Khyadryns are those affected by Khyadra, a convertogen transformed from a combination of experimental Sallowine, Ashlune, and Blight's magic. They are both blighted and Extaros, with a defining characteristic being their ability to adapt to extreme environments by taking on characteristics of creatures that can tolerate those extreme environments. Khyadryns can undo this completely by returning to a pluripotent state, then differentiate again in the same place or a new one. They share the Aequosyn's balance of both Purification and Pollution, but they pass through a cycle of accumulation and purification instead of drawing on both Ideas at once.

Khyadryns came into being as a collaboration between Blight and Wabi-Sabi, especially of Blight and Pollution. Blight and Pollution first met when Blight visited the early Extaros societies out of curiosity. After a tour of her laboratory, Pollution showed Blight a shelved venom prototype that she had tinkered with, and Blight drank a sample to help refine it. Together with Purification, they adjusted the properties, and Khyadra was formed.

Genesis

Khyadryns are created through the bite of another Khyadryn. The Khyadra convertogen is carried as venom in the four canines (or equivalent) and released only when the Khyadryn chooses. A bite alone does not convert. The venom must reach an infectious dose, which reduces the risk of accidental infection during play-fighting, intimacy or ordinary scuffles. 

Khyadra has the appearance of pearlescent liquid. It is unstable outside a host, evaporating into nothing after a few minutes, even in a sealed container. 

In the early stage, lasting three days, injuries heal faster, and the individual feels a growing urge to collect objects. In the cocoon stage, the individual forms a pearl-like shell around them and their collected objects and completes the transformation within it. They emerge after about a week.

The experience resembles the dual genesis of the Aequosyn, but conversion is much easier on the mind. Most individuals keep much of their memory and personality. Severe and unresolved past trauma can put memory at risk, since Pollution's magic intensifies existing strain.

Catharsyns, Drossyns and Aequosyns resist the blight and require a much larger dose. Conversion is possible but uncommon.

Abilities

Adaptation: Over about a week in a new environment, a Khyadryn gains the characteristics of animals that can tolerate it. The more they adapt, the more pronounced the features become, and a Khyadryn may incorporate additional animals if they want a more extreme state. Before adaptation completes, they may be lethargic and weak, but the environment cannot kill them. After adapting, if they leave the area, they may feel uncomfortable but do not have to change.

Pluripotent Reset: A Khyadryn may willingly return to a pluripotent state, which clears their animal traits and any embedded objects. It takes a few hours to enter the shell and a few days to emerge. The shell resembles a pearl, like the convertogen. Embedded objects fall away and are held in the shell, where they reattach to the Khyadryn by default. A Khyadryn may keep some objects in the shell to be added to their body. To remove objects permanently, they must ask someone else to take them out of the shell before emergence. Other Khyadryns commonly watch over those who are resetting.

Aequosyn Abilities: They can dismantle structures, objects, and fused masses with controlled strength or steady consumption. They can consume any material for sustenance, especially preferring industrial waste. They may also have an unstable form. 

Blighted Properties: Khyadryns are affected by Perfusion, Endogeny and Harmony, and recognize other blighted by instinct. They are immune to mundane pathogens. 

Characteristics

Appearance

Khyadryns strongly resemble Aequosyns in appearance with some differences:

• Slit pupils. 

• Prominent upper and lower fangs.

Additionally, they typically have animal traits related to the environment they are adapted to. 

• Mild adaptations include features that do not alter core anatomy, and can appear within days of starting adaptation. These can include fur, scales, gills, different ear structures, etc. Features typically come from the same or similar creatures.

• Moderate adaptations include significant additions to anatomy, and typically settle within a week of starting adaptation. Tails, wings, and other additional limbs may be present. Features typically come from the same or similar creatures.

• Major adaptations include alterations to core anatomy and the ability to shapeshift between moderate and major adaptations. These often appear after a month of adaptation. Mer-like, naga-like, harpy-like, and other forms are possible. Features typically come from the same or similar creatures.

