Monsters of the Forest

Within the world of Chronicles, the Great Forest is described as a dark and dangerous place for those who live outside of it. This is not without good reason. Monsters prowl the wood, created by the effects of magic energy on their bodies. It is rare to run into such a monster, but due to the size of the Great Forest and the abundance of magic and life, it is not rare for such a monster to exist. Aside from monsters though, there are also plenty of dangerous and deadly plants in the forest as well, from poisonous spore emitting fungi to carnivorous plants. Travelling into the Great Forest is therefore fraught with risk for lone wanderers. The Tribes generally stay out of the forest unless they travel in groups, and outsiders stick to the Highway.

## Myr Panther

There is a species of panther that is native to the Great Forest and has stalked the tree canopy since a time before history. It is a powerful and large cat creature, with black fur and long fang-like tusks. It uses those tusks for digging but also to snag onto and hook prey. The panther prefers the tree tops, where it can remain hidden in the dark to ambush prey from above. Most notable about the Myr Panther is that the species only exists in the Great Forest and it is thought that this species grew up along with the Great Forest during the magic turmoil that created it. This is supposed because the Myr Panther, unlike most other species of the forest, is very prone to experience heavy mutation due to the effects of The Wild. This is partially due to the make-up of the panther but also partially due to that the panther has been heavily evolved by its time in the forest.

The normal Myr Panther is a large cat but typically not dangerous to humans. However, panthers which have been heavily mutated by The Wild tend to grow more aggressive and much larger. Tales of enormous Myr Panthers, grown into monsters, prowling the woods are common enough to become part of the psyche of the Tribes. As such, Myr Panthers are often the target of hunts when they are spotted, even if they aren't over-grown through magic. The tusks of the Myr Panther can be harvested and used for a variety of purposes, but they are especially coveted because they can be serrated and sharpened into bone daggers which many Tribesfolk use as weapons. Often, having a tusk knife is a symbol that the family of the warrior was able to take down a Myr Panther in the wood.

## Forest Bear

Simply named, the forest bear is a massive bear species which lives and hunts within the woods. These bears are loners, rarely seen together unless a mother with cubs. Male forest bears can grow nearly a ton in weight as food is plentiful in the forest. Forest Bears are easily distinguished by their enormous shoulders which produce a sort of hump on their back as their muscular shoulder blades jut upwards. The claws on the Forest Bear can also grow to enormous lengths, especially under the influence of magic. As a result, they are often harvested and used for cutting tools or even fashioned onto clubs for weapons. The Forest Bear is considered the most powerful, natural animal in the forest and is a symbol of the forest. They are typically not aggressive unless a mother with cubs nearby feels threatened. They tend to avoid humans, but they are not afraid to come close to villages or camps as nothing in the forest scares them. The Bear Shamans derive their name from the Forest Bear as it is a symbol of the [[Great Forest[[, of power, and of a connection to nature. When in battle, the Bear Shamans can shape-shift into a half-bear, half-man creature which takes its roots in the Forest Bear.

## The Wild Monster

Also known as the Feral Monster, Wild Monsters are creatures that were once human but have been horribly transformed by the shaping powers of Life Energy. Resembling a cross between a human and a forest creature, typically a carnivore such as a wolf or bear, the Wild Monster is a terrifying denizen of the forest. After all, it was once a human of a Tribe which was possessed by The Wild. Since the shape of a Wild Monster can vary greatly, there is no way to adequately describe them fully. Most grow fur and snouts similar to dogs. They gain eye shine which can be see in the darkness. Their hands and feet mutate into paws with sharp claws. Some walk hunched over, while others travel quickly on all fours. Wild Monsters maintain some of their human intelligence, making them especially terrifying as not only are they completely feral, they also have the ability to ambush and lay traps.

It takes time for the Wild Monster to become fully feral as The Wild transforms them. Many times, if a Wild Monster can be trapped and brought back to the village, a Druid or Bear Shaman can use magic to stop the transformation and revert them to a Wilder, granting them back most of their humanity. However, if they are not caught in time, they often become fully feral and man hunters. For this reason, the Rangers are often called in to hunt down the Wild Monsters who have gone completely feral. This is a sad and traumatic event for the Tribes as that Wild Monster was likely once one of their kin, perhaps a wife, son, or elder.

While in battle, it is not uncommon for the Tribesfolk to start to undergo the transformation into the Wild Monster. The Wild in their veins and from those surrounding them begins to permeate their body and kick start the transformation. They begin to grow fur, claws, and fangs right in the middle of a battle. If the battle ends quickly enough, with them still alive, the Druids may be able to assist and ease or even completely stop the transformation. However, sometimes, the warrior instead bounds off the battlefield and disappears.

## Poisonous Blooms

In many areas, the forest floor is covered in carpets of mossy ferns. These can often be wondrous as the forest floor opens up to a mat of soft green. However, the same magic which creates this beauty also creates danger. Many plants in the forest mutate to become poisonous. Many stories of Rangers meeting their ends at the hands of slow poison have occurred after they step carelessly onto a moss which suddenly produces a cloud of spores that they inhale. Still other plants may grow razor sharp thorns that are tipped in poison. Still other reports have been made of plant life that will literally shoot thorns at passersby. Being able to spot the presence of such dangerous plants is paramount to survival in the forest.

## Carnivorous Plants

Some especially horrific mutations have been known to create carnivorous plants. Myths exist among the Rangers of trees which would snag a man as he passed by and draw him into a gaping mouth made of sharpened roots. Still other plants have been noted which appear like massive fly traps, capable of snapping onto a creature that happens by. These plants are not usually mobile or intelligent but rather ambush prey that happens to be walking by. Some vines dangle and trap prey through poison thorns. Still other types of plants simply cover a hole in the ground which they use to cause an animal to fall into and perish. These types of horrors are rare in the forest, but they happen often enough that their presence is well known.

## Other Animals

Still other more common predators live in the Great Forest which can be a danger to humans. Packs of forest wolves roam the area. Snakes are not uncommon and can have a deadly bite. There have also been reports of large flocks of birds which can ambush a person and swoop down to peck and slash with talons. So although not all animals in the forest are monsters, there are still many dangerous animals in the forest. It goes without wonder then why the Tribes tend to stay out of the forest or only travel through it in large groups.

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--Neil (talk) 20:29, 21 October 2016 (AST)