Physical Description

Illusorii have skin and eyes that are capable of changing colors and patterns. Most individuals have a set color scheme they stick to. Although, when injured, the color around the afflicted area will turn to white, with the changing of the entire body signalling death. Their skin's texture is velvety and fragile. To protect their skin, illusorii build doll-like shells. While the shells are important, illusorii only receive them once they are adults since children easily outgrow shells built for them. The shells are typically made from plastic or resin, though older or more pricey shells are made of porcelain.

These shells will have holes for the illusorii's eyes, mouth and flat ribbon-like prehensile tentacles. These tentacles are capable of stretching or contracting to different lengths that sprout down from their heads to their lower backs. The holes for the face are stylized to resemble a smile or a frown.

To fit in these shells illusorii have very flexible cartilage skeletons that allow them to squeeze into the shells and the only solid bones they have are their razor sharp teeth and long claws that are clipped.

Another form of protection they have is their hallucinogenic iridescent blood that they release in a mist from their eyes, mouth and specialized slits at the side of their body. This mist can spread in a five feet radius, and it causes non-illusorii who inhale it to vividly hallucinate. These hallucinations can be controlled by the illusorii, using their weak telepathy to show whatever they want. If too much mist in too short of a time, they may die of blood loss. Some subspecies are incapable of releasing mist while others over produce the hallucinogen. This act of releasing mist sometimes happens unconsciously when an illusorii feels threatened, thus it is not recommended to startle them. Along with shells and the misting, illusorii have incredible eyesight to spot threats from afar or see small details.

Illusorii are hermaphroditic and will default to they/them pronouns unless other pronouns are specified. They also oviparous and will lay about a maximum of two eggs that will be incubated for 10 months before hatching. Children are shell-less and wear many layers of clothes to conceal and protect their soft squishy form. Hooded clothing is a popular choice for young illusori, and those who choose to not have shells. Masks are also used to hide their faces as having it exposed leads to extreme stress.

Large amounts of stress may lead to an illusorii to have a transformation into an extremely aggressive twisted form known as an "Ugly Truth". There is no known way to revert an illusorii back to normal when this happens an it is considered the equivalent of murdering an illusorii and having a monster take their place. These individuals are captured and euthanized as they seem to be in a state of constant mental anguish.

Personality

The illusorii are a quite timid bunch, preferring to stay far away from the spotlight. Sometimes they choose to go anonymous, whether for job purposes or because they are just weary of being recognized. These anonymous illusorii can be any shade of gray and wear the plainest most boring clothes they can find. They will also go under names that give no link to their identity like "Anon."

When illusorii are in a safe environment, they love self expression. Many show this through fashion and their art. The species have an interest in crafts, art, and anything involving creation. They also learn quite quickly, as they managed to learn and re-create a decent amount of tech from other species, primarily notails. They use this tech especially to automate shops and other "front facing" jobs, as they are shy and usually feel quite nervous talking to others. This extends to other members of their own species.

Illusorii are quite polite both because they are afraid of upsetting others, and just out of genuine kindness. They are quite compassionate and will often want to help, but often their cowardly nature keeps them from doing anything they deem too risky. For example, an illusorii will offer to try carrying bags if they spot a person struggling with them, but they probably will not rush in to distract attackers so a victim can escape. However, they will still try to help in some other ways they deem less risky to their own lives.

Illusorii also love cartoons and mascots and have many featured in their media. The amount of animated media outnumbers any live action or footage of actual illusorii. Though, the most popular form of live action entertainment they have are stage-plays. Most illusorii who act are more comfortable in character because they believe it is shared knowledge that it's an act, and not an accurate representation of how they are. It's also just a generally enjoyable activity.

There are also some illusorii who are just much more confident than others and are respected amongst their peers for that. Though, these same peers will also think those individuals are a bit reckless. These illusorii typically take jobs as hosts or guides on their homeplanet. Though, these roles are mostly filled by AI.

Illusorii find spiders and spider-like beings immensely endearing due to the commonly domesticated fauna they have which look very similar to large spiders. This fauna helps keep away the natural predator of the illusorii, which are giant birds that toy with their prey and then eat them. This has lead to many illusorii to have phobias of large birds.

Illusorii hold their shells very near and dear to their hearts. Simply damaging it will affect one's mental state greatly. Breaking it will usually cause the illusorii a great deal of stress and is a common cause of transforming into an ugly truth. Illusorii may willing give pieces of their shells to those very close to them, and even have carvings done to remember them by on their bodies. They will also sometimes imitate their friend's colors to match with them. Maybe even shape their tentacles to look like their friend's head shape- For fun!

