Lore24 Roundup 11
- Aelyrya Payne
- Apr 25, 2024
- 9 min read
March 11th - 17th (Days 71-77)
Welcome to Lore24 Roundup 11!
Once more we explore some of the non-magical fauna that inhabits the world of A'arde, and see how some of them came to be! As always, all original posts can be found on my Mastodon.
Remember, all Lore24 posts are initial thoughts - they are not finalised at this stage!
Breakdown of Lore24 Roundup 11
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71. Midnight Urodela
A type of salamander related to newts and axolotls, the Midnight Urodela is a very rare creature that can only be found in pools where Tears of Kendra crystals form. It spends most of its life in water, only rarely going on to land, and is a nocturnal creature that dislikes the sun. Midnight Urodelas eat Teardust, a substance produced and excreted by Tears of Kendra, and while they are capable of eating other foods (such as algae and small insects) they will die without it. For this reason, Midnight Urodelas cannot be bred in captivity, and their known habitats are normally strictly protected. Midnight Urodelas moult as they grow, and these skins are known to have antibiotic properties. This is likely due to the Urodela’s natural healing ability, and the fact that its main source of food is magical in nature. However, Midnight Urodelas are not, themselves, magical.
Midnight Urodelas can reach 3-4 ins in length, and resemble tiny axolotls. They are black in colour, with golden-yellow eyes and glowing blue frills and freckles along their bodies. Males also have a prominent glowing stripe down their spine. They are curious and friendly creatures, and are considered completely harmless.
When I lived with my best friend, he had a pet axolotl named Aurora. She was the sweetest little thing, and I immediately thought of her when I was trying to make up a new creature that lived in specialised pools. These are definitely one of the more meaningful creatures to me, as it was created specially for use in a date-like RP for one of my players!
72. Winterwing
Winterwings are a type of small bird found predominantly in the northern areas of Eirinn and Duraloth. They are small birds, about the size of a robin, that seem to thrive in chillier climates. Winterwings are non-migratory, though they may venture further south than normal in order to find food, and can be seen around the evergreen forests of the far north throughout the year. They mainly feed on berries and insects, but also have a relationship with other local fauna, removing fleas and other parasites from their coats and droppings. Winterwings are famous for a spectacle known as the Reverie of the Winterwing; at dawn, each flock of Winterwings will gather in an open space and flock together in what seems like an elaborately choreographed dance. These flockings are believed to be the Winterwings’ way of strengthening the flock’s bonds and introducing new members to the group. Winterwings are highly social, so a lone Winterwing is usually sick or dying.
About the size of a house sparrow, Winterwings have white to icy blue plumage ticked with silver and black. They have black eyes, beaks and feet and are well-known for their lovely, melodic song. Winterwings have comparatively long tails, and males will often feature more blue and silver colouration in these than females do.
For the longest time, I've had this image in my head of one of my NPCs, who was born in the cold north of the continent, ice dancing amongst a flock of small, brilliant white birds. It made sense in my mind because the character is a Witch, and they are quite in touch with nature. But I didn't know specifically of a small, white, cold-resistant bird that exhibited this kind of behaviour, so I made my own!
73. Pterippus
Often believed to be magical, Pterippi are in fact another product of Mortal experimentation; an attempt to recreate the Celestial Pegasus in a less magical form. Pterippi are winged horses created for use as steeds in high class Guards, Watches, Armies and Militias. Like many of the chimeric creations of the Age of Arcana, the Pterippi suffered during the fall of the Age and the subsequent Ages of Chaos and Darkness. Small herds survived thanks to the intervention of a few wizards and nobles, but their numbers never recovered to pre-fall numbers. This is because Pterippi are difficult to breed, raise and train; they require specialised care to keep them healthy and are very expensive to keep. For this reason, they are predominantly used as military mounts or status symbols by nobles. Pterippi are very much like regular horses in their temperaments, but often give off a more noble, proud aura when kept with regular horses.
Pterippi resemble typical warhorses in size and build, but feature a huge set of wings that can stretch several metres across. They are most commonly solid colours (such as black, grey or chestnut), bay, dun or palomino, and it is very rare for them to have any sort of coat patterning. They may feature white face or leg markings, while their wings are the same colour as their coat. Most Pterippi have brown eyes, though some have pale blue.
Pterippus means "winged horse", and it's long been argued that this is the correct term for Pegasus-like creatures, as Pegasus was a specific winged horse. In A'arde, Pegasus is a Celestial being (with the name being more of a title for the King of his kind) and his celestial brethren are officially known as Pteron, though they are most often called Pegasi as they are in our world.
74. Nightshade Butterfly
Beautiful and haunting, the Nightshade Butterfly is also known as Death’s Kiss Butterfly and is sacred to the Gods of Death and Poison. These butterflies are most commonly found around graveyards where Grave Solanum (Grave Nightshade) grows, and this has given them something of a reputation as a possible psychopomp. It is said that wherever you see a Nightshade Butterfly, a corpse is somewhere nearby. Their favourite source of food is the nectar of the Grave Solanum, and they are one of the few creatures that are immune to the plant’s powerful toxin. If one of these butterflies lands on bare skin for long periods of time, it can sometimes cause itchy rashes to appear, due to the presence of Grave Solanum powder on its feet. The wings of the Nightshade Butterfly are used in two notable potions; one the Potion of False Death, and the other the antidote to Grave Solanum poison. Of these, the antidote is the most difficult to make as it requires great precision and a large amount of time to complete.
