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 Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2015 4:46 pm
Below has a vast amount of familiars! Should your Nightmare want a pet they have plenty of animals to choose from, ranging from small animals to large ones that need more care the the average pet.
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Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2015 7:47 am
 Aetherjelly:
The Aetherjelly is an incredibly low-maintenance Familiar, feeding primarily on magical energy which it filters out of the air with its long tentacles. Because of their ability to feed on magical energy, they enjoy the companionship of Nightmares, especially those who regularly wield magic. An Aetherjelly's owner must be careful with their enchanted items, or else an Aetherjelly may gorge on the energy and deplete it.
Their tentacles, while primarily used for feeding, can be used by an Aetherjelly to defend itself. They have been known to cause nasty magical burns when very agitated, but rarely resort to this measure unless provoked, due to the fact that it taps into the energy they have eaten.
Aetherjellies originally come from The Great Void Sea, floating around in the void and following the magical storms and currents that churn about in its inky depths. They come in a variety of sizes, from very small, to incredibly large, with the most common domesticated strains being between six inches and a foot long.
Bud:
Found almost exclusively in the village of Rosebud and the surrounding countryside, Buds are insects with a symbiotic relationship with the flowering plants of the region. They safeguard the plants against pests, and in turn are provided with food and camouflage. Buds subsist primarily off nectar, and are an important part of the pollination process. They are popular among farmers for this reason.
Their unique petal like growths for which they are known, are used to mask themselves from potential predators, but also in courtship. Buds can flare their petals to attract attention, and generally the bigger the petals are the better. Buds themselves however are very small, and most species grow anywhere from between one to three inches long.
In captivity, Buds do best in terrariums with plenty of greenery. They tend to be fearless despite their size, and have been known to bite if they feel their home is threatened. Other than that, they are regarded as low maintenance pets. As social creatures, they prefer to live with anywhere from two to six other Buds, and spend most of their time sipping nectar or dozing. They are best suited for those who prefer a hands-off experience, as they do not respond well to physical affection or training.
Nezubat:
The Nezubat is an intelligent and inquisitive pet that requires a fair amount of maintenance. They need a large amount of exercise, requiring space to stretch their wings, skitter about and hang upside down while they sleep. They cannot be kept in a small cage, as they can easily tear the fragile membrane between the bones on their wings.
However, due to the fact that they can be litter-trained, they can be kept outside of a cage. Also, they are intelligent enough to find their way back home if the owner lets their Nezubat fly off during the night to hunt and exercise.
It should be known, though, that Nezubats are fairly social and will sometimes fly off with other Nezubat colonies, or, more often, bring home friends from local colonies to meet their Nightmare companions.
Flitterat:
The Flitterat is perhaps one of the most rewarding small familiars available. They are incredibly low-maintenance but incredibly friendly when socialized properly. Flitterats are also very intelligent despite their small size, and when food is used as an incentive (Flitterats are incredibly motivated by treats), they can be easily trained to do tricks for their owners.
In the past, Flitterats were considered vermin, but this is only due to their ability to live practically everywhere and eat practically anything. They use their tiny wings to glide short distances, allowing them to easily move about in an urban environment.
An experienced owner knows that their Flitterats can and will chew through everything. Because of this, owners must keep an eye on them, or else risk losing their textbook to a bored Flitterat. Flitterats do require a fair amount of attention, whether it be the attention of their owner or the companionship of another Flitterat. As such, many Flitterats will happily share a cage. Watch out, though, because they will breed very quickly if they are not fixed!
Salamander:
The Salamander is a fairly easygoing familiar, not requiring too much attention but also not averse to being handled. They can be friendly, but tend toward being fairly aloof toward their owners unless a particularly strong bond has formed. Salamanders can be coaxed with food, however, and will happily accept nice, crunchy bugs and salamander food from their owner's hand. Coming from swamps, they prefer dark, moist environments, meaning that Nightmares will need to keep them in tanks full of moss, puddles and places to hide.
