Fable Tails

The Fable Tails are the antagonists of *Kamen Rider Jiryuu*. Magical in nature, they inspired various monsters and spirits from mythologies all over the world thanks to encounters made with them.

## History

The Fable Tails were created during the Middle Ages by the legendary wizard Merlin, who was requested to do so by King Arthur in order to assist humanity in its infancy. Many of these creatures did choose to help humanity using their magical talents, but some of the Fable Tails were treated more favorably than others. The lesser-likened ones began assaulting various human settlements, and this sparked a conflict referred to as the **War of Legends**. As a result of the casualties, the governments of man chose to seal all of the Fable Tails within various prisons throughout the recently discovered territory of Japan in order to prevent further bloodshed. Merlin was saddened by the sorry fate of his beloved creations, so he gifted the four strongest Fable Tails with his recently crafted Shiro Drivers in hopes that one day the peaceful alliance between the races could be restored.

## List of Fable Tails

**Good Fable Tails**

These Fable Tails are the ones used by the Kamen Riders. They are based on well-known creatures from mythologies.

* **Dragon Fable Tail** (Basis: European Dragon from Medieval folklore): Referred to in legend as the **Burning Hellfire** (*Moyasu Goka*), the Dragon is the strongest of all the Fable Tails thanks to his mighty presence and fire breathing abilities. In the past, the Dragon became a major player in the War of Legends for fighting on the side of humanity. His prison was the **Mahomori Rekka** (Magical Forest Tower). He is the main partner of Ryuusuke Akagi, who unite their strength using the Shiro Driver-Ishi to become Kamen Rider Jiryuu.
* **Griffin Fable Tail** (Basis: Griffin from Greek mythology): Referred to in legend as the **Raging Storm** (Arekurru Arashi), the Griffin was the main comrade of the Dragon during the War of Legends. Merlin gifted him with the power of flight and the ability to manipulate the wind. He is a partner of Ryuusuke Akagi, who uses his power to access his Griffin Tower form.
* **Minotaur Fable Tail** (Basis: Minotaur from Greek mythology): Referred to in legend as the **Herculean Destroyer** (*Goriki Hakaisha*), the Minotaur was one of the most decorated soldiers on Dragon's side. The Minotaur wields a battle axe and can perform deadly charge attacks. He is a partner of Ryuusuke Akagi, who uses his power to access his Minotaur Tower form.
* **Chimera Fable Tail** (Basis: Chimera from Greek mythology): Referred to in legend as the **Clashing Fusion** (*Gekitotsu Yuugou*), the Chimera is a wild and feral monster who served under the Dragon. He is gifted with the strength and ferocity of the African lion, the speed and agility of a mountain goat, and the toxins of a serpent. He is a partner of Ryuusuke Akagi, who uses his power to access his Chimera Tower form.
* **Wyvern Fable Tail** (Basis: Wyvern from Irish mythology): The Wyvern is the brother of the Dragon Fable Tail, the two being born at the same time as the first Fable Tails created by Merlin. While Wyvern's control over fire is not as good as his kin, he makes up for it with his physical strength and being better at using flying as a tactic in battle. He becomes one of Ryuusuke's most used partners, the two becoming Jiryuu's Wyvern Tower.
* **Hydra Fable Tail** (Basis: Learnean Hydra from Greek mythology and Yamata no Orochi from Japanese mythology): The Hydra is born when the Dragon and the Wyvern fuse their bodies together. This fusion was first performed during the climactic battle of the war, with its strength being so grand that it easily ended the war almost on its own. Regardless, Dragon fears unlocking the Hydra's power because he believes that using it again would spark a second War of Legends. After some convincing from both Ryuusuke and Wyvern, Dragon is willing to fuse with his brother in order to grant access to Jiryuu's strongest form: Hydra Tower.
* **Mermaid Fable Tail** (Basis: Mermaid): Referred to in legend as the **Overflowing Seawater** (*Kaisho Kaisui*), the Mermaid is a beloved protector of the oceans who is beloved for her kindness and beauty. In the past, the Mermaid primarily participated in the War of Legends by protecting a seaside village from invading forces. Her prison is inside a cave located near a beach. She is the main partner of Isana Mifune, who unite their strength using the Shiro Driver-Kai to become Kamen Rider Uhoden.
