CREATURE COMPENDIUM, VOL. 1 | Creatures of the Realm

[Moenah 1018]

Spoiler

 

 

 

[!] All art in this post was made by me, Mona – and, in RP, Elizaveta herself.

 

 

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Author’s Note,

 

I find myself extremely lucky enough in life, despite the horrific things I’ve had to endure, to be graced with the most peculiar of encounters and to meet the strangest creatures this realm has to offer. Over the years, all these creatures I’ve come to know, I’ve also eventually come to protect and befriend. And, slowly, these very creatures not only blessed me with a joyous and extraordinary childhood, but they gave my life meaning, purpose. To protect the very things the ordinary layman would not understand.

 

But, that’s just it. The only reason I found these creatures are even feared stems from the public’s lack of understanding of them. This Compendium, this great, extensive Compendium that I have worked to write all these years seeks to remedy that – and quell curiosities. This is a peek into the life I must live everyday, the things I so often see that you don’t. 

 

My greatest hope for this compendium is to inspire the mind of at least one child. I pray that in granting them information and tales about these many real creatures, that this can also grant them an imaginative, unordinary childhood – one even greater than the one I had, soon developing them into an extraordinary adult.

 

– Eliza U.

 

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The species of the fae have long been mystified and fantasized, mostly due to the storybooks children are given. But, with extensive research and encounters with the fae-kind themselves, it is clear to anyone that they far exceed the imaginings of children’s tales – for a story just for children is no story at all. Surely, they must ring with truths. The one inaccuracy with the “fairies” of these tales are the broad generalizations of them – with no way to differentiate their subclasses. That is a task this Compendium will take on.

 

PIXIES

PIXIES are one the smallest types of fairy, and the most recognizable – though in reality, they look much different to how they are told to look. Most every pixie I have seen looks as far from any descendant as possible, often taking an appearance to fit the climate they inhabit. There are pixies who look like animals – Honeydew, for example, takes the form of a raccoon, with feathers for wings. Pixies of the snow come in colors of white and icy blue, and the ones of the forest often look like the leaves and flowers themselves. In some extremely rare cases, I’ve seen some pixies come in black, gray, and red.

 

The wings of a pixie are its identifying factor, what makes them a pixie. They come in many kinds, some akin to the wings of a bird, or others nearly transparent, with thin, fluttering material. Other wings are much like the wings of insects. The delicacy of these wings is the reason it is so important that pixies are handled with the utmost care. Rarely will there even be a time for one to hold them, as they like to freely fly on their own, but you mustn't squeeze them, or pull on them. Doing this puts the pixie at risk of ever flying again, or in worst cases, death. It is also important to remember that unlike us, pixies are not – and should not be – gendered.

 

The appetite of pixies are unknown, but most we have studied often enjoy sugar and berries.

NOOMIES

Officially the smallest subclass, NOOMIES are a Mushroom fairy, also without a gender, with the appearance of all forms of mushrooms – red, brown, or any color or kind. Their anatomy begins at the stem, with their faces just beneath the cap. The stems sides also protrude to produce a set of arms and legs, much like those of the descendants. Much like pixies, they, too, are rather delicate – and skittish, in fact. So, it is unwise to squeeze or pull one. Be very careful to inspect the mushrooms you collect and cook, to make sure that you are not consuming a Noomie – it is possible that they release toxins that are very deadly to the mortal body.

 

Because of their skittish behavior, they are prone to running away from you every time they are seen – that is, at least when they are untamed. This is why when being transported to different places, they are placed in jars. The diet of a Noomie is very simple: insects. A noomie will eat any kind of insect it is given, and failure to provide a Noomie with its proper nutrition within a few days can mean its starvation and peril – even the possible extinction of the species.

 

We have been studying Noomies for an entire lifetime, from the very moment Lady Moliana, my mother, and my father provided the very first three – the Trinity. A sanctuary at the base of Woldzmir has been created for them, where they are free from the confines of jars and consume as many insects as they desire. There, you can often hear their singing and screaming.

 

NYMPHS

A rare sight if ever seen, NYMPHS are beings of legend. They are a grand fairy of considerable size, just about as big as any ordinary human. There are two different types: Nymphs of the Lake and Nymphs of the Forest. Surprisingly, only six Grand Nymphs exist, and the nature of their rebirth is a complicated process, to most at least, considering they do not follow the same concept of birth that mortals do. 

