Pelithine Bestiary: Difference between revisions
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=Integral Beasts= | =Integral Beasts= | ||
==Chaloskatharia== | ===Chaloskatharia=== | ||
* The chaloskatharia or ruin-beetles, often simply called the skatharia (sing. skathari), are black carrion scarabs the size of a man's palm with a silvery markings on their back reminiscent of the puzzle-shapes on the Pyxis. They are attracted to rot and decay, eating anything organic, from flesh to leather to wood. They gnaw on bone, but are usually too small to crack and consume it. In small numbers, they are simply opportunistic scavengers, competing with crows and vultures, but they have been known to swarm, devouring crops, livestock, and even people. They sometimes descend in numbers upon the aftermath of a battlefield, driving off scavengers, medics, and burial details. | * The chaloskatharia or ruin-beetles, often simply called the skatharia (sing. skathari), are black carrion scarabs the size of a man's palm with a silvery markings on their back reminiscent of the puzzle-shapes on the Pyxis. They are attracted to rot and decay, eating anything organic, from flesh to leather to wood. They gnaw on bone, but are usually too small to crack and consume it. In small numbers, they are simply opportunistic scavengers, competing with crows and vultures, but they have been known to swarm, devouring crops, livestock, and even people. They sometimes descend in numbers upon the aftermath of a battlefield, driving off scavengers, medics, and burial details. | ||
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* A caustic poison can be brewed from the crushed bodies of skatharia. It sells for a precious sum to the right buyer, but few alchemists know the trick and fewer still would risk the painful execution awaiting anyone caught making it. | * A caustic poison can be brewed from the crushed bodies of skatharia. It sells for a precious sum to the right buyer, but few alchemists know the trick and fewer still would risk the painful execution awaiting anyone caught making it. | ||
==Nychteridia== | ===Nychteridia=== | ||
* Great black devil-bats roost in the darkhouse tower of the Seleniakos in Strakapolis. They are Night-warped creatures created by the influence of the tower's moon-fragment. They were bound to obey the Helms who ruled the city, and the great houses of Strakapolis retain the old binding lore. They field small numbers of bat-riders. | * Great black devil-bats roost in the darkhouse tower of the Seleniakos in Strakapolis. They are Night-warped creatures created by the influence of the tower's moon-fragment. They were bound to obey the Helms who ruled the city, and the great houses of Strakapolis retain the old binding lore. They field small numbers of bat-riders. | ||
==Dire Vultures== | ===Dire Vultures=== | ||
* The vulture is sacred to the Helm, and the sight of them feeding on the battlefield after the slaughter is one of the canonical image of post-battle tragedy in Pelithine story and painting. The Helm himself is attended by a flock of huge vultures that obey his commands, following his army like a dark cloud. | * The vulture is sacred to the Helm, and the sight of them feeding on the battlefield after the slaughter is one of the canonical image of post-battle tragedy in Pelithine story and painting. The Helm himself is attended by a flock of huge vultures that obey his commands, following his army like a dark cloud. | ||
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Celedones - magical singing golems of pure gold | Celedones - magical singing golems of pure gold | ||
Xodar - armored robot dudes, never speak but thrice in a lifetime, never work together, the Spear tried to save them by building their armor for them (no one knows what | Xodar - armored robot dudes, never speak but thrice in a lifetime, never work together, the Spear tried to save them by building their armor for them (no one knows what species they once were), few survived the Fall, and they are essentially a dead species, the corpses of the failed zodar are prized for their magical armor, but the living zodar punish defilers grievously, they can't abide the sight of each others due to the spear's influence (dueling), if they meet they must fight, though not to the death, causing great destruction around them. common folk fear them. each of them has a charge of pneuma within them, which they can form into a Boon or Bane once in their lifetime. Swift runners, giant strength. The old Spear perished trying to guide them through the Fall | ||