Perhaps the most striking feature of the Salamander is its fiery tail. The magical flames that ornament their tails are surprisingly cool to the touch, but owners beware: they will grow hot if a Salamander feels threatened.
While domesticated Salamanders rarely grow beyond a foot long, some of their wild cousins, particularly those in the swamps of Auster, can grow to nearly 6 feet long.
Skyfish:
The Skyfish is a surprisingly friendly and intelligent familiar. They enjoy being handled and fed, and will often nibble affectionately on their owners until given a treat. While their attention-spans are fairly short, they will happily learn tricks in exchange for food and attention.
Their natural curiosity and ability to float into tight spaces makes them fairly good at getting stuck, however, and owners must be careful to not let their Skyfish get tangled in various objects and tear their delicate fins.
While Skyfish are normally sold when they are around six-to-eight inches long, they will often live for a very long time, reaching well up to three feet in length. They are a permanent fixture in the gardens of many wealthy Nightmares, where they frolic about and eat pesky insects.
Wisp:
Wisps are by far the easiest variety of familiar to care for. They are not believed to be particularly intelligent, but this is made up for by the fact that they require almost no care aside from feeding. Feeding, however, might be a bit harrowing, due to the fact that Wisps can feed off of a Nightmare's life energy. Unlike Aetherjellies, who just prefer any variety of magic, Wisps are specifically drawn to spiritual energy, although they will feed on any type of magic in a pinch.
It is not even known for sure if Wisps are particularly social, or if they just find Nightmares particularly interesting due to their ability to feed a Wisp. While this is not dangerous in small groups, if Wisps swarm, they can cause fatigue if allowed to feed off of a single Nightmare for too long.
For the squeamish Nightmare, or to tide a pet Wisp over for a week of travel, they can be fed with crystals charged with magical energy.
Cockatriel:
Cockatriel's are tiny but fierce. The little birds are carnivorous and host sharp teeth inside of their beaks. They are not very friendly and prone to nipping those who mishandle them, sometimes even breaking skin! They are incredibly intelligent, yet boast a rude and snarky temperament. Pair that with the fact they can be taught to repeat small phrases and sounds and you'll often find that the familiar spends more time mocking their owner than anything else.
Cockatriel do attach to their owners, in a way. Should another person harm their owner they have been known to bite the offender or begin a barrage of insults. They tend to have absolutely no problem bullying their owners, but should anyone else try they will feel the Cockatriel's ultimate wrath. They also can fly, yet more often than not choose to stay with their owners, even when given the chance to leave. Perhaps the promise of food keeps them around, or somewhere down in their black little hearts they actually care for their owner.
Fluffbugs:
These friendly and social insects were domesticated in prehistoric times by the Fey. Centuries of breeding have resulted in many different breeds and varieties of Fluffbugs, but only the most common breed, the house-fluff, has been imported to Below. Fluffbugs are about the size of Flitterrats and covered all over in hair—a fine, velvety hair on their head and abdomen, and a thick, fluffy fur on their thorax. Fluffbugs drink nectar, whether from a flower, or, when their favorite flowers are not in bloom, from flower-shaped feeders full of food bought from the pet store. Fluffbugs get along well with most pets, so long as those pets do not try to eat them. Pity the pet—or Nightmare!—who frightens a Fluffbug. Although they no longer sport venomous stings, Fluffbugs are armed with sacs of stinky fluids they spray from their butt when alarmed. Although Fluffbugs enjoy being petted, they should not be hugged, as this can seriously hurt or even kill them. They are good pets for juniors and adults, although they do require attention and social interaction.
Pet Rocks:
They're just a rock with eyes. Literally. The eyes follow you wherever you go, but that's it. If you manage to break it in half it'll bleed, which frankly is horrifying.
Dusties:
You know how you forget to clean under your bed and there's a bunch of dust balls? Well, Dusties are created when dust absorbs an abnormal amount of magic, creating sentient (and hardier) Dusties! Dusties have a wide range of personalities, however they tend to behave a bit more like the person they absorbed the magic from. Dusties need little care, and make sure you don't get them wet! They'll survive, but it'll dampen their mood and ability to hop about for quite some time.
