bestiary;

[khuimods]

✽ BESTIARY
	General Information This bestiary chronicles the known, prominent wildlife that your character would feasibly either see on some regular basis, or have some familiarity with via stories and urban legends. Obviously this list is not a complete reference to every creature that can be found, and more will be added as the game progresses. Bear in mind that aggressive creatures are not 100% ready to attack at all times, and non-aggressive creatures will certainly have their feisty-er moments. Click on thumbnails for a full image! Non-Aggressive Creatures | Aggressive Creatures | Aquatic | Living Abominations Non-Aggressive Creatures Aphaufa (Mammal) Strengths: Like a brick wall on legs Weaknesses: Superpowered individuals could probably take them. Probably. Blurb: Hulking creatures larger than elephants and which typically roam in herds of 5-10 individuals. They are omnivores, although grazing on the shaggy grasses seem to make up the bulk of their diet. Should they come across the Bibiru, whether living or dead, they'll eat those too! They are supremely unimpressed by anyone or anything in their territory, and will generally move off if approached... but will wheel and charge if provoked. With a thick hide and stocky build vaguely reminiscent of a woolly bison, even blades and bullets can be turned aside. They don't seem inclined to be troublesome, but they're not something you want to be on the receiving end of. They are highly prized for their tusks, tough but flexible hides, and bristly whiskers. However because nothing short of an anti tank rifle is capable of bringing them down, these trophies are usually harvested from Aphaufa that have died of natural causes. Bibiru (Mammal) Strengths: Swift as a coursing river and cute as a button Weaknesses:Literally everything else Blurb: These small herbivores closely resemble a strange mix between a rabbit and a snowy owl. They are flightless, and a bit like the platypus sport a number of contradictory traits (such as nursing their young but also being egg layers). There's been some casual breeding attempts to give them different patterning, but most come with a smattering of black spots. Hardcore fans of the bibiru maintain that flight is possible with extensive training, but no one's actually managed to prove it. They have a trusting disposition as their natural predators are relatively few and far between and additionally, have taken well to domesticity, making them popular pets. Their cute appearance, coupled with their penchant for peeping and cheeping when happy and relatively minor maintenance needs has endeared them to many, and many families adopt young ones as beginner pets for small children. Curamija (Mammal) Strengths: Majestic AF, sure footed Weaknesses: Kind of dumb. Blurb: Herds of grey antlered beasts are used as a source of meat by the locals; these herds have webbed toes which allow them to walk on the surface of the swampy terrain they favour. Their fleece is lightweight and versatile as a textile. Their primary diet is various swamp grasses and a grey moss that grows on trees and bushes - however they’ve also been observed eating termites and ants with their long, prehensile tongues. Gyroshei (Avion) Strengths: The fearlessness of a seagull, the temper of a cassowary, the bill of a heron, and the size of a velociraptor. The ones in the movie, not the actual velociraptors, those are tiny. Weaknesses:They have no weaknesses, only a fathomless hunger for what you're eating. Blurb: These enormous birds have wingspans of up to twenty feet and long, sharp bills with which they like to sneak bites of whatever food has been left unattended. With long legs and necks, they are often spotted peeking into unsuspecting open windows to satiate their deep appetites. Despite many considering them pests, they’ve become somewhat of a symbol of true love. Gyroshei mate for life and the males are well known for doing elaborate dances and displays in the spring to keep their mates impressed. These displays are considered elegant and beautiful. The mating call, however, is considered less so. Inan (Mystic) Strengths: Highly intelligent, fast Weaknesses: Low population Blurb: Inan are maned animals apparently originally imported by the Dan'effrei. The size of house cats, they were once exceedingly rare, to the point where the kedan believed them mythical and featured them art-form motifs. The inan are unusual because they feed on pure energy. After their existence was confirmed, a breeding program was set up to swell their numbers. The results were reasonably successful and the Inan maintain a steady, sustainable presence. Curiously, some early kits demonstrated temperaments more akin to the average house cat, and weren't particularly suitable to be set loose in the wild. These animals were bred into a beloved, if pricey, pet who is popular among socialites. Their elegant appearance and their role as a status symbol of pure conspicuous consumption has given them the reputation of being haughty animals. However, they are actually rather playful, intelligent, and curious creatures who have a love of burrowing either in dirt or blankets and for the lucky few who have one in their lives are reputed to be cuddly and affectionate. Kirin (Chimera) Strengths: Depends on the breed but can range from speed to sturdiness Weaknesses: Prone to injury and have poor recovery rates Blurb: Resembling an odd mix of a horse, deer, lizard and phoenix, the Kirin is now a primarily domestic animal, with