Eudian

*This page is about Lepidopteran Eudians. For information about different breeds, hang tight while I work on that.*

Eudians are an insect-like dominant species. They live in the forests and plains of Moorheck in groups.

## Appearance

Eudians are slender bipeds with features resembling a butterfly or moth. They have four thick wings that lay flat against the back, ending just above the base of the tail, which is thick and has two mandible-like spikes on the end. They have a smaller secondary pair of arms which connects to the body from the armpit. Their legs are digitigrade and end in feet that have two large toes and a small dewclaw with paw pads on the bottom. Their hands also have two fingers and a thumb, which are rounded and have sheathable claws much like a cat's. Their snouts are boxy without a visible nose or nostrils, and their mouths contain vestigial fangs on the top and bottom jaws. They have two sets of ears that can vary in size and shape and two antennae on the top of their head just above the eyes, which are large and have no visible pupils or sclera. Their fur is thicker around the neck and rump, the latter of which has stiff, sharp urticating hairs that can be removed for use. Eudians are often drawn without wings, but this is a stylistic choice by the main artist.

Eudian fur coloration is wildly unique among individuals and comes in a variety of distinct patterns. The belly, snout, and limbs are typically a different shade or hue than the rest of the body. Most Eudians have symmetrical banded, marbled, or web markings, which can be extremely intricate, but asymmetrical patterns can uncommonly occur. Piebald markings never occur symmetrically - symmetrical white spotting is just spotting. The patterns of a Eudian can indicate genetic relation, and relatives usually retain very distinct markings, which is important for preventing inbreeding.

## Behavior

Eudians are social herbivores that live primitively in small roosts of up to 50. They cooperate to forage edible plants, dig burrows, and raise young. Adults have assigned jobs, typically involving weaving, food, and maintenance. The roost is dominated by a generally respected individual who oversees the community's functions. They live in mostly underground structures close to the surface, and build tents or covers over the entrances to the burrows.

Young Eudians, known as kitterpillars, are raised together in large brood dens by the smallest members of the roost. They do not live with their families, but at about 5 years old they metamorphose into juveniles and move into a coalition den with several other juveniles. At this point they are able to leave the burrows and explore the roost. At 14 they metamorphose into adults and dig their own dens, though they can only start reproducing several years later. Eudians are hermaphrodites and mated pairs typically live together.

Eudians are instinctive by nature and have sharp senses, including a sense of vibration thanks to their antennae that allows them to "see" via atomic vibrations. Their night vision is excellent, as is their hearing and sense of smell, which they use to find food. Though highly intelligent, they prefer to live more primitive lives and are not particularly skilled in technological matters, at most using fire and unrefined tools.

## Wardens

Wardenism is a rare gene found in 0.25% of Eudians. It causes them to form a bond with a Pairgyos when severely wounded, becoming a Warden.

For more information on Wardens, please wait for the page to be created.

## Notes

* Eudians can make certain processed foods like chocolate, coffee, wine, tea, and milk alternatives.
	+ Their coffee is typically very bitter on account of their lack of dairy animals.
	+ Their chocolate is also usually dark for the same reason but is occasionally sweetened with honey.
	+ Some roosts have made milk alternatives out of certain plants endemic to their areas.
	+ Eudian wine is very mild and sweet. It is aged in silk wineskins hung from trees, though never for very long as they haven't figured out that they can age it to increase the quality.
* Certain roosts have figured out how to launch their silk and set it on fire to create a flamethrower.

## Trivia

* Eudians have a variety of breeds, the majority of which are extinct, that resemble insects besides butterflies and moths.
	+ Moth Eudians are known as Lepidopterans, beetles are Coleopterans, mantises are Mantodeans, so on and so forth.
	+ Breed names are derived from the scientific names for the insects they are based upon.
* Eudians' reproductive system is based off of a snail's, though the organs are located in the tail.
* The word Eudian is taken from a word one of Chokieboe's friends randomly texted.
* Eudians were originally called hellmoths. The word was changed after the introduction of Mantodeans, which were the first breed besides Lepidopterans.
* Despite being called Lepidopteran, which usually refers to butterflies, Eudians mainly resemble moths.
* Eudians are skilled climbers, but rarely climb anything besides trees.
* The first Eudian created was Nox, albeit with a different design and name.
	+ Nox was originally just a moth but eventually became a new species.
* The sense of vibration as well as excellent night vision and hearing that Eudians have is based on Chokieboe's sensitivities in real life.