Post by FennecFyre on Nov 3, 2013 13:54:53 GMT
While Ilrea has a variety of animals that you would expect to see in it's various biomes, there are many mythological or out-of-the-ordinary animals as well.
MUNDANE
Direboar - These are easily some of the largest and most dangerous prey you could find in a forest. They have heavyset bodies that average about seven feet long with short brown or black fur, and can weigh almost eight hundred pounds. Their tusks, larger in the male than on the female, can reach over two feet. Hunting them in a group is advised, unless you're looking for a good way to die.
Hellpig - Believed by some to be a distant relative to direboars, while others think they are closer to hippos, these butt-ugly omnivorous porkers are the lanky desert counterpart to the fat, stocky, forest-dwelling direboars. They are thankfully rare, occupying a few small areas in the Hamar Plains and Corona Desert. They have tough, sparsely-furred skin, long legs, large blunt teeth designed to crush set in a proportionally large skull, and tiny eyes and ears. They stand around four feet tall and can weigh in at nine hundred pounds.
Tika Deer - They are small, spotted ungulates that are very common in Ilrea's tropical regions. Males have short, two-pronged horns, while females have smaller one-pronged horns. They are excellent swimmers and are not afraid of crossing water to escape predators.
Saltwater Crocodile - Another tropical animal, but far, far more dangerous than a mere tika deer. These armored reptiles can be at least twenty feet long, and while they are slow and bulky on land, they are lethal in the water.
Mammoth - Rumored to be almost as intelligent as the sentient races, these shaggy tundra dwellers can be 10 feet at the shoulder and can weigh almost five tons, with long trunks, small ears, and curving tusks. They are not normally aggressive, and are happy to let smaller creatures walk among them provided they do not have calves to protect or are not attacked themselves. One can feed an entire group for weeks.
Woolly Rhinoceros - In comparison to the powerful-yet-peaceful mammoths, rhinos are possibly the most dangerous animal on the tundra. Most hit six or seven feet at the shoulder, and weigh around six thousand to seven thousand pounds. They are covered in shaggy brown fur, with two large horns on their nose. They have very poor eyesight and may charge anything they don't recognize.
Jumpmouse - One of Ilrea's smaller creatures, this small reddish rodent with fawn spots and a long tail has amazingly powerful hindlegs. From a stand, they can leap almost three feet into the air. Many older predators enjoy watching inexperienced youngsters try to catch one.
MAGICAL
Peryton - The origin of this beast is shrouded in mystery. Some believe they live in Necrot's shadow world, and cross over to make their kills in the real world. Others think they are created when a sentient being is murdered horribly and their soul becomes twisted and unable to find rest. However they come to be, they are dangerous, and frequently travel in groups. Perytons resemble large birds with glowing, oily-green feathers and the heads of stags, with sharp teeth and antlers. They can stand five feet at the shoulder. Their enormous talons can gut a deer, but they seem to prefer attacking and terrorizing sentient creatures. They are able to mimic voices and will often lure prey in by crying for help, but cannot hold a conversation. Perytons are able to alleviate their curse and find rest by either killing a sentient creature or by bleeding them nearly to death, therefore passing their curse on. Second-generation perytons are much like werewolves, normal during the daytime, but morphing into perytons at night. The degree of self-control they maintain during this state varies, and the only way to escape the curse is to either kill, pass it on, or seek out the help of a god.
Shishi - Called liondogs by some, the Shishi is a rarely-glimpsed large omnivore. It is covered with a thick woolly coat that can range from white to blonde, with black or grey on it's pointed ears, broad head, and large paws. In cubs, the coat is very curly and soft. Shishis are friendly and wise, and almost impossible to anger, but when they do become angry, look out. An adult Shishi has jaws large and strong enough to swallow a wolf in one gulp. Luckily, Shishi prefer vegetation to meat, and even seem to draw energy from sunlight itself.
Unicorn - Unicorns are rare and noble creatures, taking the form of silver or white horses with lion tails, cloven hooves, curling manes, and a spiraling, pearly horn on their forehead. They are incredibly swift and agile, and are averse to inflicting pain. A single touch of their horn is enough to cure illness or heal a serious wound.
Nightmare - Nightmares are dark, twisted versions of unicorns, with a similar body structure, but with black fur and glowing eyes. They came about long, long ago, when a unicorn was captured and corrupted by dark magic. The newly-created nightmare had powers opposite that of a unicorn--rather than healing, their horn caused others to sicken and sometimes die. If a unicorn was stabbed by a nightmare, they would become ill, die, and be reborn as a new nightmare. The sentient creatures of Ilrea went to great lengths to eradicate them, but it is believed that some still survive.
SACRED - These creatures can only be received as companions by completing quests for the gods.
Dryad - Resembling slender deer- or gazelle-like creatures, Dryads usually resemble trees in some fashion. A birch dryad might have a pale-grey pelt with thin black stripes, and a willow dryad might have long, pale green fur. They are believed to be handmaidens of Gaia, and often accompany her in the mortal world. They live in and care for forests all across Ilrea, and often resemble their home forest. If a creature has proved themselves to be a protector of nature and a maintainer of balance, Gaia may designate one to be their companion.
