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This shop has nothing to do with Guardians of Ga'hoole.
Forest of Noctua is not currently open; we do not know if/when it will re-open.
If you have paid for a growing pet that you have not received, please post here to let us know.



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Welcome to the Forest of Noctua, a breedables shop set in a unique world. Please read the entire first page to get an idea of what’s going on, BEFORE you PM the mule or any members of the staff! If you have a question that is not answered here, then PM the mule and you will be answered ASAP.

Forest of Noctua - The Guild

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________________ 1-1 Introduction / Table of Contents
___________________ 1-2 Updates
___________________ 1-3 Rules
___________________ 1-4 Lists
___________________ 1-5 Sentinels
___________________ 1-6 Available
___________________ 1-7 Growth
___________________ 1-8 Colours
___________________ 1-9 Feather Dye
___________________ 1-10 Accessories
___________________ 1-11 Customs
___________________ 1-12 Companions
___________________ 1-13 Breeding
___________________ 1-14 Pricing
___________________ 1-15 Questions
________________ 2-1 Roleplay Information
___________________ 2-2 Professions
___________________ 2-3 NPCs
___________________ 2-4 The Ageless
___________________ 2-5 Setting (The Forest)
___________________ 2-6 Will
___________________ 2-7 Owners
___________________ 2-8 RP-Only Sentinels
___________________ 2-9 Banners
___________________ 2-10>15 ((Reserved))

This is not a roleplay-required shop. However, RP is highly encouraged in the Guild. In fact, RP is so highly encouraged here that we even allow folks to RP Sentinels that they do not own yet (see second page for details)!

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User ImageLatest News:

11.11.09 - Production slow-down/hiatus
As you've probably noticed, there haven't been any growths or new Sentinels for a while. Jaeger's been eaten by RL birds, and Slander's been eaten by lions. Roleplay and plots are still hopping, though, thanks to Annchen and Pearlyblue! And we hope to be back in full swing once things settle down, IRL.

31.05.09 - RP Event and Auction!
User Image'Old Blood RP event sign-ups and info available now, in the guild.
'Kevin' from Up - see auction info on pg4439.

11.04.09 - Growings by request!
User ImageSee the full announcement on pg4326.
Breedings/customs are still going on, albeit slowly. XD

25.03.09 - Shop-wide slowdown ahoy!
User ImageSee the full announcement on pg4290, also breedings and customs.
Also, Kitkaze totally won the belated wildlife custom Owl Ticket raffle.

12.01.09 - Happy (Belated) New Year!
User ImageMinor update to the world - go learn about Traits and Minor Types!
Taking it easy on the shop-side, please be patient. <3

25.12.08 - Happy Holidays!
User ImageWe hope that everyone had a safe and happy holiday.
Stuff is still laid-back and quiet, but we like it like that. XD

05.12.08 - The Anniversary Event is drawing to a close!
User ImageMost of the events are finishing up tonight, or over the weekend.
Things will be a little slow while we play catch-up!

09.11.08 - Aaaaaand we have contact!
User ImageThe 1-Year Anniversary Extravaganza is on right now!
Auctions, raffles, flatsales, and more! Check it oooooouuuut. xD

06.11.08 - WTF, it's been a year already?!
User ImageAn anniversary event is in the works, so stay tuned!
Growings will be worked on after the event is finished.

30.09.08 - New fledglings! Yay!!
User ImageNew fledgling lines have been showing up!
To celebrate, we're having a little event here.

27.09.08 - There's something rotten...
User ImageWhat's this? An auditioned plot event?
Go here to learn more, and see how you can take part!

01.09.08 - New hatchlings! Yay!!
User ImageJaeger made some new hatchling lines, check out '77 onwards!
Also, Meepfur and wooga have a free Aberrant egg raffle, here.


Want to read past news updates? Go here for the Archived News!


05.11.07 - We're open!
User ImageThread and intro posts created.
Welcome to Noctua!

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General Rules

Jaeger and Slander are infallible
...At least within the bounds of Noctua! We try to be as nice and as fair as possible, but our word is the final word. Please respect it while you're here.

Read the ENTIRE first page before asking questions about the shop
Also, read the second page before asking questions about RP or the setting. We know that there is a lot of information, but it's really frustrating to have to answer the same questions over and over when they are covered in the introductory posts.

Send PMs to the shop mule, NOT to the staff
Seriously, guys. We're gonna have to start to ignore shop-related PMs sent to non-mule accounts. General queries - Ranger, RP-related questions - Herald, Event-related questions - Peddler, Errors on Census - Scribe.

We will not PM you for growths, certs, or contest results
Growths and certs are posted in the guild, contest results are posted on the first page and in the guild, so it's really not that hard to find your stuff. If you win a Sentinel in a contest then we expect that you'll notice! Failing to claim a prize within the stated time period means that you forfeit it.

Thou shalt not steal or alter the artwork or any other items worth stealing
Minor edits for sigs, character reference sheets, etc. are okay for personal use. If you want to do anything else, PM the mule to ask. The only lineart that is 100% okay to edit lives here - please do not mess with anything else without asking us first.

Do unto others as you would have done unto yourself
In short, don't be a jerk. If the current in-thread discussion is making someone uncomfortable, then DROP IT.

Follow the Gaia TOS at all times
Common sense, n'est-ce pas?


In-thread Rules

Thou shalt make an honest attempt to speak and RP in a literate manner
No chat speak in the thread, and absolutely no chat speak in RP. We don't ask for works of literary greatness to spill from your hastily-typing fingers, but we do ask that you employ a spell-check and a little bit of common sense before you hit 'Submit'.

Talking about the baby bird you 'saved' or some other such thing is a BAD IDEA
Wildlife rehab like that is actually illegal in most parts of the world, unless you have the appropriate permits. We understand that you mean well, but we still don't want to hear about it. Why? Because this topic of conversation often leads to...

Do not talk about horrible animal death, animal abuse, or anything related to those topics
Noctua is run by (and is full of) animal lovers. Stories like that are extremely upsetting and are not appropriate for discussion in this thread. We don't care if you didn't do it yourself, or if you tried to stop someone from doing it, or whatever. We just don't want to hear about it. Period.

Thou shalt not use annoying huge post embellishments, or difficult-to-read fonts
It's really annoying to have to sift through images, song lyrics, your own advertisements, and other crap just to read what you have to say. Same goes for overly small or light-coloured fonts. Nobody should have to search through song lyrics or squint to read your post! Please turn your fancy post style off in-thread, and DEFINITELY turn it off while RPing.

Thou shalt not complain overmuch, be an attention-whore, or feed the drama llama
Life is hard. Sometimes people get sad, and friends can help. But don't bring it into the shop if all you want are *hugs* and *cuddles* and "we lub u"s, and don't try to depress everyone else. Noctua is a lot of things, but it isn't a support-group for emo-kids. Whining for the sake of whining will not win you friends. And it's really annoying when people mention how much 'nobody else cares' every time they enter the shop. Talk like that for too long, and nobody will care. Guaranteed.

Thou shalt not advertise thine amazing shop (or the amazing shop of thine friend) in the thread without permission
Advertisements in your sig are fine! Advertisements in your post or telling other people to go somewhere is not. It's common sense, and it's actually against the rules of the B/C to do so! The more you know.

Thou shalt not beg or be an annoying pest
If you want a Sentinel, then find some way to buy one. No begging or guilt-tripping.

Thou shalt not make statements about how much gold so-and-so has just spent in an auction/raffle/whathaveyou
Imagine, if you will, that you are in an electronics store such as Best Buy. You are looking at home entertainment, and while you are browsing through their selection someone purchases a fancy home theatre that is far above your price range. Is it socially acceptable in that circumstance to exclaim over how much money they are spending? Would it be normal to say things like 'wow, I could never have that much' or 'where do you even get money like that?' How would you feel if you had spent money that you worked hard to earn, only to be confronted with statements like that?


Contest/Flatsale Rules

If you don't win a contest, don't whine or be a sore loser
It's really unpleasant for us to have to suffer through people sighing and whining and moping about not winning. The only acceptable response is to congratulate the winner.

