Whispermoths

Magical Messengers of the Witchrealm

"The most impressive, yet amusing quirk about our Whispermoths is without a doubt their impeccable mimicry. Imagine a moth, barely the size of your hand, fluttering to your ear and whispering sweet nothings in the exact tone of your most ardent admirer. Or perhaps, relaying a message from a rival in their haughtiest tone, reducing their grandiloquence to mere whispers from an insect. It's a delightful irony, really, how these small creatures can so perfectly imitate the grandeur and folly of Morvathian communication."

— From: "A Comprehensive Guide to Morvathia's Mysteries" by Salama the Dragonwitch

Whispermoths are a distinctive and magically altered species of moths, serving as messengers within the Witchrealm of Morvathia. These remarkable creatures have the ability to memorize and faithfully reproduce spoken messages. They are extensively employed for swiftly and accurately conveying short messages across vast distances.
Originally a collaborative creation of House Florindale and House Girasola for governmental communication, Whispermoths were an exclusive privilege for the political elite due to the complexities and costs involved in their creation. A breakthrough in Florindale's research enabled these moths to reproduce without losing their transmutational qualities, transitioning them from a rare privilege to a widely accessible communication method.

Flying Couriers of the Witchrealm

These moths are distinguished by their considerable size, with wingspans typically ranging from 8 to 12 inches. Their bodies are covered in soft, velvety fur in various pastel shades. Their broad, semi-translucent wings emit a gentle glow and feature unique patterns, specific to each Whispermoth Roost, serving as identification markers. Equipped with feathery antennae sensitive to environmental nuances and compound eyes suited for low-light conditions, Whispermoths navigate efficiently day and night. Their near-invisibility under full moonlight and silent flight make them perfect for discreet messaging.
Whispermoths can memorize spoken messages of up to a minute in length. Once a message is remembered, a Whispermoth will deliver it to the intended recipient. These creatures land on the person's shoulder and then softly whisper the message into their ear, mimicking the exact tone and voice of the original speaker. They also possess the ability to remember a reply before flying back to the sender. Importantly, Whispermoths will not reveal the content of a message to anyone other than the recipient. They are even resistant to magical means of extracting this information.

Mothlight Towers and Communication Networks

However, in order to be found by a moth, the recipient must be within the larger proximity of a Whispermoth Roost, which are typically tall towers located on the outskirts of larger settlements. Often referred to as Mothlight Towers, these structures are surrounded by the eerie glow of Whispermoth wings as many of these moths flutter around it, creating a mesmerizing spectacle - especially at night when the towers become visible from a considerable distance.
Messages can be passed through multiple Mothlight Towers along the Whispermoth's journey, creating a comprehensive and efficient communication network. This network ensures that virtually anyone living in a village or town in Morvathia can be reached with a Whispermoth message. Only a few remote and exceptionally small villages may be exceptions to this widespread coverage, but for the vast majority of the population Mothlight Towers are integral to Morvathian society. The cost of sending a message is often just a few Pfennig, making it an affordable way for citizens to send messages to their friends and loved ones in other cities.
Additionally, these towers are frequently accompanied by post offices, which are either situated nearby or integrated directly into the tower's architecture. This integration ensures that communication and postal services are readily accessible, providing a convenient and efficient way for people to stay connected and exchange news. The care and breeding of Whispermoths, as well as the operation of Mothlight Towers, fall under the purview of the Mothkeeper guild, which has enjoyed protected status since its inception, granted by the Morvathian Coven.

Luxurious Companions and Symbols of Status

Whispermoths serve as both common public service creatures and rare, prestigious personal pets in Morvathia. The cost of owning a Whispermoth for personal use can be substantial, varying based on factors such as breed, lineage, and specific attributes, with prices ranging from several hundred Gulden to a few Batzen. These costs cover expenses related to their care, breeding, and the expertise needed for nurturing and training. Consequently, Whispermoths are primarily found in the homes of the realm's elite.
The Thirteen, the highest echelon of Morvathia's ruling families, often possess their own personal Whispermoths. These esteemed figures sometimes maintain their Whispermoth companions in dedicated roosts within their grand estates, allowing for easy access to these treasured creatures. To distinguish Whispermoths kept as luxury pets and messengers from their common counterparts used for public service, they are often meticulously bred or transmuted by the expert hands of Mothkeepers.

Whispers in the Wild

In the shadowy reaches of Morvathia's northern woods, such as the Norscrub, Veiled Grove, and Rueggen Valley, stories tell of a peculiar and haunting variant of Whispermoths, known as "Lost Whispers." Born from the escape of magical Whispermoths during various historical conflicts that damanged or destroyed Mothlight Towers, these creatures have woven themselves into the fabric of local folklore.
Untethered from the vigilant care of the Mothkeeper Guild, have undergone a strange metamorphosis. These moths have developed an eerie ability to mimic the voices of those who have perished or disappeared within these woods. Travelers recount chilling tales of hearing the last words of the lost, spoken in their very voices, echoing through the forest. This uncanny mimicry has given rise to numerous legends, with some believing that Lost Whispers are the spirits of the departed, seeking to communicate with the living.
Distinguished by their duskier hues and slightly larger size, Lost Whispers often display a ghostly luminescence. They are most active during twilight hours, adding to their mysterious and spectral reputation. Unlike their domesticated counterparts, Lost Whispers do not carry messages but instead randomly recite fragments of overheard conversations, often those with emotional weight or spoken in distress.
In Morvathian culture, encountering a Lost Whispers is considered an omen. Some view it as a sign to heed the lessons of the past, while others regard it as a warning of unresolved spirits or unfinished business. In certain northern villages, rituals have developed around Lost Whispers, where people speak their fears and secrets to these moths, hoping their words will be lost to the wilderness, never to return.
Lost Whispers have inspired Morvathian literature and art, often depicted in paintings as ethereal guides or omens. Poets and storytellers have woven tales around these creatures, portraying them as both harbingers of doom and symbols of the indelible nature of words and memories. Both Whispermoths and Lost Whispers have become a common symbol for secrets.

Overview

Type: Beast, Construct

Native to: Morvathia, Northern Galdorsmynd
Known Subspecies: Lost Whispers

Average Lifespan: Whispermoth live between 4-5 years.

Size: A Whispermoth wingspan is between 8 to 12 inches.