Tristan wrote:Honeycombs and chocolates should be frozen, nothing else should have automatically frozen. If something did, let me know, though it should all be taken care of.
Tristan wrote:Ooooh, the part of the description I was referring to isn't visible until they hatch. Who knew...
Well, here's a sneak peek from the chocolate xocomel's description: "The hatchlings are at first nothing more than chocolate, but everyone knows to leave the candy alone until midnight on Halloween, when they will come to life."
White and Golden AculeusXenomorph wrote:For those still asking who the artist is, Glasswalker made these. :3
Spoiler
This tiny honeycomb may look edible, but there seems to be something inside of it...
A honeycomb that contains an unborn aculeus must be placed inside one of the many hives on the last day of October, to be cared for by other aculeusi. It is then that these insects come to life; before this night, they are nothing more than candy. Once in a hive, these hatchlings require no attention from their magi, as their hive will care for their every need. A magi may not see their aculeus companion again until it is an adult, by which time the insect will be very busy. Aculeusi are almost constantly at work, with the exception of the hatchlings. When they first hatch, these little insects are called larvae, and spend all their time sleeping and growing. They will not have wings for a few more weeks, and during this time are cared for by the adult aculeusi. Once these hatchlings are old enough, they begin caring for eggs, and start collecting pollen. Unlike normal wild aculeusi, these hatchlings will grow roughly to the size of a finger, and only a foolish creature would attempt to attack them. Even a young aculeus can sting.
Aculeusi are industrious little insects, as soon as they are born to the day that they die. Once one of these insects has grown into adulthood, its task is mainly to find pollen. When pollen has been located, the insect then communicates the information through an elaborate dance. While The Keep's aculeusi caretakers know these signs well, and know how to care for these companions, the rest of the castle is generally pretty clueless. Those interested can learn easily enough, as the aculeusi caretakers are more than happy to teach those who wish to know. It is also interesting that even once full grown, no female aculeus will bear young. The only female in the hive that reproduces is the queen. The queen is hidden away from sight, and is no human's companion. Even the aculeus caretakers may never see the queen. It is important to realize that while a aculeus may be a companion, its first priority is its hive. Though adult aculeus rarely spend time with their magi, they are well loved and respected throughout the castle. The magi take care of these interesting insects very carefully, and make sure that they survive the colder seasons well. A aculeus, if it does not encounter any dangers, will live up to five years, much longer than wild aculeusi. These companions are also three times the size of regular aculeusi, making them easy to spot. Male aculeusi are colored in brilliant orange and black stripes, warning all other creatures to stay away. The females are very pale, and make an enchanting sight.
Aculeusi are renowned for the sweet golden honey they produce. Unlike that of other aculeusi, this honey is imbued with healing properities, and those who consume it heal faster and rarely become ill. One of the castle's many aculeusi caretakers likes to tell a tale of an ancient queen who used to eat this honey with every meal, and even bath in it. The woman was terrified of growing old, and tried desperately to remain young. She used vast quantities of the honey in a veign attempt to become immortal. Although the beautiful woman commanded many warlocks to create a potion for her to escape death, she could not halt the march of time. No death defying potion has ever been brewed, but this honey does help heal broken bones, and cure many illnesses. Naturally, this makes it rather valuable and expensive. The Keep often sells it to far away customers, and uses the money to pay for what food is needed from nearby villages. Wax is also collected from the hives, as the aculeusi produce superior wax that weatherproofs wood and lasts for many years. The aculeusi seem not to mind any of this; indeed, they are very content with their lives in The Keep. There are quite a few magi who find these companions fascinating, and it is these scholars who care for them. Though a magi can have only one of these insects as their companion, aculeusi live in groups, and become despondent without the company of others. There can be anywhere from ten to fifty thousand aculeusi living in a single hive, centered around their queen. These aculeusi leave every day to collect the pollen from hundreds of flowers, then return to the hive. The most affection their human companions will ever experience is when their aculeus buzzes around their head for a while, before resuming its work.
Spoiler
This xocomel wiggles now and again, as if it is coming to life.
Xocomel hatchlings are strange creatures. You can buy a few from the store, but Remy insists he did not make them, nor does he know who does. Apparently they mysteriously appear sometime in the night. The hatchlings are at first nothing more than chocolate, but everyone knows to leave the candy alone until midnight on Halloween, when they will come to life. Soon the amphibians are alive, and it is not long before they are sprinting about. These xocomels are as swift as they are small, and can be found all over the castle, in odd nooks and crannies. Catching one can be quite difficult, and the hatchlings are usually too fast to grab. Young xocomels love to climb, and you can never tell where one will be. Like most of the other hatchlings, they play games with one another, the most common being tag. Even if you don't like to eat chocolate, xocomel hatchlings are quite fun to watch.
Xocomels grow up extraordinarily fast, probably because they are in constant danger of being eaten. When fully grown, these strange creatures are roughly the length of one's palm. They give birth to only one other xocomel, and before long, these wonderfully strange creatures are gone for the year. Most people around the castle enjoy sweets and candy, and so the arrival of the xocomels is a welcome one. They come in two varities, and are easy to tell apart from each other. The xocomels that are all chocolate have paler colors, and their spots are red. The other xocomels taste of caramel, have golden heads and tails, and the spots along their sides are the same color. Both types blend in quite easily with their surroundings, making them even harder to find. It is fortunate, or perhaps planned, that these creatures show no interest in leaving The Keep, because gryphons are very allergic to chocolate. As it is, the dogs show some interest in eating the xocomels. Whenever a chocolate or caramel xocomel is being chased by an animal, the xocomel somehow manages to become even faster, evading capture. Naturally, xocomels need to eat rather a lot to maintain the energy necessary for their running around all the time. These creatures desire nothing more than sneaking into the kitchens and feasting on whatever treats they can find; sugar, cinnamon, and particularly caramel. Despite their lives being so short, they are some of the most cheerful creatures at The Keep, and they always seem to be grinning.
There are many wild newts and salamanders around The Keep, living in damp, muddy spots near rivers. They are as normal as could be, busy hunting for bugs, covered in shiny scales. The newts that live in the castle, however, are quite different, and are not even called newts because of these differences. Xocomels appear only once a year, and remain for a short time before disappearing. The talk around the castle is that some magi must have conjured them up, hoping to spread the spirit of Halloween. Whoever this person is, no one knows, but the xocomels are welcome entertainment. Xocomels are certainly not creatures that appear in nature, as they are actually edible and will melt if they remain too long in the sun. If captured, they turn at once into lifeless chocolate, and remain motionless in one's hand. Some enjoy eating them, as they are not truly alive when they are first purchased. It is common practice for friends to exchange these creatures. People from as far away as Synara city arrive to sample them, though if the xocomels are removed from the castle they lose the magic that keeps them alive, and they turn back into beautiful chocolates. If one wishes to see a xocomel, they had better be quick enough to catch one, or buy one before Remy is sold out.
*goes to lock my own thread*
I know how to count!!! I think...it goes 13524...right?! Or is it 12345?
Beetle by Cassowary
