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Description
For decades, the Blue Children (or ‘Blooches’) were believed (at least, by the less shall we say, scientifically inclined) to be the Elder God’s punishment on mankind for a sinful world.

In recent years, though, the theory put forward by Erasmus Pleth, Rotwang University’s foremost history expert and a former mentor of mine, has been lent more credence.

Pleth observed that, as Blooches are typically born of Aristocratic or at least well-to-do parents and first began appearing at the turn of the century, they are conceivably the results of ‘The Running Ocean’

For the young or ignorant, ‘The Running Ocean’ was a catastrophic event wherein Trolls first left their home island of Lottmotz, to declare war on the mainland. They were, of course, beaten back by Orken tactics, Human numbers and Elvin technological brilliance (you’re welcome.) But not before many Trolls had invaded capital cities and attempted to interbreed with the most powerful people they could find.

As any fool knows, Trolls are genetically incompatible with Elves and Humans but that didn’t stop them trying. Pleth theorised, however that the troll’s attempted copulation caused some form of genetic mutation or disease, condemning those afflicted and their subsequent progeny to having a one in ten chance of birthing a Blue Child, regardless of their partner’s race.

Ogorki Zubb, a rival academic decried Pleth as a pervert and a madman, to which Pleth, perhaps unwisely, began eating his wine glass and spitting chunks of it at Zubb, then devoted the remaining 2 years of his life to the design and construction of an apparatus that would, in his own words “ Kick Zubb in the ass so hard that he ceased to exist.”

Regardless of their cause, a Blue Child is viewed as a shameful and diseased creature, and those that are not abandoned at birth are swiftly sold into the free labour market. As they are strong, durable and apparently ageless, a Blooch bought for labour or servitude is seen by many as a wise investment, particularly as no laws presently acknowledge their right to payment, safety or any form of fair treatment.

Occasionally, a Blue Child will risk the danger of escaping their owner to become a mercenary or bounty hunter, much like the now legendary Blooch heroine Jingles Whetstone (B.) who did me the honour of posing for this crude sketch.

It has been said, that Elves and Humans treat Blooches the way they do only because the Blooch is a simple and lesser creature, hostile, monstrous and needlessly violent, and would be dangerous if retained. It has also been said, by a much smaller group, that Blooches are only always this way BECAUSE of how they are treated, and have the ability to be pleasant and safe company if they were granted the same upbringing their owners receive. Because no Blooch to date has been raised with kindness an opportunity, we have no way of knowing whether it is nature or nurture that makes them so serially unpleasant.

I would surely like to find out some day, but for now, I think one adopted child is enough.

-L.B Harmless

Description
For decades, the Blue Children (or ‘Blooches’) were believed (at least, by the less shall we say, scientifically inclined) to be the Elder God’s punishment on mankind for a sinful world.

In recent years, though, the theory put forward by Erasmus Pleth, Rotwang University’s foremost history expert and a former mentor of mine, has been lent more credence.

Pleth observed that, as Blooches are typically born of Aristocratic or at least well-to-do parents and first began appearing at the turn of the century, they are conceivably the results of ‘The Running Ocean’

For the young or ignorant, ‘The Running Ocean’ was a catastrophic event wherein Trolls first left their home island of Lottmotz, to declare war on the mainland. They were, of course, beaten back by Orken tactics, Human numbers and Elvin technological brilliance (you’re welcome.) But not before many Trolls had invaded capital cities and attempted to interbreed with the most powerful people they could find.

As any fool knows, Trolls are genetically incompatible with Elves and Humans but that didn’t stop them trying. Pleth theorised, however that the troll’s attempted copulation caused some form of genetic mutation or disease, condemning those afflicted and their subsequent progeny to having a one in ten chance of birthing a Blue Child, regardless of their partner’s race.

Ogorki Zubb, a rival academic decried Pleth as a pervert and a madman, to which Pleth, perhaps unwisely, began eating his wine glass and spitting chunks of it at Zubb, then devoted the remaining 2 years of his life to the design and construction of an apparatus that would, in his own words “ Kick Zubb in the ass so hard that he ceased to exist.”

Regardless of their cause, a Blue Child is viewed as a shameful and diseased creature, and those that are not abandoned at birth are swiftly sold into the free labour market. As they are strong, durable and apparently ageless, a Blooch bought for labour or servitude is seen by many as a wise investment, particularly as no laws presently acknowledge their right to payment, safety or any form of fair treatment.

Occasionally, a Blue Child will risk the danger of escaping their owner to become a mercenary or bounty hunter, much like the now legendary Blooch heroine Jingles Whetstone (B.) who did me the honour of posing for this crude sketch.

It has been said, that Elves and Humans treat Blooches the way they do only because the Blooch is a simple and lesser creature, hostile, monstrous and needlessly violent, and would be dangerous if retained. It has also been said, by a much smaller group, that Blooches are only always this way BECAUSE of how they are treated, and have the ability to be pleasant and safe company if they were granted the same upbringing their owners receive. Because no Blooch to date has been raised with kindness an opportunity, we have no way of knowing whether it is nature or nurture that makes them so serially unpleasant.

I would surely like to find out some day, but for now, I think one adopted child is enough.

-L.B Harmless