1 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2022/84774616/
2 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2022/84847594/
3#1 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2022/84864673/
3#2 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2022/84877899/
5 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2022/84890048/
6 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2022/84918731/
7 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2022/84930206/
8 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2022/84943450/
9 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2022/84963046/
10 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2022/84990296/
11 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2022/85001905/
12 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2022/85025361/
13 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2022/85034498/
14 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2022/85074457/
15 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2022/85181021/
15#2 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2022/85273765/
16 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2022/85357735/
17 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2022/85442583/
17#2 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2022/85499731/
18 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2022/85554910/
21 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2022/85580942/
22 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2022/85686282/
23 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2022/85775039/
24 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2022/85865971/
25 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2022/85981957/
26 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2022/86150840/
27 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2022/86258892/
28 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2022/86355397/
29 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2022/86504173/

30 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2022/86662491/
31 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2022/86786745/
31#2 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2022/86924239/
32 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2022/87072460/
33 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2022/87171716/
34 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2023/87267880/
35 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2023/87388478/
39#1 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2023/87472712/
38 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2023/87550989/
39#2 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2023/87627406/
40 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2023/87795959/
41 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2023/87956630/
42 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2023/88125000/
43 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2023/88278726/
44 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2023/88372296/
45#1 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2023/88465385/
45#2 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2023/88563258/
47 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2023/88666593/
48 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2023/88762012/
49 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2023/88855281/
50 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2023/88948871/
51 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2023/89035095/
52 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2023/89127240/
53 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2023/89215539/
54 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2023/89309033/
55 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2023/89389607/
56#1 - https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2023/89472549/
56#2 - Someone archive this thread
58 - Someone archive this thread

Google Doc Link for the timeline. As updated as it can be.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Weiu2IWHLvwzuWaCnggBT0nYVzJvvHEeD0ec3KB16WI/edit?usp=sharing

Thread 56#2 archived

https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/2023/89552939/

>Flags of the wold Edition
Someone post a list with flag requests

possible Changrila Flag

File: Changrila Flag 2.png (33 KB, 512x308)

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>>89639807
now with attachment included

File: Calcabra Flag.png (23 KB, 511x307)

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Calcabra Flag

File: Gvilderstaaten Flag.png (28 KB, 510x309)

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Gvilderstaaten Flag

File: Avangar Flag.png (41 KB, 514x312)

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Avangar Flag

File: Kingdom of Silver.png (27 KB, 514x310)

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Kingdom of Silver

>>89637597
if you want you can improve any of the below flags, or the Azan and Gold flag from yesterday

or the flags/crests found here:
https://crumbling-giantstep.fandom.com/wiki/Crests,_Flags,_Coats-of-Arms,_and_Heraldry?so=search

outstanding requests I am aware of are:

Drunzigar shield - two goats facing each other on white and blue checkered shield

Ketlovia - a woman dancing with a wolf to symbolize the witch who cursed them all to be wolves

Setlovia - a running wolf surrounded by broken chains. As for color maybe opposite whatever Ketlovia is

Khenomeric Empire - Like the Mongol war flags, but egyptianish. There'd be no dragon on it

Gnoll Empire - some form of tug banner

>>89639817
Looks great albeit the dragon face is bit hard to read

>>89639817
Maybe invert the colors? Yellow flag with red dragon?

>>89640123
Maybe Avangar's flag is just the Tower of the Eternal Fire. A black flag with a flame at the center should be enough.

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>>89640404
>Drunzigar shield - two goats facing each other on white and blue checkered shield
Done.

>Drow
The drow are one of the many species of elves in Giantstep, and nowadays they are the most numerous one out of all elvenkind. They are adapted to underground living, having been carving complex city complexes in the dark for millennia. Their skin is of a blueish grey hue, able to withstand both the cold, the heat and the humidity of the depths. It is also highly resistant to cuts, something important when moving through thin, jagged, rocky corridors. Their eyes are bigger than average for elves, and are highly sensible to light, with pupils that are also able to retract faster and deeper to sudden brightness. This makes them highly adaptable at any underground environment, capable of even tunneling near volcanic currents. However, once on the surface, they can falter a bit. While their skin is as useful above ground as below it, sunlight is able to strain their eyes further than any other source of natural light, and thus they prefer the shade whenever possible. This has also made commonplace the crafting of sunhats, turbans or other kinds of clothes that protect the eyes in those areas where drow live above ground. Drow are also highly resistant to oxygen depravation, something needed when toiling around the deepest parts of the underground. Their physical strength is below that of humans, but they have great reflexes, which synergize well with their developed senses. They are vulnerable to exhaustion, as many elves are prone to, and they need to watch out for the intensity of their work, least they hurt themselves.

>>89643119
Drow have a very conflictive social structure. While in theory they have a very rigid and hierarchical matriarchy, where power and status is clearly defined, in reality the drow are infamous for their constant quarrel and infighting. Drow aren’t naturally social to the extent of humans or elves (even the witchelven are more open to social bonds that the drow, though due to the witchelven’s self-destructing nature makes this a point of contention), and need a lot of teaching about how to live in harmony with others. This has made them vulnerable to more organized groups, such as other elves, humans and dwarves, who took a lot of drow slave labor in the past. It would not be until the famous uprising of Celia II when the drow became a power on their own, and even then, the constant infighting in the Second Elven Empire and the Drow Confederation made those nations fail. The smaller structures of the city-states fit their nature much better, and the city-states have even managed to become a very powerful economic power. The constant need for protection against each other has made them create a complex network of alliances and treaties, which keeps them all alert while at the same time prevents any major conflict from breaking out. Nowadays, drow are by far the most numerous species in Scimitarian, making it the only continent where a non-human species is the dominant one. They are also common in most of western Giantstep, their presence there usually tied to trade and other business.

>>89643133
Drow economy is highly developed, profiting from both the produce of the surface and the mineral wealth of the underground. The rich mines of Central Scimitarian provide plenty of gold, silver, diamonds, iron and other valuables, which they can use to trade. The empty caverns are also excellent for the growing and harvesting of mushroom farms and domestic pig worms. On the surface, they also practice regular agriculture and husbandry in those areas free of volcanic influence. A good chunk of all these activities are done by either the lower classes or slave labor, which is obtained by a variety of methods, from legal punishment, selling one’s child into servitude or piracy and abduction. The ways a slave is treated will vary from city-state to city-state, but most authorities will turn a blind eye for the right price.

>Witchelven
Witchelves are one of the many elven species in Giantstep. Witchelven are well known in the world for being one of the most dangerous groups in the world, with little friends outside of some of the most violent and depraved people in the world. This is because witchelven are naturally predisposed to harm and self-destructive behaviors. While at first it was believed to be a result of social upbringing, caused by the cutthroat nature of their lands, now it is known that, even when raised in completely different cultures, witchelven naturally tend to violence. Even species like ogres, trolls or gnoll have a reasonable cause for this behavior. Ogres and trolls are creatures with low intelligence and incredible body strength and resilience, thus violence is just another way to socialize. Gnoll live in a near constant state of alert and paranoia towards the rest of the world, and in cases when it has been taken away (like through necromancy) they have proven to have a level of intelligence and reason on par to humans. Witchelves have no such reasons. They seem to suffer universally from a form of psychopathy that makes them incapable of feeling anything but pleasure in the pain and misery of others. They are absolutely capable of perfectly understanding what they are doing when they commit such acts, comprehending the ramifications of their actions and the effects on others and on themselves. They just do not care and do it regardless, which has made them receive the title of “cursed elves”. However, they are also intelligent enough to rein their impulses enough to avoid a complete implosion of their society, which has somehow managed to stay as the biggest elven power in the world, growing bold and powerful enough to nearly bring the Azanese Empire to the brink of collapse.

>>89643887
Witchelven have a marked sexual dimorphism, with the females being much taller than the males, though they are on par in terms of physical strength. Female witchleven are in fact the tallest of all elvenkind, whereas male witchelven are the shortest. Their skin is an ivory white, but when in combat or under stress, they produce a pinkish sweat, similar to some species of hippopotamus. Witchelven are also not particularly strong, relying on their elven flexibility and reflexes to fight, seeking to intimidate their opponents and to end the fight in a quick bout rather than a prolonged confrontation, where their stamina would fail them. Witchelven also have a much shorter gestation span, around eight months, half of the usual gestation time for other elves. This is believed to be a defense mechanism, as being pregnant for a year and a half in a society as violent and twisted as the witchelven’s is a guarantee of death. Witchelven also tend to have twins, though both siblings surviving until adulthood is beyond rare. Maternal witchelven instincts are poor, especially towards the males, and the kids are frequently abandoned to fend for themselves once they reach a certain age. In fact, the mortality rates are so incredibly high in witchelven society that results in the shortest lifespans of all elvenkind as a result, with most witchelves having lives of similar lengths to humans, and only the high nobles reaching the 300 years of age. Supposedly, the witchelven manage to keep their population from collapsing through many means, some of which are part of their dark secrets.

