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 Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2016 4:40 am
Lake/River
Flora of Pale’iko
Pale’iko begins at the Noelani clifftop spring, flowing into the winding Noehala River and leading into numerous lakes and ponds. Atop the high cliffs, the spring is miles long and seemingly just as deep with no visible bottom. The coast is lined by tall trees covered in leaves of pale blue and green, known for their soft silvery bark. The trees are thin and suitable for climbing, instead their leaves provide cover from the sun, and resources when harvested down near the river.
The riverlands are much more lush than the spring, with many plants growing off the river. Tall grass of greens and browns provide protection to many creatures on land, and near the water are long reeds used for weaving. Near bends in the river stand smaller shrub-like trees with darker leaves. These trees are ideal locations for a traveler to take a break and keep out of the sun. Deep in the river itself are pale floating weeds that are used in medicinal salves.
Where the grass meets the trees farther off the river, wildflowers of all colors bloom, many of which are used for dyes, ointments, and even for food. There are also bushes with flowering plants that produce different types of berries; small round ones of bright blue that are poisonous and deep red clumps that are juicy and nutritious.
Where the river ends into lakes and ponds, fluffy reeds grow and are used as a resource for clothing and crafting. The lake also is known to have thick moss that lines the deeper floors, leaving them smooth and difficult to navigate. Additionally, the shallow sands of the lake floor can also be covered in short weeds, which are known to house some of the more delectable creatures of Pale’iko.
Fauna of Pale’iko
POLOKA (pl. Polokas) - Dwelling in the deeper parts of the rivers and at the edges of the lakes are these smooth skinned creatures. With larger heads and a flat body, these creatures sit low to the ground ground, and have wide legs to help them kick through the water. They seem to be related somewhat to the Elehune's Bayufo, and have adapted to live on the waterways of the lands.
LAKINU (pl. Lakinas) - These small little creatures commonly can be seen lifting their head above the still surface of the lakes and calm streams. Preferring to sink below the waters, they grow not more than two palms, and have smooth shells that protect their bodies. Fins that look like wings help them dart through the waters and away from predators. It is believed if one finds an empty shell, it is a symbol of good luck.
WAIKAKA (pl. Waikaki) - Some of the flashiest creatures in Pale’iko, these birds drift across the still waters of the lakes. The females are often colors of soft browns, whites, and golds, where the males are covered in color and flashy feather patterns. They normally only come to shore to find nesting grounds, preferring to keep away from areas where predators lie in wait.
RAPAKI (pl. Rapakis) - These furry creatures keep well away from the waters, choosing instead to live in the grasses near the trees. With long floppy ears to help them detect predators, and strong arms with sharp claws, they can easily burrow into the soft ground to escape danger. Difficult to catch, they do make a great meal to those who are patient enough to snare one.
ULUA (pl. Uluas) - These scaled creatures are slim with lean arms and legs. The arms have webbing that, when spread, allows the Ulua to jump and glide. They often can be seen gliding in the evening from rock to rock in the river, catching flying bugs. When the day is hot, they may lounge on the rocks, but will flee into the grasses away from the river when approached.
KAKILI (pl. Kakilis) - These sharp sighted birds lie in weight high up in the trees, keeping an eye on the rushing waters of the rivers for fish. They use their small bodies and strong wings to dart down to the water, snatching up fish with their talons before returning to their nest. Because of their silver and grey coloring, they often are overlooked thanks to their ability to blend in with the trees and bark of the land.
LAAU (pl. LAAU) - These crafty little creatures are known to use the resources around them to build their homes on the river. In the thinner parts of the river, mounds of wood are clear signs of where they live. Their bodies were made for building: thick teeth and claws for breaking down wood, flat scaled tails used to stabilize their home, and smooth fur to allow them to create entrances below the water.
NANU'ILA (pl. Nanu'ilas) - Often called water dancers, these majestic creatures glide across the still waters of the lake and river. With large, brown feathers, and soft downy chests, these creatures can have a wingspan of up to 10 feet. It is best to keep a distance, as they are very territorial and will charge when threatened. If their size wasn’t enough, their antlers can be enough of a warning to stay away.
