Bestiary

14 entries found.

Akram
level0
At Def Ag Int Phys Pre Spi H S W Ar MD Mv Fer Quick
4
8
7
2
4
4
5
4
0
0
0
0
1
0
24
Peck
:
A4
D8
Init8
dam1
Stun damage.
Claw
:
A10
D8
Init5
dam1d4
Cock Akrams only.
Akram are small lizard-birds kept primarily for their feathers, eggs and meat. While their skin is covered in fine scales they have bright iridescent feathers on their wings, tail and crest. On prize males the tail and crest feathers grow especially long, and are gathered as they shed for use in Pluma crafting. Akram roost on tree branches for a few hours at a time, then flutter down to peck across the ground for food. They are not good flyers, and rarely stray far from the rest of their flocks, although it is not unknown for a village to wake to the squawk of a brand new male. Although native to the Twilight Forests they can be kept in the cooler parts of the Drylands with care.

Hunting Difficulty 12.
Alzimul
level1
At Def Ag Int Phys Pre Spi H S W Ar MD Mv Fer Quick
10
15
10
2
16
8
8
20
0
0
2
0
1
0
67
Bite
:
A12
D15
Init10
damD6
Sting
:
A16
D15
Init16
damD8
Sting. Physical vs. 19 or D10 Weakening
Alzimul (literally Digging-Zimul) are large insectoid creatures related to the Zimul. Like a Zimul an Alzimul has many legs, a carapaced body, and a talent for digging. Unlike their pestilential cousins, the Alzimul can be trained, and do not have the same voracious appetite for root crops, instead being happy to devour almost any foodstuff (usually carrion) that comes their way.

Young Alzimul are around the size of a Keldian pup, and are to be found rooting around amongst the razor grass, eating new shoots, or smaller insects. They have 6-10 pairs of legs, the second pair of which are enlarged and used for digging. The first pair are much smaller, and carried folded near the head. These short claws are capable of delivering a nasty sting. (For juveniles the sting is D4, Phys vs. 19 or D4 weakening).

A minority of Alzimul grow to full sized adults. All female, they lay clusters of gem-like eggs which hatch into broods of newborn Alzimul's. There are (as far as Keldian Sages know) no males. Adult Alzimul are large enough to plow significant furrows in the soil, and can be domesticated for this use. Commonly a single village will only have 3-4 adult Alzimul on hand, lending them out to individual farmers as needed to tend their lands. When not at work the Alzimul are kept penned and fed on food scraps and waste material.
Braga
level1
At Def Ag Int Phys Pre Spi H S W Ar MD Mv Fer Quick
5
8
10
5
8
6
6
9
0
0
0
0
0
0
31
Bite
:
A5
D8
Init10
damD4
Braga are placid forest creatures of a similar size to a Frian. They have four legs ending in two-toed paws, and long prehensile noses that reach to the ground, which they use to root through the leaf litter of the Jungle in search of food. They have large bushy tails which are held erect as they feed, and Males are largely indistinguishable from females. Forest communities keep Braga as domestic animals, slaughtering them for meat and the bristles from their tails. Braga can also be milked, though their milk is inferior to that of the Crdlu. Most villages have a handful of Braga grazing about them at all times, while more are kept in the Jungle nearby. Hunting Difficulty 16.
Crdlu
level1
At Def Ag Int Phys Pre Spi H S W Ar MD Mv Fer Quick Lvl
Adult
11
11
8
3
18
8
10
25
0
0
1
0
2
0
67
1
Crush
:
A11
D11
Init10
damD6+3
Crush
Bull
14
11
9
3
22
13
10
30
0
0
2
0
2
0
78
1
Crush
:
A15
D12
Init11
damD6+4
Crush
The Crdlu is a large lizard creature with short legs and a thick hide, at least twice the size of a Keldian. Its flesh is good to eat, its milk can be drunk, and it's heavy hide can be worked into tough leather. It is the primary herd animal of the Keldians. Vast herds roam the Drylands, grazing the Razor Grass. Unlike Krakaths they can survive in the Deadlands if allowed to seek shade and given access to water. Crdlu are easily trained and are seldom a danger, though they can sometimes run amok if scared or panicked. Bull Crdlu, however, are fiercely defensive of their herds. Most Crdlu encountered are part of someone's herd, but wild Crdlu also exist, especially where some town or village has suffered a calamity. Hunting Difficulty 14.
Dorga
level2
At Def Ag Int Phys Pre Spi H S W Ar MD Mv Fer Quick
16
10
8
3
40
14
14
40
2
0
4
0
2
3
104
Gore
:
A19
D10
Init10
damD8+8
Can toss after 2+ successes.
The Dorga is a huge draught animal, a six-legged monster of a lizard capable of hauling as much as a whole team of Crdlu. Each of their six legs is almost as large as a Keldian, and the thick muscular tail a similar length. They have a short pair of tusks that protrude to either side of their lower jaws, and often a similar pair of horns above. Most Dorga are red and brown, their hide knobbled and scaled, though some specimens run to grey and green.