only a few herds surviving in the wild. These were primarily beasts of burden before advances in technology, though they're still a staple on farms and their sure-footing make them ideal mounts for navigating the rough terrain outside Aifaran. A popular spectator sport is Kirin racing, though none has yet to top the race time of the legendary steed Water Cracker. Some notable Kirin and their temperaments - Cahyo, male, good temperament Bulan, female, good with children but snaps at adults Dian, male, grumpy Eko, female, bitey until she gets to know you Kuwat, male, pulls carts and is gentle and friendly Melati, female, lets ONE PERSON RIDE HER and is an asshole to everyone else Selys (Semi-Aquatic Reptile) Strengths: Shiny, literally if David Bowie were a snake, eats pesky insects Weaknesses:Too shiny for nature Blurb: Domestic serpents native to Evidet. These frilled snakes are beloved for their demure temperament and jewel-bright scales. Their calm nature make them as much accessories as pets, often worn about the shoulders like a glittery shawl. Their wild counterparts are also not particularly aggressive but tend to be very shy and lack the brilliance of their domesticated cousins. ( back to top ) Aggressive Creatures Daemids (Pisky) Strengths: Mimicry, Strong in numbers Weaknesses: Step on them. Blurb: Small, scaled and humanoid, and can mimic sounds and voices with an uncanny likeness. They will often stalk people for days to accurately copy their sounds, and will often lure travelers into ambushes by pretending to be trapped or injured. Native to the former continent of Vailequios, these creatures were not intentionally imported to Khu Ioduan, but have made it here anyway. There's been heated debate in recent years about whether the Daemids could be treated as sentient members of the Alliance since they are intelligent -- they've demonstrated pack hunting and some hierarchical coordination, but their actual level of sapience is yet unproven. The argument against is that they've merely copied behavior from other races rather than developed it on their own, but the study of the problem is ongoing. Koxalu Scorpion (Arachnid) Strengths: The stuff of nightmares for any arachnophobe Weaknesses: You can step on one and it gives a most satisfying crunch. Blurb: Excerpt from Memoirs of Hatal: Tales of the Lost Mountain "There is something to be said for the courage of the souls who harvest the versatile silk of the Koxalu Scorpion. That being said, when I head to the Death Plane, I would like to have some choice words with the Igheeri who looked upon this creature and thought 'Ah yes, I would like a garment woven from the silk that comes out of this creatures' pointy, poisonous posterior'." A scorpion native to Tavimbi. They dwell in caves deep within the mountain ranges, building nests with a silk that is highly prized for making textiles, and provides most of the archipelago with high-end fabric. They have the temperament one would expect anyone to have if they came into the world looking like a scorpion. Fortunately their venom isn't lethal unless you're highly allergic. Munga (Reptile) Strengths: Pointy and poisonous Weaknesses: You can literally punt it like a football. They’re still not something you want to see skittering towards you though. Blurb: These spiky lizards are about the size of a rat. Although they once were a mottled brown colour in their native Ioa Elanag, they've since taken on a chameleon-like skill level of camouflage to adapt to their lusher, greener new home. They're aggressively tempered, and will charge at passing legs and feet of much larger creatures! Their hard spines are coated with a hallucinogenic toxin that can cause an extreme sensitivity to light, sound, or smell. While medical facilities have an anti-venom in supply, sometimes the side effects of it are nearly as bad. They are carnivores and prey mostly on insects and Bibiru (they are particularly fond of their eggs), using their venom to disorient their prey until they end up keeling over in the dirt. Some people keep them as pets, which now requires a special handlers license for those living within the city, because no one's in the mood to forget when 130 of the buggers escaped a breeder and they put most of a neighbourhood on a collective mind-bender. Rakenga (Avion) Strengths: They're like the awful bastard child between a dragon and pterodactyl. Weaknesses: They bleed if you stab them. Blurb: The Rakenga were once regularly hunted by an elite aerial clan called the Xojan, when they inhabited the craggy mountains of Tavimbi, colloquially known simply as 'sky predators' and were a primary source of meat there. Although they were not intentionally imported to Khu Ioduan, it was discovered that they'd begun making nests in the higher rocky cliffs that surround the archipelago. They will prey on anything they can carry, including people, and particularly in the smaller settlements around the archipelago, it's advised not wander alone when their hunting or mating calls can be heard. These Rakenga are unique in that most of them don't stay near Khu Ioduan all year round; they seem to have adapted to flying through the chaotic climate outside the protective barrier enough that they can migrate to and from the archipelago, although they tend to stay within it during their egg-laying and hatching seasons. ( back to top ) Aquatic Giant Jellyfish (Jellyfish) Strengths: Stingy boys. Weaknesses: Extremely squishy. Blurb: Giant jellyfish are the Pygmy Squids' only natural predator. Having