World Concept: The Tequi

This is a concept for a world and the people living on an island within that world. The people, the Tequi, live on Wendega’s Island and the document below explains how their society functions.   

While creating the world of the Tequi, I created a government system, calendar, trading systems, resources, religion, attire, language, military, intelligence, general personality and more.

Division: The Tequi

Calendar

• 24 Hours per Day
• 6 Days in a Week
• 30 Days Each Month
• 5 Weeks in a Month
• 120 Day in a Year
• 4 Months per Year

Governments

Narrative Resources

Elbaite (tourmaline): a gemstone only found on Isla de los Wendegas. This stone holds powers that allow users to see glimpses into the future. Those powers can only be unlocked by those who have magic knowledge. In a game, the player may need to know who or what is going to attack them/their community and they need to find this gemstone to prepare for the attack.

Pegasus: a small herd of winged horses who are fiercely protected. They’re useful for transportation, as well as spying/scouting. From a narrative standpoint, this could be the player’s mount, as well as a companion.

Wendega’s Skull: hidden on the island is a human-animal-like skull, as if someone was caught mid-morph. Some say it’s the skull of a stag, some say it is a wolf but it is only a legend…to the foreigners. The inhabitants of the island know of the skull and respect its status by leaving it alone. They know that even though whoever finds the skull and wears it will obtain immense power, but it is not a power they can control.

Gameplay Resources

Birch Trees: the white bark of these trees is used as decorative properties. The wood and bark of the tree could be used in a crafting system to create bowls, cups, and other house items.  

Jeweled Fireback: a small black snake with scales that glow like fire at night. This poisonous snake’s venom can be used to create lethal weapons, which could be implemented into a crafting system with arrows or poison tipped swords.

Apple trees: simple apple trees that produce fruit regularly. The fruit can be used as food, lures for the pegasus, or traded with other players for items.

Physical Description and Attire

These creatures have human-like bodies and are 9′ to 11′ in height. They wear animal skulls over their faces, varying from stags to wolves. Eye color can be blue, green, brown, red, or pure black or pure white. Their eyes always appear to glow through the animal skull they wear. The skull makes any facial features and their faces are absolutely never visible. It is unknown what lies beyond their masks. As for movement, they can walk and run on two legs but are more comfortable on four. Their legs look like a lion’s and their front legs have large, human-like hands with thick, dagger-esque claws that can be retracted. They do not wear clothes, as they have thick fur covering their bodies, usually brown or black. White, tan, grey and silver is possible but rarer. Males have a thicker mane of hair that goes from their neck down to the middle of their chest and back.

Languages Spoken

English and Spanish

Biological Genders

Male/Female

General Level of Intelligence

These creatures have a human level of intelligence, but they are ruled more by instinct and emotion than logic. Their leader, the Jefe, is usually the most logical and strategic one in the clan, the one who plans and calculates. 

Attitude Toward Others

This group is highly protective of each other and their territory. They do not appreciate disturbances and will kill when they feel threatened. It is possible to enter their land but only when showing the utmost respect to the group. This is shown by waiting at the shoreline until being welcomed onto the island by one of the members and by bringing offerings to the clan. Quick movement can trigger their prey drive, so it’s imperative that visitors stay calm and collected, while avoiding making prolonged eye contact with any of the creatures.

Religion

Type/name

Animism and ancestry worship 

Chief deity(ies)

The most prominent spirit on the island is Wendega, a creature like those living on the island, but the wolf jaws and stag antlers protruding from her are not a mask or a headpiece, they are her true form. Although she is a dangerous enemy, she is also a protector and guardian of those she deems worthy. Believers in her spirit worship Wendega’s Skull, a skull that looks part wolf, part stag and part human. The creatures of the island protect the skull, as they see it as an all powerful source that should not be touched.

Hierarchy of clergy

Only the leader of the island can go to the skull to give offerings, believing that its power will give strength and protect the clan. Other than that, no one is allowed near Wendega’s Skull.

Celestial Realms

There is a realm that lives adjacent to the ‘real world’ and spirits there live alongside the living. Although they interact with their world like the living do, those in the real world (typically) don’t see it and the two dimensions rarely collide.

Prominent Constellations

Abel’s Blade is a constellation of seven stars, five going diagonally and two each side of the second to last star. They create the shape of a dagger, the one that is believed to have been used to kill Wendega. Just above the tip of the Abel’s Blade is an abnormally bright star that the inhabitants of Wendega’s Island use for guidance.

Monetary and/or Trade Systems: Trading

Explanation: The Tequi are not particularly evolved. Within their clan, they trade animals (birds, rabbits, snakes, frogs, etc) and gem stones that can be both used as food and offerings for Wendega. In regard to outsiders, they will only allow people who bring offerings into their territory. They aren’t particularly picky, but enjoy weapons like daggers, swords and spears and even armor. Since they don’t make their own bedding, they absolutely love soft things like blankets or pillows. Animals will also appease them but it must be a large animal like a sheep, cow, horse or deer. Small creatures like mice or squirrels are seen as insulting.

The Tequi can sometimes be traded for their protection. The clan’s strength and speed can be useful against invaders and they will join a war for the right price, as well as if they deem the cause worthy.

Military type(s)/structures: Tribal

Chain of command:

• Jefe
• Deputy
• Warriors
• Apprentices
• Civilians

Explanation: The clan as a whole is a military unit, as they will fight together. However, the leader of the clan selects deputies with tests of strength and stamina. The deputies are used for daily patrols around the island and they are the first to be called when there’s a threat. They take control of the warriors, powerful creatures who make up a majority of the clan. Those who are not fit to fight do necessary daily tasks to keep the clan alive and well.