Chamelins – Mysterious Shapeshifters
I'm often asked about the inspiration for the chamelins, the shapeshifting creatures that populate the world of Solace. First, the name. ‘Chamelin’ in my world is pronounced ‘sham-lin’ because I wanted the name to be a play on the word ‘chameleon,’ referring to lizards that can change their skin color, and ‘sham,’ referring to something that’s not exactly what it appears to be.
The physical appearance of the chamelins in their natural forms varies, but in general, they are larger than a human, with leathery wings similar to a bat. But their features take on the shape, color, and texture of a lizard while in this form. Their hands and feet also change into claws for defense or to help with flight—being very useful for balance in taking off and landing.
Much of the inspiration for the look of the chamelins came from the ancient stone gargoyles perched atop cathedrals across Europe. These stone guardians, with their menacing looks and protective poses, made me imagine the intimidating chamelins soaring through the air.
In the world of Solace, chamelins are found on the eastern side of the Hiterian Mountains, in the Merrow Kingdom and the Dragonfly territories. They are able to thrive in almost any climate; however, the poisonous dust in the meteor fields near the scrap towns is extremely hazardous to their fragile immune systems. For this reason, it’s very rare to see a chamelin in the far north.
The chamelins have existed in Solace for centuries, but scholars theorized they might not always have been able to shapeshift to human form. Because of their weak immune systems, chamelin numbers dwindled in ancient times, threatening extinction of the species. The few remaining communities were too small to survive on their own, so they began establishing settlements near human towns.
At first, the humans were frightened of the strange, monstrous beings, and tried to drive them out. But eventually, the two species learned to trust each other and work together, taking advantage of each other’s strengths. The chamelins, seeing how the humans thrived, over time developed the ability to shapeshift to human form, strengthening their immune systems and extending their lifespans. In this way, the species was saved. Or so the stories go. To some, the chamelins will always be creatures of myth and mystery.
The physical appearance of the chamelins in their natural forms varies, but in general, they are larger than a human, with leathery wings similar to a bat. But their features take on the shape, color, and texture of a lizard while in this form. Their hands and feet also change into claws for defense or to help with flight—being very useful for balance in taking off and landing.
Much of the inspiration for the look of the chamelins came from the ancient stone gargoyles perched atop cathedrals across Europe. These stone guardians, with their menacing looks and protective poses, made me imagine the intimidating chamelins soaring through the air.
In the world of Solace, chamelins are found on the eastern side of the Hiterian Mountains, in the Merrow Kingdom and the Dragonfly territories. They are able to thrive in almost any climate; however, the poisonous dust in the meteor fields near the scrap towns is extremely hazardous to their fragile immune systems. For this reason, it’s very rare to see a chamelin in the far north.
The chamelins have existed in Solace for centuries, but scholars theorized they might not always have been able to shapeshift to human form. Because of their weak immune systems, chamelin numbers dwindled in ancient times, threatening extinction of the species. The few remaining communities were too small to survive on their own, so they began establishing settlements near human towns.
At first, the humans were frightened of the strange, monstrous beings, and tried to drive them out. But eventually, the two species learned to trust each other and work together, taking advantage of each other’s strengths. The chamelins, seeing how the humans thrived, over time developed the ability to shapeshift to human form, strengthening their immune systems and extending their lifespans. In this way, the species was saved. Or so the stories go. To some, the chamelins will always be creatures of myth and mystery.
Sarnuns – A Language of Silence
In some ways, sarnuns are even more mysterious than the chamelins. While not shapeshifters, the sarnuns keep their own secrets, mainly because they communicate with each other telepathically. It’s not unusual to see large groups of sarnuns clustered around each other in complete silence. But you can be sure there’s a whirlwind of conversation going on. It’s just taking place in the mind.
The physical appearance of the sarnuns is a big clue to another way in which they communicate. Their skin color can be various shades of soft blue, leading some to use the derogatory term ‘coldskin’ when referring to a sarnun. They have white eyes and very small mouth and nose cavities. Instead of hair, sarnuns have hundreds of bluish-white feelers growing out of their heads. These are thin and delicate-looking, similar to the tentacles of a jellyfish. Sarnuns are able to lift and move these feelers as easily as humans move their arms and legs, and it is primarily through these feelers that sarnuns interact with the world.
A young sarnun’s feelers glisten with moisture, but as they age, their feelers dry out and become stiff and immovable. Sarnuns use their feelers to sense their surroundings, and they have a highly developed sense of taste and touch. But their feelers also communicate…well…feelings. Sarnuns have an entire language of emotion that comes through in the movement of their feelers. This is similar to the way humans can sometimes tell what other humans are feeling by their body language. Seeing hunched shoulders in a human might lead you to believe the person is feeling sad or discouraged. When a sarnun's feelers wilt, droop and gather together in a loose bundle, this indicates the same emotion.
Like the chamelins, the sarnuns have existed in Solace for centuries, but some scholars believe the sarnuns may have come from a distant part of the world that has since become lost to them. Sarnuns often live underground and are adept at hiding, leading many to think there may be hidden colonies of sarnuns all over the world, just waiting to be discovered.
The physical appearance of the sarnuns is a big clue to another way in which they communicate. Their skin color can be various shades of soft blue, leading some to use the derogatory term ‘coldskin’ when referring to a sarnun. They have white eyes and very small mouth and nose cavities. Instead of hair, sarnuns have hundreds of bluish-white feelers growing out of their heads. These are thin and delicate-looking, similar to the tentacles of a jellyfish. Sarnuns are able to lift and move these feelers as easily as humans move their arms and legs, and it is primarily through these feelers that sarnuns interact with the world.
A young sarnun’s feelers glisten with moisture, but as they age, their feelers dry out and become stiff and immovable. Sarnuns use their feelers to sense their surroundings, and they have a highly developed sense of taste and touch. But their feelers also communicate…well…feelings. Sarnuns have an entire language of emotion that comes through in the movement of their feelers. This is similar to the way humans can sometimes tell what other humans are feeling by their body language. Seeing hunched shoulders in a human might lead you to believe the person is feeling sad or discouraged. When a sarnun's feelers wilt, droop and gather together in a loose bundle, this indicates the same emotion.
Like the chamelins, the sarnuns have existed in Solace for centuries, but some scholars believe the sarnuns may have come from a distant part of the world that has since become lost to them. Sarnuns often live underground and are adept at hiding, leading many to think there may be hidden colonies of sarnuns all over the world, just waiting to be discovered.