[DESIGN] The Monsters of Quill

[Charlie]

Originally Posted in the Dev Pub
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Hello,

In here we can discuss the denizens of the dark forests of the world. I can give you a few of the creatures now, and feel free to add to the conversation.

We don't want a huge variety, to keep costs and dev time down, but we would like each type to have variations and more put into their personalities and habits, so you get to know how best to extract what you need from them. And remember, they have populations...so killing off all the dragons would mean many years without them!

Here are a few to keep you going a while. (Four you may already know of from other threads around the forums.)

• Hobgoblin
• Hag
• Dragon
• Banshee
• Remnant
• Barghest
• Spriggan

We want the creatures to be rooted in folklore for the most part, and to have variety when it comes to their habits and attacks. Thoughts?

[CaptainOsyrus]

Did you say... BANSHEE?!

[MisterWildeStone]

Well you just can't exclude boggarts; their name is too fun to say!

[Matt]

 

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[Sunlag]

Could we talk with some of them?

It's very nice if they are rooted in the folklore and not just here to be killed.

[chirisu]

a tad late ..sorry.
can we tame/reproduce the captured monsters?
it's always nice to have a partially "pacifist" route . . .after killing the parents and captured the eggs -v-

[Charlie]

Lips are sealed...

[Erized]

a tad late ..sorry.
can we tame/reproduce the captured monsters?
it's always nice to have a partially "pacifist" route . . .after killing the parents and captured the eggs -v-

I totally agree, it would be nice to have this option, or at least some sort of option besides simply killing the 'monsters'; it seems especially appropriate for a game where it's inhabitants appear to be quite close to nature anyway. Maybe there could even be a way to make peace or ally 'humans' with a certain population of monster, perhaps by marrying one of their kind, or by holding a festival in honor of the bond (not the word I was looking for, but you get the idea). Both are pretty folklore-ish concepts that would likely fit in the setting.

In any case, when dealing with monsters I think it would be interesting to offer a route or routes that is/are unique to this game in some way.

Also, here are some other potential 'monsters' to add that seem to fit the bill from Irish folklore:
- Wisp. Appearing (rarely) in foggy parts of the forest or a strange dancing light at night that is definitely not a firefly.
- Selkie. For your bodies of water, perhaps at first appearing as a human to the player until they later discover the truth.
- Pixie. Perhaps some children can be found playing with the pixies before they dart away on the character's approach. Could also be fun to have a pixie that begins following the character around after being helped/saved (and so befriended) - whether their presence is desired or not (would make a cute 'event').
- Kelpie. A water spirit that can shapeshift, and most often takes the form of a beautiful black horse drowning in the water, in order to lure folks that would save it to a watery grave.. but you could take artistic liberties and make it a kindly spirit instead.
- Gnome. Gnomes are cute!
- Harpy. Half human, half bird. Could inhabit a mountain peak somewhere.

Irish folklore has many great offerings that have a similar feel to what Kynseed seems to be aiming for, and that would make a great base for new creatures/monsters to inhabit the wilds of the game.

[CKFlynn]

Erized mentioned them above but Kelpies are one of my favorite mythological creatures.

My favorite story I was told as a child stated that they appeared as beautiful, strong, and wild horses. They are completely harmless if on land and left alone. However, if you are greedy and attempt to ride the wild and free horse, or if you attempt to capture it to put to work on your farm it will take you to the water- drown and eat you.

Though most renditions of them have them as vain and malicious. If you touch the horse at all, it's skin will become an adhesive to which you can never free yourself (save chopping off your hand or whatever you've touched it with). The end is always the same, it will run to the water- drown and eat you. There was one story where a kelpie captured a large amount of children who were petting and hopping on it for a ride. Yeah, gets pretty dark sometimes.

If you managed to befriend it (somehow) it may help you on your land with its incredible strength or bestow you you with whatever blessing dwell in the lake or river that it lives/resides in. Water always hides secrets.

Sorry for the long post! So excited about all you do!

[Terra]

Since the game is so heavily germinated with gorgeous greenery:

Hamadryads - tree nymphs; integral part of their trees: if the tree died, the hamadryad associated with it died as well
Peryton- half bird/half deer: could be among forest-dwellers
Nuckelavee- similar to centaur but inherently evil, i.e. would purposely destroy crops of farmers