Sentient Species of Giantstep

Here we have the list of sentient species of the world of Giantstep. As the concept of sentience is quite complex, to simplify the matter we will include here species that are able to develop complex societies, at the very least hunter-gatherers with some form of communal living and able to communicate with the other advaced species of the world.

Also, this list will not include uplifted or above mortal groups, like gods, spirits, dragons... or beings whose sentience is debated, like the Lardlardu.

## Humans

See Humans

### Elves

See Elves.

**Elves** are a group of sentient species belonging to the category of fey. While not part of what’s considered “*true fey*”, elves are nevertheless the most common type of fey in the world, and certainly the most influential of them besides the Faerie Lords themselves. Elves are spread all throughout the world, with the bulk of them centered on the Lands behind the Hedge and Scimitarian. Throughout the years, the elven nations have taken many different forms, and nowadays most elves live in either in self-ruled city-states or collective communities in nature, with the Witchelven Empire being the last major elven nation in Giantstep. This has caused their political power to wane considerably in the world, but their sway over matters such as art, philosophy, trade and crafts are still considerable.

#### Wood Elves

See Elves.

#### Snow Elves

See Elves.

#### Sea Elves

See Elves.

#### Witchelven

See Elves.

#### Drow

See Elves.

#### Ta'lunasir/Moon Elves

See Elves.

#### Horned Elves

See Elves.

### Fairies

See Fairies.

**Fairies** are a group of sentient species belonging to the category of fey. They are one of the biggest subcategories of fey there is, with dozens of different species, so much so that is difficult to make a comprehensive list of them all. Most of these species live in the depths of the wilderness like Elfwood or the Dominion of the Bog Witch, though their numbers are generally small. The more numerous fairies are spread wildly, though most of them live in territories that used to belong to the Western Elven Empire.

#### Common Fairies

See Fairies.

#### Chotës

See Fairies.

#### Sprites

See Fairies.

#### Bog Fairies

See Fairies.

#### Wisp Fairies

See Fairies.

#### Wisplings

See Fairies.

### Halflings

See Halflings.

**Halflings** are a group of sentient species belonging to the category of fey. More of a term resulting from historical and political bonds than actual genetic ties, halflings encompass many groups whose main characteristic is being shorter than humans. The term “*halfling*” itself is a human construction, as most fey consider them as other member of the “*minor fey*”. Most of these groups live in the Lands Behind the Hedge, Scimitarian and the Island of Wizards.

#### Hobbits

See Halflings.

#### Common Gnomes

See Halflings.

#### Swamp Gnomes

See Halflings.

#### Uldra (Northern Gnomes)

See Halflings.

#### Domovoy

See Halflings.

#### Brownies

See Halflings.

### Mushroomites

See The Fungest

#### Common Mushroomites

See The Fungest

#### Muscarin Mushroomites

See The Fungest

### Minor Fey

#### Animalkin

See Windwillow and Therianthropy

#### Dryads

**Dryads** are one of the many fey species living in Giantstep. They encompass the entirety of the plantfolk genre, as there is a wide variety of dryads in the world, depending on where they live. Thus, their physical description vary wildly depending on many factors, with some of them not even being humanoid at all, though they share some elements in common with each other. Dryads are more plant than animals, often having a wooden skin, multiple branch-like limbs and covered in leaves. They can grow roots from their limbs at will, obtaining nutrients and water from them, as well as eating as normal. Their senses are somewhat strange, as while they seemingly cannot see or hear in the same way we do, dryads are still highly aware of their surroundings: dryads may say they cannot hear you or see you, but they are as aware of you, where you are and what you sound like as if they did. This has made many to think their brains process information in a much more different way than those from other species. This also means the common means of neutralizing someone’s senses are completely ineffective to dryads, as both their sensory organs and their brains work in ways they cannot easily disrupt.

Dryads’ size vary wildly. A dryad never stops growing throughout their lifetime, and they gain control over their own growth once they become adults, but they cannot go over certain height without deforming their body or needing to root themselves into the soil. Thus, the more humanoid dryads prefer to be a height closer to that of humans or elves, where as non-humanoid dryads can grow up to 3-4 meters of height, becoming lumbering giants in the forest. If their grow beyond their ability to stand, they take the risk of needing to permanently root themselves into the soil, and at that point, it is only a matter of time before they become completely immobile, losing their sentience and becoming another tree in the forest. These dryads are called the “sleeping ones”, and are both revered and pitied in equal measure, with many dryads developing a custom of speaking and singing to them, as they believe the sleeping ones never truly lose their mind and are still aware of their surroundings.

