Swarmfolk

Swarmfolk are collective consciousnesses formed by an infusion of magic into a large number of lesser creatures. Swarmfolk can be formed by any creature, in rare cases even different species, but the most common are those that already tend to flock or pack together in large numbers. Swarmfolk can be found naturally, especially in high-magic areas of the world, and are often created by wizards and druids.

Creation

All swarmfolk are fueled by a magical source. In order for a swarm of creatures to collect together as a swarmfolk, they must exist in a magical aura for a prolonged period of time. This exposure to magic opens up a telepathic connection between the creatures, marking the first step in the swarm's evolution.

Intelligence

In general, the more intelligent the base creature, the fewer individuals it takes to portray characteristics from higher tiers. Crowfolk, swarmfolk made up of crows, are usually composed of perhaps six to ten dozen birds and are among the most intelligent of the swarmfolk. At the same time, Bugfolk, those made up of insects and spiders, are often made up of thousands of individuals and rarely develop past rudimentary intelligence.

Even if the base creatures are quite intelligent, such as the examples of crows, it will take a long time for the collective intelligences of the creatures to coalesce into a single consciousness. The longer the swarm stays together, the stronger this connection becomes, until the intelligence of the swarm starts to become more than the sum of the parts. In this way, even Bugfolk can become ancient and intelligent beings.

A swarm is at its highest intelligence when it is in its ********** form. The longer the swarm stays in its dispersed form, the more scattered the collective intelligence will become and the longer it will take for the swarm to get back to its full cognitive power in its ********** form.

Tiers of Development

The stages of cohesion, abilities, and intelligence of swarmfolk has lead to broad categories defining these aspects at various stages in the swarm's development.

Zero — Waking

This is the first moment