Crocobee:
Crocobee's are small, energetic familiars with personalities larger than life. They can be very territorial, often nipping or snapping at others who infringe on their owners or their nests. Despite their habits of rolling around in flowers and collecting pollen, they cannot hold onto nectar and any they ingest will ooze from their skin making them slimy and rather slippery. It is recommended that they are socialized early with other familiars and friends/family to avoid an unhappy Crocobee.
Leaflet:
Leaflet's are native to the forests Above, perhaps a result of some magical experiment gone wrong and impressively fast breeding. At a glance, they seem like nothing more than animated leaf litter, skittering around forest floors and through the trees. Unless you have an ear for their quiet clicks or an eye for their quick movement, it's almost impossible to spot a Leaflet amongst foliage. Beyond eating and occasionally riding a breeze, Leaflet's don't do much other than finding their way into places they shouldn't be.
Leaflet's serve no practical purpose and have no appealing qualities to be owned as familiars, but some individuals have found themselves weirdly enamoured by the simple creatures. Leaflet owners don't need to do much beyond providing them with greens to eat and somewhere to roam. The major consideration of every leaflet owner is simple - try not to step on them!
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Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2015 7:51 am
Jackalope:
The Jackalope is a friendly companion, prone to being affectionate but aloof. Native to the rolling fields and meadows of Below, they spend their days eating clover, running through tall grass and avoiding their many natural predators. As a prey animal to many other species, they can be fairly skittish unless handled and socialized properly, and feral Jackalopes are incredibly hard to tame, even when reared from birth.
However, the Jackalope lives in large groups in the wild, so they crave attention and do poorly without it for long periods of time. Because of this, it is important to give a Jackalope daily attention, without overwhelming them with too much handling. Most Jackalopes, though, will form very strong bonds with the members of their owner's family and enjoy playing, cuddling and socializing with their Nightmare companions.
Jackalopes grow to about a foot from nose to tail, with some varieties growing up up to a foot and a half. They feed primarily on food pellets and dried grasses, with the occasional treat of fresh grass, clover and vegetables.
There is a rare strain of Jackalopes that have developed wings to help escape predators. While they cannot fly strongly, they still can take to the skies for a brief time should a predator swoop towards them. They're hard to find, and typically stick towards the mountain ranges.
Vespercat:
The Vespercat makes a very rewarding familiar for Nightmares who have the time and energy to spend caring for them. While they do not require a particularly large amount of care, in comparison to, say, a Hound, they do eat a fair amount and are intelligent enough to let their needs be known very loudly.
Using their strong wings to help them jump and glide, Vespercats may not be capable of true flight, but they are very skilled at getting themselves into just about anywhere they want to go.
Kidden:
Kiddens are very friendly and active familiars. They can be very rambunctious, playing, jumping and skittering around on their little hooves well into old age. Their energy can make them a little difficult to keep in cramped spaces, but as long as particularly energetic Kiddens are allowed to play and let out their energy, they can be kept by students staying in dorms.
Owners must be aware of their particularly destructive habits, however, many bored and untrained Kiddens will try to climb anything, as well as often having very destructive chewing habits. Due to the fact that they are able to jump fairly high, owners must be careful to Kidden-proof their rooms or kennel-train their Kidden
Luckily, most Kiddens do not grow much larger than a Vespercat, so they can be contained fairly easily. As long as they are kept busy, they can be a very fun and rewarding Familiar to own.
Fennekit:
Fennekits are very vocal familiars. They communicate affection through small squeaks and muffs. They're incredibly rewarding to own, as they're fairly loyal to their owner and will happily learn commands given to them. They are, however, very finicky and can go from wanting attention one second and suddenly dismissing the owner and wandering off.
They're a prankster type of familiar, enjoying causing mischief when they can and hiding things their owners own. They need a lot of physical exercise or they'll grow destructive in nature, chewing on everything you own and escaping from their home to run amok. Those wishing to own a Fennekit better be prepared to either play plenty with their pet, or let them explore the outside world to burn off energy.