no conventional skin, the jellyfish are unaffected by the squids' ink; but they are relatively easy to see, being semi-transparent and liable to cast rainbows in light refracted from the surface. They were brought to Khu Ioduan by the Erol'a from their native reefs of Zeshora, with the intentions of both keeping the pygmy squid population under control, and because there has been some promising medical research that suggests a concentrate found in their buoyancy sacs can be used to treat a number of illnesses, particularly in the elderly population. However, the jellyfishs' numbers aren't nearly to the levels they once were, and so the research is still slow going due to strict regulations on the fluid's harvesting. Pygmy Tracking Squid (Cephalopod) Strengths: Adorable, itchy ink, great at finding things Weaknesses: Somewhat squishy Blurb: The Erol'a use these creatures as pets and underwater trackers, and as such a large number of them came to the archipelago during the Alliance's formation. Docile when left alone, when harassed the pygmy squid releases an ink which causes a skin-reaction to the presence of water, making the the victim itch like crazy. They are, essentially, underwater skunks. They're often found congregating around sea patrolling vessels of the Nautical Branch of the Verdant Sentry, where they're treated with a sort of exasperated fondness. On the other hand, there's been some popping up as exotic pets within Aifaran, something the Erol'a strongly disagree with and discourage. Sea Wisp (Bioluminescent Plant) Strengths: Glows, is pretty Weaknesses: Same as your bog standard dandelion Blurb: Once dreadfully common in many parts of Zeshora (so much so that they were considered a weed and a pest) these flora glow at night and have thus far managed to prove their usefulness enough that the Erol'a elected to have some transplanted to Khu Ioduan. Where they, predictably, got out of hand and spread all over the coastline within only a few years. While they're pretty and if aggressively maintained they can be kept in gardens and planters, they're very easy to lose control over. Thankfully there are some species of kirin that enjoy them as a treat, and they're periodically grazed by the curamija, so they haven't completely overrun the archipelago yet. ( back to top ) Living Abominations llothi (Abomination) Strengths: Strong, fast, high tolerance for pain Weaknesses: Their bones are fairly brittle Blurb:They're nine feet tall with horribly inverted joints that look more broken than natural, and they appear skinless. They have canid features and empty eye-sockets which seep ichor. Llothi attack based on sight, smell or sound, and their claws carry horrific infections as well as being able to cut through solid steel. They usually hunt in pairs established by mating hierarchy, and despite their feral nature are intelligent enough to employ other species as lures. Native to Vailequios, they've also been spotted prowling on the planar-shunted patches of land that sporadically appear throughout the world, giving rise to the theory that the Llothi may actually be a sub-species or offshoot of something far worse that's confined solely to the Life plane. Red Lamprey (Parasite) Strengths: Awful in every conceivable way. Weaknesses:Vulnerable when they’ve fallen off. Blurb: This parasitic fish-like creature spends most of its time on land. It’s not large, rarely bigger than the size of a grown man’s fist, and are allegedly deadly in swarms. They move about by inflating the sacs along the sides of their abdomens with gas and float through the air, propelling themselves with their hind fins, or expelling some of the gas to gain a burst of speed. Some refer to them as the 'farting terrors'. They latch onto a host with their long, claw-like appendages and the many barbed stingers lining their underbelly sink in to hold them there. They will then suck the blood from their host until, like ticks, they are so bloated they simply drop off. There have been reports of swarms of them latching onto a single host and draining them to death, however these cannot be corroborated. Fortunately the Red Lamprey don't make their homes on the archipelago, though the Chihuelans have had some difficulty with infestations of them. The Night Fisher, The Tall Man, the Shadow Walker (???) Strengths: Unknown. Is apparently giant, however. Weaknesses:Unknown. The bigger they are, the harder they fall? One can only hope. Blurb: Every fishmonger and seafarer knows someone who knows someone who's seen the Tall Man. Described as a writhing mass of shadow on tall, stilt-like legs, this mysterious creature has only been spotted at night. It's gained a sort of obsessive following as many will take boats out on foggy nights in hopes of spotting the Night Fisher on one of his moonlit strolls. Unfortunately, nothing substantial proves his existence beyond a smattering of blurry photos and an audio recording that could be just about anything. A little over fifty years ago, there was an incident with one Dreamfolk fisher who returned to shore in a frenzied state. In his more coherent ramblings, he described seeing it up close. There is an audio excerpt that’s made the rounds over the network for the last ten years among the Night Fisher’s most avid fans: “It was there, all eyes. It saw me. It saw into me. And s-s-saw into us all!” [Heavy, laboured breathing] "It knows how to get in. It knows us. It knows... every..." [More ragged breathing, and then an unmistakable death rattle] ( back to top )