>>89643895
For all of their love of pain and bloodlust, witchelven have no wish to die, and they are smart enough to keep themselves from harm’s way if they think they may end up dead. This makes witchelven society one based on a mix of might makes right and subjugation, where the weaker members of society submit to the stronger ones in search of protection against the rest. Betrayal and backstabbing is the norm, and thus witchelven have to always be on alert to not end up with their throat cut during the night. Fights between witchelven are rarely direct, preferring to kill from afar or by stabbing their opponents in the back. This has developed into a war doctrine based on hit and run tactics, quick assaults to unprotected positions, raids and sabotage during the night, always on the move and avoiding any direct confrontation at all costs. This makes them excellent raiders, something they do frequently to obtain slaves to actually work their lands and do their chores. Slaves can expect to find themselves in hell if they ever are found wanting, and many recently captured slaves prefer committing suicide before staying as slaves, knowing the fate they might suffer under their new masters.

>>89643906
The witchelven have deep ties with dark magic, with demon cults and sacrificial rituals being commonplace in the empire. Their dark nature became even worse once the Prophet-Empress Morwenna took power and created the Witchelven Empire. The results of this are the different succubus breaches, all appearing around the empire, destined to seemingly drag the entire nation into hell due to their depravity and lust for evil.

>>89637453
speaking of flags, i was thinking that since the Asvaran Confederacy is dependant from thw Azan Empire their flag should have the imperial flag encompassed in the quarter.

>>89639990
>Gvilderstaaten Flag
>Flames
Why?

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>>89640477
>>89640528
How about this?

>>89640537
The Sauron helmet with flames was part of the original request from way back. I added the swords since the flag looked kind of empty

>>89644498
It is from the original request, which is likely from how Gvilderstaaten is partially based on Novigrad from Witcher

>>89646368
Much better.

>It is from the original request, which is likely from how Gvilderstaaten is partially based on Novigrad from Witcher
Oh. Fair enough, though flames are not the first thing that comes to mind for a mercantile port...

>>89643895
But what's the price for a vial of witchelven sweat.

>>89637453
>>89639817
>>89639927
>>89639990
>>89640123
>>89640285
>>89641789
>>89646368
What are those? Flags for ants?

>>89640123
ayyy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nYNo_LJDuA

>>89646765
>Oh. Fair enough, though flames are not the first thing that comes to mind for a mercantile port...
probably something about the holy flames of Bronzar or something like that, not every nation needs to announce its true identity on its flag

>>89647184
the software I am using is pretty low end, so making it bigger would just make it more pixelated

not sure why it needs to be any bigger though

>>89647175
Does it look like Danganronpa blood?

>>89647530
>the software I am using is pretty low end, so making it bigger would just make it more pixelated
I'd suggest using gimp and heraldicart (dot) org

more like /tg/ makes a seething

>>89646368
I liked the previous one better desu

>Moon Elves
The Moon Elves, also known as the Ta’lunasir, are one of the many elven species in Giantstep. The moon elves are used to a nomadic lifestyle, having been moving all around all eastern and southern Giatstep for millennia, though the birth of the Gnoll Empire forced them to limit their movements to the south. Ta’lunasir have pale skin, with frequent freckles all around. Their hair is coal black, and they usually have it braided in complex patterns, said to represent stars. The Ta’lunasir are used to long voyages, either in caravans or just walking having the best stamina and resilience out of all elvenkind. This allows them to practice activities like agriculture with little issue. They do prefer warmer climates, though they aren’t unused to colder periods, manufacturing complex clothing to protect themselves from the lower temperatures. Unusually, their eyes are of a deep crimson red, which can be somewhat intimidating for those who haven’t seen moon elves before, though their cordial attitude tend to make this initial fear quickly disappear.

>>89654403
Ta’lunasir’s magical affinity is much lower than that of most elves. Instead, the moon elves naturally tend towards astromancy, frequently following astromantic cults and customs. Moon elves also tend to move around the step following the movements of the astral bodies, studying and interpreting the meaning of the constellations. They tend to cultivate great relations with all astromantic organizations they find, though their approach is less scientific and much more religious, practicing a great deal of rituals of appraisal of the celestial bodies and the constellations. Indeed, some moon elves believe that the freckles on their face are just constellations either long gone or that have not yet appeared. The temples of the moon elves are usually small, due to the wandering nature of their makers, and also double as astromantic observatories and places of philosophical debate. Ta’lunisar are also highly superstitious, with many customs related to good or bad look, like keeping the shrines of benevolent gods in good condition despite not actively worshiping them.

>>89654418
Ta’lunasir have lived a nomadic life for millennia, travelling in familiar groups following certain stellar patterns or a pre-established route. They tended to establish themselves on a place and partake in the local community in any way they could. After a while, they would pack up and move again, in a seemingly never-ending cycle. Local populations usually welcome the moon elves, since they usually arrive during periods of high workload, either in the fields or during fairs. Their modest nature and hard work ethics make them perfect for seasonal jobs, and once their astromantic business is done, they will pack up and leave without causing a fuzz, returning after a year or two to repeat the process again. Ta’lunisar also tend to keep to themselves, avoiding getting into local politics unless it is about something that affects them directly. This way of life has been altered by the appearance of the Forest of Getting Lost and the Gnoll Empire, which have cut them fro accessing most of their old travelling routes, limiting them to a much smaller area. The creation of the Moonlight Shores has also caused quite a change in the lifestyle of the moon elves, beginning more and more to settle permanently in the area, though many are still wandering nomads.

So do horned elves have antler-like horns, mountain goat-like horns or cow-like horns? There's barely any info on horned elves on the wiki...

>Horned elves
Horned elves, also known as pale elves, are one of the many elven species in Giantstep, and by far the rarest and most elusive of them all. Instead of being predominant on a singular area of the world, the horned elves are scattered all over the step, usually near the center of power of the Faerie Lords. They are by far the least numerous of them all, to the point that many believe horned elves have been on the brink of extinction for centuries now. They rarely appear anywhere where the commoners gather, instead keeping to themselves. Their services to the faerie lords garner them a lot of power and influence wherever they are, and this allows them to create an aura of mystery and intimidation around them. They barely talk when in public, always showing very controlled and dignified movements, to the point that they tend to unnerve eyewitnesses. Their eyes are black, with yellow irises and no distinguishable pupil (though they do have it, it is the same color as the iris, and thus most people think they do not have pupils). This, combined with their apparent lack of need to blink, makes them have a very unsettling stare. Adding to this, their sclera also shines in the dark. While their skin is not as pale as, for example, the witchelven, they completely lack any tarnishing element. They do not sweat, nor do they develop moles, freckles or any other kind of spot. Their skin heals to such an extent that they are unable to have scars, with only magical wounds having the chance of leaving one. However, while their skin heals to such an extent, this does not apply to the body underneath, and a horned elf looking perfectly healthy might actually be grievously wounded, with the skin having hidden the wound while not having actually healed from it.

>>89655344
The most famous characteristic of the horned elves are their horns. All horned elves have a pair of horns to the side of their heads, with the shape and size of it varying depending on the location. Both males and females begin growing their horns once they reach puberty, and they stop growing once they reach full adulthood. Male horned elves’ horns tend to be bigger than the females’. To avoid getting their hair stuck on their horns, they will have hairstyles much shorter, though they will still decorate their hair with braids or ornamentations. Due to their high societal status, they often decorate their horns, covering the tips of their horns with gold or silver to prove their worth. Losing a horn on an accident or during a battle is a great disgrace for them, and many have been known to commit ritualistic suicide to cover up their shame. Once a horned elf reaches old age, they will begin to grow a small goatee, something unheard of in elvenkind, as they do not have facial hair. These elders are usually male, with bearded females being extraordinarily rare. They are considered the leaders of the horned elves, and are usually the personal assistants and confidents of the faerie lords, granting them immense power within society.

