Kudagitsune

Cryptologic Name: Yokai kudagitsune
Planar Origin: Materia
Habitat: Mountains and forested regions
Diet: Carnivorous

Appearance & Morphology

Kudagitsune, also known as pipe foxes, are a species of yokai which resemble a fox with a limbless, serpentine body. These creatures’ fur color and head shape mirror a variety of nonmagical foxes. The most common variant of kudagitsune resemble the red fox, with arctic and fennec foxes being the next most prevalent. Kudagitsune are small, measuring between 9 and 12 in. (22-30 cm) when fully grown.

Behavior & Magical Abilities

The kudagitsune is an intelligent and voracious hunter, using both its speed and cunning to hunt prey. While it most commonly hunts small rodents, insects, and amphibians, they will on occasion use their magical abilities to take down larger prey. The kudagitsune’s magic allows it to possess and control the minds of other animals, hijacking both the senses as well as control of the creature’s body. In the wild, they will use this ability to possess the bodies of larger hunters such that they can down larger prey. The kudagitsune are not entirely parasitic, as they will feed with their host prior to disengaging, such that the host predator also reaps some benefit from the kill.

Kudagitsune are known to be kept as familiars or animal companions by some mages, particularly in the Japanese islands where these creatures are most abundant. They can be trained to use their abilities on specific targets and can even learn to imitate human speech and behavior patterns.

Field Notes

• Given how much of the planet is now inhabited by humans, there is now a reasonably large population of these creatures who’ve adapted to urban environments. Urban kudagitsune have been known to possess humans, directing their hosts to hide food in various places for the creatures to consume later.

• Because of the nature of these creatures’ abilities, the keeping of kudagitsune, even for research purposes, is closely monitored by magical law enforcement. Furthermore, the use of their possession abilities against an unknowing victim is a punishable offense.

---

OOC Corner

The kudagitsune (管狐, クダ狐) is a creature from Japanese folklore.

Mothman

Cryptologic Name: Kryptanthropos skotenoros
Planar Origin: Materia
Habitat: Temperate forests
Diet: Hemovorous

Appearance & Morphology
The mothman is humanoid creature with dark, shadowy skin and dark wings. This creature’s eyes are bright red and glow brilliantly. Adult mothmen are elusive, crepuscular (most active at twilight hours), and have magical abilities that impact the perception and consciousness of creatures that look at them, meaning they are very rarely observed in the wild. Much like their namesake, mothmen are metamorphic creatures, going through a dramatic shift in morphology at different points in their life cycle. Mothmen lay large, grey eggs from which their larva hatch. This larval stage, called a mothling, is about the size of a grapefruit and has shaggy black fur across the whole of its compact, round body. They have a set of small, spindly legs with 3 clawed toes that resemble a birds’ feet, and a pair of leathery, bat-like wings. Their eyes are red and glow, just like in their adult form (though not as brightly), and they have a proboscis-shaped mouthpart and two feathery antennae on their faces. The in the late fall (usually immediately following the first frost of the year), the mothling will burrow into the soil and go through a pupal stage to overwinter before emerging in early spring as an adult mothman. Adult mothmen are substantially larger than their larval stage, standing between 6-7 feet in height and having a wingspan of up to 10ft.

Behavior & Magical Abilities
At all stages of their lives, mothmen use their proboscises to drink nutrient-rich blood from animals, though the nature of this feeding looks different between the larval and adult stages. As a mothling, these creatures are considered scavengers as rely on carcasses found in the wild for the blood they drink. Adult mothmen, however, are predators who will kill their own prey and drain the blood from their carcasses. While this sounds potentially dangerous to the balance of the ecosystem in which they live, they rarely cause major shifts in their local wildlife populations for two reasons. First, Mothman populations are quite sparse to begin with. Additionally, they only need to feed approximately once a week on a medium to large animal to sustain their livelihood. This means that adult mothmen hunt and kill at a very low rate, and the exsanguinated carcasses provide food for other species in their native habitats.

The mothman’s magical abilities mostly seem to stem from its glowing stare, causing those who look into its eyes to become disoriented and their vision to blur. This is one main reason we don’t have a clear understanding of adult mothmen’s anatomy as it is difficult to observe directly. Even using mechanical and electronic means to capture their form has yielded little result as both digital and film images of mothmen come out distorted and unclear. This ability is likely used when it hunts to keep prey from easily noticing its approach. This disruptive magic exists in the mothling as well, but is significantly weaker. Cryptozoologists have developed spelled eyewear that prevents the wearer from the blurring and disorienting effect of the creature’s magic, but have yet to develop a strong enough countermeasures to combat the magic of an adult mothman.

Field Notes

• While adult mothmen are very elusive and avoid contact as much as possible, in their larval stage they seem to be much more curious and playful and have been known to approach humans if they don’t sense a threat. It is unclear why this temperament changes so drastically when they reach adulthood but we are fortunate to know as much as we do about these creatures as a result of mothlings’ disposition.

It is very rare to see more than one mothling at a time, but I managed to capture trio on an evening hike in Shawnee State Park

---

OOC Corner

The mothman is a North American cryptid.

Chalkydri

Cryptologic Name: Malakminyor chalkydri
Planar Origin: Celestia
Habitat: n/a
Diet: Manavorous

Appearance & Morphology

The chalkydri is a celestial creature from the divine realm. These beings are an amalgamation of animals with the head of a crocodile, the body and limbs of a lion, and six sets of feathered wings in a spectrum of colors. Their fur and feathers absorb magical energy from the sun, which is the only sustenance these creatures require to survive.

Behavior & Magical Abilities

Like most angelic beings, these creatures can hide themselves from human eyes or release a great brilliance to avoid being seen. Chalkydri have a great love of nature and enjoy travelling the wilds, particularly at daybreak. One of their favorite activities is coaxing fresh dew from plants. If you hope to someday see one of these creatures, dawn is the most likely moment they will reveal themselves, and only if you maintain a calm and tranquil mind. Like many other angelic beings, chalkydi can sense human emotion and intention and will vanish if they sense too much activity around them.

A chaklydri’s fur and feathers retain some of the solar energy they absorb for sustenance, and these creatures can release that stored energy to create bursts radiation at specific wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum. Most often this is used to temporarily blind observers with bright light, allowing them to escape from danger or unwanted attention. Additionally, they have been known to release a wave of heat and ultraviolet light. seemingly for the purpose of encouraging plant growth.

Field Notes

• As mentioned previously, chalkydri will often flash a bright light to blind observers before disappearing. This behavior is rather odd, however, due to the fact that they can dematerialize at will which leads me to believe that they do this more for show than out of necessity.

---

OOC Corner

The chaklydri is a creature described in an apocryphal text in the greater Judeo-Christian mythological body.

Susuwatari

Cryptologic Name: Mutuariforme fatafuligo
Planar Origin: Materia
Habitat: Human-inhabited spaces
Diet: Saccharivore

Appearance & Morphology

Sususwatari, also known as “soot sprites,” or sometimes “soot gremlins,” are etherial creatures who form small corporeal bodies from soot, dust, and hair. They can often be seen as small, black, round creature with white eyes and black pupils.

Behavior & Magical Abilities

Susuwatari most commonly spawn in old or abandoned buildings, where they manifest out of the soot, dust, hair, and other particles left behind. These creatures enjoy exploring these places and the surrounding areas but can be quite skittish when it comes to the presence of humans and other creatures. They will often move into dark corners and pack tightly together with others of their kind to hide when people are around.
Susuwatari are saccharivores, meaning they subsist on sugar from various of sources. In the wild they are known to eat a variety of fruits and drink nectar from flowers but can sometimes be coaxed out of hiding with sweeter offerings like raw sugar and candies.

While Susuwatari normally float in the air to move around, they are also known to manifest thin, wiry limbs from time to time. These slender arms and legs extend from their central body making them look a bit like children’s stick-figure drawings. They primarily only extend these limbs when they need to use them for a specific task.

Field Notes

• It was believed for a long time that these creatures were made entirely from soot, dust, dirt, etc. as that is all you can see of their bodies (aside from their eyes) and they tend to explode into piles of particulate matter when touched, often reforming shortly after if left undisturbed. It wasn’t until they were observed feeding on sugar that cryptozoologists understood that there is ought to be some sort of body at the center of their particulate mass which requires feeding. I have a small colony that I have befriended which now lives with me at my magical creature sanctuary. They are quite endearing creatures to interact with, but it remains difficult to study their physical anatomy as even the ones that have come to trust me still explode into dust most of the time I touch them and very much shy away from any scientific equipment that I attempt to use to learn more about them.