Naiad - Naiads are vain, playful creatures that inhabit secluded bodies of water, such as coves and hidden streams. They appear as blue-tinted foxlike creatures with long tails, sparkling eyes, and a musical laugh. They are often adorned with shells, jewels, pebbles, or other baubles found near their homes. They can be dangerous when they play, and may drag an unsuspecting creature into the water to see them struggle, then forget to bring them back up. They are believed to be linked to Tethys, and those that win favor in her eyes may find that a Naiad has begun to follow them.
Will-o'-the-wisp - While they commonly appear as glowing balls of light, they may also take the form of any other creature, albeit one glowing with white light. They are often seen at night, especially in Wisplight Swamp and on treacherous mountain slopes. They will often whisper and briefly appear to lost travelers to lure them, and will either show them the way to safety, or lead them off a cliff or into quicksand. They are favored by Zephyr, and creatures who follow him will often receive a wisp as their guide and companion.
Phoenix - Phoenixes are large, beautiful birds with long tails and crests, and can take on a range of colors, from fiery red to gold to royal purple. They are valorous creatures, but only help those who do not give up or wallow in self-pity. They can cloak their entire bodies in fire, and can use this flame to burn away illness or poison. They are often associated with Arinek, and those who prove themselves ambitious and capable to him will often be protected by a phoenix.
LEGENDARY - These creatures cannot be gained as companions.
Wendigo - The wendigo is a winter spirit whose origins are unknown, although it is believed it is the ghost of an ancient necromancer who turned to cannibalism. He, or she, or it, is very tall and incredibly thin, as if it hasn't eaten in months. It's face looks humanoid, but horribly twisted and disfigured, with sharp teeth,and antlers sprout from it's head. It's feet are cloven, and it's long arms end in three-fingered hands tipped with claws. It often walks on it's knuckles. The wendigo is able to turn into a flurry of snow, summon blizzards, and create ghostly animals to fight for it. Luckily, it never seems to stray out of Keomar's Spine, kept in check by some unknown force, but woe to those who go purposefully looking for it.
Valka - These magnificent, flying silver deer with branching pearly antlers are rarely seen in the mortal world. Instead, they are tasked with pulling the aurora borealis across the northern sky, and shepherding spirits to the afterlife through the aurora. It is unknown if they have an affiliation with Gaia, or any of the gods, as they seem to stay in their own plane and virtually never meddle in the affairs of mortals.
MUNDANE
Direboar - These are easily some of the largest and most dangerous prey you could find in a forest. They have heavyset bodies that average about seven feet long with short brown or black fur, and can weigh almost eight hundred pounds. Their tusks, larger in the male than on the female, can reach over two feet. Hunting them in a group is advised, unless you're looking for a good way to die.
Hellpig - Believed by some to be a distant relative to direboars, while others think they are closer to hippos, these butt-ugly omnivorous porkers are the lanky desert counterpart to the fat, stocky, forest-dwelling direboars. They are thankfully rare, occupying a few small areas in the Hamar Plains and Corona Desert. They have tough, sparsely-furred skin, long legs, large blunt teeth designed to crush set in a proportionally large skull, and tiny eyes and ears. They stand around four feet tall and can weigh in at nine hundred pounds.
Tika Deer - They are small, spotted ungulates that are very common in Ilrea's tropical regions. Males have short, two-pronged horns, while females have smaller one-pronged horns. They are excellent swimmers and are not afraid of crossing water to escape predators.
Saltwater Crocodile - Another tropical animal, but far, far more dangerous than a mere tika deer. These armored reptiles can be at least twenty feet long, and while they are slow and bulky on land, they are lethal in the water.
Mammoth - Rumored to be almost as intelligent as the sentient races, these shaggy tundra dwellers can be 10 feet at the shoulder and can weigh almost five tons, with long trunks, small ears, and curving tusks. They are not normally aggressive, and are happy to let smaller creatures walk among them provided they do not have calves to protect or are not attacked themselves. One can feed an entire group for weeks.
Woolly Rhinoceros - In comparison to the powerful-yet-peaceful mammoths, rhinos are possibly the most dangerous animal on the tundra. Most hit six or seven feet at the shoulder, and weigh around six thousand to seven thousand pounds. They are covered in shaggy brown fur, with two large horns on their nose. They have very poor eyesight and may charge anything they don't recognize.
Jumpmouse - One of Ilrea's smaller creatures, this small reddish rodent with fawn spots and a long tail has amazingly powerful hindlegs. From a stand, they can leap almost three feet into the air. Many older predators enjoy watching inexperienced youngsters try to catch one.