>>89655371
Horned elves rarely display emotions. While many can attest they do have them, they are incapable of feeling them in the same way as other sentient creatures. Thus, they tend to have a more logical and calculating behavior. This is combined with their sense of superiority caused by their proximity to the faerie lords to see all others as beneath them. They do not feel pity or remorse towards anyone who’s not another horned elf or a faerie lord, not even towards other elves. Their expressions of contempt are loud and clear, even if they keep their blank and unreadable expression. This has many believe they are closely related to the witchelves, due to their altered behavior in relation to feelings and empathy.

Also, I won't develop the hybrids since we still don't have any rules for how the half-whatever individuals work.

I'll continue with the fairies. From what I've seen, the species of fairy in the setting are:
Common Fairies
Chotës (Already done)
Sprites
Pixies
Bog Fairies
Black Snatchers
Wisps
Wisplings

Also, there seems to be a bit on conflict whether the common fairies are pixies or are something different. Any suggestions?

File: Captials v.4.png (104 KB, 491x1921)

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A reminder we still need to complete the list of capitals.

>>89655419
I think I was the one who started making references to pixies, but after seeing the wide range of subraces being added for fairies, decided that having pixies as something separate was redundant

the way things are written now, both "fairy" and "sprite" are categories; if it is small and flies it is a fairy, if it is really small it is a sprite. Something can be both a fairy and a sprite

black snatchers and wisps don't really belong in the fairy category

neither do wisplings, since most if not all can't fly

>>89658717
Here's the thing. The only complete description of a fairy species we have are the Chöte from the Terrania freeholds. And about their size:

>The Chotë are diminutive fairies, some of the smaller that have been recorded in the world. They are so small they are able to ride comfortably their war wasps around without impeding their flight.

So even if we are talking about something slightly bigger than japanese giant hornets, chöte can't be bigger than a thumb. What could be smaller than that and still work?

Other fairies, I assume, can't be bigger than 30 cm, otherwise we are starting to get into the territory where they are something else.

And about their flight. I imagine they all can fly short distances, but since they are so small it takes a lot of energy. Like a hummingbird.

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Updated the sentient species table with the latest additions.

>>89658819
not sure what the issue here is

>>89658717
>>89659254
The thing is
>if it is small and flies it is a fairy, if it is really small it is a sprite.
I'm not sure if I agree with this, since the chotes are said to be fairies, and they are thumb-sized. There must be something that differentiates most fairies and sprites.

Also
>black snatchers and wisps don't really belong in the fairy category
Why?

>>89659342
>There must be something that differentiates most fairies and sprites
something can be considered both a fairy and a sprite, they are potentially overlapping categories rather than distinct species

>why isn't a wisp a fairy
they are glowing balls that may or may not even be sentient

>why isn't a black snatcher a fairy
it is a bunch of arms that pulls people into the faerie dimension, it doesn't fly and is far larger than a fairy

>>89659598
>they are potentially overlapping categories rather than distinct species
So what does each one mean? What's the difference?

>wisp are glowing balls that may or may not even be sentient
Can we really count them as sentient species if that is the case?

>black snatchers are a bunch of arms that pulls people into the faerie dimension
Same here, can we really count them as sentient species ?

>>89659714
fairy = small with wings
sprite = really small, may or may not have wings

>wisps and black snatchers sentient
there are some grey areas between the sentient species, monster, and bestiary lists

I guess we can add some fey creatures to the monster list and make a new category for fey

>>89659856
>I guess we can add some fey creatures to the monster list and make a new category for fey
We have that already, crystallids are categorized as fey in the bestiary.

>there are some grey areas between the sentient species, monster, and bestiary lists
That is what is worrying me. It is already difficult to organize as it is.

>>89659598
What about this? Since fairies are all insectoid, and they technically all fly, at least short distances, we could differentiate them with the amount of wings and/or the type of insect wings.

>Common fairies
A pair of wings, ladybug-like

>Chötes
A pair of wings, crane fly-like

>Sprites
Two pairs of wings, butterfly-like

>Pixies
Two pairs of wings, dragonfly-like

>Bog fairies
Two pairs of wings, mosquito-like

>Wisps/Wisplings (I imagine they are the same)
Two pairs of wings, stickbug-like

As for the Black Snatchers, I'm on favor of just moving it to the bestiary (or the monster one) and out of the sentient species list. It doesn't fit at all there.

>>89661167
most of those won't work based on pre-existing descriptions and images

If you could turn one nation into an indipendent setting which one would you choose?

>>89664238
The Bog Witch's swamps, obviously.

>Fairies
Fairies are a group of sentient species belonging to the category of fey. They are one of the biggest subcategories of fey there is, with dozens of different species, so much so that is difficult to make a comprehensive list of them all. Most of these species live in the depths of the wilderness like Elfwood or the Dominion of the Bog witch, though their numbers are generally small. The more numerous fairies are spread wildly, though most of them live in territories that used to belong to the Western Elven Empire.

>>89665079
>General Fairy Characteristics
Fairies usually share a physical appearance half humanoid and insectoid. The amount limbs and their shape can vary wildly, with some being more human-like and some tending towards a more insectoid appearance. They are a diminutive species, with the biggest examples of fairydom not being more than 30 cm of height, and with the smallest barely the size of a human thumb. Fairies are also some of the few sentient species with the ability to fly, though this has its limitations. Their small size and bug-like wings means that they can only fly relatively small distances before falling from exhaustion or overheat, which makes them try to save energy as much as possible. However, this ability still makes them excellent at traversing the forests, since their quick and nimble bodies and swift reflexes makes them great at moving through dense vegetation without issue. This is important for moving in groups as well, since fairies can move in big swarms, the smaller the species the bigger the swarm, and avoiding a mid-flight collision is important. While most fairies have some sort of carapace-like skin, damage to the wings is still a very serious wound, and can take plenty of time for them to recover from a wound to the wings.

>>89665089
Fairies tend to live somewhat short lives, though this depends on the type of fairy in question. In general, the bigger a fairy is, the longer its lifespan, with the oldest living 60 years at most, while the smallest tend to live around 20. The fairy lifecycle is very fast. Fairies’ gestation lasts around 3-6 months, depending on the size of the species. The newborns grow quickly, being able to use their wings to fly in little time. Most fairies have a slowed down perception of time, with them sensing the world around them at a much slower pace, which makes other species see them as nervous wrecks, constantly moving and twitching. This also makes communication between fairies and non-fairies somewhat complicated, but not impossible, as it only needs patience from both sides to establish some form of communication. Many interactions between fairies and non-fairies have ended up with fairies bored and tired of following up the slower non-fairies. Their hyperactive manners has garnered them an impish and mischievous nature.

>>89661465
How much should we follow the images for the lore descriptions? Many images seem just placeholders.

>>89665112
I feel most of them were chosen pretty deliberately

>>89665228
>>89665112
What images? The onli fairies with images I've found are the one in the Fairy woods (generic fairy?) and the bog fairy. Are there more?

>Common Fairies
Common Fairies is a catch-all term that includes the bulk of fairydom, in particular those that stick very close to the average characteristics of fairies. While there have been many attempts to categorize the different fairy species, the sheer diversity of this group, the sheer rarity of some of those species and the fairies’ general ability to reproduce with each other with little to not repercussion, has made this a rather futile task. Most of these fairies tend towards more humanoid shapes, with proportions similar to those of humans, though their hands have four digits instead of five. Depending of the subspecies, they have between two to four arms with a humanoid shape, while their legs have a more insectoid form. Their skin is composed of a very light carapace, similar to some species of insect, frequently with spikes on the legs and arms. Their eyes are also insectoid, being simple eyes with a singular lens, more akin to spider eyes rather than human eyes. Their eyes also completely black, without differentiation of their components. Common fairies usually have multiple sets of somewhat translucent eyes, as their pupil cannot retract when in contact with excess light. Fairies have a different number of eyes depending of the subspecies, varying between two to ten eyes, though in general they will have two main eyes, with the rest being around them for a better surround vision. Their mouths are usually similar to those of humans, with more animalistic teeth and, in some cases, a retractable proboscis. This disposition generally allows them the ability of speech, always in a very high pitch tone, which is useful when having to communicate with non-fairies.