 

Every one of their eras, which is considered every century and a half to us, all three Nymphs of their respective habitats are born through a vessel of their choosing. Some of the forest will be born from the morning dew and a blooming flower or the opening of a growing tree trunk. Nymphs of the Lake will come from lily pads and oysters. When these new Nymphs are born, the Nymphs of old wither away into the ground and the waters, back from where they came. This event is never seen by mere mortals – but was in fact told to me by a deity when I was a young girl.

 

Forest Nymphs are riddled from head to toe in moss, leaves, herbs — anything at all of the land they’re from. They are often in shades of green or brown, perhaps muted blue-greens. Water nymphs are much brighter, coming in white, blue, light-blue, and even green. They have many scales, even gills as fish do, mostly to adapt to their natural habitats.

VILA

No longer a mere creature of folklore, I have come face to face with a GRAND VILA of legend. They are the biggest kind of fairy, sizing at about three times taller than the tallest elf. For the sake of her privacy, I will leave her identity a secret, however, she first approached me as a fox, whose fur was white as snow. And as I showed my kindness, she manifested forth as a towering woman, dressed in while silks, with hair like silver starlight. Just as the legends had said, she was beautiful and merciful, and with her beautiful voice she offered good tidings and blessing the forest and mountains Castle Woldzmir stood surrounded by. Vila are keepers of the fae-creatures they tower over and outrank – not controlling them, per say, but offering their own forms of protection. But, because of their extremely rare appearances and their mysterious and secretive personalities, there is very little I can research and write of them without going off of the many myths and folktales written.

 

Sadly, this is the one species so often feared and misunderstood. But, there is no need for any of that - for it is the species I have studied, preserved and protected my whole life. They diverge into three categories: There are first Uncanny Creatures who exist to break the bounds of normalcy, shedding any notion of what a creature should look like. Then, there are Oddballs, creatures who take the appearance of animals in the most extraordinary of ways. Lastly, there are some who just cannot fit into a category, a creature of their very own.

 

THE STARMEN

Descending from the night skies are the STARMEN - the smallest of its race of creatures. On a full moon, when the settings are aligned just right, a flash of light will soar across the dark sky. It will descend lower and lower, suddenly splitting off into thousands of pieces at record speeds. These pieces are the Starmen themselves, appearing with pointed limbs and glowing bodies. If you ever find yourself lucky enough to find them racing across waters, if one is ever caught in your hands, you’ll find how warm and fluttering they feel, flickering with flames in your palms. When asked for a wish at this moment, it will be granted upon swallowing them, the pact officially made.

THE TANKLEDORS

TANKLEDORS are a creature studied by me since I was a girl, and the only uncanny-creature I have so much extensive knowledge on. Since birth, a Tankledor has been linked to my shadow, often holding conversations with me when I am alone. A select few know of him, his name Viktor Volodomster, and it is through him that most of these accounts and details originate from, for they are the accounts of his own kin.

 

Tankledors exist on a different plane of living than mortals do, perhaps a bit like spirits, yet not quite. Because of this, they are only able to materialize as shadows. Not everyone is able to see their true form, though luckily, I have sketched their appearances for the public to see. Their limbs do grow quite long; some even grow horns on their heads, and that can be quite intimidating to some. But, they have extremely kind, timid personalities, and are often very inquisitive of our mortal realm.

THE TWO-TALKERS

After much contemplation, I’ve thought to categorize TWO-TALKERS as an ascended type of Tankledor, similar in appearance, but superior in ability. The main identifier of a Two-Talker is, as the name implies, their two sets of mouths, in which they speak out of both. Their voice is quite unique, too – unable to be replicated by any mortal at all. Other than that, they have limbs similar to that of Tankledors, only buffed in strength to adapt to their environments. They do not manifest in shadows – in fact, they manifest on the very same plane as us, interacting with the world we know constantly.

 

So far, I’ve only met a single Two-Talker; one so talented, it floated through the air. For the sake of its privacy, since I did not get its consent, it will remain unnamed, but a sketch of it has been provided for your viewing.

