Sorry For Constantly Doing So Many Polls. But I Need To Know

claire de soleil

- Horns (spirally/twisted flat horns especially, as of late)

- Insect-like antennae/antennae-adjacent structures

- Long, expressive ears

- Dragons, but mammals and/or with fur (and one or more rows of scales centralized along the back)

- Long tails or insect abdomens

- Six limbs (middle pair often more resembles the front pair. used to be centaurs but now just four-armed creatures ig)

- Wings (usually insectoid, draconic or feathered)

- Insect-looking mandibles but they’re actually just modified teeth (likened to tusks)

- Five digits, opposable thumbs able to grasp stuff (to some extent) with sometimes paw-like feet

- Long necks

- Ocelli/smaller eyes that act like eyebrows

- Long canine teeth, four canines and eight incisors like humans (rest of the dental formula does not matter)

Some of the creature design tropes I always find myself circling back to are:

whiskers/barbels

birds with ears

toed hooves

long torso/ bi-to-quad movement

parrot, because i think their skull is freaky

small.

and more??

What traits do you folks find yourselves adding to a lot of your creatures?

Tried to make some palettes and ended up testing out four of the six so here: a Mosa, two Leifs, and dragon Corvo

Starting off with my basically-main-character, Mosaïkó! They're a dragon god, sometimes going by the mortal guise of Nephrite, eldest and most powerful but oftentimes a calm and kind figure who has experienced...pretty much everything and is good to go to for guidance.

They live with their demigod partner and child in the God Hall, an Olympus-like place with white marble, blue, and gold architecture heavily inspired by the Isu in AC Odyssey, along with the ten other Gods, one of which they might be crushing on oops

They are very much aware of alternate universes and exist canonically in pretty much every world I've made.

^^Dragon and human(oid) refs, in no particular order. The first image is part of my header (cause! I love them enough for that), and the second-to-last was actually drawn by NovaArora on Art Fight, or @mother-of-monsters-verse on this (@ isn't working??? but that's their user), many thanks to them!

Hi you little machine… your purring

[Start ID. A brown-toned comic of P3RI, the artist's botsona. They lament on how long it's been since they've played Dishonored, start playing it again, and then lie to itself that it'll keep this playthrough casual. The bottom quarter of the image lists the self-imposed challenges they rack up. End ID]

back at it again folks

Finally downloaded Dishonored 2 on a whim and am Excited

some Hornats

BEAST ATTACK NOW

Alright followers, sound off! Which side of the Wizards Vs. Skeleton war are you on?

~Mostly Mollusk~

Part 2 - Part 3 Here - Part 4

Species

World

-Species

--Coastal

Many species of bug, marine, terrestrial or in-between, make their homes in or simply visit the Cities, some only seasonally.

---Clams

Now is the time for that random trivia bit you know about sand or shell, because clams (and oysters, and mussels, though these are found more below the water's surface) are all ears (don't take that literally--who knows if they have ears at all). Trade in your fact, trinket, or other means of providing information to get a bit of knowledge in return, or even a story if you're lucky, because after living so many seasons, and encountering so many explorers like you, these species are chalk full of facts one might call nerdy (call them that though, and you'll earn a painful chomp). While they can be found almost anywhere, many tend to coalesce in the Archives, sitting amongst tablets on its shelves.

---Crabs 

The most diverse group of species in Taranoake and not all that rare in Citadell, you might see these CRABBY creatures skittering sideways in and out of sand dunes and under rocks throughout town, but don’t fear their pincers. Most won’t hurt you unprovoked, and in fact, they might be some of the kindest neighbors you could have.

Mole Crabs

These crustaceans are shyer than most, preferring to burrow in the soft sand of the bays rather than interact with others. Be careful not to step on one of their many tunnels if you don’t want your ankle bitten. Despite their initial appearance these creatures aren’t hateful, they just need a bit of time to warm up to strangers and are easily startled, they’re actually fairly social once you get to know them.

Ghost Crabs

These adorable creatures are enjoyable to be around, but you’ll have to get used to them appearing out of nowhere due to their uncanny ability to camouflage and change color to match their surroundings, which you’ll see in action if they ever get startled. This gift has also earned them an unsettling amount of admiration from the Citadell scientists...