Do not attempt to cheat or skew the odds in a flatsale or contest
This should be common sense, but apparently it is not. No post-editing. No mules. No abuse of proxies. If we catch you, you'll be removed from that event for the first offense. Whining, or a second offense, will earn you a blacklist.



The Most Important Rule of ALL

Thou shalt have fun
FUN, I SAY.


Note: Shop rules are subject to change without notice.
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Shop Owners:
Jaeger Erdarastrix - Line artist, Colourist, Concept
Slander - Odd jobs, Colourist, Certing

Staff:
Annchen - RP Leader
Pearlyblue - RP Leader

Guest Colourist:
Hanyousblood

Mules:
Ranger of Noctua - Shop mule (All trades go here unless otherwise specified!)
Herald of Noctua - RP mule ((Annchen, Pearlyblue))
Peddler of Noctua - Event mule ((???))
Scribe of Noctua - Miscellaneous mule ((???))

Important Links:
- Services Sub-Forum
- Certing Thread
- Growing Requests
- Customization Requests
- Uncert Requests

Whitelist:
All of our regulars! biggrin

Blacklist:
Narkui
PearlyUnicorn

Currently working on (for reference):
1 - Concept contest winners
2 - Growings (defaulted leftovers)
3 - Owl tickets (remains from event) <-- in progress
4 - Bribes/gifts

Soon-to-be-Forfeited Sentinel list!
None! (Let's keep it that way. xD)

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Known among themselves and the other residents of the forest simply as the Sentinels, these owl-like creatures are the self-appointed guardians (and owners, if you ask them) of the forest of Noctua.

The general outward appearance of a Sentinel is certainly similar to that of an owl, particularly the Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus). A few key differences must be noted. First, the size. Sentinels are massive compared to an owl, standing an average of two to three feet tall. If a human ever saw a Sentinel (which they haven't!) they would most likely scream and flee in terror - such a huge owl would be quite terrifying, after all. Another major difference lies in the toes. While owls are zygodactyl (they have four toes: two point forward, two point backward) the Sentinels, curiously, have only two forward-facing toes. And one last thing to note - while owls cannot move their eyes within their sockets, Sentinels can.

They may look like owls, but any self-respecting Sentinel would be highly insulted if you compared them to those unintelligent, speechless hooters. "An owl," they'd say, "has four toes and only four brain cells." ...Well, alright. They wouldn't really say it like that. But the general sentiment among most Sentinels seems to be Four Toes Bad, Two Toes Good! Calling a Sentinel an owl would be like calling a human a monkey - while it's technically true, at least a little bit, it's still insulting. So just don't do it!

Highly intelligent and fiercely territorial – these creatures defy any human understanding of society. While they work together for the greater good of the clan, most Sentinels prefer to be as self-sufficient as possible. They band together and think of themselves as a single entity, but also value their own individuality and time apart. The clan is cohesive and all-encompassing, and the Sentinels work together with a synergy that any large human corporation would envy. Unlike our complex societal systems, the Sentinels are governed only by the Brigadier and his Elites; but even then the word of the Brigadier is not absolute (except in times of war).

Every Sentinel is expected to be a productive member of the clan, males and females and fledglings alike. Most Sentinels will hunt for themselves, relying only on the Hunters and Gatherers when absolutely necessary (or to provide a rare delicacy!). Both males and females will take on the more militaristic tasks (Elite, Hunter, etc.) with equal eagerness and ability, and many roles (such as Teacher, Keeper, Mystic, etc.) are appointed based on merit. More information on the various professions that a Sentinel might choose between can be found in section 2-2.

Surprisingly, despite their lack of hands or opposable digits, the Sentinels have proven to be capable of tool use. It would seem that they’ve developed a minor form of telekinesis (which they call their Will), capable of affecting objects in close proximity to their own bodies. Most Sentinels will use their Will in a very casual, almost unconscious way - they will reach out to grab something with their Will as easily as we would reach out with a hand, and with as little thought or effort. The degree of control that a particular Sentinel may have over this power varies greatly, and it seems to have a hereditary nature. Some Sentinels can barely lift a twig, others are capable of moving small trees to save a pinned comrade - powers of that strength are extremely rare, however, and chicks with such potential are spirited away by the Mystics to be inducted into their strange order.

There are rumours of other strange abilities among the Mystics, but like so many rumours it's nearly impossible to pin down the truth. It's safe to assume that a Mystic can do lots of wacky crap, however. (What does this mean? Well, if you want your Sentinel to be able to do anything other than minor telekinesis then PM us to ask first!)

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Availability:
For availability of customs, bribes, and breedings please check the relevant posts on the first page. Custom and breeding slots will be announced well ahead of time, but bribes open up at random.

Flatsales
There are three varieties of flatsale Sentinels that will be offered: Eggs, Fledglings, Adults, and pre-feather-dyed Adults. Egg sales include all four stages (naturally) and are not RPable for the first two stages, but they allow a player (or a player's child-less Sentinel!) to experience the joys of Sentinel adolescence. Fledglings will grow to be Adults eventually, and they allow players to skip the waiting and get right into the fun of branching and fledging! Adults are perfect for the impatient RPers of Gaia who want to get going right away, and they're also handy for the budget-conscious Gaian as they cost less. Flatsale methods will vary by sale, read the current flatsale rules (usually posted in the thread and/or in the Guild) for details.
Pricing: 5K per Adult, 7K per Fledgling, and 10K per Egg. Feather dye/accessories/Companions are available (within reason), at flatsale pricing.
There are no scheduled flatsales at this time.

Prompted Sales
While we don't require all of our Sentinel owners to RP, we definitely like to see it! As such, we will offer RP- or character-prompted sales from time to time. The Sentinels offered in these sales will be a bit more special than those normally available in a flatsale. They may be Aberrants, they may have fancy feather dye and accessories, they may come with an uncommon or rare companions.. or they may even give a person the opportunity to earn a Sentinel from a specialist or restricted profession.
Pricing: Will vary from sale to sale, from anywhere between FREE to 25k. Additional modifications to prompted sales are not encouraged, but we may do it (at our discretion) for an added fee.
There are no scheduled RP prompts at this time.

Auctions
This is one way we will be offering one-of-a-kind Sentinels. Most custom lineart slots will be offered via auction as well. Non-RPable fandom Sentinels will also find their ways into auctions, for special events. Most auctions will run for at least 24 hours and will occur in conjunction with events. Some auctions may run for as long as a week, but we're impatient so that's unlikely.
Auctions begin at 5K and have a 1K minimum bid increment; auto-buy amounts may or may not be implemented. A ten minute anti-snipe guard will be in effect. Post your bid along with the required bid form (posted with the auction terms). Items are valued at 90% of tektek - donation letters/items and rare event items only please. Payment due within 24 hours or the Sentinel up for grabs goes to the next highest bidder.
There are no scheduled auctions at this time.

Raffles
Freebie raffles will be based on thread or RP participation. Every non-fluff post within a given range of pages or within a specific RP will be considered as a ticket in the raffle. The winner(s) will be drawn by first randomizing for the number of pages, and then for the entries on the page. If the drawn entry is considered to be a fluff post, or belongs to a person who is otherwise ineligible for the raffle, then we will re-draw the raffle from that page.
Paid raffles will be run with tickets costing 100 gold apiece.
Pricing: Raffled Sentinels or Companions are offered at no cost, as-is. Customization will be permitted (in some cases) at flatsale prices.
There are no scheduled raffles at this time.

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BABIES EVERYWHERE!
Yay, new hatchlings and fledglings!
Hatchlings are now available on five sets of lineart (neutral, happy, sad, hungry, angry). Fledglings are available in eight sets (neutral, happy, sad, hungry, angry, eager, athletic, and clumsy) The neutral lineart is the most common and will be used in the bulk of the breedings that occur in Noctua. Notable exceptions to this rule are breedings that are earned through bribe/pet trade/special events. RP-earned breedings may show a higher incidence of the alternate lines, as well.


