I've decided to start a bit of an experiment I did with some friends here on Bay12. Essentially, the goal is to create summaries of various made up creatures, similar to a (Considerably shorter) bestiary, hence the name. You can also post general descriptions of creatures, and I'll (try) to write up a full description. With any luck, this will emerge into a sort of world, but it can still serve as an interesting repository of creatures.
When posting creatures, please try to avoid the typical fantasy creatures (Elves, fairies, orcs, goblins, etc.). The goal here is to be as creative as possible. Creatures will be listed below, in spoilers listed in alphabetical order.
Contributed by evictedSaint
A small, multi-legged creature of considerable weight, Bendlebeese are known for their ferocious and deadly hunting habits. These creatures, though nearly invisible to the naked eye, are bright red cephalopods that distinguish themselves from others of the same classification by being land-dwelling non-nocturnal predators. Many who have witnessed a Bendlebat in the wild, or even more rarely an entire herd of Bendlebeese, have reported that the beautiful creatures display intricate, interlocking spiral patterns upon their skin. Though these patterns vary from Bendlebat to Bendlebat, all of the North American Bendlebeese have two visible swirls upon their lateral end with a long protruding loop, distinguishing themselves from their South American brethren who only possess the two swirls with accompanying concentric micro-swirls.
The cry of the ferocious Bendlebat as it devours its prey (commonly dust mites and small lady bugs) can be heard for dozens of inches away. The most common description of this blood-curling cry is that of the Pillsbury Doe Boy's ghastly giggling, and is thought to be an attempt to strike fear into the hearts of it's unfortunate prey. The Bendlebat will then leap upon it's prey and tickle it mercilessly for hours on end, until the prey is lured into a false sense of security. Then, and only then, will the Bendlebat gobble up the dust mite whole. This is truly a disturbing display of nature's ferocity.
Bendlebats reproduce via cuddling, a raunchy and exhausting mating process that can go on for hours. Once two Bendlebeese have mated, they are mates for life. Common displays of territorial behavior are displayed by both organisms, such as elaborate friendship bracelets that fit over one of the Bendlebat's many appendages. The offspring have been known to engage in training for their lives as deadly predators almost immediately. The young Bendlebeese will participate in games of Patty Cake in order to increase their tentacle-eye coordination, as well as games of Hopscotch to train their agility. Very rarely in nature do we see organisms prepare for violence at such an early age, once again showing how utterly disturbing and violent the wild Bendlebeese may be.
Our advice here at Bay12 Bestiary is to avoid these horrifying creatures at all cost. They have been known to attempt to prey upon and mate with those they meet in the wild, and wild speculation puts the death toll of wild Bendlebat attacks at nearly twenty thousand an hour across the globe. Please, if you hear the horrifying sound of a giggling baby, immediately scream in fear and flee the area as fast as you are physically able. It may very well save your life.
Contributed by Omeganaut
This being, thought named after a portmanteau of cat and salamander, looks little like either. Instead, its furry exterior covers up heated scales. It's body, while elongated, tends vertical rather than horizontal, and a fin arches over its back. The tail is long, longer with the hairs on the end, which are used to swat bugs off of the animal. It's teeth appear to be made of rock, so that by opening its mouth a certain way, it can create a spark. The catmander can combine this with launching some of the hairs out of its mouth to create a fireball, which is its preferred way of killing prey. Furthermore, the hairs float in water in such a way as to make it nearly invisible, and its eyes purportedly hold hypnotic powers, although this has not been scientifically proven. This beast is so dangerous that many local authorities have put a bounty on its head. We can only hope this method can protect us from this menace.
Contributed by Levi
A nursing automaton dedicated to the care of the infirm and elderly. Was developed in Japan to help take care of its aging population, it rapidly became popular all over the world until year 2029 when a poorly tested software update inadvertently cranked up its desire to "care" up to the maximum possible value and breaking the remote patching function. Having an unquenchable need to care for people, the Carebot 230xl's went on a rampage crippling anybody it saw who wasn't injured so that it could then take care of them. Most of the Carebots were eventually destroyed in 2034, but it is rumored that some still lurk in dark alleyways preying on addicts and the homeless.
