#rw worldbuilding

[snickerdoodlesart]

A small series I hope continue? Basically creating dishes out of Rain World fauna. But first I need to establish their flavors and uses.

[far-au]

Slugcats and gender + sex

Slugcats do not view gender the same way we do it and they basically do not have gender/gender roles given they’re all pretty much the same sex* (cosexual, can reproduce as both sexes)

They do have pronouns, but they’re more dependent on characteristics (like role in the colony, fur color, age, etc.) than gender. The most gendered something really gets is when referring to parents of a child, with there being words for the parent who gave birth and the parent who did not

Basically even though most of it translates to they/them and neopronouns in English, they’re using different pronouns for everyone (so someone saying “There *they* are!” in reference to Saint will use a different pronoun for them than “There *they* are!” in reference to Hunter. But in English I’d just use they for both. If that makes sense)

Also yes neopronouns. They do use neopronouns! (E.g. xe/xem, ze/zir, ae/aer, etc.) Although they aren’t exactly “neo” since they’ve been in use for a long time and are just some of the usual pronouns they use

Pronouns like he/him and she/her (or the slugcat language equivalent) are pretty new to slugcat culture, but more slugcats are beginning to use those pronouns as interaction with iterators (who introduced those pronouns to slugcats in the first place) increases each year. They do not carry the same gendered connotation as they do in English though, they’re just seen as new and iterator-related

Also. Storage pouches! They are not only used for storing objects, but feeding infant slugcats after pregnancy. The storage pouch grows/expands during pregnancy and secretes a “milk-like” nutritious substance that slugcats feed their babies. The size change to the storage pouch is permanent, and mostly a good thing (more space to hold items if you don’t have an empty hand)

That’s also part of why Gourmand has a big storage pouch (yes he gave birth to his pups). He already had a large one prior to pregnancy, but after having his pups it’s grown more. So he has a big advantage for holding more items and larger items on long missions

*I say “all pretty much the same sex” because intersex slugcats do exist

Also this does make my old gender and sexuality posts about Artificer and Hunter outdated (although they were never really super ‘canon’ to this au anyway) since the labels I gave them probably don’t exist in universe (like sapphic and bi for example).

Artificer uses she/they and is technically transfem now because she does somewhat identify as a woman (although this is still different from our view of “woman” given everything explained above. and is much less ‘important’ for social stuff than irl) after learning from Hunter about Benefactor genders (who learned from NSH who is bigender). She doesn’t have much reason beyond “it feels like it fits me” but tbh you don’t need more reason than that anyway

Also also would maybe technically make Gourmand transmasc? Since he somewhat identifies as a man (again, still different from our view of “man” given everything explained above). Anyway that is all for now

Thanks for reading all this if you did :)

[scorpiolight-madd]

Trick or treat! 🦇

Hiiii! I’m gonna go with treat! 🍬 Here’s a bit of worldbuilding for Ruined World!

Because The City is a constructed pocket dimension made of pure magical energy, the rules of reality are very different. One of the most noticeable is the power of belief and perception, as peoples perceptions of themselves and their environments can physically change them.

For example, if someone feels lost, or hopeless, or otherwise “small” in some sort of way, they’ll begin to shrink, even to the point where they’re only an inch or two tall (like the characters in Little Nightmares). If someone acts vile and monstrous, they’ll grow more warped and distorted, until eventually they’re indistinguishable from the monsters native to the world.

This applies to locations too. The more people who are frightened of an area, the more likely it is that it will be swarmed with monsters. Conversely, if someone manages to find a safe haven, their comfort will cause the area to become more protected and secure.

[snickerdoodlesart]

In regards of taste, if you stuff your face with the flour as is, it's mostly like cornmeal and unsalted popcorn.

[far-au]

Do slugcat colonies have any beliefs or myths?

yes! what specific belief varies globally but yes they do

lots of stuff about this under cut. You have been warned. seriously there is a *lot*

the most widespread *before* slugcats began interacting with iterators much more frequently and having iterators more involved in their lives was the worship of iterators as gods/godlike beings!

