Wild Folk

The Wild Folk (Ainimm Dé Allaidhe) are a collection of races that are more heavily connected to The Forest, an intangible force formed of an unknowably large number of Forest Spirits. While several races are counted as Wild Folk, it is possible for members of those races to not be included. Most Wild Folk live in Buckwood, though some have spread across all corners of Mekkan or even into other realms to protect other parts of The Forest.

## Overview

The categorisation of Wild Folk is nearly as old as Mekkan itself, with all Cervidans having been amongst them at their creation. The Cervidans in particular began to break away from the Wild Folk as time passed, though remain connected to them through their Elder Dryad. Many fear the races given this classification due to stories of the territorial Centaur and the mischievous Fae.

Many Wild Folk are easily distinguished by their limited use of technology, or physical distinctions such as markings across their body. They can also be distinguished by their use of the pre-basic language of Buckwood. In their tongue, The Forest is referred to as "Canaid Beir", roughly meaning Song of Birth. The Wild Folk are known to place great importance on having children alongside protecting life, preferring to avoid killing when possible. Even with such focus placed on procreation and birth, the Wild Folk have developed natural means to terminate a pregnancy for those who would come to mental or physical harm if they were to birth a child.

## Types

Several species are counted amongst the Wild Folk, including the Centaur and Fae. These are just two of a large number of different species and races counted among the Wild Folk. Some Cervidans and Elves would be considered part of this classification, and even newer artificial races such as the Goblins have been deemed as a type of Wild Folk.

### Centaur

A race of four legged people with the lower half of a deer and the upper half of a Cervidan. It is said that the first Centaur was birthed by Ceres herself and that all Centaur are her descended from her. Centaur of the Wild Folk are often more territorial and will capture those who enter their domain, many of the people they capture will be used to parent more Centaur. This type of Centaur more often than not have markings on their upper half resembling plants such as vines.

### Fae Folk (The Aos Sí)

A mischievous race with wildly varying size across the many varieties. Fae are notorious for playing tricks on those that approach their domain, often resulting in their victims going missing for a period of time.

#### Mushroom Fae

A type of Fae that typically live in caves, they are humanoid in appearance with fungi growing on their bodies. Mushroom Fae have been known to release spores which can send a person to sleep, with those affected often being dragged into the Faeries cave to play. Mushroom Fae are typically very small, reaching about half a metre in height at most.

#### Flower Fae

This type of Fae often live in more open areas such as forest clearings, they have a humanoid form and have both clothing and hair made of petals. They are generally more reasonable than the Mushroom Fae, though still tend to play tricks on unsuspecting victims. Their kind can sometimes release a scent that is alluring to others and may do so to lure people to them. Flower Fae can grow to be about a metre tall at most.

#### Fruit Fae

A form of Fae that resemble fruit, often making their outfits from pieces of fruit. They have been known to produce a sweet and fruity tasting syrup which many find appealing, they are also able to imbue this syrup with effects that they can use to play tricks on others. Their syrup can cause hallucinations, poison people, or even temporarily change their form. Fruit Fae are often much smaller, at most reaching a quarter of a metre in height.

### Cervidans (Anandic Tribes)

Anandic Tribes of Cervidans reject much of the life chosen by the others of their kind, preferring to live as close to nature as possible. They have similar markings to the Wild Folk Centaur and have been known to even work with Centaur tribes. These Cervidans tend to worship Caériu (The Centaur depiction of Ceres) and Cú Ruan (an alternate depiction of Run), seeing them as a Mother Goddess of Life and Passion, alongside her love, the Protector God of the Moon. Despite the traditional gender roles their concept of Ceres and Run seem to adhere to, they view all of their kind as equals who must all care for life and protect each other instead of splitting roles by gender.

### The Ailill

Many tribes of Jungle Elves in Buckwood have taken much of Wild Folk culture to heart, becoming changed into the Ailill. Their kind retain many of the skills of their Elven brethren, such as creating Elven Glass, though they do not have as much interest in retaining all knowledge. The Ailill will often protect regions of the forest by using their magic to scare off threats but will also capture more persistent individuals. Ailill tribes will often pledge themselves to a powerful forest entity in return for something else of value, such as a stable supply of food or a safe place to live. These pacts are often made with beings such as Alraune or particularly powerful Fae, though very rarely they will form a pact directly with a powerful Forest Spirit.

