Creature Types

A creature's type is generally determined by its nature, or physical attributes, giving it certain traits and features. Each creature type has its advantages and disadvantages. A creature's type also comes into play in the way that certain spells, mystical items or abilities may affect it. Unless stated otherwise, all creatures are proficient with their own natural weapons, or with weapons and armor they are usually ascribed with.

## **Creature Types**

### **Beast**

Simple animal-like creatures, some mundane, others mystical in nature. Generally speaking, a Beast is any non-humanoid creature that exists solely for the purpose of survival. Usually, Beasts aren't highly intelligent, nor are very versatile, bearing only a few natural weapons and one or two special abilities. Their redeeming quality lie in their hardy physiques and the uniqueness of their abilities, born from the wisdom and necessity of nature. These highly specialized skills are usually stronger than those found in the same Stratum, sometimes even comparable to those of higher Stratum, and they are usually used to help the Beast survive in their habitat or create a brand-new niche for them to thrive in. Beast's attacks are much more straightforward; their arsenal includes bites, stingers, claws, and tails. As one of the most prevalent creature types, it also has the greatest variety in terms of species and power.

 ***Needs*** | Eat; Sleep; Breathe

### **Construct**

Constructs are artificial creatures animated by mystical means. Typically, Constructs are assembled from non-organic materials with a specific purpose in mind. Some are very simple, such as animated weapons, armor and toys, only capable of following basic instructions. Then, there are complex automatons, such as Golems and Warframes, which may operate independently and may even endowed with some degree of intelligence. Constructs are usually rather tough and hard to destroy, but also lack in agility and have a very narrow set of abilities. Their attacks typically consist of either simple slams or in-built weaponry - melee or ranged. This type of creature is rather rare, as they have to be created by another entity, and are usually found in the employment of mages or in ancient dungeons of the Dragon Era.

### **Dracons**

Dracons are a collection of creatures connected to the Dreamsieve to varying degrees. Owing to their chaotically-aligned nature, Dracons come in a variety of shapes. Some are bipedal, some have wings, some are intelligent, and a few are capable of magic. The only common points between them being their relatively large size, reptilian nature and the danger they represent. The apex of this creature type is, of course, the mighty Dragon, but their lesser relatives, such as the dinosaurs, nehustans and hydras are all included in this group. Typically, this type of creatures has a very strict ability set focused around one particular theme, and possess great strength of body as well as bizarre mystical powers. Their connection to the Dreamsieve can be exploited by intelligent Dracons to allow them to shape-shift and travel trough the dreams of lesser creatures. More powerful Dracons also have a tendency to warp the weather and environment of the areas they inhabit to better suit their preferences.

### **Elemental**

Elementals are creatures made entirely of one substance or element. Typically, an elemental falls into one of two categories: an animated mass of a certain substance given life due mysticism or by the possession of Spirit; or an aggregate of said substance that gained consciousness after eons of existence. Elementals are equipped with potent abilities related to their element, and are able to transverse it as if it were air or liquid, making them tremendous threats within their own habitats. Some examples of elementals are the various sprites, slimes and the living fog. This type of creatures is usually lacking in physical prowess, compensating it with opportunism and barrages of mystical attacks. Elementals inhabit remote areas rich in spirituality and abundant in their particular element. Large bodies of water, mystical mountains and volcanos are typical habitats for Elementals.

### **Humanoid**

Humanoids are bipedal creatures graced with some level of intellect, native to a material plane. The playable races fall into this category, as do the semi-intelligent troglodytes and the mighty giants. Most creatures within this type arm themselves with a variety of weapons and mystic arts. Their intelligence allows them to work and groups, and to build sprawling artifices that multiply their strength far beyond what they would normally be capable of, though these are rarely employed. The strength of humanoids varies wildly, more so than the other creature types. Many humanoids lack any significant strength and can barely defend themselves from common critters, whilst some within the same group can stand shoulder to shoulder with the ancient dragons. This type of creature is present throughout the entirety of Amurel, with the exception of a few wild and inhospitable places.

### **Monster**

Monsters are unnatural creatures that have been mutated or are borne out of the powers of extraordinary entities. Typically, monsters originate from rituals that have gone wrong, are birthed by an extra-planar alien entity, or are mutated with mystical influence of a great taboo. Minotaurs, werebeasts, shadowbeasts and krakens are a few examples. Monsters are very dangerous creatures, not only due to their bizarre powers and alien anatomy, but because of the residual corruption they exude, spreading their affliction to the surrounding environment. Creatures of this type are incredibly hard to kill, necessitating a method particular to the type of influence that originated them, or the use of purifying mystical abilities.

### **Plant**

Creatures of the Plant type are partially or entirely constituted from vegetation. Many Plants were once regular vegetation before being animated by a mystical force, maybe one present in their environment, or due to the active effort of a mage. That said, some truly ancient plants are known to develop intelligence and the ability to move. The apex creature of this type are the mandrakes, powerful mage-trees who feast on the blood of dracons, but even mundane carnivorous plants are assigned to this type. These creatures are only usually found in regions abundant in vitality and the energies of nature. The greatest strength of the Plant creature type can be summed up as "Vitality" - regeneration, growth and absorption. Their main strategy is usually to quickly overwhelm the enemy, employing ambushes, or slowly wearing them down.

### **Spirit**

Spirits creatures are transcendental entities - usually native to the spiritual planes, such as the Astral Realm - that are intrinsically linked to a particular abstract or mystical concept, emotions, or special locations or objects. Among the Spirits you can find creatures as varied as the innumerable influences that originate them. From the humble, plankton-like pixie, to the hidden monsters of the Realm of Souls, to the shades of the dead, and from Imps to the demon princes of forbidden realms. As creatures of this type are not entirely of a material nature, they easily phase trough the matter of the material planes. The connections they boast imbue them with abilities and knowledge as varied as the form they appear in. Spirits are typically quite happy to share both of these with mortals - for a price. Normally, this will consist on feeding on the Numen of their summoner, or on perpetuating their particular concept. However, a history of bad deals, and the alien and parasitic nature of these creatures, has earned many of this type the monikers of tricksters and beguilers who seduce mortals with promises of power only to pull the rug under them.

### **Undead**

Undead creatures are reanimated creatures whose process of resurrection corrupted or replaced their soul or body. Creatures of this type have an instinctual jealousy and hatred of life due to their own instinctual yearning for it. Intelligent undead usually have this complex transformed into simple disdain or admiration toward the living. Creatures such as skeletons, zombies, strigoi, revenants, wraiths, and vampires all fall into this creature type - with vampires standing as its apex. Undead are usually armed with some necromantic abilities and are adept at draining the life-force of their opponents. They can arise naturally when the burying of the dead is not done with proper rites, or when the graves of ancients are disturbed. However, the great majority of undead are either created trough foul mysticism, the work of necromancers, or from the return of vengeful spirits of powerful entities, broken and wholly consumed by their mania.