Category:Chi-Folken

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Chi-Folken are a species of Tiny-sized Fey, who are first formally mentioned in the article Little Horrors, in Quoth the Raven Issue 31. Arguably, the main characters of the Chibiloft comics have been featuring Chi-Folken from the start. Chi-Folken may be seen as metaphors for Medium-sized creatures, they may be considered to be real creatures with independent existence, or they might be both at the same time.

History

If they are accepted as real creatures, Chi-folken are divided in two main tribes: one which was accidentally created by a Wizard of the Prime Material Plane who was experimenting with a combination of homunculi with Fey blood; and one which was created by the Dark Powers based on the first tribe to populate Madego.

The first tribe was itself divided in specimens who were used as toys and servants by Medium-sized humanoids, and 'ferals' who lived between and under their homes, where they burrowed into the earth and hunted vermin. This division ended when the envious genius Wudr attempted to commit genocide against the humanoids he saw as his people's oppressors, allowing the 'domestic' Chi-Folken to join the ferals in an exodus to the wilderness.

Description

Regardless their origin, Chi-Folken are Tiny-sized. They are bipedal and walk upright, and are usually rather round of head, with relatively short arms and legs. Although they have two eyes, their heads lack other visible features. In spite of this, they are capable of eating, drinking and speech, and have access to all the standard senses. Both their hands and feet have only three digits.

They may superficially resemble members of larger species, and display what looks like primary and secondary sexual characteristics, but Chi-Folken are actually sexless and their resemblance to any other lifeform is barely skin deep. They reproduce by having two or more individuals blend their blood with clay, and sculpting that clay around a mandrake. The form of the child is a result of the "parents'" aesthetic choices, rather than genetics, and their reproductive process resembles the magical processes that go into the creation of homunculi. Romantic affection between Chi-Folken is described as 'sweet, but sexless'; reproduction is deliberate.

Special Qualities

Owing to their size, Chi-Folken are very buoyant, granting them a Swim speed, and can generate a feather fall-effect once a day.

Habitat & Culture

The original tribe on the Prime Material Plane lived primarily in temperate areas and preferred to build their settlements underground, where they made their homes out of alchemically-reinforced glass. Once they had the opportunity to do so, they fled for pristine wilderness in order to avoid larger humanoids. Left to their own devices, the Chi-Folken hunted and ate vermin, worshipped various Loa and Spirits because they believed they were beneath the notice of the gods, and focused on contentment.

In Ravenloft, specifically in Madego, Chi-Folken live on the surface and build their settlements out in the open in all manner of biomes. They farm, rather than hunting and gathering. While they initially mimicked the architectural styles of the other domains, post-740 BC they have also started constructing buildings out of alchemically-reinforced glass. The Ravenloft Chi-Folken worship the Thousand as well as the Loa, but the faith of Lupta and worship of their ancestral spirits are gaining rather more traction ever since the Grand Conjunction.