### Goblins

An artificial race, bred from Jungle Elves and Imps. A number of Goblin tribes built their camps in Buckwood, learning the ways of the Wild Folk. Goblins make weapons from Goblin Glass and will use them to protect their homes, they are generally quite curious and so more often than not will capture those they manage to take down, seeking knowledge from them to improve their lives.

### Dryad

Dryads are a changed type of Cervidan that tap more directly into the power of The Forest. Their use of The Forest's power instead of the Forest Gate warps their bodies to become part plant, this change gives them the ability to perfectly communicate with The Forest and its inhabitants. Many Dryads have close relationships with Forest Spirits, though merely forming a bond with a Forest Spirit is not enough to become a Dryad, as shown by Cyan Wisteria, who shares her body with a powerful Forest Spirit despite not being an actual Dryad. Of the 12 major races on Mekkan, only the Cervidans have shown the ability to become Dryads, the reason for this is unknown.

### Satyr

One of the races created by Ranger Wisteria, the Satyr are similar in shape to the Cervidans, though are often shorter and have the legs of a sheep or goat. Satyr often have fluffy hair and curly horns, though this is not the case for all of their kind. Satyr are often very sexually open, this has resulted in myths of them being sexually aggressive towards those around them, a detail which is demonstrably untrue for most Satyr. They have a strong affinity for music, often playing wind instruments such as the pan pipes.

### Alraune

A rare species even in Buckwood, the Alraune are a race of plant people that root themselves to the ground. They have a humanoid body that emerges from their flower and are often described as beings of pure beauty. It is thought that the Alraune may be distantly related to the Flower Fae, though they are often seen as more powerful, sometimes even seen as deities in their own right by groups such as the Ailill. Alraune are sometimes seen as forest Lilin due to their tendency to seduce those who approach them as a means of both feeding and spreading seeds to grow new Alraune. People incorrectly assume that Alraune are a female only species due to many popular depictions, though this has been proven false.

## Mythology

### Deities

The Wild Folk do not follow the exact same deities as the other races on Mekkan, instead they acknowledge a mix of warped versions of these deities, along with other powerful beings. Not all Wild Folk adhere to these beliefs exactly, though they are common enough to be viewed as the major belief system of their culture.

#### Caériu

The Mother Goddess of all forest life, she is viewed as the one who governs Life and Passion. Caériu is depicted as a beautiful Centaur, with most depictions either showing her caring for a child or locked in combat with a foe. Her role as a deity of life seems to stem from an expansion of Ceres' official role as a deity of Fertility, Love and Beauty, with fertility and love being merged into life, while passion may have stemmed from fertility and beauty being interpreted first as sex and then passion. Caériu is seen as the wife of Cú Ruan.

#### Cú Ruan

A Protector God for the Wild Folk, viewed as a Moon Deity. Cú Ruan is the Wild Folk perception of Run, who is not officially a full deity in the same way that Ceres is, though in the beliefs of the Wild Folk, he is as important as his wife Caériu. Cú Ruan is said to protect the Wild Folk from harm, along with providing the healing light of the moon to their people.

#### Canaid Beir

The Wild Folk also tend to worship and honour the forest itself, using the name "Canaid Beir" to describe the power that connects plants and animals throughout the realms. The Canaid Beir is seen as a collection of Forest Spirits in unknowably large numbers, they are viewed as both a source of power and a being that must be respected. The name of the Canaid Beir roughly means Song of Birth, giving the impression that it is worshipped more as a natural force that brings new life.

#### Niamhsín

A genderfluid deity of Birth and and a protector of the forest. Niamhsín is presumed to be the Wild Folk version of Ranger given the descriptions of their genderfluidity and role. Niamhsín is said to have helped to many of the Wild Folk to bear children. They are depicted as a beautiful Flower Faerie, but with features of a Cervidan including their increased size, they are claimed to be able to shapeshift, though they are as beautiful in all forms.

#### Dáedha

An Earth God that is sometimes viewed as a fatherly figure. Dáedha is often portrayed as a creator, a wise farmer and a fierce hammer wielding warrior. He is often depicted as a large humanoid horse-like figure with a strong looking appearance. Some Wild Folk connect his portrayal as a creator and father figure, suggesting he has fathered many Wild Folk ancestors himself, though this is not confirmed.