Broodling Lore

Created seemingly for the purpose of menial labor, Broodlings are more of a tool for the Black Goat’s followers than a distinct species themselves.

Society: Broodlings are by their nature born to serve, Outer Changelings and followers of the Black Goat creating them to aid in petty tasks and generally to make their day to day life easier. They can be seen in any major city, dashing around under foot on errands for their master or working as household servants.

Although very few nations allow legal slavery, equally few have laws against the use of creatures created with an innate desire to serve. In the same way an artificially intelligent golem or corpse reanimated without the use of an existing soul would not be illegal, it is legal to use a Broodling until they refuse to serve.

It is thought that a Broodling who lives long enough will eventually gain free will automatically, their indefinite lifespan making it inevitable for those who live out of harm’s way. However, Broodlings who spend extended periods away from the creature who birthed them or are not given orders for long enough seem more likely to gain free will.

The death of their mother can also free a Broodling, although it is just as likely to send them into a crippling state of despair as they desperately attempt to fulfill whatever standing orders they were given. They may also become obsessed with returning their master, dedicating everything to finding a way to resurrect them.

Since most Broodlings are subordinated to a member of another species and they are incapable of reproducing on their own, they have little in the way of a society or culture of their own. The closest is a degree of respect and kinship amongst free willed Broodlings, many having a sense that they are the adult form of their kind.

Ecology: There are two primary ways for a Broodling to be born. The most common is the consumption of a Broodlings blood. The influence within the blood will rabidly highjack the creatures body to create new Broodlings. The influence will use whatever organs are best suited to this purpose, but can use any living body.

The second way is for an Outer Changeling with the Brood Mother Feature to birth them. This is believed to be the way Broodlings were originally created, a blessing of the Black Goat bestowed on some Outer Changelings.

There are stories of the enemies of the Church of the Black Goat being transformed into Broodlings by All-Mother’s Milk or Dark Young. Such an action would be considered non-consensual transfiguration and mind control, being illegal across the civilized world. However, they does not make it impossible.

Appearance: Since any creature with a living body can produce Broodlings, they can have almost any appearance. They will always seem to be a much smaller and more feeble version of their mother.