Bellarina

Bellarinas are a species of fungus, native to the planet Fungaia.

These elegant, agile creatures may be found found dancing in fields and meadows across Fungaia, and they pose no threat to any living being. The moment they are born, they learn to dance within minutes, and continue to dance until the day they die. Every movement they make is part of a dance. They are extremely fast and precise, making them one of the most evasive species on Fungaia.

Biology and appearance

Bellarinas are tall, slender fungal creatures with spotted mushroom caps growing from their heads, and another forming skirt-like structures around their waists. This skirt flares outward with a soft, fluffy edge and layered frills beneath, revealing their delicate legs. They have long, mushroom-like eyelashes, large expressive eyes, and short, frilled hair. Their arms are narrow and thin, and strands of fungi trail from the base of their head.

From birth, bellarinas instinctively begin to dance within minutes, continuing for the rest of their lives. Dancing is not a learned skill, but a constant biological rhythm, and something they cannot switch off.

They dance whilst awake, whilst asleep, and even whilst eating, their movements never fully pausing. This never-ending motion is essential to their survival, as it circulates vital energy throughout their bodies and keeps them alive. They mainly feed on nectar, pollen and tree saps, and sometimes even whole flowers.

Natural abilities

Bellarinas are fast, agile, and difficult to catch. They constantly move around, making them difficult to study, and unpredictable in close combat. They prefer to avoid danger entirely rather than fight, and they never go out of their way to attack anyone.

Weaknesses

They are frail in the face of almost all attacks, and so try to avoid getting too close to potential predators. Ranged attacks are effective against them if one is too afraid to confront them, and cannot find an alternative path. They rely on speed and evasive movement to survive.

Role in Star Heretic

Bellarinas appear in Star Heretic as an early-game enemy. Rather than attacking directly, they actively avoid Kinoko by dancing around him, either jumping over him, or spinning backwards in retreat. If Kinoko runs straight toward a bellarina, it will leap over him. When there is insufficient space for the bellarina to jump, such as when it is cornered, it will spin or dance backwards to create distance before attempting to escape again. It will cause damage to Kinoko on touch.

Kinoko can avoid them simply by walking past them, as they tend to jump away whenever he gets too close. The player should avoid trying to jump over them, as this will almost certainly lead to a collision, and thus damage.

Like all creatures in Star Heretic, they can be scanned to add their details to the codex.