Say hello to Noodecks! (or "Noods")

The idea started out as a standalone design, but then I thought it would be more fun and make more sense as a whole species.

They are another type of creature that exists in [Wotagata]. Nobody knows why, but their lower halves take on the appearance of human heads and faces, hair and all.

Despite their above-average intelligence, some residents will keep Noods as pets. (Though they don't seem to mind.) When raised in captivity, a Nood will even take on and mimic the facial features of their keepers.

Noodecks like to use their unusual appearance to trick people who are close to their habitats. People who don't know about Noods may pull them up, thinking they just found a body, and the Noods will then glom onto that person and crawl all over them because they are attracted to the salt in people's sweat. (And… other bodily fluids…)

They are mischievous, but basically harmless. They are also very perverted little creatures. If you walk too close to their habitat or tanks, they will try to tug on your clothes and pull them off.

They can reproduce with a partner or entirely asexually on a whim, and they can get pregnant multiple times throughout their lives, with a smaller output each time. Because they basically breed like rabbits, keepers will give them a special food that inhibits their reproduction organs. (Otherwise, you'll have a tank bursting with Nood-shrimps…)

Noodecks are super fun to design, and this won't be the last time you see them.

These are made-up creatures I've had for a while but didn't have the opportunity to properly introduce before, called Pleshlings! They've waited to be colored for a long time if you didn't catch the dates. X_X

I'm still working on their lore, but they belong to a larger world inhabited by many different types of beings called The World of The Gaps, or "The Gaps" or "Wotagata" as Pleshlings especially love to call it.

There's some history and connection between Oleander and my manticore sona, who is actually themselves a Pleshling! Without going into detail, Xandri is basically the Earthly "mirror" to Oleander and Xandri refuses to believe they are connected at first. They're on much better terms now and I'd like to figure out how to present that story one day. In the meantime, here's some tidbits about Pleshlings as a whole:

Pleshlings can be divided into four categories: Floppy, Aquatic, Creepy, and Manticore, though some characteristics can overlap. (Example: Oleander would be considered a Floppy Pleshling with Manticore characteristics, while Zik is an Aquatic Pleshling with Creepy characteristics, etc… and ones like Jule are 100% Floppy.)

Pleshlings tend to be looked down upon by other beings as "childish" or "naive" because they are very silly and will help or give information about Wotagata to outsiders with no question. In actuality, Pleshlings are some of the most ancient beings in Wotagata and are incredibly powerful. It just doesn't seem that way at first because their abilities tend to be specialized, and they'd rather play and lounge than exercise their power! They are also highly emotionally intelligent, even if they don't always understand where someone is coming from, and they are quick to try to comfort and reassure anyone.

Speaking of lounging: the Pleshlings' realm contains many communal structures that are designed for the sole purpose of existing amongst each other and lounging together. Pleshlings are very cuddly and will lay on each other in these spaces, even if they don't know each other very well. (Which is rare, because they are effectively immortal and have all the time to know each other.) Though certain Pleshlings may have sage status and oversee specific locations, they do not recognize a hierarchical structure, socially speaking, and all Pleshlings can freely come and go in these places.

Pleshlings will drop everything and run towards a cry for help, no matter who it is. They also view the desire to hurt someone else or see someone else hurt as a mental illness, regardless of the reason.

Pleshlings say what they mean and mean what they say. Though they've gotten used to dealing with the ways of non-Pleshlings, it's best to be as clear and direct with them as possible.

Pleshlings have their own manner of speaking. They will often leave out "r" sounds in certain words, or rearrange it. Examples of Pleshling speech: "Chessadore" instead of "Chester drawer"; "Memonade" instead of "Lemonade"; "Pitachio" instead of "Pistachio"; "Entatain" instead of "Entertain"; "Peanor" instead of… you know what, never mind.

The way they talk is another point of stigma against them, and they have a hard time getting non-Pleshlings to take them seriously sometimes. They are also extremely echolalia prone and will babble or repeat words and phrases into babbling. (They especially love to turn "Wotagata" into "Wotagatagatgatagata" as a vocal stim.)

It's common for some Pleshlings to be named after flowers, and the flower name will often correspond with the color and shape of their eyes.

Fun facts: Lairus and Zik are sisters, and Daizee and Jule are based off of plushies I used to own!