Origins of the Noblefolk

The Formicfolk, known to sages as the Noblefolk, are a race of insectoid guardians born from ancient hives. Each is a child of the Eternal Queen, raised with purpose, discipline, and devotion. From the moment they hatch, they are molded into protectors, drilled in combat and bound to the creed that defines them: the strong must shield the weak, and unity is the greatest weapon.

They are not a scattered people, but a single, vast kinship that spans forests, caverns, and plains. Wherever their colonies take root, their presence radiates order, vigilance, and watchful strength.

Appearance & Form

Formicfolk are tall, insectoid humanoids whose exoskeletons gleam like living armor. Engraved upon their plates are natural etchings—spirals, ridges, and elegant grooves—unique to lineage and hive. These markings are as much a badge of pride as heraldic crests are to knights.

Their forms vary by strain:

1. Beetlefolk are stout and broad, their shells thick and often dark-hued.
2. Antfolk are lean and disciplined, their limbs built for speed and coordination.
3. Beefolk bear striking coloration and often delicate, wing-like structures, their presence commanding attention.

Their crystalline eyes shimmer in many shades, reflecting the world in fractured prisms.

Society & Creed

All Formicfolk are trained from birth to fight, but combat is not taught for glory—it is drilled as discipline, a language of movement and cohesion. Individually, a Formicfolk is a formidable warrior; together, they are an impenetrable wall of blades and shields.

Their society thrives on unity and structured roles. The vast majority are soldiers and guardians, while a rare few are nurturers and caretakers who tend to the eggs and young. Every member, no matter their path, honors the Eternal Queen with service.

The creed of the Formicfolk binds them to defense above all else. They see protection as sacred duty, whether of their hive, allies, or sacred places. This has made them sought-after companions in wars, pilgrimages, and the defense of fragile lands.

The Nectar Covenant

Though Nectar holds a special power over the Formicfolk, it is not a weakness that consumes them—it is a bond that guides their allegiance. To the Formicfolk, Nectar is more than sweetness: it is the essence of life’s vitality, the sacred ichor of blooming things.

When a people, grove, or ally offers Nectar, the Formicfolk recognize it as a sign of prosperity and harmony. It does not sway their loyalty, but it influences their guardianship: they will prioritize defending those who tend the flowers, the orchards, and the roots that provide Nectar.

Thus, Flowerfolk, Elder Ents, and Elves are natural companions, for their gifts of Nectar are not bribes, but symbols of a shared bond between hive and grove. The Formicfolk will never betray allies for Nectar, but they are drawn to those who keep its flow alive.

The Eternal Queen

The Eternal Queen is the unseen heart of the Formicfolk. She births thousands of eggs each month, each one carried away by nurse-caste attendants and fed Royal Jelly until maturity. None but the Formicfolk have seen her, and they protect her identity with fierce devotion.

Stories differ: some say she is a towering insect deity, her carapace etched with glowing sigils, while others whisper she is a being of living stone and chitin whose breath quickens the earth itself. Whatever the truth, the Eternal Queen’s will resonates through her children, unifying them with purpose and instinct no outsider can understand.

Place in the World

The Formicfolk stand as paragons of loyalty and guardianship. Where they march, order follows; where they defend, even the weak may thrive. Though their hunger for Nectar binds them to the blooming and the green, it does not corrupt their loyalty. Instead, it weaves them into the cycles of growth and harvest, defenders of those who keep life sweet and thriving.

To kingdoms, they are shields. To forests, they are wardens. To the Eternal Queen, they are her eternal oath, unbroken and unyielding.