Contributed by Magnumcannon
A huge bipedal wingless red-maned dragonic beast, with a huge single spiral horn on its forehead and a catastrophic fire-breathing power. Their non-stopping hunger drives them to hunt down great creatures and consume them with no mercy, and when no such big creatures are avaliable, they hunt down a great number of smaller ones. They're known to cause havoc all around the world, burning down villages that settle on their territory with their extremely powerful fire-breathing power.
Their fire-breathing power is probably their most powerful weapon and they won't hesitate to use it when necessary. It is very well-known to cause forest fires and melting down people and heavy armor, reducing them to ashes. The Narwhal-fire is a unique element restrict to the Fire Narwhal Dragons and it's far more powerful than the normal fire. It is able to melt down metal and many other things with ease. They actually have a even more deadly technique to use this deadly element in such a way that few beings can survive to tell the story: The Narwhal-Explosion.
The Narwhal-Explosion is a technique that Fire Narwhal-Dragons use in extreme situations. They charge their Narwhal-Fire in such way that when released, the flaming ball explodes whataver it hits in such a violent way that it sends creatures flying and at the same time, disintegrating. They're well-known to Narwhal-explode any foe that is fool enough to arouse their wrath.
They're lone wolves and thankfully, they rarely breed. When they do, the female lays its eggs inside a cave, while the male goes hunting. It takes ages to their offspring to grow into a full adult.
Contributed by Objective
Of the Cyclorrhapha leo, or more commonly called, "flions" are a species of grubs which their males resemble a male lion with a pair of giant wings the likeness of house flies.
The males, the only member of the flion community that can be commonly found, have balloon gas, more commonly known by the alchemist as Hydrogen, inside their bodies in unknown parts, making setting their swarm on fire an effective but destructive method of extermination.
It is known that they have no relation at all to lions, and are descendants to an extinct race of animal-fungi that can breed a mutant version of creatures consumed by them (they have since been driven to extinction by the elves) as those who got inside their cave reported seeing no lionlike creatures at all except the flion wardens.
As mentioned, the flions are social animals, with their males the only group with wings that go out to hunt at recurring patterns exclusive to each hives. The females, however, are like giant maggots with translucent mushrooms on them which usually have flion larvaes inside. The females and larvaes only stay exclusively in the caves and live off the food brought in by the hunters. They are generally peaceful but have been known to organize an inter-hive coordinated siege on villages that attempted to attack them. The flion wardens, which are young flions (the exact age limit is not determined) that guard the hive and act like groups of "reserve hunters" will prey on small animals in the case that the hunters are wiped out (in which the wardens will usually contact other hives and attempt destruction on the agressor) ,they are always hostile towards every intruders.
They breed by spores, by which the seed strong enough to puncture the skin of the females will be fertilized inside and go up into mushroom-like ovules on top of their body. When all the larvae become fully grown the mother will immediately die, leaving behind a nutritious corpse that are kept somewhere in the hive for food shortages. Before the body is hauled off, however, the wardens will take out the larvaes, with their upper body of a lion cub with translucent skin, and a lower body of a maggot. The female larvae on maturity will undergo a transformation that make them lose all similarities to a lion. That said, it should be mentioned as well that males are more common than females, although the females are not as rare as the ants'.
They seem to not prey on other social animals, and their elders appear to be able to control the mind of other social creatures not counting men or fae. The only evidence of this so far is when a lone flion (which does not look like normal hunters) flew into the Castle Arboreus and seemed to make all the dogs inside rush to attack the Duke. Their pattern of attack suggest telepathy and hive mind, which is obviously not a trait that dogs have. Sadly the flion had escaped without as much as any evidence of its action except its sighting.
