An-Awen

They are typically primitive forms of matter, as in that they haven't changed much from their original manifestations. One would think they were simply oil spills, dead, rotting marine life that washed on the shore, or discarded machinery.

They reproduce through cloning themselves, ultimately, though the deeper facets of this are still unknown.

They are all over the place, though certain types prefer different environments. The Coriniaid are most concentrated in the South of the Island, near the oil spills and tar pits. The Saesonaid are most concentrated on the coast throughout the island, particularly near shores and estuaries.. The Prydyniaid are found mostly in dense forests or areas of former industry.

They are extremely fast with copying and altering their own genetic code as they are fundamentally just viruses, especially the Saesoniaid. Their tendencies are to be exploitative, but they have relatively high sapience once they are able to alter their code to match their host or target. They are extremely adaptable and have a broad energy source, with primitive makeups that degrade much slower than other life forms.

Their main sensory capabilities comes from their ability to edit their own genetic material. Each species of An-Awen have their own methods of doing this. The Coriniaid, who are made of silica and petroleum, can use memories of their interactions with foreign species to transform their physical bodies. The Saesonaid use parasitism as a means of processing and editing their physical forms, whereas Prydyniaid evolve sentience through rust-eating fungus and lichen and lure Milenakos to create new bodies for them.

Most can only initially communicate through chemical signals and/or vibrations, and even if they grow eyes, this is typically their weakest sense. Corinidiad can't feel pain, however Saesonaid and Prydniaid can.

Coriniaid can transform their DNA and appearance through converting vibrations into amino acids, then injecting them into their genetic code. Saesoniaid are essentially viruses who require a host to reproduce and copy the host's genetic code.

Some groups of An-Awen such as the Sinnox and the Glendatis, have evolved into fully independant hybrid species. Coriniaid are known to be the mildest in terms of aggression to outsiders. Saesonaid are disputed - the Glendatis, who descend directly from them, are highly organized and technologically advanced, but very xenophobic. Prydyniaid, similar to Coriniaid, desire to integrate into civilization and assimilate, but are much more exploitative about it - however, they form strong bonds with those who help them, particularly Alraunae.