>>89667254
Common fairies have two pairs of wings. Similar to a dragonfly, this allows them to fly at high speeds and with incredible precision. They are able to completely change directions near instantly, and they can even stay in the air in one place. These wings are often protected by a wing casing, keeping them save from getting wet or harmed. The shape of this casing depends on the subspecies, with them having unique patterns on them, in a similar way humans have unique fingerprints for each individual. Due to the generally bigger size of common fairies, measuring between 20-30 cm (with wings roughly 2/3rds of their size), they are fast and agile fliers, moving in coordinated groups when hunting or fighting others. The bigger they are, the more resilient they are as well, but this also makes them avoid higher speeds, as it becomes harder to avoid obstacles in the forest. Common fairies also tend to make a lot of noise when flying, making a distinctive buzzing sound when they are in the air, and as such, they prefer going on foot when they have to be stealthy. This is also helped by the fairies’ ability to cling to and crawl vertical surfaces, something they can do in near perfect silence.

>>89667259
Common fairies tend to live between 40 and 60 years, becoming adults at 15 years of age. Their social structure tend to vary depending on the region where they live, and the level of contact with non-fairy species. Most fairies are mainly frugivorous, but they also complement their diet by hunting insects or small birds and rodents. Their protein consumption increases when a fairy is pregnant, as it needs the extra nutrients for the developing fetus. Their gestation period lasts between 3-6 months, and during those days, the female will avoid flying, as it spends too much energy and it can cause damages to the baby. It is the job of the male (or the community if they live in one) to provide for the female during this period.

>>89667277
>Chötes
Already done. See the Terrania Freeholds page.
https://crumbling-giantstep.fandom.com/wiki/Terrania_Freeholds

The only thing to add is that they are around 4-7 cm tall.

>>89665228
This unless stated otherwise. Images are canon

>>89665079
>>89665089
>>89665098
Good job! I feel like there should be subspecies depending on appearance and where they come from since they vary to a pretty large degree though. Bog fairies, elfwood fairies and so on. Also going a little deeper in terms of relevance for players (items you can get from them, loot, exemplary encounters, possibly rolltables) would be very cool

Has flaganon left?

>>89668271
Thanks. But let us get the general descriptions out of the way first. Looking at >>89658843, there's like a hundred species yet to describe, plus a ton more lore in need of work. Maybe better leave the specifics to the player's or DM's discretion if it ever comes to that.

>>89668370
I‘d still do the subspecies while we’re at it kinda like that one guy did with the trolls

Have you stolen parts of this for your own setting?

>>89668571
If someone else wants to do it, be my guest. But again, we have like 80 species in here >>89658843 to describe. Plus the ones that haven't been added yet. We need to focus on these.

>>89658843
So, this list has 115 sentient species.

With the last updates, we have 36 completed, and 10 half done.

So what are you working on right now, anons?

>>89657257
>Ingurland
Does it even have a capital?

>>89672250
Probably.

My vote is on Rlondo

>>89667277
>Bog Fairies
Bog fairies are one of the many fairy species living in the world. The bog fairies encompass a wide variety of fairies that have adapted to living in the dark bogs of northern Giantstep, and have been altered by the harsh reality of living in the swamps of the Bog Witch. As such, these fairies tend to be much more aggressive and malicious than other fairies. Bog fairies are much more insectoid than humanoid, with a thicker carapace and three to four limbs, with the distribution of legs/arms depending on the type of bog fairy. They are around 5-12 cm of height, and are highly proficient at swarming. They have multiple pairs of compound eyes, and their facial features are somewhat goblinoid. They also have a mouth full of poisonous teeth and saliva. Though this poison is not particularly lethal in one bite (at worst it can cause massive inflammation), if left unchecked in the swamps it can easily rot into necrosis. And of course, the bog fairies usually attack in swarms, and thus a single victim can receive dozens of bites after an encounter, making them very dangerous. However, this is only a threat for soft-skinned species like humans, elves or goblins, as anything with a thicker skin will be too much for the mandibles of the bog fairies to penetrate. In those cases, they will go straight to the eyes or mouth of their opponent.

>>89676390
Bog fairies are very animalistic in terms of behavior, though they are still capable enough to organize in a society of sorts. Their way of life resembles somewhat to that of wasps. A dominant male will find multiple bog fairy females and set up a nest. The swarm will begin growing with both the spawn of the original founders, and the new arrivals that are accepted into the nest. They will then spend most of their time foraging and hunting, to feed the newborns and themselves. While most of the clan feeds off the nectar of the many plants in the bogs, the alpha fairy, the pregnant females and the newborn need a bigger nutritional intake. Thus, the spoils of the hunt and the nectar gathered is mixed in a concoction known as bog fairy honey, used to feed the previously mentioned groups. If ingested by someone who’s not a bog fairy, it can induce vivid hallucinations, seeing invisible things and nausea. The alpha bog fairy has the right of first pickings, and becomes much bigger than the rest of the clan, in some cases becoming unable to fly due to weight.

>>89676399
While the alpha also counts as having the monopoly of the females in one big harem, in reality only around half of the females in a bog fairy nest are actually part of the alpha’s harem, with the rest just bonding with the rest of the males that came from the outside, to avoid consanguinity problems. These tend to form couples of a male and one or two females, and if the upstart male begins gaining the favor of more bog fairy females than that, then he’ll either challenge the alpha bog fairy for dominance of the nest or, the most probable, leave to set up his own nest somewhere else. Despite this kind of behavior, bog fairies are not eusocial hive creatures. Each individual is fully independent, and there is no tie between them beyond familiar bonds or alliances of convenience. Thus, there can be a lot of infighting within a bog fairy nest. Bog fairies live around 25-35 years, having a gestation period of around six months, and reaching maturity around 7 years of age. Bog fairies are unable to fly until they become adults, relying completely on the clan to feed themselves until that point.

>>89676406
Bog fairy’s wings are usually jagged and scratched, to the point they should not be able to fly, and yet they do. This has led to the discovery that the bog fairies produce a special dust that induces levitation, and while they produce it in small quantities, it is enough to keep their light bodies on the air. This dust is a coveted ingredient in levitation potions and will temporarily reduce the weight of any object sprinkled with it.

Also, to the bog witch anon. If you are there, please confirm everything is correct about the bog fairies.

>>89676412
>Wisps
Wisps or wisplings are a group of fairy species that live in the world of Giantstep. They tend towards the more humanoid appearance, with a size around three to six cm of length. Their more humanoid form actually makes them have smooth skin instead of a carapace, though its function and texture is markedly differently from human or elven skin. Their limbs are also more humanoid, with five digits on each hand and actual feet rather than insectoid tarsus. This makes them less capable of clinging to surfaces, but helps them actually walking around. Their eyes are very elven in both shape and proportions. Instead of dragonfly-like wings, the wisps have two pairs of butterfly-like wings, making them slower flyers, but capable of staying in the air for longer distances. These wings are translucent, usually having flashy and colorful tones, and are very reflecting of light. This, and the fact that they can generate their own light, makes people frequently mistake them with will-o-wisps, even though will-o-wisps are not considered sentient.

>>89677390
Wisps tend to be female, as only one out of twelve wisps are born male. Wisp males are usually taller and with an extra pair of wings, which becomes a bright red when entering mating season. Unlike many sentient species, wisps can only mate during certain seasons (usually the end of winter), as they are completely inert during the rest of the year. Because of the rarity of the males, females can become quite aggressive for access to a male wisp, which can cause strong fights within the clan, and even death. This is because each male can only reproduce a limited number of times per season, and can die if they surpass this threshold. Wisps have been known to organize attacks to other wisp clans in order to kidnap their males. Wisps have a gestation period of 4-6 months, reaching maturity at the age of seven and reaching old age at 30.

>>89677403
Wisps have big communities, usually as nomadic hunter-gatherers, moving across the swamps or even the surrounding areas. Their social structure revolves around the oldest members of the tribe, who decide where to go during the summer or the winter. Wisps tend to stay sedentary during spring and summer. It is also common for wisps to seek non-fairy populations, making themselves at home in areas relatively protected by humans or other fey. In general they maintain nice relations with the populations of non-fairies, often seeking to trade for food or other goods. Wisps are also somewhat mischievous, and tend to have an easy laugh, which can unnerve some onlookers. Wisps are known for their sense of fashion. Each wisp has to elaborate their own clothing, something they have to do by obtaining many natural elements from nature, from animal hides to vegetal leaves.

Also, I'm of the opinion that the Black Snatchers aren't sentient, and they should be moved elsewhere.

>>89677425
>Black Snatchers aren't sentient
What makes you think that? They argument could be made to just put them into the bog fae category however.

