Legendary Creatures of Urth

Arcturia

Banteay

Banteayan Dragons are large serpentine creatures appearing in the folklore and written myths of Banteay. According to the creation myth, dragons were created by Anak Bangkeut in the beginning of the world to plant the first seeds of the Banteayan Jungle. They made their homes in this jungle, aiding the growth of plants and fashioning thrones for themselves as the Kings of the Jungle. After elves were created, Anak Bangkeut is said to have come to the dragons, explaining their reliance on the growth of plants to survive, tasked the dragons with flying in the clouds to bring rain for the elves. Dragons are depicted as having scales of all different shades of green. They have long, graceful wings, rounded at the end with veins in the semitransparent webbing, which gives them the appearance of leaves in sunlight. They have very long tails, which taper to a thin point and can be easily mistaken for a snake. Their eyes are a deep forest green, and show all their kindness and wisdom. They have short spines along their back, and their snouts are slightly curved downwards. Their curved horns are long and relatively thin. Qualitative measurements within the myths imply they are a little over twelve meters long and almost seven meters tall, with eleven meter wingspans. Some old stories suggest that, along with their power to bring rain, dragons have the power to command plants and make them grow. There are only five named dragons, all named after trees - Banyan, Durian, Kapok, Mangrove, and Tualang.

Bonsamu Vampires are old mythical creatures described as hideous, terrifying beasts, bat-like monsters twice as large as a tiger, with large wings and a thirst for blood. They are said to reside in the mountains, drinking the blood from travelers and hunters who attempt to enter their territory. Like normal vampires, they are immortal, and burned by sunlight, but unlike normal vampires, they can shift forms at will when exposed to moonlight, allowing them to look exactly like a normal elf or show their true monstrous form. Some Bonsamu are said to have been exiled from their mountain tribe, which has very strict rules on when they are allowed to shift, and now roam the streets of large cities, feeding on whomever they please, usually in their sleep, and bringing terrible nightmares to the households they pass at night.

Naga are legendary elfin serpents appearing in Banteayan hero myths. Naga are described as having a torso twice the size of a normal elf, covered in snake scales. Their ears are pointed like elves, but their eyes are a deep red. Below the torso, the rest of their body is a huge, coiled snake, sometimes as large as a jungle tree trunk. They have scaled arms, which they sometimes use to grip spears or strangle their victims. Naga are unique in that they are neither wholly good nor bad, and can appear as antagonists or helpful spirits depending on the myth. Most are said to dwell in oceans and rivers, but some appear in the jungle as well. Naga have a very strong venom which can paralyze ten tigers with one bite, and kill their enemies. There is a degree of sexual dimorphism, as males are depicted with cobra neck flaps that females do not have. The most famous Naga is a helpful spirit called Watches-From-Jungle-Trees, who appears as a jungle guide to many heroes.

Qilin are mythological divine messengers appearing similar to horses, easily marked by their blue fish scales, russet manes, and large antlers. Some drawings show long fish whiskers, and they generally appear to have brilliant, sparkling eyes. They are said to run as fast as the wind, and that if you are all alone in the forest and listen carefully, you can hear their hooves as they bolt from place to place. Qilin are known for their extraordinary wisdom, but most often in stories appear while being hunted by foolish elves who can never catch up, and often find themselves led to their doom for daring to commit such a sin.

Gondwana

Aivintis

Ghosts in Aivintian folklore are the spirits of the restless dead, when proper burial rights are not observed. In the north they appear as either barely visible wispy shapes or completely invisible presences, howling in the dark winter nights and roaming their home towns, or else returning to a place they loved in life to try and grasp what they had in life. In the south, they are much more malicious, punishing those who wronged them in life and haunting old houses and buildings. Here, they are more often the spirits of the murdered, and appear more tangible, sometimes even appearing almost indistinguishable from the living. In the south they are depicted as having some limited form of telekinesis and telepathy, which they use to terrorize their victims, and in very rare cases limited pyrokinesis. Throughout Aivintis, legend says ghosts can be kept at bay by lighting candles in front of one's house, usually on the porch.

Griffins are majestic hybrids that reside in the Spine mountain range, with the body, tail, and back legs of a lion; the head and wings of an eagle; eagle talons as their front feet. They are animalistic, but smarter than most animals. They are carnivores, hunters, in every old legend, and are sometimes said to be the guardian spirits of the mountains. Some tales speak of heroes befriending griffins as their mounts on epic quests, others speak of foolish mortals hunting them, and ending up as food. They are not as common as other legendary creatures, due to their secluded position, but aren't unknown by most Aivintians knowledgeable in folklore.

Little Spirits are creatures found in the north of Aivintis, no taller than a human child, with the heads of foxes, hares, and owls, and the bodies of normal humans, with long fingernails and keen eyes. Small and nimble, the Little Spirits move through the forest quickly and quietly, living with the animals. They are usually depicted wearing assorted rags and furs, and flee upon being sighted. Aivintian legend paints the Little Spirits as omens of good luck and fortune, favoring kind travelers and lost children, which they bring home in some tales. The feeling of being watched is said to indicate good favor from the Little Spirits. Although they don't often appear directly in most stories, they sometimes leave offerings of berries and flowers at campsites.

Werewolves are said to stalk the forests and mountains of Aivintis and Serdemia, hunting deer and swallowing rabbits in one bite. They transform under the full moon, but maintain heightened reflexes and senses even in their human form.

Zzor Vampires appearing as pale humans, the Zzor appear much more feral and animalistic under candlelight. They have a weakness to wooden stakes and sunlight, but at night are known to have heightened speed, reflexes, senses, and regeneration. Unless killed by a wooden stake, sunlight, or a consecrated weapon, they are said to be immortal.

Oilean

Ghosts

The spirits of the unhonored, restless dead are fabled to roam the darkest nights of winter, kept at bay by the lighting of a candle on your front porch.

Witches

Serdemia

Witches

Serdemic mythology is rife with covens of wild witches, with their potions and spells, old hags who have an equal chance of being either wise mentors or powerful enemies. Their curses are common features of Serdemic folklore.