Press "Enter" to skip to content

Babbage beastiary: the creatures and races of New Babbage

was considering a srt of IC article on research in the various creatures, and people of New Babbage, so far this is what I have

Humans: the majority of Babbage’s population would be humans, upright primates possibly descended from the cro-magnon man if you follow Darwin.

Furries/Moreus/Ani-men:  people with various animal characteristics, known b many names and origins, and various subspecies of animals, some theories is that they originated from the experiments of Dr. Moreu, though some claim not to have anyting to do with it, some claim to be the offspring of such experiments, and some can trace their ancestors to before he had begun his experimentation.  Research into this species is on going and very slow for this very reason, no-one will agree to their origins. Despite this, they still make up a sizeable portion of the city’s population.

Clockworks/clanks/automotons: Much of Babbage’s workforce these days are artificial constructs, generally built with specific tasks in mind, some of the more complex designs can usually preform a few different task, extremely advanced varieties appear to have sentience and free will.

Zombies: originally considered myth, after last years outbreak of zombie plauge, it’s hard to dismiss them.  Generally, the zombies of last year were either from a mix of chemicals, possibly from the canals, or a virus, there were actually 2 seperate outbreaks, possibly by related virus, one originating in the Academy during the time it was just starting to be built, and in Babbage Square (Researcher’s note: it was not the work of proffessor Footman! he was….away! fishing! yes!)  The Zombies were essentially reanimated corpses, in various stages of decay, and very limited mental prowess, as well as a constant hunger for the living.  The disease is highly contagious and can be transferred trough a bite, or blood.   Not to be mistaken with the Revenant, wich is also a corpse but animated through more esoteric means

Revenant: generally still thought to be myth, similar to the zombie, but animated through occult practices, and without the ravenous hunger, or contageion associated with the zombies

Vampire: a creature of myth, suppsedly drinks the blood of the living, leends could possible be based on mis-identified zombies.

Lycan: any variety of shape-shifter, wolves and felines are the most common. another myth possibly based off early accounts of moreus.

Ghost: current research by Footman Industries has created the theory that they are the consiousness of the dead, utilizing a form of phsyco-somatic etheric energy to still interact with the living world, as the consciousness would be a form of energy, and energy can not be destroyed, only converted.  More study is needed, however it should be noted a ‘ghost’ is not so-called magic.

Wiggyfish: an ugly variety of fish native to babbage, noted for it’s ugly appearance, tough skin, and aweful stentch. it is one of Babbage’s cheif exports, and a common ingredient in Babbage dishes.

Dinosaur: largely extinct, there have been occasional sightings at least two or three times of living velociraptors in babbage however.

Voles: small rodents used in the production of vole oil and vole butter

Mermaids/Mermen: originally thought to be myth, the discovery of a frozen merman  few months back, has raised the possibility they do exist.  there have been findings of what appear to be ramshackle homes at the bottom of the Vernian Deep.

Cecaelia: a varient of mermaid, these have the upper half of a human, and the lower half gives way to octopus tentacles, relatively unknown

Air Kraken: a variety of giant squid that lives in the air, like their sea dwelling cousins, little is known aside from the fact they are very dangerous

Martians: beings from Mars that have invaded Babbage numerous times, little is known of them, they are either mechanical tripods, or are organic and pilot the tripods.

Hobs: a variety of short people living in babbage, possibly humans afflicted with dwarfism, though there is myths and folklore surrounding them as well

Mole Men: a race of subterranian humanoids resembling moles, and living within tunnels deep below the surface, their last king had his spine ripped out.

