Tinealus

## Basic Info and Anatomy

Tinealus is a race of Moth-like Humanoids from the world of Ilistrus, commonly seen living with other Tineali or in well-lit biomes such as high up mountains. The gray, tan, and cream color of their skin and fur makes them stand out from the rest of the races in ilistrus, along with rarer variants of Tinealus having pink and yellow fur, which are considered often beautiful within the culture, although some tineali do come in black and white, as well as pure white Tineali fur existing. Tineali eye colour is almost completely detached from their fur colour, and is respectively green, black, and red, although in rare cases some tineali can be seen with heterochromia. Tinealus also possess quad arms (2 pairs of arms each located beneath the other) which they use to more easily weave their silk and do more actions at once as well as lift heavier objects with more force. Tineali possesses wings which due to exposure to grimflux powder (talked about later) caused them to lose their ability to fly with the wings, the wings instead being used as either defense against harsh elements and or threats, and often being used to express oneself as a tineali in various ways (talked about later within the culture section. Tineali also posses antennae, with a leaf-like pattern which they use to detect if their food contains any poisonous content or if it would be unsafe to eat for any other reason, although many tineali do not use it for this main function often it still allows for them to more easily detect food that would cause for their health to be bad. Tineali also have the ability to produce silk by creating a silky liquid and using glands of which they possess within their mouths to covert it into silk, which they will then use their hands to weave it into a string. Silk making is usually not done publically but nor does anyone find it off if someone is to make silk publically. Silk making also requires a decent amount of rest as producing the silk will often take a lot of a Tineali's energy rendering them often exhausted after producing around 5 feet (in length) of string.

Male and Female Tineali are extremely different in size and in overall appearance and behavior, Female Tineali is on average around 6'11 - 7'2 and a Male Tineali is around 5'11 - 6'3, both of them often towering over most races, Meanwhile, Female Tineali weigh about 90 kg - 94 kg and Male Tineali weigh about 74 kg - 78 kg. Female Tineali will often be much more muscular than Male tineali usually being the ones who protect male tineali from outside threats. Their lifespan varies in length, usually correlating with the color of their fur, they average anywhere between 110 years to 160 years.

They originated from caves located under the country of lanungala, and quickly overtook the nation in populus now becoming the main center for the Tinealus wiping out many of the ovistrian people as a result. Tinealus is thought to have come to be via many years of evolution whilst exposed to grimflux found under lanungala, due to the mineral giving off a glow when touched, attracting many moths to the mystical ore causing them to over time become much more human-like from grimflux's magical effects, eventually causing them to leave the caves they once inhabited onto the mainland. They also have been mainly seen living in well-lit areas, such as mountains which are high up and away from any clouds that could possibly block moonlight or sun. Despite their insect counterparts Tineali are not nocturnal due to their infatuation with light (commented later on in the culture section) and will enjoy the light that the sun gives off causing them to develop a non-nocturnal sleeping pattern. They also have developed an infatuation with light causing them to prefer to be within environments that possess more light than environments that are without it. unlike their animal counterpart, they do not blindly go towards light unless they are in infancy in which case they will attempt to go to the nearest light source visible.

## Culture

The Tineali are a complicated race with many unique and different traditions and values. They include things such as their musical ability, their musical was caused by the chirping noises they created with their wings, this musical ability they used with their wings later developed in their main usage for the silk they produce, creating silk strings they use in their instruments such as a harp, or a lyre, which are common instruments found within Tinealus culture. Tinealus are also synonymous with their usage of lamps and lanterns, creating many light-based decorations around their cities or villages, as they have an infatuation with light. Tinealus also have very significant gender roles within their community, typically Female Tineali will go out and protect villages and gather supplies and do much of the heavy lifting within communities, meanwhile, Male Tineali will often maintain the place that they live in and ensure it remains safe, this is also supported by their size and physique which was talked upon previously.

