The most religious in practice of all the clans, the Scybilline are wholeheartedly dedicated to their one and only deity, a goddess of the moon.  Long ago, the most devoted monks swore an oath that they would only live their lives beneath her protective gaze and so it was that the Scybillines gradually moved from being diurnal creatures to those of the night.  Nearly all black or dark of coat, the reptilian equids of the shrubland use their bioluminescent scales to attract their primary prey - giant moths!  They have many ceremonies that they must undergo throughout their lives, most meant to reaffirm their devotion to the moon.  The Scybilline compete against predatory butterflies for the moths upon which both species feed and must keep an eye out for mountain lions but the true threat to the Scybillines are the creatures that attempt to raid nests and feast upon their eggs - Saraphs, in particular.  With fertile eggs being as precious as they are, to lose an embryo from such carelessness is often considered a crime worthy of death. Since they consider Induala the highest authority, they are a theocracy!

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General Appearance:

Generally of medium build and can range anywhere from 11-15 hands for both genders, all Scybillines are born dark of coat.  Almost all Scybillines are born with homozygous recessive Agouti gene (‘aa’) and nearly all are born with homozygous dominant black (EE).  Very rarely, bay or liver chestnuts can crop up but to be born the color of the moon is a true rarity!  Pearls are actually quite common and champagnes and duns do crop up from time to time.  Should golden colored coats appear the children are usually killed upon on sight, as those are the colors of the sun.  Red coated Scybillines are tolerated but most often mistrusted until proven otherwise.  Scybillines are always solid, and never feature any white markings, paint or appaloosa genes.

Coat Colors/Patterns Available to Scybillines:

• Base Coats: Black, Bay or Chestnut
• Modifiers: Champagne, *Cream (Single or Double), Dun, Flaxen, Grey, Pangaré, Pearl, Silver.
• * Remember, Cream can only be applied with a Reward purchase!  Pearl is free for Scybilline starters.  Also, grey, flaxen, and pangaré can now be applied to starters.  Woohoo!

Typical Personality

Devout, Intelligent, Reserved, Superstitious, Distrustful, Grateful, Perceptive

Diet:

The Scybillines ingest a mostly insectivorous diet, supplemented by the occasional snack of eggs and small mammals, fish, or reptiles (although consuming a reptile is considered by some to be akin to cannibalism!).  While they can digest greens if no other foods are available, most choose not to.

• Note that a Scybilline's diet should be primarily made up of nutrients derived from insects and greens!  
• Eggs and fish, if captured, can be digested with ease - note that if the eggs are reptilian, it is considered cannibalism.
• A Scybilline cannot process any sort of red meat but could, in theory, digest small amounts of white meat such as bird meat and reptile flesh.  However, to prey upon reptiles would be considered cannibalism; white meat consumption is often only practiced in matters of complete necessity (aka, life-death situations) and should only be consumed in a frequency of one meal, once a week at most, as consuming any more than that can cause digestive failure!

Magic Types:

Poison (Common), Lumos (Uncommon), Psychic (Rare)
To see expanded descriptions of types of magic, visit the Magic Types journal!

* Note About Scybilline Magic! *
Cream in Scybilline indicates the presence of Moonblessed blood!  Double cream Scybillines (CrCr) are considered Moonblessed in both appearance and magic!  Double cream Scybillines get to choose any two Psychic strains, including Acroris!  Cream carriers (nCr) get to pick one Psychic magic strain - excluding Acroris - and will be rolled to determine whether they get Common Poison or Uncommon Lumos magic!  Non-Cream carriers (no Cr in geno) will be rolled in the normal fashion - for Common, Uncommon, or Rare magic.  If a non-Cream Scybilline gets rolled for Rare Psychic magic, they may choose one Psychic strain - excluding Acroris!

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While the Scybillines are all dark in coat, they make up for it with their colorful bioluminescent scales!  During daylight they appear plain in coat but, under the light of the moon, the scales of a Scyb can glimmer and glow in a variety of colors on command!  These dazzling scales help to attract their favorite prey, giant moths.

The scales can be distributed over the entire body but can also be limited to as few as a single scale.  The arrangement of scales is unique to each and every individual and can be used for identification.  Scales can glow in a single color, a trio of colors, or a colorful rainbow display.  Different forms of light can indicate the mood of the individual, with rapid flashing indicating excitement or stress while a gently rolling wave of light gives off an aura of calm.

As an additional side-note, in order to help digest and catch their flighty insect prey, Scybillines automatically come with an omnivorous digestive system and may have carnivorous teeth!  However, these teeth will not be feline/canine/rodent in manifestation.  Rather, they will be more similar to teeth found in reptiles!  Note that, in the Scybilline, only the teeth will be modified automatically.  If you would like your Scybilline to have the modified jaw structure of a crocodile or snake, that will count as one of your starter mutations!