the simugh - a dog headed, lion-clawed bird that hangs around water and is so old it has seen the world end 3 times (a titan?) | the simugh - a dog headed, lion-clawed bird that hangs around water and is so old it has seen the world end 3 times (a titan?) | ||
=Titan-born= | =Titan-born= | ||
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=Strange | =Creatures of the Strange= | ||
- chimera | - chimera | ||
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- hippocampus | - hippocampus | ||
- hydra - bred / favored by the Pythians | - hydra - bred / favored by the Pythians | ||
- manticore (if not a | - manticore (if not a species) | ||
- phoenix | - phoenix | ||
- Skolopendra, giant sea monster said to be the size of a Greek trireme. It has a crayfish-like tail, numerous legs along its body which it uses like oars to move and extremely long hairs that protrude from its nostrils | - Skolopendra, giant sea monster said to be the size of a Greek trireme. It has a crayfish-like tail, numerous legs along its body which it uses like oars to move and extremely long hairs that protrude from its nostrils | ||
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- Teumessian fox, a gigantic uncatchable fox | - Teumessian fox, a gigantic uncatchable fox | ||
Gegenees (gee-GEH-neh-ees, from Gr. Gêgenês - meaning "earth-born") a | Gegenees (gee-GEH-neh-ees, from Gr. Gêgenês - meaning "earth-born") a species of six-armed giants | ||
Scythian Dracanae, upper body of a woman, lower body composed of two snake tails. | Scythian Dracanae, upper body of a woman, lower body composed of two snake tails. | ||
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Lycaonoi | Lycaonoi | ||
- werebeasts | - werebeasts | ||
=Tanar'ri= | =Tanar'ri= | ||
* Lamia (bespoke demon cult from the Shattered Age that arose in the Pythian Empire, succubi taking on serpentine aspect; they persist to the present; life-draining, seductive, mesmerizing demon-muses) | * Lamia (bespoke demon cult from the Shattered Age that arose in the Pythian Empire, succubi taking on serpentine aspect; they persist to the present; life-draining, seductive, mesmerizing demon-muses) | ||
Latest revision as of 22:10, 4 May 2025
Template:Breadcrumb Shards > Pelithos > Bestiary
Integral Beasts
Chaloskatharia
- The chaloskatharia or ruin-beetles, often simply called the skatharia (sing. skathari), are black carrion scarabs the size of a man's palm with a silvery markings on their back reminiscent of the puzzle-shapes on the Pyxis. They are attracted to rot and decay, eating anything organic, from flesh to leather to wood. They gnaw on bone, but are usually too small to crack and consume it. In small numbers, they are simply opportunistic scavengers, competing with crows and vultures, but they have been known to swarm, devouring crops, livestock, and even people. They sometimes descend in numbers upon the aftermath of a battlefield, driving off scavengers, medics, and burial details.
- A skathari can emit a jet of oily smoke that burns the eyes and throat; swarms are wreathed in clouds of toxic fog that erode or taint everything they don't immediately devour. The clatter of their wings makes a swarm sound like crackling flames. Sighting skatharia is considered a bad omen, and people do their best to root out any nests with fire and salt, which they hate.
- Some skatharia grow beyond their normal scale, reaching the size of a dog or even horse, and preying on anything in their path. Skatharia are a powerful symbol of doom and ruin in Pelithine plays and stories. According to legend, the skatharia were the first disaster unleashed from the Pyxis after the Time Storm.
- A caustic poison can be brewed from the crushed bodies of skatharia. It sells for a precious sum to the right buyer, but few alchemists know the trick and fewer still would risk the painful execution awaiting anyone caught making it.
Nychteridia
- Great black devil-bats roost in the darkhouse tower of the Seleniakos in Strakapolis. They are Night-warped creatures created by the influence of the tower's moon-fragment. They were bound to obey the Helms who ruled the city, and the great houses of Strakapolis retain the old binding lore. They field small numbers of bat-riders.
Dire Vultures
- The vulture is sacred to the Helm, and the sight of them feeding on the battlefield after the slaughter is one of the canonical image of post-battle tragedy in Pelithine story and painting. The Helm himself is attended by a flock of huge vultures that obey his commands, following his army like a dark cloud.
Servitors & Divine Creations
Sphinxes, old Mind servitors , jealous lorekeepers, riddles, lair in old Elysian ruins; or Pattern servitors?
