Luminocetes
Luminocetes, also known as the Water Sisters by the Brightworlders are a group of semi-sapient large, marine, whale-like creatures native to the oceans of Lumin.
Appearance and Biology
Luminocetes are an all-female group of species like all "cetaceans" on Lumin.
They are the closest living relatives of the Brightworlders, and like them they communicate through their bioluminescent markings all over their bodies.
Ecology
TBA
Etymology and Cultural Relevance
Perhaps due to their close genetic relation to the Brightworlders, Luminocetes hold an immense cultural importance. The term water sister comes from the Brightworlder creation myth, which says that long ago there were once three Luminocete sisters, who swam a primordial ocean all alone, until the sun came into being and began to burn away all the water in the ocean.
Desperate to stop the drying of their sea, the three sisters banded together to extinguish the sun. After a long and vicious battle, they managed to extinguish much of the sun's fire, leaving it small and weak, unable to attack the sea again. However the eldest sister had fallen in the battle, and much of the ocean was burnt away.
The eldest, and largest sister's body formed the world, and the other two collected all the remaining water and put it in her wounds, forming the oceans. where the other two could live.
While living in the oceans, The middle sister became the first Luminocete who would mother all future Luminocetes
Finally the youngest sister, crawled out of the oceans to tend to her sister's body, becoming the first Brightworlder, who would mother all future Brightworlders.
Due to this myth, many Brightworlders consider the Luminocetes citizens of their world.
Species
Arctic Water Sister
Native to the Northern and Southern Seas of Lumin. They are well-adapted for ice cold conditions. Like all “cetaceans” on Lumin, the Arctic Water Sister is an All-female species that reproduces through parthenogenesis.
They are filter-feeders, straining tiny creatures out of the water and consuming them in great quantities.
Black Water Sister
Native to the temperate and tropical seas all across Lumin. The Black Water Sister is completely Jet-Black theorized to be an adaptation protecting them from the harsh equatorial sun. Like all “cetaceans” on Lumin, the Black Water Sister is an All-female species that reproduces through parthenogenesis.
They feed on tiny invertebrates and vast schools of fish alike. They have a more complex song/language than any other “cetacean” on Lumin.
Blue Water Sister
Deepest diver of all the Water Sisters
Gray Water Sister
They have enormous pectoral fins, giving them the ability to glide out of the water when using their photokinetic abilities, useful for avoiding predators like the Constellation Beast.
They are the closest living relatives of the Brightworlders
Green Water Sister
Smallest species of Water Sister, they are green as a form of camouflage in the kelp forests and seagrass meadows they live in. They are also known to frequent freshwater systems.
Great Mother
Native to all oceans of Lumin. They are the largest creature on Lumin. Like all “cetaceans” on Lumin, the Great Mother is an All-female species that reproduces through parthenogenesis. They are worshipped by the Brightworlders as the creators of the world and all life on it.
Ocean Queen
Second largest creature on Lumin
Turquoise Water Sister
Sticking to the warm, shallow waters in the tropics they feed by scooping large amounts of sediment in their mouths and filtering out all the small creatures living within.
White Water Sister
The other species of Water Sister that lives in the Arctic and Antarctic seas of Lumin.