>>89677538
From the Bog Witch wiki page.
> Black snatchers are evil fey of the marshes that live in bogholes which they are magically bound to and cannot leave since their body lacks a true corporeal form. Whether they are multiple organisms or a single entity is unknown, but when they are awake you can see multiple pairs of evil eyes gleaming from the shadows. As they are bound to their hole, which acts as a portal into the fairy realm, they rely on walkers to approach them. they then use their long black arms, which have long-fingered claw-like hands at the ends, to drag them into their hole. Whether they eat their victims or just kidnap them into their world is unknown - in any case, no one who fell into a bog hole in which a black snatcher lived was ever seen again. If one is very still, a low conspiratorial murmur can be heard coming from these holes.

-Undefined body. Not clear whether it's a single organism or a group of individuals.
-No attempt to communicate with their victims, they just drag them to their dimension.
-They seemingly murmur with each other, though this is unclear.
-Near zero information about them beyond these points.

Black Snatchers seem more like magical monsters than sentient species that could organize a society. Thus we should move it to the monster >>89675314 category.

>>89677412
will-o-wisps are glowing balls of light, nonhumanoid

wisplings come in a wide range of shapes, but none of them have been described so far as humanoid

>>89677799
>none of them have been described so far as humanoid
From the Swamp of Sadness page:

>Often mistaken for will-o-wisps from a distance, they are small winged feminine humanoids that can glow at will. Although more attractive than many fairy subraces, they are still sadistic little pricks that enjoy causing problems for others.

>small winged humanoids
They are humanoids.

>>89678646
the quoted text is from the description of a wisp fairy, so far they have only been described as being in the swamp of sadness

wisps and will-o-wisps are meant to be the same thing judging by the contexts the word wisp has has been used in on previous threads, and were described as being the same thing at least once

>>89678815
So wisplings and wisp fairies are the same, but they are not the same as wisps?

>>89678865
wisp/will-o-wisp = ball of light
wisp fairy = glowing fairy
wispling = category of small fey with a wide range of appearances

>>89679034
So wisplings are a type of wisp fairy? Boy the nomenclature in this is confusing. Other than having to change the names used in the description, is there something else that needs changing?

>>89679109
wisplings don't have much in common with the other two aside from being found in swamps, being sadistic tricksters, and being small

>>89679604
Is there a reason why they are called so similarly?

>>89679604
So >>89677390 are wisplings? And wisps are a completely different thing?

continuing the development of silver magic:
list of spells:
APPRENTICE
incineration: transforms a target item into a pile of trash
illness: makes a living target fall sick with high fever for a period of three days
energy vacuum: sucks life away from animals and plants, the resulting wither is permanent.
REGULAR
disguise: allows the user to disguise as another person
mind control: the user takes control of the mind of the target
mind scan: the user is able to scan the mind of the target
HERALD
door opening: the user is able to open one door withous using the key, in exchange, all the other doors will be closed.
crystallization: the target is frozen for a very brief time
MASTER
Faust's mirror: summons two exacts copies of the user that mimic each one of its actions
rainbow ray: projects a ray capable of healing a wound or an illness, in exchange, the user gets it instead

>>89680032
that description resembles wisp fairies the most

descriptions of wisplings can be found on the dominion, zyla gora, platanus bog, and sentient species list pages

wisps and will-o'-wisps are the same thing, mysterious glowing balls of light that lure you into dangerous places. They are described on a few pages, including the dominion page

>>89680762
>wisps and will-o'-wisps are the same thing
So if wisps are will-o-wisps, are wisps not sentient, then?

>>89680988
hard to say

will-o'-wisps seem to be cunning when it comes to certain things, but their motives and thought process is unknown for the most part

What's the deal with the inhabitant of the golden sea of wheat? Are they human?

Anyone here who want's to help make a taxonomy for some of the giantstep species?

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>Dominion of the bog witch
>Norn's Realm

>>89682061
>Are they human
Yes.

>>89685237
What makes you so sure of that?

>>89685255
Because at no point they are mentioned they are something else. And since that region is pretty much 100% humans, then it'd be logical to assume they are as well.

Plus, the Fyrd was colonised by people from the sea of wheat, and they worship human gods.

>Wisplings
Wisplings are a species of fairy that live in the world of Giantstep. Believed to be a direct descendent of wisp fairies, they are the smallest fairies around, measuring around 3-5 cm of length, diminutive even for fairydom. They have the unique ability to shape their appearance in a limited way, which both depends on their current diet and the diet of their mothers during pregnancy. The general frailty of wisplings makes them need a great deal to camouflage to survive in their swamps and marshes, and as such, this kind of adaptation is essential for their survival. During pregnancy, the female wispling will focus on eating certain elements of the forest (either animal or vegetal), which will grant the newborn a physiognomy similar to that eaten. This appearance will vary depending on the proportions of the diet, with the more they eat of a certain element the more the offspring will be able to mimic it. However, this camouflage is deactivated most of the time, making them normally look like fairies with animalistic or vegetal features. It is only when they focus that they are able to draw upon the genetic memory and camouflage themselves fully with the environment. This also only works during the first generation, as the mother doesn’t pass on the genetic memory of whatever her grandmother ate, only what she consumed.

>>89685726
This kind of memory also grants them other abilities, originated from whatever they mother feasted upon back then, though these are much more muted than the original’s source. A wispling that was reared for plant-like camouflage will be able to grow some leaves on its body and even smell like a flower, whereas a wispling reared for a lizard-like camouflage will be able to grow scales for better defense. The only things that isn’t affected by this ability are their pair of wings, similar to those of a butterfly. However, their colors are muted and dark done to quickly dissipate the wisplings’ figure in the environment to hide from predators. They are very silent fliers, and they use this to both hunt and to run away from possible predators.

>>89685733
Wisplings have a complicated relation to non-fairy species. While one might expect wisplings to get close to humans and other bigger species for protection, the truth is that their assimilative properties also work with them. When a pregnant wispling eats a human or any other bigger species, the offspring will be able to grow many times the size of a normal wispling, with the biggest wispling registered being 15 cm. While it doesn’t grant them any further ability and no camouflage to speak of, this makes human eating a very tantalizing proposition for many expecting mothers, as such a big body can deter most of their common predators, not to mention turning the offspring into a dominant member of the wispling clan. However, this is easier said than done, as humans absolutely hate creatures eating the bodies of their deceased, not to mention human hunting is pretty much out of the question if they don’t want swift retribution. Many wisplings also see human eating as somewhat sacrilegious, not to mention incredibly dangerous to the mother in question (as the growth of the baby can literally tore the mother apart while still in the womb, dooming them both). Due to their size, they are generally unable to speak normally with bigger species, having to communicate with each other through buzzing of different tones.

>>89685744
Wisplings are more individualistic than other types of fairies, often living in familiar groups of six to ten individuals. These groups keep in contact with each other for trade, information and sometimes hunt, but in general, they will tend to keep to themselves. When a wispling reaches adulthood, they will search for a mate in one of the different groups they kept contact with, though they will tend to avoid consanguinity problems as much as possible. Both males and females are very active in the process of finding a mate, and they are highly monogamous, with the pairs never breaking up until one of the members dies.

I hope this solves the wisplig/wisp fairy discussion. Now I'll move on to halflings:

Hobbits
Common Gnomes
Swamp Gnomes
Uldra (Northern Gnomes)
Domovoy
Brownies

Any suggestions before I start?

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A reminder we still have to update stuff for the critters.

>>89682061
Why not?

>>89687777
They are always wearing masks seems a bit suspicious kinda like the honeymen there's a good chance that they are something else.

>>89685765
What are halflings' comkon traits other that they are short and don't have wings?

>>89687926
But some of them oly wear half masks, if they weren't human, one would know.

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Sentient species list updated with the latest additions.

>>89691746
>pixies
Oh wait, that wasn't added.

>>89668591
Pretty sure a couple of anons said they had done so a few threads ago.

>>89685765
Brownies are a lot smaller than the others on this list and have more in common with fairies despite not being able to fly

"Halfling" has been stated in a few places as just being another word hobbit, and in many of the places it appears, it is on lists that often also include gnomes. "Halfling" is therefore not a great name for a racial category

>>89695082
I see. Well, I'll try to think of something.

