Mancakes are sleek, scaly yet feathery creatures that use their magic to soar through the air and swim through the water. They are flat with eyes and mouth at the very front of the body, a triangular wing (or fin, depending on who you ask) on either side, and a long, skinny tail at the back.
Mancakes range greatly in size; domestic adults having wingspans between two and five feet and wild adults around ten and twelve feet. Smaller pet mancakes drape on their owners' shoulders or backs, while larger
ones can take a young stump for a quick ride through the air.
Mancakes are very adept at using magic; some attribute this to their highly variable tempers and personalities, but this is more likely due to their more recent domestication, having only been domesticated post-The Great Dying.
The wild ancestors of mancakes still live in the sea though are occasionally spotted in the sky. Confusing a wild mancake for a domestic one is a dangerous mistake, though luckily this isn't a common error. Domestic mancakes are smaller, usually friendly, albeit stubborn, and are much more adept at using their magic, and by extension, flying. Wild ones tend to be much larger, less interested in the goings on of
staxies, and less likely to be seen flying. One of the most stark differences between the wild and domestic mancakes is their coloring; wild mancakes have dull, usually patternless colorations, mostly in browns, greys and dark blues while domestic ones have a very wide array of colors and patterns (some particularly intelligent pets can be trained to change their colors using their magic!)
Wild mancakes are one of the many creatures that can't generally get through the netgate, and for good reason! The larger they get, the more they eat. Large ones are often seen out at sea eating weems, crubs, sea birds and more! A few cases of unusually large specimens taking down seastriders and even larger creatures have been reported!
Each spring, large, wild mancakes make their way to the outer beaches of Staves Rest not blocked by the netgate to lay eggs,
and beachgoers must be careful to give them a large berth as broody mancakes are known to be quite angry. The eggs hatch mid-summer, sending little baby mancakes (known as cupcakes) back to the sea.
Domesticated ones also prefer to lay their eggs in sand in the spring, though this is often accomplished with a sandy nesting box at home. Mancake eggs are HUGE in comparison to their body mass; an egg being about 15% of their body size. For this reason, mancakes laying more than one egg are never seen (alive, at least.) Neither wild nor domestic mancakes guard or raise their young, so little rearing is necessary for the hatchlings.
Mancakes are NOT free to make!
They are frequently given out as raffle prizes and rewards! Keep an eye out!
Got your hands on a Mancake Collar? Click here for the MYO Mancake Guide!