PLEASE READ. This is important. Seriously.
If your cert has a growth indicator on it, please look for Growings - Pick-Ups in the Services subforum of the Guild. If your growing is not available, then we need information from you. Please post the required information in the 'Name your Sentinel' or 'Graduate your Fledgling' threads. If you have specific growth requests then please post them in the 'Growings - Requests' thread.

We'd also like to make note of a minor change to how post-growing requests will be handled. Put simply, we need to amend the manner in which we do things to prevent ourselves from being bogged down by extra (and needless) work. There is a reason why requests for changes to your growing Sentinel (feather dye, companions, accessories, expression edits, etc.) should be sent in before your Sentinel grows. If we are asked to make changes after the fact then we are doing twice the work. That means you will pay twice the fee, and you will have to wait for a slot. Changes to already-grown Sentinels will be rated at the lowest priority so PLEASE get your growing change requests in on time! As always, we will be as flexible as possible. However, given that growth warnings are posted on the cert, in the news, and often in the thread title AND we give at least a two-week grace period to send in your requests there is little excuse for missing your opportunity to send in growth customization requests.

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Egg.
After it is laid, the egg is tenderly placed within its soft, colour-coordinated bedding. Now the expectant parents (or Minder) get to brood it until it hatches! At least they don't usually have to wonder what gender the hatchling will be - Sentinels are remarkably good at predicting such things. This is probably the most exciting age for your Sentinel, but you'll never know it because all the action is going on beneath that thick shell. Sucks, huh?
RP: No.
Talk: No.
Fly: No.
Will: No.
Companions: No. *deadpan*
Feather Dye/Accessories: ...
Time: 1-3 weeks
Growth warning: Crack on shell
PLEASE NOTE that eggs do not hatch until they are named and sexed. If an undue period of time (usually more than a week or two) has passed without your input then the egg may either be considered as 'Dead in Shell' or given to a dedicated thread-goer, at our discretion.

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Hatchling.
These adorable tiny balls of fluff are kinda like cutely peeping bottomless pits. Ask the harried parents of a hatchling how they are, and if they stop long enough to answer you then they probably only had one hatchling to care for! Tiny as they are, the little fluffs eat constantly when they are awake (and they only sleep for a half-hour at a time!). The baby Sentinels don't really do anything other than eat, sleep, and look cute.
RP: No.
Talk: No.
Fly: No.
Will: Rarely, 99% of such gifted hatchlings are 'adopted' by Mystics if it manifests this early.
Companions: No.
Feather Dye/Accessories: No.
Time: 1-3 weeks
Growth warning: Feather in beak
Lineart: Five sets (neutral, happy, sad, hungry, angry). The neutral lineart is the most common and will be used in the bulk of the breedings that occur in Noctua. Notable exceptions to this rule are breedings that are earned through bribe/pet trade/special events. RP-earned breedings may show a higher incidence of the alternate lines, as well.

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Fledgling.
Woo! They can fly! (Sorta.) Now the youngsters have their flight feathers and their near-adult plumage, and they're ready to go. Well, not quite yet.. they still kinda suck at flying. And they've only just begun to properly develop their telekinesis, even if they can speak perfectly well at this age. The parents thought they were getting off easy when their offspring finally stopped stuffing its face every minute of every day, but NOW they've got their talons full with a much more mobile child who is eager to explore everything. Everything. And since they aren't very good at flying, these exciteable youngsters are in near-constant danger of tumbling to the forest floor.
This is the age at which young Sentinels will go off to a Teacher, or to apprentice with another profession, or will just run about acting like an idiot. And they get to enjoy this relatively responsibility-free time of their life for between four weeks to half a year before they graduate and become an adult Sentinel. By default we will be growing on a three-month schedule, but you may request an earlier growth and circumstances may lead to a later growth.
RP: Yes.
Talk: Yes.
Fly: Yes, but poorly.
Will: Beginning to develop.
Companions: Only one common
Feather Dye/Accessories: Limited and expensive
Time: 4-24 weeks
Growth warning: Glowing feather
PLEASE NOTE that fledglings are grown into the lineart that matches their hatchling stage with no modifications. When graduating, there is a chance to choose different lineart for the adult stage if your request is sent in promptly, failrure to do so means that your fledgling will grow into the 'matching' adult lineart. All un-assigned fledglings will be given the task of Watcher, if an alternate task is not provided. Re-certing fees will apply to make changes.

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Adult.
Ah, the joys of adult-hood. Now the Sentinel is a fully-fledged member of society, with all the rights and responsibilities that implies. A Sentinel has, at the very least, taken on the profession of Watcher by this stage, although many choose to perform a specific task for the clan. The graduation ceremony in which a young fledgling becomes a Sentinel is a solemn affair, usually performed by the local Warden.
It will be several months before an adult is considered mature enough to produce offspring of its own (at least one month from his or her graduation, sometimes longer). During this time an adult Sentinel might busy itself with its work, securing a better territory, trying to find the perfect mate, or other such things.
An Elder stage may be available, earned through dedicated RP.
RP: Yes.
Talk: Yes.
Fly: Yes.
Will: Fully developed.
Companions: Yes.
Feather Dye/Accessories: Yes.
Time: ???
Growth warning: ???


Please Note:
The growth of the Sentinels is not RP-based at all, and there is no RP requirement to maintain ownership of your Sentinel after it has been purchased. The only RP requirement is for Breeding, as explained in post 1-13... although it is rumoured that additional growth stages may exist for heavily-RPed Sentinels! Only time will tell.

Growth of the Sentinels is time-based, and proceeds on a semi-fixed schedule (this schedule may be subject to change pending user input and trial and error!). When the growth warning appears on your Sentinel's cert you have a few days to post any specific growth requests you may have in the Growings Requests thread in the Services subforum of the Guild. After that time period has elapsed, your Sentinel will be grown into the standard lines without any modifications; there will be a re-certing fee and a slot system in place to handle changes requested after that point. Some exceptions will be made for extenuating circumstances, of course.

Since we are following a pseudo-realistic worldview, it is not possible to have your Sentinel remain fixed at the fledgling stage. Instead, once your fledgling has been grown into the adult lineart you may choose to RP him or her as a fledgling for another month. After that point your fledgling must choose a task and join Sentinel society. For that reason we have decided to have relatively short egg and hatchling stages and an extended fledgling stage - this gives you up to half a year to RP your fledgling, which should be plenty of time!


Alternate Lineart
We currently have five adult lineart options available (2 male, 2 female, 1 unisex); it is possible to have your fledgling grown into alternate lineart by request, for an additional fee. If your adult is already completed on the base lineart it is possible to purchase him or her on the alternate lineart as well, PM the mule for details.

It's very likely that more lineart options will be opened up as time progresses - some lineart options will be task-specific and/or RP-required! We haven't worked out all the details, let alone drawn all the lineart, but we plan to sneak little updates in here and there so it's definitely in your best interests to keep an eye on the first and second pages of the shop thread.

You may see additional variations on the lineart throughout Noctua (for example, female alternate with wing out). These edited lines are typically only available through special events or auctions, and cannot be acquired through normal customs or growings. If you'd like to know what the status of a particular piece of lineart is then please PM the Ranger to ask!

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User ImageThere are five major types within the Sentinels, and many other minor types that are common enough to have earned names, all of which show noticeable differences in base colours and patterns. There's an awful lot of variety present even among these base types, mind you. A Wildtype could have rich russet feathers, or pale brown feathers that are almost grey. His or her belly can vary in colour from pale off-white to a rich deep cream - and that's just one example. Some Mist Sentinels are so dark as to almost be considered a Ghost (were it not for the obvious pattern difference) while others are so pale as to almost be mistaken for an Albino.

Genetic anomalies such as Albinism, Hypermelanism, Leucism, and many more have occurred in the past, but are exceedingly rare among the Sentinel population. These genetic mishaps are largely considered to be freakish and unnatural. ((This means that these sorts of mutations will only occur through breedings, and will be extremely uncommon even then.))

Traits, however, are not genetic anomalies. They're not terribly common, but they are common enough that Sentinels bearing a visible trait are not subject to any social stigma - in fact, many traits are considered to be quite physically attractive! For more information on traits, please go here.


