Insectoid Magic - Storkatten Magic Comp Entry #1

[rem sleep]

"Welcome, welcome!" A large, lanky storkatten beckons you into their lair. The air around them is faintly buzzing with the flutter of insectoid wings, and smells faintly of honey. You cannot see their eyes, but you have the peculiar impression that they look... kind. "You've entered the magical domain of insectoid magic! It's rare we see travelers out here, so far from the common populace! Won't you stay and talk awhile?" Their massive wings flutter out behind them, faux eyes patterned on their wings sparking with fond intrigue as if they really were eyes... You feel comfortable, despite your odd, lanky host. You settle in as they explain themselves...

Welcome to the domain of insect magic! Below you will find some
information about the magic itself, as well as its eclectic paragon.

We hope you enjoy your stay!

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[rem sleep]

Insectoid
definition: An insectoid is an insect-like or arachnid-like creature.

Insectoid magic is a common magic and a close cousin of faunal magic.
Insectoid magic is characterized by having yellow-green eyes, like the carapace of many kinds of beetles.

Rarity
Storkatten - Basic
Hearthoots - Rare
Littlehearts - Basic

Domain
Much akin to its cousin, faunal magic, insectoid magic allows storkatten to communicate closely with the insectoid beings of the world around them. Insectoids include but are not limited to bugs, arachnids, and other bug-like entities such as snails and shrimp. Insectoid mages are able to share fruitful and meaningful conversation with these insectoid beings in order to collaborate towards common ends and share information, amongst other things. That being said, it may be more difficult for an insectoid mage to learn to communicate with poisonous, venomous, or otherwise hostile insectoids like wasps or hornets. Insectoid magic puts a strong focus on communication, as well as change and metamorphosis. Like the caterpillar metamorphosing into a butterfly, insectoid mages may experience changes to their body if they communicate continuously with a certain species of bug, physically changing to take on some of the species traits.

There's a wide variety of things insectoid mages can do, including...
- communicating with insectoids such as bugs, arachnids, and shrimp
- collaborating with insectoids to achieve common goals.
- sharing information with insectoids, allowing them to communicate literally
with the 'flies on the wall', making them expert spies and intelligence agents.
- asking insectoids with specific skills for their assistance in completing tasks
- utilizing insectoids between two insectoid mages to communicate messages
to one another across areas not traversable by storkatten

Insectoid mages cannot and would not compel insectoids to act against their own free will. Insectoid mages are friends of the insectoids, and their relationship should be thought of with that in mind. They may talk with one another and agree to do a certain thing, but the skill of the insectoid mage lies in mastering this difficult form of communication, not in forcing insectoids to act or behave in a certain way.

Insectoid storkies receive eyes to reflect the color of existing insectoids. This can take many different colors, patterns, and expressions, but must always reflect a real insectoid in their expression. Insectoid storkies with alternate eyes will also primarily be inclined to communicate with the insectoid their eyes are colored after, and will have a bit of difficulty talking with insectoids that re not that species.

For example, an alternate domain insectoid mage with monarch butterfly eyes would excel in communicating with monarch butterflies, but would not be as naturally gifted as a standard insect mage when it comes to communicating with honey bees. The alternate domain gives the insectoid mage a specific gift for one insectoid at the cost of suffering a slight penalty to communicating with other insects than the specified one. It more or less acts as giving the magic a focus.

The specific species featured are
top - monarch butterfly
bottom, left to right - blue morpho butterfly, honey bee, ladybug.

Novice: Default Level
As a novice insectoid mage you will naturally understand and overhear the converstations of bugs. You may notice that what is unintelligible noise to other storkatten makes perfect sense to you. As a result of overhearing insectoids around you, you as well as many other young insectoid mages, may experience headaches from the ambient noise. That being said, you also tend to peculiarly know things you shouldn't as a result of hearing insectoids talking about it around you, for example the location of a specific cat or item, or a decision that happened when you were not present. You may struggle to communicate back to the insectoids at this stage, but you are capable of understanding most words said to you, with some conscious thought.

Access to the Divine Accessory Minor Magic Expression.

Advanced: Unlocked at 40 MP
As an advanced insectoid magician you will no longer have any trouble understanding what insects are saying to you, with the exception of difficult-to-communicate-with species such as poisonous, venomous, or naturally hostile species. Additionally, you will be adept at tuning in and out of insectoid conversations so you will no longer experience headaches due to the ambient noise. You are now becoming more adept at returning communication and will be able to relay basic requests for tasks such as helping to retrieve objects. You will also be able to request some specific information, though you still struggles to communicate in a complex way. You also may be starting to find the insectoids the communicate best with at this stage.