Dryads need to live near vegetation. While they can temporary survive in areas devoid of major plant life, they will begin to wither, becoming frailer over time, which can cause several diseases. This weakness quickly wears off once they come in contact with a big enough mass of vegetation. Dryads can be quite resistant to harsh weather, as we know some kinds of dryads that live in the cacti forests of some deserts, so this weakness is not a matter of frailty against the elements. Dryads are highly superstitious, however, and they will reject living in woods that have been enchanted by non-fey magic, such as the Forest of Getting Lost or the Forest of Bloody Vengeance.

Dryads can live very long lives, dedicating themselves to the care of the woods and the service to the faerie lords. Despite reproducing mostly through asexual means, the dryads actually are highly sexually dimorphic, with some attributing this to divine design. When a dryad feels the need to reproduce, it can do so in two ways: either find a mate and create their progeny together, or by creating a clone of themselves. During sexual reproduction, the female will spawn a seed from her back, the size of a human head, and plant it in a particularly healthy area of the forest, with the child having mixed characteristics from their parents. During asexual reproduction, the process will be the same, with both male and female being able to sprout the seed from their backs. The result will be an identical individual, though this process has more chances of not developing well enough during the sprouting period, and thus dryads do prefer finding a mate for this process.

#### Nymphs

**Nymphs** are one of the many minor fey species in Giantstep. They are universally female, being described as “impossibly beautiful” by most humanoid species, which shows their innate magical properties. They have a mix of humanoid and elven features, but with eyes that always emit light, always shinning, even when they are asleep. This gives them the impression that they are always awake, which can be uncanny to some. Their skin shows all sorts of different colors depending on the season they are born in, having warmer colors the closer they are born to summer, and colder colors the closer they are born to winter.

Nymphs have great magical properties, with their natural attractive nature being an innate magical skill of theirs. However, they cannot turn it off, and thus weak willed people might become obsessed with them, which leads to trouble. This has made nymphs weary of males from other species, always on edge they will lose control. This behavior ranges from friendly to murderous depending on personality, culture, and affiliation. Nymphs have a natural affinity for water, being extraordinary swimmers even though their physiognomy is not adapted to an aquatic lifestyle. Many argue that nymphs need to be near lakes and rivers to keep their magic under control, while some argue that water is sacred to them.

As nymphs are universally female, they need to find other species to mate with to continue their bloodline. This often results in nymphs seducing an individual they see as particularly healthy and noble. The harder they resist to the nymphs’ spells, the more they will try to seduce him. Once enthralled, either willingly or unwillingly, the nymph and the chosen partner will stay together until the nymph is pregnant, and once that happens, the nymph will cut all contacts with the individual in question. The affected can sometimes suffer memory loss of the time he was with the nymph, as a way to deal with the strong emotions caused by the enchantment. Fights between nymphs for particularly appealing partners are not uncommon, and can be incredibly deadly, as they do not like to share.

#### Wolbede

**Wolbede** are one of the many species of minor fey living in Giantstep. They are a strange species, with the earliest records of their presence being alongside the arrival to power of Adonis to Sniden. They are caterpillar-like creatures, measuring up to 2 meters in full height, though often they are heavily hunched. They have a dozen or so pairs of limbs, though they are so short and their bodies so big they often cannot move unaided, needing the help of their subordinates. Their humanoid face has eyes that eyelids only, and noses that are between their eyes.

The wolbedes are said to be a cursed species. Millennia ago, the wolbede were able to metamorphose into butterfly-like beings, with wondrous features and incredible beauty. However, this made them incredibly vain and prideful, often arguing they were the most beautiful beings in all creation. This ended up bringing the ire of some of the faerie lords, and even some of the fey gods, who cursed them to never again reach that beautiful butterfly state, and to live as ugly caterpillars forevermore. They are said to have hidden from the world in horror and shame, waiting for an opportunity to break their curse. Rumors talk about Adonis, the secretive faerie lord, promised them that in their realm he would “lift the weight of their curse from their shoulders”, in exchange for their services, which they agreed. Thus, they fell in the consumption of scatterweed, and became some of the most loyal servants of Adonis.