 

THE WONKS

WONKS are quite excellent, endangered Oddball creatures in need of dire protection. They are extraordinary walking, talking frogs, who act no differently from mortals like you and I – save for the fact that they tend to ‘ribbit’, croak, and snack on flies. They are sentient, and capable of wearing clothes and selling quite handy merchandise, which sets them apart from the average, ordinary frog. 

 

As of the writing of this compendium, there are only two recorded Wonks in existence. Mudzskips the Merciful came under both Woldzmir and Jerovitz protection very early on in my life, though I must’ve been no older than twelve. Ever since then, he has shown to be the most honorable of companions one could ever have. While we thought him to be the very last of his kind, I happened to meet just one more Wonk by the name of Bull. He, too, relayed to me the dwindling population of his race.

 

With all this evidence of the endangerment of their race, as a researcher of these creatures, I would highly advise battling or harming a Wonk in any shape or form. Wonks are pieces of walking history – links to our past. Without them, it is simply lost. Instead, treat a Wonk with the utmost kindness and respect, perhaps even an offering.

THE RHINO-RACE

It is extremely rare to see an ODDBALL RHINO, but a blessing nonetheless. They look just like a normal Rhino, only they walk on their two back legs like a mortal, and their nose-horn is made of pure emerald. The last one of their kind to visit the Kongzem told me of their origins, which I have kept on paper since. An Oddball Rhino can only be born from the Rhino Kingdom, whose capital sits within the sandy deserts no man dares to reach. The culture there is quite rich, as its inhabitants speak similarly to dwarves and start every name and noun off with ‘Rh’ or ‘R’. For example, the name Rhinonathan is a quite common name for males, and their leaders are referred to as Rings and Rheens. For their size, it is safe to assume what great strength they have. However, their great speed is hard to believe unless you see it for yourself. They are able to dash at two times the speed of a stallion.

THE WOLLOBY WHALES

The grandest of these creatures, WOLLOBY WHALES are a species of Oddballs quite complicated – and written here will be information the species’ own protector has yet to know, until now. Though the Wollobies are similar to spirits, they do not exist in their same realm, and thus only qualify as an Oddball Creature. These kinds of whales, twice the size of the Nikirala Palace, are unlike any other. They have not only fins, but wings without feathers. Two sets of human-looking legs rest just a bit over their tail. Because of these additions to their anatomy, they’ve physically adapted to both swim through the waters and soar through the air.

 

However, those not attuned to creatures and the sea could find their appearance disturbing, as they would the appearance of most creatures listed. Even worse, this could cause the Wollobies to be mistakenly hunted, and they could easily go extinct with how little there truly are. Thus, to preserve their species, Wolloby Whales exist in the forms of their vessels: specially designed whale plushies made to float in water, with small frog legs attached to its sides. It is through these vessels that they can stay and experience our mortal realm. The very last time a Wolloby Whale was seen outside of its vessel was at the Hauchmetvas of Isabel Baruch, on the very ceiling of the Palace Ballroom. It is a moment many might forget, but I never will. 

 

MAN-SPIDER

MAN-SPIDER is more than just a simple creature, more than a dear friend – but he simply exists as an entity of his own. This may have to do with his deity ties, but there is no way to categorize Man-Spider, for he exists in a realm only I am able to see. Originally, he is an elf – or perhaps elf-adjacent, judging by his speech and the language he uses. However, the attire he wears makes him look half-man, half-spider. Thus, he was given his name.

 

He has been by my side since the very first day I came into Woldzmir, acting the same as Viktor the Tankledor had – speaking to me while I was lonely. He told me much about himself, that he used to be a Prince from a land of roses, though whether that land was in our realm is unclear. Wherever it happened to be, he says it no longer exists. He found his own likeness in my extraordinary mind, and became my friend rather quickly. He takes a liking to worms, an obsession more so. However, he shows disgust for concepts like love and romance.

 

His connection with me ended upon leading me to the home of the Swamp Spirit, a deity I will elaborate upon soon enough.

 

 

Outranking the fae-kind and uncanny creatures, there come beings far too powerful to simply be grouped with the rest. Deities and Spirits are unique, in a league completely of their own.

