Concept work on an original species~
Alvei are quadrupedal wingless aether-absorbing dragons that can act as super-efficient magical batteries
They are covered in short, fine fur that gives them a velvety texture like a peach.
Size varies, with the average size of an alveus between the size of a large house cat and a medium dog. Though there are alvei that are significantly larger or smaller than the average.
They possess a natural gemstone on their forehead which they use to feed on magic.
Individual gemstones vary in type and color, and can be any variety of natural crystal or gem.
Females have smooth round gemstones, while males have gemstones that resemble a single short horn. The gem-horns of males grow constantly but slowly, needing to be worn down to prevent overgrowth. If the horn grows longer than four or five inches, it becomes increasingly likely to shed, leaving the alveus without a means of feeding until the gem regrows. Most alveus males keep their gem-horns around three inches long to prevent this occurring.
Alvei have a practically infinite capacity for storing magic; a small portion of the magic an alveus consumes is converted into extra hide so that they can stretch and fill with essentially limitless amounts of magic. This extra hide is then converted back into magic as they discharge their internal aether, deflating back to normal size without a bunch of extra loose hide.
Alvei may chose whether to “digest” the magic they consume or simply hold it within themselves until discharging it. They are able to hold a magical charge for extended periods of time, making them ideal for long-term aether storage needs, and lose less charge to their “digestion” than the vast majority of other forms of aetherial batteries lose to natural discharge over time.
Alvei are also able to “digest” larger amounts of magic all at once, resulting in an accumulation of arcanoadipose across their figures. Some deliberately choose to do so, as arcanoadipose creates a subtle glow beneath an alveus’ hide that many of their species find attractive, with greater amounts of arcanoadipose intensifying this glow. They are also able to transform arcanoadipose back into stored aether again at any time.
Alvei that store a specific type of magic for extended periods can have their appearance altered by that magic. This can include changes in coloration, alteration of features or even the increase or reduction of stature; an alveus storing fire magic for extended periods, for instance, might take on an orange hue and develop a mane of heatless, spectral flames. Many alvei experiment with storing a variety of specific magics within themselves over time to alter their appearance to their liking.
