Winged Folk, Elytrain Users, Elytra
Elytrain is often used to refer to both the elytra itself and the elytra user, this can cause some issue with determining which is being referred to without further context.
Either way, we will be building upon both to help compare and contrast them with avians.
Starting off with the elytra, this is a magical construct leftover from the post End-exodus event, and despite the argued upon time span since this ancient civilization’s vanishment from known history, they are one of the most steadfast and fascinating constructs left of these ancient beings. The elytra often takes the form of a vaguely insectiod-like form, as though one had simply removed the thorax of a large beetle. However the true construction of these devices is unknown with the recipes being lost long ago. What is known is that they are made of a hard ‘shell’ that unfolds to allow for the extension of magically anchored, falsely-organic wings. On the underbelly of the elytra is the connection area and Core. The connection area is simply the description for the area that settles along the back while the Core is the diamond-like point of connection to the elytra user (any willing being that purposefully attaches the elytra with the intention to make use of them). The Core essentially is what attaches the motion of the wings to the will of the user, binding the elytra to the host’s (or user, either can be used, though some may prefer user to host due to the possibly parasitic context this may give to elytra usage) nervous system via their spinal column.
Now while this may sound extreme, the Core attachment is a surprisingly painless occurrence and has been described as though simply slipping on a backpack. The elytra is made to sit comfortably over the user’s back afterall, the connection area adjusting to the proportions and structure of the user’s back and shoulder area. And while the Core attaches firmly with the connection area settling along to keep grip, it is recommended for new users to get harness and strap attachments to allow for an even firmer fit. This is usually to help prevent an elytra moving from its settled postion as a result of unconscious shifting/inexperience with the new weight and connection/motion caused by outside forces. The harness merely settles along the base points of the connection area, the user then slipping their arms through the straps and settling this on their shoulder area, clipping the middle buckle along their chest. Often more-experienced users with forgo this procedure and fly unaltered.
Another interesting point of the elytra is their ‘personality’ or the way they adapt to their user to create a unique structure for flight. This often occurs after repeated usage as the elytra takes in the way a user utilizes them. This takes the form of varying wing types (insectiod, avian/bird-like, saurian/dinosaur-like, draconic/bat-like), coloration and patterns (sometimes these wing structures may mimic the look of known species/animals or they may take on completely unique looks), wing form (thinner for quicker flight, broader for gliding and soaring, shorter for more controlled motion, etc.), and so on.
This ‘personality’ reflects their user and can create absolutely stunning wing designs and is often the leading cause of ‘organic fusion.’ Aka the term for when the elytra becomes one with the host. For while the elytra is a construct of magic and genius, the elytra acts organically.
This is what is seen with scarring when it is healed and the way the elytra responds to the user’s commands directly from their connection with it as though it were simply another set of limbs. Because of the elytra’s ‘goal’ of being useful, if worn for too long without removal, the elytra may actually fuse to the user’s body. The connection area will become like organic muscular with refined tendons and nerves, the Core will fade into a magically orientated nerve rich section of tissue, and for the most part, it will become one with the user. This is were we change up our usage of the term elytrain.
Elytrain is also used to refer to a person with magically gained flight capability, or simply, a being that was not made to fly developing the ability to fly through magically gained limbs. A person will be referred to as an elytrain rather than an elytrain user/elytra user (either term works, it doesn’t matter which as both refer to the same thing) often at the ‘formed’ state of fusion and beyond that to the ‘fused’ state.
The states of an elytra’s attachment being described as follows:
Default- The shell is fully intact with the wings being able to be be drawn in and settled within them. The Core and connection area are removable with ease by the user. There is a defined separation between elytra and user.
Adjusted- The shell may showcase slight shrinkage in size as the wings are drawn in less to reduce energy usage of the Core. However, they are still functional and can draw the wings inside completely. The Core is removable with slight pinching while the connection area may cause slight discomfort when removed. There is still a separation between elytra and user through there can be discomfort depending on how long the elytra precedes through this stage.
Formed- The shell is incredibly reduced and essentially vestigial at this point in time, the wings can not be drawn in. This elytra has been worn non-stop for a significant period of time and as such the connection area has begun to show signs of organic transformation and will need to be cut from the skin and top muscle to be removed. The Core is highly connected with the nervous system and removal at this point could cause numbness in the body/muscle spasms in the back and shoulders. At this stage the wings are essentially a part of the user and the user may start to be called an elytrain over an elytra user.
Fused- The shell is often so reduced that it would take significant effort to find or it may be little more than calloused skin at the base of the wings. The elytra is essentially organic at this point and has fully fused with the muscular and skeletal systems, for while in the ‘formed’ state of x-rayed it would show the wings as being majorly muscular and cartilaginous material, in the ‘fused’ state they have become essentially organic is construct. The Core acts as a magically orientated center for nerve communication while the connection area is essentially extra muscle and skin connection for the wings to the body. The elytra is basically dissolved save for the Core which is deeply intertwined with the spinal column. To try and remove it could be highly dangerous and damaging unless done by a magical specialist. However by the ‘formed’ often this is a purposefully done transition and thus expected result.
Either way, the wings, while a part of the body at the point of one being an elytrain, are noted to not be naturally occurring/manifesting from personal magic/etc. and are an outside force being attached to the body. This is where the primary difference comes to elytrains to avians.
Avians are those winged folk with body’s that were made to eventually be winged unlike the elytrain’s which were a purposeful addition.
As so several differences will be noted between an elytrain and avian. These go as follows:
Avians solely have wing types of the avian or saurian while elytrains can showcase both these wing types as well as insectiod and draconic/bat-like. This is because avians are noted for being very bird or dinosaur like, the word avian being a direct reference to birds.
Avians will showcase structures specifically developed for being of gliding or flying capability. Ex; Strong leg muscles, talons or clawed limbs, larger lungs or air sacs, specialized shoulder bones/structures, tails for balance control or flight maneuverability. Elytrains may develop similar features after the fused state, but will often retain a body structure very similar to the one they had prior to the elytra; the Core allows for flexibility in the demands wings would put on the body by magical influence.
Avians do not rely on a magical source within the body to fly or to help with nervous system controls. Elytrains need the magical output from the Core to assist with regulation and strain on the body and often will need greater maintenance to do so. Avians will need to maintain themselves as necessary for energy production in the body while elytrains need magically sources to help regulate the Core along with the organic need of their body.
Either way, while avians may be officially beings that were naturally going to be winged, elytrains with avian or saurian type wings may also be called as such. And likewise an avian may be called an elytrain despite not gaining their wings from an outside source.
It is much like the conundrum of bison (bovines based in North America and Europe known for their large humps, ‘beards,’ and small-upwards curled horns) being referred to as buffalo (bovines based within Africa and Asia known for large, outstretching horns) and vice versa. They are similar concepts with notable similarities despite just as note-worthy differences between them.
Either way, both are vastly interesting and diverse groups.