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UPDATE 05/06: JOURNAL IS TRANSITIONING TO PHASE II! I'll be re-writing some info and updating species ref to fit with the new changes I made to the species. There are new features being implemented such as the emergence of a non-mermaid/more humanoid form and new traits being added to the trait list. Please be on standby regarding information on these changes.

UPDATE 08/23: In regards to the Sleeping Eye's marking that are attached to the spine, they will omitted. I'll be updating the visual guide soon in regards to this update. My recent designs where the eye is open don't feature this (especially if they're at the front) so they won't be needed.

UPDATE: I'll be featuring information that can be found in the comments! This guide is still a huge wip in terms of data (finalizing a bit and still making some visual guides) Feel free to ask more info about them if you have any curious questions/clarifications/etc.

This is a closed species. Please don't create a Bakuinawa without my consent.

SPECIES OBSERVATIONS

✦Generally they are an alien lifeform that co-existed with the world way before man evolved (so they're kinda like an ancient species except they came from space)

✦They live in the deepest waters and only come to the surface when it's nighttime and most especially during eclipses. They are highly sensitive to sunlight due to the UV rays.

✦They live in the deep waters but are not limited to the ocean (E.g. lakes, rivers, etc. Any body of water that aren't shallow)
✦ They have gender specific traits too. Girls have a more mermaid like appearance with shorter horns, boys have a sea serpent-like tail and have longer horns, their wings also have peacock feathers to attract a mate.
✦ The species are based on narhwales and the Bakunaua, a Philippine dragon that is represented as a sea serpent. They are believed to be the cause of eclipses.

LORE

✦ The era of the Seven Seas Exploration was a time filled of curiosity and famed legends. Sailors who traveled the vast oceans brought home more than souvenirs from raids and exploits, they also brought with them stories that dared to defy the constraints of imagination. True enough, they are real however the beasts have become invisible to the aware consciousness of man and hid, becoming merely a legend. This is the legend of one of the sea's ethereal mysteries; The bakuinawa.

✦ In the middle of their explorations, sailors claim to see a peculiar figure in the waters. A mermaid like figure that had a horn and white glowing eyes. They fear the creature, initially seen as an omen in the seas for their unorthodox traits especially on stormy nights when the waves become giants and threaten to drown the ship or during eclipses, when the night intertwines with the magical realm. They keep their distance out of fear only to be blessed with good fortune for the following days. Slowly, the creature coined as the bakuinawa becomes a symbol of good fortune and safety in voyages.

✦ As the times change and so has the minds of men, the legend gradually deceased as sighting became less frequent. The lack of evidence that such creature exists and many hoaxes that used similar sea animals shattered the beliefs and hope of ever finding one. The legend turned into a drunken sailor's tale instead. However, there are recent reports of the discovery of the species' existence thus making it a living legend. Researchers studying the depths of the ocean, the deepest and darkest of the world's mysteries, found proof that they do exist. They are now calling for young brave souls to help them in their studies in order to uncover the secrets of the living beast. Are you up for the challenge?

KEY TRAITS

* The markings and the symbol (root) changes per Bakuinawa since they're all individually unique

✦ Horn
✦ Hip wings [ *Boys - have peacock feathers ]
✦ Ears (human ears are appendages, the "rabbit" ears are their true ears)
✦ Tails [ Girls - mermaid like, Boys - dragon like]
✦ Sleeping Eye

LEGEND ✦ (Common), ✦✦ (uncommon), ✦✦✦ (Rare), ✦✦✦✦ (mythical)
SLEEPING EYE

✦ The Sleeping Eye is an alien parasite that attaches itself on the Bakuinawa
✦ The parasite is passed on through the genes via reproduction.

✦ Originally, bakuinawas did not have the parasite pre-earth however, they came in contact with the parasite along the way. It was a bigger threat then compared to post-earth because their bodies were in tune to the atmosphere in space.

When they reach earth, the change in atmosphere considerably aided in keeping the parasite on acting on the host (They're weaker here compared to in space where it can get more energy from the magical source.) In order to keep themselves alive they attached their genetic make-up to the DNA of the host, mingling their ties. If you take away one from the other, the host will die alongside the parasite.

✦ It's appearance is that of a marking, when it is being used by the host bakuinawa, it becomes visible and opens. The parasite catches magical energy from an eclipse, the main source for bakuinawas to be able to use "magic" and to activate their hidden abilities and the main food source of the parasite.

✦The parasite feeds off other lifeforms in small amounts. (This explains why bakuinawas live in groups/very sociable creatures)

✦If the parasite is able to over ride the bakuinawa's system, it turns the host into a rogue. Rogues are more serpent like and are very hostile.

✦ The sleeping eye is the Achilles heel of the bakuinawas. Thrusting an object through it can cause sudden death or irreversible damage to the creature.

THE HORN

ROOT & HORN - PARASITE RELATIONSHIP

✦ In order for the host to function normally without the full control of the parasite, the Eye gathers energy from different life sources (but most of the energy is captured when there are eclipses.) The energy they take from different life forms vary in terms of supplement and value.

They have to eat daily so there's enough energy distributed to the host and the parasite. The root regulates this energy (kinda like how enzymes work with the breaking down of nutrients) so that they're both satisfied.

If there is little to no energy for the root to regulate, the parasite becomes erratic (due to the lack of nutrients) and the horn will cease to function. This enables the parasite to take over the host to satisfy their needs. Once the parasite takes over their system it can no longer return the host's body back to the way it was before the system take over (because the root will no longer function.) So the parasite becomes the host (it's like a possession where the parasite possesses the host.)

The parasite is like the primal instincts of the host in a way that it heightens signals of primal needs. So, it has to be constantly satisfied.

SPECIAL CLASSIFICATIONS

✦ There are 3 classifications of bakuinawas: The common merfolk, rogues, and deities. This section will provide info on Rogues and Deities.

ROGUES

✦ Rogues are parasite infested bakuinawas. This means that the Eye is in full control of the host's body. The root will serve ineffective as the host will now act more on instinct than intellect.

✦ Rogues are known for their high aggressiveness and mutated form. Their physical mutations vary in appearance (most commonly, their hands turn into claws) due to the energy that is no longer regulated by the root. Physical modification is needed to better shape the primal instincts of the Eye (one of the side effects is the need to destroy)

✦ Rogues have a reputation to reducing populations of marine life, causing terror in the seas, and destroying ships.

DEITIES
✦ Largest in size, longest lifespan
✦ Source of magical power
✦ The King/Queen bee

DIET

✦ The bakuinawa's diet consists mostly of plankton and small sea creatures.
However, they are known to eat bigger animals like whales, dolphins and sharks in emergency cases. This is common with the bakuinawas that live in the colder regions where food is scarce.

✦ Bakuinawas cannot digest plants. Digesting it will cause indigestion and is considered to be poisonous to them. Bakuinawas do not eat squids, octopus and Mollusk

✦ There are instances where they are known to consume flesh (usually fresh corpses) however this is a rare phenomena. It only occurs to rogue bakuinawas that have been completely isolated from groups.

✦ Their diet is completely different from the Sleeping Eye. The parasite feeds off on energy (non physical components from eclipses and moonlight, and life energy from living lifeforms)

BAKUINAWAS CURRENTLY UNDER STUDY (more in the group)

LOOKING FOR RESEARCHERS TO TAKE THEM IN!

//will be updating species info with visuals and more info as I go by with them ovo//