Revenant:
Revenants are actually created by Nightmare's themselves. The creation of a Revenant is extremely taboo, as it requires the creator to not only stitch together the parts of several deceased animals, but also to revive the creature using necromancy. Since necromancy is not only banned in Below but also viewed as one of the dark magics, Revenants are hard to come by and usually aren't sold in stores!
Count yourself lucky if you do get one, though. They are sweet and silly little familiars, often found stumbling over their paws and clumsily bumping into things in their excitement to reach their owner. While often shy and more introverted, they bond to their owners and find solace in cuddles and claiming a spot at the end of their bed.
Pumpka:
Pumpkas are a great mystery to the world of Below! They previously never existed until the curse laid on the soul stones during October occurred. Shortly after, pumpkin crops began to show a strange change; a few pumpkins would become animate. Farmers began to dread when it came to harvesting their pumpkin's, as Pumpkas were inedible and were prone to shrieking as they were removed from the earth.
Pumpkas do not rot, nor do they require food. They're incredibly easy to care for and seem to favor cooler climates. Three things set them apart from a normal pumpkin; when they become ripe they develop a face that resembles a carved pumpkin (as well as gain a candle within their mouth), they can float (which is also their main way of travel), and they feel and think like any other pet! They aren't incredibly common, as they need to be first grown like any other pumpkin.
Pumpkas are a mischievous race of familiars who are prone to causing mild mayhem when left alone. They aren't the most loyal of familiars and can play tricks on their owners, but they don't take kindly to their owners being harmed by other living creatures. If the candle within them goes out they fall asleep. Reigniting the candle will bring your little friend back! Luckily, it seems like the candle never needs replacing, as it doesn't ever burn down.
Gryftoo:
Gryftoo make up for their lack of intelligence with an abundance of love that seems never ending. Gryftoo are not clever creatures, and training one will take weeks of energy. They lack the ability to focus longer than five seconds, and most have horrific memory. Gryftoo are incredibly excitable and those who wish for a quiet, calm, and trainable animal will find that these creatures are not the pet for them.
While they lack the appeal of training, they are obsessed with their owners. You will never find a familiar as loving as a Gryftoo. While it takes a good few weeks for them to bond with their owner (mostly due to their memory issues!), once they do their owner becomes their best friend. They devote their lives to their owners and genuinely just want to make them as happy as possible.
Coatl:
Coatl are from the same village Bakeneko and Naga are from! Coatl are incredibly affectionate, clever, and needy. They want your attention immediately. Not tomorrow. Not in a minute. Right now. What this means for people interested in Coatl is that you need to pat your tiny snake immediately, or it'll start following you, hissing for attention. They also are not above curling around whatever else you're paying attention to, or even knocking it over.
Coatl are clever, and as a result can escape enclosures, pretend to want affection and instead swipe a trinket or food, or even trick their owners into doing what they want. They are not malicious, however, and will not directly harm another person. Coatl in the wild have poisonous bite that cannot kill but can stun, however domestic Coatl's have this trait bred out of them. Most likely, Bakeneko had to do this, as Naga had absolutely no care about their snakes biting everyone. Kind of hard to care about something you're immune to.
Sealpup:
Sealpups are alarmingly clever despite their adorable and often distant appearance. While their eyes never seem quite focused on anything surrounding them, Sealpups are incredibly intelligent and respond well to training. They pick up on repeated behaviors quickly and are prone to adjusting to their owner's schedule to match their own. Sealpups love affection and are eager to please their owners whenever they can.
They are primarily aquatic creatures, and while their smooth and soft skin doesn't need water, they greatly benefit from it. Sealpups could, theoretically, live their entire life on dry land, but it'd lead to minor discomfort as their skin dries and a lack of energy. Allowing them access to a portable pool or any source of water will keep your Sealpup sharp as a tack!
Mewgle:
Mewgles originally could only be found in the Kumiho's forest. However, when the Kumihos left and entered the world they brought with them these strange familiars.
