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i also desperately need to make an actual icon that isn't wet and pathetic.

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i posted this not realizing it's their birthday tomorrow. Everyone say happy um. (checks notes) 22nd hatchday Lash. Tomorrow

i am NOT being very fast working on refs, but some things are coming out of it

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i am NOT being very fast working on refs, but some things are coming out of it

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whatever

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Biology time (2)! Inkfolk lay eggs, like you would probably assume. However, unlike most ancient cephalopods, they are iteroparous and don't pass away after mating once! (Which is an improvement.) It's quite typical for inkfolk parents to brood their eggs within their crown tentacles, although nowadays this type of protection tends to be unnecessary.

Juvenile inkfolk are quite easily distinguished by their small size and exposed beak, which gets covered up over the years. They also hatch without crown tentacles, but these will begin to grow in within their first year.

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yuupp it's biology time

So I'm trying to compile SOME sort of reference for the inkfolk species themselves… body language is an important facet! So here is a simplified version of some examples of how inkfolk (in this specific case, octofolk) express themselves through color and various other things. It's not particularly difficult to figure out if an inkfolk is mad at you - the other emotions might be more subtle if you're not an expert.

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Bunch of kids!! Surely they won't get up to mischief...

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what Ever

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i found this peppermint drawing i did when she was still a splatoon oc. ignore the faggot (psi)

OK AWESOME. TGIS IS AWESOME (hi psi)

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it IS dire

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squod :3

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Inkfolk of the Northeastern Continent

The giant octopus (Enteroctopus dofleini) inhabits similar habitats in the Eastern continent that are inhabited by the frilled giant octopus in the west. It is primarily found in the northern kelp forests, cold and warm temperate areas and coasts. It lacks the frills that the frilled giant octopus has, but is usually slightly larger overall and is distinguished by its large, paddle-like papillae that it flares out or retracts mainly as a tool of temperature regulation. Compared to many other octopuses of its geographical location, it has very meager color patterns, mainly limited to simple shifts between sandy browns and deep reds.

The flapjack octopus (Opisthoteuthis californiana) is one of two sapient cirrate octopuses. It inhabits the northeastern mountain ranges, deserts, tundras and cool arid regions with some flexibility. It is small and stout and cold-adapted with a thick fat layer and short fins and tentacles. Its fins are used mainly for communication. Like typical cirrates, the flapjack octopus lacks chromatophores and cannot change color. They are quite mellow and weakly muscled, being scavengers and passive hunters of small invertebrates rather than active hunters like most inkfolk.

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The "fishy" subculture brings together cartoon- and animal lovers in a (mostly online) megacommunity where everyone is represented by a funky avatar of their own (a fishsona). Some people take their avatars to the physical realm in the form of fishsuits, which typically include a hand-crafted mask, fins, and a tail. Depending on the fishsuiter's species and own anatomy, the area where the tail is actually worn varies, but most are crafted to be interchangeably worn over either a tail or a mantle.

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Inkfolk of the Eastern Continent (Part 3)

The eyespot cuttlefish (Sepia lycidas) is a medium-large cuttlefish inhabiting the Eastern continent. Unlike other cuttlefish of the area, it isn't very well adapted to hot climates and as such, its range is limited closer to the coasts of the continent away from the scorching deserts. It is a visually impressive cuttlefish with vibrant blues and greens, as well as unique eye-like stripe patterns across the body. Although poorly equipped for the deserts, its territory reaches further north than that of any other cuttlefish in the area.

The glitter squid (Sepioteuthis lessoniana) is a type of reef squid that inhabits the Eastern continent, and one of the only two squid species on the eastern coast. Compared to the western reef squid, the glitter squid has bolder and more defined iridescent stripes across its body, but its visual displays are slightly less elaborate. It is an extremely numerous and widespread squid in its area.

The eastern squid (Todarodes pacificus) is the most numerous squid species of the Eastern continent. It is a highly social species that inhabits the coasts and Northeastern territories of the continent, not doing well in desert environments but having high population density in the colder climates. In coastal areas, the species is credited for the invention and rapid improvement of oceanic fishing, with something about 70% of their diet consisting of oceanic fish.

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Inkfolk of the Eastern Continent (Part 2)

The algae octopus (Abdopus aculeatus) is considered to be the first land octopus and the pioneer of inkfolk civilization and farming. It is quite easy to distinguish from its extremely long and spindly limbs and branch-like papillae; these are adaptations to help it thrive in the dense kelp forests it inhabits.

The gloomy octopus (Octopus tetricus) is the primary octopus species of the Eastern continent. It is a social, mid-sized species that often has a characteristically dark head in contrast to the rest of its body. The gloomy octopus is the most social octopus, considered to be a pioneer in inkfolk city architecture, and the deserts of the eastern continent are famously chock full of ruins from ancient civilizations that once thrived in the area.

The horned octopus (Macroctopus maorum) originates from the Southeastern corner of the continent, rivaling the giant octopuses in size. Inhabiting tropical kelp forests, it is a top predator in its area. Traditional jewelry of this species differs from those of other octofolk in that it often includes other species' beaks and fish bones, at least at a greater frequency.

The giant cuttlefish (Ascarosepion apama) is the largest species of cuttlefish. It inhabits the Eastern deserts and reefs and is desert-adapted with tons of frills. For a desert species, it is surprisingly heavyset, but as such they have the ability to sit through long periods of low prey. The colors and patterns of this species are extremely intricate.

The gold-ring octopus (Amphioctopus fangsiao) is an Eastern desert octopus easily distinguishable by its golden ocelli. It inhabits the inner desert areas not habitable by most other inkfolk. Fun fact: they invented stir-frying!

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Inkfolk of the Eastern Continent (Part 1)

The blue-ringed octopus species group is a famous one. The smallest inkfolk, the bluerings come in three distinct species; the blueline, bluering and bluespot (although for simplicity's sake, all of them are typically included in just the context of bluerings). Out of these, the bluespot is the largest one, although even at this larger size they are hardly half the height of most inkfolk. All three species inhabit the Eastern continent, in which they are extremely widespread between temperate, arid, harsh desert areas and even the southern rainforests. Out of the three species, the blueline inhabits the northernmost habitats whereas the bluespot can be found along the rainforest edge and interior, although their ranges widely overlap.

Bluerings have historically had a difficult reception among other inkfolk due to their distinctive venom that is lethal to nearly every other type of ink- and finfolk. This maculotoxin is unique to the group, and powerful enough to induce full-body paralysis in trace amounts. This venom has been both widely feared and sought after by other species throughout history, and it has had a notable presence in quite a few political assassinations...

The deimatic display of bluerings involves a bright yellow, white or orange coloration with iridescent rings on full display. Without this warning display, bluerings are typically white or brown with the rings concealed.