Once domesticated, Dorga are usually trained for heavy work, their temperament does not make them suitable for combat, though they are occasionally fitted with wooden platforms and loaded up with archers. If roused to anger they may attempt to charge and gore someone with their horns. If this attack scores 2 or more successes then the target is also tossed a Legat for every success.
Frian
level2
At Def Ag Int Phys Pre Spi H S W Ar MD Mv Fer Quick
13
16
14
7
13
10
7
12
0
0
0
0
3
3
63
Bite
:
A15
D12
Init17
damD6
Frians are four footed hunting animals about half the size of a Keldian, with a long narrow head, swept back hears and a short heavy tail. Their feet are small paws, adapted for running, and they are equally at home in the Drylands and the Jungle. Frians live and hunt together in packs of seven to fifteen, led by dominant females. A pack of Frians can easily outrun and bring down a Keldian on foot, and have a good chance of killing an adult Krakath or Crdlu calf. Trained packs of Frians are often kept by hunters and herders, to bring down prey or corral animals. Frian often go feral, especially if mistreated, and wild packs of Frians will happily attack herd animals or lone Keldians.
Gissir
level2
At Def Ag Int Phys Pre Spi H S W Ar MD Mv Fer Quick
14
18
13
4
4
13
10
9
0
2
0
0
4
1
68
Peck
:
A14
D16
Init15
damD4
Gaze
:
Init20
Range 30. Roll Spirit vs. 13 or be blinded for 1 + failures rounds.
The Gissir is a large bird with a long beak and brilliant glossy green feathers. The eyes of the Gissir are large, round and yellow, emitting a faint glow at all times. Gissir are capable of extraordinary feats of perception, with an effective Observation of 18. Gissir can see in dark and light with equal facility, perceive invisible or spirit creatures, and penetrate up to 100 legats of Jungle undergrowth with their gaze. If a Gissir makes eye contact with a living creature it can use its gaze attack, after which it will generally fly away to safety. It is possible to avoid a Gissir's gaze by taking -4A/-4D.

Because of these abilities it is almost impossible to surprise a Gissir (they sleep with one eye open) and hunting them is nearly impossible. Nevertheless they are occasionally taken as chicks and trained as guard animals. They will let out a piercing bell-like cry when they detect danger. Gissir feathers are sought after for Pluma working and a dead Gissir is a Treasure 3.
Iron Raven
level3
At Def Ag Int Phys Pre Spi H S W Ar MD Mv Fer Quick
14
11
14
8
10
9
9
25
0
5
5
0
3
3
89
Peck
:
A18
D20
Init18
damD6+2
Iron Ravens are large metallic looking birds that live in the Ice of the Dark Side, commonly attacking Night Goblins and travellers. The birds ambush their targets beneath the dark sky, attacking with long swooping passes till the targets fall (attack stats given are for such aerial assaults, they have A:14/D:11 on the ground). Their iron coloured feathers are very resistant to damage (Armoury difficulty 15 to work). The feathers from one bird are a Treasure 3.