Mewgles are playful and energetic creatures! They rarely are seen without their ball, which is born with them. They can be found often dancing on top of these balls, or cuddling into them. Mewgles never open their eyes unless in danger, instead relying on their antenna to sense the environment around them, as light actually hurts their sensitive eyes! Mewgles are hard to raise, as they don't really seek approval. Instead, they'll do whatever makes those around them laugh. They are caring, though, and often will drop their misbehavior if their owner starts getting frustrated. It doesn't mean they'll obey you, but hey, it's something.
They make cat-like sounds for the most part, content to mewl and purr away.
Groffu:
The groffu have recently been discovered in a swamp in Below, thought to have evolved over the recent decades following the war. Scientists have theorised that the magical residue leftover from particularly spell-heavy conflict developed into a sentient essence in the form of floating eyes. Initially these eyes merely drifted around, sucking small amounts of life force from other entities until they disappeared. Amazingly, they formed a symbiotic relationship with the crystal frogs found in the swamp; their crystals gave the eyes an anchor, providing them a sustainable amount of life essence. In turn, the intelligence of the eye enables their host to find food more efficiently, to the point where the crystal frog is now likely to go extinct without the guide of their parasites.
Most people aren't aware of this distinction and simply believe the groffu is a large, magical frog. They prefer to eat live food but can be trained to accept their meals frozen, meaning even young freshlings can keep a groffu without hassle. Thanks to their parasitic eye, groffus can be as intelligent as a cockatriel and can be surprisingly affectionate, though their skin can be anywhere from slightly damp to slimy; despite their advanced evolution, they still need to maintain a level of moisture in their skin. Groffus prefer environments where they have access to water but are suitable for almost any dwelling, including Academy dormitories, making them a desirable pet for all ages.
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Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2015 7:52 am
Spectrefoxes:
Spectrefoxes come off regal and far more intelligent than some other types of familiars. They typically bond with only one NM or DD. This means if they are owned by two people or more, the Spectrefox will most likely only obey one member. Spectrefoxes learn quickly, and as a result are commonly used as service animals. The problem with Spectrefoxes is if their owner wishes to give them up, they might not bond with another person.
Spectrefoxes in the wild tend to stick near graves. It isn't sure why they do, but they are most commonly found living around graveyards, or even living on-top of a grave. As a result, a lot of people find them rather unsettling. Spectrefoxes also seem to be able to sense when someone is about to die, prone to lying on the bed of a dying patient in hospitals or quietly sleeping with their owner should they be due to expire that day. While many people find this creepy, it is their way of quietly saying they love that person and wishing they pass on safely.
Gem-Crusted Torti:
The Torti are a highly intelligent species of tortoise, native to the Swirling Storms Desert and currently endangered due to the harsh conditions of the sandstorm they lived in for decades. As babies they are around 1-2 inches in diameter, but they can grow up to 5 feet tall! They can live longer than any species in Above and Below, and it is said that there are some as old as the world itself. Their bodies are typically earth-colored, but their eyes and shells are brightly colored, as their bodies are covered with deeply embedded crystals. These shell crystals grow slowly along with the Torti, and can be any combination of colors.
Slow-moving and gentle, these creatures survive in the harsh desert heat by burrowing deep into the sand. It is rumored that the Torti have complex underground communities, and they may be able to communicate with each other through telepathy. They are herbivores, eating desert scrub, or various leafy greens in captivity, to keep their hydration levels high. Occasionally, they can enjoy the sweet snack of a hibiscus flower or a strawberry! With their keeper, the Torti tend to be kind and compassionate, really showing their high intelligence and seeming to comprehend every word said to them. In captivity, Torti need to have somewhere to burrow, or they may just borrow straight through a mattress or an unfortunate pile of laundry!
Bunyips:
Found only in Wailing Swamp, Bunyips appear to be menacing creatures at a glance. Locals have always found it difficult to describe Bunyips, commenting that they look like an unusual combination of different mammals and reptiles. Their long tusks and clawed, webbed feet have kept most Daydreams wary, and for some time the Bunyips were the lone protectors of their swamp. It wasn't until the Chomps - and then the Shades - appeared in the swamp that anyone bothered to study the Bunyip. For a time they were considered evil spirits lurking below the water, but a few ambitious and rather foolish individuals managed to befriend them. It's since been decided that they aren't malicious by nature and simply wish to guard the swamp and its wildlife.