>Halflings
Halflings are a group of sentient species belonging to the category of fey. More of a term resulting from historical and political bonds than actual genetic ties, halflings encompass many groups whose main characteristic is being shorter than humans. The term “halfling” itself is a human construction, as most fey consider them as other member of the “minor fey”. Most of these groups live in the Lands Behind the Hedge, Scimitarian and the Island of Wizards.

>>89698546
>General Halfling Characteristics
As the term “Halfling” was made by humans to describe a particular group of fey, halflings do not have many things in common. Still, one can see that the biggest element they all share is their short size. Halflings are universally shorter than humans, and most of the time they are also shorter than dwarves. Halflings are also much less muscular than dwarves, having a lesser level of physical fortitude, but their stamina is much higher in exchange. Halflings are very efficient energy-wise, being able to function for long periods of work without any major caloric intake. This point is often forgotten, as halflings are seldom seen not preparing great feasts or happily eating considerable quantities of food. This makes them quickly take very rotund shapes, which has little to no bad effect on their health, unlike in humans. The halflings’ body proportions are also somewhat different, with hands and feet bigger than those of humans or dwarves.

The term “Halfling” began being used after the wars between Azan and the Western Elven Empire. After the azanese victory, the Lands Behind the Hedge began receiving more and more human influence, making these groups get in contact with the Azanese Empire. Nowadays, the lands of Hereby, Whereby and Thereby have the biggest concentration of halflings by far, with hobbits, gnomes and brownies being the most characteristic of these species. Some groups related to the previously mentioned are also considered as halfling, despite its small presence in the Lands Behind the Hedge.

>Hobbits
Hobbits are one of the halfling species living in Giantstep. They are the tallest of the halfling species, and the one with the most political influence outside of their homeland, though that is not saying much. They have a humanoid shape, with a height of one meter at most. They have broad shoulders, though not to the extent of dwarves, and are generally not very muscular. Hobbits are very hairy, though they seldom have beard. Instead, their sideburns can grow so large that they will take the role of a beard. Males often leave their sideburns as is, while females try to keep them as kempt as possible, through braids or curls. Most hobbits have brown hair, but it is not unusual to see blonde hobbits, particularly in Scimitarian. Hobbits have a very thick skin, particularly in their hands are feet, which makes them excellent for rough manual labor. This thick skin also makes hobbits dislike wearing things such as gloves or shoes, only using them during very dire circumstances, like travelling through freezing mountains. Hobbits tend to have very long lives, easily reaching around 150 years of age.

>>89699310
Hobbits have a natural ability to work the land. As part of the fey, they have a natural affinity for magic, which in this case translates into being excellent farmers and herders. They are able to detect with little effort the needs and requirements of their crops and their charges, and it is commonly known that a field worked by hobbits tends to be more productive than one worked solely by humans, even when the conditions are identical. Combined that with the lands of Hereby being naturally fertile and with a gentle climate, and you find that their lands are incredibly productive. However, hobbits prefer to work their own individual lands, being divided in familiar plots instead of big properties. Due to their innate talent for fieldwork and the fertility of their soil, hobbits need to dedicate little hours of work to their crops, with only a couple of months of the year being truly work intensive. This leaves them free to other affairs, which they spend loafing around. Hobbits have a very developed public life, spending most of the time on taverns, sports (they are quite fond of lawn bowling, to the point that the Great Herebian Lawn Bowling Competition has been going on uninterrupted for more than a millennia, being one of the longest lasting sportive competitions in the world) or reuniting in each other’s homes. They also have a lot of theatres and public spectacles, having grown particularly fond of fireworks.

>>89699346
While most of the public life is done in towns not that dissimilar to those of human nations, the private life of most hobbits is done somewhat underground. Hobbits live in burrows that are half in the surface and half underground. Most of the time, hobbits spend their time in the surface part of their homes, since it is dedicated to common living and to receive visitors. The underground rooms of a burrow are reserved for a hobbit’s private life, as well as for other uses such as storerooms. Hobbit storerooms are massive, and since they are underground, can reach truly monumental sizes, almost twice the size of the domestic area of the house. These storage rooms are dedicated to storage food, but they also serve as workshops for those interested in craftsmanship. Hobbits do not have a kitchen, instead preferring to eat outdoors. During rainy or foggy days, they will erect a series of tents to protect themselves from the elements while they feast.

>>89689868
You couldn't really tell an elven or satyr chin from a human chin so Id argue knowing what the lower half of their face looks like doesn't prove that they are human. Possible shapeshifting abbilities aside.

>>89689868
>they wear masks 24/7. The most plausible explantion is they do this in order to hide their faces.
>they speak in an "incomprehensible and raspy language" not understood by humans.
>they control gigantic monstrous behemoths for their field work and nobody knows how they do it.
>on certain equinox they celebrate "grotesque" rituals on which they erect giant wicker man like statues. This is somewhat reminiscent of the description of witches sabbaths in Zyla Gora.
>they share quite a few attributes like the mask wearing, speaking in an unkown language and occult ritual thing with the honeymen (ritualistic incensatings, incomprehensible murmuring that sounds like fairy bees humming and so on) who come from an unspecified species and the honeywenches who are canonically hags.
>I'd go so far to suggest that both of them are related in some way (geographycally they aren't far from each other either) and possibly even come from the same species or culture
>the strong folk horror undertones in the description of the inhabitants of the golden sea of wheat hints to some sort of dark secret in this region that leads in a similiar direction (probably also human sacrifice for ensuring a good harvest or something like that.

>>89680575
I don't wanna be that guy but the whole magic schools of different colors thing kinda sucks so far since it's pretty inconsistent with many decriptions of magic that go beyond that. It feels forced on at a point where people had already written all sorts of stuff about magic without afhering to those color rules. I say we scrap it. At least for the most part.

>>89700774
Nothing you said indicates non-human. Being creepy is not exclusive to non-humans. Plus, we know that the people of the Fyrd are humans, and they are stated to be colonists from the Sea of Wheat. Not to mention pretty much everyone in that area of the world is human.

Also:
>they control gigantic monstrous behemoths for their field work and nobody knows how they do it.

From the Sea of Wheat Page: ”Despite their threatening looks and them being created as war beasts, their gentle nature and ease to domesticate meant that the population quickly bonded with the behemoths"
They are highly docile and peaceful. They are an alchemical experiment gone wrong, and the wheatians took them out of pity.

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>>89700994
>Nothing you said indicates non-human.
yes it does. it's how I originally wrote them.
I'm not saying they are 100% not human but destroying the mystery of what they are by just making them human kills all the fun.
>We know that the people of the Fyrd are humans, and they are stated to be colonists from the Sea of Wheat.
It's quite possible that people settled in the sea of wheat, integrated into the cultture and started wearing wheat masks mimicking the ways of the inhabitants there. Later they quite possibly immigrated to Fyrd from there maybe even because things started getting too weird for them in the wheat fields. The original inhabitants however would never leave the blood and soil they are living on behind.
>From the Sea of Wheat Page
That's a later addition by someone who seemingly overlooked the much earlier stated:
"How the Wheatmen manage to control these monstrous creatures is a mystery to outsiders."
To further prove my point of them being up to no good and quite possibly not human I'll post some pictures of how I initially imagined them to look like.
Maybe from my posts alone it wasn't clear of terrifying wheat masks tend to look.

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>>89701162

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>>89701166

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>>89701176

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>>89701195

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>>89701216

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>>89701227

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>>89701252
here's one of the effigies

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>>89701267
here's another one..

>>89701277
Don't be fooled by the delicious bread, the singing and the laughter. For outsiders the wheatfields aren't a happy place.

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>>89701289
here's one of the agricultural behemoths

>>89701299
That plowbeast doesn't make any sense, it will stamp on the furrows it's just plowed.

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>>89701299
Pic related is sorta what I had in mind when imagining the giant millstone but much (!) larger and pulled by some of these plowbeasts instead. Also with a more rural uk aesthetic and a little bit less barbarian.

>>89701162
>but destroying the mystery of what they are by just making them human kills all the fun.
Why would knowing they are human destroy their mystery? There are many other things to who the wheatians are than their species, more than enough to keep a good mystery.

>It's quite possible that people settled in the sea of wheat, integrated into the cultture and started wearing wheat masks mimicking the ways of the inhabitants there.
That's what the lore states, yeah. "The cities and towns in the inner plains are later arrivals, coming from various parts of the Khenomeric Empire to expand the crop harvest. These people quickly bonded with the locals, seeing that there were enough resources for the newcomers as well, though they never really adopted their level of zeal the original population had. They still worship the local cults of wheat, but not with the same intensity." Do you think they would have bonded quickly if the newcomers didn't even know what the locals were?