HANALUKE (pl. Hanaluke) - Living high up in the trees, these petite creatures are often considered night bandits. They use their long limbs and hand-like paws to descend down the trees, where they sneak about and steal any food left out in the open. Their long ears and fluffy tails help them balance, and their slim body allows them to easy move through tight spaces. On average, they are about a foot tall, and that’s not when they stand up on their hind legs.
MAKUONU (pl. Makuoni) - These large creatures dwell in the depths of the Noelani spring, rarely seen by any at the surface. Rumored to be almost 10 feet wide, they have thick shells with rock-like spikes, and wide fins that allow them to swim around. No one knows how old they can live, and some believe that the first Makuonu appears with the first waters of the spring. Armed with a sharp leathery beak, their fowl tempers are enough for anyone to keep their distance.
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Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2016 4:42 am
Marsh/Swamp
Elehun Flora
Elehun is made up of soft-ground and winding waterways. Most dwellers have evolved to navigate the dark waters, and the creatures of the land are good at avoiding danger. The ground is wet and unstable, filled with muck-like areas that can easily consume a traveler. Grasses with sharp tips grow tall near the waterways, showcasing where the ground is ideal for travel. In some areas, short bushes with sharp bark grow a few feet tall, with deep red flowers that bloom late in the season.
In some of the more still locations, short reed-like plants sprout from the water with scale-like leaves. These plants appear like glass in the light, and the ashes are used to produce glass. Near the edge of the water, occasionally reeds will grow a few inches and bloom thin stemmed flowers of soft pinks and blues.
Deep below the water, the floor is made up of thick mud that has settled, occasionally mixed with dark moss. Shallower waterways are clouded with long, thin water weeds that are a dark brown color which are dried and used for clothing. It is difficult for any foreigner to navigate the waterways because of these many challenges.
Farther away from the marsh waters, long soft grass that sits low to the ground creates the appearance of golden waves. The distant horizon is not lined by trees, but tall grass with bushy tops. It is only on the border of Pale’iko where the silver trees begin to grow, creating a clear sign of where the two territories meet.
Elehun Fauna
IKIULA (pl. Ikiula) - Growing no longer than six inches, these shelled creatures burrow into the shallow mud of the Elehun waterways. They have sharp pincers and short spines on their back, which they use to deter to their natural predators. The Menehune have developed a netting technique to catch these creatures, as they a delicacy both fresh and when cooked.
BAYUFO (pl. Bayufos) - Away from the waters, near the mud and grasses linger the dry skinned Bayufo. Known for their large head and thick body, these creatures stand no more than half a foot off the ground, and use their thick legs to propel themselves through the grass. They seem to be related somewhat to the Pale'iko's Poloka, and have adapted to live on the drier parts of the land.
MANUPICA (pl. Manupicas) - These little birds dart around the marsh, feasting on the little flowers and berries that bloom in the waterways. Although they enjoy the sweet fruit, their main source of food comes from the grubs that live under the silver-bark trees. When it is quiet, those near the forest of the border can hear them pecking away at the bark to find their next meal.
(Note: think woodpecker mixed with hummingbird)
PINUNAO (pl. Pinunaos) - These brightly colored insects swoop across the water on their two pairs of transparent wings. Growing nearly as long as a forearm, they can appear quite terrifying but are mostly harmless. They are often seen as symbols of strength and luck, and are captured for both medicine and food.
ENHUDRA (pl. Enhudras) - These playful little creatures love to swim and float through the marsh. Known for their lightly scaled skin and bright eyes, they dive throughout the water to catch smaller prey, and will float on their back when not hunting. They have natural speed thanks to their slick bodies and powerful legs, and can easily dart below the surface of the water to hide in their dens until the danger has passed.
