Folklore

## **Tales from the Hearthlands..**

These tales all originate from the Hearthlands region of Omnia, while not all legends specifically are about the Hearthlands, they do originally come from there and have since spread. There is little no no validifying evidence proving any of these tales are true.. most are simply legends told in order to spoop small children.

### The Odleghast

 Trees twist and tremble, their wretched limbs stretch eagerly into the night sky reaching for something to grasp upon. Hiding within their withered leaves would lay the Odleghast, a pygmy indigo-hued imp known for not only stalking unsuspecting wanderers through the forests of the Hearthlands, but also for it’s inclination for snatching gold jewelry and totems from the pockets of said wanderers. Parents warn their children to hold their coin purses close whilst traveling through the sparse woodlands in the valley. Some say it is the trees themselves that weasel their spindly limbs into unchecked pockets, that the Odleghast whisper into the ears of the trees and urge them to do their bidding, small forest sprites that live harmoniously within the evergreens and persuade them to act wickedly.

Drawn in by the mere shine of gold itself, it is unclear what exactly the Odleghasts do with their treasures, as their nests have never been discovered. Whether they hoard it or consume it is still a mystery to all, as is the mere existence of the Odleghast.

“*Beware the Odleghast, my boy. Your coin mustn't glimmer nor shall it be paraded about without caution. Those dastardly Imps will not hesitate to snatch it right out of your pockets should they see it shine even once.*” - A children's story

It is uncertain as to if the Odleghasts truly reside within the flora of the Hearthlands, or if they are merely an old wive’s tale spread to make sure children keep a good eye on their valuables, though none would recommend you go flaunting your wealth in the woods regardless.

### The Broonie

While not all that resides in this world is inherently evil, some unfortunately teeter upon that line, dancing upon it in some cases. That is where the Broonie resides; a handheld sized Fae creature that is most known for being a domestic spirit in a sense. The Broonie is said to live within the walls of homes in the Hearthlands and beyond, though the legend did originate in the Bettlebrooke Valley. Rumors spread like wildfire, from wife to children, children to parent, parent to friends; if you leave a bowl of cream by the hearth at night, a Broonie may be inclined to take up residence within your home, doing small household chores in the night whilst you sleep. Though beware, Brownies are said to be quite easily offended, leaving and choosing to never return if they feel their good deeds have gone unappreciated.

One should never claim the work of a Broonie was done by their own hand, else the Broonie would leave without a trace and you may notice your cream going untouched for weeks on end and your dust never being sweeped again. Non-believers claim the Broonie doesn’t exist at all, and is merely the work of an infestation of rats, as the mess of an unhappy Broonie is eerily similar to the leftovers of a hungry rodent.

Stories say that the Broonie does appear mouse-like in nature, though it stands on two legs like a man. It possesses large ears, a quaint squished nose, and large brown eyes. They are known to steal the clothes of children's toys to wear themselves, but will also accept the offering of handmade garments. Broonies are emotional, sophisticated creatures that think and feel just as any human would; that is if you believe they exist in the first place.

### The Living Undead

It is commonly thought that the dead remain dead until the end of time itself. Nothing is known of any possible ways to fully revive a corpse to a properly sentient state, though that doesn’t mean tales have not spread of such abominations actually existing. Some say that the Living Dead are mindless creatures, wandering the world alone and forever questioning their pained existence, others speculate that they are beings of pure evil who exist for the sole purpose of torturing the living. These legends are tossed around as nonchalantly as the tales of the unicorn, though these stories are spoken of in order to spread fear, not whimsy.

It is uncertain as to if these tales originated as a way to urge the living to better protect the bodies of their dead, or to give children the fear of the unknown darkness. Once rumors spread of the Undead, undertakers and priests alike took it upon themselves to spread word of how to *properly* care for the deceased so as to not allow the supposed plague to grow. This included reinforcing their caskets with locks, or to a more extreme extent chains. More well-educated folk would see this as a clear ploy to make a profit from the panic that ensued, though many did fall for the ruse. Under certain circumstances, the particularly hopeful would install a bell upon the tombstone of the deceased, feeding a wire down into the coffin for the dead to ring if they just so happened to return to life.

While the thought of the dead simply returning to life was horrifying enough for most common folk, the thought of them hiding amongst the living and infiltrating society is even more so. Most if not every claim of intelligent undead is unsubstantiated, and simply a ploy to make the common crowd fear the dead. Whether it be a plot to scare people off from touching a diseased corpse or not, many still choose to fear death in itself nonetheless.

### The Ildergryphon

Supposedly native to the Ilderwood, the tales of the aforementioned Ildergryphon but first grew to popularity in the Hearthlands and the areas directly surrounding it. These adorable little fictitious creatures were described as if a cat and an owl became one in the same; traveling on all fours and possessing a soft blend of feather and fur across its entire body, a pair of owls wings resting upon it’s back.

The Ildergryphon was said to be miniature in comparison to the average Gryphon, similar to the size of a small dog. They were typically white, brown, cream or grey in color and had paws akin to those of a cat and the face of an owl despite also possessing a pair of cat ears on its head. According to legend, the Ildergryphon also had a cats tail, owls eyes, and even talons in place of nails. Despite the potentially frightening appearance, the Ildergryphon was always described as a playful creature, appearing to children in their dreams to fight away nightmarish thoughts.

The tale of the Ildergryphon then spread, children everywhere wishing to dream of the noble creature coming to save them within their nightmares after they fall asleep, warding off any potentially frightening dreams they may have. While the Ildergryphon’s existence is still debated even in the modern era, it has been noted throughout history that some have claimed to see a real Ildergryphon in the flesh, hiding out in berry bushes and attempting to play with children they see out alone. Due to these rumors, it has been said that numbers of children purposefully go out alone in order to try and take advantage of the Ildergryphons caring nature, though this may prove to be dangerous for the children themselves.

### The Wolfman

One of the most asinine tales to originate from the Bettlebrooke Valley, the existence of the wolfman is heavily debated and most notoriously seen as hogwash. Claims include a man who turns into a direwolf, but also vary to the point where the man doesn’t transform into a wolf at all, but a wolf-man hybrid of sorts. Since these legends are so horribly inconsistent, it is all but impossible to convince someone of a Wolfman’s existence if they are not a child.

The most common depiction of these Wolfmen would be men who under the light of the moon are forced to transform into a beast, tearing through villages in a single night and leaving no survivors. These tales exist as the fractured thoughts of those needing a cryptic explanation for tragic accidents.

The Wolfmen, according to tradition, are most commonly described as men turned into half-beasts via a process similar to the flu. These men are typically bitten by other Wolfmen and that is how the infection is spread as legend tells. Wolfmen by nature are horribly ferocious creatures, turning truly beastly under the light of the moon and rampaging through villages with little rhyme or reason. Again, these tales exist only as a forewarning to those traveling through the wilderness alone, but are commonly used to explain the unexplainable.