Overview
I've created a Mid-Fantasy setting based on bugs that I'm quite proud of. Sadly, I can't decide what I want to do with it. I have an idea for a plot that involves Beast Hunting, which then evolves into a second Spider War, but I also see the appeal in a simple plot-light mission-based guild that handles all sorts of quests from taking down birds, or stealing from a Colossus (that is to say, a human,) to being invited to a butterfly's ball, or finding whatever happened to the great mantis alchemist Li-Chen. I'm also open to any ideas you fine folks might have as well! Simply post the ideas here, but if there's a twist you don't want to spoil, feel free to PM me instead. Also, I couldn't really find any information on mantises. If anybody has anything they think might be good to add to them, speak up.
Setting
In the backyard of some random human lies the kingdom of Entomos, where 8 species of sentient arthropods coexist, trading, fighting, making magical potions, that kind of thing. Each of the 8 races has it's own fief, culture, and people that all intermingle, though the bond between some species is more tenuous than others. There is the underground ant empire, the Great Hive bee city, the Rolling City of roaches, and much more. These differing peoples will come together for a great adventure, be it for Chips (small shards of metal, the currency of Entomos), glory, kindness, or just to experience the journey of a lifetime!
Races
- Ants - A very social species, the most numerous in Entomos. The central Formicadae ant empire is the most far reaching, it's queen having been the main orchestrator for the Spider Laws. Ants mostly live in underground cities, dotted around their capital. Each city has a duke, who commands the ants under in her fief and routinely gathers all the males for mating, though occasionally during this season A small congregation of ants will break off from the city to live nomadically as traders or mercenaries. Ants are a secular people, focusing their efforts on the expansion of their empire and development of new technologies, though there is a definite worship for their past queens. [Their names are generally Germanic]
- Bees - Bees, while similar are much more organized than Ants at their core. Castes are rigidly defined in the Greater Hive, an ever expanding city with the Queen Anthophila at it's center. Highly fertile females reproduce and command under her, while occasionally creating art in their downtime are at the top. Below them less fertile or non-fertile females design, care for the young, forage, and trade. Below even them are the males, whom are used exclusively for manual labor, like farming and building, and as warriors. Some bees are not so appreciative of this dynamic and split off from the main hive to form small, more equal villages. These small communes are decidedly not under Anthophila's protection, and it's a marvel if they last more than a year. Still, due to their closeness, these drifters are often taken in by Ant fiefs.[Their names are generally Greek]
- Wasps - Hated by most races in Entomos due to their likelihood to become murderers and bandits, Wasps are loners by nature, a majority having no actual state to call their own. They often build their homes in villages with other bugs, acting as a mercenary or sheriff, or in places secluded, but near natural resources or trade routes. There is one fiefdom of Wasps, led by Queen Vespidae. They've had a storied history as warriors, first conquering the ants and bees, losing it all, disbanding, and finally warring against the spiders, before the Spider Laws. Now, those under Queen Vespidae make their wage as simple hunters and carpenters, though they do seem to have a natural knack for architecture.[Their names are generally Roman]
- Roaches - Roaches are a nomadic people, who place a big emphasis on family. To them, everyone is equal, and none of their tribes exhibit any form of leadership, instead all roaches come together to make decisions democratically. As such, most Roach tribes aren't that large, though there is the famous "Rolling City" where hundreds of roaches have banded together with movable structures and decide where to go and who to make trade agreements with through ballots. Roaches are very secluded though, and have no interest in interacting with other races except when very beneficial or necessary. Roaches do not leave their tribes often, but it is not entirely unheard of. [Their names are generally Native American]
- Beetles - The stoic, warrior people of Entomos, Beetles base a lot on strength. Fighting competitions in Beetle villages are common, and they make the best blacksmiths in the land. These people value unity within a family, calmness, ceremony, and prowess on the battlefield above all. Though they aren't too fond of other races in Entomos, this is mostly due to simple cultural differences and if an outsider was to blend in, they'd be accepted. Their young routinely go on warrior pilgrimages at their Warrior King Rokurou's behest. [Beetle names are generally japanese.]
- Moths/Butterflies - Most would call Butterflies and Moths lazy. They often bask in the sun and Wasps regard them as "too lax to chew their food." Butterflies and Moths, though, say they have an appreciation for the finer things in life. They are very focused on the arts, especially dancing, and praising their God, The Light. They do so through luminescent alchemical concoctions that can predict the future, dance, and feeding wood, food, and flowers to flame. Their leader is Pope Clement, both their king and ultimate religious leader. More ambitious Moths and Butterflies masquerade as spies, disguising themselves as Wasps, Bees, Beetles and Mantises to gather information, sabotage, or even murder. Don't let the species stereotypes fool, Moths and Butterflies can be forces to reckon with... When they aren't busy writing the next great romance. [Their names are generally European]
- Mantises - The Mantises are a ruthless race. They have no issue killing or eating their own in dire situations, and as such their relations with other races are casually sociopathic at best. They follow laws mostly out of paranoia of the consequences, but if there's a guarantee that they'll get off scot free, they will kill. Oddly though, they're very honorbound, and don't often lie or cheat. To them, since survival is everything, they're pioneers of alchemy almost on par with the Moths/Butterflies, though their alchemy is more utilitarian, focusing on restorative effects and tools of war. [Their names are generally Chinese]
- Spiders - The spiders used to be the bane of all bugs. They were intelligent trap makers, generals, and often larger than the other sentient species in Entomos. But once the other races of Entomos banded together, their fate was sealed. The spiders banded together into colonies, but still weren't able to overpower every insect in Entomos. Sergeant Major Edwards was forced to surrender and in doing so, signed away the Spiders' rights to eat any sentient life in Entomos, these treaties nicknamed the Spider Laws. Now the spiders put their skills to use catching larger prey, or foraging for fungi, plants, and the small number of non sentient insects, biding their time, waiting for their chance to reclaim their spot as the kings of food chain. [Their names are generally American]
Magic & Technology
Magic is handled through Alchemy; Diluting, mixing, heating, cooling, or otherwise changing around substances. This results in concoctions that can be applied in numerous ways for various effects. Oils that electrify weapons, salves that instantly heal wounds, and potions that allow one to predict the future are all some of the most common effects. Some of the greatest alchemists have even devised potions with permanent effects, like the ability to shoot flame, but these secrets are well guarded. Technology is around Late Middle Ages, with the cannon and handcannon being common, though lances, crossbows, metal armor and the such are still being used a lot as well.
Character Sheet
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