Adept: Unlocked at 80 MP
As an adept insectoid mage you may no communicate with and understand most insectoid species, though you will still find it somewhat troublesome to communicate with the aforementioned difficult-to-communicate-with species in a complex way. At this stage you are able to make specific requests of your insectoid friends and carry out long and fruitful conversations with no language barrier or other hiccups. You are able to communicate with insectoids well and may even start to be able to sense the presence and intentions other insectoids around you, as you are becoming a part of their integrated network. At this stage you may use insectoid communication to deliberately access the information you stumbled into often as a kit, using a network of bugs to observe cats locations and to spy in on conversations you aren't physically present for. There's still room for improvement, but you can handle most tasks without trouble.

As a Leveling Reward, claim a Gift or Accessory from the Insectoid Paragon.

Master: Unlocked at 120 MP
As a master insectoid mage you may now communicate seamlessly with all manner of insectoid, even those that prior gave you trouble. You will be comfortably integrated into the network of insectoids in your area, and will now find it easy to track and locate other insectoids based on their ambient energy and sound. You will be able to communicate at length and in detail with any insectoid you come across, and insectoids will be more receptive to your communication in acknowledgement of your skill with the magic. At this level you put even the most skilled spies and intelligence agents to shame with your ability to know everything all at once through your integrated web. You are able to relay messages using insectoids as your messengers, sharing them with other insectoid mages across difficult terrain or far distances. The wonderful world of insectoids is yours to thoroughly experience and enjoy!

As a Leveling Reward, claim another Gift or Accessory from the Insectoid Paragon.
You gain access to the Divine Accessory - Master Magic Expression.

Gifts
Insectoid Language - Your cat can understand the language of insectoids and speak back to them. Their ability to utilize this skill depends on their level.
novice - basic ability to comprehend spoken language, rudimentary ability to reply in kind
adept - ability to comprehend most spoken language, ability to speak but lacking specificity and depth
advanced - complete ability to comprehend spoken language, ability to speak but may struggle with certain words
master - complete ability to comprehend spoken language, complete ability to reply in kind regardless of specificity and depth
paragon - your cat can speak to insectoids of absolutely any kind as well as, if not better than, they can speak to other members of their own species

Insectoid Sense - Your cat has the ability to sense and detect insectoids around them based on their auras and natural sounds due to being integrated into the natural insectoid network of their area. This enables your cat to quickly tell what insectoids are around them, and at higher levels to sense their intentions. Your cat's ability to do this depends on your insectoid magic level.
novice - you can vaguely sense insectoids that are within five feet of you, but cannot discern intention
adept - you can more clearly sense insectoids that are within ten feet of you, you can vaguely discern intention
advanced - you can clearly sense insectoids within fifteen feet of you, you can often determine intention
master - you can clearly sense and determine the intention of insectoids within twenty feet of you
paragon - can clearly sense the area of the entire biome around them for insects and their intentions

Metamorphosis - Your cat has the ability to adapt characteristics of the insectoids they communicate with. This can be borrowing an insect's eyes and ability to see in a certain way, borrowing a shrimp's tail and ability to swim, borrowing a moth's wings, etc. This is a temporary effect of insectoid magic and will not permanently affect the form of your storkatten. Your cat's ability to do this depends on your insectoid magic level.
novice - ability to make minor metamorphosis (ex; eyes, tongue, basic senses) for about 5 minutes
adept - ability to make moderate metamorphosis (ex; antenna) for up to 1 hour
advanced - ability to make more substantial metamorphosis (ex; moth wings) for up to 2 hours
master - ability to make any metamorphosis desired for up to 1 day
paragon - your cat may maintain the borrowed characteristics for up to 1 week

Divine Gifts
Flash Step - Your storkie has the ability to turn their body, for a brief moment, into a cloud of insectoids. This ability is most often used to turn oneself into a swarm of moths to quickly avoid pits, steep falls, or fatal blows in combat, though it can also be used to turn oneself into a cloud of shrimp to quickly get out of deep water. This ability may be used a few times in rapid succession if your cat is in dire need, but it quickly causes the user fatigue. This is not tied to your magic level, but can only be redeemed after reaching an adept level in Insectoid Magic. Additionally, it may not be used to turn your cat into a hostile species until they reach master level in Insectoid Magic.

Accessories
Insectoid-Wing Mask - This mask mimics the wings or otherwise characteristics of the insectoid you enjoy communicating with most. Wearing this mask will improve your communication with this species, and they will start to see you as one of their own.