 

THE GREAT SAGE, EQUAL TO MANI

There isn’t much that can be so easily explained about THE GREAT SAGE DEITY, for everything the Great Sage does, you must simply see for yourself. There is not a single mortal in Almaris that does not know of him. He is the boy with a bandaged face, mostly donning fun robes and the pelt of a tiger. Either on his back or in his hand sits a staff of great power. Although no one really knows what his skin looks like, you will always be able to tell him by his glowing, yellow eyes, no matter which of his many names he goes by. While spending my entire lifetime being his companion, I have gathered a list of those very many names I have heard the Great Sage called: Card, Kerd, Trout, Booker, Bookie Boy – however, the most suitable, superior name happens to be Shrout.

 

The Great Sage is the closest link we, on this realm, have to understanding the unordinary realms above ours. There is no limit to his abilities or to his strength. Not only is he capable of healing afflictions, he has no weaknesses. His body can stretch and contort in the most amazing of ways. On top of all this, he has been existing for 3 generations that we know of, and still he chooses to protect and befriend us mortals. He is a living legend, equal to the Mani that elves worship – and yet even he still faces oppression from those that seek to slander his name. For this realm to keep receiving its blessings, whenever you happen to see the Great Sage himself, be sure to hand him an offering (preferably sweets) so that he may be appeased.

 

As of now, his job as a Great Sage leaves him in control of all forests, bestowed to him based on the actions of his past. Long ago, while living amongst other forest deities and nymphs, if there was a time he’d behaved badly, a circlet would be bound to his head, tightening at each sin to keep the great Beast within him at bay – a Beast that is only ever released to fight the evils of this world. With it, he faced dragons and Iblees himself.

THE SWAMP SPIRIT, RIURN’PARIR

THE SWAMP SPIRIT is a mysterious deity that exists very close to Haense, just in the deep swamps that sit besides Jerovitz. An unordinary elf unlike any other, his skin is scaled, his hair a reddish color, and his eyes glow a bright yellow – just as the Great Sage’s do. Standing at an incredible height, the first time I saw him in the ruins of the swamp, he rode on a gigantic turtle, one bigger than a single tree! This, I believe, is the mode of transportation this deity uses. Man-Spider is also a possible vessel of his, used to lead people into his swamp. Either that, or they are completely separate, but related, entities.

 

His abilities are quite powerful, tied to the very world itself, as he says. The rocks, trees, even mortals themselves. He feels within his being the realm itself pumping in a cycle of life and death – and I do think it is quite profound. To bestow a blessing, he uses this power to make symbols into skin. To cleanse the swamp he and his turtle reside in, he uses the very trees to uproot the towers of Drake-Spawn right from the ground. Imagine what he could do with a tower twice as big!

 

SIGNED,

ELIZAVETA ULYANA BARBANOV-BIHAR

 

[ronin_champloo 5951]

A Rhino gestured for a nearby bird to hold the letter in front of him. His eyes bulged out, almost falling out before he spoke;

 

"By Rhineus, she's a spy?!" 

[Benjikhei 696]

The Brink of Extinction stays its hand- for nearby, Mudskips The "Merciful" wallows in the borogoves, and prances through the nearby wabe and undergrowth. His claps for joy echoing 'cross miles of swampland to come, and herald his reverence, finally granted, as a jovial tune of the estranged WONKAWOODS rings out.

 

"Yup-Yup! She's done it, and so it goes, Mhm! Tralalalah!" 

__________________

 

Thereafter, he'd go back to his diving - scouring the very depths of the realm, for a strange goal and a deed without a "proper" name to itself for decades to come.

[Juno. 1276]

"I think I know that guy!" A number of women say pertaining to a number of the creatures.

[Xx_BloodStalk_xX 2120]

After only skimming over the pictures and disregarding any large clump of words and long sentences, the Great Sage, Equal to Mani uses a nail he found on the streets to pin it to the inside of his shrine. He places his hands upon his hips, nodding approvingly. Passing thoughts were brought to a pair of figures that have long since passed. Be proud of her, ya would. He thought to himself.

[1_Language_1 1670]

       Lev reads over the compendium written by Elizaveta, absolutely mesmerized by all fairies and neat creatures the lass encountered. Perhaps, he's now found an interest in something; a calling if you would see it as that. "Oh, Ea know her! Ea'll pay her a visit, I've nie been so interest in something like this before.." The forgotten Ruthern hums softly, proceeding to gently trace his finger over the drawings for hours on end, quietly reading into the information once more.

[Melpomenne 1552]

[!]

A young girl, bewildered, and inspired, drew up an uncanny creature she saw herself!