Cobb's Atlas and Bestiary.

I decided to write a small entry at the top of each chapter of Faerylander, called "Cobb's Bestiary."  It includes concepts and places, so I changed it to "Cobb's Atlas and Bestiary."

I thought it might be a chore, but it's been unexpected fun.  I'm finding unexpected connections.  It's funny how the mind works.  Here's an example:

So I have a unrequited love story between the police officer, Sandra, who's married, and Parsons, the Kobold sidekick to Cobb, who appears to be a teenager, but who is really more of a dwarve-like creature. 

Meanwhile, I've established that Parsons is a Changeling that Cobb has saved from a horrible family situation.  So here's the entry for Changelings, followed by the one for Kobolds, followed another few chapters later by another entry for Human and Faery Hybrids:
 
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Changelings -

Changelings are the unfortunate result of the proclivity of Kobolds (see entry) to exchange their children for human children.  They do this to renew their gene pool because of their unfortunately high infant mortality rate.  Stopping this custom was one of the first tasks I took on when I entered Mortal Realms, and earned me the title of Protector (see entry.)  Kobold’s deposited in Mortal Realms do not generally fare well, for although most humans cannot see their true shape, Changelings are still sensed to be different and are shunned and mistreated.

Cobb’s Atlas and Bestiary.  

 

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Kobolds -

Kobolds are numerous in the mountains of Faery, working alongside Dwarves (see entry) (who are slightly larger and hairier) to create the vast chasms of the underworld.  They are generally a cheerful and hard working species, though they had the bad habit of exchanging their sickly babies for that of humans.  With my help, it was discovered that their high infant mortality rate was due to the mines, and that if they delivered their children in the open air, they would be healthy.

Cobb’s Atlas and Bestiary.

 Humans and Faery Hybrids -

Our two worlds have existed side by side for so long, that interactions between the two worlds have sometimes gotten complicated.  It is possible for some creatures of these two worlds to mate.  Most often the progeny are sterile.  There are a few species whose crossbreeding creates dangerous strains.   For instance Earth wolves and Vorepoles  (see entry).  Kobolds and humans are a strange exception -- since Kobold have been Changing their own infants for that of humans for so long, that a strange attraction can develop between the two species.

Cobb’s Atlas and Bestiary.

See what happened there?  It ties everything together, almost tells a little mini-story about Parsons.  I'm finding all kinds of connections between the characters and creatures.  

I love that when it happens. 

(I'm also foreshadowing the second book of the series, where the Earth wolves and Vorepole hybrids are the center of the story.  Heh.)