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So, we all know that the fantasy genre is riddled with stereotypes. The same magical species and cultures can be found in all sorts of books, while being interpreted very differently from each other. My challenge to all you writer-y people is this: Create a fantasy species that is unlike any other basic archetype (e.g. Elves, Dwarves, Dragons, etc.) but still vague enough to be interpreted many many different ways. The trick here is that the species must still have some distinctive features about it that make it recognizable no matter how any given author chooses to portray them. For example, Dragons are a staple of the fantasy genre. However, they can be implemented in a story in many different ways. Some stories have them as little more than big lizards, while other stories have them as great and ancient deities, more akin to some Lovecraftian Eldritch Horror. But, both versions are still easily recognizable as dragons. This is because dragons have a few distinctive characteristics. Usually they fly. They can sometimes breath fire. They are reptilian. The same goes for elves, dwarves, all the classic and most basic fantasy creatures. (Elves are usually related to nature, dwarves are related to rock, etc.) This is the challenge. 1. Make a species that is completely different from the other basic fantasy archetypes. 2. Have it be open-ended enough to be interpreted in drastically different ways. 3. Be sure to have enough distinctive characteristics tied to the core of the species that it can be easily recognized, however any given author might choose to use it. 4. Give some examples of how the species could be interpreted by different writers in different ways. (Like the dragon example from earlier.) Excited to see what y’all come up with! I’ve found it surprisingly hard.