There is also an urban legend that has remained within the Tinealus population for quite some time, detailing of the hero known as "Mothman", Mothman being one of the first moths to leave the caves and explore the outside world. Mothman left extremely early on in development according to the urban legend, which is why within the story he is regarded as "known as a monster by all who see him" and "a terrifying beast". According to the Mothman legend after he was considered a beast by most he found a home that was located within a single village in lanungala, which later on became the main catalyst for tinealus activities and the populus as a whole. According to the legend, Mothman later found a potion that allowed him to gain a life longer than any moth that had ever lived. Due to this, he was able to help eventually give rights to the Tineali within the nation of lanungala. Although this legend is popular within the Tinealus it has been confirmed to be disproved, this is due to there being no record of such rights change happening, nor lack of rights for the Tinealus within lanungala, resulting in most older adults not believing within the urban legend, but it rather is a story that is often told to Tineali children to inspire them. It is theorized that Mothman was rather a woman due to their description within the legend, and gave birth to several kids who helped moth people be more accepted within the lanungalan communities. Still, once again there is no proof of this occurring so it is wildly believed to be a hoax.

Tinealus also mainly uses the language of the Ovistrians being Ovistrian, this is due to Tinealus overtaking much of the land that the Ovistrians were located within, developing some similar traits within their culture such as the language that they mainly follow. Tinealus mainly make their houses in the style of old Tudor homes, due to Ovistrians which at the time the Tineali arrived. Tinealus also developed a lot of educational skills due to the Ovistrians allowing for them to easily gain a decent understanding of the world and not remain unintelligent for a long period of their existence, allowing for it to come sooner rather than later. Tinealus also learned to use the silk that they produce in their instruments from the ovistrians using their wool to make buildings and clothing, copying some of the features that they saw within the Ovistrian race.

Tinealus are naturally much more flirtatious than other races, the Male Tineali often using their smaller size compared to the Female Tineali to appear cute to other people, which is often seen as a trait that many would like to be with, although sometimes other Male Tineali may see these traits as desirable and want to be with other Male Tineali. (note that not all Male Tineali follow these traits as it is merely just something that occurs often within personalities and is not at all a guarantee, and is just common within the Tineali culture). Female Tineali will often use their greater size to their advantage often using it to appear stronger and more dominant which is compatible with many males' cuteness, although sometimes other female tineali may see some of these traits as desirable and want to be with other Female Tineali. (Note that not all Female Tineali follow these traits as it is merely just something that occurs often within personalities and is not at all a guarantee). Both Male and Female tineali will often use their wings and extra arms to their advantage, often using them to more easily flaunt themselves to people they are interested in, and possibly jittering their wings really fastly when in the presence of such person.

Tinealus cuisine will often consist of (often considered) strange objects, such as cloth and wool, and things such as tree bark and baked wheat (not bread), this is due to their throats being specifically made to consume and digest objects that are high in fiber, which results in many of the things being consumed to be "strange". Some meals prepared with this in mind is wh'co'a which is a mixture of tree bark from birch trees and baked wheat topped with a sort of jam made from wild berries picked within farms. There are many other dishes that contain these common high fiber items but some contain very little such as "wheat wheels" which is when they turn the wheat into a dough and make it into a circle and then bake it in boiling oil, creating a simple yet effective snack.

Tinealus will also have a tradition that is held once a Tineali is considered of age (usually around the ages of 19-21) where if a Tinealus desires they can have their wings painted with their family’s "winged crest" this is done by taking usually black paint and putting them onto their wings, the paint is mostly permanent unless someone wishes to directly remove it using silk created from Tinealus mixed with any clear liquid. Tineali may also use the winged crests for their own families if they wish, or if they wish to be independent from their family they will often create their own design, many of the designs in question are made with the thought about what the family in question prioritizes, or what they themselves wish to symbolize. Typically Tineali that possess pink and yellow fur will often not give themselves family crests, as they are often considered "too beautiful to wear the darkness" although many still do wear the crests out of their own will. Winged crests are also used as a way to ensure that no incest is brought upon anyone within the Tinealus via directly showing that on their back if they are related or not, which increases their survivability overall. (if you are wondering why that part was included blame sya because she doesn't understand that people can just tell if someone is their brother or sister or not lmao). If two Tinealus posses different winged crests and wish to combine their families, then they will often take the crest of the woman who is getting married, unless they, of course, choose differently in which case it may be a combination of the two winged crests or the male's winged crest in some cases. Some winged crests will contain ink on the bottom of the wings but whenever this does happen it is often done in order for someone to lift up their wings to show the typically beautiful pattern beneath it, commonly used as a form of expression and not as a family sigil.