Animental
A form of elemental that has the shape, behaviour, and intelligence of an animal.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Animentals usually took the form of beasts native to their elemental environment. For instance, Air animentals usually looked like transparent or cloudlike birds, though terrestrial forms can be found on Auria's floating islands.
Earth animentals usually resembled burrowing or heavy animals such as badgers, moles, and elephants.
Fire animentals were commonly creatures native to hot or arid environments, or possessed of especially fiery or fickle natures, such as various lizards and scorpions, but also horses and big cats.
Water elementals were nearly always fish or amphibians, and para-elemental animentals represented a mix of the primary elements involved. For instance, animental puffins and seals have been sighted in the Frostfell, while magma slugs and molten mountain goats have been seen in the Fountains of Creation.
Genetics and Reproduction
Animentals did not reproduce naturally, being born from and returning to their primal element in an endless cycle.
Growth Rate & Stages
Though they do not reproduce, animentals imitated the life cycles of the beasts whose form they took. An animental cat would begin as a kitten, for instance.
Ecology and Habitats
Animentals were found nearly exclusively in the elemental and para-elemental planes. But, like all elementals, they were able to thrive anywhere their element was found.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Like all elementals, animentals do not require food or sleep.
Behaviour
An animental's mentality and drives seem to perfectly reflect the animal form it takes. Animental horses wish to run, and become unhappy in confined spaces, for instance.
Additional Information
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Animentals seem to have less complete control over their elements compared to their pure-form elemental cousins. Perhaps a concession to occupying a material shape, their elemental powers seem based in the same instincts that would govern a mundane version of their beast form. For instance, an air animental bird summoning gusts of wind when flaring its wings against a predator.
Genetic Ancestor(s)
Scientific Name
elementarium animalis
Origin/Ancestry
Elemental
Geographic Distribution