Bunyips still aren't a common choice of familiar even within the swamp-dwelling species, despite now appearing both Above and Below following the emergence of the Chomps and Shades. They have a naturally friendly and playful disposition, but their tusks and claws mean that anyone with this familiar will end up covered in bites and cuts. Bunyips tend to be ferocious if they're provoked, especially if someone threatens what/who they're protecting; guests of someone who owns a Bunyip will have to let them trust their scent before even stepping through the front door. It's recommended to have a yard of some kind if one wishes to keep a Bunyip, lest they bump into every piece of furniture due to their experience in the large, open swamp and not having to judge their own size. Still, despite all these drawbacks, a Bunyip will always be a loving and loyal familiar. Please note: most children staying at the academy are highly advised to not keep a Bunyip, due to a combination of their larger size (standing almost as tall as a freshling) and their somewhat brutish nature.
Rakahaast:
The Rakahaast are native to the Lost Lands in Above, previously unseen by any race other than the Centaurs due to the dangerous environment of the area. In order to adapt to the various threats and environmental conditions of the Lost Lands, the Rakahaast have evolved to have dozens of different variants. It appears that most of their differences are now instead used to attract mates and scare predators, resulting in longer tails, colourful feathers and even antennae-looking head feathers.
Rakahaast have been trained by Centaurs for as long as the race can remember, used to help them hunt and scout. It is exceptionally difficult to train a Rakahaast, but they're invaluable for any hunter. As they have started to appear in Below, many individuals are discovering the difficulty in owning a Rakahaast as a familiar. Not only are they incredibly large birds - with a wingspan often over 8ft - they are intelligent and individualistic. Without proper training from a young age, Rakahaast tend to be aggressive and unwilling to heed commands. With proper handling and breeding, however, they make beautiful and noble familiars. Centaurs have warned that it seems to be impossible to breed or train away their hunting instincts - if left to roam in suburbs Below, they will undoubtedly prove a threat to any outdoor familiars. For this reason, Asphodel Academy has a near-ban on keeping Rakahaast, as there's no way to guarantee the safety of the other familiars roaming the halls.
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Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2018 7:50 pm
Wickerbears:
An exceptionally large, ride-able familiar, these hulking skull-faced creatures were once considered nothing more than a story to tell children to warn them away from going into unexplored and potentially unsafe forests. It is only recently that they seem to have been awakened, and now seek their eternal companions.
Wickerbears are, in their dormant state, nothing more than large lawn ornaments. Needing to feed off of some sort of magic to live, it has been discovered that a simple rune-inscribed and enchanted wrapping will suffice. Though, as soon as the wrappings are removed, the wickerbears return to their dormant state.
Incredibly gentle, once bonded to a person, a wickerbear is exceptionally loyal to their companion. When ridden, the slightest touch from their bonded can direct them, and they will not move after being told to stay put.
This bond, however, makes the wickerbears exceptionally protective over their companion and their personal belongings. Should any sort of threat be upon their bonded person, the wickerbears will fiercely defend them. Because of this, it is highly recommended that training them to recognize what is and is not a threat begins in their cubhood, or as soon as a bond is established.
Decidedly low-maintinence for their bulk, wickerbears have a varied diet. Their meals can range from berries, to fish, to meat, to aluminum cans, to the morning's newspaper, and even to the bumper of a horseless carriage. They will eat anything they are offered, but they do not necessarily need to. The magic within their wrappings sustains them.
At the shoulder, the average Wickerbear is easily able to look a 6' person in the eyes, and they're even bigger then they (rarely) rear up on their hind legs.
Please Note: Children in academy are advised to not own a wickerbear, since although they are gentle with their bonded, training them to not see everyone else as a threat is best left to adults. It is also not advised to have more than two wickerbears, as they can and will see each other as competition, and may end in violent fights.
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