Baan'tuus

The **Baan'tuus**, also referred as **Mantas** or **Sky Rays**, are sentient reptilian beings living in the Void. They are very unique lifeforms, because they are the only inhabitants who are naturally protected from the Infection. Their thick scales are made of a strong membrane which is able to reflect the intensive rays of Darkness.

## Evolution

Some inhabitants think, that **Baan'tuus** are foreign to this world and that they entered the Void trough a rift somewhere. But these theories are far from the truth. Their ancestors firstly appeared in the Core Void, and somehow they were able to adapt to these extreme conditions. In the Core Void, they probably fed on the inner crystals of Blizkrate. But after all the crystals were consumed, they changed their diet for the reason of survival. Void contains a lot of coal in it, and because there was a lot of it and it was just as organic as the crystals, it wasn't hard for them to get used to their new food. However, coal was a material only found outside the Core Void, so Darkness was the hardest thing to face. First, many generations who left the Core never came back, died from the Infection. But later they developed a lifestyle suitable for this place. First, they only left the Core for hours to feed, but as coal was harder to find, they had to leave for days. After doing this for hundreds of years, their scales developed to be resistant against Darkness and their size also increased because the pressure is much bigger in the vast Abyss, than in the friendly Core. After thousands of years of evolution, the now-known state of **Baan'tuus** developed.

## Life Cycle

After spending 3 months in their eggs that were laid in the crystal rind of the Core, the hatchlings break free and start to fly immediately. Their muscles are the first tissues that are developed after the heart and lungs. After they break out, they start to feed by filtering the air of the Core. Small particles of Blizkrate are still found in the air and when the **Baan'tuus** are still in hatchling age, they can feed on these particles without any difficulties. It is just enough for them to reach their second stage in life, the juvenile. During their development, their scales begin to harden, so when they have to leave and fly out to the Void, their bodies will be protected from Infection. However, it seems that there are no apex predators in the Void, but because of their scales, many collectors and even soldiers living in Lightmuse, hunt them. And the collapsing of crystals due to the reduction of the Core, is also a great danger for the hatchlings. But if they succeed in survival and reach the state of juvenile, they are able to leave the dangerous core and enter the infinite Emptiness. There, they won't have to face as many dangers, but even though, survival will not be easier. The juveniles, unlike the hatchlings, travel alone in the Void trying to survive on the own, However, their eyes are able to see the fourth dimension, and with this ability, they are able to see the track and path of other **Baan'tuus**. Most of them successfully find packs and gather together, but there are some unlucky ones who stay alone for the rest of their lives. After they became mature, which is up to 3 or 4 years, they are able to breed. They have a specific mating call, which's sound reaches really far, echoing in the vast emptiness. The members of the pack find their mate quickly, unlike the ones who are still surviving on their own. After the insemination, the females will start carrying eggs. It's a 6 month process, and when they are ready to lay them down, they navigate back to the Core to place their eggs in the crystal layers. Laying the eggs is really challenging by the **Baan'tuus**, and the females sometimes die during the process. Because of that, male **Baan'tuus** are more common troughout the Void, and it makes finding a mate for loners even harder.

## Symbiosis

Since they were evolved, **Baan'tuus** reached many regions of the Void, including Sector T, Sector E, Sector P and the Nebula Rift. These are the closest regions to the Core, and they never move further out in the Abyss because otherwise they could not return in time to the Core to lay their eggs. In the far corner of Sector E, Raventown can be found which is the capital of the Firrgwala'r, and also the so called "Earye Pack". This is the third largest pack of **Baan'tuus**, orbiting around the rich asteroid fields of Raventown. But food is not the only reason why they are centered around here. The Firrgwala'r and the **Mantas** developed an advanced symbiosis. The primitive, but also really intelligent beings called Firrgwala'r were created during the Shifting, and they have divine powers. Such as complete resistance against Darkness and the constant emission of sulfur gas. The symbiosis works, because the sulfur they emission serve as energy to the **Baan'tuus**, and if they possess more energy, they don't need to rest between their travels on asteroids. For the Firrgwala'r it is beneficial because they discover more of Void and build more settlements from time to time, but their main goal remains, finding the Core. Even if the symbiosis works, pregnant individuals never let the Firrgwala'r close to them, and their home, the Core is scared so they should not reveal it's location.

## The Herd

The biggest pack of **Baan'tuus** is called "the Herd". It can be found in the Nebula Rift. The cycle of the **sky ray's** exodus here is very complex, and they go from station to station. It is an ecosphere which completely works for them and they never have to leave the place. Their main, gathering ground is by the Grazing Fields. They actually eat here, but most of the coal is already gone so it's mainly for gathering. They rest here among the meadows of Larnflute, which is the only plant ever found in the Void. Their second station is the Facility. The usually just make a round shape orbit around it, making it a beautiful scene. The next place is Smoketown, where food is provided thanks to the mines and factories that throw out their coal into the Abyss. After they fed, the return to the Grazing Fields. The Herders work here and their job is to ensure the safety of these animals and they show them the path they should go next. After the rest, they start a long flight alongside the Pilgrimage. Their final destination is the Temple of the Flame. They make a beautiful formation here, some kind of ritual they do themselves. And after this, they return and the cycle goes on.

## Guiding the Child

After The Bright One successfully escaped from the Facility, he needed to go to the Eternal Flame to see what the Elder Fool said was correct. He was chased by the Keepers so the only way he could escape was with the help of the **Baan'tuus**. Brighty jumped on one of them and it took him right to the Grazing Fields. He saw that even in this dark and empty place, plants can grow and life can thrive. The Herders shouted at him because these were restricted grounds, but he managed to get away again. On the back of a **Manta** he named Jerad, he traveled along the Pilgrimage. Meanwhile, he saw a member of the Firrgwala'r in the distance but was unable to tell that by himself. After the **sky rays** rested, they arrived at the Temple. The Bright One got off, thanked the fellow animals for the trip and said goodbye, before facing what's ahead of him.