#paddocktale

I used most of the first few letters from the capital wingdings alphabet, and others are some ASL letters or miscellaneous hand positions.

Of course this is something many skeletons use, including those with injuries or lack of magic letting them speak. it is not a fix all for everyone, but works well enough for many. Given that skeletons are often the ones travelling the multiverse, this language is also incredibly well known across the multiverse.

I have a hc that most sanses (and papyruses often enough) know "hands" or skeleton sign language, coming from their parent gasters that only speak in wingdings or in hands. I also know that Wingdings are not exclusively made out of hand symbols, but i like that idea so I will run with it here.

They learn as children because of the idea that sanses can sometimes see codes, text boxes instead of always just hearing dialogue and stuff like that, kind of like in the way that I think traditional skeleton names are often derived by their fonts that parents can see. Given the only two concrete examples of skeletons are sans and papyrus, it's a limited sample but works well enough.

I hc that even if a skeleton doesn't know the actual signs of skeleton hands, they can often finger spell since the signs used in this version of wingdings would be visual. Even if they don't know the sign language, they would know the visual enough to be able to recall how to handspell themselves.

I also love the idea of hand dialects :D it is a real thing, people who use sign language do make signs in different ways depending on where they are fro/where they learned.

Underfell for example, uses a lot of very sharp but fairly small gestures. they sign higher on the chest as well and have many more crude words in their sign.

Swap/blue uses incredibly large signs with much enthusiasm, and he is a lot faster at signing as well.

Dream and Nightmare use a much more "refined" version of hands, with much older vocabulary and their signs are a lot more graceful, similar to a ballerina and how they keep their hands poised and perfect all the time. theirs has a lot more sweeping motions and gestures.

All of Nightmare's gang bar Cross use the Classic hands, which is much slower and mellower, with signs signed lower on the chest and usually with smaller gestures. Each of their worlds are mutations from the original Undertale, so their sign comes from there as well. Horror and Dust are the best at it, using it more often than Killer, but he knows very well how to understand and sign back.

Cross was discouraged from using hands as a child, even though for him it was often a lot easier than speaking, and he mostly knows what they use on missions and things like commands. His hands is very sharp and precise and to the point, and there are much fewer expressions or larger gestures involved.

Ink never actually learned it since he didn't really come from a typical universe, but he did start learning it eventually pretty passively from Dream and Blue when they wouild occasionally slip into speaking wingdings. He signs a mix of the two, with precise grace but with the absolute wild nature from Blue.

Error often uses signs when he has trouble talking due to his glitches. he also uses a more classic version because he comes from Geno who comes from Classic

Patch often uses signs a lot, though sometimes also struggles with that since he only has one arm. he can fingerspell incredibly fast to compensate and usually it works pretty well and having lived together a long time, Rigel can understand his shorthand most of the time as well. While Patch can technically summon his magic to form the magic to speak and his tongue to form words, he is missing a large section of his jaw, making it incredibly uncomfortable and difficult to speak. he can still however do other noises such as chirring, rattling, and purring like many skeletons and often uses those to communicate minor things as well.

Paddocktale takes place in a valley surrounded entirely by mountains and thick forest full of dangerous rivers that keep the monsters trapped.

This world is based somewhat on the idea that their domestic animals are most of how they get a lot of supplies, including supplies to make clothes, armour, some foods, and medicine. Because of such a long time living in just one place, they didn't adjust well to being outside of their environment. They ended up almost endangering multiple species of creatures that they rely on, and sans chose to go back to the valley to take care of them, rehabilitate others, and protect the species both from environmental factors, and from humans who now wanted to hunt these creatures. He often visits the town, especially his brother, but mostly lived alone in the valley.

This world is in a finished pacifist route and will not be resetting anymore, though they did go through their fair share of resets and... not so great timelines before that. But everything is alright now.

Things such as serpent scales and shed unicorn horns are an incredibly valuable resource and ingredient in potions and armourcraft, making them much much stronger. Rigel only ever takes what falls or what can be safely taken such as hair and pieces of eggshell once they have hatched.

Because most other universes don't have creatures like unicorns or sea serpents, the resources can be incredibly valuable across the multiverse, and whenever Paddocktale has extra, Rigel goes to sell some of it or bring to different universes in need.

Paddocktale, as a sanctuary for may creatures, is also a sanctuary for any who may be in need. Rigel discovered the multiverse when an injured Sans in danger accidentally got sent to his Paddock from a faulty transport pendant and was in dire need of help.

That sans turned out to be Horror of all Sanses, but Rigel patched him up, not knowing who he was but seeing someone who was hurt, and helped him where he could. He offered potions and food and a place to rest until, days later, Nightmare was able to find him. In that time, the multiverse was explained to him fully when Horror was able to. When Nightmare finally took Horror back, Rigel told them if they ever needed help, they could come to him. Horror nodded and they exchanged phone numbers, even though Nightmare was skeptical. From then on though, sometimes Nightmare or one of his gang would show up and they would trade or buy supplies. Rigel doesn't really need much, but sometimes Horror would bring baked goods or they would bring him some new art supply to try.

Once, when they found a cat and Killer had no more space (already owning three cats) he brought it to Rigel, and comes to visit often. The cat's name is Sandals.

At some point, Core Frisk found him and came to him, offering an alliance, and to stop helping Nightmare's gang. He said no, plain and simple. He was there to help whoever needed it. He would help them if they ever needed and he was able to, and certainly ended up helping the star sanses several times after than, but he wouldn't turn anyone away as long as they didn't start fights in his paddock.

He did enjoy talking with the stars, especially Blue. Dream and Ink were kind and fun, but were so busy (in Dream's case) or aloof (in Ink's case) that he didn't get to speak long with them often.

Rigel also met other multiverse residents, including Patch from Shuddertale, who became his best friend and eventually came to live with him in the Paddock.

Rigel still largely takes care of the animals, but so does Patch. patch also does a lot of the repairs of the entire valley, and though he doesn't talk to any multiversal guests much, he helps where he can and often makes small gifts for people. especially if there are ever any younger people or children that come through.

Patch

Shuddertale Sans

(arrow pointing to skull fracture and arm prosthetic) from an accident when his home AU still existed. he lost his arm in the same accident.

(arrow pointing to deltarune symbol on his hoodie) was forced encouraged to work for the royal family when his magic first started presenting at 8 11 years old. his dad told everyone that he was just a late bloomer, same with Papyrus.

(arrow intending to point to the patches on his pants but points more towards his hoodie sleeve) Likes sewing and had to get good at it pretty fast when he had to repair both his and Papyrus' clothes himself. They didn't have many.

(arrow pointing to helmet in his hands)His PPE is a washed down WW1 helmet, only given to him begrudgingly after the accident when it was "proven that he needed more defence." Papyrus threw a fit.