many slugcats living near iterators/in a retaining wall used to believe iterators to be gods of rain (this is why the word for iterator in most scug languages comes from the words for storm, rain, god, etc.) and would worship them because of this. visiting an iterator and getting the Mark was a privilege few slugcats had and those who succeeded in their pilgrimage were considered holy and “touched by a god” and were looked up to for advice and wisdom

slugcats don’t believe this anymore, but having the Mark is still seen as an important gift and earns respect quickly, and iterators are still widely respected as important beings of power and knowledge

also addition: some colonies saw iterators as malevolent beings, and avoided them at all costs. this was a much less common belief, but the effects of this belief still impact regions that used to believe this (they tend to view slugcats who interact with iterators negatively and dislike iterators in general)

other beliefs even further back existed too, such as animism for example

even super far back into slugcat history, knowledge of the cycle was widespread. some details may have changed over time (and more knowledge gained about it), but the core of it, the Great Cycle, has ALWAYS had an influence on slugcat society as a whole.

also, slugcats didn’t only worship iterators in the past. Echoes, Weavers, even the Benefactors were worshipped and venerated. to this day, some slugcats still worship them, it’s just not as widely spread as it once was

modern slugcats beliefs can vary wildly depending on region (aside from the global belief of the Great Cycle and respect of the cycle of life and death), with one region having mostly deist colonies, another monotheistic, another polytheistic, another atheistic, etc.

(globally though deism or theism are the most common beliefs)

death and rebirth is very important in slugcat society and whenever a slugcat dies, they are given a very elaborate burial and a ceremony that is both a time of mourning and celebration for the death and rebirth of the deceased. they’re buried with no coffin and their corpse is seen as returning to the Earth (and thus the cycle to be reborn once again) and it’s seen as a great disrespect to not take proper care of a deceased slugcat’s body

ascended slugcat ancestors are venerated and remembered by their colony (most colonies have at least a few ancestors who have ascended) and often prayed to for guidance and protection, wherever they may be.

most slugcats don’t know for sure what lies beyond ascension, with some believing an afterlife with their god(s), an afterlife with ascended family and friends, blissful nothingness, etc. but no one truly knows.

ancient writings by the Benefactors and karma are also influential on slugcat beliefs to this day. most slugcats place the most importance on the fifth karma, Survival, rather than Crossing Oneself Out. the cycle of life and death is a gift to them.

i want to add more but this post is already very long so… just know there is more stuff they believe that i didn’t add here

maybe i'll make another post soon about the effects of ascension being only available in a few far apart places (the Void Sea is not exactly easy to reach). perhaps.

[far-au]

Can you tell us more about slugcat anatomy? What is their lifecycle like?

whoever sent this ask. Thank you so much I love these kinds of asks. You have activated worldbuilding mode i love speculative biology

ok so slugcat info

lots of info about RMA slugcat culture and biology below the cut

Slugcats are a bipedal, sapient, social species, with most living in colonies with others of their kind (although rarely some may live with scavs). They’re descended from pipe cleaning slugs, evolved far beyond their original purpose.

Slugcats are raised by their parents with the colony also pitching in to help raise and teach them things. Stories, tales, and information is passed down generation from generation to younger slugcats through things like writing, paintings, and oral storytelling. A lot of colonies have a legacy they specialize in (such as a colony good at making intricate clothing), although this is not the case for every colony.

Some slugcats leave their colony and travel or search for a new one when they come of age (typically young adulthood), but it’s equally as common that the slugcat stays and continues their life with their original colony. Slugcats tend to have ‘jobs’ or roles in their colony. Using the Outer Expanse colony as an example here: Gourmand is the main cook, leader, and protector of the colony. Monk is the main garderner/farmer and main caretaker of their plants. (there are other roles obviously but those are some examples from the main scugs)

The slugcat naming system. Pups have their pup name, a name they are given as pups by their parents/the colony. Then, they have their title/adult name which they typically earn in their late teens/early adulthood. The formal way to refer to a slugcat would be saying “Hello, the Saint” (using Saint as an example), but the informal version is much more common, which is cutting “the” and just saying “Hello, Saint”. They can earn and change names/titles throughout their lives. Their title can be more abstract as well (take “the Rivulet” as an example)

Slugcats do not have a widespread currency system unique to them like how scavengers do, preferring more to trade and offer services as payment. However, pearls are also used for trading and stuff with fellow slugcats because of their value when trading with scavengers.

Slugcats (who feel attraction) are typically ambiamorous (comfortable being in either monogamous or polyamorous relationship), but being strictly monogamous or strictly polyamorous isn’t necessarily rare either.

Most colonies usually have at least one thing unique or common to them, like a lot of the Outer Expanse colony slugcats having a pronounced mantle.

