Voloid
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Voloids (Saxum vehemens) are silicon-based, migratory lifeforms. They appear similar to S-type asteroids due to their highly silicic mineralogy. Enclosed magma chambers operate via a tectonic-like process to sustain and propel them in a vacuum; some of this magma can be seen beneath their cracks and scars, which accrue naturally over time.
Voloids may also be seen with embeddings or extrusions of ice, minerals, mineraloids, and metals, usually in a crystalline form. These are based on individual diet preferences.
Description
Individually, voloids resemble arachnid golems, encompassing a disproportionately large body, a small, head-like extrusion, and two prehensile appendages. A large orifice takes up most of the head, acting as a mouth to consume micrometeoroids, meteoroids, and small asteroids; the prehensile appendages are located beneath the head, used to guide suitable substances into the voloid's mouth. Tiny vents along the body release heat in controlled bursts, granting voloids 360-degree maneuverability in space.
The largest individual voloids usually don't exceed 10 m in length. Only through voloid conglomeration can a voloid exceed this size restriction, of which two variants exist: megavoloids (Saxum vehemens grandis) and gigavoloids (Saxum vehemens praegrandis). Both variants more closely resemble rock fragments or shards, rather than arachnids, but differ in size and texture.
- Megavoloids range anywhere from 10 m to 1 km in length. Their texture is distinctly coarse and geometric.
- Gigavoloids range anywhere from 1 km to 1,000 km in length. They are exceptionally smooth and sharp, allowing them to enact their violent method of reproduction, commonly referred to as "planetoidal seeding."
A voloid's magma color may also change based on the type of star they near. Normally a deep orangish yellow, voloids are known to exhibit red, yellow, blue, purple, and white colorations. No trails are exhibited, such as those from comets.