⭐Picayune - [Info]

Read their reference sheet for most information and questions answered.

♦️ Submit your Picayune MYO by using this form when turning in your design:
Companion MYO Template

♦️ What are Picayunes?
Picayunes are small flightless bird creatures who have the smarts of a corvid. They are very social animals and will do just about anything for food.


♦️ How do I get one?
Picayunes adopts or MYOs can be acquired for purchase from the site for shards or for USD. They can also be given out randomly or for raffles.

♦️ What traits can I give my Picayune naturally?
- Any features that are naturally on any bird so long as it doesn't drastically change what anatomically makes a Picayune unique.
- Clothes and Accessories
- Different tails so long as you make it obvious that the tail is made of feathers.
- Different crests on the head
- Different feather textures and "hair" styles so long as it still looks like feathers.
- Objects on body so long as it doesn't mimic elements like nature (excess flowers/plants) and other things or mimics food body (frosting/drizzle etc.)

♦️ What traits require a Pet Potion of Oddities to add to my Picayune?
- another head (2 max)
- small non-working wings (1 set max)
- another set of arms (1 extra set max)
- other fur types that aren't feathers
- spacial, elemental, or crystal textures
- multiple eyes (6 extra max)
- horns, antlers, and halos (1 set max, 1 halo max)
- glowing or glitchy textures
- ooze/slime texture
- more transparent textures or bones if wanted
- change the tail type from the typical "picayune" shapes or bird-like tails to allow the tail to be like less bird-like in quality.
- food textures and parts
- burs, nubs, and spikes
- different eye-types (regular picayune are 1–2 colors only with no pupil, this allows any eye type within reason)


♦️ Is there a gender difference?
No. If you own one, that is for you to decide if you want them to look like any societal gender at all.


♦️ Can I Dress up my Picayune?
Typically wild Picayune will not wear clothes at all. They can get overheated and generally, it feels too heavy on them. They might occasionally wear some accessories or hight bits of clothes in captivity or on their own accord, but it is not entirely common due to the overheating aspect. Please note that an application of clothes cannot be used in place of mimicking the Pet Potion of Oddities traits, we will kindly ask you to remove the accessories or clothes if they end up mimicking potion traits.


♦️ Can my Picayune be a different body type?
Yes, so long as you still to the anatomy guidelines, you can make them more plumped out, or whatever body part like the legs/arms shorter, longer, or thicker.
You can also make them super fuzzy or puffy in appearance, this might help fit for certain aesthetics, or make one fit for the winter.


♦️ What if I want to give my Picayunes scars or missing parts?
You can absolutely do this within reason, we don't want like- a headless or floating limb bird running around scaring the cloakids or anything, though.


♦️ Can I change the crest/"hair" on the Picayunes head?
Yes! So long as it abides by the guidelines of 2-3 feathers on the head, these can be anywhere on the back of the head with just about any length or size.
You can also make these 2-3 feathers cut in different ways to resemble things like shapes or leaves (etc.)


♦️ Can I change the "tail" of my Picayune?
Absolutely. This is limited to 1 total since it's usually just one large feather that makes the tail, so if the tail is still identifiable as a bird's tail, have fun.
You can also make the feathered tail cut in different ways to resemble things like shapes or leaves (etc.)
You can also give it no feather and have just a nub butt if you'd like to.

♦️ Can I draw bird feet instead of hooves for the feet?
Sorry, no! Picayunes have this as part of their unique identifier. It helps them run lightning-fast.


♦️ How long do Picayunes live?
Generally 7-10 years in the wild. They can sometimes reach the age of 30 in captivity.


♦️ Can my Picayune be made of different materials?
Picayunes are birds and are feathered, please make sure that if you make a specific design, that in some way or another, they look feathered!
You're welcome to make really any texture or elemental LOOKING Picayune, but they will not have powers of any sort matching their visual aesthetics.
If a bird Irl has certain patterns or odd feathers (like curly feathers), then be my guest! You can also use a potion to change their texture via the TravellingMerchant to get things like elemental/crystal textures though! But basic Picayunes will always be feathered.


