Mystkats
Fog rolls over the valley, obscuring lush greenery in blankets of white, and the sun itself grows dim as if seen through frosted glass. Eerie even in our own world, but not usually indicative of any real danger... right? For what reason do the inhabitants of Etherheim fear it so, and why also does it inspire some to plunge bravely into misty depths in pursuit of wealth and glory?
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It turns out that fog and mist are produced by a type of wind elemental, the Mystkat. Easily mistaken as an average feline from a distance, closer inspection reveals that its body is composed entirely of mist, hence the name.
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They're able to absorb magical energy from objects by 'eating' them, the act of which places said item into a pocket within their body. As they grow in size and strength, so too grows their ravenous hunger, and they start searching for more magical objects with little regard to the pain of others. After a certain point, they become so insatiable that they begin actively hunting down adventurers, and have no qualms with gravely injuring them in order to eat their loot. This behavior has led to them being associated with thieves and outlaws, many groups of which take on mystkats as a mascot of sorts.
In order to determine at what point a mystkat should be avoided, the stages of growth have been categorized into 4 distinct forms.
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Munchkin – Danger level: Harmless. Its pouch is empty at this stage, and most consider this to be a mystkat's true form. It's virtually the same size and temperament as an Earth kitten. Incapable of generating mist blankets, but can alter the reflective properties of its 'fur' so that it becomes invisible!
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Feli – Danger level: Low-medium. It's eaten some sort of magical item, but still only has a small amount of energy within. Its appearance and behavior are once again comparable to an Earth cat, though fully grown now. It still isn't very dangerous (unless you're a pest), but it might begin to crave and seek out more magical energy at this stage, increasing its danger potential. Like previously, it can turn invisible at will. (pictured on the left)
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Panther – Danger level: High. It's grown huge due to accumulating a large amount of energy, similar in size to a tiger or even larger, but with the appearance of a big house cat. At this stage the size and hunger has reached critical levels, becoming a hazard to even seasoned adventurers. Not only is its coat capable of deflecting most weapons and magic, but it also gains the ability to generate mist from its body to cover a huge area. Although it's lost the ability to become invisible under regular conditions, it can leech the color from its 'fur' and blend into the mist, almost appearing to melt into it. (pictured below)
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Coeurl – Danger level: Extreme. A peculiar form that only occurs when a Mystkat has another elemental contained within it. This isn't something that happens often, as they usually view other creatures as inedible. The few times it's been observed to have happened is when an elemental was inside the Mystkat's intended food object, such as a Luxie resting within a lantern. The result is sudden and explosive growth in size and energy, becoming so energized by the other creature that it's body stretches and expands in unnatural ways to contain it. It grows to colossal sizes ranging between 3-6 times as large as the average panther form, and takes on a wild appearance. The 'fur' forms into more concentrated streams, known as coeurl whiskers, leaving the rest of the body mostly bare and revealing a muscular physique. Barely contained energy has left it overstimulated and frenzied, it tirelessly paces through its territory and obliterates anything that moves. It takes on the properties of the elemental within, allowing it to glow blindingly, form blade-like shards of ice from thin air, generate crackling electricity along its body, etc.
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Extreme amounts of magical energy is actually very uncomfortable for a Mystkat, if not downright agonizing in the coeurl's case. Adventurers who find themselves able to somehow strip them of excess magic will be met with gratitude, and sometimes even a new companion in the form of a much friendlier munchkin. As companions, you may find their mist to be useful in alchemy, and having them around is an effective pest control. With a lot of patience, trust, and training, they can even be coaxed into panther form while still maintaining discipline, allowing them to be used as a mount. Due to the understandable fear many have of the larger forms, they tend to be a more popular choice of mount for those wishing to intimidate others, giving them further association to the likes of thieves and outlaws. However the very, very few individuals able to achieve the coeurl form in their companions are held to extremely high regard by all, for it takes an undeniable amount of experience and skill. These Coeurl Tamers are often never recognized as such though, since they only consider preforming the act during emergencies and either never flaunt the skill, or simply don't get many opportunities to demonstrate.