NEHEKA (pl. Nahekas) - These worm-like creatures move easily through the mudlands of the marsh, burrowing to eat small bugs within the soil. They are harmless, and are hard to spot if one does not know what they are looking for. The color of dirt and soil, it’s only the flash of their scales that will give them away as they move.
MIWA (pl. Miwas) - These brown and black birds travel on long legs, which they use to navigate the waterways. When they duck their heads down to hunt for Bayufo and Ikiula, they spread their wings like a shield to attract creatures to the shadow. Their long beaks allow them the perfect ability to snatch creatures deep below the surface.
UHI (pl. Uhi) - The large, flightless birds dwell in the smooth grasses away from the waterways. Throughout the day, they will venture out to hunt on the shore, where they can keep an eye out for their predators. They can build up enough momentum to appe
HA'OKI (pl. Ha’okis) - These feline creatures prowl the grasslands away from the marsh, hunting the Uhi and Miwa nests wherever they can find them. Their scale-covered paws and forearms allow them to travel through mud without any difficulty, although they prefer to keep away from the water because their fur is soft and prone to matting when wet.
KO'OLONA (pl. Ko’olonas) - These giant beasts prowl the deepest parts of the Elehun, are very dangerous and should be avoided whenever possible. Their scaled body acts like a shield, giving them protection from most weapons. With large teeth and a larger mouth, they can easily grab on to small creatures and drag them under. The Menehune have adapted to avoid these creatures, and have created underwater fences to ensure they keep away from the main camps.
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Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2018 5:13 am
Reef/Inland Sea
Haukea Flora
The coastal area of Haukea is colorful and full of life. The beaches and coastlines are lined with various species of mangroves, protecting the area from the harsh waves of the open ocean. These lush green and orange plants create a very mild, pleasant current in the reef, leading to a den of creatures that live for a relaxed lifestyle. The sea floor is soft with light tan-colored sand, lined with the gentle ripples of the moving water within the inlet created by the Great Reef.
Peeking through the soft sand are a multitude of colorful sea grasses, creating small fields of greens and blues that can come up to a Hapuna’s waist. These grasses are soft to the touch and the majority of the fauna not already on the reef itself can be found in these grasses. Spotted throughout the sea floor, large seaweeds growing up to fifteen feet tall sprout up, creating a semblance of trees under the water. Their green-colored shade creates popular social areas for the Hapuna, the gentle current swaying them back and forth. Other sources of algae also show their colors on the ocean floor, buddying up closer to the reef itself in a great range of oranges, yellows, greens, and blues.
The Great Reef is the most colorful part of Haukea, its magnificent display of life coming in any range of color imaginable. The reef itself is composed of various corals, sponges, and algae, and can reach heights of thirty feet off of the ocean floor. The reef holds innumerous crustaceans, fish, mollusks, and more, calling their cohabiting sponges and corals their homes. The Hapuna can find most of their foods from the reef, and pull from the grasses, algae, and mangroves for their clothes.
Haukea Fauna
MOMI (pl. Moma) – These bright colored fish swim in schools of up to two hundred, filling the space they inhabit with a shimmering rainbow of scales. Once the ocean light hits their bodies, the scales disperse it into small dots thrown back onto the floors and flora around them, coating everything in color. Their small bodies only reach up to about four inches in length, but their colorful scales and elegantly long fins make them stand out in the Haukea waters.
HEMI (pl. Hema) – Small and sturdy, these little crustaceans only grow to six inches in width, but their powerful claws make them hard to approach in Haukea. Their claws grow to nearly the size of their bodies, and they are known to carry loads more than twenty times their weight in the ocean waters, scuttling along in the seagrass beds where they make their homes.
KAPU (pl. Kapus) – These sleek creatures can grow up to five feet in length, their smooth skin allowing them to cut through water with the agility of a hunter. Their noses are full of receptors, allowing them to find and capture prey. Their tail fins grow to almost four feet in height, and their teeth stick out of their mouths in disarray. The stripes on their bodies allow them to blend into the grasses and let them disappear from above.
