What is Energy?
Energy is a freeform, colorful "marking" that every spirit must have. It represents a literal "window" into the spirit's body, displaying the myriad colors flowing within them. Energy may be any mix of any color in existence, be they neons, greyscale, black, pure white, and more. Energy can take on the shapes of filigree, swirls, bands, stripes, or even mimic some other markings in both coverage and shape! The only thing Energy cannot do is take on unnatural, inorganic shapes -- this means it can't replicate manmade structures or objects. Otherwise, the sky is the limit on what you can do with Energy (you know, except for the default color and coverage restrictions as determined by type and mutatons).
By default, energy is symmetrical on both halves of the body. Because it's literal energy, it must also present with a glow. Points will be docked in art if energy is not glowing during night time scenes, but not for daytime scenes since glow effects are harder to see in sunlight.
Kiji-specific Rules
Coverage
Energy works differently between kijikaiaku and subtalleons. For kiji, the energy is restricted to the main body unless there are energy mutations. By default, this blue range is where energy is allowed on Kiji:
Energy for kijis is always flowing and in motion, meaning that despite what a kiji's import shows, if there's more than one color, that energy must always be shown in different spots within its boundaries. Think of it like a tye-dyed river, and you're watching it move through a narrow window.
To be clear, it's the colors of Energy that move and flow; the design and bounds of the Energy marking itself does not shift out of place.
Types
A kiji's energy type is coverage-based. It refers to how much total energy is on the design, not the colors.
These are the types of energy for Kiji:
Minimal must cover no more than 10% maximum of the kiji. It should be no more than one section (Or around half of two sections) on the image shown. Keratin Energy will extend this to requiring around one full section, or around half of two.
Regular must have a total coverage of 20-25% of the kiji. This means it requires around two full sections on the image shown, or one full and two half. Keratin Energy will increase this to allowing 2-3 full sections.
Increased must have a total coverage of 30-50% of the kiji. This means it requires being in the majority of 3-4 sections on the image shown. Keratin Energy will make it require 4 whole sections, but can even be part of a fifth.
Maximum must have a total coverage of 50-75% of the kiji. This means it requires 4 whole sections at least on the image shown, but can be up to 5 whole sections spilling into 6. Keratin Energy will make it require over 4 sections, but it should not exceed 7 whole sections
Magic Color affects the entirety of the character, or 100%, but it also has special rules, such as allowing moving shapes inside the color patterns.
Energy Soul Text
Sometimes we will allow exceptions to the above rules if it is a small patch of energy in multiple sections.
Please also note that we don't judge percentages based on pixel coverage, but rather locations. The images to the left, despite one having much more pixel coverage, are considered the same basic coverage percentage. This is to help encourage people to be more creative with their energy designs instead of just making huge patches to satisfy the coverage requirements the kid might have.
If an admin says there's too much energy on your design to count for the energy type your kid has, it is recommended to remove sections entirely instead of trimming it down or thinning it out.
Also note that if the Kiji has wings, the number of sections required will increase by .5, or if Keratin Energy is present by 1.
The top side and bottom side of wings each are their own sections.
Mutations
There are three different subgroups for mutations: Color, Coverage, and Modifier.
Color dictates the number of colors that can be used in the Energy, as well as how those colors interact. The following energy mutations are Color Types:
Regular Energy is default, and will not show in the geno traits or description. Regular energy is 1-2 colors.
Extra Energy allows for 3-4 unique colors.
Bloated Energy allows for 5-6 unique colors.
Maximum Energy allows for 7-10 unique colors.
Static Energy means the colors of the energy are locked in place and don't flow.
Split Energy means that colors may flow within 'locked' regions; for example you could have blue and black energy on the feet that acts like normal, and red and yellow energy on the tail, which also acts like normal, but these color ranges will never meet.
When we say "unique colors," we mean visually distinct. So, while you can have two shades of similar yellow colored energy (A shade closer to white, and a shade closer to lemon) they can't be too close to each other that it's hard to distinguish one from the other.
Coverage changes the shape and coverage of the Energy. For kijis, these are:
Asymmetrical Energy, which means the energy does not have to match on either side of the kiji.
Energy Soul text text text text [In order to change the eye color, and also add unique colors to the mouth and inner ears, the Energy Soul mutation is needed. This is also the only thing that will let you add a subtle halo effect around the body, which must match the energy colors.]
Keratin Energy, in which the effective range is increased to full body, since this allows for Energy to touch the mane, tail fur, furry mutations, claws, inner ears, horns and other bone mutations, whiskers, or wings. Keratin Energy is not required to be shown, however.
Thick Energy text text text text
Thin Energy text text text text
Clipped Energy partially ignores the range required and clips the energy to a single marking. For Kiji, this marking must be a smaller marking if they have minimal energy or a larger marking if they have maximum energy, if possible. This does not cover the marking, but adds wisps of the energy to the marking itself. The marking must still be visible under the energy.
Modifiers change the property of Energy. These are:
Lackluster Energy, which removes Energy's ability to glow.
Energy Trail, which allows Energy to leave faint motion-blurred trails or misty, smoke-like effects behind.
Tally-specific Rules
Coverage
For tallies, the energy is restricted to the wings and tail fin unless there are energy mutations. By default, this is yellow range where energy must be on tallies:
Energy for tallies is text
Text
Types
A tally's energy type is color-based. It refers to how many unique colors is on the design, not the coverage.
These are the types of energy for Tallies:
Regular is default. Regular energy is 1-2 colors.
Extra allows for 3-4 unique colors.
Bloated allows for 5-6 unique colors.
Maximum allows for 7-10 unique colors.
Magic Color is the same on Tallies as with Kiji, it affects the entirety of the character, but it also has special rules, such as allowing moving shapes inside the color patterns.
Energy Soul lets you do shiny eye things
Mutations
By default, energy on tallies is static, and does not shift and flow. To get it to do so, you need Mobile Energy.
To allow for only partial coverage of wings and tail fin, leaving "holes" in the coverage, you need Cut Energy.
To allow for coverage to bleed off the wings and tail fin, you'll want Extra Energy.
Finally, to change the range to allow for coverage on the main body instead of the wings and tail fin, you need Mimic Energy. (Which by default acts like Regular Energy for Kiji. If they have both Mimic and Extra Energy, it requires a larger range on the body mimicking Increased for Kiji, while Cut Energy would appear like Minimal for Kiji)
If the Tally has Keratin Energy, they just have an increased range (Unless they have mimic energy, in which the range is full body like Kiji).