Monsters

The world beyond the Capital is filled with creatures that are strange and unlike the ones they are accustomed to. It has become necessary to log and inspect creatures with dedicated care, lest details be lost. All creatures are described as they are investigated.

## **Titanocobra**

* **AGGRESSIVE**
* The full adult length is 40-50 meters from tip to tail. 3-7 meters in circumference.
* They have two tongue-like appendages in the mouth. They appear to be independently manipulated and they are able to assist the fangs in trapping prey inside of the mouth.
* Fangs are not hollow -- non-venomous -- and dull. The purpose of the fangs are to pin the struggling prey into place, presumably within its mouth or to make it an easier target for the tongues.
* Approximately half of the body appears to be comprised of an odd mucus that the Titanocobra can voluntarily and spontaneously harden. Once the dark liquid hardens, the creature is able to form shapes with limited function from the mucus to assist with task. [Such as pinning prey.]
* Has an unusual amount of articulate fine muscle control spread throughout the length of its body.
* Mucus membrane is not constantly active [hardened]. It offers little traction and the creature may find it difficult to maneuver in that state.
* The scales are more easily pierced than the hardened mucus.
* If caught inside of the hardened mucus, injuries are similar to being crushed under an intense force.
* This species is known to be sentient by Avians.

## **Mucilaginous Shift**

* **AGGRESSIVE**
* The average height of a Shift is 1-2 meters with a .5 meter circumference.
* The body is made of an unknown semisolid material with gelatinous properties.
* Actions in the field suggest it is capable of limited physical mimicry. Though the creature can shape shift its form into the basic silhouettes of any other animal, it is unable to speak or change colors.
* It does not appear to possess organs and any sensory organs are undetermined.
* This species traps/paralyzes prey within itself by wrapping its gelatinous form around its prey. They then digest what is inside of material.
* The little 'tentacle' appendages atop of the creature serve no discernible function. When separated from the body, they cease any ability to move.
* Initial studies of the creature suggested that the body was sturdy -- almost impregnable -- to physical force or weapons.
* Further studies show that extreme heat or cold prove particularly effective in weakening the substance that comprises the Shift.
* Injuries sustained from this creature are similar to having digestive acids poured onto wounds.
* Also known to be sentient by the Avians.

## **Non-optic Vulpa**

* **AGGRESSIVE**
* The main body is approximately .5-1 meters in height.
* The nine eyestalks each contain a mouth. Neither the eyestalks or the body appear to contain a centralized brain to control the functions.
* It only bears a superficial resemblance to true foxes. The internal structure is completely alien by comparison. Tests are unable to discern why it has evolved to adapt a similar shape.
* The length of what is believed to be the intestinal tract and the shape of the teeth suggest that the vulpa is exclusively carnivorous.
* All interactions with the Vulpa have pointed to the creature being highly aggressive and is an ambush predator.
* The main injuries of this creature are oversized bites from the several mouths of the eyestalks.
* These creatures are undeterred by threat of attack and will not back down. Kill or be killed.

## **Leviathan**

* **AGGRESSIVE**
* This creature shows the widest variety in sizes; from 5 centimeters tall to 30 meters at the mantle. Tentacles vary in length.

* It bears a superficial resemblance to land octopi occasionally found and kept by soldiers as pets.
* Each tentacle has tooth-like barbed protrusions to grip prey and drag it to the beak like mouth located on the bottom of the creature.
* Its size severely limits maneuverability -- particularly in the woods. The creature has the ability to hover several meters off of the ground, suspending itself in the air.
* There have been reports mentioning a 'hum' throughout the encounter. Possibly a psionic attack to freeze prey since the creature is unable to move swiftly.
* Brain appears to be abnormally well-developed.
* All movement seems to be sigilmancy based, though there are no sigils or blood.
* Injuries from this creature include ragged gashes from the tentacle barbs.
* These creatures are known to be sentient by the Avians.

## **Crested** **Coldwalla**

* **NONAGRESSIVE**
* 20 centimeters from snout to tail and 10 centimeters from foot to crown.
* These creatures are located along the lake shore. The are most active around dawn, especially when fog is present.
* They secrete a condensed substance similar to dry ice that creates a foggy, cloud-like cover to utilize as camouflage.
* It is difficult to capture these creatures alive. The fog is extremely cold and harmful to touch with uncovered skin or fur. One should not attempt retrieval without specialized gear to withstand the temperature & CO2 concentrations.
* The substance they secrete is ideal to disable the M.Shift. Testing shows that the extreme low temperature of the substances makes them brittle. This information suggests that the m.shift is the main prey of the Coldwalla.
* Anyone with a Coldwalla as a pet will have an easier time battling with the M.Shift.
* Injuries from handling the Coldwalla include frostbite and other rotting from sudden freezing of cells.

## **Tunnel Shroud**

* Size unknown. Age unknown. Sex unknown. Diet unknown.
* Physically takes the form of either a mass of 'darkness' or insect-like creatures -- possibly two separate offshoots of the same body.
	+ If the darkness and the insect mass are two separate entities, perhaps they are different manifestations of the same species. (ie; subspecies, sex differences, facultative symbiosis.)
* The mass of darkness has a solid consistency, but the texture of slime or sludge.
* Highly territorial and highly aggressive within that territory -- **DO NOT ENGAGE.**
	+ *All unsupervised expeditions into the tunnel have been banned until further notice.*
* Capable of speech. Possibly may only be speech mimicry, although a certain level of intelligence has been displayed.
* What appears to be a "main" body or "central" body located under the Feline territory. Central core of the creature has so far been identified to possess a humanoid face with blue eyes and black tracts down the face. -- Perhaps the sludge that part of the rest of the creature consists of.
	+ Upon the discovery of weasels, this shroud may be **domesticated,** and the humanoid core its bonded Keeper. No mask was confirmed
* Has never been witnessed outside of the tunnels.
* Expeditions into the tunnels have confirmed the presence of sigilmancy on portions of the walls. Sigilmancy appears to cause disorientation and nausea. Source of sigilmancy is unknown. Attempts to remove it have resulted in swift expulsion from the tunnels.
	+ Sigilmancy may also be responsible for the instantaneous location changes within the tunnels.
* There appears to be lost or advanced technology within the tunnels. The creature's origin may be artificial.