* **Fairy Fable Tail** (Basis: Fairy from Irish folklore): Referred to in legend as the **Healing Shaman** (*Iyana Miko*), the Fairy is considered the weakest and most delicate Fable Tail due to not having many combat capabilities. However, her potent healing magic proved invaluable during the War of Legends and she became the best friend of the Mermaid. She is a partner of Isana, who uses her power to access Uhoden's Fairy Tower form.
* **Unicorn Fable Tail** (Basis: Unicorn from European folklore): The Unicorn is the kind-hearted sister of the Pegasus. Her natural speed allowed her to be the one that warned Merlin of the Fable Tail's fate to be imprisoned. She still disagrees with the decision made by King Arthur and the world, firmly believing that all Fable Tails did not deserve to be punished for the actions of a select few. After fusing her soul with her brother into the Mega Beast Heart, Uhoden can channel her power into the Unicorn Tower form.
* **Pegasus Fable Tail** (Basis: Pegasus from Greek mythology): The Pegasus is the brave-hearted brother of the Unicorn. His mastery over the power of flight allowed him to gather the Fable Tails chosen by Merlin to protect the Shiro Drivers before they were imprisoned. Unlike his sister, the Pegasus wonders if the natural warlike powers granted by Merlin caused the Fable Tails to deserve their fate. After fusing his soul with his sister into the Mega Beast Heart, Uhoden can channel his power into the Pegasus Tower form.
* **Werewolf Fable Tail** (Basis: Lycanthrope): Referred to in legend as the **Howling Beast** (*Hoero Kemono*), the Werewolf is a violent and ambitious figure who was gifted the ability to increase bloodlust and physical strength through a bite. He was feared by his foes for this ability, which spawned the legend of a werewolf's infectious bite. His prison is located within an old manor similar to the one he used as a base of operations during the War of Legends. He is the main partner of Kenshiro Tsukino, who unite their strength using the Shiro Driver-Tsuki to become Kamen Rider Horrur.
* **Gill-Man Fable Tail** (Basis: Creature from the Black Lagoon): The Gill-Man was originally an ally of the Mermaid, but he was allowed to join Werewolf's forces when they began struggling against the evil Fable Tails. He is gifted with control over the element of thunder, firing bolts of electricity to stun and fry his foes. He is one of Kenshiro's partners, granting him his strength through the Gill-Man Tower form.
* **The Monster Fable Tail** (Basis: Frankenstein's Monster): The Monster was actually created during the War of Legends itself, created by Merlin in order to bolster the struggling forces of the Werewolf. Even though he was granted superhuman strength, Merlin gave him a kind heart and natural fondness towards children so he would be able to help society after the war was over. Because the war ended before the Monster could properly learn how to interact with human children, he became lonely and confused about the purpose of his conflicting attributes. After becoming one of Kenshiro's partners, he grants him access to Horrur's Monster Tower form.
* **Vampire Fable Tail** (Basis: Count Dracula): The Vampire was originally a member of the evil Fable Tails, but betrayed them after seeing the terror being brought about by the ones he currently was allied with. His allegiance to the Werewolf's forces was one of the major reasons that the opposing forces were defeated in that part of the world. He is gifted with a wide array of powers like dark energy blasts, draining energy through biting his foe on the neck (misinterpreted as him sucking their blood), hypnotic vision, invulnerability against most weapons, and transforming into a monstrous alternative form resembling a bat. After teaming up with Kenshiro, Horrur unlocked the incredibly powerful Vampire Tower form.
* **Tengu Fable Tail** (Basis: Tengu from Hindu and Japanese folklore): The Tengu was one of the Fable Tails who followed the evil Fable Tails to Japan and fought against them there. He is the main partner of Kamen Rider Seburd, accessing his default Tengu Tower form.
* **Kappa Fable Tail** (Basis: Kappa from Japanese folklore): The Kappa was one of the Fable Tails who followed the evil Fable Tails to Japan and fought against them there. After being freed by Seburd, he grants him access to the Kappa Tower form.
* **Kitsune Fable Tail** (Basis: Nine-tailed fox from East Asian culture): The Kitsune lead the charge against the evil Fable Tails in Japan, becoming a celebrated soldier of war. She grants Seburd access to Kitsune Tower, the strongest of his forms.

**Evil Fable Tails**

These are the Fable Tails who rebelled against humanity, and now have formed a cult to try sparking a second War of Legends that they can win. These monsters are based on obscure monsters.

