Qingwa Frogs

> *"Tadpoles always follow the current."* - Old Saying
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Frogs from Madeleine's Valley, based on Anura's suborder Archaeobatrachia.

Inspirations are the families Ascaphidae, for the presence of tiny tails, Bombinatoridae, for the brightly colored bellies, and Alytidae, for their robust build.

**Aliases:** High Red Frogs, Frogs of the Short Rivers

**Known for:** inhabiting the isolated rivers of High Red Valley, having a close relationship with Madeleine

## Overall Appearance

Bipedal beings, slightly larger than an average human, reaching up to 2 m from nose to toes and weighting over 100 kg, they're robust, wide and squared, with considerable physical strength and relatively high durability, due to strong bones and muscles, by frogs standards.
Their coloring varies little, mainly in hues of brown, with the common presence of brightly colored bellies, between yellow, orange and red. Rarely, an individual will be entirely colored in their belly hue.

### **Special traits**

Apart from the signature colorful bellies, Qingwa quite often have micro tails that go almost unnoticed due to their large build.

## Characteristics

Intelligence: considered to be simple minded, even among other frogs. Qingwa are far from stupid, although their geographical isolation helps in making the race know and care little about political and magical affairs.

Charisma: usually easy going and open hearted, Qingwa have no real beef with anyone and are seen as receptive. Still, they are very sensitive to possibly offensive views about themselves, knowing the other races tend to see them as inferior, specially other frogs.

Constitution - tough and muscular, they're among the strongest kinds of frogs. Used to work, they tend to be very resilient, although not quite agile as some of their cousins.

Dexterity - living a simple, unchangeable life in the enclosed Valley, their tools and crafts are usually just sophisticated enough for the job in hand. Having bigger, stronger hands, they find little use to delicate instruments.

## Specific Accomplishments

Albeit no specific deed of Qingwa is recognised, they're widely known for being the only frogs able to deal with ice cold waters. They don't actually have any physical or technological advantage, but since their rivers begin and end in ice, they've figured their way out of growing their crops and breeds in quite lower temperatures, what other races would seem impractical.

## Culture and Customs

Qingwa farm hydroponic and breed fish in the rivers of High Red Valley since they are known to be. Isolated from the outer Realm, they live long, peaceful lives, unfazed by others races' affairs. Their villages are mainly made of light wood, firmly based on land, but built on the river, sometimes having several floors stretching underwater. Usually scattered through small settlements along the river, they form little villages and even a Town to work cooperatively. Their homes are shared by very few, being common a Qingwa living alone or with only their partner, but they build tightly together as to create a lively colony.
Their relationships are mostly practical, going from marriage and family to reproduce and care for each other, to work and public affairs, sharing their workforce and disposition to take care of the village's needs and organisation. There's little to no hierarchy in their social organisation, with the elders and most active workers being often heard with respect due to experience in dealing with their daily, practical issues. There're no gender role separations in their work practices and housing, since their young are left as eggs in the upper parts of the river and hatch and feed on their own for their first months, being reintroduced in their society when they're ready to come down, choosing their tasks and housing places as they wish, leaving both parents free to go back to their lives as the young are socially instructed by the collective.

## Religion

Qingwa have little to no belief in deities and supernatural forces. Like most they acknowledge magic, but refrain from it, being mostly illiterate in any sorcery.
Their relationship with the unknown forces of magic and nature is mainly practical, learned through experience in their daily lives. They respect some superstitions related to climate and protection, but purely out of tradition.
Their relationship with Madeleine is probably the closest Qingwa have with respecting deities, since they cared for her as an infant mainly out of superstitious fear and awe, being one of the first races to experience her unique nature first hand. To this day, they still have a strong cultural respect for her, albeit since she has grown into a adult and began interacting with them in a more horizontal way, some individuals have lost their superstitious views about her and started treating her more like a suspicious neighbor. Her short temper and impulsive nature didn't quite help with this.

## Language

Qingwa have no written language and mostly communicate through simple vocalizations, using words only to express sophisticated thoughts.

## Relations with Other Races

They have a long relationship with the Wabbits of the Southern Woods and the Hawks of the High Peaks, seeing no harm in sharing their homes and workplaces with the first and maintaining a tense courtesy with the last.

## Habitat

Qingwa thrive in the cold rivers of High Red Valley, inhabiting amphibian structures that stretch down the river, with exits and common rooms in the land side. They're used to walk the forests, mainly with Wabbits' help, and freely roam the whole Valley, avoiding only the cold mountain side.

### **Settlements**

Qingwa dont usually name their villages, since they tend to be close to each other and relatively small. Their only Town is located in the meeting of both rivers and is basically a big cluster of small settlements, fused together.

## Styles & Materials

Qingwa use light wood and vines to make most of what they use, usually going for stones when needed. Having no means of metal working, their sophistication is limited to what they can cut with sharpened rocks.

## Combat

Qingwa are not at all used to fighting, having never really needed it. Their strong builds and work tools are their only means of combat