Cocoon Necklace - This is a necklace made by the insectoid paragon themselves. The necklace holds the shell of an old cocoon and reminds you of the inevitability and the beauty of change in life. It is said this necklace may aid you in your own changes going forward, though this could take many different shapes for different cats.

Sweet Honey Pot - This pot of honey has a particularly alluring aroma and tends to draw in insectoids to you and predisposes them to be more pleasant in their interactions with you. This can be particularly useful for insectoid mages trying to forge relationships with insectoids in new areas, or insectoid mages who are trying to forge relationships with difficult-to-commune-with species.

Magic expression for Insectoid would be a parallel for Faunal magic, so I'm not comfortable drawing out a guide until I know what faunals will look like. I think for these two magics keeping them parallel would be good for comprehension! That being said, my concept is that the magic expression would manifest as adapting bug traits for small parts of the body-- minor about 20% of design/body can have bug traits, major about 50% of the design/body can have bug traits, then for paragon up to 100% could! I'm just not sure how this would work, since adapting traits would very quickly get into genesplice territory. Due to these uncertainties, I've decided to hold off on making a magic expression guide-- though I would be happy to make one at a later time when faunal has a guide, if insectoid is taken into the official magic roster!

- (Insectoid) What insectoid to you feel most naturally drawn to communicating with? Why do you think you might be drawn to this particular species?
- (Insectoid) Tell me about a difficult time you interacted with an insectoid. Did things not go as you planned? Why or why not? How did you use what you learned in this interaction going forwards into future interactions?
- (Insectoid) Did you experience the notorious kithood headaches novice insectoid mages experience? How did you handle dealing with them if so? If you didn't experience them, how did the lack of them make you feel?
- (Insectoid) Tell me about your first time communicating with an insectoid. What kind of insectoid was it? How did you encounter them? What were they talking about and were you able to reply? How did the conversation go?
- (Insectoid) How do you feel your interactions with insectoids compare to your interactions with members of your own species? Do you find communicating with one or the other to be easier or more difficult? If so, why? If not, then why not?
- (Insectoid) Tell me about the first time you managed to collaborate with an insectoid towards a common goal. What were you able to accomplish together? How did you agree on your plan and execute it?
- (Insectoid) Tell me about a time you communicated with a group or network of insectoids to accomplish a common goal. What were you able to do and how did you agree on a plan to execute?
- (Insectoid) Tell me about your relationships with the insectoids local to your area. Are there some you get along with well? Some you don't get along with at all? Do you have any friends in the insectoid realm you regularly visit or communicate with?
- (Insectoid) What was the most difficult task you've ever accomplished with your magic? Was it getting a secret through an intense network of bug spies? Was it avoiding peril on the back of a cloud of moths? How did you get into the situation you needed your magic for, and how did you resolve it with said magic? Do you remember this feat fondly and hold the memory with pride, or does just thinking about it make you feel dread?

[rem sleep]

"Who, me?" The insectoid storkatten chuckles, "I thought you'd never ask!"

"Oh, well now that you ask, I probably should give you my name, shouldn't I? Pardon my rudeness, I'm not used to speaking with cats-- especially not ones who don't already know of me! My name is Lunaris-- or Luna to friends-- and I'm the Insectoid Magic paragon! It's delightful to meet you! My interests include bugs and insectoids, obviously, but I also do other things! When I'm not chatting with my bug buddies, I do enjoy reading a good book, cloud watching, and gossip. Oh, well, I suppose my bug buddies and I *do* gossip, but... you get the picture."

"Well, I always had a natural affinity for bugs... I was the only Insectoid mage in my clan growing up, so not many other cats understood it. The closest anyone else got to really 'getting' me were the faunal mages, who shared in similar experiences growing up as a kit who already has to learn how to understand other grown up cats-- and another species on top of it, to boot! In any case, I felt... kind of lonely, since day one, at least amongst other cats-- so I spent more time practicing my insectoid magic so I could chat with bugs, who I always found great company! Can you believe some people are scared of them? Pshaw."

"But I really did love studying... Learning language quickly became a passion of mine, and I flourished most when I was engaging with and understanding the language around me. I suppose it's somewhat a shallow reason to become a paragon... but I just really loved learning and sharing in language. What started at first as a desire to speak to those who understood me, namely bugs, metamorphosed into a desire to learn and appreciate language-- a passion that caught hold of me completely in my adolescence and onward. I wanted to learn everything I could, to refine my skills to the height of my ability. It might just be because I was a nervous, lonely kit-- but I felt like I couldn't rest and be happy until I maximized my magic, the thing I was always best at-- until there was nothing more I could do-- and so I ended up at the top. Now I get to spend my days sharing my passion for Insectoid magic and insectoids with other young cats like you!"

