About the Ynxa

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The Ynxa are an uncommon and unusual race of the aether. They are small, slender creatures that combine humanoid features with plantlike, fungal, insect-like, or fleshy growths. Found throughout the outer half of the Great Sphere, they are closely associated with the sites of ancient Kyne ruins, whom they worship as creator gods known as the “Spoken Ones”. It is believed that the Kyne created the Ynxa out of void-crystal aethertech and spliced genes, weaving magic together to awaken them to sentience. For what purpose is unknown.

 

Ynxa are clever, dexterous, and highly inquisitive creatures with insatiable appetites for adventure. Unanswered questions are unsettling to them, and they go out of their way to solve these questions at any costs. Despite this, they seem content to leave the questions of the Spoken Ones unanswered. 

 

Seedmothers

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Ynxa are born from the fruits of massive, stationary entities called seedmothers, who reside in ‘sacred glades’ within Kyne ruins. Seedmothers are said to have been born as holy Ynxa chosen by the Kyne to put down roots. The seedmothers have the upper bodies of feminine humanoids, but their lower bodies spread to form sprawling woody, floral, or fungal growths that take up the entire glade. Once per spring, the seedmother frees herself from the plant mass, resembling a beautiful woman, and seeks out a sire -- a male humanoid not of the Ynxa race, with whom she can produce children (and in some cases, devour afterwards). If successful, when she returns and fuses with her plant body, it produces egg-shaped fruits (or fruiting bodies in the case of fungi) that give birth to new Ynxa at the end of summer. When these Ynxa emerge, they are already fully developed, but they remain in the glade for the first year of their lives to receive teachings and guidance from the seedmother. She teaches the Ynxa their language and gives them knowledge about the world, and in exchange, the children tend to the seedmother, providing food, pruning her, guarding the sacred glade, and when the time comes, helping search for a new sire and tending to the next generation. When the next generation hatches, the previous generation leaves to carry out their lives. The style and appearance of the Ynxa is based both on the appearance of their seedmother and the genetics of whatever sire was chosen that year.

 

Each seedmother controls a wide territory that surrounds where the main body is rooted. This location is always in ancient Kyne ruins, as that is where Ynxa feel safest. Her underground roots and network then extend many miles outward, sometimes even across an entire pearl depending on age. She can sense all that happens in this range, using her foliage or mycelium to perceive. Crossing territories can lead to fighting among seedmothers and their children, and Ynxa don’t prefer to harm their own -- so it’s usually just easier for one seedmother to move. This is possible if the Ynxa work together to uproot their mother and transplant her elsewhere.

 

Ynxa have unusual food sources. Some Ynxa simply require sunlight, water, and soil to thrive, while others eat only flowers and nectar. Others still are strictly carnivorous, insectivorous, or devour only rotting material. A rare few only prefer to crunch on raw crystals.

 

Ynxa in Society

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Ynxa do not possess a structured society, nor a sense of laws or morals. Their goals are hard to comprehend, but they always seem to have very strong ones. They are individualistic creatures who have loyalty for only two things - themselves and their seedmothers. This can make integration difficult for Ynxa living in the wider world, often making them outsiders or criminals in the eyes of ‘civilization’. They tend to congregate in small, secretive communes within larger cities, live individually, or remain in Kyne ruins with their mothers or others of their kind. Despite this, it’s not unheard of for Ynxa to form close bonds with members of other races, but bridging the cultural gap is an important first step.

 

Ynxa Naming Conventions

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Ynxa have names in their native language granted to them by their seedmothers. These are long strings of sounds that are basically unpronounceable to anyone but other Ynxa. Many choose to give themselves names in Ionic for convenience. Since Ynxa choose these names themselves, they can be anything, but are often based on sounds or words that the Ynxa find funny, quirky or interesting. For example, a Ynxa who develops a fondness for cats might call themselves “Purr” or “Meow”, or even just “Cat.”