Leprechauns, a creature from the Northernlands. Albino themselves and possessing camouflage that is effective all the time except for those few precious weeks in summer when things thawed enough to see the earth below the snow, the leprechaun is a northern terror. They are bloodthirsty, evil, and fast. Standing no more than a foot tall and possessing the means to carve daggers from the ice, the leprechauns hunt in groups. Most of the time, polar bear, sometimes, people. There are stories of these small things hiding in the snowdunes, moving as fast as the winter winds, and stalking men like the men were stalking the elk. And there is no way to tell the difference between a man killed by a bear or a leprechaun; daggers become claws, an arm ripped off is no different or less bloody than a bear’s doing, and there are no survivors to tell.
Djinn, a creature from Yakuma superstition, is a being that walks in the sand and is said to grant wishes of those who find one, but at a cost of the awareness of your mortality. He grants your wish but you know how you die. Not when, but how. A vision seared into your soul. Though there are no people alive to verify those rumors. Some treat them as bad omens and will actively steer clear of a solo traveler in the dunes, lest they accidentally encounter a djinn. Others treat them as good omens, and keep gifts in their bags in hopes to gain the favor of such powerful spirits.
Leshbalang. A terrifying creature found only in forests where temperate evergreens grow, it climbs through the treetops camouflaged with the leaves, on all fours. The arms and legs of this creature are three times the length of its torso, giving it a very spider like appearance. It has a very long neck and antlers atop its head, making it even longer overall. Some think the antlers are used as bait for birds looking to perch on a branch. Legends say that if you ever feel eyes upon you, or that you’re being stalked in the forest, to look up. No one ever looks up.
Fae. Everyone knows what a Fae is. But would you know the difference, lost in a wood and surrounded by howls, between a Fae and one of the Sprites. Mostly anyone could not say they would know. That is the Fae. God impersonators, out for their own satisfactions unknown. The more horrifying thing with this legend is that Fae are not bound to a location such as many other terrifying creatures of myth, they are found across all races and cultures, in story or tale as caution flags in the wilderness.
Surale, a wool covered creature said to live in forests. At first glance someone may have thought they’d found a stray sheep wandered from its herd. Until they noticed it walking upright. This creature has a single horn growing from its forehead, and long, spindly fingers. The only motivation is to tickle you. Do not lose your footing, and flee fast. You will lose your breath.
The Crossroads Wolf. Do not linger too long in the moonlight at a crossroads, should things think that you’re waiting for them. The crossroads wolf appears to people as a giant wolf twice as tall as a man, fur black as pitch causing it to seem like it's glowing against the deep blue of the night sky. It is an excellent stalker, and is known to pounce on its prey from the brush or trees, across great lengths and treading across your back as your bones break beneath him.
The Harbinger. A creature more terrifying than any on our list so far. Red eyes chasing you in the night on wings as silent as shadow. If you see this creature, always be ready and aware for some tragedy to befall the places nearest it after the sighting, such as the collapse of a bridge, or a dam breaking.
The Unicorn is perhaps one of the most well known mythical creatures, every culture and race having told of it. A guardian of natural places thought to be where unicorns lived. They’re creatures said to be made of magic from back in times when our histories spoke of such things. A horse with a single long twisted horn and unnaturally long tail, fur glistening iridescent in the light and morphing near black in the shade, the unicorn is a sight rumored to blind those who would be agents of Chaos. The males of the species are said to have eight legs instead of the normal four people are used to on a horse. Some people say it is because it makes them better hunters and allows them to run so fast it's as if they float.
The Lurker is one of the rarer creatures of myth simply because it’s not outwardly hostile towards men. The Lurker is bound by its water wanting flesh. The legend said that it lived in Big Trout Lake in Caldris. Large and green like the moss floating on the surface of the water, seeing the surface breach is terrifying even if a person didn’t know the territory they fished in belonged not to them. Even if this creature ever actually existed we will never see its like again due to the Fading.
Twists are benevolent as long they’re not acknowledged. Don’t look at them, don’t talk about them within earshot, best not to quickly dodge out of the way either, as avoidance is a form of recognition. Keep walking, look the other way, and shut up. The Twist is a creature that disguises itself as a plant. Green flesh spiraling upward and vibrating nearly too fast for the eye to see. The shimmer created in the air will draw gnats near, and that swarm is a safe way to know if a Twist is near. Twists that feel seen attempt to strangle the spotter. Jumping for their throat to wrap around and choke the life from the victim.
The Wise One. If you don’t know what to do, then just walk along the edge of the ocean, talking aloud about the situation. If you get lucky, or maybe if he finds the situation interesting, the Wise One will appear from the depths and have a conversation with you. The Wise One is an old turtle, nearly large as a house, and covered with an entire acre of moss, and seaweed across his shell that droops when he leaves the water giving him the appearance of long silken fur. He often has advice for the questions you’re asking, and always presents perspectives unseen. It is a rare blessing to be gifted a conversation with the Wise One.