Other Common Mutations:
Reptiles be here!  The Scybillines are known for having snake-like mutations such as snake tails, reptilian eyes, and an unfused jaw to allow the swallowing of large objects.  Crocodile and snake mutations are also frequently seen, with crocodile tails and scorpion tails a common sight.

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The Scybilline evolved in the swamps of the Yacare Mire but were long ago driven out by a dark entity.  Nowadays they inhabit the Boondocks, a vast shrubland dotted with low-growing shrubs and short, hardy trees.  

The Boondocks are much more mild in terms of weather when compared to the Saraph Sand Dunes but they still experience hot, dry summers and cool winters.  Rainfall is unpredictable in the shrubland but reliable, most often coming in the form of random, heavy thunderstorms that are beautiful to watch.  

Jagged and uneven in terrain, red plateaus and rocky outcroppings create a variety of havens to weather out a storm or make a den in.  Dens must be chosen carefully, though, for if a den is too exposed to either the elements or predators, it may get raided!

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The leader of the Scybillines is, without dispute, their precious moon goddess Induala.  Induala is seen as the high authority on all things, as it is her light that led them to the nocturnal life that saved them.  

Until the day that Induala chooses to send one of her Blessed children to walk among them, the Scybilline have formed an order of monks to represent their goddess and her wishes.  It is this order of monks that lead the Scybillines in the religious ceremonies that they perform and protect the herd from outside harm.  

Monks who have served loyally and faithfully over the years can slowly move up the ranks, with the most skilled offered a position that could potentially land them job as Grand Master of the Order when the current master passes on.  The Grand Master must be voted upon unanimously by all current Master monks.  The Grand Master can be either male or female!

The Grand Master has the most reliable connection to Induala and may spend days in solitude in order to receive or translate visions given to him/her by the moon goddess.  The Grand Master has the final say on all decisions and visions!

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The Scybilline Order

The monks who protect the herd from outside threats and lead the Scybillines in their religious ceremonies, the Scybilline monks are highly skilled fighters who fight only when it cannot be avoided.  The monks are headed by the Grand Master of the Order, the highest position available to a Scybilline.

• Master (15+ years old): Templars who have shown great skill in battle or character are referred to as Masters.  Masters usually have had a least one Tyro who has successfully become a Templar.  To be a master is a position that garners high respect amongst the herd and the word of a Master is rarely questioned.  Masters are also in the unique position of having a shot at becoming the Grand Master should he or she pass away.  Masters are generally in the middle or late years of their prime, as it takes many years to gather enough experience to be called master.  Masters have the closest relationship with Induala other than the Grand Master and visions given to a Master are taken seriously.  Requires at least ONE Master level skill or TWO Advanced level skills (Herbs/Medicine does not count).

• Templar (10+ years old): Tyros who have served long and hard beneath their master may finally be awarded with the coveted position of Templar.  Templars make up the bulk of the Order, and are usually young adults in or about to enter their prime.  Templars may take on apprentices and train them if they get the approval of the Grand Master.  If they successfully train these Tyro apprentices, they themselves may have a shot at being promoted to master!  Templars patrol the borders of the Scybilline territory at all hours of the day.  To be put on daylight duty is seen as a less-than desirable position but, since the duty is rotated amongst all the Templars, no one complains too much.  Requires at least ONE Advanced level skill or TWO Medium level skills (Herbs/Medicine does not count).

• Tyro (3+ years old): Aspiring monks!  Tyros are the apprentices of the Order, generally assigned at around three years of age to a worthy Templar or Master.  Apprenticeships last for many years, with some lasting nearly a decade before a Tyro may be deemed worthy of becoming a Templar.  Most see the long apprenticeship as a test in patience that weeds out those that are not worthy of becoming a Templar but the fact of the matter is that Tyros have a lot to learn!  From ceremonial practices to fighting skills, Tyros have a lot on their plate.

Other Ranks

Life as a monk is a tough one!  Those who do make it as a monk or simply have no interest in becoming one of the Order can make their living out of several different occupations.

• Healer (5+ years old): Scybilline healers are renowned for their vast knowledge of herbal remedies and ability to heal!  It is not uncommon for outsiders to seek the aid of the Scybilline’s medicinal knowledge.  While Outsiders are viewed with suspicion, the Healers swear an oath to heal all living things and to turn away someone in need goes against Induala herself.  Healers work hard to try and skirt the fertility issues of their eggs but, as of yet, no permanent solution has been found.  Seeing a skilled healer before mating (especially males) may increase the likelihood of fertile eggs!  

