| Notes | Anaxial's Annex. This is the largest of the many species of Ephemerae, or short-lived Timinits. They are born in the spring, but die in the winter after they lay their eggs for the following year. Odonatites resemble humanoid dragonflies, with tall, very slender bodies and a metallic sheen. They have brightly coloured chitin, differing from individual to individual and becoming darker as they age. They are generally friendly with most other species, most of whom they regard as immortal, unchanging deities. However, they themselves are solitary, and gather together only in mid-summer to mate.
The young, aquatic, nymphs resemble stingworms, and are non-sentient. Adults lay their eggs in fresh-water lakes. These hatch in Sacred Time, and then remain as water-breathing larvae for 10 weeks. The Odonatite only becomes self-aware when it sheds its nymphal skin in early Fireseason and emerges as an adult. It then has a mere 14-18 weeks to mate and to live out its entire sentient life before it dies of old age.
Like most Ephemera, Odonatites have an ability to 'remember' things learnt or observed by their ancestors. This ability is not perfect, and extends back a limited number of generations (apply a -3 circumstance modifier per generation). Events witnessed only as a larva are vague and often difficult for the adult to interpret. Despite the imperfection of this ability, it does at least allow Ephemerae to retain their languages and culture down the years when none will ever see their parents or offspring.
Odonatites are carnivorous, eating small fish, frogs and mammals, but they are harmless to other creatures unless provoked. Even then, their preferred tactic is to fly away as quickly and as nimbly as possible. Because of their huge, wrap-around eyes, they have a very wide angle of vision, and they are also able to turn their heads through 180 degrees, so that they can see behind their backs if necessary. This can make it difficult to chase them successfully. |
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