If raised from a chick by a Beastmaster an Iron Raven can be tamed and kept as a pet, but this is very unusual. Tame Iron Ravens can learn a few words by repetition, though it is not clear how well they understand them.
Krakath
level1
At Def Ag Int Phys Pre Spi H S W Ar MD Mv Fer Quick
11
9
14
4
15
10
9
25
0
0
2
0
5
3
78
Bite
:
A14
D9
Init19
damD6+3
Tail Swipe
:
A15
D10
Init19
damD4
Roll Phys vs. Phys or fall down.
The Krakath is a fast lizard-like riding creature, generally used by the Keldians to ride, or to haul carriages in teams. They are comfortable in both the Twilight and Drylands but cannot survive the heat of the Deadlands and are sluggish in the Dark Lands. Most light leather armour is made from easy to work (Leatherworking difficulty 10) Krakath hide. Krakaths are easy to train (Int + Animals / Husbandry vs. 11), but can be highly strung and sometimes panic (Resistance 14 to calm). A Keldian riding a Krakath covers open ground at twice the rate of one on foot.
Lermon
level1
At Def Ag Int Phys Pre Spi H S W Ar MD Mv Fer Quick
5
5
5
1
2
8
5
5
0
0
0
0
0
0
28
Poison Touch
:
damD8
Lermons are a large, multi-legged, caterpillar that feeds on many of the poisonous trees of the Twilight Forest. When they hatch from their eggs Lermons are no more than a finger in length, and near black in colour, but they rapidly grow to arms length, developing a vivid white underbelly and luminous patches on their heads. Every part of a Lermon is poisonous, eating one will surely kill most Keldians and even a casual touch inflicts damage. For some reason, however, Lermon venom is beneficial to most plants, and a tree with Lermon upon it actually grows better than one which does not. For this reason Keldian farmers leave Lermon well enough alone, or sometimes attempt to transplant them from one tree to another, though this is not always successful.
Maka
level1
At Def Ag Int Phys Pre Spi H S W Ar MD Mv Fer Quick
8
16
15
3
7
7
7
6
0
0
0
0
4
0
45
Bite
:
A9
D14
Init19
damD2
A Maka is a large lizard with a rusty brown colouration and a distinctive blue tongue. Fully grown a Maka is as long as a Keldian's forearm. Unlike the smaller Meerkan a Maka is considered to be edible, and are sometimes hunted by subsistence hunters with no herds of their own. They are rarely domesticated and reared, even though they are very docile, because they are nimble and can easily escape from most enclosures. They are generally not considered intelligent enough to learn not to do so.
Meerkan
level0
At Def Ag Int Phys Pre Spi H S W Ar MD Mv Fer Quick
7
11
13
4
5
8
5
4
1
0
0
0
1
1
25
Bite
:
A6
D11
Init14
dam1
Meerkan are small brightly colored lizards from the Poison Forests, often kept as pets. An adult Meerkan is a little more than a full handspan in length, with bright eyes, pebbled skin, a long tail and four legs with small clawed feet. Meerkan feed on small insects and seeds, and love to sit on the shoulder of their owner. Meerkan emit a variety of soft trills and loud whistles, and some can be taught to reproduce snippets of tunes with careful training (Int + Animals / Husbadry vs. 14). There is not much eating on a Meerkan, but desperate hunters will still sometimes collect them for the pot. Hunting Difficulty 13.
Uzan
level1
At Def Ag Int Phys Pre Spi H S W Ar MD Mv Fer Quick
12
9
15
3
8
8
8
12
0
0
0
0
4
0
53
Bite
:
Init14
dam2
Headbutt
:
A14
D9
Init19
damD4-1
Uzan are a small, tough, herd animal, adapted for upland areas. They are four-footed, with short wiry fur, three-toed feet, and small horns which range from straight to tightly curled. An Uzan stands about waist high on a Keldian adult. Uzan populations can be found in the wild in both the Drylands and the Ice hills, but not anywhere in-between, and Uzan transplanted to the Twilight Jungles do not thrive. Icelands Uzan are almost universally white-furred, with black horns, while those in the Drylands are tawny or reddish-brown with brown or grey horns. Uzan are incredibly agile, able to scale steep rock faces, jump fences and balance on small rocks. They use this agility to escape from danger. They will only attack if cornered, and then only to escape. Uzan are often encountered in small packs of 3-8 individuals. Hunting Difficulty 16.
Zunian
level2
At Def Ag Int Phys Pre Spi H S W Ar MD Mv Fer Quick
14
14
9
3
18
12
14
30
2
0
2
0
2
1
87
Gore
:
A17
D13
Init13
damD8+3
The Zunian is a creature of the Icelands, one of the few grazers capable of rooting shoots and tubers out of the snow-covered soil. A Zunian is about 2/3 the size of an adult Crdlu, with long shaggy fur and four forward curving horns. Their tough stumpy teeth are constantly grinding on tough roots.

Zunian are sometimes kept as herd animals in the Icelands, mostly for their milk, horn, droppings (which are used as fuel) and as beasts of burden. Zunian are generally docile, but they are stubborn and determined, able to withstand a howling ice-storm with impunity. Herding them is always something of a challenge, since they will go their own way. Although the outer fur of a Zunian is constantly dirty, knotted, and matted, they have a layer of pure white underfur of the finest texture. This fur can be woven into highly prized robes and cloaks, but it can only be gathered from a dead Zunian, so it is very expensive.

Zunians cannot be ridden, but they can be trained to pull carts and carry baggage, albeit at a rate slower than Krakath and Crdlu.