Bullywugs
In the deepest parts of the the Great Nest are an innumerable array of swamps, bogs, and lakes that ooze with the very essence of life. In that primordial muck, small, round eyed hunters wait in the shadows, anticipating the right moment to strike at their prey. These are the Bullywug.
Resembling toads and frogs, Bullywugs live in largely isolated communities that are thought to be interconnected through a series of underwater tunnels they -- and only they -- navigate. They're underwater life is a total mystery that they guard jealously. In fact, Bullywugs see the swamps of the The Great Nest with a modicum of sanctity, and so believe any threats to the integrity of its form as threats to their kind. This has generated a reputation of xenophobia for local Bullywug society.
The Bullywug claim to be descendant of an ancient oath to guard the Swamp. This 'Old Oath' is nowadays used as a blanket term for the general safety of their community, though the original promise made has been lost to time. What the Bullywugs guard -- if they truly guard anything -- is unknown, even to them.
Bullywug's resilience to toxins and poisons have turned them into renowned monster hunters. Manticores, Carrion Crawlers, Couatls, Dretchs, and other poisonous creatures are their usual prey, but so much time on the job has trained their hand against other ravenous beasts. Their halls and monuments back home are decorated with great skulls and claws; the carcasses of their victories over nature's most vicious titans. Lone Bullywugs are therefore a common sight in almost all parts of the world, despite their culture's isolationism. These Bullywugs trade their expertise to the highest bidder, training soldiers, hunting rogue creatures, or simply as warriors in expeditionary missions. These lone individuals are sometimes hated by other wild races, who see them as traitors who've sold their talents for wealth. But they are revered back in The Great Nest by their kin and often cited by City Races as a prime example of what Wild Races can truly do (even if uttered with a condescending tone).
Bullywugs, like their Apelong brethren, despise the Gnomes, who seek to prey and bend the waters that they inhabit. They've warred with them before, but for their own reasons, as, though they respect the Apelong, they do not act on their behest. The Bullywugs keep a close eye on Gnome construction, patrols, and movement, forever paranoid that one day they'll come to undo their swamps. This might be due to a somewhat shaky belief in authority. Bullywug leaders suffer from mob riots and are dethroned with great frequency, and so leaders learn to be cautious and paranoid about the stability of their reign. It is therefore common for Bullywug leaders to request shows of loyalty. It is also an explanation for the Bullywug's resilience to speak with the leadership of other wild races, who seek them out when they council with each other and which the Bullywug rarely ever attend. This paranoia extends to the Gnomes, who the Bullywugs fear will displace them. The Gnomes in turn have learned how to manipulate this fear for staving off Bullywug assaults, though braving their poisonous swamps for, say, an invasion would be a next-to-impossible feat to accomplish.
Naming Traditions
Feminine names
Bian, Hoa, Lanh, Tam, Vinh, Yen
Masculine names
Dinh, Giang, Hien, Ngoc, Truc, Shan
Family names
Au, Bo, Dau, Khuu, Minh, Nguy
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These names are derived from Vietnamese first and last names.
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Languages spoken
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