OOC Corner

Susuwatari are creatures that come from animated films made by Studio Ghibli.

Alebrije

Cryptologic Name: Multacreatura morpastora
Planar Origin: Materia
Habitat: Varied habitats based on morphology
Diet: Omnivorous

Appearance & Morphology

Alebrijes are an incredibly diverse species of magical creature, morphologically speaking. They resemble a variety of nonmagical animals, often having a hybrid anatomy with body shapes, limbs, body coverings, etc. from a variety of different animals. And other individuals resemble a single identifiable creature. The consistent feature of all alebrije is their bright colors and intricate patterns, regardless of whether their body parts are covered with skin, feathers, fur, or scales. Many alebrijes have patterns which illuminate under the right conditions.

Behavior & Magical Abilities

Alebrijes take on characteristics of the creatures whose anatomy they mimic. For example, an alebrije that resembles a squirrel will behave primarily like a squirrel: a tree-climbing creature that likely eats nuts and tries not to get eaten by raptors. This gets more convoluted however, when considering the fact that most of these creatures incorporate physiology from a variety of disparate animals. Take the alebrije pictured above: the central body of a toad/frog, moth wings, and a scorpion tail. Frogs/toads are primarily carnivorous, eating mostly insects and other smaller animals. The venomous stinger would allow it to hunt a wider variety of prey including small rodents and even birds. The moth wings might allow it to fly meaning it could hunt winged insects more effectively, as well as escape predators by taking flight. Frankly this particular combination has more logic to it than some individuals.

Alebrijes do not reproduce sexually but rather spontaneously lay a small clutch of eggs (usually 2-5) once in their lifetime (approximately 5 years old) and raise the young until they reach maturity and lay their own clutch of eggs. Alebrije parents do not pass on their morphology to their progeny, and so raising their young presents a unique challenge when an offspring requires an entirely different source of food from the parent. As such, juvenile alebrijes have a variable survival rate depending on how similar they are to their parents; that said alebrije parents can be quite creative and resourceful when taking care of their young.

Alebrijes are one of very few magical creatures that can pass between worlds at will and are one of the only creatures whose ability to do so is not tied to a specific plane of existence. This incredible power has led alebrijes to be used as spirit guides in various cultures, as they can travel between the material plane and other adjacent planes with ease. An alebrije which forms a strong bond with a human will often travel with them to the realm of the dead when they pass on. They can also accompany us into the dream realm and have been known to lead people out of comas.

Field Notes

• The alebrije pictured here is named Galliard and is a personal companion of mine. He is quite playful and enjoys accompanying me in my dreams. He came with me when I “introduced” myself to the Yellowstone sleuth of ursai by frantically knocking myself unconscious and thought it was great fun despite nearly giving myself a concussion. Galliard has patterns across his body which he will flash both to attract insects which he wants to eat, as well as startle would-be predators. I befriended Galliard when he was 4 so I got to witness him brood. He laid a clutch of 3 eggs and his offspring included a kiwi bird with a rattlesnake tail and hedgehog quills, a small canid animal with a shark head and peacock tail, and something resembling a hawk with a feline head and elaborate moose antlers. He was successful at raising all of them, with a little help on my part when the newborn hawk-cat-moose refused to eat the bugs Galliard tried to feed it and I came to discover it preferred milk in its infancy. Galliard took over when the little creature was about 6 months old and he began teaching them all to hunt insects and the like. All of them have now matured and now live in the wild, each laying their own clutches of eggs.

---

OOC Corner

Alebrijes are Mexican in origin. Originally created by Pedro Linares after a fever dream, these colorful sculptures are now a prominent fixture of Mexican folk art, particularly in Oaxaca. You can learn more about their history in this article by Mayan Copal. They are also featured in popular media including The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas, and the Disney film Coco.

Coeurl

Cryptologic Name: Daimicro polychroma
Planar Origin: Crystallis
Habitat: Savannah
Diet: Carnivorous

Appearance & Morphology
The coeurl is a large feline creature resembling a spotted panther in both color and pattern, with long, colorful whisker appendages extending from its cheeks. The coeurl’s whiskers widen at their tips and consist of an ombre of colors down their length. The colors range from sunset oranges and purples to seafoam greens and blues, with each individual’s whisker coloration being distinct.

Behavior & Magical Abilities
Coeurls are adept casters of elemental spells, using the powerful magical properties of their whiskers to channel elemental energy to their benefit. While these creatures to have sharp claws and powerful jaws, they prefer to use magic when hunting and defending themselves against enemies.

Coeurls are semi-social animals, going through a variety of social structures at different stages of their life. Coeurl cubs are raised by their parents and learn to hunt and use magic as they grow. When they reach adolescence (2-3 years), they leave their family group and live a solitary life for the next 2-4 years as they continue to mature. Once they reach adulthood (5-7 years), they will search for a mate to form their own family group. As all coeurls spend a significant span of time living on their own, these creatures are primarily solitary hunters, even after they mate. Most often, one parent will hunt while the other cares for the cubs. This is not a gendered role however, so the parents will take turns hunting until the cubs are old enough to join in and learn the skill for themselves.

Field Notes

• While the appendages on a coeurl’s face are widely referred to as whiskers, it may be more appropriate to think of them as tentacles. They are not hairs, as with the whiskers of most mammals, but fully muscled appendages that can be consciously manipulated by the creature. These whiskers are also highly sought-after for their magical properties and are used as magical catalysts including wand cores and channeling focuses, as well as used in certain types of potions.

---

OOC Corner

Coeurls are a creature from the video game series Final Fantasy. They are inspired by creatures of the same name in A. E. van Vogt’s science fiction short story “Black Destroyer.”

Altoculus

Cryptologic Name: Oculothorax altoculus
Planar Origin: Materia
Habitat: Temperate forests with nearby caves
Diet: Carnivorous

Appearance & Morphology
The altoculus is an unusual creature with a compact central body, large bat-like wings, and a single prominent eye. It is one of a variety of species with a similar body structure featuring a compact body and prominent central eye known as oculothoraces. This particular species has a shaggy black body and bright yellow eye with a vertical-slitted pupil.

Behavior & Magical Abilities
Altoculi are dark-loving creatures who prefer to roost in caves or in coniferous areas where the foliage is dense enough during daylight hours to allow them to sleep undisturbed. They are nocturnal hunters whose large eye can sense both heat and movement, making it easy to track and catch their prey in the dark. While they do not appear to have an explicit social structure, altoculi do roost together in moderate colonies consisting of anywhere from 20-50 individuals.

Much like bats, altoculi sleep upside-down, but in a very unique way. These creatures do not have feet to grip branches or cave walls, but their magic allows them to manipulate the gravity of objects around them. In essence, they can increase the gravitational pull of small points. Because their bodies are very lightweight, they can create one of these pinprick singularities on a branch or cave ceiling and this allows them to settle on it as though they were upright. This also means they will occasionally sleep “sideways” if there is not enough room on an overhanging surface. Vertical seems to be an explicit preference however, as they have never been observed to choose a sideways roost if an overhead space is available.

Field Notes

• The singularities these creatures use to sleep are fascinating and require further study. It is highly uncommon to observe these points impacting anything else in their viscinity so it is possible that the magic used to create the gravity well only interacts with the creatures themselves.

• I have encountered three species in the oculothorax family, the altoculus, the ahriman, and tallbird. Other notable members include the beholder, evil eye, peeping eye, and suezo.

---

OOC Corner

This is my own take on a creature trope that shows up across a variety of popular media. Several of which I mention in the field notes above, and a couple of which will be getting their own entries in time.

Griffkin

Griffkin (alt. gryphkin) is a term used for a family of chimeric creatures which are half bird and half mammal. There are three subfamilies within this group: pteragriffs, which consist of winged avian/mammalian hybrids; demigriffs, which consist of wingless hybrids; and pseudogriffs, which consist of winged hybrids whose bodies are entirely mammalian, with the exception of the added wings.

Within these subfamilies there is a great deal of variation, as chimeric creatures can generally be crafted based on the will and design of the alchemist who creates them. There are a few “breed standards” if you will, that exist in the alchemical community. Most well known are those in the pteragriff subfamily, as these include griffins (avian/feline) and hippogriffs (avian/equine). There is an unusual species in the hippogriff line called a hippalectryon, which is half horse-half rooster, however the halves are reversed from most other griffs (i.e. the rear legs and tail are that of the rooster and the head and front legs are equine).