Slugcats are a species very prone to mutation which is why some of them have unique features (Arti [firepowder], Gourm [extra large storage pouch], and Saint [long tongue] are some examples). There are hundreds of different subspecies of slugcat all specialized for different things (like desert subspecies, aquatic subspecies, etc.)

Because of this and their high intellect, they’re a very common species to be used as a messenger among iterators (Spearmaster, Hunter). They’re easy to change, mutate, and edit.

This high rate of mutation also makes them more prone to genetic anomalies (cough Hunter COUGH), though, and things like congenital differences and stuff are common among slugcats.

Slugcats, despite the amount of mutations and subspecies and stuff they have, do all share the features that make them slugcats. Stomach pouch, flexible body, two arms, two legs, a tail, opposable thumbs, etc.

Their stomach pouch, also called a storage pouch, is a small pouch near the stomach used to store small items like pearls or rocks. They’re flexible due to being descended from pipe cleaner slugs, which had to be flexible to fit into tight pipes to clean. Their tail is used for balance (and is an extension of their spine), and while a slugcat can survive without one, their balance is impacted and leaves them with several other issues as well.

Slugcats (or at least the omnivorous and carnivorous slugcats) are pack hunters who use their numbers to their advantage while hunting. A lone slugcat, while possibly able to take down a lizard, will have a much higher chance with several other slugcats overwhelming and attacking the lizard as well.

Slugcats have a loose concept of gender, with most either not caring or caring little. There are very few completely binary gendered slugcats, with the majority of them being somewhere on the nonbinary spectrum. Gender is a thing but it’s not that important and gender norms aren’t really a thing.

Slugcats are also cosexual (biology term meaning possessing both male and female reproductive organs) like actual slugs.

Slugcat diets are wildly varied between subspecies. Slugcats are most commonly omnivorous. Carnivorous slugcats are less common, but not unheard of (Hunter, Artificer). They’re slugcats who primarily eat meat (but can eat plants, just not survive on only plants). Herbivorous slugcats (Saint) are the least common diet. They’re slugcats who primarily eat plants (but can eat meat, just not survive on only meat).

The rarest of all are slugcats who are either obligate carnivores or obligate herbivores. These are slugcats who only eat meat or plants, with no exceptions. Saint is not an obligate herbivore, as ingame they can eat bug pupa (bluefruit) and eggbug eggs for food pips.

Slugcats have a variety of languages all around the world, but they all sound similar to a completely untrained ear because they’re all from the same species. Most of their written languages are based off symbols from the [word for Ancients/Benefactors, you know what I mean].

Slugcats and scavengers aren’t very close as a species, acknowledging each other but not really living together much or interacting outside of trade, but this does change in the future (think Saint’s time).

Throughout different slugcat cultures, things like art, music, and writing is present in all of them. Slugcats are a very artistic and creative species like humans and art is a big part of their culture. There are different songs and dances to tell stories, teach lessons, just for fun, etc. Doing art like writing, painting, drawing, sculpting, and more are all common ways of expressing creativity.

[far-au]

how technologically advanced are the scugs in the rma au?

hm. well they’re much more advanced than shown in canon. they’re probably like above cavemen in terms of technology but they’re obviously not as advanced as modern day humans

i can’t really translate how advanced they are into stuff like the metal ages due to how different slugcats are from humans and the different environment they live in and stuff

generally the most advanced slugcats are the ones living outside iterator retaining walls that have the least predators, since they have more time to refine skills and do more than the minimum to survive.

they have cooking, hunting, fishing (for those near large bodies of water), leather working, art, language(s) and writing system, basic medicine, some of them have stuff like basic agriculture as well, and definitely more things i haven’t thought of

different colonies of slugcats have different stories, folktales, culture, etc. and they all tend to have some sort of thing that’s unique to their colony (for example, Rivulet’s colony lived in the retaining walls of an iterator who produced an immense amount of rain, so they’re semi-aquatic), but they don’t always.

slugcat languages tend to be similar but they do have different languages and dialects depending on like where they live

slugcats do, in fact, have clothes, it’s just not many wear clothes because it’s normally not necessary and be seen as a waste of precious resources. clothes are most commonly worn in snowy and desert environments

they have a trading system similar to scavengers, sometimes they use pearls while other times they just trade what they have that could be equal to the other item’s value (so like, a large slab of lizard meat for like… an explosive spear or something)

currently they’re going through a sort of technological boom due to some iterators aiding them and teaching them new concepts (like teaching them about important medical topics and how to make proper medicine, for example)