ANAKONI (pl. Anakonis) – Small and numerous, these star-shaped critters come in all varieties of warm, bright colors from reds and pinks to yellows and oranges. Their movement is incredibly slow, but their appetite is insatiable for such a tiny creature. Found in colonies of up to forty, they spend their days picking microscopic organisms off of the reef, and only grow to three inched across at their largest.
LONO (pl. Lonos) – Small with an abundance of legs, these little creatures scurry and swim about the reef and the ocean floor with hard exoskeletons, a flurry of swimmerets, and two small pincers on their forelimbs. Their extra-long antennae allow them to feel their surroundings and watch out for any predators in the waters. Their hard-shelled bodies are colored in a shimmery oil slick pattern, making them an interesting find for jewelry for the people of Haukea.
PELE’LI (pl. Pele’li) – Long and streamlined, these creatures hide in the corals of the reef and patiently stalk the small fish of Haukea. They don’t have fins, and instead wind their bodies through the water, their small razor sharp teeth lining their mouths. Their skin is coated in a slimy toxin that makes it near impossible to touch them, though really, why would a Hapuna want to?
KU (pl. Kus) – The ku has elongated spines extending from its brightly colored fins, and a parrot-like beak on its mouth. Its beak is able to crush even the hardest Hemi shell, providing the ku with its main source of food. These fish grow to two feet in length, and while it might look fierce, it would rather run from a fight or possible danger than to be in the thick of it. Don’t be fooled by its pacifism though, its spines are deadly if a kahikinan happens to run into them.
PAKA’KONI (pl. Paka’kona) – Large and graceful, the paka’kona glide through the waters of the Haukea area with ease. Horizontally flattened, these creatures can span over six feet from one fin to the other, and their slick skins are devoid of scales. They have large eyes on the sides of their heads, and a broad mouth for filter feeding. Their skins are marked with beautiful striping patterns in dusky blues and grays, and when they hover over the waters of the reef their large spread can block out the sun’s rays. They only travel in small groups, and seeing more than four in one place is a sign of good fortune for the Hapuna.
TEFI’LO (pl. Tefi’los) – These creatures sport rounded heads with a sharp beak and hard shells on their backs. Their flipper-like fins let them coast through the gentle currents of the reef waters. They have ruffled fins cresting the tops of their heads and under their bellies, and a short frill trailing down the top of their tails.
KINILAU (pl. Kinilaus) – These colorful fish are adorned with intricate patterns over their scales and three sets of fins on each side. They move their bodies over the reef in a shimmying motion, sticking close to the corals and sponges they call their homes. They grow to almost one foot in length, and their sets of fins shimmer translucent iridescence in the light.
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Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2018 5:13 am
Deep Sea
Ka'lei Flora
Deep into the depths of the ocean, Ka'lei is nearly black, the majority of light from the surface not able to make the journey down to the ocean floor. But where sunlight might not reach the depths, bioluminescence takes over. The multitude of plant and animal life in Ka'lei emit glowing bioluminescence, casting soft glows over the landscape of the deep sea. The deep crevices and cliffs of Ka'lei are spotted with specialized grasses that take the chemicals deposited from decaying life and convert them into oxygen for those that live this far below the surface. Their blades are long, standing at nearly two feet tall, and they are spotted with glowing dots along their edges.
The turbulent waters created by the deep currents of the sea floor are impractical for most flora and fauna, but special sponges anchor themselves to the rocky outcroppings. When the current picks up and pulls at the sponges, their bodies pulse with a soft glowing, creating what seems like the heartbeat of the ocean. In the calmer areas of Ka'lei, creeping forests of seaweed float through the depths, their sizeable masses covering a large area before they slowly move on to the next place for them.
Heated geysers crop up sporadically, creating thermal vents that house specialized ecosystems entirely of their own. Rods stick out near the boiling hot waters, lighting the area as if in warning of the dangerous temperatures. While not many choose to make the vents their home, their warmth helps to keep the temperature up for the Moakai and at a comfortable level.