Wildtype
This is the most common type found within the Sentinels, and also one of the healthiest and biggest. Wildtypes may not be as flashy as some of the other Sentinels, but the strength of the type is indisputed. The vast majority of successful Hunters, Rangers, and Elites can trace their ancestry through the Wildtype bloodline.

Deep Woods
Darker than the Wildtype, this colour type is thought to come from the centre of the Forest. Deep Woods Sentinels are a little bit smaller than their Wildtype cousins, in general, but are far more skilled at precision flight in thickly-wooded areas. They make excellent Scouts and Rangers, and many of the best warriors in the Great Wars were from the Deep Woods.

Ghost
It's thought that the Ghost type came about through the union of those from Cold and Not Cold. While the Ghost bloodline may have been considered as little more than an Aberrant in the past, it has become established as a successful (and strong!) type in its own right. Ghosts show some of the most extreme colour variation within the type, with feather colours ranging from a warm granite to a cold slate grey

Mist
The lightest of the Sentinels, those of the Mist are from the Cold regions of Noctua. Mist Sentinels tend to look much larger than they actually are, as they have a thicker down layer and more feathers than other Sentinels. Some might say that the Mists tend to be a bit more snooty and full of themselves than the other Sentinel types, but then those who say that are probably just jealous.

Shadow
The darkest of the Sentinels, Shadows are from the Not Cold regions of Noctua. Shadows are among the most sleek and elegant of the Sentinels, with closely-held and well-groomed feathers. They don't tolerate the northern reaches well at all, and prefer (moreso than other types) to stay in dark, densely-wooded areas.


As mentioned above, the majority of the Sentinels within Noctua are a member of one of the five major types. At least 75% of the general population is composed of a visible majority, in fact! The remaining Sentinels fall into one of three main categorys: Minor Type, Mixed-breed Aberrant, and Genetic Aberrant. The minor types and mixed-types are roughly even in population proportion, however the amount of mixed-types in Sentinel society is increasing as the stigma of being in a cross-type pairing has relaxed somewhat in recent years. The Genetic Aberrants make up the smallest portion of the population, and are generally regarded as undesireable freaks.


Minor Type
Traditionally, anything that was not one of the five major types was classified as an aberrant... however, this designation is not entirely accurate. Some 'aberrants' can more accurately be described as types in their own right, and are viewed by other Sentinels not as freaks or outcasts but rather as a visible minority. Since the gene pool is smaller and cross-type mating is rare, there is not as much visible variation among some of the smaller minor types. All minor types are based on an existing Strigidae owl species, and 'creation' of new minor types is subject to admin approval.
For more information about the minor types, please go here.

Aberrant (Mix)
Put simply, a mixed-type aberrant is a cross between two types. While most Sentinels (especially the older ones) will look at the pure base colour types as being 'superior' to mixed aberrants, this attitude is not universally held. Certainly, some of the bloodlines (most especially the Wildtype) show a consistently increased amount of vigor compared to the others and aberrants. It is possible for aberrants to show hybrid vigor themselves, or they may be noticeably weak and sickly - it's difficult to tell from one egg to the next.

Aberrant (Genetic)
These aberrants are marked by genetic deformities, such as albinism, piebald markings, leucism, or other defects. Most right-minded Sentinels fear these freaks, and do not understand that genetic defects are not contagious.

For more information on Aberrants go here!

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Since the Forest of Noctua is set in a pseudo-realistic world, the Sentinels and all other creatures within that world tend to follow the laws of nature. This means that they aren’t born with metallic blue feathers or crazy neon green highlights. This ALSO means that we will quite happily refuse to do custom colour orders that we feel are outside the bounds of what is acceptable in Noctua. We are willing to discuss colour options, but the final word in any such discussion is that of the artist - and if the artist says that it can't be done, then it can't.

However, you’ll be pleased to learn that (just like any bird) the Sentinels are prone to a bit of vanity, and have developed the necessary 'technology' to dye their feathers. This is an expensive process, so full-body dye jobs are extremely rare. Most Sentinels opt for simple highlights, to help them stand out from the crowd. Chosen dye-jobs must be suitable for a Sentinel's profession-- being bright orange will not help a Hunter who is trying to camouflage while out looking for prey!

Here is a simple illustration to demonstrate the difference between the natural feather colours and pattern, and a Sentinel who has dyed his feathers.

Feather Dye:
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As you can see, there is a big difference between the natural colour of the feather and feather dyes. All natural markings must follow the basic plumage patterns that the Sentinels possess. Anything else (star shapes, stripes where there are none, etc.) are the result of feather dye. Dye is for adults (in most cases) and cannot show gradations of colours or other complex details without becoming extremely expensive. If we decide that your custom colour request is a dye job, then it is a dye job. Please don't argue with the artist about this, it's rude and it suggests that you know more about the lineart and the world than the artist does.

Dye jobs that are not terribly bright and unnatural in colour are much less expensive - prices for metallic or bright colours are at least doubled.

Common Colours:
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Rare Colours:
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Common Dye Patterns:
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Accent - Natural Pattern
Following existing patterns (such as wing bars) is easier, and cheaper, for the feather dye artisans.

Accent - Unnatural Pattern
Simple patterened dye jobs are extremely popular, and are often used to accentuate a particular trait of the Sentinel - an especially warmongering Sentinel might choose a frightening pattern.

Tattoo
Any large area of feathers can be decorated with a decorative pattern. More complicated images take more dye and time, and therefore cost more. The primaries are not a suitable area for a complicated tattoo, unless you are content to have it look like random splotches of colour 90% of the time.
PLEASE NOTE: Tattoos involving the spots on the chest may not always be appropriate. The chest-spots are actually an indicator of gender - boys have one row, girls have two - and if a Sentinel alters these spots in any major way then it is usually assumed that they have an atypical gender preference. Something to keep in mind for your character, if you choose such a dye job!

Large Area
Covering this many feathers with dye is expensive, to say the least! The price rises with complexity and a failure to follow the natural patterns of the feathers.

Full Body
Only the most well-to-do of the Sentinels can afford the expense of a full-body dye job, as they frequently disregard the natural pattern of the feathers.

It is also possible for the Mystics to force a colour change in Sentinel eyes, a service that can be purchased from them. HOWEVER, Mystics will not provide odd-eye colour changes to any Sentinel who performs a task that is deemed to be combative or essential. Odd-eyes are only appropriate for Bards and Artisans at the present time. Nor will any self-respecting Mystic perform an eye colour change for a hatchling or fledgling - they need to learn how to use their eyes properly BEFORE they get colour-changed.

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User ImageThe same vanity that led to the development of feather dyes has also prompted a thriving trade in accessories. Some of these items are very practical in nature (carrying sacs, eye protectors, and the like) while others are purely decorative (anklets, necklaces, etc.). Since Sentinels do not live on the ground, let alone mine beneath it for metal, many of these items are relatively rare and expensive. The materials used in the accessories are generally limited to whatever would have been available in medieval times.

Basic Accessories - 10K
These sorts of trinkets are pretty, shiny, simple, and mass-produced. They have to be fit to an individual Sentinel, of course, but that's just a minor adjustment and therefore doesn't cost too much. Most of these accessories are available in three different metals - gold, silver, and copper - but some rarer examples of them have been seen, crudely wrought in dull iron. Gemstones can be found in any colour under the sun, and may be facetted or tumbled before they are fitted to the piece.
The spiral motif, in particular, is extremely popular among the Sentinels.

Of course, these aren't the only accessories that the Sentinels have. There are many other commonly-available designs.. but we don't have pictures for them yet. Why not? Well, nobody has asked for them! So here's how this works - if you want a design that isn't already shown here, and you don't need that design to be 100% unique, AND we think that the design will be popular enough to merit mass-production, then you can get your new accessory for the same price as a basic accessory!

Task-specific Accessories - Price varies
These accessories are a bit different, in that they are usually only desired by members of a certain task. They come in two varieties - emblematic, and practical.

Emblematic:
The Bard's Chime is an example of an emblematic accessory. This is a symbol of sorts, adopted by the profession in general. If Sentinels were like humans and had guild halls, this symbol is what they would hang over the door. An individual's design or favourite shape is NOT an emblematic accessory.