Dragons, Oriental: A breed of reptile normally found in the far East, noted for a more serpentine shape, possible mane , possible antlers or horns, growths on the snout give the resemblance of a long drooping mustache on some varients

Timelords: More a class or profession than a race, though they are almost all of a supposed xenos species from a world called Galifrey, so would be called Gallifreyans to be more precise, Having developed advanced time travel technology, they often travel in small boxes. supposedly as they die they regenerate new bodies.  Currently almost all resemble a man in a suit and hi-tops and leave their time boxes in inconvenient locations.  there is rumor that some of the more well respected residents of the city may be timelords, but there is no evidence of this as they do not resemble Homo-chronos Tennantis and have not been seen leaving blue boxes in the middle of the street or people’s living rooms.

and of course they don’t exist anyway

Tinies:  a varient of the furry, or Moreu, known for a diminutive size.  their cute aspect may be a method of defense

Kraken, Ocean: the ocean bound cousin to the Air Kraken, they are enormous squid that reside in the sea as opposed to the air

Deep Ones: seen in fleeting glimpses by deep sea exploration, described as vaugly humanoud, but fishlike, with fishlike faces

 

Spread the love

22 Comments

  1. Edward Pearse Edward Pearse September 22, 2010

    Whatever Mr. Jack is :-) (As a child was caught in a mechanical rice-picker and then fell into a vat of india ink?)

    And how could you leave Timelords off the list?!?!

    Tankroaches.

    Dragons. (the the giant winged reptile but the smaller, asian looking kind)

     

  2. Grendel Footman Grendel Footman September 22, 2010

    I know of the Molemen, and Timelords (and of course dragons) 

    but not too sure what a Jimmyy fish or tankroach is

  3. MichaelD Mannonen MichaelD Mannonen September 22, 2010

    With all due respect, “Timelord” is not properly a name for a race of people; rather it is a position or title granted to an individual specially qualified in particular skills. A Timelord is usually ( I am not aware of any expections) a native of the planet ‘Gallifrey’, so perhaps a more accurate name for this race of beings would be “Gallifreyan”…

     

    Of course, there is no such thing as a “Timelord”.

     

  4. Aeolus Cleanslate Aeolus Cleanslate September 23, 2010

    Mr Footman –

    Enclosed are transcriptions of several constabulary logs related to reports of unexplained creatures in New Babbage. As Maceholder I can give them little official credence, but in the name of science I feel duty-bound to add them to your efforts.

    – Cleanslate

    Diabolem. Long rumored but seldom experienced, reports have emerged of creatures that seem to inhabit the lowest levels of New Babbage’s sewers and tunnels. Consensus has emerged that their ancestors were humans consigned to underground prisons and asylums and orphanages generations earlier, who somehow managed to survive and breed, in spite – or perhaps because – of the seeping layers of waste and sewage runoff accumulating beneath the city. Fleeting sightings have resulted in few details, but what remains are certainly only marginally human.

    Dagon. “A certain sort of men, [these] creatures … were damnably human in general outline despite webbed hands and feet, shockingly wide and flabby lips, glassy, bulging eyes, and other features less pleasant to recall.”

    Gelatinous cube. DPW officials inspecting the newly-completed tunnel under Academy Downs reported the appearance of a large, green, semi-coagulated substance blocking a large portion of the tunnel. Bits of organic and inorganic matter were suspended within it, and evidence suggested the substance was significantly acidic. Some suggested it was simply an agglomeration of noxious industrial effluent, but after visiting the site several hours later it had clearly moved. Experiments revealed that it responded to stimuli, even at one point shuddering when hearing a female voice. Its level of intelligence was questionable, and it disappeared shortly thereafter.

    Brick lice. Exactly what they sound like: tiny creatures like termites that infest and devour brick and stone. Several recent building collapses are attributed to decades-long erosion of foundations brought about by these vermin (although some insist this is nonsense put forward by solicitors defending shoddy contractors). Opinion ranges widely about what attracts them to one building or another, with ‘mortar too rich in lime,’ ‘molasses stored on the premises,’ and ‘not washing one’s hair’ each having been suggested by various experts without a shred of evidence.

