Knutte

The Knutte is a Common creature released on Protochroma, and its mascot. It was the first creature to be released, on September 29, 2019, during the alpha development of the site. It is found only in the Forested Laboratory and its associated Regular Delve, the Laboratory Depths. Its standard variant is Blue.

Baby
''It’s the right shape to be considered an egg, but its shell is made of segments of metal that aren’t connected together. A blinding blue glow can be seen in the gaps and is presumably the creature forming inside or perhaps another, secondary inner shell.''

Juvenile
''Though it comes from what most would describe as an egg, its maturation into a juvenile isn’t an egg hatching; rather, the blue inner shell gradually grows out into the form of a serpent. The metal shell remains with the creature, forming a sort of protective armour for some of its soft skin. Notably, the shell on its head renders it completely blind. Despite this it is decently aware of its immediate surroundings, but is very sensitive to touch and easily surprised by fast movements. If threatened it won’t hesitate to generate arcs of electricity. While being struck by its electricity is painful, it isn’t lethal to anything other than very small beings and devices.''

Adult
''With an initial impression that's as shocking as the electricity they generate, Knuttes are very curious and enigmatic beings. It's widely agreed upon that they are an artificially created species, but it is presently unknown just how much their appearance is influenced by the habitat that they call their home. They move by levitating just slightly off of the ground, but cannot soar through the air proper. When generating large amounts of electricity by using their mechanical core, they scrunch up tightly before bouncing back into their characteristic shape, sharp bends and all. They melt down metal and let it form back together, which they sometimes allow to become part of their body instead of merely a little trinket.''

''In captivity they prove to be quite friendly. Young adults take a bit of time to adapt to being able to see the world around them, but decipher their usual surroundings and sensations very quickly. They aren't picky eaters and seem happy being fed just about anything. Their easygoing nature and odd appearance has caused them to be described as "lovable scrapheaps" by some researchers. The surface of their bodies—the wisps especially—can be hot at times, so it is advised to avoid touching one without sufficient protection.''

Additional Lore

 * Knuttes are large enough to ride, but would burn their rider without proper protection, and would still be uncomfortably hot with said protection.

Trivia

 * The oldest creature on-site is Wymsical's female Knutte, coded nut.
 * The creature's name is a corruption/pun on metal nuts.