>Later they quite possibly immigrated to Fyrd from there maybe even because things started getting too weird for them in the wheat fields.
Anon, how the Fyrd was colonized is explained in its page. And no, it wasn't because things were weird in there, they would have had centuries to move away if so.

>"How the Wheatmen manage to control these monstrous creatures is a mystery to outsiders." is overlooked lore.
No, the fact that they are horrible abominations makes outsiders think there's some twisted mystery about the agricultural behemoths, where in reality they are just docile.

>yes it does. it's how I originally wrote them.
Yeah, but it's been more than a year of this project going on. The more is written about something, the more it probably changes from the idea of the original creator. That's part of the course in here.

>>89701316
you must be fun at parties

>>89701299
It works well enough with the lore it has. The behemoths were designed by alchemists as warbeasts, so they not fitting the role of plowing animals seems fair.

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>>89701325
>Why would knowing they are human destroy their mystery?
It takes away from it and makes them more boring. It's much more interesting if speculation is going around that they are something else. Which is possible but could be wrong. That's what a mystery is and explaining it destroys part of it. Do i really have the spell that out for you?
>>89701325
>Do you think they would have bonded quickly if the newcomers didn't even know what the locals were?
Surely they have some methods to put you under their spell and nobody says that they aren't hospitable and welcoming at first. Also fear can be a pretty powerful motivation to not leave a cult which they obviously are. Just think about works of fiction like the wicker man or shadow over innsmouth. There can be many reason for foreigners to adapt, integrate and even interbreed with them. Wanting secret occult powers, psychological manipulation and other cult shenanigans, being drugged...
>the fact that they are horrible abominations makes outsiders think there's some twisted mystery about the agricultural behemoths
Kinda sounds like a stretch. They are literally bred for war and can reach the size of a Sperm Whale. Sure you can go the route of actually they are friendly and misunderstood creatures but just like making them human it's the boring option.
>The more is written about something, the more it probably changes from the idea of the original creator.
As far as I can tell it was literally just one guy who really made it all bland and historical.
He also really seemed to like the Khenomeric empire since that's what quite a lot of the wiki article is going on about. Do I like it? No not really.
I just don't think a pretty standard human empire of wheatfarmers has more to offer than a wicked cabal of mysterious beings that speak in an incomprehensible language and hold dark harvest rituals

>>89701574
But not knowing they are humans makes little sense, especially since the area has been both populated by outsiders and has had a big role in the politics of the region. It's not a rare place where very few arrive and even less leave, there's no way that particular fact isn't known. And we are talking about a very long period of time.

As for who went there: "Many of these groups were poor farmers without land, coming to the region invited by the khenomeric authorities to expand the crop yield. The majority of those people were kicked out during the first stages of the conflict between the local wheatians and the khenomeri, but enough stayed to occupy the inner plain areas, and nowadays they form the majority of the population. This was helped by the many marriages between the local population and the new arrivals, with many of these locals being fourth, fifth or later children who had to move to the lakes to other areas of the region. This mix of cultures has made the locals in this area more open to change and innovation, and they are the ones who actively till and work the land."

>As far as I can tell it was literally just one guy who really made it all bland and historical. Do I like it? No not really.
Well, then it's just a matter of taste, isn't it? What ones find bland other find interesting, and viceversa.

>I just don't think a pretty standard human empire of wheatfarmers has more to offer than a wicked cabal of mysterious beings that speak in an incomprehensible language and hold dark harvest rituals.
But it has elements of both. It doesn't need to go full wicked and evil to be interesting, the mystery it has is enough to keep people guessing.

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>>89701681
>there's no way that particular fact isn't known.
Why not? It is stated that they never take of their masks. Other nations likely wouldn't question that out of oppurtunistic trade relations and them being a major food exporteur
>khenomeri nowadays form the majority of the population.
that's just a blatant retcon and I don't consider it canon (see: don't fuck up other people's lore)
>>89701681
>But it has elements of both. It doesn't need to go full wicked and evil to be interesting
That's true the general aesthetic established in the OG posts should be respected in my opinion though. However I can get behind that and have no problems with humans that immigrated living there even if they don't adopted the mask wearing thing. Following the origal lore (when they speak at all) they speak in an language that is incomprehensible to humans which means trade and communication is done using gestures

>>89702344
>Why not? It is stated that they never take of their masks.
They are marriages between the locals and the outsiders. You'd think they would take off their masks at home at the very least.

>that's just a blatant retcon and I don't consider it canon
Why? With marriages between outsiders and locals going on for centuries, what's weird about them now being most of the population?

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>>89702748
>You'd think they would take off their masks at home at the very least.
Possibly yes, possibly no. Again .. it's a mystery.
>They are marriages between the locals and the outsiders.
Marriage partners would be integrated into the society enough to keep the secret and would also most definetly be killed if they revealed the secret considering how much work is put in to remain anonymous by this society.
>Why?
The culture of the masked inhabitants is written to be the main culture of this region (by far) and they are writtten as an ambigous species that might or might not be human. Therefore just replacing them with another human population would be a retcon.

>>89702949
It's not really replacing them. Like the page says, the original cults of wheat are still there, still a thing. Hell, if you want to go for the creepy mystery route, wouldn't it work better with a small cult working within a seemingly normal society, a society that has developed during centuries blissfully unaware of the darkness within?

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>>89703011
>It's not really replacing them.
I beg to differ.
>the original cults of wheat are still there
They aren't supposed to be "still there". They've been written as a current culture existing in current times long before the timeline became a thing. They are the majority of the population in this region. Changing that would be like saying actually drow are the majority of the witchelven empire in current times.
>wouldn't it work better with a small cult working within a seemingly normal society
The cult IS the society of the golden sea of wheat. Parts of society might be more in on it or more normal than others but everyone living there is under the influenceof the cult and participating in it at some level.

>>89703117
The new population does practice the wheat rituals, only with different levels of zeal. There are possibly more secret and traditional rituals only done by the pureblood wheatians, but that doesn't make the rest any less wheatian, so to say. They are all members of the cult of wheat.

>They've been written as a current culture existing in current times long before the timeline became a thing.
Yes, and nothing about what it was added afterwards contradicts it. If you are only going for nothing besides the original post, here is what was written, thread 1:

>North of Florinth lies the Golden Sea of Wheat. A huge stretch of land populated by hard-working field workers who wear masks made of braided wheat stalks and in whose life everything revolves around the golden wheat that can be processed into the most delicious baked goods. They till their fields with gigantic plows pulled by monstrous agricultural behemoths. They look like a cross between an ox, a rhino and a wild boar. Adult specimens live up to 300 years and can reach the size of a small sperm whale. How the Wheatmen manage to control these monstrous creatures is a mystery to outsiders. Seven particularly large specimens of these behemoths are also used to turn the 350-ton millstone in the gigantic wheat mill at the center of this land. On the occasion of the astrological equinoxes, the wheat men, speaking in an incomprehensible and raspy language, celebrate grotesque ceremonies that involve, among other things, the erection of colossal wheat statues of human proportions, which they light to pay homage to the seed gods and bestow good harvests in the coming year.

>>89703261

In this paragraph there are mentioned:
-Land fulll of wheat
-People wearing masks
-Agricultural Behemoths
-50-ton millstone in the gigantic wheat mill
-Celebration of equinoxes in incomprehensible language.
-Grotesque ceremonies of burning effigies.

Hell, since the only mention of incomprehensible language was said in regards to cult rituals, maybe they only use their indecipherable language during rituals. They might have a normal tongue for common use and another for religious purposes.

>>89637453
That’s a neat flag. Good job.

>>89701323
Pulling giant millstones is probably the main use of the behemoths. That and maybe led them graze in areas that need resting. Using them to till the land would be quite difficult.

>>89703271
iirc there are some arrangements with surrounding nations about providing seasonal labour

>Common Gnomes
Common Gnomes are one of the many halfling species in Giantstep. Gnomes are diminutive humanoid creatures, reaching at most 70 cm of height. The gnomish features resemble that of an elderly child, with thick wrinkles even in the youngest members. While the gnomes’ hair is universally grey, gnomes frequently color it with many different pigmentations. The male gnomes develop big moustaches and beards that never stop growing, and need to be maintained constantly, otherwise they would grow longer than the gnomes themselves. Male gnomes also have very big noses, usually being proportionally double those of humans or elves. Female gnomes have more elven features, with bigger eyes and long, sharp, even pointy noses. In general, gnomes have a great sense of smell, capable of detecting dangers such as poisons gasses even when in infinitesimal quantities. Gnomes have slender hands, and have a level of dexterity unseen in other fey. Their hands are incredibly sensible, allowing them to notice even the tiniest detail through touch. This has made gnomes excellent craftsmen.