* **Bishop Fish Fable Tail** (Basis: Bishop-Fish from Medieval folklore): The Bishop-Fish is a Catholic bishop and fish-like creature who has access to hydrokinesis, but often refuses to use it to appear holier. In combat, he prefers to assault his foes with his bishop's staff. He originally captured Ryuusuke's friend Isana and attempted to convince her to join the evil Fable Tails, but failed when he was destroyed by Kamen Rider Jiryuu's Tatsu Dragon Unchained Hissatsu Kick.
* **Kushtaka Fable Tail** (Basis: Kushtaka from Tlingit folklore): The Kushtaka is a sea otter-like creature who is capable of creating illusionary duplicates of himself and anyone in his vicinity. He tried to trick a group of young children to join the evil Fable Tails, but the children constantly confusing him for Hibagon (the Japanese equivalent of Bigfoot) caused him to angrily decide to just kill them and gain notoriety as a child murderer instead. Thankfully, he was destroyed by Kamen Rider Jiryuu before that could happen.
* **Tokeloshe Fable Tail** (Basis: Tokeloshe from Zulu mythology): The Tokeloshe is a gremlin and bat-like creature who turns invisible whenever he drinks water. Tokeloshe's plan to gain fame was to drain the town of its water supply, which conveniently would also give him more water to use his invisibility. He was the first monster destroyed by Kamen Rider Uhoden's Sakana Mermaid Unchained Hissatsu Kick.
* **Minokawa Fable Tail** (Basis: Minokawa from Filipino mythology): The Minokawa is a phoenix and pheasant-like creature who was capable of reflecting energy attacks back at his enemies and had the ability to turn into a giant more-birdlike form. His main weapon in combat was a sword made from one of his feathers. Minokawa planned to consume the sun-like sculpture of a local artist in order to drive him to despair. He was defeated by Kamen Rider Jiryuu's Washi Griffin Unchained Hissatsu Kick.
* **Hulder Fable Tail** (Basis: Hulder from Scandinavian folklore): The Hulder is the leech and dominatrix-like creature who was armed with a whip and the ability to drain her foe of their magical energy. She disguised herself as a seductive and beautiful woman who planned to marry one of Isana's childhood friends and torture him into joining the evil Fable Tails. She was defeated by Kamen Rider Uhoden's Cho Fairy Unchained Hissatsu Wave.
* **Peluda Fable Tail** (Basis: Peluda from French and Spanish folklore): The Peluda is the porcupine and dragon-like creature who wielded a large mace covered in his spines and could breath fire. He attempted multiple times to burn down a local supermarket in order to limit access to food and grow in infamy. He was defeated by Kamen Rider Horrur's Okami Werewolf Unchained Hissatsu Kick.

**Minor Fable Tails**

* **Salamander Fable Tail** (Basis: Salamander from Medieval folklore and classical alchemy): The Salamander is the main partner of the salamander-like Kamen Rider in the Grimm Reality. He granted access to the element of fire and served as an evil counterpart of the Dragon. He was originally part of a Fable Tail called the Homunculus, until he was split off by a group of scientists.
* **Undine Fable Tail** (Basis: Undine from classical alchemy): The Undine is the main partner of the Undine-like Kamen Rider in the Grimm Reality. She granted access to the element of water and served as an evil counterpart of the Mermaid. She was originally part of the Fable Tail called the Homunculus, until she was split off by a group of scientists.
* **Gnome Fable Tail** (Basis: Gnome from Irish mythology and classical alchemy): The Gnome is the main partner of the gnome-like Kamen Rider in the Grimm Reality. He granted access to the element of earth and served as an evil counterpart of the Werewolf. He was originally part of the Fable Tail called the Homunculus until he was split off by a group of scientists.
* **Sylph Fable Tail** (Basis: Sylph from classical alchemy): The Sylph is the main partner of the sylph-like Kamen Rider in the Grimm Reality. He granted access to the element of air and served as an evil counterpart to Kamen Rider Element. He was originally part of the Fable Tail called the Homunculus until he was split off by a group of scientists.
* **Homunculus Fable Tail** (Basis: Homunculus from classical alchemy): The Homunculus was one of the strongest evil Fable Tails in the War of Legends, whose control over the four main elements of nature served as a major reason behind the decision to imprison the Fable Tails. He was accidently freed from his prison by a group of scientists, who split him into four separate Fable Tails who each possessed one member of the group. After the good Kamen Riders defeated the Negative Elementals in the Grimm Reality, the Homunculus reformed in a last-ditch attempt to defeat the forces of good. He was ultimately destroyed by the combined force of the Triple Unchained Hissatsu Kick and Uranium Dynamic Finish.

## Trivia

* The name Fable Tails is a combination of the English words *fable* (symbolizing their mythology motif), *fairy tales* (symbolizing their status as lost legends), and *tails* (fitting since all of them possess tails).
* The partners associated with each Kamen Rider share a general origin.
	+ Jiryuu's partners hail from Greek mythology. They are all bear similarities with modern day animals and are associated with medieval heredity symbols.
	+ Uhoden's partners hail from Irish mythology. Most are considered types of fairies, the strongest are both legendary horses, and almost all of them are female.
	+ Horrur's partners hail from European mythology. They each represent one of the classic Universal monsters (Count Dracula, the Wolfman, the Creature from the Black Lagoon, and Frankenstein's Monster) and are all treated harshly out of fear.
	+ Seburd's partners hail from Japanese mythology. All of them are Japanese yokai who are tricksters.
	+ The Negative Elemental's partners hail from classical alchemy. They each represent one of the four elements of nature and serve as an evil counterpart to one of the four protagonist Riders.