This diverse group of creatures is unique in the chimeric order for one very specific reason: they are all capable of producing viable offspring when bred with others of the same make (as stated in my earlier entry on griffins). This is unusual among both magical and nonmagical hybrid animals because, according to our current understanding, they usually cannot produce viable gametes (sex cells). We still have no clear understanding of why avian/mammalian chimeras are different in this way, but it does make them a quite fascinating subject for cryptozoological study as we can observe populations in the wild, assuming such populations exist.

Blue griff

One of the derpier iterations I’ve interacted with, this griff is half bluebird and half australian cattle dog. I suspect the alchemist who produced her did so simply for shits and giggles and so they could call it a “blue griff” as cattle dogs are often referred to as “blue heelers.”

Kakapig (demigriff)

This unique creature was specially commissioned, by a local alchemist and the combination is quite charming and full of personality.

Least griff

This griff is the smallest known species of griffin, consisting of a house sparrow and a chipmunk.

Russet Griff

This beautiful specimen is a combination of red fox and kestrel. She is a very effective hunter.

Black Griffin

The black griffin is one of the six species of griffins with stable wild populations. This species is a combination common raven and domestic cat. They were originally created exclusively with black cats, but alchemists will occasionally use other coat patterns which begs the question: is it really a black griffin if it’s not all black? Biologically yes, but philosophically? I’ll let you decide.

Owl Griffin

This lovely specimen is one of the few griffins I have at my research station. He is half grey owl and half maine coon and is the sweetest and silliest creature.

Jaculus

Cryptologic Name: Rostratus jaculus
Planar Origin: Daconia
Habitat: Temperate and subtropical forests
Diet: Carnivorous

Appearance & Morphology

The jaculus is a draconic species in the amphiptere family. Members of this family all have a single set of wings and no walking appendages. The jaculus has a long, serpentine body with a sharp, pointed beak. Its wings extend from its midsection and can fold flat along its sides similar to fish fins. It also has a wide tail fin at the end of its tail which can similarly fold together. The jaculus is one of the smaller species of amphiptere, growing to a maximum length of 42 in. and having a maximum wingspan of 18in. Individual jaculi range in color from rich browns to deep greens, but all are mottled in color.

Behavior & Magical Abilities

The jaculus is an ambush predator, finding a suitable hiding spot and waiting for prey to move into range. Though the jaculus is a winged dragon, it is not capable of full flight but rather is a gliding creature. Their strong abdominal muscles make them excellent tree climbers and their mottled coloration gives them good camouflage while they wait for prey to come into range. When its prey approaches, the jaculus will launch itself from its arboreal perch, glide until it has a good angle, and then fold its wings against its body to dive at the unaware target. These creatures can reach incredible speeds (500-600mph) in these dives, due to their magical ability to manipulate time within their own bodies. This also allows them to stop before impaling themselves into the ground. In their lightning-fast attack, the jaculus’s strong, razor-sharp beak will pierce straight through their prey, generally causing enough damage with a single strike to kill their prey immediately and allow the jaculus to eat at their leisure. They primarily hunt medium-sized mammals like raccoons, opossums, coyotes, and the like. They will, however, go after larger prey like deer, wolves, cougars, and humans when the opportunity arises.

Field Notes

• Studying these dragonkin led to some of the most unique and elaborate protective measures I’ve taken in the field to date. Given the speed which these creatures can attack, I needed countermeasures that were passive, rather than reactive, because the human brain cannot react fast enough once the jaculus begins to strike. Thanks to my research partner, Tsu’mat, and his expert enchanting skills, I carried a charm that emitted a field bound all time within a certain radius to its natural flow. This meant that if I did encounter a jaculus and it tried to impale me, it could not do so at the speed of a bullet, only the speed of a snake falling out of the sky. Fortunately, when I did eventually encounter a jaculus in the wild it had already found more enticing prey in the form of a young white-tailed deer, and I could observe the creature without it attempting to skewer me.

• It should also be noted that while these creatures are known to prey on humans, these attacks are incredibly rare.

---

OOC Corner

The jaculus is a creature from Greek mythology and appears in the medieval Aberdine Bestiary.

Peregrine's Paraphernalia

Our charming, dimension-hopping, magical-artifact-replicating scintillavum has an extensive collection of treasures he’s created from his adventures to far-flung places.

• Super Star [Mushroom Kingdom - Super Mario Bros.] When touched, causes folk to flash in rainbow colors and become invulnerable for a short period

• Eluvian [Thedas - Dragon Age] When activated, it allows folk to communicate or travel across great distances.

• Cane of Byrna [Hyrule - The Legend of Zelda] Channeling magic through this staff creates an impenetrable force field around the wielder

• Invincible Candy [Pop Star - Kirby] Eating this candy causes you to sparkle and become invulnerable for a short period

• Banana Juice [Donkey Kong Country] Drinking this juice causes you to turn gold and become invulnerable for a short period

• Phase Locket [Shovel Knight] Allows its wielder to phase through solid pbjects

• Meeseeks Box [Dimension C137 - Rick & Morty] Pressing the button creates a Meeseeks, a blue creature whose existence is predicated on helping you complete one specific objective.

• Soul Gem [Puella Magi Madoka Magica] This gem functions as a phylactery for a person’s soul, which also grants them magical abilities based on the qualities of said soul.

• Black Orb [Lemuria - Golden Sun] This is the control mechanism for a special type of airship. Requires the use of psyenergy to activate.

• Wanderer’s Journal [Hallownest - Hollow Knight] This journal contains the writings of a traveller from a long-dead kingdom.

• Crystal Chalice [Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles] This vessel is designed to hold a special magical substance called myrrh, whose magic is used to empower protective crystals. A small shard of the crystal is embedded in the chalice to protect travellers whose job it is to harvest this myrrh.

• Phoenix Down [Final Fantasy] Down feathers from the mythical phoenix; these items contain some of the healing magic of the creatures and can be used to heal someone on the brink of death.

• Spice Melange [Arrakis - Dune] A drug that sharply heightens awareness across a wide spectrum.

• Cuzco’s Poison? [Inca Empire - The Emperor’s New Groove] Poison chosen specifically to kill Cuzco… but is actually just essence of llama

• Potion [Kanto - Pokemon] A spray with powerful regenerative properties

• Niga-Dango [Yubaba’s Bath House - Spirited Away] A bitter dumpling with powerful magical properties that can counteract curses when ingested

• Nuka-Cola [Fallout] A carbonated beverage with moderate medicinal properties

• Pom of Power [Fields of Asphodel - Hades] A slice of pomegranate from the underworld which heightens existing magical abilities when consumed. Side effects may include an inability to leave the underworld despite being alive.

• Lon-Lon Milk [Hyrule - The Legend of Zelda] Fresh milk from cows pastured at Lon-Lon Ranch. Incredibly rich and refreshing with moderate restorative properties.

• Mew Tablet [Kanto - Pokemon] An ancient stone tablet depicting a mythical creature. Unknown magical properties.

• BREW [Death City - Soul Eater] A powerful magical tool created by a great wizard. Amplifies magical abilities and may have other unknown properties.

• Hi-G [Aineias - Kiddy Grade] A gravity control substance

• Jiggy [Grunty’s Tower - Banjo-Kazooie] An animate puzzle piece that can create doors to other worlds

• Alpha Rex Trophy [The Island - Ark] Mounted head of an alpha Tyrannosaurus rex. Purely decorative.

• Ark of the Covenant [Tanis - Indiana Jones] An item of great and terrible power, though the nature of that power is unknown.

• Scarf [Sacred Mountain - Journey] A scarf imbued with magical energy which allows its wearer to fly. This energy depletes quickly but will regenerate over time.

• Balloon Present [Floating in the Sky - Animal Crossing] A floating gift box that can contain items much larger in size than the box itself.

• TARDIS [Gallifrey - Dr. Who] A sentient ship which can travel in time and space.

• Book of Shadows [San Francisco - Charmed] A grimoire containing spells and a information about a variety of magical beings, compiled by a powerful family of witches.

• Seeker’s Book of Secrets [Thedas - Dragon Age] A tome containing confidential information of the Order of the Seekers.

• The Clow [Tomoeda - Cardcaptor Sakura] A vessel containing the Clow Cards, animate magical items created by a powerful wizard which contain many magical aspects.

• Grimoire Weiss [NieR] A sassy animate grimoire who serves as a medium for the use of special magic known as Sealed Verses

• Book of Rites [Downside - Pyre] A tome written by the Eight Scribes detailing much about their world

• Book of the Moon [Wolf’s Rain] A book that chronicles the origin of wolves, nobles, and Paradise.