Ka'lei Fauna
KALULALII (pl. Kalulalii) – Dwelling deep in the darkness of the sea, these creatures shine like stars in the night. Flat with translucent, textured skin, they have a centralized body with dozens of appendages branching out to create a cluster. The appendages contain clusters of bioluminescent tendrils that shine brightly in nearly white color. They hardly move, feeding off the waters around them, so the Moakai have used them to illuminate safe pathways between the deeper settlements.
WELIWEKA (pl. Weliwekas) - Shooting through the ocean currents like stars, these creatures spiral around with long, thin tentacles that look more like ribbons than snares. The majority of their grow is in the tentacles, spotted and shimmery like glitter and reaching a length of nearly three feet when fully extended. Most Moakai have learned to avoid the creatures, for while their bodies are thick and full of fish meat, the shock of their tails is not worth the hunt.
HOHONU (pl. Hohonus) - Dwelling in the deepest shadows of the sea, these long, six-legged creatures slowly move across the sea seeking food. They don't glow like many of the other creatures in the sea, but if any light catches their shells they become easy to catch. Their round bodies are full of rich meat, and are a prime target for Moakai hunters seeking a filling meal as long as they can avoid their snapping claws.
HOKU’WALA (pl. Hoku'wala) - Deep in the depths of the sea where most life is unable to survive, there are rumors of traveling constellations. Larger than conceivable, these creatures float slowly through the sea and are known for their black skin that collects bio luminescent barnacles creating patterns like constellations. Rarely seen near the settlements, most only hear their sorrowful song as it floats in on the currents of the sea.
KAIMONIO (pl. Kaimonio) - Known as the ghouls of the deep, these creatures have long, snake-like bodies and strong fins that push it through the water. Known for its wide mouth with sharp teeth, it is a natural hunter of the deep. It has pale skin that reflects the bioluminescence of the land, but does not glow on its own, leaving many Moakai to be hyper alert when swimming through infested waters.
MA'HOLI (pl. Ma'holi) - Another danger in the deep, this hunting fish is known for its pointed snout and protuding jaw. It has limited spotting that glows throughout its skin, and short fins that leave it swimming slow and sluggishly on the ocean floor. It is quite aggressive, but chooses to wait and snag instead of chase its prey. Even with its slow pace and ground dwelling tendencies, its dozens of sharp teeth and jaw that can encase an arm or leg leave enough reason for the Moakai to avoid hunting near the dark deep.
WHETU (pl. Whetu) – Immensely sized and slow moving, these creatures grow to upwards of twenty five feet in length and feature the long, scale-less bodies of their reef dwelling cousins, the Kapus, but their teeth are small and ineffective after years of evolution. They mostly just filter feed through the areas, picking up tiny creatures in the waters, even though their mouths can reach nearly two feet in diameter. Their backs are spotted with bioluminescence, creating flowing patterns through the dark ocean waters.
TIPENE (pl. Tipen) – Able to reach incredible bursts of speed to evade predators, these small fish travel in groups of no more than twenty at a time. When cornered, they can use their specialized fins to jet through the waters, faster than anyone can track way down in the darkness. They have bioluminescent fins that they can control and effectively turn off when it’s time to swim away!
PALIULI (pl. Paluilis) – Living in the tubules near the thermal vents, these creatures are known to bloom outward, soaking up the heat and chemicals from the underwater geysers, but then will rapidly shrivel up and into their tubes when spooked. They are eyeless and feature many small appendages in which to absorb its nutrients, waving itself through the waters with a perceived tranquility, and feature bright glowing colors.
TEMAKA (pl. Temakas) – These slippery creatures are able to fit into even the tightest of spaces, bending and distorting their boneless bodies whichever way they need to. They are relatively small, only growing to about a foot in diameter, but with ten legs and sets of frills they use to propel themselves through the waters they are a sight to behold. Their large eyes are the only parts of these creatures that glow with bioluminescence, and when they travel in large clusters it’s almost as if there is a star-filled sky or a forest of lanterns way down in the deep waters of Ka’lei.
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