Constellation Snail
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"Long have I observed the patterns in both the stars up above and the snails of the earth. I’ve even followed along to some of their convergence events. Indeed, I would say I have more in common with them than my colleagues.'"—Floustus Oreat, astrologer
The Constellation Snail, also called the Stellar Snail or Starborne Snail, is a nocturnal land snail that lives in forests and meadows on Haven. Known for the glowing patterns on its shell that resemble stars, the Constellation Snail is one of the strangest, yet most alluring creatures on Haven. It’s also managed to carve out its own niche in Haven culture, particularly among seers and astrologers.
Characteristics
Appearance
The Constellation Snail is a fairly large land snail that typically measures around the length of a human hand. Its body is usually colored brown, with a pair of eyestalks with pale, glowing eyes to help the snail see better in the dark. It possesses a spiraling shell of black or midnight blue, studded with several dozen glowing dots. Interestingly, the pattern of the dots is strikingly similar to the constellations that hang high above Haven. It is unknown how the Constellation Snail evolved these patterns, but it is widely believed that they developed to either attract mates or help the snail navigate better at night.
Biology
The inside of the Constellation Snail’s shell is lined with tiny channels that carry the snail’s bioluminescent compounds throughout it. These channels lead to the openings where the snail’s shell spots are, allowing them to glow. The Constellation Snail is capable of halting or increasing the flow of these compounds at will, and it can even flash them in dozens of different patterns. Some observers even claim that the snails are communicating to each other in this way, though most believe that this flashing behavior is merely instinctual.
The Constellation Snail is a herbivore, feeding primarily on roots, mushrooms and patches of moss. It primarily seeks out plants with bioluminescent compounds to add to its own glow. As many of these glowing plants are often poisonous to other species, this habit has given the Constellation Snail a notable degree of resistance to toxins. When feasting on a poisonous plant, it secretes the toxins out through its skin, making it taste absolutely horrible to potential predators.
During mating season, Constellation Snails flash their lights in rhythmic patterns to potential partners. Once a mate has been secured, the two snails will engage in a lengthy courtship ritual that can last for up to an hour. Once the mating has ended, the snail who carried the eggs will lay them a few weeks later, usually in damp soil or in decaying logs. After around a month, the eggs hatch, the newborn snails scrambling for cover as they are extremely vulnerable when young.
Behavior
Constellation Snails are usually solitary creatures, only coming together to mate. However, sometimes on clear, starry nights, dozens or even hundreds of snails will leave their hiding places and meet up in an open area. Once enough have gathered, they will begin moving in a circular pattern, flashing their spots in slow, rhythmic motions. These gatherings are known as convergence events, and experts all over Haven have been scratching their heads as to why the snails do this for ages. Some claim they do this in order to rejuvenate themselves under the glow of starlight, while others theorize that the movements of stars mesmerizes the snails and draws them out. Regardless of the reason, these convergence events are considered one of the most beautiful sights in nature, and many travel far and wide for even a chance of witnessing a convergence event.
Constellation Snails in Haven Culture
Due to their connections with the stars, Constellation Snails have earned a spot of importance among groups such as seers and astrologers, who view their convergence events as a means to glimpse the future. They watch intently and take notes, paying close attention to both the positions of the stars up above and the flashing patterns on the snails’ shells. Some will even gather the discarded shells of dead Constellation Snails and crush them up into a powder, mixing them with a variety of other ingredients to create a drug colloquially known as **Sight**. By taking Sight, the user hopes to gain a glimpse of what might happen to them in the near-future, though most claim that the visions they see are merely hallucinations.
Constellation Snails have also earned a place in the hearts of many of Haven’s artists. They are a popular subject for painters, notably seen in the famous The Snail Night by Valentino Van Gother. Others gather old shells and create decorative lanterns out of them, bathing their homes in the perpetual glow of starlight. A few even keep Constellation Snails as pets, though others see them as pests due to their habit of sneaking into gardens and devouring any vegetables they can find.
Notable Individuals
TBA