Practical:
The Gatherer's Pack is an example of a practical accessory. These items are designed with both aesthetics and utility in mind, and are usually best-suited for a specific profession. Of course, a Crafter might find a pack similar to the Gatherer's pack to be quite useful for collecting rocks and minerals. Bard's Bells, of course, aren't quite as useful for anyone else.. unless a Minder means to tie them to a wayward fledgling.

Each accessory is specifically tailored for the Sentinel who has commissioned it, and must be adjusted to fit perfectly. Ill-adjusted pieces will cause a Sentinel to have difficulties in flying and performing day-to-day activities. This requirement for precision crafting means that it is extremely rare for fledgling Sentinels to wear any fitted jewellry at all - the expense of re-fitting a piece every week as the youngster grows would be ridiculously high. Accessories with an adjustable leather thong are acceptable, however.

Pricing for basic accessories will begin at 10K base and can go to well over 100K if you want to get uber-fancy. Custom lines and designs are available, PM with questions. This fee is in addition to the Sentinel's price. NOTE: If you want to save money, then get the accessories at the same time as the Sentinel or at any point before he/she has grown to the adult stage. There will be a re-certing fee if you decide to add accessories at a later date. PM for details!

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Nature is a wondrous thing, full of many amazing creatures in many amazing shapes and colours. The funny thing about nature, though, is that most members of a species tend to look fairly similar to each other – which is why all of the Sentinels of Noctua follow a similar template. We all know that’s kinda boring though (hey, you can’t expect Nature to get everything right on the first try) so in response to that problem we are offering all sorts of awesome options whenever we have the time. If you feel a need to break out of the mould and go with something amazing and different, you’ve come to the right place!

If you're interested in RL customs, go here to check for pricing and availability.

Custom slots are currently CLOSED.

Custom Colour:
Owner: (You, or a friend if you're generous. Must be a Gaia username)
Name: (Must follow rules, we reserve the right to reject unsuitable names)
Gender: (Male or Female)
Age: (Adult or all four stages only)
Hatch Date: (For the cert, day/month is all that is needed for Adults)
Profession: (Note - Feather Dye/Custom Colour choices must suit profession)
Base Color Type: (Must be one of the five base types, eg. Wildtype, Mist, etc., a Minor Type, or an Aberrant*)
Lineart: (Base or Alternate, Black or Coloured)
Line Edits: (May not be possible/available, PM the mule if you are not sure)
Detailed Marking Description: (Anything specific that differentiates the Sentinel from the base colour type)
Eyes: (Gold is normal Sentinel colour, anything else costs more)
Beak: (Usually matches base colour type)
Talons: (Usually matches base colour type)
Accessories: (Be specific!)
Companion: (Including colour details of Companion if you want one or more)
References: (Links to any images you think may be helpful)

Please note: We like creative license! So the less picky you are about specific markings, etc., the more likely it is that we'll 'play' with the design and do something that is more than worth the gold spent.

* If you would like to have a Minor Type or an Aberrant Sentinel then you must have your request approved. Minor types are all based on a true owl (family Strigidae). Mixed-type aberrants must be described as a first-generation crossbreed. No Tyto owls at all, sorry. And no, you can't have an Aberrant who looks like a Peregrine Falcon or a Tiger (but you can have a normal type with feather dye to make them look like a tiger!).

Ballpark pricing is available by posting your form in the wishlist thread in the guild. Please post your form there and we will update your post with an approximate quote. You can also check the Pricing post below to get an idea of the minimum you could expect to pay.

Want to show us the sort of thing you want to see in your custom Sentinel? This image can be used to rough out concepts for yourself, and also to show us the sort of thing you'd like to see on your custom Sentinel.
Please work with this lineart ONLY. Do not take other people's Sentinels and colour over them, do not modify or work with any of the official images.

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A Companion is to a Sentinel what a dog, horse, or chicken is to a human. They're pets, working animals, and food. A companion has been specifically bred to serve a purpose - it is not found in the wild. For full details about the companions (and mandatory information if you plan to RP in our world) please read the companions thread in the Guild.

A few notes on companions:
- there is no such thing as a 'wild' companion, these are domesticated animals
- in general, we will dye your companion to match your Sentinel (other colours by request)
- companions are capable of speech, but will never be as fluent as a Sentinel
- companions are intelligent, but are not as intelligent as even the stupidest Sentinel
- a companion is not meant to be a character, it is a tool that your Sentinel uses
- you may buy an available companion at any time; a re-certing fee may apply
- PM the mule with any companion-related questions

User Image Common Companions:
The common companions (the Mus in particular) have been selectively bred over many generations, and have reached the pinnacle of intelligence and utility for the Sentinels. Almost every profession can make use of at least one of the common companions, which makes them indispensable to many Sentinels.
Pricing: 2-10K, depending on pose and colouring.
Availability: Open to anyone, anytime.
Limitations: None, within reason.

Mus
These little companions are among the most popular, and the most delicious. Small and mouselike (while being notably larger and smarter than their non-Companion relatives) they are used for a wide variety of tasks. Their special talents lie in collecting the various non-meat foodstuffs that Sentinels enjoy.

Chirop
These endearing and unique flying mammals are a little bit rarer than most commons, if only because the keeping of a colony of Chirops is complicated. The smartest and most vocal of the Chirops are often used to carry messages. Please note that Chirops are not used as messengers because of their speed, since any Sentinel (or Parus) could easily out-fly them. Rather, Chirops are popular as messengers because most predators don't bother wasting too much energy to catch the scrawny things!

Parus
These adorable little songbird Companions are kept just as often for appearances and their delightful song as they are for the services they can render. They may not be among the best speakers, but they more than make up for it with their song.


Uncommon Companions:
These guys haven’t become quite as widespread and popular as the common companions, and there’s generally a good reason for that. Whatever the reason, these guys aren’t seen around Noctua nearly as often as the common companions.
Pricing: Uncommon companions cost anywhere between 25-150K, with the price varying based on the companion (Waral> Alcyon > Skurri) and how well the companion has been justified.
Availability: Restricted. You must explain why your Sentinel would have an uncommon companion. We may also 'close' certain companions temporarily if there are too many of them out and about in Noctua.
Limitations: There is a maximum of two uncommon companions per Sentinel, with some exceptions.

Alcyon
These beautiful companions are hunters in the water, diving below the surface to capture fish, frogs, insects, and anything else they can grab in their beak. The Alcyon are not companions that are taken for show or convenience. Some Alcyon are known to be extremely intractable, and they may attempt to escape.
Note: An Alcyon can hurt a Sentinel with its beak, which is why it is restricted.
Preferred by: Hunters (fish)
See the Guild for current availability.

Skurri
Much like their normal squirrel cousins, the Skurri have great big bushy tails and are extremely agile climbers. Skurri are the most preyed-upon variety of companion, which is the main reason they are less common.
Preferred by: Gatherers (nuts, mushrooms, seeds)
See the Guild for current availability.

Waral
These tree monitor-like companions are deceptively intelligent, temperamental, and fierce. The Waral have been kept as companions for a long time, but since they have such a long lifespan there have only been a few generations of Waral in the Keeper records.
Note: A Waral can hurt a Sentinel with its tail, which is why it is restricted.
Preferred by: Gatherers (eggs), Hunters (small mammals, reptiles)
See the Guild for current availability.


Rare Companions:
These guys are rare for a very good reason – they are predators, especially of other companions, and can even harm or kill a Sentinel.
Pricing: Rare companions cost anywhere between 50-250K, with the price varying based on the companion (Martes > Lani > Serpe) and how well the companion has been justified.
Availability: Restricted, limited release. Rares are not always available, and when they are you must explain why your Sentinel would be permitted to have an rare companion.
Limitations: There is a limit of one rare companion per Sentinel.
Slots: See the Guild for current availability.

Martes
A Martes is a good choice for a solitary Sentinel, as they are extremely self-sufficient and can supplement a Sentinel’s larder with both meat and typical Gatherer fare. They are quite capable of doing all the hunting for a Sentinel and themselves, if the territory is rich enough.
Note: A Martes can easily kill a hatchling and even a fledgling, and will eat Sentinel eggs, which is why it is restricted.
Preferred by: Gatherers (eggs, honey, berries), Hunters (small mammals, Mus, Skurri)
See the Guild for current availability.

