Boogeymen

> "Beware, there's always something lurking in the darkness. Stalking you, awaiting for the perfect moment to strike." - A common warning for young adventurers
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**Boogeymen**, also known as Bogeymen, bogiemen and boogiemen are a race of corvid-like shadow monsters originating from the faewilds after the initial death of the wild gods. They are known for preying upon unsuspecting victims and those who express large amounts of fear.

## Origination

Helioses corruption caused a ripple in the Faewilds, driving the noble protectors of nature mad. The now insane gods sought out to destroy their home, sending it in a maddening blaze of unholy light. This, and their forced reincarnation, as a consequence resulted in the near fall of the Faewilds, and the near exception of the nymph race. The plants died off, arcane was scarce as the lands struggled to survive, surrounding the survivors, was worry, and fear. Gear of what's to come of their home, and their gods. As what felt like years passed. chains of shadow formed, anchoring it back to the shadows, the tangled depths. This mixed with the nature magic formed what the faes now know as nightmare, a corruptive mix of nature and shadow.

It spread, like a plague, staining the dying lands with terror and never-ending nightmares. Those lost in its spiraling woods would be driven mad. The land itself formed life, new shadow monsters began appearing. One of them were large, monstrous, corvid-like beasts. Razor sharp talons and impressive wits, they preyed upon the fae during this time. They were one of the firsts, modern day warns lax fae to not wander out into the corrosive nightmare, or for adventurers not to stray out alone at night, for the boogeymen will prey upon you, like a cat.

## Biology and appearance

Their appearance varies from boogey to boogey, in a way like a cryptid. they're beasts originating from fears, their appearance typically follows those traits; such as snakes and spiders. However, every boogeyman features corvid-like features; they always have Raven (or crow if Gen 2) wings, and at least one set of talons. How much bird is in them varies.

### Generations

Boogeymen are quite unique as there's two alternate variants of them. When referring to the two types of boogeymen, its common for non-boogeymen to classify them as **Generation 1** or **Generation 2**. Generation 1 describes boogeymen originating from the Corrosive Nightmare, or from a pair that happens to take on more nightmare than normal. Generation 2 describes a more smaller, passive boogeyman, lacking any sort of nightmare magics. Two gen 2s can spawn a gen 1, but two gen 1's can't spawn a gen 2 without the environment being right. Genetic stuff.

**Biology (Generation 1)**

Much like stated above, Gen 1 Boogeymen features raven features such as talons and wings. They're often more influenced by fear-driving appearances. Their tongues usually feature a set of three forks on each side of the tip of their tongue. It behaves much like any other forked tongue, though its more built for sniffing out fear.

Unlike gen 2's, gen 1 boogeymen features the ability to shapeshift without nature magics. Often using this for nefarious reasons. Some boogeymen also posess the ability to grow the more they feed off of fear. As a downside, they're quite smaller than normal gen 1's, often being more akin in size to a gen 2. But don't let it fool you, as in some way, it's literally being "consumed by fear" in the end.

While the stigma of boogeymen (gen 1 especially) being merciless killers who maim people for glee. Not all of them are like that. There exists communities who are passive, despite the need to consume fear. These boogeymen are often seen expelling fear from allies and easing nightmares.

**Biology (Generation 2)**

uhh they're goofie ahh's, they like music and scare people by mimicking sounds.

they're pretty small, and live in the underworld mainly, often scaring people for the fun of it. they can't shapeshift and are more crow-like, forming murders just like crows.