Nightshade Butterflies generally have a wingspan of between 2¾ and 3½ inches, and they resemble Swallowtail Butterflies in appearance. They are generally black in colour with a satin-like sheen and a single, purple-red spot on the underside of their bodies. The spot on males is generally bigger than on females. They are considered graceful fliers that abhor the rain, and can often be found sheltering in groups beneath large leaves or bushes.
Butterflies are one of my favourite creatures, and I have always been fascinated with the concept of butterflies as psychopomps. I half-based this butterfly's visuals on the Jigokuchō of Bleach, who act as messengers and guides to Shinigami, but the appearance is pretty much where the similarities end, as Nightshade Butterflies are living beings.
75. Carrion Worm
Also known as Corpse Worms, a Carrion Worm is a large, segmented worm which feeds on decaying flesh. They are common in graveyards and on battlefields, but are also prominent in forests and woodlands abundant in animal life. As scavengers, Carrion Worms have no interest in living tissue and will very rarely attack a living being. On the rare occasions that they do, it is usually because they smell decaying flesh upon a person or because they feel threatened with no alternative but to fight back. Carrion Worms have mouths very similar to that of a lamprey, and secret fluids that help dissolve tissue faster. Because of this, Carrion Worm bites can become very serious if not treated relatively quickly, and can result in secondary infections, blood poisoning, or even loss of appendages. When food is scarce, Carrion Worms can travel several miles a day in search of more. They can survive for over a month without feeding and can smell potential food sources from over a mile away.
Carrion Worms can reach 2 feet in length and are completely limbless. They have segmented bodies that are dark red-brown in colour and three rows of teeth. They are completely blind and deaf, instead navigating the world through smell, taste and a form of tremorsense. They are not territorial creatures, and will happily share their environment with others, including other Carrion Worms.
The idea for Carrion Worms came from... well... actual carrion insects, honestly... But bigger, uglier, and generally creepy! However, I didn't want Carrion Worms to be another mindless blood-hunting parasite. They can actually be pretty useful in getting rid of necrotic flesh, if you don't mind the feeling on something gnawing on you!
76. Hunting Mastiff
Large, impressive and powerful like their War-bred cousins, Hunting Mastiffs are the preferred companion of many a hunter, bounty hunter and tracker. The smallest of the Mastiffs, they can still be used as mounts by Small and Tiny Humanoids, but only if they are 2ft tall or under, making them more popular for use as mounts for children. However, their high chasing instinct can make them difficult to train for use solely as a mount. Hunting Mastiffs have incredibly acute senses of hearing, sight and smell, and adult dogs are well known for their agility and endurance. However, puppies are prone to bone damage if they are over or improperly exercised. Hunting Mastiffs are generally friendly and lively, but can be suspicious of strangers and will bite when threatened. They are the fastest of Mastiffs and will use their stamina to chase down opponents, waiting until a foe is tired before attacking. Hunting Mastiffs are popular messenger dogs in areas where messenger birds and mounted couriers are less efficient, such as heavily forested outposts or where aerial predators attack birds.
Hunting Mastiffs are generally between 22-26 inches at the shoulder with an athletic build. They are short-haired and smooth-coated, in fawn and brindle colours, with short, drooping ears and a shorter tail.
Hunting Mastiffs are based mostly on Boxers, of which a classmate had one way back when I was a child. The Boxer was a lovely dog, but dopey as hell, and had a habit of running into the furniture. It was very speedy though... loved to run!
77. Arthylluan
Also known in the Common tongue as the Owl-Faced Bear, Arthylluan were brought to A’arde during the Call of the Beacons by an unknown Beast-Lord Ancient, which promptly left the Realm after delivering many creatures. Arthylluan are often considered monsters by populations regularly terrorised by the more aggressive creatures, but this aggression is mainly due to the territorial nature of the Arthylluan. They are ferocious and intelligent creatures, making them desirable as war beasts, but are also prideful and incredibly difficult to train. You are more likely to see them in Gladiatorial arenas than you are in the battlefield, though Giants are known to sometimes keep Arthylluan as pets. Arthylluan prefer forested regions and tend to make their dens in ruins or caves, though some types of Arthylluan have been known to wander mountains and open plains. They tend to remain solitary or in mated pairs, and reproduce by laying eggs. They are carnivorous from hatching and will eat anything they are able to get their claws on. The most well- known subspecies of Arthylluan are the Common/Brown, the Snowy, and the Great-Eared, though others do exist.
Arthylluan can reach 8ft in height when standing on their hind legs, and their colouration/patterning can vary depending on the subspecies. Their head and shoulders are feathered to the elbow, while their remaining body is furred. Their hooked, serrated beaks and claws are black or yellow, and their eyes are usually amber or brown.
Yeah, you know what this is based on! In A'arde, these creatures have more variation than the ones you tend to find in Forgotten Realms lore, and they are more inclined toward feathered front ends than some depictions. Additionally, Arthylluan are Beasts, not Monstrosities, which means that Druids can use them as a Wild Shape if they meet the remaining criteria! I wanted this to be the case because I could never understand how an Owlbear, which for all intents and purposes behaves in the same manner as any other Beast (including reproduction) was classified as a monstrosity when it did not fit the criteria. It turned out that the criteria changed so often, it wasn't worth worrying about any more, so I made strict definitions of "Beast", "Magical Beast" and "Monstrosity" for my own world.
We continue with more beasts and creepy crawlies of the Non-Magical persuasion next Roundup, so check back for more soon!
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