Serpe
These companions are rare for more than just their predatory nature – many Sentinels just plain-out find them creepy and disturbing. And when one can use a prettier companion to do the same job, well, why choose the snake? Still, the Serpe have found their own little niche in Sentinel society; they are popular among the Apothecaries, in particular.
Note: A venomous Serpe can easily kill even an adult Sentinel, and the larger constrictors are just as deadly - that is why it is restricted.
Preferred by: Apothecaries (venom), Hunters/Crafters (birds/feathers)
See the Guild for current availability.

Lani
Lani are quite intelligent, but you’d never know it by how they speak (or don’t speak, rather). They are birds of action, always on the lookout for unwary prey – even if their hunting style isn’t terribly exciting. You can always tell if a Sentinel has a Lani, since they live in the middle of nowhere and have a thorn tree in their territory.
Note: A Lani can kill a hatchling and cause serious harm to a fledgling, it will even attack adults if they enter the Lani's territory - that is why it is restricted.
Preferred by: Combative Professions
See the Guild for current availability.

Special Companions:
These companions are only available to members of a certain profession, as they are specifically bred to suit the needs of that group.
Pricing: Varies, usually follows the rare pricing.
Availability: Task-specific and restricted. These companions are only made available to members of the specified profession. Even then, the companion must be properly justified.
Limitations: There is a limit of one special companion per Sentinel, no exceptions.

Volan
The Volan are very new, very strange, and very rare. Nobody but a Keeper will ever have a Volan, and only a scant few Keepers have them as it is. The breeding program for these odd little critters has just begun, so there's not much to say about them at the moment - other than the fact that they are delicious.
Note: Volan do not speak, with rare exceptions.
Task: Keepers

Pica
The Pica are quite intelligent and capable of speech, and they tend to use their speech ability to its full extent. They can also be among the most willful and stubborn of companions, and aren’t so much ‘used’ as ‘coaxed’.
Note: Don't ask us if you can have a Pica, we'll tell you if your character has been chosen.
Task: Mystic, a few other chosen Sentinels

Lepus
Smart, fast, aggressive, independent… these hare-like companions are like ground-bound Elites in their own right! The Lepus have been bred and trained over many generations to work below the Elites, literally, covering ground while the Elites patrol the forest. All Lepus are extremely intelligent and fully-capable of speech, but they are creatures of few words.
Note: It is against Sentinel law to kill a Lepus.
Task: Elite

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User ImageBreeding slots are currently CLOSED as the rules for breeding are being revised somewhat. Stay tuned!

Sentinels are monogamous, or at least they try to be - in most cases, a pairing is only disrupted by the death of one partner. Other circumstances may affect a pairing on rare occasions, but the clan is strongly against such things and the Sentinel(s) involved often find themselves ostracized.

Flings do occur, however, before a Sentinel has settled down with a mate. And, on occasion, these flings result in a few eggs. Sentinel society is well-adapted to this particular situation, fortunately. The fling-caused eggs are promptly turned over to the care of the Minders, and then the flingees are properly chastized and strongly encouraged to find the right Sentinel. The one right Sentinel.

Same-sex pairings do occur within the clan, especially during times when there is a surplus of one gender. It is socially acceptable for a Sentinel to prefer the same gender, except when the clan needs more offspring. Same-sex pairs are held to the same moral standards as traditional pairings, and while they cannot produce offspring of their own they often take part in the rearing of chicks. Same-sex pairs can even choose to adopt an egg or hatchling that has been given over to the Minders.

Courtship is a complicated process, made even more complicated by the extreme hormonal swings and violent tendencies of the females during that time of the season. Even long-bonded pairs will go through some frightening times (at least for the male) as they prepare to create and raise a new generation of Sentinels. It's commonly considered that a more violent courtship leads to more vigorous babies, but that has not been proven.

Sentinels do not raise more than two eggs from a clutch. Raising even one child is a lot of work, and as a result most first-time or too-young mothers often keep only the one. In almost every case, any 'extra' eggs in a clutch are given it over to a Minder's care.

In order to preserve the health of the mother, as the brooding process is extremely demanding, a Sentinel will not have another clutch until the offspring from the last clutch are fully-fledged members of the clan. In fact, they will often wait until their offspring are old enough to have children of their own. It can take up to a half a year for a female Sentinel to fully recover from the brooding process.

The boring crap:
Non-RPed Breeding slots will be opened up a few times a year, during the Sentinel mating season(s). RP-supported breedings will be open year-round and will be accepted whenever the staff have the time to do them.

1 - The base price is 10k for a breeding, 5K from each owner. Non-RPed breedings cost 50k, 25k from each owner.
2 - A clutch ranges from 1-4, and the exact number, colour and gender of the offspring will be determined solely at the discretion of the shopkeepers; we cannot be bribed to include rare genetic anomalies or increase the size of the clutch. Clutch size is randomized in the breeding thread.
3 - A Sentinel must be an Adult to breed. We will not tolerate those who attempt to roleplay and/or create eggs through rape, incest, or any other inappropriate behaviours. That's against the Gaia TOS and also just plain wrong.
4 - Selling eggs is absolutely not permitted. Each owner may only retain one egg per clutch, and if we ever catch a whiff of an owner trying to sell their Sentinel's offspring for profit, or accepting bribes/pet trades for any breeding-related reason, then all parties concerned will be blacklisted and all Sentinels owned by those parties will be taken away.
5 - Both owners must agree to the pairing. This is just common sense! If needed, a procedure will be implemented for non-RP breeding permissions. For now we will rely on common sense and the relatively small size of the shop.
6 - RP-based breedings must be backed up by RP. Sentinels are not meant to be baby-makers, we are only going to allow open breedings for RP-related purposes. Sorry. Both the mother and father must have three completed roleplays in order to qualify for a breeding slot.
7 - One of the submitted RPs must support the breeding. Even if the breeding is a fling, your Sentinels need to know each other and have evidence of enough of a relationship to result in eggs.
8 - Owners must choose their eggs in a friendly and democratic manner. Any public fighting or unpleasantness will, at best, result in us choosing the eggs for you. At worst your fee may be refunded and all eggs will be given over to the Minders (aka. given to new owners).
9 - Fling breedings are subject to additional restrictions. Please see the breeding information in the guild for more details.
10 - Mated pairs get an extra egg! Any breeding from a mated pair gets a guaranteed +1 offspring in their clutch. Please see the breeding information in the guild for more details.

When you have earned an RP-based breeding please post the following form in this thread in the guild:

[b]Father[/b]:
[b]Link to Father's Cert[/b]:
[b]Link to Father's RPs[/b]:
[b]Mother[/b]:
[b]Link to Mother's Cert[/b]:
[b]Link to Mother's RPs[/b]:
[b]Link to the Pair RP[/b]:


If non-RPed breeding slots are open, please post the following form in this thread in the guild, and have the owner of the other Sentinel quote the form and agree to the pairing:

[b]Father[/b]:
[b]Link to Father's Cert[/b]:
[b]Mother[/b]:
[b]Link to Mother's Cert[/b]:

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User ImageWe've decided to keep the pricing schedules for flatsales and customs completely seperate. Why, you ask? Well, we're not going to be running flatsales to make lots and lots of gold - the point of a flatsale (in our opinion) is to allow new customers (and those with limited funds) to get a Sentinel at a reasonable price.

So for flatsales, an adult Sentinel will be sold at 5K, a fledgling at 7K, and an egg at 10K. You are able to get basic feather dye, accessories, and Companions for a flatsale Sentinel, and wherever possible we will keep the total cost lower than 25K for adults. As a general rule, flatsale prices are about 1/10th of the custom prices. Just PM the mule with what you want if you've won a flatsale, and we'll work out something fair.

Now Customs are a bit different. First off, they're only available when the artists have their custom slots open or when you manage to bribe one of them. Second, they cost more, because there is more work involved. Of course, you can also get almost anything you want (within reason).

