So we all know about the great big problem with fantasy games these days, that being that many of them are built on user used clichés, and the same elements that haven’t changed since Tolkien wrote a some what good book series. Recently, I got dragged into a debate with a friend of mine as to the cause of this, as he insisted it was because 'Elves that live in the woods and use bows and dwarves that live in the dirt and use axes is just the best, more refined product we have derived from years of messing about with this, and anything else is just a rip off of these standard races!'.
Well I had to protest! And now, against my better judgement, I am out with something to prove. Over the next ten days, I am faced with writing a short description for an original race each day, that will go together to make a mythos. I am allowed to use races from folk law and mythology, as long as I'm not ripping them off too much, and I am not allowed to just take an already done race and make up a new name. I am allowed to take already accepted races, and give them an interesting new spin (Although taking dwarfs and making them live in forests and use bows is just ripping of elves, and not allowed).
Just to make things fun, I might also be producing small pixel art pictures to match the bios.
So, will I be able to produce one new and interesting race each day? Well it might be hard, but fun to see. Let's settle a bet! Race one starts now.
Panotti.
The Panotti are a race of humanoids most noted for their large ears. Standing at about a meter and a half tall, they resemble a cross between a human and a rabbit, with long ears and a coat of fur. They are noticeable agile, and although there are some who can out run them, their ability to turn on a dime at full speed makes them hard to catch. Some people (Mostly Dwarves) tell stories about Panotti being able to jump clear over a house, however, these are almost certainly made up, and although Panotti are able to jump further then most other humanoid creatures when they are at full pelt, they lack the ability to jump much higher then humans. Their fur coat comes in several colours, including black, white, shades of brown and taupe. Panotti naturally stand on their toes, with their knees bent, and slightly hunched, making them able to react to a situation quickly.
They are often found living in small colonies in grasslands, building grass huts with very low roofs and dug out floors. Here they enjoy peace and will avoid conflict when possible. They have over time become adapt at weaving, and sew shirts, robes and cloaks for themselves. Despite being capable of dying their attire, they will mostly dress in natural shades. Because the Panotti do not eat meat, they do not have hunters in their tribes, so many small populations lack weapons all together. When they do go to battle, they will try to avoid a fair fight, and use ambush tactics when ever possible, often choosing to flee before face open war. In their villages, there is no formal form of government, and decision making is done by those most respected, respect often being earned by means of old age or having a large family. Skilled workers have little more say then the less confident, as the Panotti accept that being good at building a hut does not make you wise. They talk little, even among themselves, but even less to outsiders. For them, it is sometimes seen as safer to travel alone at night to get home, then to stay in the safety of a town owned by outsiders for the night.
Panotti mostly lack magical ability, and even the most skilled of their mages can rarely cast magics. Their mystic powers are attached to the phase of the moon, and without a clear moon in the sky, they can not cast magic. The few magic abilities they do posses are useful, however, as they are often concerned with the manipulation of time, being able to slow down or speed up it's flow. There are myths of Panotti mages so powerful they were able to reverse time, but with the Dwarfs travelling the land and sharing their tales to all who will still listen, who is to say if it ever happened.
Author
Topic: White Mythos: Max's war on cliché. (Read 5908 times)