The Khalkotauroi, fire-breathing bronze bulls created by Hephaestus as a gift for Aeëtes. The Kourai Khryseai, golden maidens sculpted by Hephaestus to attend him in his household. Talos, a giant man made out of bronze to protect Europa.
Keledones The Keledones, singing maidens sculpted out of gold by Hephaestus. crafted by the Builder in the Elysian age. They are beautiful female golems made of precious metals, analogous to Van Rijn's Muses in Girl Genius. They are broadly competent in lore, art, and grace, intended as teachers and exemplars, but each has a specialty (there's at least one that's an oracle). They have passed through many hands over the ages. They always behave in an honorable and amiable way in person (they won't attack a person or lie to them), but they don't have a concept of virtue in the larger world, so they will give good advice to a bad person or teach them.
The Mormolykeia - female underworld demons, attendents of Hecate (the Witch), now servants of one of the three Witch mantles? maybe a cadre of "cambion-esque" night-blooded witch cultists who serve the Three?
automatons - divine golems created by the Owl (and Spear? and/or Aegis?) Celedones - magical singing golems of pure gold
Xodar - armored robot dudes, never speak but thrice in a lifetime, never work together, the Spear tried to save them by building their armor for them (no one knows what species they once were), few survived the Fall, and they are essentially a dead species, the corpses of the failed zodar are prized for their magical armor, but the living zodar punish defilers grievously, they can't abide the sight of each others due to the spear's influence (dueling), if they meet they must fight, though not to the death, causing great destruction around them. common folk fear them. each of them has a charge of pneuma within them, which they can form into a Boon or Bane once in their lifetime. Swift runners, giant strength. The old Spear perished trying to guide them through the Fall
the simugh - a dog headed, lion-clawed bird that hangs around water and is so old it has seen the world end 3 times (a titan?)
Titan-born
- giants
- elementals
- various dragons and drakes
- Gorgons (pythian derived)
- Mandragora (dryad derived, murderous jungle monster-dryad)
- Cyclops (orc mutants)
- Leukrotta (orc mutants)
- Saltbound (psarikampoi derived)
- Anemoi - offspring of the kakanemos, storm spirits of ill fortune, leakage from the Caduceus
Creatures of the Strange
- chimera - griffen - hippocampus - hydra - bred / favored by the Pythians - manticore (if not a species) - phoenix - Skolopendra, giant sea monster said to be the size of a Greek trireme. It has a crayfish-like tail, numerous legs along its body which it uses like oars to move and extremely long hairs that protrude from its nostrils - Spartae, a malevolent spirit born from violence. Argo crew member Jason fought alongside these creatures after discovering the dragon teeth could create these violent spirits. Spartae are normally depicted as a skeletal being with some form of a weapon and military attire. - Stymphalian Birds, man-eating birds with beaks of bronze and sharp metallic feathers they could launch at their victims. - pegasi - unicorns - Myrmekes, big size ants that can range in size from small dogs to giant bears which guarded a hill that had rich deposits of gold. - Myrmidons, ants which transformed into humans. - Erymanthian Boar (slain by Herakles) - kerberoi, many headed magic hounds - dolphins? - golden cattle - Aethon Eagles - karkinos: giant crab, allies of tritons? - nemean lion: immune to weapons
- dire serpents (including sea serpents), weird poisons, spitting - Teumessian fox, a gigantic uncatchable fox
Gegenees (gee-GEH-neh-ees, from Gr. Gêgenês - meaning "earth-born") a species of six-armed giants
Scythian Dracanae, upper body of a woman, lower body composed of two snake tails.
degenerate pythians (like yuan-ti abominations and anathema in the wake of the Fall, monsterous slaves of the lamia)
ketea - sea monsters or dragons, sometimes sent to punish men? http://www.theoi.com/Khthonios/Keuthonymos.html
Lycaonoi - werebeasts
Tanar'ri
- Lamia (bespoke demon cult from the Shattered Age that arose in the Pythian Empire, succubi taking on serpentine aspect; they persist to the present; life-draining, seductive, mesmerizing demon-muses)