    Limulidae. Hospital workers have regularly reported injuries attributed to limulidae, which are apparently some kind of mutant arthropod that scavenges among the trashpiles and chat mounds from Babbage’s factories. Tales exchanged between street urchins suggest that limulidae are ugly, bad-smelling, and nocturnal; skittish around humans and vicious when cornered. Bites sustained from these creatures are often infected with any number of pathogens. Fragments of shell and pincers have been recovered, but never a whole specimen – their corpses are apparently torn apart by their brethren within moments of death. The limulidae captured and preserved in formaldehyde in the Anthropological Museum several years ago turned out to be a rotten, oversized horseshoe crab.

    And, of course:

    Beholder.  A floating orb of flesh with a large mouth, single central eye, and lots of smaller eyestalks on top with lethal capabilities. Reports of beholders date back several decades, but nothing has come in recently. Aside from old Humbert, who swears up and down that he saw one when he was a boy, the current consensus in the department is that they were never real.

  5. Gabriell Anatra Gabriell Anatra September 23, 2010

    Don’t forget those huge sewer rats.

  6. Tepic Harlequin Tepic Harlequin September 23, 2010

    hmmm… could give rise to one of them classifiation books, with coloured in illustrations – errmmm… if i’m the only person whose parents were foxes, can i have a page to myself, please?

    • Stargirl Macbain Stargirl Macbain September 23, 2010

      tepic, you should get a page all to yourself anyway! (Those marvelous strolls of yours demand it!)

      there are a number of shapeshifters in town, as I recall. Don’t want to leave them out. Urchins should count as their own species too Hehe.

      • Cyan Icewolf Cyan Icewolf September 23, 2010

        Urchins as their own species… maybe sea urchins, or perhaps Skyler could fit in his own species as I don’t think anything human can smell that bad ;3

  7. DoctorDinosaur Runner DoctorDinosaur Runner September 23, 2010

    I think Miss Aya claimed her parents were also foxes of a sort, but she also claimed they were moreus, so it’s hard to say f you both are the same genus or not

    • DoctorDinosaur Runner DoctorDinosaur Runner September 23, 2010

      ah, meant to reply as grendel, ah well

    • Cyan Icewolf Cyan Icewolf September 23, 2010

      Rather Creepy I’d say *remembers being tossed in a bag and kidnapped for a time from him*

  8. Zaida Gearbox Zaida Gearbox September 23, 2010

    Creaky Gloom isn’t in Babbage.  Him in Steelhead, or was de last time him was seen.  Everyone always tellin’ me to be careful playin’ in de mines or wanderin’ up on de mountain because Creaky still out dere somewhere.  De case of Creeky Gloom de child eatin’ monster gonna be on one of de story boards at de haunted house next month.

    What about that angel that randomly shows up and demands cake?

     

     

    • Yang Moreau Yang Moreau November 9, 2010

      Ybe for things such as Creaky Gloom, a bogeyman category! And he’d be under the seasonal classification. Sorry for the typo at the start there, this is an incredibly laggy site for phone browsing and my typing is generally about five or six words ahead of it’s registering until I get to puncuation and have to wait for it to catch up. So, yes, I’m typing blind most of the time.

      But back on topic, I’m tempted to dust off my graphic sketchpad and start sketching up ideas for this with little else to do but unpack the house and read a book I’m nearly finished. How many artist of the traditional sorts we got in New Babbage? I’m surprised no one’s started doodling stuff up yet for fun! I think you’ve got an excellent idea here, Mr. Footman! I adore beastiary guidebooks! I have a number of them too, both of real and fantasy sorts.

  9. Avariel Falcon Avariel Falcon September 23, 2010

    Mushroom men: Very rare bipedal animated mushroom men of unknown origin who live in the sewers and the mushroom cave under the Clockhaven Power Station. May have been introduced to New-Babbage from the dark jungles of Africa by the Mysterious Bunny.

    • Avariel Falcon Avariel Falcon October 12, 2010

      I managed to persuade Polenth to put some of the mushroom men avatars for sale in the mushroom cave.

  10. Grendel Footman Grendel Footman October 12, 2010

    interesting, never even knew there were mushroom men 

  11. Grendel Footman Grendel Footman November 9, 2010

    so would the cake angel be related at all?

Leave a Reply