• Death Note [Shinigami Realm - Death Note] A notebook owned by a death god which has the power to take the life of those whose names are written in it.

• Battle Flag [Kanna Village - Seven Samurai] A battle flag with no known magical abilities.

• Jenova [Final Fantasy VII] An extraterrestrial being with unusual magical properties. Its cells are known to gather together when separated.

• Calling Card [Cafe LeBlanc - Persona 5] A calling card left by the Phantom Thieves of Hearts, used to gain access to the Metaverse

• The World Famous Golden River Goldfish [Golden River - The 10th Kingdom] When the proper ritual is performed, the fish can grant a single use of Midas’s Touch.

• Elemental Stones [Mondoshedda - The Fifth Element] Stones with elemental properties that can dispel great evil when used in conjunction with a vessel for the mythical “Fifth Element”

• Dominion Jewel [Tortall - Realms of Tortall] This gem, when wielded by a ruler, allows them to commune with their land, the plants, and the beasts who inhabit it.

• Xenovox [Velen - The Witcher] This magical object allows communication across vast distances. Slightly more reliable than a cell phone.

• Anyanwu Mask [Leopard Knocks - Akata Witch] The mask of a powerful sun spirit.

• Jedi Holocron [A Galaxy Far, Far Away - Star Wars] A device which contains great knowlesdge which can be accessed by communing with it.

• Golden Beetle Slab [The Oasis - Ever Oasis] A golden tablet which grants access to a mystical labyrinth

• Mosquito in Amber [Isla Nublar - Jurassic Park] Dinosaur DNA wthin a mosquito within a piece of fossilized tree sap.

• Tram Pass [Hallownest - Hollow Knight] A pass which summons The Last Stag, a powerful being which can grant passage across worlds.

• Psyche Lock [Ace Attorney] An item which conceals inner thoughts

• Magatama [Kurain Village - Ace Attorney] An item which allows the perception and unlocking of psyche locks

---

• Adam [Tokyo III - Neon Genesis Evangelion] A Biological Sample of Adam, the primordial human

• Alethiometer [Lyra’s Oxford - The Golden Compass] A magical object used for divining.

• Arcana Cards [Gekkoukan - Persona] Cards connecting to individual souls with sympathetic properties. Allow the use of different Personas.

---

• Triforce [The Divine Realm - The Legend of Zelda] A sacred relic of the three goddesses of creation which grants the wielder incredible power.

• Elem Pedra of Earth [Holy Lodis Empire - Ogre Battle 64] A sacred relic of the Elemental Deity of Earth, allowing the deity’s sacred beast to be summoned.

• City Crest [Caledonia - Bastion] An emblem connected to the power of the Bastion.

• Mirari [Dominaria - Magic, the Gathering] A powerful magical object that can grant the wielder’s desires, but also leads them to ruin.

• Lehran’s Medallion [Tellius - Fire Emblem] A vessel containing a god of chaos.

---

• Hand Drum [Avatar, the Last Airbender] A relic with a connection to the Avatar.

• Tia Dalma’s Compass [Pantano River - Pirates of the Caribbean] A compass that points to the greatest desire of the one who holds it.

• Black Box [Aineias - Kiddy Grade] A case which temporarily stops time for any object or living thing inside of it.

• Runestone [Argwyll - Lost Kingdoms] A magical object which allows its weilder to call upon the magic in specialized cards.

• Blank Magnus [Mintaka - Baten Kaitos] A magical card which can absorb and temporarily store the essence of objects.

---

• Boomerang [Pirate Isle - Skies of Arcadia] A large boomerang imbued with the power of the green moon stone.

• Dominator [Tokyo - Psycho-Pass] An enforcement weapon which allows its weilder to analyse Psycho-Passes. Operates in two modes for lethal or nonlethal use.

• Dark Chakram [Amphipolis - Xena, Warrior Princess] A thrown weapon with the power to break godly metals.

• Blooming Hammer [The New World - Monster Hunter] A large hammer cradfted using parts from a Pukei-Pukei.

• Hunter Bow [Sacred Lands - Horizon Zero Dawn] A bow designed using machine parts and natural elements

• Clarent [Throne of Heroes - Fate/] A powerful Noble Phantasm wielded by a treacherous knight.

• Masamune II [Hero’s Grave - Chrono Trigger] A sword crafted by a legendary swordsmith using Dreamstone.

• Mornstar [Miasma Marshes - Ni No Kuni] A legendary wand once weilded by a great wizard king.

• Solar Flare [Itegami - Okami] A divine instrument wielded by a sun deity.

• Einhejar [Asgard - Riviera: The Promised Land] A sacred weapon known as a Diviner, forged from orihalcon.

• Transistor [Cloudbank - Transistor] A powerful tool with world-altering capabilities.

• Gjallarhorn [Cosmodrome - Destiny] A powerful rocket launcher. Makes things go Ka-BOOM!

Drakatrice

Cryptologic Name: Fidoura anapsis
Planar Origin: Materia
Habitat: Temperate wetlands
Diet: Omnivorous

Appearance & Morphology
The drakatrice, also commonly referred to as the “duckatrice,” resembles a nonmagical duck in overall morphology with the exception of a serpent-like tail with a ribbed fin toward the end. These creatures come in a variety of shapes and colors, based on their lineage, but all share one commonality: solid yellow eyes. Much like their nonmagical counterparts, drakatrices are built for the water with water-resistant down; webbed feet; and a strong, finned tail to help propel them through the water.

Magical Abilities and Behavior
As one might guess based on their nomenclature and morphology, the drakatrice is related to the more common cockatrice, though are significantly less dangerous than their gallinaceous cousins. Both of these species are purely magical in nature and do not mate to reproduce, but rather spawn from eggs of nonmagical birds (chickens and ducks). While cockatrice chicks will often kill their parents, drakatrice ducklings pose no threat to their family members and are almost always accepted and raised by their nonmagical parents, usually remaining with flocks of their nonmagical relatives throughout their lives. Also similar to the cockatrice, the drakatrice has a magical gaze which is its primary defense mechanism against predators. While a drakatrice’s gaze won’t turn you to stone, it will cause your entire body to freeze in place for a period of time, allowing the creature and its flock to continue grazing in peace before moving on at their leisure. Ducks related to the individual drakatrice are immune to this power, as well as other drakatrices.

Field Notes

• Drakatrices may pose less of a threat than cockatrices, however they should still be approached with caution. While the effects their freezing gaze are temporary, if you are caught by it in a bad moment it can be quite troublesome or even deadly. For example, if you were to startle one of these creatures while swimming, you would be at serious risk of drowning.

---

OOC Corner

These are another creature birthed primarily from my own mind as a result of thrift store finds. Obviously they are heavily inspired by the cockatrice from English folklore.

Scintillavir

Cryptologic Name: Mikromageia scintillavir
Planar Origin: Materia
Habitat: Various
Diet: Manavorous

Appearance & Morphology
Scintillavir, also known as splinterfolk, are small creatures with wispy, colorful bodies in a variety of hues. Their heads are unique to each individual often resemble something related to their provenance (a topic that will be discussed in the next section). These creatures are semi-corporeal, as they are essentially a coalescence of magical energy with a spark of consciousness. They can manipulate the energy that makes up their bodies in order to become more or less solid, such that they can interact with the material world as they desire. Furthermore, they can alter their shape and form in a variety of ways, though they are most commonly seen as humanoid in appearance.

Behavior & Magical Abilities
Scintillavir are purely magical in origin, and as such do not reproduce biologically. Each individual springs to life from something small that is imbued with magical energy called a splinter. This is where scintillavir get their more common moniker of “splinterfolk.” The splinter is generally a small piece or amount of something, and can be nearly anything which contains magical energy. Often when a piece of a magical object, creature, or source is split off from the main body, it retains some of its magical power, and these small fragments of magic can come to life as scintillavir. It is unclear why only small slivers of magic can become alive in this way, as much about how these creatures come to be is still a mystery. What we do know is that it is an exceptionally rare phenomenon.

A scintillavum will often incorporate their splinter into their being or effects, depending on the nature of said splinter. For example, a scintillavum birthed from the ceramic chip of a teacup may incorporate that chip into its body or perhaps will turn it into some sort of jewelry to wear. Not all splinters are physical objects, however, so they can manifest in other ways as well. For example, stray moonbeam which spawns a scintillavum may manifest itself as a pale glow emanating from their body which changes with the phases of the moon.

Splinterfolk can sustain themselves by absorbing magical energy from their surroundings and can also manipulate energy that is similar to that which spawned them. Because each splinter is different, each individual scintillavum has unique magical abilities.

