Moon Kite

"Sometimes when I look up at the night sky, the sparkling of the stars reminds me of the moon kite's tails. I think if there is one thing I could bring from Honoun that I didn't, it would be them. It's just a shame they would never have survived here."

— Iuin of Clan Lan, Moon Elf Exile

The Moon Kite, locally known as juenshen gonon (/ʨwənˈʂeŋ koˈnʊn/) or "star bug" in Yuenhüuian, are large insect-like creatures native to Aanrah's moons. They are popular motifs in Moonfolk artwork.

Gentle Drifters

Biology

Moon kites live between six and ten years, with a reproductive cycle that follows specific orbits of both Aanrah and their moon. Adult moon kites appear as long, blue tubes with soft chitinous bodies that are held aloft by five pairs of membranous insect wings. They lack other limbs, and spend their adult lives aloft in the air. Their long tails sport a extra two pairs of smaller wings to help steer, and then a trail of bioluminescent lights. These lights are used to communicate with other moon kites or to ward off predators. The blinking of their lights in the sky is what earns them their native Yuenhüuian name of 'star bug'. While weak, they can also use their tails akin to a seahorse's to anchor themselves to bamboo and other tall, stalky plants.
Moon kites reproduce by spreading eggs across Moon Bamboo groves, where males congregate to fertilize en mass. Moon kites hatch from their eggs as dull black-blue larvae who spend the first few years of their life underground, feeding on detritus and bamboo shoots. After growing substantially, they undergo one last molt and metamorphize into their winged adult form, akin to a dragonfly. Adults survive on smaller insects and particles that drift through the air, often opting for a more relaxed 'filter-feeding'-esque approach.

Ecology

Moon kites can be found over much of the continental stretches of the moons. While they propagate in bamboo groves, adults are known to drift out significant distances from acceptable breeding habitat between mating cycles. They prefer open habitats with thin, stick-like objects that they can anchor onto - which has been known to include elf-made structures - but are still sometimes seen drifting above the canopy of more dense forests. They are known for clinging onto flagpoles, fishing poles, fences, and other structures - so much so that some locations set up extra dowels and poles on roof tops and in garden to encourage moon kites to land.
In the modern era, moon kites are now only found on Benshuen with the loss of the other two moons. There have been no known cases of moon kites being brought to Aanrah, let alone surviving.

Twinkling Star Bug

Aanrahn Knowledge

With the limited and basically non-existent communication between the moons and Aanrah, much of what is known about moon kites comes from old stories passed from moonfolk exiles and what few items they brought with them. A few old wood block prints and a old robe are some of the only depictions of moon kites originating from the moon itself (excluding images drawn by exiles). Aanrahns understand that the clusters of sparkling that can rarely be seen on the moons via telescope are likely moon kite breeding grounds, but much of the details of their lifecycle is poorly misunderstood or entirely lost.

In Moonfolk Society

Moon kites are considered a sign of good luck and prosperity for moonfolk cultures, and having them land on your home is seen as a blessing. Moon kite breeding season is often treated as a festival, especially noted for its lack of fireworks so as not to drive off or disturb the breeding insects. They are popular motifs on clothing, and can be found in many pieces of moonfolk artwork. It is against the law to kill moon kites in almost all moonfolk countries, usually punishable by a hefty fine or jail time. Moon kite corpses can be collected with the proper permit and registration, and their shells and wings can be made into jewelry by a few expert clans. The fluid in their tail sacs can be collected to make a expensive ink, though it does not continue to glow after the moon kite expires.

Lifespan

6 - 10 years

Average Length

5'9" - 7'1"
10'1" - 11' wingspan

Geographic Distribution

• Baza
• Benshuen
• Honoun