Forest Dwellers

## Overview

Commonly referred to as *Forlorn* the many forest dwellers roam not exclusively the forests of Edafos, but the diverse lands from sand to snow. Stubborn is man when intruders invade, and when these creatures kill what feeds a town - something must be done.

From the mighty winged Wyverns, to the terrifying Mimics, all affect the environment and culture of the land. Like the sea dwelling forlorn, all of these beasts are strikingly susceptible to Vascarite.

## Known Beasts

### Wyvern

Wyverns, or Ashbringers, are an extremely invasive and aggressive territorial species. Mighty in size, and fortunately rare in number, Wyverns produce a stone-melting fire substance from their mouths. Winged, Wyverns can coat an entire city in darkness with its wingspan.

Shrouded in mountains, or coves, Wyverns are incredibly isolationist and rarely leave their slumber lest for food. Consumption is always burning its prey until it is naught but ash. Either it will burn trees down and eat its nutrience, or even burn entire crops or towns and eat the ash remnants. It is an incredible feat to bring low a Wyvern, and due to its thick hide, Vascarite ballista bolts are required to pierce it.

Wyverns always hunt at night, and many children stories involve Wyverns terrifying the young to force them to sleep. All Wyverns are curiously female, it is rumored that the patriarch sleeps in the Targos mountains, though not even the bravest Elf has dared test the validity of the rumors.

### Harpy

Harpies are just a shy foot taller than man. Intelligent and sentient, these creatures usually have no participation in human society. In Madeyanism, it is believed Harpies are angels. Though these creatures are typically docile, they have seemingly created a rudimentary hierarchy within their isolated societies clinging to hills, mountains, or even swamps.

Harpies have a strong magical stench which they use as a ward against human hunters and bold colonists. These creatures are usually found in Lakonia, but are quite common in the Neyash Mountains. Asmarians, and Nepherians worship them and usually leave gifts at the fringe of their territory. Ceremonial armor is worn that appears vaguely like these bird-like creatures.

### Mimic

Mimics are extremely dangerous for their cunning and manipulation into an ecosystem. Usually mimics pose as an apex predator, their original appearance faintly revealed though hidden behind the typical eye of a hunter. Mimics are the main cause of death within the beast hunting guilds. Mimics will usually reveal themselves by over-hunting a region.

While Mimics can resemble any creature, they favor and have only been known to adopt the appearance of mammals. With sharp eyes, Mimics can be discovered due to their size which normally doubles that of the creature which they are attempting to façade.

Strangely enough, these creatures are the only ones who can hide their magical scent. Very little is known about Mimics, but their population is extremely low with an estimated seventy in existence. Hunting and killing a Mimic is extremely dangerous alone.

### Giant

Giants are mighty humanoids that are either referred to as Trolls depending on size and temper. Varied in their social life, Giants are extremely benevolent to nature, yet can be nearly as territorial as any other Forlorn. Giants can live for generations, and are usually quite clueless. Their diet is usually rocks rich of minerals.

The stench of these creatures can be sensed miles away with a keen nose, and only during night are these beasts active. Giant meat is quite bitter to consume, and after death they release all of their magical essence in a painful explosion in either their heads, or specifically their shoulders. Upon a Giant's death, their meat will be safe for consumption. Their meat is loved by Kherjian, and Nepherian culture.

Giants are quite tall, and vary in appearance. Usually these creatures are quite cumbersome, and while they have been seen assembling clothes it is merely moss or other natural coverings.

### Gryphon

Gryphons come in a wide variety of colors. Like wyverns, gryphons do not carry a potent magical stench. These creatures are incredibly animalistic. Nearly as intelligent as most mammals, Gryphons resemble Edafosian creatures all combined into one. Gigantic bird-like beasts, Gryphons can normally grow to be twice the size of a horse.

Gryphons are a mix of a ferocious cat and a giant bird. Usually Gryphons inhabit highlands, or other unreachable locations. Highly territorial, Gryphons are known to defend their hunting grounds with a ferocity no other Edafosian creature can compete with. Obstinate and ferocious, Gryphons are typically believed to be native to Edafos, though many researchers have concluded its existence came after the Great Catastrophe.

Gryphons are colored and camouflaged based on their location. The most common Gryphon is the Valhynic Gryphon which is all over the Great Plains of Valhynia, Black Forest, and many mountain ranges across western Edafos. Gryphons, like all Forlorn, cannot be tamed or domesticated.

### Wiccan

Exceedingly grotesque, Wiccans are the most diverse cast of Forlorn. Either referred to as "Demons" or "Devils", Wiccans are often oozing an extensively powerful magical force. This magical power leaks across a large radius killing all forms of wildlife. Fortunately, Wiccans cling to the fringes of society, yet their existence can harm towns, and distant farms.

Wiccans are typically cruel. While they do not feast on flesh, they do survive through the consumption of souls and memories. Wiccans are solely responsible for the Husks. Wiccans are sentient, and often will plan. Slaying a Wiccan is no easy task. There is no sincere way of hunting a Wiccan due to their intelligence.

All Wiccans are a thick-hide of deep scarlet, and a terrible translation of Edafosian creatures. Wiccans always appear extremely eldritch, and often does their magical stink bring illusions to those who near its aroma.

### Husks

Husks are hard to describe. In part, they resemble humans - yet on the whole, they are the utter negation of all that is human. Though they have arms and legs like men, they walk on all fours like dogs or badgers. Though they have eerily familiar faces, one searches them in vain for any sign of sentiment, reason or even a spark of consciousness. They are driven by one thing and one thing only: an insatiable craving for human flesh.

Husks are incredibly animalistic and predatory. Though once human, Husks are unable to think as intelligently as they once could. Corrupted by Wiccans, Husks often carry a similar stench to Wiccans, leading many hunters to stumble across either a Husk or a Wiccan. Husks are always in groups.