BESTIARY
Vertiline has a wide range of wild animals (and monsters/beasts). The more common ones (like rabbits) are not listed here, but the more unusual ones (like dragons!) will be.
Entries will be added to the Bestiary as more species are encountered.
Species can generally be found all over Vertiline. Those that are specific to a certain area will be noted.
Capybara
These large rodents (about the size of a Labrador Retriever) are affectionate and intelligent beasts of burden. Citizens of Vertiline manufacture small saddlebags specifically for these animals to allow them to carry a variety of items, from clothing to food and water, to miscellaneous trinkets one might find lying about on the ground. All Called are provided with a capybara on arrival. It will follow them from place to place, unless locked up somewhere. Unfortunately, if a Called's companion capybara dies, it cannot be replaced. Treat your capybara nicely!
Cockatrice
A cockatrice looks remarkably like a plucked, half-rotted chicken. A predator, it turns living things to stone with its gaze so that it may consume them. It mostly eats small rodents such as mice and squirrels, but even humans have been known to fall prey to it. Cockatrices dislike the sight of their own reflections and will either attack or run from it. Like a chicken, they are easily dispatched by removing the head, and at the point of death, anything turned to stone by their gaze will revert to normal. Yes, this includes the shattered pieces of a statue, too.
Cockatrices are plot-related monsters, and can only be used with the permission of a mod.
Fauns
The half-human, half-goat, half-feared and half-worshiped forest spirits, fauns are typically non-aggressive toward women and children. Men, however, should watch out, as fauns do not appreciate other males in their territory. Typically only seen in the heavily forested parts of Vertiline, fauns are clever creatures capable of mimicking human speech for their own amusement. Look out for the rare and entertaining "reverse-fauns", which have a goat upper half and human lower half instead of the other way around!
Giant Scorpion
Only one adult of these has been seen. It used teleport crystals to move between Hande and Sabatier, killing many fish and more than a few humans, too. It succumbed to injuries sustained when it made the mistake of hunting a human in Hande, and was put out of its misery by one of the Called. There were many eggs in its nest, and though the Called destroyed them, it's always possible they might have missed one or two...
Giant Scorpions are plot-related monsters, and can only be used with the permission of a mod.
Hedrun
A massive, intelligent goat found only in the forests surrounding the Temple, Hedrun is occasionally helpful to lost travelers, and will lead them to sources of clean water. Just don't try to touch him; he doesn't like to be touched.
Kishi
Strange creatures, having a human face on a hyena's body, kishi are docile with men. They attempt to entrap women, however, by using lovely singing voices. Should they succeed, they will immediately attack and kill the woman in question, devouring her. Fortunately, they're quite rare.
Jack-mice
Small, delicate field mice with equally small, delicate antlers. Though initially no threat at all, they come in huge numbers and have a nasty bite. Cutting or crushing them only serves to strengthen their numbers as, like the mythical Hydra, they simply grow extras! Jack-mice are susceptible to fire, and burn easily. Burning is the only way to kill them.
Jack-mice are plot-related monsters, and can only be used with the permission of a mod.
Nandi Bears
A creature that looks like a cross between a hyena and a grizzly bear, these are massive, aggressive beasts that will attack any living creature in their path. Strangely, however, they only eat the brains.
Shadow men
Also called "fog monsters." The name shadow men is a bit of a misnomer, as they resemble humans in only the barest sense. Shadow men's limbs are too long for their bodies and more unnervingly, don't appear to be bound by the normal laws of physics, being capable of stretching in odd ways, becoming longer or broader according to the whims of their bearer. Their heads are faceless ovals on necks too long for them; they split open to reveal mouths full of rows and rows of teeth, much like a shark (hence the nickname "slendersharkfaceman")--it is thanks to these teeth and their fondness for grinding them that they are frequently heard before they are seen.. They must have some level of intelligence, because they entreat those they encounter to "go back." Keen ambush hunters, these creatures are fortunately only seen within the fog that covers Vertiline, for an encounter with one almost assuredly spells death. Stay out of it, and stay safe.
Shadow man art kindly drawn by our very own Jabbers!
Vorpal rabbits
Apparently regular white rabbits, Vorpal rabbits transform into vicious killers with razor sharp teeth when approached. They are aggressive beasts, actively hunting people and animals down once they have the scent of blood. Fortunately, they are easily dispatched with a sword or a gun, or even a sharp blow to the head.
Vorpal rabbits are plot-related monsters, and can only be used with the permission of a mod.
White stag
A white stag occasionally seen by hunters in the swamps surrounding Hande. Seeing it is supposed to be a sign of good luck.
