Animal Folk
Animals of every kind found across the Beyond, from birds and bears to insects and fish, united not by species but by how they live.
Animal Folk are found throughout the Beyond. They are exactly what the name suggests: animals. Bears, birds, foxes, otters, snakes, moose, bats, frogs, insects, fish, and everything in between. A fox is a fox. A turtle is a turtle. They are not humanoid versions of animals. They do not walk on two legs or wear clothing. They are animals as they exist in nature, with all the same shapes, movements, and limitations of their real-world counterparts.
What sets Animal Folk apart is that they speak, they think, they build, and they form communities. A beaver builds a dam not out of instinct alone but out of intention, designing it to serve the creatures who live nearby. A crow carries a message not because it was trained but because it chose to. Animal Folk use their natural bodies to interact with the world, adapting tools and homes to fit their forms rather than reshaping themselves to fit the tools. A limited number of accessories may be worn, a satchel slung across a back, a carved pendant around a neck, but clothing is not part of their culture.
No Two Alike
What defines an Animal Folk character is not their species but the world they come from, the region they grew up in, the family that raised them, and the stories they carry. Two otters from different worlds may have nothing in common beyond their shape. A hawk raised in one culture may have entirely different values from a hawk raised in another. The diversity of the Beyond means that Animal Folk are as varied as the worlds they inhabit.
Bodies and Abilities
Animal Folk use their natural bodies exactly as their real-world counterparts do. Birds fly. Fish swim. Snakes sense heat. Bats navigate by sound. Bears are strong. Foxes are quick. These traits are not magical, they are simply part of who each creature is. Size varies enormously, from insects to moose, and communities across the Beyond are built to accommodate this range. A doorway is wide enough for a bear and low enough for a rabbit. A stilt-home has rope ladders for those without wings and perches for those with them.
Traits
- Size
- Tiny to Large (varies by species)
- Speed
- Varies by species and form
- Languages
- Common, plus regional languages
- Lifespan
- Varies by species
- Abilities
- Natural traits of animal form (flight, swimming, burrowing, keen senses, etc.)
Community and Acceptance
Animal Folk do not distinguish between species when it comes to community. A family might include a badger, two sparrows, and a tortoise, all living under the same roof. Adoption is common, and Beyonders who choose to stay are welcomed fully. What matters is whether you contribute, whether you care for those around you, and whether you show up when your neighbor needs help.