Custom pricing works as follows:
Base price (25K for base adult, 50K for alternate adult, 100K for egg) +
Colouring (Base color + Specific or complex markings) -> (25-250K+) +
Coloured Lines (Base color + Specific or complex markings) -> (25-250K+) +
Feather Dye (Adult only) -> (10-500K+) +
Accessories (Adult only) -> (10-100K+) +
Companion (Fledgling and Adult) -> (2-100K+) +
Minor Lineart Edits (Expression) -> (50K+) +
Major Lineart Edits (Missing limb, etc.) -> (250K+) +
Addition of a trait (Eartuft, tail) -> (100K+) +

Mixed-type Aberrant Colour (Adult) -> (250K+)
Mixed-type Aberrant Colour (All stages) -> (500K+)

Minor Type Colour (Adult) -> (500K+)
Minor Type Colour (All stages) -> (750K+)

Unique Lineart (Adult) -> Not available
Unique Lineart (All stages) -> Not available

In short: A custom adult Sentinel will cost anywhere between 25K and 2.5M, depending on how fancy you want to get.
RL Customs availability and pricing can be found here.

If you are interesting in acquiring a customized Sentinel, please read the info on Customs and post it in the wishlist thread, in the guild. You can then PM the mule with your questions, and we will provide you with a quote. We require the custom form at the very minimum, and would prefer it if the RP form (found in the Guild) was also included in your quote request.

Bribes
'Official' bribes will be opened up whenever we have a bit of spare time - check back here to see the status! We won't be announcing bribe availability, since it's more a spur of the moment thing than anything else. Gold and/or items are always welcomed as bribes, just PM to see if we're interested! 'Unofficial' bribes are almost always open, but if we're too busy and the offer isn't good enough then we won't take you up on it.

There are certain items that are of particular interest, and if you were to offer one of those on top of the normal custom pricing, well, let's just say that your chances would be pretty good. Obviously, larger bribes would be required to open a custom line slot. Breedings are also available via bribe - these do not have a roleplay requirement!
Current considered bribe items:
Zombie G CORP Shirt
Human G CORP Labcoat
Zombie G CORP Labcoat
Chain Wallet
Ancient Naginata
Mercury's Moon
Warmth of Apollo
Angelic Sash
Black Bow Tie

Bribe Slots are currently CLOSED.

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Do I direct-link to my cert?
YES. We have a very good webhost, so you don't have to worry about your image being unavailable. In addition, we will modifiy the cert to indicate growths - so you need to link to our hosted image if you want to see that! Once growth is complete you can use your own hosted image, but we will host certs indefinitely.

Who do I PM if I have a question?
General shop question - Ranger of Noctua
RP-related question - Herald of Noctua
Event-related question - Peddler of Noctua
You can always feel free to PM Slander or Jaeger if you need to, but it's best to keep stuff shop-side for the most part.


On getting a Sentinel:

OHSHI I WANT ONE OMGOMGOMG!!!!111
That's not a question.

Ahem. I, er, I'd really like an owl, please.
Still not a question! And we call them Sentinels here, since they're more than just owls. biggrin

Okay, can I have a Sentinel?
Yes indeed, you can certainly buy one! If there are any available or if the artist is currently taking bribes or custom orders.

When are they available, then?
Flatsales and events will be held every so often as supply and demand dictates. Bribes are usually open (unless we're too busy) and RL custom slots may be available (check the first page to see), but you have to PM the mule and ask nicely!

Can't I just have one now?
Didn't your mum ever teach you about the virtue of patience? Or how about an economics class teaching you about the dangers of flooding the marketplace?

Can I have one for free?
No. Everyone else had to pay for or earn theirs, so it wouldn't be fair to them to give you one for free.

How come so-and-so has so many Sentinels? That's not fair!
Yes it is. We don't limit the number of Sentinels you can own (although it may get harder to win Sentinels if you already have a lot of'em!) so if a person has a lot of Sentinels it's because they've paid for them, won them, or somehow earned them. We don't want to hear people whining in-thread about this sort of thing, so please don't start. We will always make an effort to have newbie flatsales, and if you look back at our past events you'll notice that we always have a high proportion of first-time winners in the mix.

Can I pay you with like.. real money?
Possibly! RL Customs availability and pricing can be found here.


On Sentinels:

Can I skip the egg stage and go right to adult?
Sure! We will offer flat sales of adults as one of our most common means of distributing Sentinels. Most customs will be done for adults only, as well, as the four-stage customs are more expensive. We also offer RP-prompt flat sales and other such perks for players.

How do you determine what lines are going to be used for a hatchling?
Most of the time, breedings will be done onto the 'neutral' line set - the other lines (happy, sad, angry, hungry) are more rare and will, for the most part, be obtained through special events, bribes, and RP-earned breedings. For example, if the parents in an RP-earned breeding are very happy-go-lucky folk, then we will probably throw at least one 'happy' hatchling into the mix.

How do I make sure that my egg hatches into a specific lineart set?
The only way to be absolutely certain of the lines you will get for your hatchling is to bribe or pet trade for the breeding. If you obtain a breeding through either of those methods then you get full control over the lines and genders of the offspring.

Will hatchlings inherit their parents eye colour or would the parents have to take their little ones to a mystic?
There's a chance that the eye colour would be inherited, yes! The Mystic eye colour change is strange and.. mystical. And it seems to somehow transcend the bounds of genetics (don't ask us how) in some cases. The colour isn't inherited consistently - it may be passed down in part, in full, or not at all until a later generation! - but it is inheritable.

How about feather dye, would that be inherited too?
Not reeeaaaally. It's dye. Dye is not strange and mystical, nor does it somehow transcend the bounds of genetics. It's just dye. However! Some parents like to 'mark' their offspring, to match them - so there's a chance that little bits of feather dye will be seen here and there. What this means is that eggs won't be dyed, hatchlings may have a little bit of dye, and fledglings will have even more.

Fine, then what about a minor type pattern, aberrants, or patterns in general? Are they inherited?
That would definitely be inherited! The hatchlings will look like a mix between the two parents, so if one parent is a Ghost and the other is a minor type with a striking pattern then the offspring will look like a mix of the two. Mixed type aberrants are treated the same way, but onces the generations start to pile up the offspring tend to look more like a base type again.

What about genetic defects? I see an Albino in there, and that little Piebald one - is that genetic too?
Yes, but a Piebald Sentinel won't necessarily have Piebald children. Same goes for albinism, and any other genetic anomalies that we decide to throw in. See, most of these sort of defects are recessive in nature, which means that both parents need to be carrying the gene for anything to show up. Slander is a geek for genetics, so that sort of thing will be fairly realistic. Which means it'll be just as rare in Sentinels as it is in humans.

How about those traits? I see some curly tufts, and some funky forked tails - how are those inherited?
Traits are inherited independently of the colouring, and are subject to their own genetics. What this means is that traits are rolled for by the colourists, and may or may not be passed down due to heredity and chance.

And coloured lines? How are those passed down?
If both parents have coloured lines, then the offspring will have coloured lines. If both parents have black lines, then the offspring will have black lines. And if one parent has coloured lines and the other has black lines, then approximately 50% of the offspring will have coloured lines.


On Companions:

I know that slots aren't open, but I really really want a rare Companion. Can I have one?
No.

Can I have a new type of Companion?
Nope! Sorry, but this is all of'em for now.

Can I have custom lineart for my Companion?
...probably not. But it's totally up to Jaeger and Slander, and you'd have to bribe us a lot. See, we don't like drawing the Companions as much. And some of them we like less than others, so if you want a re-draw of our least favourite Companion then you'll have to make it worth our time. Sorry!

What if I want to have a Parus who is really good at talking?
Who said that you can't? Please note that the 'Speech ability' is provided as a species average, and is not set in stone. There will always be individuals who fall outside of the normal range, and we will accept almost anything within reason. Still, please message us to ask if you would like for your Parus to be able to recite poetry (Hint: your Parus can't recite poetry). smile

Can my Sentinel eat someone else's Companion?
Probably not. Unless you've made a agreement with that person, we won't be allowing any character deaths for Sentinels or Companions. To prevent any potential confusion, we ask that any pre-arranged deaths be PM'd to the mule (by all involved parties!) so that we don't step in and try to stop something that's supposed to happen. Deal?