”Oh, I totally forgot! My apologies, there I go again forgetting you're new. My pronouns are they/them, it/it’s, bug/bug’s, moth/moth’s or moon/moon’s! Thank you for asking, that’s so sweet of you!”

"Everything and then more! I was kind of a lonely kit by nature. No one was trying to exclude me, I don't think, I just didn't share in a lot of the same growing pains as those around me. While other kits in my nursery were busy learning how not to sneeze fire or cough lightning bolts, I was sitting nursing a headache from the fact I could understand the cicada chirps everyone else just found somewhat irritating. It always was very hard for me to turn my brain off when I could hear someone talking around me... which meant I was always attuned to what the bugs around me were saying. Because my fellow kits were bust with their own magic journeys, and because I was the only Insectoid mage in my clan... that meant I had a lot of time to myself. Well, myself and the bugs."

"So I grew up chatting with bugs more than other cats, really! I do love their company, and I find them pretty adorable! Other cats find them odd, visually or superficially, so bugs and I have a lot in common in that regard. I like bugs because they, like me, are misunderstood-- and we've both gone through a lot of change over the years, from caterpillar to butterfly, from storkat to paragon! Isn't that something? In any case, while I think bugs are very cute, there are others who are scared off by their appearance or disposition-- things that they don't understand about bugs. But, if you're careful and thoughtful enough, you can learn to understand those things so you can appreciate them, and you won't have to be afraid anymore. That's what bugs mean to me!"

"Insectoid magic is important because it lets us talk with a whole other part of our wonderful world! Faunal storkatten experience a great thing talking with the deer, foxes, bears, and more of our world-- and believe me, the bugs around us have just as much to say and contribute as their bigger, more conventional friends! Insectoid magic gives storkatten a broader understanding of their world by showing them just how connected everything is-- from the network of bugs in one's local area to the fact of inevitable change-- and it helps storkatten to remember to practice mindfulness for everything around them, even things they might not think are significant-- like bugs. I think of insectoid magic as a great example of mindfulness and understanding-- and I think the mentality that is practiced by insectoid mages is very important."

"I decided to become a paragon of insectoid magic because I find the companionship of insectoids to be inherently valuable! I have and have had many small friends over my life who have enriched it in more ways than just a helping hand or two, and that wouldn't be possible without insectoid magic! Ultimately, it was my love for learning, language, and bugs that was the perfect storm that caused me to pursue paragonhood. I wanted to be the best I could be, and... I also really believe in the importance and power of insectoid magic."

"Oh gosh, don't make me pick a favorite child! That's hardly fair at all! Well... if you absolutely insist... it's probably the lunar moth, and no, not just because my pelt looks like one! Actually, for the record, I have my wings because of my close bond with the species-- it's a long-lasting mutation from our communication and a visual representation of our bond. I love lunar moths for more than their beauty, though-- I love them because of their delicateness, their thoughtfulness, and because they so often represent dreams and the changing thoughtscape of the mind. I think that's both beautiful and a great example of insectoid magic's philosophy of change and acceptance in life."

"I play a mean game of croquet!"

[rem sleep]

This is the first digital concept I did of the insectoid magic paragon! In that first draft I knew I wanted to capitalize on mothlike features for sure, as you can see by the moth-mask (the identifying trait I thought up for this paragon), the ruff around their neck (like a fluffy moth's mane), and their big moth wings and antenna! Since this sketch I did some more traditional sketches in order to refine my idea, but I thought including this first sketch would be an interesting addition to my form-- as it shows how the design has matured and changed as I've been working on it and what features were important/stayed constant.

This is another alternate eye guide with only one eye set changed from the one I finalized-- and that's the blue morpho alternate being swapped for a black widow alternate! I just ended up liking the composition better with the blue morpho wings present, but I thought it would be sad to have two butterflies and no spiders-- so that's how this occurred! That being said, these black widow eyes would still be considered valid alternate insectoid magic, since black widows do indeed possess a black body with a red hourglass marking!

This doodle is an additional form or version of the main paragon without the eye wings obscuring their true eyes! They do have standard eyes underneath that mask, with cute bug eyelashes to boot! I consider them to have a form change so they can alternate between the two forms (with eyewings/mask and without) at their leisure, primarily because the eyes on their 'mask' do emote and are real eyes, so it can't just be an object.

[rem sleep]

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Thanks so much for reading!
I hope you had a lovely time visiting the often
misunderstood realm of insectoid magic!
Until next time!

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