Who are the Inklings? Where did they come from? Not much is known of these mysterious creatures, experts at hiding for their own safety. What we have been able to gather together from various myths and folklore surrounding the Inklings is gathered here for you to draw upon. You may well end up knowing more than we do…as so little is known, you and the children might become the next Inkling experts! Some ideas below to help you…

From the book of fantasy writer Tolkein’s Bestiary we found a missing torn out page (page 143 in the book), so lots of information is missing, but here is the entry under Inklings:

The Inklings are a diminutive race of treefolk shrouded in mystery within the lore of the enchanted woods. These elusive beings, often mistaken for mere shadows or dappled sunlight among the trees, inhabit the deepest and most secluded groves of the ancient forests of the world. They are tiny.

Measuring no taller than a blade of grass, the Inklings possess a natural camouflage that renders them nearly invisible to the casual observer. Their bodies, resembling delicate tendrils of ivy and wisps of mist, blend seamlessly with the foliage around them, allowing them to move unseen through the forest depths.

Despite their ephemeral appearance, the Inklings are known for their gentle and benevolent nature. Shy and….

the book page entry ends there. It is up to the children to guess what rest might say? Someone has torn out/burnt the rest!

Some more information that we know could be true…Questions and answers! That you can share with children.

Are they friendly creatures?
Chronicles tell of The Inklings as an ancient type of friendly, kind creature that has lived peacefully in the Land of the Star for thousands of years. They lived within the great forests and caves, known as the tree spirits or shepherds of the trees. They delighted in the arts of imagination, travelling on the wild winds and collecting new words wherever they went. Sharing stories of their exploration of nature in their mighty forests, systems of seashores and caves. Experts of the power of the woodlore, knowing about all the ecosystems and different creatures that live in their lands and how herbs and plants can heal.

Where do they come from and live?

The Inklings have not always been a nomadic travelling people, but two hundred years ago there came a great threat to their safety known as The Blot. Now they move often to seek safety and sanctuary. Sadly the numbers of Inklings are now dwindling. There are not that many left as once there were.

Those who went on two legs, the Grown Folk, as they were known to the Inklings, were a threat to this tiny race. They hid from those Great Folk who if spotted by wished to capture them for museums.

Why do inklings choose to live in trees?

Inklings know that that trees are magical and brilliant beings, watching over the passage of time and there since the light of the stars. Being there for the beings tiny and great - the maggots, hatchings, brambles. They were amongst the first creatures to build their homes in trees because of their great love for them.

What is the threat to the Inklings? Are they endangered?

Inklings love to sing songs, and listen to the murmuring sea on the shore of the glittering stars that are so dear to the hearts. For the most part, they enjoyed many peaceful glorious years in the the undying lands. Rekindling the bright stars, which shone down to awaken the inklings. But a dark era was coming, where their lands threatened by The Blot were plunged into gloom- these were the dark ages deep beneath the Earth, of black stone fire and ice winged beast, great spiders, and insects in service of the rebel Blot.

The blot - greater in power, huge and with hulking manes of fire, and nostrils that breathe flame, storms buried in themselves, live deep in the roots of the mountains. Once unleashed, their dominion did remain uncontested for over two centuries.

SOME FACTS AND FOLKLORE ABOUT INKLINGS GATHERED FROM OUR RESEARCH…

• The Inklings saw the sign outside The Laurels school of the tree and it reminded them of their own ancient symbol for safety. Trees are a place of safety, shelter and refuge for Inklings. A place where the elements of earth, air, water and fire meet (all of which they need to survive and thrive) and a place where they can take up residence safely in the human world, as a link between the underground world they live in and the overground world of humans.

• Trees are also really important to Inklings as a way of communicating with other Inklings via networks of tunnels and roots underground.

• The Inklings feed on stories and writing. They need new stories/poems to stay alive, survive and thrive. They came to Laurels as they heard the children there have brilliant imaginations and ideas.

• The Inklings are seeking sanctuary from a threat in their own world -a predatory force called the Blot. That is threatening them and their environment. They came as they hope the Laurels are kind and will let them take shelter and sanctuary in the school, playground and trees. 

• Inklings used to be visible to humans, especially to children and older people, but they’ve learnt to keep themselves concealed now most of the time for their safety, especially as when reportings of them being sighted emerged in Edwardian and Victorian times, humans started to try and capture them for curiosity cabinets and museums/private collections.

• Inklings can be seen by animals and sometimes befriend birds, bugs and other animals that live in the human world to help them spread messages between each other and make contact with the human world when they need to/want to.

• Inklings communicate amongst themselves in a language known as Inklish. Very few humans, if any, can translate it/understand it’s symbols. Inklings have learnt English in their time hiding in our world, as a way to ask for help and as they love discovering new stories, poems and things to read. So they learnt English to find out more tales and words, which they love. Inklings delight in language and learning many tongues.