Flyte

Diligent, adaptable, and efficient, Flytes are one of the hardest-working Lythians; this is a sentiment agreed upon by everyone who has made the trek to their main colony. They require very little sleep, therefore, often work through the night, going at even the most mundane tasks with razorlike focus. While they are not exactly territorial — everyone is welcome in their colony — the fact that they are hyperfocused on their work is enough to discourage anyone from staying too long. Most of their visitors are there for armor-related questions anyhow, and can expect quick transactions. The only time a Flyte "slows down" is when they are taken out of that environment. Away from the main colony, these insects can acquire laid back natures and be very good conversationalists.

✦ Body (& Armor)
Standing at an average of three feet (minus antennae), Flytes have chitinous exoskeletons that cover most of their bodies, from head to thorax to abdomen. Although this hard shell already offers decent protection and can withstand quite a bit of force, it is part of Flyte culture to create and wear armor over it. As expert craftsmen, they can create all sorts of armor from all types of materials, most of which is gathered from the earth beneath their colony. If brought scraps from other areas, they are quick studies and can easily craft something out of anything. No two armor sets are ever identical, and they can range from simple plate covers to intricately locking pieces; it all depends on the wearer's personal preference. Seeing a Flyte without armor is quite rare, though not unheard of.

✦ Antennae (& Glow)
All Flyte have at least one pair of antennae with tips that glow. If they do not glow, then another part or multiple other parts of their body do. When focused on work, Flytes may communicate with their kind solely through glowing with different patterns and levels of light. This kind of communication is so second nature to them that they barely have to register it to understand what is being conveyed. This greatly reduces the need to multitask — which is something that happens during verbal communication — thus allowing the insects to focus on the task at hand. Therefore, at least one part of the Flyte must glow, whether it be their antennae, eyes, abdomen, or something else.

✦ Eyes
Bulbous compound eyes take up a good portion of the Flyte's face. They come in a variety of styles, though are always large and round.

✦ Limbs
Flytes have three pairs of double or triple-jointed limbs that grow from their thorax. Two of these are generally arms, though it is possible for individuals to have two pairs of legs instead. Those with two pairs of arms are able to retract the secondary pair — which is generally smaller than their dominant pair — into their body when convenient. The design of their limbs varies, though their upper arm is always thinner than their forearms. Usually, at least one pair of arms will have clawed fingers with an opposable thumb. Their legs have an even wider variety and can range from having spines to ending in a soft paw.

✦ Wings
A Flyte's wings are typically translucent and allow for self-propelled flight. They can have up to three pairs that mimic those of any insect.

✦ Abdomen
Also simply referred to as their tails, abdomens come in a variety of shapes and sizes and can even glow!

View on Size Chart

- Flytes have chitinous exoskeletons that cover most of their heads, thoraxes, and abdomens.
- All Flytes have at least one pair of antennae, which commonly glow.
- They have bulbous, compound eyes that take up a good portion of their face.
- Flytes have at least three pairs of double or triple-jointed limbs; one pair may be retracted.
- They must have at least one pair of insectoid wings.

View on Size Chart

View on Size Chart

✦ Nurse

Nurse Flytes have little to no exoskeleton, and retain a smooth outer layer, similar to a larva. They developed this way in order to better care for and incubate the developing grubs. By mimicking the babies' builds, Nurses are able to chase after mischievous larvae, and squeeze into any crevices or holes they try to hide in. In addition, their appearance often fools potential enemies, whose attempts to swipe a little one are foiled when they turn out to not be a baby at all. By catching them off guard, the Nurse is able to chase threats away with their massive pedipalps, built in a variety of ways for different defense mechanisms.

View on Size Chart

Baby Flytes are soft, squishy, and lack a chitinous exoskeleton. Their compound eyes aren't quite formed yet, and in their place are a pair of solid-colored ones. These larvae's limbs haven't quite come in, and some may not even have all six visible. Small wings may be visible, but not necessarily. At this stage in their lives, they're quite helpless and dependent on others to take care of them; usually, the whole hive plays a part in their growth. Gradually, their exoskeleton will start coming in all at once, giving them their three, defined body segments, which they will eventually don with armor.

✧ Baby Features
- Baby Flytes look kind of like legged slugs in terms of body shape.
- Their eyes aren't compound or bulbous yet, though they still take up a good portion of their face.
- Their abdomen/tails are mostly melded with the rest of their body mass.

Origin Tale

Nylenfa

Flytes came with the creation of Hibern and had a single purpose: build and maintain. This, in turn, led to the creation of the largest colony in what is known as the Yulus Fields, a seemingly never-ending sea of grass.

As their colony developed, so did the species’ way of life. They learned to utilize the world around them to create their own forms of technology, building machinery to maintain their colony and even transport them away from their home. They learned and evolved with the realm, growing their first colony into a bustling metropolis it is today.

Baby Flytes must be cared for by a guardian, or they are unlikely to live long, due to their grub-like state. While they are capable of movement, they rely on adults to bring them food and other necessities. When born to a parent or parents amidst a colony, offspring may be cared for communally in nurseries, though the system varies when born outside of colonies.

How does your young Flyte survive as they grow into their adult form? Do they have a single caretaker, or are they from a colony with many nursery keepers and other grubs? Please portray your Flyte using their baby design or an adolescent design that’s not quite their adult form yet.