History

Centuries ago the Illusorii were cave-dwellers. They yearned to know what was outside and many found a large horrible bird-beast waiting for them. They had named it Fiiendus. For years they feared it as it continued to kick and peck at the cave entrances. Most illusorii will tell you it did that to amuse itself, as it’s widely believed Fiiendus enjoyed terrorizing others. Others would say that it was just curious, but whatever the case was, it devoured many of the illusorii who dared to step outside the safety of their caverns all the same.

One fateful day, a young pair of twins had hatched a plan to kill Fiiendus. Lyriieneth and Karneriine were their names, and they had gotten the giant screegle to chase them until it tripped over a large boulder and smashed its skull on the ground. This fall formed a giant valley in its wake. After this victory, the twins had returned and told their people that “Fiiendus is dead! We are free!” The illusorii had praised the twins and had started to slowly move out the caves.

After a while many illusorii found they were continuously injured and often needed to return and have their wounds treated, as their misting had not been enough to fully protect them. One illusorii known as Ariiventus had decided he was going to make something to fix this problem. It had started with shields and spears, but many illusorii still returned badly injured. So after many days and nights, Ariiventus had made armor. This armor was made out of clay and wood. He called it a shell. After this invention, he kept on carrying on, constantly improving upon shells and inventing new things to protect his people.

After the first village was established, another problem arose. Despite the twins being beloved and praised, one half of the pair was feared. Karneriine. She was rambunctious and loud, and was born different from her twin sibling. She had claws on her tentacles, and would cry and spit blood. This scared her fellow illusorii, who began to avoid her. Lyriieneth had tried to keep her company and keep her happy, but eventually she had thought the entire village hated her, even saw her like a small Fiiendus. Eventually she ran away from the village, and this was the last Lyriieneth had seen of their dear sister. They wept for many nights but carried on.

Karneriine, however, did not shed any tears as she travelled the planet, finding others like her. Outcasted from their groups for being different, she had accepted them and treated them like family. This began to call themselves the Bloodmysts, and made marks on their foreheads to show their bond with each other. This group would continue to explore Nukotii and though Karneriine had a distaste for her non-bloodmyst counterparts, She and her new family would assist those they found.

Ariiventus and an older Lyriieneth would guide the village, eventually finding spider-like creatures they called squibbins. They had taken them in and found they helped drive away Fiiendus’ children, The screegles.

Though tragedy would strike again. Ariiventus’ dear friend had been attacked by screegles when they had gone to gather supplies for the village. They had survived, but Crii was in deep distress as their shell, a gift from Ariiventus, was shattered and ruined. They were angry at themselves for letting it break, and worried that Ariiventus would be angry at them for letting the gift he worked so hard on break. These feelings had caused Crii to fall ill. Ariiventus had found them after they had been missing for a few days. The sight of their friend caused Crii to suddenly transform into a monster who immediately attacked. Ariiventus had to kill what had once been his friend to protect himself. Similar feelings had arisen in him, the same sick feeling Crii had felt in their final days. Ariiventus had briefly returned to the village to warn them and pass his role as the village’s leader to Lyriieneth, before sealing himself in a cave to starve to death. He did not want to harm another illusorii ever again.

Lyriieneth now alone, had continued to inspire the village to do their best. Though, their speeches and art had started to feel hollow. The loss of their sister and mentor had left them empty inside. Still, as before, they carried on until the day they passed away.

Closer to the present, The illusorii had developed more and more. The small village became a city, and they found other villages and helped them. However, one day the illusorii believed all had come to an end. A giant shape in the sky had descended, and many thought this was Fiiendus’ return. But on closer inspection, it was a notail ship. The illusorii were wary of the E-classes that came, but eventually started to communicate with them and learned from them and their technology. Eventually, they developed many machines and finally reached the space age.

Home Planet

Nukotii is a valley filled planet with many swamps that teem with various amphibious and aquatic creatures. The weather on it tends to vary from windy to rainy, making it quite humid and cold at times.