♦️ What are the limits on coloring a Picayune?
Picayunes can look like just about anything with the rules of the previous question in mind.
They can look like any natural existing bird like a raven, bluejay, peacock, etc., or look imaginary, like the aesthetics of different things such as vaporwave, Nature-like, gamer-inspired, webcore, etc. as they can grow their plumes in accordance with interests they take, or mimic birds of their surroundings to blend in. Just make sure that you have inspiration for a Picayune that is not a carbon copy of the existing copywritten character and is changed in some way. Picayune feathers are NOT animate in any way (animations, elements, effects, etc.) but CAN sheen in the light or be pearlescent.


♦️ Can my Picayune have powers?
Sorry, this is not possible. Picayunes do not have powers so they cannot be elemental, cast spells, or the like, but can have elemental designs. They do not glow, either.
You're welcome to give them a weapon, but please note that they are 8 inches tall and are birds, so they have hollow bones and might get crushed by something like a sword, lol. Maybe give them a toothpick. /j


♦️ Can Picayunes speak?
Picayunes are based on corvids (and pigeons; unrelated), and can talk in the same manner as a corvid would. So feel free to give your pet a personality and let them speak as you please, just note that their speech patterns sound a little automated as they learn through mimicking noises. This also means they can make sound effects etc. if they so choose to.


♦️ Do Picayune migrate and where do they usually live?
Usually, they do migrate, but it's hard for them to do this by foot, so they will often hibernate if they cannot migrate. They are typically found just about anywhere in the world that isn't freezing cold.
They will also find refuge in precarious locations surrounding a Cloakats home if given the chance, They rarely intentionally find their way INTO a house, however.


♦️  Can my Picayune have different eyes?
Generally no, they are known for their rather curious larger eyes, so the shape will have to stay about the same, however, you can set them to having a certain emote/vibes by default via using their eyelids for emotion.
Picayunes don't look like they physically have a pupil, but they can see just fine. Please do not define the pupil of the Picayune noticeably so unless you apply a potion via the Travelling Merchants shop.


♦️ If someone already made an IRL bird into a Picayune, can I still make that irl bird too?
Absolutely, irl birds are allowed to be made more than once, so long as it's not obvious you're doing it out of spite or anything. Naturally existing birds aren't copywritten, after all.


♦️ If someone made a specific aesthetic, theme, or character (inspired) Picayune, can I still make that subject as a Picayune too?
If a design based on a thing/aesthetic is made into a Picayune, you are welcome to make that aesthetic or character inspired of Picayune as well, so long as you're not stealing the same exact design from the other person or copywritten character. Please change enough things like symbols, colors, accessories, or markings if you want a similar Picayune as someone else. We might ask you to change anything if the design you based on another person's design or a copywritten character is too obvious!

♦️ What are the predators and prey of Waltzing Whelk?
Predators:
- Anzujo - Will often ragdoll them like a toy. Eats them if they get the chance.
- Bramboa - # 1 threat, actively seek for Picayune.
- Grottogulp - Will eat them if they come across them as a chance opportunity, however them crossing paths is rare.
- Fluxwing - Fluxwing will often just kill them for sport.
- Moon Bloom - chance opportunity; will eat them whenever they stumble across one. The picayune has to get tangled in it, however.

Prey:
- Bugs
- Small lizards/critters

♦️ How big are Picayunes?
Picayunes can grow to be a total of 8 inches tall without including their head crest. They Cannot grow bigger than this, but can absolutely be smaller if wanted.

♦️ You mention a lot about Picayunes mimicking other birds, does this mean parts as well?
Yes and no! Picayunes generally mimic their surroundings or other birds for camouflage purposes, so generally, it's just the feathers that will change.
Just shoot me a WIP sketch of whatever non-feather part related to other birds you might want to mimick into a Picayune's design and I'll most likely just give it a pass so long as the WIP abides by the anatomy guidelines!

♦️ Can I make a Picayune based on my own OC/sona/Cloakat?
Absolutely, go for it. In this house, we love a mini-me pet!

♦️ You say they were created "circa ~2014" Why so long ago?
I made these guys as a common bird in a series I've put on the back burner called "Cities End", the story itself I'd worked on between 2008-2014, then set it down for another story of mine called "The Keeper" in 2013-2015 and also set down for now. These birds are present in both series. I've chosen to bring these guys into the Cloakat world so people could have fun with these funky little lads as well. :>

♦️ Did anything inspire the Picayune?
OFF (The Game)'s Bad Batter mouth style and my love for birds.