Wolbedes are part of the “administration” of Sniden, as barebones as it is. They are in charge of watching over the affairs of others and making sure all other inhabitants of the region work their share for Adonis. They work as accountants and administrators, making sure the goods of the land are properly shared between all, and what’s more important, making sure Adonis gets his cut. Wolbedes are incredibly addicted to scatterweed, and they are rarely seen without a scatterweed pipe. This has also meant that the effects of the drug on them has weakened somewhat, which forces them to take tremendous amounts to get the previous high. If they do not achieve this, they become depressive again over their situation, acting dangerously violent against anything fey, though their loyalty to Adonis is too great for them even when the scatterweed grasp wanes.

#### Histerians (Fake Humans)

See Lands of Fake Humans

#### Pitchhaulers

Pitchhaulers are one the many species of minor fey living in Giantstep. Living exclusively in the swamps of the Bog Witch, they are stocky and small creatures, around half a meter of height, with a strange blueish tint to their skin. Their eyes are diminutive and lacking an iris, and are almost hidden by their enormous elongated nose. Their ears are also massive, though they are usually hidden beneath their hair, which is similar in looks and composition to tree branches.

Pitchhaulers are strange creatures. Seemingly immune to the darkness and despairing atmosphere of the swamps, pitchhaulers have a warm and welcoming disposition, often offering help to those lost in the bogs. This can often than not end dreadfully wrong for them, as letting strangers into one’s house in the swamps can be a remarkably bad idea, and it is frequent to see pitchhauler houses ravaged and broken, with their old owners sprawling dead on the floor, with no sign of force being used to enter. Due to this, pitchhaulers prefer living in areas nearly deserted from intelligent life, harvesting and moving pitch to sell in the markets.

Pitchhaulers are very rare in the bogs, though they tend to form very big families, often having as many children as possible. This is because they life expectancy of most pitchhaulers is dismally short, with many things being a risk to their wellbeing, both from monstrous creatures or the dark entities in the swamps. Pitchhaulers have a great skill to find sources of pitch for agriculture, and once their home becomes too small for their family, the youngest embark on a quest to find an area to settle in and call home. This is especially bittersweet for the parents, as they know many of their children will not make it before finding a safe place.

#### Oaf

**Oafs** are small grey fey variant mostly found in the Platanus Bog and around the Toadpond. Due to their small stature and almost childlike appearance, they like to pretend to be crying little children lost in the swamps. Both to induce helpfulness and carelessness, as well as to trigger the hunting instincts of ogres or some other malicious swamp dweller. If an empathic traveler gets too close to them in order to help, they will steal his food rations, bite them and run away or lure him into a bog hole. Newborn oafs are often used as changelings by the bog fey.

#### Hag

**Hags** are adistic and cynical fey resembling ugly woman (though many can disguise themselves with illusions), they can be found in many parts of the world and have a number of subraces adapted to specific climates, though are mostly found in the northern third of the continent. They are almost always unseelie fey, and most see the dark goddess of magic Murga as their creator (or equivalent depending on their culture), though many lesser hags were created by stronger hags via rituals, and others were created by rituals developed by the Bog-Witch and the Demon Lord Gogotha instead. In some areas, particularly the Bog-Witch’s territory, the terms “hag” and “witch” are used interchangeably.

## Dwarves

See Dwarves

## Orcs

See Orc'Eire

## Goblinoid

See Goblins.

**Goblins** are a group of sentient species living in the world of Giantstep. Goblins occupy a strange place in the world: while they aren’t the dominant population in any region of the step, they can be found pretty much everywhere, often far from the main centers of population. Areas with low population density, poor vigilance by local authorities or unchecked wilderness are bound to have goblin nests. Goblins can survive on a wide variety of environments, from deserts to jungles. In general, goblins live aside from regular society, being near universally considered as bandits or brigands.

#### Common Goblins/Cave Goblins

See Goblins.

#### Gibberlings

See Goblins.

#### Boglings

See Goblins.

#### Gruntlings

See Goblins.

#### Glubbos

See Goblins.

#### Moldlings

See Goblins.

#### Gombwoddles

See Goblins.

#### Snow Goblins

See Goblins.

#### Grutzlings/Spiked Goblins

See Goblins.

#### Redcaps

See Goblins.

#### Hobgoblins

See Goblins.

#### Bugbears

See Goblins.

## Ogres

See Ogres.

**Ogres** are a group of sentient species living in the world of Giantstep. Ogres are a relatively common sight across most of the step, as their strength, hardiness and ability to survive with little makes them very resilient. They tend to form their own societies, but it is not uncommon to see them having to ally or submit to other groups in order to better survive. View on ogres varies wildly, either as creatures that need to be expelled and destroyed for the good of all to creatures that make themselves useful as muscle for hard labor. On their part, the degree of the ogres’ civilization depends wildly on the societies around them and their capacity to force them into a particular role.