As you’ve gathered by now, splinterfolk are a very diverse group of beings because their magical origins are so varied. It should come as no surprise that the range of personalities and behavior patterns can be wildly different between individuals as well, and that the nature of their splinter has a great impact on their temperaments and identities. One common ability scintillavir all seem to possess is the ability to communicate. They do not explicitly have a language (though a few whose origins are closely tied to language can speak and/or write in a collection of languages related to their splinter), but they can communicate thoughts and feelings telepathically. It can take some time to learn how to interpret them, but these unique little creatures can have quite a lot to “say” when they find someone who is willing to listen.

Field Notes

• Because they don’t reproduce biologically, scintillavir are sexless. They do, however, often express gender as part of their identity. While it is unclear why exactly this happens, I believe splinterfolk are impacted by human perception (or the perception of other sentient beings in their vicinity). While this is still only a theory, it might explain why these creatures often choose humanoid forms, and why they tend to surround themselves with things that we would connote with their provenances.

• As these delightful creatures are so varied in characteristics, personalities, and powers, I’ve decided to keep a catalogue of all the individuals I’ve met in my tenure as a cryptozoologist. You can find that record HERE

---

OOC Corner

Splinterfolk are a creation of my own, though they are inspired by the hollowfolk, or at least my version of them. Hollowfolk are based on characters from the video game Hollow Knight.

Catalogue of Scintillavir

Below is a compendium of the know scintillavir I have encountered in my study of cryptozoology. Because each one is so unique, is seemed prudent to keep an ongoing list.

Admani, “The Dancing Flame”

Splinter: An ember from a ceremonial fire

Admani was born from celebration, and as such is a reveller through and through. He loves to dance with those who lit his spawning fire and brings passion to his every move and gesture.

---

Alectryon, “Warrior of the Stone Gaze”

Splinter: A stone fragment from a petrified soldier

Alectryon has the soul of a warrior, and is thus a fierce fighter, highly skilled in the use of his spear and shield. His mount, Petra, is a cockatrice, the same type of beast which petrified the soldier from whose fragment he was born. While combat may be his main focus, he is also a reveler who enjoys nights by the bonfire and sharing wine with his comrades.

---

Amphinome, “the Sea’s Bounty”

Splinter: A broken piece of shell from the crown of a mermaid princess

Amphinome is queen of a small, aquatic domain. The fragment of shell which spawned her, she now wears as a crown for herself. She often fluctuates in form between that of a merperson and that of a human, depending on her mood. Apparently the merprincess whose crown fractured to create Amphinome’s provenance was somewhat obsessive over the notion of becoming human herself.

---

Anastasius, “the Drake Knight”

Splinter: A plume from a knight’s helm

Anastasius may be a knight of the realm, but he quite gentle at heart. He prefers quiet afternoons sitting by the pond with his stalwart mount, Guillermo, to fighting, but will readily take up his sword to defend his home and companions.

---

Baphemy, “Lord of Ash and Bone”

Splinter: A chip of demon horn
Baphemy is one of many splinterfolk of demonic origins, and thus is one to be wary of. While he is not particularly violent, he has quite the penchant for arson, so you would do well to keep anything flammable away from him.

---

Brana, “The Gaggle Valkyrie”

Splinter: A goose feather

Vigorous and valiant, Brana diligently patrols her native skies on her winged mount. Her steadfast companion, Sigrun, cares very much for her rider and the two fight fiercely together when the need arises. Sigrun brings the savagery of goose-kind to bear when her dear rider is injured, though this is a rare sight as Brana is quite skilled in the art of defense using her round shield.

---

Briony, “The Blooming Meadow”

Splinter: A petal from the first flower to bloom in spring
Briony is as bright and cheerful as the flower which spawned her. She loves the bright colors of wildflowers and the warmth of sunshine on her face.

---

Calico, “the Stitcher”

Splinter: Clippings of enchanted thread
Calico is one of the few scintillavir I’ve had the pleasure of a continued relationship with, as she was born in my very own workshop when I was enchanting thread to stitch a collection of protective spells into my clothing. Being born of thread, she is naturally a gifted seamstress, stitcher, and weaver. Having bonded over the craft, she has decided to stay in my workshop and now oversees it as her own domain.

---

Castor & Pollux, “twin starshine”

Splinter: drops of distilled starlight
Castor and Pollux, adopting their names from the mythological twins of the gemini constellation, are curious and playful scintillavir. While both of the twins exude their own light they are also delighted by all other sources of light. Castor is the silver sibling and adopts a more femenine demeanor, while Pollux, the gold sibling, adopts a more masculine one.

---

Celia, “the Sporesower”

Splinter: Spores from a magical species of mushroom
Celia can most often be found exploring the forest floor, among the moss, leaves, snails and soil. She is a friend to all living things who dwell there, plant, animal, and fungus alike. Celia delights in collecting spores from mushrooms she comes across in her wanderings, keeping them in the pouch she wears at her waist until she finds a good spot to sow them and grow new mushrooms across her domain.

---

Corwin, “the raven-clad”

Splinter: a stray raven’s feather
Corwin is a friend to rooks, ravens, and crows. Born of their feathers, he can often be seen wearing a black cloak, which he uses to soar with his avian comrades. He can be a little dramatic at times, but mostly he is curious and playful, enjoying any time spent among his adoptive murder.

---

Cybil, “the Farseer”

Splinter: A torn scrap of tarot card
Cybil is a master of divination, using her considerable talents to glimpse the possibilities of the future. She is skilled with a variety of different prophetic devices and will find methods suitable to the individual seeking her guidance. She is most well known for her use of tarot cards and seeking visions in her crystal ball, but has been known to read tea leaves and cracked bone as well.

---

Droma, “The Raptor Rider”

Splinter: A fossilized claw

Both strong and resilient, Droma is a dweller of the wildlands where large and powerful creatures roam free. He is a skilled hunter of these beasts; with the help of his deinonychus companion, Mags, they can take down fearsome monsters many times their size.

---

Düe, “the Moon Beast”

Splinter: A single acontium flower

Düe is as wild as the wolves he calls family. Reveling in the light of the full moon, the pack plays, hunts, and howls together. While he is generally curious and playful, Düe also has a fierceness not often found in scintillavir.

---

emeric, “the Survivalist”

Splinter: A fragment of a wolf’s tooth

Emeric is most at home in the wildlands, preferring the sole company of his wolf companion, Aka, to the business of settled areas. Working in tandem they are skilled trackers and wayfinders, always having a strong sense of direction even in the deepest wilderness.

---

Grey, “Master Steeper”

Splinter: A chip from an old ceremonial teapot

Grey is an expert in all things tea-related, and can prepare a perfect cup or pot no matter the blend he’s working with. He is also quite good at developing his own special blends and infusing them with his magic to produce a variety of effects within the drinker. Most are medicinal in nature but he has been known to brew something more unusual upon request.

---

Gwylion, “the forest sage”

Splinter: a twig from an enchanted oak tree
Gwylion is both a dweller and scholar of the forest, delighting in befriending and learning all about the myriad flora and fauna who live there. She keeps a journal of those who meets, with sketches and notes from her many encounters. Gwylion also carries a pouch with treasures she finds on her wanderings. Seeds, mushrooms, feathers, and small bones are among her favorite items to collect. Her special pouch of goodies was made by a good friend and fellow splinterfolk, Calico.

---

Harlan, “THE Deepwalker”

Splinter: A fragment of glowing crystal
Harlan is a splinterfolk very attuned to mother Earth, most at home surrounded by deep caverns of stone. You can always tell when he’s near because his magic resonates with crystals, causing them to glow.

---

Hazel, “THE Gardener”

Splinter: A pinch of soil
Hazel is most at home when she’s surrounded by greenery, whether that’s out in her vast gardens or in her meticulously kept greenhouse. She delights in caring for plants of all kinds and loves meeting fellow garden enthusiasts.

---

Jacques, “The Satndard-Bearer”

Splinter: A scrap from an ancient nation’s flag

Jacques is a knight in form and demeanor; while he is a capable contender on the battlefield, he does not often swing a sword for his company. Instead he serves as the standard-bearer, and he performs his duty admirably atop his styracosaur companion, Aldon. Despite his diminutive stature, Jacques’ magic allows his banner to be seen by his entire company even from across the theatre of war.

---

Jaqueline, “THE Spook”

Splinter: A pumpkin seed
Jacqueline embodies the spirit of Halloween, and loves giving those around her a fright. She delights in all things eerie and those who share in her love of scares.