Can my Companion eat someone else's Companion?
See above.

How long do they live?
It depends on the companion. Some, like the Serpe and the Waral, can be quite long-lived; a Waral may even outlive its Sentinel. Others, like the Mus, live for a much shorter time. For the sake of RP, we're not going to enforce any sort of aging upon the companions (unless you'd like to do it for plot purposes). So their lifespan is about as relevant as the Sentinel's lifespan; that is, not at all.

Who takes care of them when they are sick?
For the most part, nobody. It's important to keep in mind that most companions are relatively easy to replace. Sentinels will take a far more practical approach to a sick companion, much like the perspective of a farmer and his livestock. If it is easy to fix and the companion is important for some reason, then the Sentinel might take it to a Keeper or a Medic for care. Otherwise.. well, guess what's on the menu for dinner!

What happens when a companion is too old to do its job?
Dinnertime! Some Sentinels might choose to keep them around, for sentimental reasons, but most of'em wouldn't bother. Some particularly useful companions might be re-homed to the Keepers, to serve as studs/baby factories until they die of old age or over-breeding.

Can Sentinels look at a companion and tell if they're male/female (if they actually care)?
Unless you're a Keeper, you probably don't care too much. For sake of argument we'll say that the Keepers have their ways to know the gender of their charges (especially in the case of the avians and reptiles, where it can be very hard to tell). But unless you see testicles or the companion has an obviously male or female name, most Sentinels wouldn't be able to tell the difference.


On roleplay:

Where can I roleplay?
Official RP should take place in the Guild. Casual, unofficial RP can be done in-thread. Some individuals may prefer to RP over instant messengers - this is fine, but if you want your RP to be considered as 'official' for the purposes of breeding then you must post a log of the RP in your character journal.

Why do I have to send in a character form before I can RP? That's so lame/annoying/control-freaky/stupid!
Because we said so. Because people like reading character forms. Because we put a lot of time and effort and care into the development of this RP setting, and all the we ask for is a little bit of time and effort on your part to send in a form and have it approved.

Alright, well if I can't get one yet can I still roleplay one?
Sure, but you have to submit an RP-only character form and have it approved before you can play. There are some limitations on RP-only Sentinels; see post 2-8 for more details. You can always feel free to ask questions if you're not sure!

Why don't you have an RP thread/Guild yet?
Why, whatever could this be? Is it a Guild? Holy crap, I think it is! biggrin

Wow I have this really really cool idea for this awesome character who's like a wolf with wings and he thinks he's an owl and and and..
Er, I think you're in the wrong thread. This is where we sell and RP big giant owl-like critters named Sentinels, not winged wolves. Or other things.

So I ordered a custom Sentinel from you who looks like (insert random fandom character here) and now I want to RP him in your thread, can I?
In a word, no. Only original characters will be accepted for roleplay. Fandom Sentinels are cute and interesting, but they do not belong in this RP at all. We made a thread for that sort of RP in the guild, and nobody is using it yet - go play there.


On the Mystery Eggs:

So what, exactly, is a Mystery Egg?
It's a MYSTERY. Ah ha aha ha ahaahsadlkfjgnjsl;hgmsf. Ahem. No, seriously. It's a mystery.

What do you mean, mystery?
Well, a mystery egg could contain one of many different things. Aberrant colours, genetic anomalies, malformed freaks... who knows? It's a MYSTERY.

So what? What's the big deal, then?
Well, a mystery egg - at the very least - is an egg plus three stages of full-custom lines. That's right, FULL CUSTOM LINES. That will never be used again, ever. Completely, 100% unique. Get the idea? MYSTERY. ...sorry, just wanted to say that again.

Do I have to RP the hatchling, if I get a mystery egg?
No, you don't really have to RP anything you get from our shop (unless it's sold as an RP-required Sentinel). But if you do RP, then it's very likely that whatever hatches out of the egg will be a whole lot more interesting.

What do you mean, more interesting?
Well, we may use mystery eggs to develop the metaplot behind Noctua, for example. So winning a mystery egg gives you the opportunity to be part of the action in the world we're creating. Heck - you might even be the star.

Hey, how come my mystery egg isn't as cool as so-and-so's was?
If you're really concerned about it, then PM to chat. But the short version of the answer is that the contents of a mystery egg are determined by plot need/availability, RP commitment, and other my$teriou$ criteria that we will not divulge.

Okay, FINE. You've convinced me. How do I get one?
Mystery Eggs will be made available through auctions ONLY at this point, since there's a fair amount of work involved in'em. Jaeger will be drawing each stage just before the growings, so the lineart will reflect the character you are RPing in the Guild. But Jaeger is just that dedicated, because he's awesome. Seriously.


On other issues:

How come the fledglings and eggs are so big on the certs? They're as big as the adults!
Objects in the cert may be larger than they appear. ...Er, we mean, the certs are not size-relative from cert to cert. Objects within one cert are sized relative to each other, but objects in two different certs are not. So don't look at two certs and think that's going to tell you which Sentinel is larger than the other!

Hey, what's the deal? I gave you my custom colour adult Sentinel's full date of hatching, and you have it listed as 01/01/200? instead of putting the year in!
Well... to be fair, it doesn't really matter what year your Sentinel was born in - all that matters is that he or she is an adult, and all Sentinels sold as adults are capable of breeding. The year is important to the four-stage Sentinels, since the exact hatch date determines their ability to breed and make new baby Sentinels. We decided to keep the Hatch Date field a little different between the four-stage Sentinels and those bought as adults, so that curious people can tell the difference between those who 'found' their Sentinel and those who raised it from the egg.

Why are you so restrictive about names and colours? I want a purple Sentinel named 'Prpleburd99'-- what's the big deal?
Well, here's the thing. We like natural things. Personally, we feel that a winged cat is more attractive with colours based on nature than with eye-raping pink-on-purple paisley-- and a giant owl certainly is. If you want polka-dots and colours you can only get out of a box of crayolas, you are welcome to head off to another shop. Here, you'll have to deal with us trying to keep things reasonable. As for naming? Pretty much the same deal. In both cases, because we're not evil crazy dictators, you can have what you want, even if it's eye-blindingly bright and has a silly name. But it will cost a ruddy fortune and it won't be RPable in our world-- ever. Fair deal?

What do you mean by 'grandfathered'?
In short, we mean that certain rules that we have made after opening the store are not being retroactively applied. Since it wouldn't be fair to go back to some of our first players and change things about their characters, those people are 'grandfathered' and these new rules don't apply to them. It may not seem fair to new players, but we found that some of the rules needed to be revised and this was the best way to do it. Sorry!

Hey, can I work in your store?
Nope, not right now! We may hire some help if this idea takes off (and when/if we do we will post an ad), but right now we're doing just fine. Jaeger is the main art person, and Slander does all the boring admin stuff. And on top of that, they live together! Which makes co-owning a shop pretty easy. Staff will only complicate things at this point.

Want to be affiliates with (insert random other pet store here)?
Perhaps! Go ahead and ask, the worst that can happen is we might say 'not right now.' Please don't be offended if we don't choose to affiliate with your shop at this time, we're still working on getting comfortable with things here and don't want to leap into getting affiliates too quickly! If people get offended because we've said no then we will close affiliation, indefinitely.

Want to do a pet trade?
Pooossibly. There's no harm in asking, but we ask in return that you try not to be offended if we do not wish to do a trade at this time. If people get offended because we've said no then we will close pet trades, indefinitely.

Why does the lineart keep changing?
Well.. see, the thing is that Jaeger is bit of a perfectionist, and he's always tweaking the lines to try to get them to the point that he thinks is 'perfect'. Which means that almost every time he colours a Sentinel, he changes the lines a little. The lines will continues to change a little bit here and there until he's completely happy with the look and feel of Noctua, so don't be surprised! But don't worry; all of the old linearts are still available, if you really want them. You just have to ask.
Gaia Forums » GAIA Gaming » Mini Shops » Breedable/Changing Pets

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