Šotki (read shot+key) are a mysterious kin, or perhaps a culture, reported to live in caves around salt water, especially near the Seas or in the place the Under Ocean spills onto the Overworld. This is a brief account of what is known of the Šotki and their culture, society, and magic.
I found a stone on the beach, which looked like a hooded face. I took it with me, and sitting under the pines, on the rocks, by the blue sea, the Šotki came to me.
Who are the Šotki?
While most people would refer to them as gnomes or even goblins or monsters. Those who have studied or said have come into contact with Šotki talk of them as a kin of peoples, that have created various communities and a specific culture.
What is agreed on is that Šotki are human(oids?), reaching the heights of short humans. They are known to live in caves around saltwater. Typical of all Šotki are the hooded, cylindrical, white outfits all Šotki wear. While there are some variations in size and in details and decorations, their clothes are otherwise identical. Šotki have hushed, muffled voices, speaking in a way reminiscent of the whooshing of waves.
The Šotki Wrap, or poncho, as they are referred to, has two more defining features. First, the wearer's hooded face always appears just as black, featureless ovals. Second, Šotki always appear as if they were two-dimensional figures. Both of these features are attributed to their Wraps and are considered to be magical effects. There are those that would claim that Šotki are in fact just crudely drawn, animated figurines and therefore lack both facial features and a third dimension. We consider such claims to be preposterous. The only differentiating feature of the Wrap is its top ornament. The Wrap of Šotki elders is tipped with a U or crescent shape; warriors have a single sharp point, as that of a blade or an arrow; shamans seem to have several prongs or star tips at the top of their Wrap; while other Šotki have an ornament shaped like the letter T.
The specifics of their beliefs are not know to us, but their magic’s connection to insects, especially moths, seems to indicate that these creatures hold an important position in their views and society.
Šotki Society
We have little knowledge about Šotki society, except from local folk tales and occasional observations or encounters. They seem to keep to a social structure resembling extended families or clans, with elder leadership and differentiated roles for foraging, fishing, war, magic, and perhaps others.
Šotki have been regularly spotted fishing and are reported to cultivate and harvest various kinds of mushrooms. While the fish appear to be a source of food, it is not clear if mushrooms are just used for sustenance or serve medical, alchemical, or other uses.
Furthermore, Šotki are known to make use of various metals, implying they are capable of mining or harvesting it and then at least basic forms of metallurgy. Bronze, copper, iron, and tin have all been identified on their tools, weapons, and armors.
Nomadism or migration appears to be their manner of habitation. The dwellings visited by locals or adventurers, after being abandoned by their occupants, appear to be long-term albeit temporary camps, rather than permanent residences. Šotki seem to retreat deeper into the caves either when threatened or due to yet unknown reasons. Speculations connect their migration to the seasons, tides of the Under Ocean, rituals, or threats.
There are no credible reports from settled dwellings. Those who claim to have been in Šotki settlements and interacting with them, either due to getting lost or perhaps saved, cannot produce any coherent words to describe the details of their visitations. Their accounts sooner or later turn into incoherent rambling.
Warfare
There have been reports of groups of adventurers coming into conflict with groups of Šotki. Their warriors seem to operate in smaller groups, preferring tricks, traps, and ambushes, using the water and caves to their advantage. While there aren’t many reports of Šotki raids outside their caves, they seem to not only defend their dwellings but also specific sites in and around the caves. These locations might be fishing or mushroom spots, strategic points, or sites of ritualistic, magical, or religious importance for them.
Weapons and armor most commonly used by Šotki include:
Hand Axes – light enough to be thrown.
Triple Prongs – long pole arms with three metal bladed tips or prongs.
Ur-crossbow – an unusual crossbow design, that seems to have a U-shaped front and very simplistic mechanics.
Shields – round or oblong, with metal plating.
Armor – no pieces have been recovered, and it is speculated that the Wraps of Šotki warriors have a layer of metal scales woven into them.
Magic
Magic might be the most mysterious aspect of the Šotki. Despite their rare appearances, we presume that every Šotki community has at least one caster of sorts, be it a magician or shaman, in their ranks. Magic of Šotki has three defining features.
The first one is the use of Lamps as conduits, tools, or aids in casting. These are bulbous and made from an unknown substance – perhaps glass, crystal, or alabaster. They are handled by the caster, who seems to perform movements around them, creating shadows of different colors. The lamp glows a warm yellow light, but magic rituals shift and bend this light into various, sometimes indescribable colors.
The two other features are interlinked, the use of insects and illusions in Šotki magic. The vast majority of Šotki magic seems to involve summoning or creating (the illusion) of various, mostly flying insects. These insects, illusionary or real, carry out various effects, from harassing targets, protecting the caster or other Šotki, creating darkness or unusual light refractions, to causing fear and panic in the target. One particular observed magical ritual seems to involve the summoning of a gigantic Moth, that then seems to follow the bidding of the caster. It is not confirmed if the insects involved in Šotki magic are illusionary, real, or a mixture of both, as there are several contradictory accounts.
Below is a short list of observed Šotki magic.
Insect Swarm – a thick cloud of flying insects gathers around the Lamp. From there the caster directs it at a target, whose concentration, mobility, and martial capabilities (both offensive and defensive) are disadvantaged. The swarm lasts for several minutes.
Creeping Fear – light from the Lamp begins to bend towards the ground, based on the casters arm motions. Shadows form into the shape of innumerable small, many-legged insects. Within seconds these insects appear to be burying themselves under the skin of the target. Unless they are particularly strong-willed, the target will flee in panic away from the caster and usually only return to their senses after about 100 meters (about 300 ft.). At this point the insects are nowhere to be found, neither on nor around the target's body.
Fluttering Darkness – by using a few quick gestures over the Lamp, the caster quickly summons a rapidly thickening, dense swarm of flying insects. They immediately begin to cover the Lamp and any other sources of light, shrouding the area in darkness. This effect can last for up to several minutes and is usually used by Šotki, to flee, reposition themselves, or spring a trap.
The Great Moth – a reported Šotki ritual in which a powerful caster or several of them summon, or conjure, a moth of reportedly huge dimensions. Some compare it to the size of an eagle, others to that of a stork, and even reports of an elephant-sized moth have been noted. The exact abilities of the Great Moth, nor the manner in which it is directed or communicates with the casters, are exactly known. Witnesses report seeing any light passing through its translucent wings bends at impossible angles or breaks into bewildering, frightening colors. Its visage is described as terrifying, and it's said to be able to bite off entire body parts with their mandibles. These reports are unconfirmed and may be exaggerated.
Currently, this is all that we know and can, somewhat, confirm, of the Šotki. If in your travels you come across any tales, or come into contact with signs of their activities, dwellings, or Šotki directly, please share your findings with us. Please get in touch with any local chapter of the Observers Society, or send your findings directly to PhDr. Anders Janučki at the Department of Folk Studies at the Vysoké Učenie in Wogatišpurk.
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