over it to prevent popping. Their fingers are tipped with long claws, making them dragon-esque in appearance; they also resemble dragons in that they have an obsession with shiny objects and like to hoard them. While omnivorous, they greatly prefer protein-filled snacks like insects and fish.

✦ Treble*

Trebles are a tiny variant that evolved to never appear like one individual. They are incredibly small, even in comparison to a typical Soprano, about the size of a Note (baby Symphony). Their song is similar to an echoed buzzing, and they are largely vegetarian. They don’t appear to have any specific traits other than being split into three, with each of them being able to look somewhat different from the other two. They possess a hivemind, so shouldn’t be considered individuals but three parts of a whole. Because of this, if one of the parts gets separated, the one part will go into “hibernation mode” until found by the other two. If all three are separated, there is a high risk of the Symphony never moving again, unless assisted.

✦ Monster*

This is a temporary condition that overrides a Symphony’s normal variant. This means that a Symphony can be both a Monster and another variant by transforming between the two. A result of this transformation is that the Symphony’s size and strength increases by quite a bit! In this state, Symphonies tend to prefer some fresh meat over vegetables, and are prone to losing control.

✦ Falsetto⁂

One of the two Mythical variants, Falsettos are known as the protectors of a choir or orchestra. They typically have an ethereal look to them and possess a calming aura and the ability to create barriers with their song. Their double-walled pouches are filled with a nutritious jelly that can nourish and heal injured Symphonies, which is released via gill-like orifices on the outer wall. Their song can reach an unusually high pitch, and they have a soft spot for Notes; it is said that babies that listen to their song will grow faster and healthier!
Mythical Ascension Quest

✦ Oktavist⁂

The second of the Mythicals, Oktavists are the guardians of the choir or orchestra. In contrast to their Falsetto counterparts, they tend to look intimidating, often sporting sharp quills and other protrusions. They have incredible strength and highly-intuitive defense mechanisms, one of these being their venom-filled pouch; their quills are tipped with this venom, and they can also spit it out. The substance can cause serious rashes, burns, and even blindness upon contact with the eyes. Fortunately, Symphonies under the Oktavist’s protection are resistant to the venom, so the worst that’ll happen is that they’re itchy for a bit! It is said that their song makes the ground vibrate enough to purify bodies of water, making them suitable for Symphonies to live in.
Mythical Ascension Quest

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✦ Soprano

As previously mentioned, Symphonies come in a variety of shapes and sizes. The first and smallest build is the Soprano. They are a common build that feature rounded shapes and a head that is notoriously big in comparison to its body.

✦ Alto

The most common build is the Alto. They are very similar to Sopranos, except their bodies are longer, making their head more proportionate.

✦ Tenor

This is a rarely-seen build. Tenors have noodle-like bodies that are quite long and flexible, able to twist into convoluted shapes.

✦ Bass

Another rare, less-encountered specimen, Basses are the large, stout, and heavyset. This, coupled with their shorter legs, make them look more like toads than geckos.

✦ Flat

The final build and also a rarer one, Flats are specialized to live near oceans or rivers with strong currents. Their bodies are similar to that of manta ray, with a connected mantle instead of actual arms. They have fingers embedded in the tips of their mantle and usually sport cheek fins; as a result, most have neck pouches instead of cheek pouches.

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Baby Symphonies are known as Notes and are very small. They may or may not show physical traits inherited from their parents, though most will have a pair of nubs atop their skull. Once a Note is independent enough, they will find a song or melody that resonates with them; this will trigger their metamorphosis into an adult! As they grow, their body tends to undergo drastic changes in terms of colors, patterns, and structure.

✧ Baby Features
- They have no pouches or small, underdeveloped ones.
- Notes must have a pair of nubs on their head that may disappear with age.
- They have four limbs, a number that may increase or decrease upon maturity.

Origin Tale

Myziqa

When Igroven appeared on the head of the first Lilipeep, the naturally-occuring leylines pulsed to life and instantly began to infuse the realm with music and magic. Aquatic beings reveled in this environment, and built their own identities and societies around leylines across the giant lily pad.

Eventually some of these beings evolved into Axomaurs and the rest evolved into the more musically-inclined Symphonies.

Young Symphonies, also called Notes, are those that have not yet found their bonded song. Though one’s song may change throughout their life, the process of finding their first song is still considered an important rite of passage toward adulthood.

Upon bonding with their first song, a Note’s appearance may change; their colors or physical features shifting to match the mood of the music. As they grow, they also begin to lose some of their tadpole-esque features and gain their adult appearance.

How does your Symphony find their bonded song? Do they hear it in the wind, learn it from Meero (the Auirator of Igroven), or discover/create it some other way? Please portray your Symphony using their baby design or an adolescent design that’s not quite their adult form yet.