• Extreme adaptations include the integration of features from significantly different creatures to allow for more specialized and extreme adaptation to an environment, adaptation to multiple extreme environments, or near-complete loss or alteration of their original core anatomy. This state is generally only achieved by those who continue to embrace adaptation for multiple years. 

In areas that have little to no animal life, they typically develop more inorganic parts and unusual anatomy, mixing characteristics of any animal. 

Aequosyn-Like Characteristics

Required traits:

• Achromatic skin — black, white, or gray 

• Secondary color of any hue, saturation, or value, which is the color of their soul. Tertiary or more colors are not recommended but can occur if one decided to do body painting, tattoos, or wear colorful clothing.

• Hair can be achromatic or secondary color 

• Irises can be pale and light, dark and desaturated, or secondary color. Sclera can be achromatic or secondary color

• No visible sexual characteristics (flat chest and Ken doll anatomy)

Their appearance mixes characteristics of Catharsyn and Drossyn physiology. Catharsyn-leaning individuals have more white coloration, while Drossyn-leaning individuals have crystals forming all over the body. 

Drossyn-dominant traits: 

• Sharp teeth 

• Dark teeth and mouth (black, dark gray, or secondary color if dark)

• At least one embedded item (ex. signs, arrows, swords)

• Up to 80% of crystallization of body. Crystallization resembles growth of vivianite-like crystals on the skin, usually taking on their secondary color

Catharsyn-dominant traits: 

• Light teeth and mouth (white, light gray, or secondary color if light)

• Lighter skin

Unstable Form

Some Khyadryns have an unstable form. This is an optional creature form that can resemble any real or fictional creature but must maintain consistent embedded objects and extra traits like wings.

Biology

Khyadryns are sterile and can only propagate through infection of new members of the species. They have the extended lifespan of Extaros (triple to quadruple their original). They can consume any material for sustenance, with a strong preference for industrial waste. They can also absorb ambient pollutants for sustenance, including chemicals, radioactive dust, and more. 

They sleep, though less than the amount they needed before becoming a Khyadryn. If they consume a great amount of radioactive material or absorb a lot of ambient radiation, sleep becomes optional. 

The shell they form during genesis and pluripotent reset has a round, pearlescent appearance, appearing much like an enormous pearl. The material is similar in some ways to nacre—easy to scratch but very difficult to break or meaningfully damage. Unlike nacre, it can tolerate all sorts of extreme environments due to non-Newtonian and other properties. The shell can be considered to be more or less impervious to mundane creatures and environmental factors. However, Extaros are able to use their abilities to temporarily open and close it. While other Khyadryns are unlikely to cause problems for other Khyadryns, those with personal issues or other Extaros would be able to interfere with the process. If the shell is completely broken, the individual within will be disoriented, potentially in an in-between state, and attempt to find a safe place and form a new one as soon as possible. 

Behaviors

Khyadryns are drawn to extreme environments that are highly polluted, though some may choose to integrate into other societies (UNS, Extaros societies, blighted societies, etc.)—there is nothing preventing them from doing so. Examples of environments that Khyadryns are drawn to include: 

• Polar regions, affected by persistent organic pollutants, microplastics, and waste from research stations. 

• Mountains such as Mount Everest, contaminated by waste left from countless expeditions. 

• Deserts, such as those contaminated from nuclear testing, mining, and dumping.

• Deep sea, contaminated by organic pollutants and plastic.

• Volcanic and geothermal areas, contaminated by geothermal wastewater, litter, and mining.

• Low earth orbit, full of defunct satellites and debris (though they will need help to get there).

Lone Khyadryns feel a considerable urge to infect others, though it can be resisted. Khyadryns naturally form groups, referred to as clusters, where they can socialize and support each other. Khyadryns that are part of a cluster have a significantly reduced urge to infect others, with many barely even noticing the urge anymore. These clusters may stay in the same area or travel widely, though a cluster tends to keep to similar types of environments and members of the cluster tend to have similar types of adaptations. 

In many cases, the work of clusters have over the years reduced the pollution in the areas they travel through to barely anything. In these cases, they may transition their entire cluster to a new environment or simply live comfortably off the land.