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AEROMOLD  CONCEPT BY RACHEL SPOKONY CLASS: BIOCONSTRUCT BIOLOGY: The Aeromold is an intelligent motile colony of undifferentiated tissues with behavioral parameters evidently modeled after aviforms. Its surface cells are capable of collective visual, auditory and chemical sensitivity. Partially amphibious and dependent on moisture, it is drawn to wetland habitats where it scavenges organic materials and the occasional small, live prey, particularly fish and frogs. Indigestible matter such as stone, bone and synthetic materials are often retained within the creatures matrix as structural support, allowing it to maintain greater mass and tackle more formidable meals with a makeshift endoskeleton. An Aeromold typically maintains a roughly birdlike configuration and can achieve flight by the action of aerodynamic pseudopoda, dedicating more of their proportionate biomass to wing formation as necessitated by their weight, with the largest Aeromorph concentrating as much as 98% of their matrix to wing construction in order to achieve lift. Only when grounded can these specimens more easily concentrate on maintaining a distinct head or other appendages. The larger an Aeromorph, the more difficulty it experiences holding its biomass together, and sloughs away more tissue during flight or other rigorous activity. The great majority of these fragments quickly expire, but some are large enough to begin feeding independently, gradually developing sentience and becoming juveniles. By passing air through precisely shaped vacuoles, an Aeromold can learn to mimic virtually any sound. BEHAVIOR: The Aeromorph is typically unaggressive, but has a compulsion to collect bright materials, especially metal, and may be driven to hostile extremes to obtain a particularly enticing object. Appealing offerings of metal, glass, crystal or colorful plastic can win the favor of even the most aggressive feral specimens, and are invaluable in maintaining an amicable relationship with replicated Aeromold. An Aeromold considers itself a species of bird, and feels protective of weaker natural avians. It will quickly learn to communicate with species in its territory, forming a loose multispecies community. APPLIANCE: The Aeromold is one of the only amorphous or amoeboidal monsters known to achieve mechanical flight, most others relying upon biochemical floatation. Though this process is unstable, the advantages of a homogeneous fluid body and non-gaseous lift are notoriously difficult to achieve in the same organism. The original creation of the Aeromold is, unfortunately, poorly understood, and the creatures were only recently rediscovered inhabiting remote wetlands. AMORPHOUS: the monster consists of undifferentiated tissue capable of any physical configuration, and possesses no vulnerable organs. SCRAP SKELETON: the creature incorporates foreign matter into its body to construct a skeleton, claws and beak. FLIGHT: the Aeromold can form temporary wings to propel itself through air, unlike most amorphous creatures. Contents copyright Jonathan Wojcik
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