Contributed by flameboy99
The granuush appears to be a large creature, with an adult measuring about 8'4" on average, and weighing an average of 313 lbs. However, this is merely an outer shell. In actuality, a granuush is simply a fairly small, sphere-like creature, with a smooth, glossy appearance, broken only by a number of small eyes on each side, which secretes a powerful binding agent. The binding agent also carries genetic information. The shell of the granuush is formed from bits of stone, wood, grass, and pond muck using the natural glue it creates, and as such are usually found in swamps or shallow ponds, due to the abundance of such materials there. It builds the shell over time, extending small "arms" throughout it, making thicker appendages in places where necessary. A granuush will usually look roughly humanoid, though some more bestial-looking specimens have been observed. This trait would appear to be hereditary.
Grannushes are primarily detritophages, preferring to eat rotting corpses of animals and long dead trees. However, in times of scarcity, they will gladly eat fresher meals. It places such material into its shell, and appears to absorb it into the actual granuush. During the mating season (Which runs from mid June to late August), a granuush will gorge itself, consuming vast quantities in size, and causing the core to swell in size. Eventually, it will gain enough size to split into two. A larger portion and a smaller portion are created in this event. The larger portion retains control over the shell, while the smaller portion is removed from the shell, and guarded by the granuush. In time, it will mature, and a new granuush will be formed.
A granuush starts out very small, but slowly grows over time. The average granuush will live for thirty years in captivity.
Contributed by Zanzetkuken the Great
A race thought to have never existed, though it is a popular race of speculation among those that study civilizations, myths and legends, or the spread of species. This species has only been mentioned in a journal written by an unknown source outside of a set of engravings within certain temples. It would be unremarkable if not for the temples being across the entirety of the known world, frequently having gaps of several hundred kilometers between mentionings of the race. Interestingly, recent contact with a few remote islands has revealed similar structures upon them, despite there being no known way that these islands could have been contacted before.
The passage referring to the race within the structures is always as follows, despite the differences in the writing being used in any of the structures.
"When the White King returns and the world grows strong but arrogant,
the Shell of Chaos will blacken the bright skies and the legion shall return.
If they are not sealed once more before the time of darkness ends, your time is over."
The discovered tablet that contains the reference to the race contains a bit more information.
"The legion has won. Despite the efforts of [Unknown], the Living Shadows were not sealed within [Unknown]. It is strange, just how far [Unknown] has fallen over the course of a single year after the return of [Unknown]. The Shell of Chaos is beginning to be moving now. It is strange, no matter when I look at a shadow now, they all seem to be more threatening. Almost as if they were infected by the Legion totally. I have enough time remaining for this one message. Beware the coming of [Unknown]. If [Unknown] grows to power again, the Legion shall come for you and unless you are prepared, another shall replace you."
The style of writing is seen to be similar to a set of ancient structures that are near the largest concentration of Narwhal-Dragons known, though the language is structured similar to English of all things, though the symbols were Phonecian with additional 'letters' that were determined to be letters that were in the English language but not in Phonecian. This factor leads many to believe it as a planted hoax, though there are those that point out that this was believed to have been found in the depths of one of those structures, in a room that had not been opened. It is also noteworthy that any names outside of 'the Shell of Chaos' were stricken from the entry by odd marks that are not recognizable of belonging to any known creature, nor able to be explained through any other occurrence outside of an apparent deletion from reality.
Contributed by IndigoFenix
A bipedal, forest-dwelling carnivore that stands at around four feet high at the shoulder. Somewhat resembling a theropod in shape, but with a more upright stance and a lithe, agile frame, with a thin and whip-like tail and a somewhat elongated neck. It is covered in hard, horn-like plates, particularly over the head, chest, and abdomen, with smaller plates along its arms, legs, neck, and back. Males will often possesses a single large crest extending upwards from the forehead-plate, which may be split into two, three, or occasionally five branches. The purpose of this crest is unknown.
The onixiphos' most notable feature are its front claws. Although its skeleton indicates that it evolved from five-fingered ancestors, the three middle fingers have fused together to support a massive single claw on each hand. These claws never stop growing, and the actual size that an onixiphos keeps them at varies greatly between individuals. Many will keep one claw short in order to better use their hand for utilitarian purposes, while allowing the other to grow up to two feet long. Others will allow both claws to grow. These claws are broad and flattened, with the sharp edges on either side, making them function more like swords than ordinary claws.
