indomitable discussion

The world that Xandra and it's neighboring kingdoms is one filled to the brim with creatures of ancient and mystical roots, those of which had been long seeded since before the time of man itself. Before great castle walls and the bustling of people upon cobblestone streets in the towns, there was the deep wilds, unfathomable caverns, and endless sky; home to great beasts of old, both with benevolent and malicious intent.

Volume #2 of the Mythical Creature Index discusses Xandra's native, yet beautifully and dangerously rare of creatures, all recorded in these precious pages of history and myth by the most reliable and diligent of royal scholars that have made it their life's work to preserve the memory and knowledge of these fantastical beings.


Chapter #1: Creatures of Malevolence:


To Be Added.


Chapter #2: Creatures of Benevolence/Neutrality:


Pegasi:
Magnificent steeds with fierce and unbreakable loyalties towards their chosen riders, these winged equines are the pinnacle of carefully selective breeding within the military forces of many kingdoms as war mounts for those privileged with a high enough rank to earn the right to claim one for their own. That is, if one is successful in taming it. Born with a naturally wild and independent instinct, it has become a long-time tradition for a soldier who has become eligible to tame a Pegasus to do whatever they possibly can to remain on it's sturdy back once the creature is released from its stall until it tires and accepts them as their rider. To those without much experience or perhaps too much confidence, this task would seem almost too easy. Of course, not many of them end up taking into consideration the factor that one of a Pegasus' main feature is their wings. Once released, a Pegasus has never failed in deciding to take off into the skies in an attempt to throw the unwanted weight from their back, not caring whether or not they fall to their deaths until their respect is rightfully earned. To say the least, it is not uncommon for riders to unfortunately lose their lives in the attempt to tame a Pegasus, but those that do live to tell their tales are greatly rewarded for their valiant and courageous effort; Not only in the earning of their new steed, but also in the gain of stature and recognition for becoming a part of the prestigious Pegasus Guard. Wild herds of Pegasi may be found within high peaks of mountain terrain or isolated meadows of rich forests, but it is not wise to approach without caution due to their naturally aggressive nature towards humans when provoked. It is possible to tame a Pegasus outside of the army's influence, but the likelihood of failure, and death, go up exponentially.
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Unicorn:
Creatures of purity and gentleness, the Unicorn is a wondrous and mystical sight to behold for any that have the blessed luck of encountering one within the deep wilds of the ancient forests surrounding the kingdoms of Xandra and Voromore. Sacred and beloved in the eyes of many cultures and stories, the Unicorn is often associated with themes such as untainted goodness and virtue. It is said that during the times that the kingdoms were still but newborn children seeking out their own little place in the world, the Unicorns helped guide and protect them from the dangers of the outside world and cured them of their illnesses. They were once even said to have been incredibly intelligent, capable of learning and speaking clear human speech in order to better communicate with their human companions. Benevolent and majestic, these equines once thrived in large herds all across the kingdoms, but as time soon passed, their numbers began to dwindle as rumors and confirmations of stories telling of how the horn of a Unicorn possessed magical powers spread throughout the territories. Drinking from the horn or ingesting the powdered horn was thought to cure disease and combat poison, so it was only a matter of time before a grand hunt of the Unicorns marked the end of their very existence by those that wished to exploit their former allies for the sake of their own greed.
Knowing that it would mean complete extinction of their specie of they remained, the ghostly remnants of the Unicorns retreated into the depths of the forests where none dared follow in fear of the more malevolent and bloodthirsty beasts lurking inside. It is currently unknown exactly how many Unicorns are left, but most of the kingdoms have strictly forbidden the claiming or ownership of the creature. Punishment for violating this law is often very brutal and unforgiving, and depending on how it was treated, a death sentence is certainly not off the table.
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Kitsune:
What’s magical, immortal, and incredibly adorable? The Kitsune. These legendary foxes have been delighting those of Asian descent for centuries, whether by celebrating a wedding with “foxfire” lanterns or making the village jerk run through the streets naked and give all his money away. But the Kitsune aren’t all fun and games—they can be incredibly wise, and incredibly dangerous, too. Newborn Kitsunes could easily blend in with a litter of average foxes. They must gain their magical looks, along with their magical powers, over time. For example, every hundred years, a Kitsune grows a new tail. They can have up to nine tails total. In it's later years, it's red fur might begin to turn gold, then, finally white. When the Kitsune reaches it's one hundredth birthday, it can begin shapeshifting, a trick that makes describing it very difficult. These magical foxes love to take human forms. They tend to go for shapes that command maximum respect: an elegant young woman or a wise old priest. If they’re in a trouble-making mood, they can also pose as humans they’ve seen before: a prince who can command an army or an enemy who needs to be humiliated. Luckily, the fox’s disguise is rarely perfect. If you catch him off guard, you might catch a glimpse of his bottlebrush tail.
Some of the oldest and most powerful Kitsune can take on other shapes as well. They’ve been known to appear as impossibly tall trees and second moons in the sky. Some of them can even disappear. But no matter what shape a Kitsune takes, there will always be one give-away. It must keep it's hoshi no tama, a glowing ball or iridescent gem, with it at all times. The ball contains it's soul, and without it, it will grow powerless and die. In human form, Kitsunes usually wear their hoshi no tamas as amulets, but in fox form, they carry the magical balls in their mouths or fasten them to their tails.
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Phoenix:
The Phoenix is a bird of great majesty and grandeur. With their flaming and brilliant plumage of red, yellow, orange, and gold, they never fail to catch admiring eyes and expressions of awe when they choose to reveal themselves to human presence. The most universal characteristic is the bird's ability to resurrect. Living a long life (the exact age can vary from five hundred to over a thousand years), the bird dies in a self-created fire, burning into a pile of ashes, from which a phoenix chick is born, representing a cyclical process of life from death. Because it is reborn from its own death, the phoenix also took on the symbolism of regeneration and immortality. This creature is highly sought out by nobility, but acquiring one is far from a simple task for those not willing to put their lives on the line to catch one. Living on the highest peaks bordering the northeast face of Xandra, the phoenix make their home in sheltered roosts within the sheer cliff sides of their mountain homes where the sun rises each day in order to soak up the warmth of the sunlight. The more a phoenix is exposed to sunlight, the more brilliant and lively their plumage. They are prideful beings and not easily tamed as adults, and when their nests are threatened, phoenixs will do what they know best: set themselves aflame. In the midst of this burning flame, the danger of falling increases quite a bit, but if one is capable of holding on and waiting till the flame becomes ember, they may just find themselves rewarded with the sight of a vulnerable young chick prime for the picking.
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