Will o' Wisps

Will o' Wisps are mysterious creatures who appear in lonely or tragic places. There are many theories about their origin; some say they are the souls of ancient si'vians or deceased guardians, others claim they are a distant cousin of the {light people}, and one far fetched idea claims that the Adlrasi (see Adlrasi Ruins ) became the will o' wisps when they abandoned their cities.

Basic Information

Anatomy

The anatomy of the will o' wisp is not well understood since no one has ever caught one, or managed to find a dead will o' wisp. They appear as small glowing or flaming orbs, typically in shades of blue, green, and purple.

Ecology and Habitats

Will o' wisps seem to thrive in any environment they exist in. While it was initially believed they only appeared on the fringes of civilisation, and in the deserts and battlefields, recent analysis of over 5000 urban legends and myths from across Faerie suggests that they have been appearing in cities just as long as in the wilderness, if less frequently. When the will o' wisps appear in a populated area, they are always in connection to a hugely tragic event, such as when the Burning River caught fire in Gracia.
It is unknown at this time if the will o' wisps that are reported on earth are the same as those seen on Si'via, but if they are they must either have some flow traveling power, or congregate around a Magical Vortex somewhere in Siv'ia.

Dietary Needs and Habits

It has been speculated that will o' wisps feed off the intense emotions of their chosen locations. As no other feeding habit has been observed, this is currently considered the most viable hypothesis.

Behaviour

Will o' wisps display very little observable behaviors. They often float slowly around their chosen location, bobbing slightly and emitting a pulsing glow. On some occasions, they are known to make a humming noise that drives most beings to tears and emotion sensing and psychic beings have been known to go into grieving or even depression which lasts months after exposure. Some researchers have declared this as a defense mechanism but the actual purpose remains unknown.
When a person approaches the will o' wisps, the will o' wisps actively move to maintain distance from them. They have also been known to disappear when exposed to light or particularly loud noises.

Additional Information

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Will o' wisps or something comparable can be found on every continent of Siv'ia, and it is possible they even exist on Earth.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

It has been proposed that the will o' wisps have some sort of emotion sensing capability, as they only appear in forlorn places seeping in loneliness and tragedy. Other physic and emotion sensing creatures have had strong reactions in these same areas.

Average Height

Will o' wisps are typically estimated to be around 5 inches tall, and float anywhere from two inches to 50 ft of the nearest surface.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

The typical colours of will o' wisps are blue, green, and purple, though some reports speak of red, gold, silver, and white creatures that might be will o' wisps, or a similar species. There is a theory that certain colours correlate with certain types of location, and therefore with emotions that vary from the usual loneliness and grief. This theory is unproven and has yet to undergo much research.

Geographic Distribution

• Adlrasi Ruins
• Ashfire
• Bridge to the Star-fields
• Desolate Expanse
• Fortress of the Swamp Queen
• Gracia
• Şiv´ia
• Southern Iles
• The Blood Laced-Land
• The Buried Kingdom
• The Dancing Iles
• Vakya
• Valdesa
• Waverly Cove