Inktober 2023 - Toad

"Bullywugs are descended from the noble ruling class of the old Olbrecht kingdom. Leading up to the plot to seal the renagade god away, a series of wars had taken place across Olbrecht between the various kingdoms and the militarized followers of Malchoir, which resulted in the transformation of the landscape into a wasteland. Spells had been used so extensively that residual magic had leeched into the very earth, polluting it, and ensuring that anything that grew back (if at all) would never be the same. Perhaps the most vengeful, the kingdom of Olbrecht were the ones who formulated the plan to seal the cruel god away, eventually getting the other kingdoms of the land involved. Their current twisted forms were intended as a cruel mockery by Malchoir for instrumenting his banishment.

Bullywugs are amphibious humanoids, standing in at between 4-5 feet tall, and are inclined to be fat. They have webbed hands and feet, and dry, leathery skin which can come in any variety of mottled brown, yellow, green, and gray. They breathe air, but need constant moisture to survive. Bullywugs are covered in warts and bumps, and as they age, they may grow "whiskers" on their faces, resembling facial hair/eyebrows. Both male and female Bullywugs are rather similar in appearance, and rarely breed naturally.

Bullywugs are primitive creatures, living in simple villages with thatch huts surrounded by a wooden palisade. A single firepit is located in the center of these settlements, and are used for rituals and ceremonies. They are fiercely defensive of their homes, and do not hesitate to attack intruders. Bullywugs also speak a deep, throaty language that knows no written form. What deities are worshipped by Bullywugs is uncertain, and it is likely that they have crafted their own pantheons that differ greatly depending on the settlement. What is consistent however, is their system of hierarchy: they are a civilization of hunters and warriors, and are led by an elder Shaman. Bullywug Shamans are capable of casting fire and lightning magic, poison, or summon fog. Possibly their most infamous incantation is connected to a ceremony they perform on newly captured prisoners. As Bullywugs don't often breed, they prefer a more direct approach to swelling their ranks, that being through a ritual which transforms their prisoners into new Bullywugs.

Bullywugs are primitive, and lack the capabilities to craft metal weapons or armor. Any metal weapons, tools, or armor they use were most definitely taken from their fallen adversaries. Lacking physical prowess, Bullywugs prefer polearms as weapons, most commonly, simple spears. This allows them to keep their enemies at a safe distance, suitable for poking. Bullywugs wear minimal clothing, typically sackcloth stung loosely over their fat bodies. They love to eat, and subsist on a carnivorous diet of fish and insects. More often than not Bullywugs will eat insects such as Creepers, as they are abundant in the swamp. Fish are scarce in Olbrecht however, so they often venture out of the swamp to the coast to hunt fish en mass in Sahuagin territory. This is the genesis of the feuding relationship between the two civilizations, which has caused countless bloodshed."