---

Jerimoth, “The Necromancer”

Splinter: Bone dust from a reanimated skeleton

Jerimoth’s ghastly visage is indicative of the company he most commonly keeps: the dead. A skilled necromancer able to manipulate a myriad of skeletal constucts, he appears a grisly character. But despite his penchant for reanimating corpses, he is not a nefarious personage in the least. In fact, his constructs serve more often as servants than warriors.

---

Kermit, “the Bayou-Dwelling Bard”

Splinter: Unknown

Kermit is a bit of an anomaly amongst the splinterfolk because he is unaware of the nature of his provenance. Still, he is a jovial character and a talented musician who often accompanies the choruses of frogs and birds who live in the wetlands he calls home. Few who hear his music can help smiling.

---

Kian, “Of the Ancient Wood”

Splinter: A primordial acorn

Kian is one of the oldest known scintillavir, spawning from an acorn dropped from Great Grandfather Oak, an ancient tree spirit who is said to be the father of all the world’s forests. Kian is a wanderer and a guardian of the woods, and all thoe creatures who dwell amongst the trees know and respect him. He travels alongside a spirit beast named Oisin, who often takes the form of a brilliant white stag.

---

Laguna, “Spirit of the Pond”

Splinter: A drop of water splashed out of a pond from a frog’s dive
Laguna is a carefree scintillavum, enjoying quiet afternoons in the cool water of his home pond. He is a great admirer of fishes and frogs, and has made friends with all his animal neighbors.

---

Lluvia, “the spring rain”

Splinter: The first raindrop of spring
Though rain always follows Lluvia wherever she goes, it is a warm, gentle rain that breathes life into the earth upon which it falls. She loves watching plants sprout under her showers, and hear the frogs calling happily from their newly-filled pools.

---

Lucas, “the Husk Warrior”

Splinter: A fragment of shed beetle carapace

Lucas is a skilled and powerful fighter, akin to the ancient warriors of the fallen kingdom of Hallownest. His sword has felled many a vicious monster in his extensive travels. Lucas affectionately refers to his stag beetle companion as “Jaws,” an apt name given the large, strong mandibles which he often uses to assist his comrade in battle.

---

Melena, “The Apiculturist”

Splinter: A drop of honey

Melena is a kind and diligent splinterfolk, utterly devoted to the hives under her care. Her bees, in turn, are fiercely loyal and treat her as one of their own. The honey she collects (with the hive’s consent, of course) is a prized substance for its magical properties, but it is a commodity she does not part with easily.

---

Pelleas, “the Defender”

Splinter: A shard from a holy knight’s sword
Pelleas is the picture of a knight, staunch and stalwart as the man whose sliver of sword became his provenance. While he may be small, he is strong and will take up arms to defend those whom he considers to be his companions.

---

Peregrine, “the Peddler”

Splinter: A chip from a golden coin
Peregrine is a fascinating character who loves exploring new places and meeting people of all kinds. He has magic that is remarkably powerful but he only ever uses it for his hobby: creating his own versions of unique items he finds in his wanderings across dimensions. These reproductions contain a small fraction of the items’ original essence and thus often retain similar magical abilities to the artifacts on which they’re based. He then sells these replicas to folks who visit the shop he keeps, “Peregrine’s Paraphernalia.” You can find a listing of items he currently has available, along with their origins, here.

---

Posey, “The Fae-Touched”

Splinter: Spores from a fairy-ring mushroom

Posey is a cheerful and carefree character, often found admiring wildflowers or spending sunlit afternoons in the cool shade of toadstools. She often adopts the form of a faerie, as one of her favorite activities is dancing through the sky with her butterfly friends.

---

Qadir, “The Lamp-Bound”

Splinter: A drop of oil

Qadir takes the form (and displays the magical prowess) of a genie, bound to a magical oil lamp which he inhabits. Unlike in most stories of djinn, he is not beholden to those who possess his lamp, but will freely grant boons to those with whom he has an affinity. Additionally, though his existence is tied to the lamp, this does not appear to restrict him in the traditional way, as he can use his magic freely and can move his lamp around at will.

---

Roche, “The Dark Lurker”

Splinter: An urban legend

Roche is a nocturnal splinterfolk, preferring to avoid sunlight when possible. He tends to spend his days in tree hollows or shallow caves but loves exploring the wilds when the sun begins to set. His glowing red eyes have startled more than a few people hiking the woods at night, but this not his intention. Roche is actually a quite curious and playful creature despite his eerie appearance.

---

Ronwe, “Lord of Blood and Wine”

Splinter: A drop of demon’s blood
Ronwe is one of many splinterfolk who have demonic origins. Even so, he is not one to be feared as he enjoys revels over violence any day. He does, however, have a penchant for making mischief, so it’s best not to get roped into his schemes.

---

Ruprecht, “Artiste Extraordinaire”

Splinter: A splotch of magic paint

Ruprecht is an exceptional painter and is always working on his next masterpiece. He tends to favor landscapes and scenes from nature over portraits and still-life subjects. and will use his artistic talent as well as his magical abilities to bring his paintings to life.

---

Saturn, “The Mothbound Aviator”

Splinter: Moth wing scales

Saturn is a free spirit who loves nothing more than the open skies and the feeling of wind on his face. He is a loyal companion to his moth mount, Phoebe; the two have little fear of birds or other flying creatures as Saturn’s magic allows them to fly and maneuver at incredible speeds. Saturn and Phoebe are intrepid explorers, travelling far and wide across the vast world.

---

Serafin, “The Huntress”

Splinter: A bear tooth kept as a trophy by a veteran hunter
Serafin is a wild spirit born with a keen eye and a strong resolve. While she is a hunter at her core, she is also fiercely protective of the animals in her domain, recognizing the delicate balance between predator and prey.

---

Trevais, “The Magpie”

Splinter: A small bell kept in a curious shop
Trevais is an explorer and collector. He loves travelling far and wide, collecting bits and bobs on his journeys to bring home to his nest. He is very fond of his myriad souvenirs proudly shows them to and visitors or passers-by.

---

Venti, “The Afficionato”

Splinter: An enchanted coffee bean
Venti is an espresso expert, skilled at every stage of the process from growing coffee beans, roasting them, grinding, and brewing them to perfection. If you are a coffee lover, he is a good friend to have, as he’ll assure you are always properly caffeinated.

---

Blarnsneep

Cryptologic Name: Daimicro polychroma
Planar Origin: Faerie
Habitat: Forested areas
Diet: Omnivorous, mostly eating berries, insects, and flowers

Appearance & Morphology
Blarnsneeps, are small, fuzzy, colorful fae beings with large eyes and pointed ears. They have two short, birdlike legs and a long flexible tail with a large tuft on the end. Most of their species have white ears and tail tufts, but body fur in a wide range of colors bright including pink, blue, green, orange, and yellow.

Behavior & Magical Abilities
The blarnsneep is often called a “paint gremlin” (or “paint pixie” for those who appreciate alliteration) due to a set of glands at the end of their tail which secrete a colorful paste. The individual can control the hue of their tail paint, though it appears that their diet influences the range of colors available to them at any given time. These creatures will then use their tail tufts as a brush to paint elaborate murals on a variety of surfaces in their home territories. They also have very fine control over the hairs at the ends of their tails, allowing them to achieve a surprising degree of fine detail in their artwork. If you are ever in a forested area and find rocks or trees with colorful designs on them, there is a good chance that a blarnsneep lives nearby.
While some of these creatures’ paintings are abstract, many of them are more concrete representations of objects and experiences they witness in their lives. Wild blarnsneep paintings often include motifs of the night sky, bodies of water, and other creatures that live in their habitat. Blarnsneep that live with humans have been known to paint intensely lifelike portraits of the people they are close to.
The blarnsneep loves when its artwork is appreciated, often preening and chirruping excitedly when people and other creatures show an interest in their paintings. While these creatures cannot speak in human languages, those that live amongst us have shown an aptitude for understanding human feeling and speech and a respectable knack for finding ways to communicate their own feelings and ideas.

Field Notes

• Aside from the artistic and alchemical value of the blarnsneep’s paintings, it also serves to mark territory and is involved in the creature’s mating rituals. When a female is ready to mate, she will paint a part of a stone or tree within her territory; the paint used for this has pheromones to attract males and indicate that she is looking for a partner. Eligible bachelors will then add to her painting with their own marks and the female will choose based on the resulting mural.

• While these creatures enjoy it when their artwork is appreciated, they can also be rather vain and scornful when their artwork goes unappreciated. This is much more common in individuals who live with humans than in wild populations; they have been known to throw tantrums if they create a new work of art its people fail to notice and praise it.