#### Manskin Ogres

See Ogres.

#### Peacock Ogres

See Ogres.

#### Swamp Ogres

See Ogres.

#### Horned Ogres

See Ogres.

#### Pale Ogres

See Ogres.

#### Alquizhibab

See Ogres.

#### Desert Ogres

See Ogres.

#### Peat-Cutterlings

See Ogres.

## Trolls

See Trolls.

**Trolls** are a group of sentient species living in the world of Giantstep. They are fairly widespread throughout the world, and all share many qualities like a big size or powerful healing capabilities. Trolls rarely form complex societies, though the Kingdemocracy of the Civilized Trolls is a notable exception to that rule, instead preferring to live in small groups or individually, roaming the land and hunting, with very little in the way of technology.

#### Rock Trolls/Common Trolls

See Trolls.

#### Desert Trolls

See Trolls.

#### Cave Trolls

See Trolls.

#### Yeti/Furred Trolls

See Trolls.

#### Sylvan

See Trolls.

#### Mermaid Trolls

See Trolls.

#### Northern Trolls

See Trolls.

#### Nebelhutzen

See Trolls.

## Beastfolk

See Beastfolk.

**Beastfolk** are a group of sentient species living in the world of Giantstep. The term “*beastfolk*” is poorly defined, as it more or less includes any species that could be described as a humanoid creature with animal characteristics, or an animalistic creature with humanoid characteristics. As such, it is the classification with the biggest amount of species out of all categories of sentient species. However, the numbers of most beastfolk races are relatively few, and are limited to certain geographical areas, being much less widespread than humans, dwarves or fey.

What exactly makes a species a beastfolk depends on the expert, and the criteria used. The term “beastfolk” was created by humans, to describe creatures who could basically be described as humans with animal features. It has also been adopted by fey, who have a similar description, but it comes from their creation myth. Many fey believe that the first sentient species were a result of the gods, racing with each other to create the perfect race to populate the world. After they created the fey, they began to run out of bits and parts, and thus they had to use animal parts. The remaining parts were thrown out as waste, giving birth to humanity. Fey see most beastfolk as creatures more in tune with nature than humans, but still in a lesser way than the fey.

### Mammalian Beastfolk

#### Joos/Servalala

See Joos.

#### Ketlovian Werewolves

See Ketlovia and Setlovia and Therianthropy.

#### Hogmen/Man Beasts

See Hogmen.

#### Seguerials

See Seguerial Hordas.

#### Ludenite Ratmen

See Luden.

#### Cowmen

See Cowmen Grasslands.

#### Zulutaurs

See Zulutaur Steppe.

#### Gilgemashi Catfolk/Urmahlullu

See Beastfolk.

#### Pigfolk

See Beastfolk.

#### Hippotaur

See Beastfolk.

#### She-eep/Oviscentauresses

See Evergreen Pastures.

#### Mastodon

See Mastodon Isles.

#### Badgassi

See Confederated Chiefdoms of Badgassi Mara Honi]].

#### Satyrs

See Beastfolk.

#### Chorts/Goatmen

See Beastfolk.

#### Fauns

See Beastfolk.

#### Deertaur

See Beastfolk.

#### Centaurs

See Beastfolk.

#### Babbooki

See Beastfolk.

#### Poinks

See Beastfolk.

#### Porks

See Beastfolk.

#### Yakfolk

See Beastfolk.

### Avian Beastfolk

#### Owlmen

See Biblion.

#### Harpies/Vulturefolk

See Beastfolk.

#### Ostrichfolk

See Beastfolk.

#### Kikimori

See Beastfolk.

#### Crowhags

See Beastfolk.

#### Mannshahn

See Beastfolk.

### Amphibian Beastfolk

#### Ecrkoecknoi/Frogmen

See The Land of Changing Waters.

#### Froglins

See Beastfolk.

#### Toadlings

See Beastfolk.

#### Ulwogs

See Beastfolk.

#### Hop'en

See Beastfolk.

#### Woggies

See Beastfolk.

### Reptilian Beastfolk

#### Runaan

See Runaan Ashlands.

#### Demon Tiefling

See Beastfolk.

#### Dragon Tiefling

See Beastfolk.

### Insectoid Beastfolk

#### Zidazzi

See Ettin-Range.