We welcome monster suggestions from players! If you have an idea you think we'd like, hop on over to the plot suggestions post and leave us a comment!
Entries will be added to the Bestiary as more species are encountered.
Species can generally be found all over Vertiline. Those that are specific to a certain area will be noted.
Capybara
These large rodents (about the size of a Labrador Retriever) are affectionate and intelligent beasts of burden. Citizens of Vertiline manufacture small saddlebags specifically for these animals to allow them to carry a variety of items, from clothing to food and water, to miscellaneous trinkets one might find lying about on the ground. All Called are provided with a capybara on arrival. It will follow them from place to place, unless locked up somewhere. Unfortunately, if a Called's companion capybara dies, it cannot be replaced. Treat your capybara nicely!
Cockatrice
A cockatrice looks remarkably like a plucked, half-rotted chicken. A predator, it turns living things to stone with its gaze so that it may consume them. It mostly eats small rodents such as mice and squirrels, but even humans have been known to fall prey to it. Cockatrices dislike the sight of their own reflections and will either attack or run from it. Like a chicken, they are easily dispatched by removing the head, and at the point of death, anything turned to stone by their gaze will revert to normal. Yes, this includes the shattered pieces of a statue, too.
Cockatrices are plot-related monsters, and can only be used with the permission of a mod.
Fauns
The half-human, half-goat, half-feared and half-worshiped forest spirits, fauns are typically non-aggressive toward women and children. Men, however, should watch out, as fauns do not appreciate other males in their territory. Typically only seen in the heavily forested parts of Vertiline, fauns are clever creatures capable of mimicking human speech for their own amusement. Look out for the rare and entertaining "reverse-fauns", which have a goat upper half and human lower half instead of the other way around!
Giant Scorpion
Only one adult of these has been seen. It used teleport crystals to move between Hande and Sabatier, killing many fish and more than a few humans, too. It succumbed to injuries sustained when it made the mistake of hunting a human in Hande, and was put out of its misery by one of the Called. There were many eggs in its nest, and though the Called destroyed them, it's always possible they might have missed one or two...
Giant Scorpions are plot-related monsters, and can only be used with the permission of a mod.
Hedrun
A massive, intelligent goat found only in the forests surrounding the Temple, Hedrun is occasionally helpful to lost travelers, and will lead them to sources of clean water. Just don't try to touch him; he doesn't like to be touched.
Kishi
Strange creatures, having a human face on a hyena's body, kishi are docile with men. They attempt to entrap women, however, by using lovely singing voices. Should they succeed, they will immediately attack and kill the woman in question, devouring her. Fortunately, they're quite rare.
Jack-mice
Small, delicate field mice with equally small, delicate antlers. Though initially no threat at all, they come in huge numbers and have a nasty bite. Cutting or crushing them only serves to strengthen their numbers as, like the mythical Hydra, they simply grow extras! Jack-mice are susceptible to fire, and burn easily. Burning is the only way to kill them.
Jack-mice are plot-related monsters, and can only be used with the permission of a mod.
Nandi Bears
A creature that looks like a cross between a hyena and a grizzly bear, these are massive, aggressive beasts that will attack any living creature in their path. Strangely, however, they only eat the brains.
Shadow men
Also called "fog monsters." The name shadow men is a bit of a misnomer, as they resemble humans in only the barest sense. Shadow men's limbs are too long for their bodies and more unnervingly, don't appear to be bound by the normal laws of physics, being capable of stretching in odd ways, becoming longer or broader according to the whims of their bearer. Their heads are faceless ovals on necks too long for them; they split open to reveal mouths full of rows and rows of teeth, much like a shark (hence the nickname "slendersharkfaceman")--it is thanks to these teeth and their fondness for grinding them that they are frequently heard before they are seen.. They must have some level of intelligence, because they entreat those they encounter to "go back." Keen ambush hunters, these creatures are fortunately only seen within the fog that covers Vertiline, for an encounter with one almost assuredly spells death. Stay out of it, and stay safe.
Shadow man art kindly drawn by our very own Jabbers!
Vorpal rabbits
Apparently regular white rabbits, Vorpal rabbits transform into vicious killers with razor sharp teeth when approached. They are aggressive beasts, actively hunting people and animals down once they have the scent of blood. Fortunately, they are easily dispatched with a sword or a gun, or even a sharp blow to the head.
Vorpal rabbits are plot-related monsters, and can only be used with the permission of a mod.
White stag
A white stag occasionally seen by hunters in the swamps surrounding Hande. Seeing it is supposed to be a sign of good luck.
We welcome monster suggestions from players! If you have an idea you think we'd like, hop on over to the plot suggestions post and leave us a comment!