---

OOC Corner

The blanrsneep is a creation of my own. It came about when a dear friend asked me to create a creature for her mother, who it an art teacher. Using the tail as a paintbrush is inspired by the Pokémon smeargle.

Xiuhcoatl

Cryptologic Name: Fterophidia xiuhcoatl
Planar Origin: Ilhuicatl-Teotlatlauhco
Habitat: Tropical climate, primarily jungle habitat
Diet: Carnivorous

Appearance & Morphology
Xiuhcoatls are one of many creatures in the Ophidiaves family, which display features of both snakes and birds. These particular creatures have long, serpentine bodies covered in small, colorful feathers and plain snake scales along their bellies. A bright ruff of larger feathers extends from the base of the creature’s neck, and can be raised like a frill when the xiuhcoatl is displaying. They also have a spiked, colorful ridge on their snout which matches in height the length of its head. From the tip of the tail protrudes a bony structure resembling a club which comes to a sharp point. The xiuhcoatl hatches at a length of 50-70cm and can reach lengths of up to 10m in length when fully grown, though it takes decades for these creatures to reach such a size.

Magical Abilities and Behavior
Like many nonmagical snakes, the xiuhcoatl is an ambush predator, meaning it usually waits until prey wanders within strike range before seizing it in its coils. Their large shout ridge can shift in color and even produce flashes of light, which they use in a similar fashion to anglerfish, creating dazzling displays to entice prey to into their waiting jaws. This display has an explicitly magical mesmerizing effect, so it is important to take proper precautions when observing these creatures. Study has shown that the magic only takes effect when the observer can perceive both the colors and pattern of the flashing lights, so people who are colorblind have a natural immunity to their effects, as well as other creatures who perceive light differently. As a full grown adult, xiuhcoatls will often prey upon smaller species of dragons, as their mesmeric display seems to be particularly effective on draconic creatures. In addition, their body feathers having a natural flame-retardant quality which protects them from the dragon’s fiery breath.

Aside from their use in luring prey, xiuhcoatls will also use these colorful displays to attract mates and to defend territory. The mating display involves an intricate interplay between males and females, while the defensive display is similar and is always accompanied by a raising of the feathered frill on the creature’s neck. Territorial disputes can often lead to fierce fights between these creatures; the xiuhcoatl will use its bony tail club to lash out, often attempting to damage the nose ridge of the adversary and disrupt its ability to properly execute its mesmerizing display. Individuals who take extensive damage to their snouts have a much harder time capturing prey than their intact counterparts.

Field Notes

• While I don’t wish to downplay the danger these creatures pose to humans, I do find the young of these creatures to be quite charming and mostly harmless so long as they’re under about 2m in length. It takes time for the creatures to master their mesmerizing patterns, and while they do have sharp teeth and reasonably strong jaws, these are not venomous creatures.

---

OOC Corner

Xiuhcoatl comes from Aztec mythology. I admittedly need to do more research into this one’s origins.

Caladrius

Cryptologic Name: Passeridia asthentroia
Planar Origin: Caelum
Habitat: Various
Diet: Manavorous

Appearance & Morphology
The caladrius is a small, white bird with long, tufted tail feathers. They are about the size of wrens, averaging about 15cm from beak to the tips of their long tail feathers. Many of their wing feathers have a pearly or iridescent sheen to them, making the caladrius appear vibrant and colorful in the right light.

Magical Abilities and Behavior
Caladrius are disease-eaters, surviving by absorbing specific pathogens from a variety of plant and animal hosts. Each individual only has a limited range of maladies which it can consume, most of which are closely related. As such these birds are not the miraculous cure-alls that early mages had hoped when they discovered their talents.

The caladrius is incredibly selective when it comes to consuming pathogens, evidently because its appetite is quite insubstantial. These birds will normally only eat about once a month before migrating great distances around the Earth. Unfortunately this makes them an ill-effective measure against large outbreaks of disease, even if there is a caladrius in the area who can consume the specific pathogens present, as it will only absorb the illness from one, perhaps two individuals before moving on. It is unclear why they have such a limited appetite, particularly when they travel so far between feedings. It is likely that a more complicated magical process is going on when they “eat” these diseases than what we can easily observe.

Field Notes

• Very few of these amazing birds have ever been successfully raised or kept in captivity. They appear to have an intrinsic wanderlust that causes them great distress when they are confined to more limited spaces. As such most will become ill or even die if they don’t have sufficient space to roam; it would require a massive birdcage to keep one of these creatures both contained and content.

---

OOC Corner

The caladrius comes from roman mythology and appears in medieval bestiaries.

Florachnid

Cryptologic Name: Araloulou s.
Planar Origin: Mithyrea
Habitat: They occupy a variety of habitats, but are most common in temperate and subtropical climates
Diet: Herbivorous, subsisting primarily on nectar

Appearance & Morphology
Florachnids, sometimes called “flower spiders,” are an unusual genus of creature which resemble spiders with flowers for their abdomens. There is a wide variety of species, each with a unique type of flower growing from their rear segment. Body color varies between the species, but most are in the range of green to brown, with a few others being white or other bright colors. Like their nonmagical counterparts, these creatures have a cephalothorax and four pairs of segmented legs.

Magical Abilities and Behavior
While florachnids may look very similar to nonmagical spiders, but do not spin webs or eat insects like their counterparts, in fact they subsist almost exclusively on flower nectar. These creatures can most commonly be found in areas where you will find flowers matching those on their abdomen, whether wild or cultivated. Nectar from matching flower species seems to be preferred, though they will drink nectar from other flowers when necessary. Because their primary source of food is only available seasonally in most of their natural environments, florachnids will hibernate through the winter. Their floral abdomens will also wither as the stored nutrients are absorbed through the cold months, eventually being replaced by a new bud in late winter, which will begin to bloom as soon as they come out of hibernation. Species that live in more tropical regions do not follow this cycle, remaining active throughout the year.

Reproduction in these creatures is unique because it relies entirely on their plant-like qualities, and is reliant on plants matching the characteristics of their floral abdomens. Just like their plant counterparts, these creatures have to be pollenated in order to reproduce. While they don’t produce pollen themselves (in other words all florachnids are female), they require pollen from a related species to reproduce. Florachnids have a functioning pseudostamen in their floral abdomens which will collect pollen from their corresponding species and fertilize their ova. Many rely on the same methods as their botanical counterparts, such as bee and bird species who normally help pollenate the corresponding flowers, however florachnids have the benefit of being able to move freely and as such they can collect the pollen they need on their own in the absence of cooperative species. Although these creatures use pollen to reproduce, their offspring are laid as eggs and not seeds, growing in a fashion more like their animal equivalents than their plant ones.

These odd creatures do not have active magical abilities, but the petals of their floral abdomens are especially potent ingredients in potions and spellwork. Any magical work which calls for petals of a specific species of flower can substitute petals from a florachnid to increase the potency of that magic.

Field Notes

• There has been a great deal of debate on whether to classify these creatures as plants or animals, given their unusual morphology and characteristics from each group, particularly their reproductive methods. There are plenty of mobile and sentient plant species in the magical world so it would not be out of place to put these creatures into that category, however the current accepted classification is under the animal class, as they cannot photosynthesize.

---

OOC Corner

Another of my own creations. I just like sculpting spider faces, and I have too much random faux floral stuff in my craft room.

Nightmare (Liberoscuro)

Cryptologic Name: Zoneiro (family)
Planar Origin: Liberoscuro
Habitat: n/a
Diet: Manavorous

Nightmare: Disambiguation
The term “nightmare” is used for a variety of magical concepts and creatures, as is common in the greater magic community, particularly with words that have a variety of nuances and connotations associated with them. In this particular entry I am referring to the family Zoneiro, consisting of creatures of pure magical origin native to Liberoscuro, a pocket dimension adjacent to our material plane.
In the cryptozoological field, “nightmare” can also refer to a black equine creature with a flaming mane, a small demonic creature which causes bad dreams, or a dark elemental shapeshifting creature native to the Hylaean plane. Because “nightmare” is a term having broad significance across peoples and cultures, there are likely other species I am yet unfamiliar with also referred to as nightmares or some similar variant. It would perhaps have been helpful to use the Japanese name for these creatures, as the mage responsible for their existence is Japanese, and that would have been a fairly easy distinction… however they are referred to in that language as ナイトメア which is just a phenetic translation of nightmare (pronounced “naitomea”).

