Waxmoon

 | Feature | Details | | :--- | :--- | | **Species** | *Moliform semiluna* ("Mola-shaped half-moon") | | **Attitude** | Passive | | **Type** | Mobile | | **Category** | Foragers |-| **Biomes** | Shallows, Graveyard, Necrolei Hills, Root Canyon |+| **Biome** | Shallows, Graveyard, Necrolei Hills, Root Canyon |  -![Waxmoon](Waxmoon.png)+![Waxmoon render](Waxmoon render.png)   The **Waxmoon** is a large, passive lifeform that represents the matured form of the Halfmoon.   ## Appearance   The Waxmoon shares a similar form to other creatures in the moon family, such as the Halfmoon, but is significantly larger. Unique to the Waxmoon are a pair of "struts" that connect the outer edge of the fins to the base of the tails.  -It features a black body adorned with lines of cyan spots that follow the body contours, along with occasional dark grey spots. Large fins are located at the top and bottom of the body, pale blue on the outer edge and yellow at the base, with an irregular color transition. Both the spots and the colored parts of the fins glow brightly in the dark. The body ends with two elongated tails, featuring a color scheme similar to the fins.+It features a black body adorned with lines of cyan spots that follow the body contours, along with occasional dark grey spots. It possesses large fins at the top and bottom of the body; these are pale blue on the outer edge and yellow at the base, with an irregular transition between the colors. Both the spots and the colored parts of the fins glow brightly in the dark. The end of the body sports two elongated tails, ending with a color scheme similar to the fins.  -Its eyes are large, with pale light-blue sclera and blue irises, featuring vertical, large, black pupils.+Their eyes are large, with pale light-blue sclera and blue irises, featuring vertical, large, black pupils.   ## Behavior  -Waxmoons can be seen slowly swimming passively in several areas, mainly inhabiting the Coral Gardens region and surrounding the Overgrown Ruins. Other lifeforms from the moon family, such as the Halfmoon, will gather around it in sizeable groups and follow it as it swims.+The Waxmoon can be seen slowly swimming passively around several areas, mainly inhabiting the Coral Gardens region and surrounding the Overgrown Ruins.  +Other lifeforms from the "moon family," such as the Halfmoon, will gather around it in sizeable groups and follow it as it swims.+  Waxmoons do not typically react to Players and seem unphased by Predators. However, they are sensitive to light and will stare at the Player if they are equipped with a light source, such as a Flashlight.   ## Databank Entry  -**Source:** Scan a Waxmoon+> **Source:** Scan a Waxmoon   A large halfmoon (*Moliform semiluna*) with developed fin structures and sophisticated senses.  -1.  **Developmental threshold**: Quorum-sensing vitelline organs in the halfmoon's gonads detect a critical population of other halfmoons, triggering a burst of growth in the halfmoon's genes, fin structure, and nervous system.-2.  **Gene structure**: Much of the growth is polyploid—an abnormal process where cells do not divide, but instead duplicate their genes internally. These cells build a fortified matrix of polylactic bone wax, defending the waxmoon against trauma and parasites.-3.  **Fin structure**: The main body and the caudal filament knit together behind the anterior fins, creating a 'fin guard'. This grafting of separate body parts is rarely observed in animals. In Earthly trees it is called 'inosculation'.-4.  **Nervous system**: The halfmoon's already-dense nervous system develops explosively. Large clusters of neuromasts spot the skin. Synaptic connections between neurons grow like a second childhood. The system still lacks reafference cancellation: it cannot distinguish external input from its own internal processes.-5.  **Final form?**: The waxmoon retains its vitelline organs, indicating it may undergo future growth spikes into yet-unobserved forms.+1.  **Developmental threshold**+    Quorum-sensing vitelline organs in the halfmoon's gonads detect a critical population of other halfmoons*, triggering a burst of growth in the halfmoon's genes, fin structure, and nervous system.  -**Assessment:** Puzzling. Hypothesis: the waxmoon is a schoolmaster and controller node for schools of halfmoons. It takes in information from its schoolmates and trains its larger nervous system to sense hidden cues in the environment, using the entire school as a sensor net.+2.  **Gene structure**+    Much of the growth is polyploid—an abnormal process where cells do not divide, but instead duplicate their genes internally. These cells build a fortified matrix of polylactic bone wax, defending the waxmoon against trauma and parasites.  +3.  **Fin structure**+    The main body and the caudal filament knit together behind the anterior fins, creating a 'fin guard'. This grafting of separate body parts is rarely observed in animals. In Earthly trees it is called 'inosculation'.+ +4.  **Nervous system**+    The halfmoon's already-dense nervous system develops explosively. Large clusters of neuromasts spot the skin. Synaptic connections between neurons grow like a second childhood. The system still lacks reafference cancellation: it cannot distinguish external input from its own internal processes.+ +5.  **Final form?**+    The waxmoon retains its vitelline organs, indicating it may undergo future growth spikes into yet-unobserved forms.+ +**Assessment:** puzzling. **Hypothesis:** the waxmoon is a schoolmaster and controller node for schools of halfmoons. It takes in information from its schoolmates and trains its larger nervous system to sense hidden cues in the environment, using the entire school as a sensor net.+  *Caveat: while vitelline membranes generally bind to reproductive cells of the same species, the halfmoon's organs do not. Instead they react to the reproductive cells of any species. This output process has failed to generate a plausible explanation.*   ## Gallery   ### In Game   ![Side view of the Waxmoon](Waxmoon side.png) ![Head on view](Waxmoon front.png) ![Top view of the Waxmoon](Waxmoon top.png) ![Waxmoon viewed from the back](Waxmoon back.png)   ## Trivia   *   At some point in development, the Waxmoon provided a Biomod which would cause Halfmoons to gather around the player. *   The Waxmoon is also known as "Steve" to some in the community due to a video shared on the Discord by developer Obraxis.