Mite Crabs

These species are actually named only for their appearance and ferocity, as they are so small their actuality is hard to determine and they largely resemble crabs. ...Or mites. They make great fighters for the Colosseum despite their size, and while you may figure it's because they skirmish in groups, you'd be wrong. They are normally so aggressive, they'd start attacking their own species rather than the larger prey depending on who’s closer!

They’re not well-known in Citadell though.

---Lobsters

Despite being closely related to crabs, these creatures are rarely seen in either of the Cities being mostly sea-dwelling, the Arbiter a main exception. They're mostly friendly, rather chill and unperturbed.

---Ladybugs

Among other beetles, ladybugs are the most commonly found in Taranoake, especially in the marketplace. While they rarely fight in the Colosseum, contrasting their larger kin, they're known to drive a hard bargain over their goods and as such make great (or terrible, depending on how you look at it) vendors.

---Wasps

These bugs drive home the "militaristic" aspect of the Fort, and while they're not without compassion, you may regret making yourself one's neighbor. They often live socially even outside of the Bay-City, though their methods of communication can be a bit rough. They are not commonly seen in coastal cities unless with larvae--they require sugars the salty Bay can't offer. They often visit most during the colder seasons.

---Ants

While these critters may already have a strong sense of community, they’re still always welcome in the Fort despite their general preference to live in their own ant hills. You may spot them marching in rows fixing deteriorating buildings, or transporting food and supplies to and from the market. Alike their bee-kin, ants are generally upbeat about their hard work.

---Jellyfish

These creatures for which Jellyfish Bay earned its name can be found floating lazily in pretty much any body of water around town. They aren’t great for conversation, but will give a friendly tentacle wave as you pass by. Just don’t get too attached around festival time…

The mood is quite flipped in Citadell however, where they are often revered as fascinating creatures and related to their God.

---Sea Slugs

Despite being confined to the water, sea slugs maintain a friendly and jolly demeanor and are always willing to chat, so don’t forget to stop by Jellyfish Bay and say hello. The majority of crops grown in the underwater farms were tended to and harvested by these kind creatures. 

Sacoglossans

Some known as lettuce slugs, some commonly found hiding in the seaweed avoiding their responsibilities, these no go away go away no don’t take what’s going on go away stop it still typing creatures often think they cannot be seen because they look similar to the crops they are supposed to be growing. However, they are rather conspicuous due to their bright purple, blue, orange and often green coloring not at all matching the dull reds and greens of the specific seaweed species grown in the bay. Maybe elsewhere they'd have better chances.

(Elsewhere not including the basins-city, where they are forced to actually work or be kicked out.)

---Scorpions

It is unknown exactly how any scorpions were able to travel all the way to Taranoake, as surely the descent from sanded deserts to the windy shore took more than a few generations of arachnid. Their lack of antennae makes it harder to communicate, and this paired with their fearsome stinger and claws do earn them a reputation for being a bit hostile.

---Isopods

These crustaceans, due to the nature of their gills, are almost never seen in dry Taranoake and yet all too common in Citadell. Like their kin, they’re known mainly for being kind and mellow.

---Mosquitoes

These flies aren’t...regarded very highly. Despite both needing the matter of living creatures to sustain their brood, most carnivores use the entirety of a bug while egg-producing mosquitoes only sap the hemolymph, which is entirely unsettling for a living being to experience, and wasteful to kill for the blood alone. This is why many suck the life-fluids out of the corpses of the ill, for no other bug is willing and the dipterans are immune to most illness, adding another facet to their (mostly unjustified) dislike.

---Desert Rain Frogs

Only one of these creatures has been spotted in our lifetimes, but they used to be a fairly common sight, in the dunes where Taranoake and Citadell now rest, forever ago. Nowadays, most don't even know these adorable creatures ever existed--none who haven't visited their barren town that is.

---Spiders

The largest grouping of arachnids. Like the apids, they’re rarely seen in the Cities and much more commonly inland, though a few have been spotted preying on passersby in the anarchy that is Renin.

--Marine

---Sea Slugs

In recent times, these species have moved upwards closer to the shores, and are a guaranteed (and pleasant) encounter anytime you head underwater--coalescing in towns of their own creation, though sightings near the shallow bays constituting the Cities are rare. Like jellyfish, most sea slugs tend to use neutral pronouns.

---Jellyfish

Nomadic creatures, rarely taking rest in the undersea cities. They don’t seem to be as advanced as other invertebrates, though still considered sentient.