Origin
A powerful terran mage named Yoshiko Tadaro was a known collector of stories. Some time during the late 20th century he disappeared from the magical community and the world at large. It turns out he created a door to a pocket dimension and established a magical workshop there which has since become known as Liberoscuro, “the shadow library.” Liberoscuro is a very literal library, containing a vast collection of books transcribed and enchanted by Tadaro, almost all of which are storybooks containing folklore and fairy tales from across many worlds, including our own. Liberoscuro also seems to be an empathic nexus, where emotion-tuned mana flows much more strongly than on our own material plane. It is a result of this mana flow, as well as the magic imbued within the transcribed tomes that gave rise to these creatures we refer to as nightmares. The nightmares are spiritual creatures given physical form by the confluence of mana interacting with the enchantments cast on the books. We still don’t know how this came to be, as access to the library is very limited and much of Tadaro’s research has yet to be safely discovered or deciphered, but these nightmares appear to manifest directly from the emotional energy imbued within individual stories and as such take on physical forms which relate to the story of their origin. For those of you familiar with terran folklore, these stories are often filled with tragedy, grief, and violence and as such many nightmares are quite dangerous. This has been the primary reason as to why so little is yet understood about the library and these creatures, as the library is now rampant with them.

Biology
Nightmares have a wide array of different forms and appearances, as the circumstances of their conception differs for each individual. However, there are a variety of more common forms that mimic, to a certain extent, creatures commonly seen in folklore. Birds, hounds, wisps, plants, and orcs appear to be the most common varieties, and are some of the weaker subsets of these creatures. Cryptozoologists believe that these are most common because they are born from minor parts of the stories they spring from, and as such have less emotional energy forming their core. There are many larger and more powerful creatures with odd and unique forms in the library as well; the one thing we have determined about this family of creatures as a whole is that they are primarily manavores. They will feed on one another for sustenance, but it seems that they primarily require the magical energy stored within their fellow nightmares rather than their physical components to sustain themselves.

Field Notes

• Because of the uncertain nature of the library, as well as the strength and aggression of its inhabitants, there are powerful magical barriers in place to prevent the nastier of these beings from ending up in our world. That said, some of the smaller, more docile species have been known to slip through the barrier unnoticed and as such I have actually encountered a few types of nightmare, and my research partner has collected them for further research. Purification wisps (as pictured above) are quite small and seem rather harmless. Because of their size and relative lack of power, they seem to mostly survive by absorbing ambient mana; we’ve noticed the wisp in our care tends to move along the same routes as our caravan snails, who we know follow natural leylines on their meanderings.

• The only other species of nightmare we’ve collected is a curious individual who takes on the appearance of a clam and calls himself “Lammy.” While also a rather small individual compared to the monstrous forms we’ve heard of but not yet encountered personally, Lammy seems to be a reasonably powerful nightmare. He can speak a variety of human languages and seems to consume a great deal more mana than the wisp. While he loves talking to Tsu’mat and I, his stories can be a little hard to follow, and as such we haven’t gleaned as much information about the library and the other nightmares as we would have hoped.

---

OOC Corner

This version of the nightmare comes from the now-defunct mobile game SinoAlice, whose creative director, Yoko Taro, also created the wonderful game series NieR and Drakengard.

Chameleon Silkwing Moth

Cryptologic Name: Ostentinea s.
Planar Origin: Materia
Habitat: Temperate and sub-tropical regions
Diet: Herbivorous

Appearance & Morphology
Chameleon silkwing moths are a genus of magical insects that fairly closely resemble their nonmagical counterparts in morphology and lifecycle. Individual species vary in size and wing shape, but all species possess the same set of magical abilities.

Magical Abilities and Behavior
The most notable magical trait of the adult chameleon silkwing, and indeed where this creature gets its name, is its ability to alter its coloration and patterning at will. This change can be done very quickly, with colors and patterns shifting in mere seconds. The purpose of this ability appears to be twofold; first they will use bright patterns and colors to attract mates, as we often see in the animal world, with males using bright displays to catch the attention of females. The second purpose is predator deterrence; these moths will often settle on drab coloring to match their surroundings as effective camouflage against predators, but when they become aware of a predator’s interest they will flash bright displays in an attempt to confuse them, or as a form of Batesian mimicry (when a harmless species imitates the warning signals of a harmful species directed at a predator of them both).

In addition to this remarkable ability these creatures have as adults, their larval/pupal stage also has unique magical properties. The silk threads the chameleon silkwing caterpillar produces will react to ambient mana flow and will change color in response. This “chameleon silk” is a highly sought-after material which is used by mages in a variety of ways. Much like nonmagical silk, it is most often spun into thread and woven into fabric rather than used raw. The resulting textile is often used to embellish haute couture outfits in the upper echelons of mage society. It can also be used in tools meant to detect ambient mana or locate magical leylines.

Field Notes

• Harvesting and spinning chameleon silk is an elaborate and painstaking process and as such the material is prohibitively expensive for most mages. An ancient mage-king was said to have had an elaborate robe made entirely from the material, and he would wear it any time he cast spells so that his clothing would dance with color as he channeled mana into his works.

• Chameleon silk threads change color consistently in the presence of different wavelengths of mana, and as such can be used to identify specific types of mana in an area. Nervalia Ensantos is noted as the first mage to have experimented with chameleon silk and catalogued the different hues the material adopts when exposed to specific mana. Her initial index has been expanded since her time but the base work she did is still in use by modern mages.

• In my own menagerie of magical creatures individuals of three species represented.

  • O. hyalophora, the largest of the chameleon silkmoth species, whose wing shape resembles that of the cecropia moth.

  • O. actias, easily distinguishable with its longitailed wings.

  • O. automeris, a mid-sized species which often displays different colors on its hindwings than its forewings (sadly as I was photographing mine, it showed no interest in demonstrating this tendency)

O. hylaphora

O. actias

O. automeris

---

OOC Corner

These creatures are a result of my love of moths and my lack of self control when it comes to cute cotton prints I find at the thrift store. I actually make and sell these if you want one ~_^

Reverie Beast

Cryptologic Name: Reveria s.
Planar Origin: Astra
Habitat: n/a
Diet: n/a

Appearance & Morphology
The term “reverie beast” encompasses a wide variety of creatures having unique morphologies and abilities. One commonality among reverie beasts is white eyes; sometimes they have white pupils surrounded by a colored iris, but often the entire eye is white.

Magical Origins and Behavior
The reason that reverie beasts have such a varied appearance and magical abilities is because, unlike most magical creatures whose taxonomic delineation relies principally on their abilities and morphology, reverie beasts are classified as a single taxon (group) based on their common method of creation. These creatures are of pure magical origin, meaning that they exist only as a result mana converging under specific circumstances and are unable to reproduce on their own.
Reverie beasts are creatures that live primarily in our dreams, but can sometimes manifest in the physical world. When a dreaming person has a surge of mana channeled through them, this can cause a reverie beast to pass from the dream world onto the physical plane. The appearance and abilities of the creature are shaped by the subconscious of the dreamer and so will vary widely and can be quite powerful and very unusual. These creatures are ephemeral, and will usually fade within a few hours of the dreamer waking.

In addition to the individual birth of a reverie beast, there is a magical phenomenon known as a “reverie” which can spawn them in much greater numbers. While a great number of these creatures may come into being in this way, they can generally only survive within the reverie itself, though we know that it is possible to extract a reverie beast from its otherwise bound existence; little is understood about how to achieve this, but it is possible. Reverie beasts that do emerge from their spawning reveries tend to be much longer-lived than those who spawn in the aforementioned way.

Field Notes

• A reverie is a complex magical phenomenon involving a concentration of a particular type of mana, as well as an individual with a very dissonant view of reality. Reveries are quite rare under normal circumstances but there are some mages who attract this type of energy and therefore can cause reveries to spawn more frequently among those around them. Reveries are much more sophisticated magical theory topic which we all know is not my field so if you’re interested, I would encourage you to read Reverie by Ryan La Sala
  [this is a real book and provided some of the inspiration for this creature, so you should absolutely go read it]

• The beast pictured here spawned from a shared dream between myself and my dear friend Dan while we spent an afternoon dozing in the park. The source of the surge of mana that passed between us and merged our dreams remains a mystery to us both, but I was delighted to discover this charming little fellow when we awoke. He was very friendly and spent most of his two hours of life exploring with us in the woods and having very musical conversations with squirrels.

---

OOC Corner

The reverie beast is inspired by the book Reverie by author Ryan La Sala. It’s a super queer modern fantasy novel and I love it. Go read it. Now.