#### Mozadizz

See Ettin-Range.

#### Bombus

See Ettin-Range.

### Fishfolk

#### Ancient Mermaids

See Beastfolk.

#### Jibaro

See Beastfolk.

#### Voydanick

See Vodyanik Lands.

#### Pondlings

See Pondlings.

#### Lampreyfolk

See Beastfolk.

#### Mirelow

See Beastfolk.

#### Ekhidna

See Beastfolk.

#### Mirewenches

See Beastfolk.

### Crustacean Seafolk

#### Ra

See Great Ra'ga.

#### Krestenegs

See Kresteneg Breeding Grounds.

#### Squidfolk

See Beastfolk.

#### Gryplow

See Beastfolk.

### Other Seafolk

#### Kobalins

See Ortuga.

## Snoloths

See Snoloth Country.

## Giant-Spawned

See Giant-Spawned.

**Giant-spawned**, also known as **half-giants**, **semi-giants** or **"the remnants"**, are a group of sentient species living in Giantstep. They are theorized to be descendants of the mythical giants that once ascended to the heavens using the Cosmic Staircase. Their common attribute is their massive size, dwarfing even trolls, and that forces them to live in isolated areas of the world, apart from the rest of civilization. Many also believe that their origins was caused by the growing impurity of the giants’ blood, which made them lose size, strength and intelligence until their heirs could not ascend the Cosmic Staircase anymore, leaving them in the step for the rest of their existence.

#### Mokdregians

See Ettin-Range.

#### Ettin

See Ettin-Range.

#### Southern Giants

See Giant-Spawned.

#### Balachko

See Giant-Spawned.

## Outsiders

#### Star People

See Lands of the Star People.

## Gnolls

See Gnolls.

## Mimics

#### Facedancers

See Sealed Grove.

## Artificial Species

#### Automata

See Republic of the Abandoned Automata.
**Automata** have been known to exist for many millenia in the world of Giantstep. An automata can be defined as an “artificial entity built by wizards or astromancers to accomplish a series of tasks, often proving a certain level of intelligence and even some level of sentience”. Automata can have different shapes and sizes, depending on the purpose of the machine in question, and also be made of different materials, though these have to be inorganic, as creating entities with organic materials would fall into the realms or other fields, such as alchemy or necromancy. All automata are the result of a complex process of manufacturing, with most of the knowledge about how to create some of the most complex and powerful automata being lost to time.

All automata need aether to function. During the process of creation of an automata, the astromancer will use a great quantity of aether, which will serve both as is energy fuel and as the container of its mind. Consumption of aether is incredibly slow, and generally takes centuries for an automata to run out of aether. Damage to its aether cells can often degrade the automata, making it behave in unexpected ways, lose parts of its memory and/or personality and even stop functioning altogether. Once an automata ceases to function, its personality, programming and memory go with it, and even if the automata in question is rebuilt perfectly, it will not be the same individual.

## Undetermined

#### Strawmen

**Strawmen** are one of the many sentient species living in Giantstep. An elusive and mysterious race, strawmen have lived in the Golden Sea of Wheat since time immemorial. Their bodies are believed to be humanoid, but no one has seen what’s behind their long hair, similar in looks and consistency to straw. They are, in fact, completely covered by this hair, with only their legs and arms being visible. This makes many wonder how do they manage to see or hear anything, but strawmen apparently manage without issue. Strawmen’s limbs are somewhat leathery, with skin slightly folding, but otherwise they are near identical to human arms and legs. Strawmen are seemingly unable to talk, with them only communicating through strange grunts and other guttural sounds. The other wheatians, however, seem to have no issue understanding what they want to say, something that baffles outsiders.

The life and behavior of the strawmen is a great mystery, as we lack the knowledge of familiar rites, customs or other traditions beyond their public life around the wheatians. Strawmen participate frequently in the wheatian festivities, such as Cimbol, joining the parades and dances. Strawmen are pretty fond of the ritualistic dances in the region, often swirling in circles to the delight of the crowd. If the harvest has been particularly bountiful in a year, even the fully-grown Strawmen join in the celebrations dancing along with the wheatfolk which is interpreted as a good omen and supposed to bring rain for the crops. Strawmen are friendly with the wheatfolk, but the reports of strangers disappearing in fields occupied by strawmen casts a darker shadow on them, even though both strawmen and wheatians would reject the claim profusely. The straw men are also said to have clairvoyant and some other lesser magical abilities, though their true extent is unknown.