The illusorii build their cities in valleys to avoid the dreaded large predator birds called screegles. They also will let wild variants and domesticated variants alike of squibbins, their spider-like companions, to make webs above their cities to further protect them. In these cities, one would find many vending machines and automated shops in the streets, though, there are also diners and soda bars that are manned by employees. These places will have cartoons and mascots slapped on everything, and will usually have a theme. Most would describe these places as very cute and vibrant. Most cities will have one huge theater for plays, as those are very popular amongst illusorii.

On top of the valleys is a large train system that connects all the major cities on the planet. It moves incredibly fast, and some have even reported to get quite motion sick on it. Even still, it remains the best way to traverse the planet. Alternatives like an underground walk tunnels have been made. It may take a few days to get to places, but fortunately these tunnels have places for travelers to rest.

Subspecies

Bloodmysts: Bloomyst illusorii seem to be the polar opposite personality wise their normal counterpart. Overly-confident, rude, rowdy, and edgy are words often used to describe them. These are all quite accurate descriptions of bloodmysts, But other than that they are undying loyal to those they consider allies similar to how Karneriine and her group where to each other. Other than personality differences, The most noticeable difference between them and common illusorii is claws that grow out at the end of a few tentacles. These claws are razor sharp and are capable of grasping objects along with the normal capabilities of illusorii tentacles such as wrapping around things and stretching and contracting. Bloodmyst also overproduce blood to the point of it coming out along with their tears and spit, A bite from a bloomyst will also work quicker to make non-illusorii hallucinate. Lastly bloodmysts paint black crescents on their foreheads to further differentiate themselves from normal illusorii.

Teddy Bear: Teddy bear illusorii are simply illusorii without shells. There could be many reasons why an illusorii would choose to be shelless such as a lack of materials for a shell, or the simple want to not be in a shell. Teddies usually cover themselves using clothes. This lets them be extremely flexible, but also more at risk of being injured. This lack of a shell also allows them to grow claws on their hands and feet, and they will be able to slash with them if needed. Illusorii children and teddies get mistaken for each other quite often, though, the key difference is that only adults are identified as teddies, while children have yet to pick whether or not they want to have a shell. Teddies develop a similar attachment to their clothes as a normal illusorii would with their shells.

Pretty Lies: Pretty lie illusorii are a newer subspecies that had recently started to appear. They have strong telepathic powers and can see other's emotions as an aura around them, but these strong psychic abilities came with the trade off of being unable to release blood mist. They underproduce their blood and most have to have plenty of meat or blood in their diets. They also happen to have quite the sweet tooth, often craving fruits, cakes and might even settle to eat flat out sugar cubes. They, as their name suggests, are quite beautiful, Having tentacles that are lacey or frilly. Though, these tentacles are quite weak and may easily rip off if pulled too hard. Being as fragile as they are, pretty lies are extremely cautious and distrusting, making them very hard to befriend. This is is due to the fact that one thought or action that would suggest an individual will bring harm upon them will make them steer clear of that person.

Ugly Truths: This is the result of a stress/grief related transformation illusorii go through. It is not known the purpose of this transformation, but what is known is that ugly truths will attack any living creature that happens to go too near it, or stare. They can be identified by their twisted bodies, large bulging eyes that seem to constantly weep, and large mouths with crooked teeth. Ugly truths are entirely feral, and have seemed to lost any sense of sentience. Those capable of reading minds have reported that reading an Ugly Truth's mind gives them headaches, and makes them feel ill. As for the actual thoughts of one, it consists of repetitive phrase along the lines of "DONT LOOK AT ME" and "GO AWAY", suggesting they are still capable of forming thoughts. However, it is advised to euthanize an ugly truth before they decide to wander and potentially attack others. Currently there is no known way to fix this.

Special

Blood mist: Illusorii blood is highly hallucinogenic. They spray this blood out in a fine mist that can spread up to 5-6ft around them. When a non-illusorii breathes this mist in, or somehow ingests it, they will start to hallucinate. What the victim sees can be manipulated by the illusorii using their telepathic powers. Almost all illusorii are capable of doing this, excluding the pretty lies subspecies.

Trivia

• Ilusorii blood smells and tastes very sweet to and almost nauseating levels for some people. The specifics of the scent and taste will vary between individual illusorii.

• Illusorii blood is used as a recreational drug by some, they aren't quite fond of this fact but it continues to happen anyways. It is illegal to use illusorii blood for this purpose on Nukotii however.

• Their shells can be modified to have extra movable limbs, tails and even wings. This is done by stringing extra tentacles through the new limbs to attach them and allow the illusorii to move them around.

Image Gallery