MAGICAL
Peryton - The origin of this beast is shrouded in mystery. Some believe they live in Necrot's shadow world, and cross over to make their kills in the real world. Others think they are created when a sentient being is murdered horribly and their soul becomes twisted and unable to find rest. However they come to be, they are dangerous, and frequently travel in groups. Perytons resemble large birds with glowing, oily-green feathers and the heads of stags, with sharp teeth and antlers. They can stand five feet at the shoulder. Their enormous talons can gut a deer, but they seem to prefer attacking and terrorizing sentient creatures. They are able to mimic voices and will often lure prey in by crying for help, but cannot hold a conversation. Perytons are able to alleviate their curse and find rest by either killing a sentient creature or by bleeding them nearly to death, therefore passing their curse on. Second-generation perytons are much like werewolves, normal during the daytime, but morphing into perytons at night. The degree of self-control they maintain during this state varies, and the only way to escape the curse is to either kill, pass it on, or seek out the help of a god.
Shishi - Called liondogs by some, the Shishi is a rarely-glimpsed large omnivore. It is covered with a thick woolly coat that can range from white to blonde, with black or grey on it's pointed ears, broad head, and large paws. In cubs, the coat is very curly and soft. Shishis are friendly and wise, and almost impossible to anger, but when they do become angry, look out. An adult Shishi has jaws large and strong enough to swallow a wolf in one gulp. Luckily, Shishi prefer vegetation to meat, and even seem to draw energy from sunlight itself.
Unicorn - Unicorns are rare and noble creatures, taking the form of silver or white horses with lion tails, cloven hooves, curling manes, and a spiraling, pearly horn on their forehead. They are incredibly swift and agile, and are averse to inflicting pain. A single touch of their horn is enough to cure illness or heal a serious wound.
Nightmare - Nightmares are dark, twisted versions of unicorns, with a similar body structure, but with black fur and glowing eyes. They came about long, long ago, when a unicorn was captured and corrupted by dark magic. The newly-created nightmare had powers opposite that of a unicorn--rather than healing, their horn caused others to sicken and sometimes die. If a unicorn was stabbed by a nightmare, they would become ill, die, and be reborn as a new nightmare. The sentient creatures of Ilrea went to great lengths to eradicate them, but it is believed that some still survive.
SACRED - These creatures can only be received as companions by completing quests for the gods.
Dryad - Resembling slender deer- or gazelle-like creatures, Dryads usually resemble trees in some fashion. A birch dryad might have a pale-grey pelt with thin black stripes, and a willow dryad might have long, pale green fur. They are believed to be handmaidens of Gaia, and often accompany her in the mortal world. They live in and care for forests all across Ilrea, and often resemble their home forest. If a creature has proved themselves to be a protector of nature and a maintainer of balance, Gaia may designate one to be their companion.
Naiad - Naiads are vain, playful creatures that inhabit secluded bodies of water, such as coves and hidden streams. They appear as blue-tinted foxlike creatures with long tails, sparkling eyes, and a musical laugh. They are often adorned with shells, jewels, pebbles, or other baubles found near their homes. They can be dangerous when they play, and may drag an unsuspecting creature into the water to see them struggle, then forget to bring them back up. They are believed to be linked to Tethys, and those that win favor in her eyes may find that a Naiad has begun to follow them.
Will-o'-the-wisp - While they commonly appear as glowing balls of light, they may also take the form of any other creature, albeit one glowing with white light. They are often seen at night, especially in Wisplight Swamp and on treacherous mountain slopes. They will often whisper and briefly appear to lost travelers to lure them, and will either show them the way to safety, or lead them off a cliff or into quicksand. They are favored by Zephyr, and creatures who follow him will often receive a wisp as their guide and companion.
Phoenix - Phoenixes are large, beautiful birds with long tails and crests, and can take on a range of colors, from fiery red to gold to royal purple. They are valorous creatures, but only help those who do not give up or wallow in self-pity. They can cloak their entire bodies in fire, and can use this flame to burn away illness or poison. They are often associated with Arinek, and those who prove themselves ambitious and capable to him will often be protected by a phoenix.
LEGENDARY - These creatures cannot be gained as companions.
Wendigo - The wendigo is a winter spirit whose origins are unknown, although it is believed it is the ghost of an ancient necromancer who turned to cannibalism. He, or she, or it, is very tall and incredibly thin, as if it hasn't eaten in months. It's face looks humanoid, but horribly twisted and disfigured, with sharp teeth,and antlers sprout from it's head. It's feet are cloven, and it's long arms end in three-fingered hands tipped with claws. It often walks on it's knuckles. The wendigo is able to turn into a flurry of snow, summon blizzards, and create ghostly animals to fight for it. Luckily, it never seems to stray out of Keomar's Spine, kept in check by some unknown force, but woe to those who go purposefully looking for it.
Valka - These magnificent, flying silver deer with branching pearly antlers are rarely seen in the mortal world. Instead, they are tasked with pulling the aurora borealis across the northern sky, and shepherding spirits to the afterlife through the aurora. It is unknown if they have an affiliation with Gaia, or any of the gods, as they seem to stay in their own plane and virtually never meddle in the affairs of mortals.