>>89705971
Gnomes are very unusual for fey. While they are as inclined to nature as most fey are, gnomes are exceedingly fascinated with technology. In particular, their high dexterity has made them excellent when tampering with delicate mechanism, making them the best makers of clocks and other devices with intricate machinery. Many archaeological projects hire a great deal of gnomes, safe in the knowledge their expert handling is the most adequate to study these ancient items. This interest in mechanics has also made them very useful for the design of many things, from mills to war machines. However, this constant need for invention leaves them needing a great deal of materials. Gnomes are very good miners, though mostly through their designs to mechanize the process rather than due to their own physical strength. Gnomes are very protective of their designs, not letting many people see their contraptions unless they are specifically meant to do so. Checking a gnome’s experiment without their consent is considered very rude, and the result will most likely be being kicked out of their home. As much as the gnomes love inventing, they are universally opposed to the creation of automata, and while they will happily study their intricacies, they will refuse to explain how their inner mechanics work to avoid others replicating the machines.

>>89705987
Gnomes have very big families. A gnome couple can have around 10 children over their lives, and the children frequently start their own families when still in their parents’ house. As such, gnome burrows tend to be of considerable size, needing enough space to accommodate both all the members of the clan and the workshop and vaults of each. Gnomes can live up to 120 years, though they never age in the same way as other species. Instead, once they reach adulthood, they stay young until the day they die. To the eyes of other species, however, they look like wizened people even when they are at the peak of their lives. While the gnomes keep very good relations with other species, they generally keep themselves and their inventions far from the other groups, rarely letting other species benefit and spread their inventions. This often reaches the point where the gnomes themselves destroy their inventions to prevent others from learning from them, safe in the knowledge that they can always rebuild them while the outsiders cannot.

Bump

>>89705995
>Swamp Gnomes
Swamp gnomes are one of the many halfling species in Giantstep. As with many of the groups living in the Swamps of the Bog Witch, the swamp gnomes have been greatly affected by the dark nature of the marshes. Their bodies are a musty green, and are covered with warts and boils. Unlike their cousins the common gnomes, their features have no resemblance of youth on them, universally looking old and shriveled, with yellow eyes full of visible veins. Their hair is much shorter than that of common gnomes, as having long hair in the swamp is just asking for trouble. Instead, their beards and moustaches grow uneven, as if someone had tore their hairs until its growth became altered. They have an even more potent sense of smell, which they use to detect the many threats in the bogs. Their hands are not as sensible or dexterous as the common gnomes’, being much more resilient and with thicker skin to protect them from poisonous thorns and bites.

>>89710619
Swamp gnomes use their heightened sense of smell to detect all potential poisons in the bogs, and use them to concoct their own chemicals. They use this to make weapons, or to sell or trade them for other goods in the swamps. Like common gnomes, swamp gnomes have natural tendency to hoard shinny metals and stones, but to an even greater degree, to the point it can be considered an obsession. Throughout their lives, they accumulate great amounts of shinny bits, always carrying the best bits on their backs, since they do not trust others unearthing and stealing their treasure. They are said to hide the rest of their loot in the “fairy kingdom”, but what they refer to it is a mystery for non-gnomes. Robbery is frequent between swamp gnomes, and they also tend to steal from non-gnomes whenever they have the chance. However, if the target is much bigger than they are, which is frequent, swamp gnomes will resort to trickery, either swindling them for their valuables or sending them to their deaths to rob whatever is left from their corpses.

>>89710622
Swamp gnomes are some of the most elusive halflings around. The swamp makes for a treacherous place to live, full of dangers for the gnomes. That, combined with a natural tendency for backstabbing and treason, and swamp gnome societies tend to break fast. Unlike common gnomes, swamp gnomes seldom form big family units, instead being mostly individualistic. Swamp gnome courtship consists of offering the partner the biggest and shiniest possession and see if they accept or not. The swamp gnomes have little familiar bonds with each other, with the pair splitting up once their offspring has been born. The mother will abandon the kids as soon as possible (or better yet, sell them into slavery, which is another way of gaining riches), making few swamp gnomes survive to adulthood. However, once a swamp gnome reaches maturity, they have become resilient enough to survive for very long periods. For as harsh of a life they have, swamp gnomes can easily reach 100 years old.

>>89701299
These are adorable.

Ok, so I've started to write about the uldra (snow gnomes) and I've noticed that there's no descriptions of them in the wiki. There are mentions of them existing, but not actual descriptions. Before I start developing them, does anyone remember if they are described somewhere and it's not in the wiki? I'd hate to write something only for it to not be accurate.

>>89710628
>Uldra
Snow gnomes, also known as the Uldra, are a species of gnomes living in Giantstep. Snow gnomes live near exclusively in the continent of Zemyland, and as such, they have adapted to the harsh weather of the land. Uldra have thicker body hair than most gnomes, with dense unibrows and beards that can sometimes hide the near entirety of their faces, leaving visible only the sharp and long nose. Female uldra share the thick unibrow, but due to the lack of facial hair, they instead have a bigger percentage of fat in their faces, making them look like they are constantly swollen. Uldra skin is a light blue, which darkens when in contact with extremely cold temperatures. This is caused by a chemical within the skin itself, which helps the body preserve its heat and protects the organs from frostbite. Instead of the sensible hands most gnomes have, uldra have claw-like fingers, allowing them to carve through frozen ground or ice. Uldra are slightly shorter than most gnomes, at around 60 cm of height at most.

>>89713199
Snow gnomes live in many areas of Zemyland, often near forests, lakes or other natural spots. They are nomadic herders, moving across the frozen lands with their sheep. These sheep are essential for the lives of the snow gnomes’ clans, as they are their main source of nourishment and income. Many uldra move around the land selling their cattle to human or snow elven populations, obtaining all that they cannot produce by themselves through trading. Unlike other gnomes, snow gnomes are poor craftsmen, as their claw-like hands are poorly fitted for delicate works. And while they have learned to make things such as tools or clothes by themselves, they still need the aid of others for many other labors. With these claws, however, they are excellent at both climbing and digging, and this has made them many alliances with the human populations. Many uldra have been hired by humans as mercenary scouts, being able to reach a spot normally inaccessible and keep guard for hours despite of the cold. They are also very good prospectors, searching for mineral veins underground. Uldras still have the universal gnomish interest for shinny things, so it is frequent to see them happily working for human mining projects, always demanding a portion of the product obtained. Human watchers need to keep an eye on the uldras, least they hide some of the shiniest bits they find for themselves.

>>89713220
Most snow gnomes live in familiar clans, with an elder patriarch in charge of the responsibilities of command. These clans rarely go beyond twenty members, and young uldra tend to want to leave once they reach a certain age. After a series of proofs that demonstrate to the rest of the clan they are adults, they are allowed to take a couple of sheep and start their own clan if they so wish, under the condition they never return to the clan. If they are successful, they will attract other uldra and join them, steadily growing their herd over time. If not, they will be left without sheep and will have to join another clan. However, it is not rare to see uldra living in human or elven populations, since they can integrate in non-gnome society very easily. However, their claw-like hands means they cannot work as artisans, and as such they often dedicate themselves to other jobs. They have become quite effective merchants and bankers, as their love for shinnies makes them very good at the trade. They have also become very good guides, helping many explorers travel around the frozen lands, keeping them safe from the wild life and the elements.

Also, there is even less info about the domovoy than of the uldra. Any suggestions?

>>89686556
Where do crystallids live?

Are there bees in the setting? I need to know this for an item i am making.

>>89715616
Bees as animals or bees as sentient beings? Because we have both. Check the zidazzi in the wiki.

How big are brownies? They are able to ride sparrows, so I imagine they are even smaller than most fairies.

>>89705971
>Gnomes are halflings
Why?

>>89717832
Since halfling is a very vague term as it is, I went with it being an artificial term made by humans. It basically groups most fey species that are shorter than humans, hence gnomes being halflings. It's in >>89698561

BUMP LIMIT REACHED, NEW PAGE

>>89718352
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