Drimvess are elegant, hand-sized aquatic insects that drift like fallen petals or floating leaves, their natural camouflage fooling both predator and prey. From above, their disc-shaped bodies taper gently at the ends, giving the illusion of debris idly carried by the current. Their exoshells are soft and color-shifting, glowing with vibrant greens and blues in clean waters, and fading to pale grays in tainted ones. A delicate fringe of gill-fronds encircles their underside, in constant, graceful motion. Males are flatter, with broad dorsal shells that mimic submerged river leaves. Vein-like ridges crisscross their backs, enhancing the illusion. Their coloration reflects water purity—shimmering emerald in pristine rivers, dull ochre in fouled streams. Along their edges, fine undulating fins keep them hovering just below the surface. Females are more ornate, their dorsal carapace blossoming into five soft lobes like the petals of a water lily. At rest, these petals lay flat; in motion, they unfurl, giving the impression of a flower blooming beneath the water. Their hues range from opalescent white to soft pinks and violets, influenced by age and the magical saturation of their environment.

Drimvess are believed to have first emerged when ancient water spirits sought to heal their wounded domains. Now considered living symbols of renewal, their presence in a waterway is revered by riverfolk, druids, and aquatic beings alike. Folktales say their appearance heralds balance and growth, while their absence warns of decay or impending corruption.

Preferring shaded river bends or the still edges of enchanted lakes, Drimvess drift with the current or anchor to submerged roots and stones. At dawn, they rise toward the surface to “bask” in filtered light, a behavior often seen as ceremonial. They gather in slow, spiraling clusters—believed to be a form of magical synchronization or social communion. Drimvess feed on ambient magic and micro-debris. Using ultra-fine sensory cilia, they absorb trace magical energy and consume decaying organic matter such as algae, skin cells, and rot particulates—acting as both magical and biological purifiers. In times of magical drought, they follow leyline trickles or cluster around forgotten ruins, feeding off residual energies.

Drimvess constantly draw in water through underside cilia that trap debris, harmful bacteria, and organic waste. This is passed through a unique enzyme-lined filter-web within their bodies, breaking contaminants down into inert components, which are either digested or expelled as harmless silt. Magical Cleansing. Equally vital is their role as magical purifiers. They can sense ambient magical pollution—failed spells, cursed runoff, or leftover enchantments—and secrete a fine, silty substance called sarn-powder. This powder binds to corrupted magical residues, neutralizing them. When gathered in groups, their combined powder can suppress minor curses or dissolve lingering enchantments, making them indispensable to the health of magical ecosystems.

Drimvess reproduce in late spring and early autumn when waters are calm and warm. Mating pairs align side by side in mirrored spirals for hours, synchronizing their internal rhythms before releasing a shared clutch of eggs. These clusters—40 to 60 in number—are enveloped in protective mucus and hidden beneath reeds or moss-covered rocks in magically clean waters. After 10–14 days, nearly transparent larvae hatch, drifting freely before anchoring to the substrate. Over the next month, they molt several times, developing their fronds, fins, and color. By six to eight weeks, they reach maturity and join the drifting clusters. Most live 3–5 years, though older Drimvess often retreat to deep, silent pools, rarely seen again except during breeding seasons.

Without the Drimvess, enchanted freshwater ecosystems often suffer magical collapse. Their dual roles in biological and magical filtration make them essential to maintaining the delicate balance of life and leyline energy. Protecting them has become a sacred duty for many druids and river guardians, who see them not merely as creatures, but as living prayers of restoration.