• Poison Master (5+ years old + Poison Magic): A specialized group of healers, Poison Masters is a rank exclusively made up of Poison mages.  These masters of toxins religiously study poisonous creatures and plants and - by extension - how to combat them with anti-venom.  While most know Poison Masters as healers, they are also the main source of poisonous tinctures to be used to kill pests or discourage predators.  There are whispers that some, if asked very nicely, might even procure powerful potions to kill your enemies.  This, however, is generally discouraged among their rank.

• Nurse (5+ years old): While Safeguards protect the eggs, Nurses raise the Hatchlings!  Not all Scybilline mothers are cut out to raise their offspring due either to their occupation or personality.  In order to make sure that all hatchlings get a proper education/upbringing, all hatchlings not being raised by their parents are given to a nurse.  Being a Nurse is a highly respected position tasked with teaching/raising hatchlings in the proper ways/practices of the Scybilline herd.  Nurses are often seen as the true mothers/fathers of the herd, regardless of fertility, as it is them who will often put the hatchlings to sleep at night with the lore of Induala and teach them how to take down their first prey.  Nurses who fail to teach their charges correctly/lead their charges into danger/death may be put to judgement themselves!  Nurses typically look after one hatchling to begin with and, with every hatchling they lead to successful adulthood they can take on another.  Typically, Nurses have three to five charges and will guide the hatchlings until they mature between three to five years old!

• Safeguard (5+ years old): Safeguards guard the precious eggs of the Scybillines.  While individual mothers may decide to protect their eggs on their own with their mates, it is far safer to leave their eggs in the hands of a group of Safeguards.  Safeguards are typically highly skilled warriors and usually male, although females are not turned away should they so desire.  It is an honorable job but dangerous.  To lose an egg to a predator or carelessness is often punishable by death!

• Follower/Herd Member (No Age Requirement): Followers make up the bulk of the Scybilline herd.  Followers are simply the herd members and can be of any age.  A follower may hold any number of jobs but are usually left to their own devices so long as they show up to the ceremonies.  Many Followers choose to hunt for those who cannot hunt for themselves, help teach hatchlings how to properly hunt, and fight off those nasty predatory butterflies!

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After the Scybillines were chased from their mire into the Boondocks, they were lost.  Many had died in the flight from the swamps and others were never accounted for, dead or alive!  From the night sky, Induala watched them and took pity upon them and gave herself a mortal form to walk among them.

Induala’s earthly body was said to be as light as the moon, with an ethereal glow befitting her grace and poise.  She had no mouth or mane but had a pair of wide, black eyes that glittered with the light of all stars.  As she walked her tail became a glowing veil, nearly translucent, and her steps were said to have left perfect crescents that glowed in the moonlight, marking out a path to a new land upon which the homeless herd could survive.

It was Induala who led them to the shrubland and taught them how to live there.  When her work was complete she left the herd, reminding them that they would always be able to look upon her at night should they need her advice.

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The Scybilline are fiercely devout to their goddess, as it was she who led them to their new home.  Many, especially those of the Order, are even said to actively receive visions from Induala!  While visions given to those outside of the Order are to be reported, they do not hold as much importance as the visions of the Masters and may not be taken seriously.

Males are referred to as drakes, females as femmes, and young as hatchlings.  Scybillines are a rather independent lot, even if they do see themselves as a single herd.  Some may take permanent mates but breeding is seen as strictly business and many choose the strongest partner rather than the one they love.  In fact, even if a female does take a permanent mate, it is not unusual for her to breed with another male should he be shown to be strong and of good stock.

Most keep to themselves except to mate and protect the eggs.  Notoriously infertile, the Scybillines protect their eggs from predation.  To compensate for their high rate of infertile eggs, females may mate and lay eggs twice during the breeding season (once in the fall, once in the winter).  Up to three eggs may be laid at a time but, sadly, it is not uncommon for all three eggs to be duds.

Although hatchlings are capable of fending for themselves upon hatching, parents or older Scybillines will often take hatchlings on hunting trips to teach them how to be successful.  If a hatchling is in distress, it may make a call similar to that of a baby crocodile.  Any adults in the area will immediately come to its aid, or face death for their ignorance.

The Scybilline perform several ceremonies over the year but the most important and recurring one comes with the appearance of a full moon.  A grand celebration in the name of Induala is held, where stories are shared and a herd-wide prayer is led by the Grand Master.  The nights where Induala’s light disappears from the sky are considered to be nights where demons roam, and most do not leave their dens on such nights for fear of death.

Scybilline functions as a theocracy! Led by their religious leader, the Grand Master, they see their goddess as the highest of authorities.