Populating Mu Collection
To read the full world building entry of The Naacal Peoples of Mu, a worldbuilding exploration https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pefAtaGRWg1EA6CPP_wf-OwotxHqBUpDnznh3V49ZmY/edit?usp=sharing
These pieces were done as part of the Spectember 2023 community event on the Speculative Evolution subreddit wherein I collaborated with many other artists to generate a fictional ecosystem on the made up subcontinent of Mu following real scientific processes in how the terrain forms, affects the organisms, and how the organisms affect one another over millions of years.
A Naacal warrior riding on the back of a derived leptictidan. All fauna supporting the Naacal Culture are derivative of or are used with permission from other collaborators.
Queen Moo and her two companions, a significant Naacal historical figure.
Test rendering of a major Naacal city's gate blocking off entry from the inland megalake.
Naacal renders
Naacal anatomical studies
Penultimate genera leading to Naacal-Uqhetl. Like humans, they are chimeras of multiple ancestors, primarilly N. callidus and N. rapax
Rough concept of ancient Naacal ruins situated in a dormant volcanic mound.
Showcasing some of the floral diversity of the Megalake Spifirnda, each plant designed with what resources they can provide the local animal and civilized life in mind.
Fauna to supplement the Lake Spifirnda Watershed Ecosystem.
The apex of the Volanictines
Anatomical studies of advanced Volanictines
The diversified clade of large grasshopper-like animals derived from the Megatitan of previous phases. Each animal occupies a similar niche but have distinct ways of defending themselves, as they are significantly larger than most other insects.
Early diversification of the gliding Leptictidans, producing fully volant members of their clade.
Showcasing the behavior of the relatively physically unchanged Naacalestes as their kind spread across Mu's endless woodlands.
Supporting Cast for Mu focusing on creating microfauna to fill out the ecosystem and provide creative launching points for others.
Some supporting cast based on other collaborator's entries from the previous round to support the ecosystem of Mu and provide creative launching points for others.
The Writing Reef, a complex environment where sand dollars and their relatives form a constantly albeit slow moving reef ecosystem.
Original Entry, containing the ancestors which would one day become the Naacal-Uqhetl and the Volanictines. These animals are very generalized as this allows them to occupy broader niches and allow for later specialization.