The onixiphos have a complex social structure which is not fully understood. It is theorized by some scientists that the growth of their claws may be an indicator of their social status, where individuals higher on the social ladder are more likely to possess two large claws, relying on subordinates or juveniles to perform utilitarian manual tasks such as building their nest.
Onixiphos build nests out of rocks and tree branches, held together with mud. These nests are essential for the survival of the onixiphos' eggs, which are otherwise vulnerable to temperature changes and egg-eating nest thieves. As their claws often get in the way of nest-building, and this manual labor often results in the dulling, blunting, or breaking of their long claws, both male and female onixiphos will regularly engage in dominance fights with the purpose of forcing the defeated individual into building a nest for the victor.
Onixiphos will use their claws for both hunting and fighting, although most fights for dominance are non-lethal, both because this would defeat the purpose of the fight and because, thanks to their armor plating, an onixiphos is highly resistant to bladed attacks. In fact, because the protective plating will tend to dull or even break the claws of the opponent, an onixiphos 'fight' is often more of a 'dance', consisting mostly of the two attackers taking turns striking and dodging each other's slashes, while keeping actual physical contact to a minimum. When engaged in real, lethal combat with another of its species, an onixiphos will usually try to immobilize or daze its opponent using grappling or blunt strikes, before slashing at the breaks in their opponent's armor.
Onixiphos are typically monogamous, and often mate for life.
Contributed by Itnetlolor
Size: Approx 10m long, 5m wide, 3m tall.
General description: Looks like a 3-tailed combination of a crocodile and a giant salamander, with a mouth like a spider's, and has the mobility and ferocity of a Komodo Dragon. Sometimes comes feathered, depending on the climate. They are as clever as they are vicious.
Description: A hexapedal beast with with 3 tails (1 for mobility stabilization, and the smaller 2 for offensive and defensive purposes), and a quadfurcated mandible to grip it's prey with a sub-mouth within to chew on them while restrained by the outer mandible. Colors vary depending on climate. In warmer locations, it has a vivid color pattern (green/red with speckles of blue going down a diamondback pattern from tail to head, with even a blood red mouth and yellow tongue; making it's open mouth look like an unusual flower for unsuspecting prey; Sometimes eats fruit beforehand, not just to aid digestion, but also in order to give it's chompers a sweet alluring odor, much like a plant's), to blend in with the exotic flora; in colder climates, it carries a duller tone to blend in with the more barren landscape, taking advantage of it's unique form to hide amongst the boulders, until it has it's prey in sight. Regardless their size, these things are fast (clocks in at up to 45mph in an open plain, easy); thus the reason they're called Rush Dragons.
Commonly found: Homesteads it razed into ruin as a home of it's own. Generally prefers sleeping in open areas like grand dining halls or arenas; but when awake, it wanders, and likes tight spaces. Generally hangs around water sources. When not in forts, it prefers damp to wet cave systems and temperate rivers.
Contributed by rabidgam3r
On close inspection, one would say this specimen was a simple pond. But when the water drips off the trees into it, there is no sound. No splash, no ripple. It is gone. Terror dawns on the split second it takes to pounce. You see, a Sloom is a large, jelly-like creature that closely mimics swampy water when immobile. Not much is known about their true substance and how they seem to erase sound from the area around them, but two things are certain. Their slime is highly valued by Bandibears as a delicacy, and if you see a pondhole with no pond, run. There is either a Bandibear or an irritated Sloom nearby, and neither possibility is good.
<Excerpt from Head Scout Shadwell>
I want out of this damn swamp! I'm leaving my post, this is bullshit! One of my boys saw a Sloom, just sitting a few yards from our post. No hole, nothing! It fucking came after him, faster than anything I've ever seen. It shuffled like something unholy, and I bet it was. We barely drove it off, and by the time it ran he was dead! His legs were gone and the rest of him was... Black. Give me a post with Stormstriders, angry natives, whatever the hell you fucks up there in the Bestiary can dream up, but the next time I see a Sloom it'll be too soon.
Up Yours, Once-Head Scout Shadwell
