Monsters & Magical Creatures: Avural Ug'dol (Patreon)

Terra is home to myriad magical creatures, and the continent of Avural Ug’dol is no exception. Some of these creatures appear to be relatives of non-magical animals, while others can only be described as monsters. While many are dangerous, several of these creatures are known to provide valuable components for spell casting and potion brewing, with their spoils fetching a lot of gold at market.

First up is the Crystal Hart (cervus crystallus), a relative of the white-tailed deer that can be found in forests all across the continent. An herbivorous species, their antlers are made of a crystal-like material resembling a prism. Pieces of these antlers have been found to contain strong magical energies, and can even be used as a regent of focus in spellcasting. Despite their widespread territory, sightings of these are rare, and in many cultures seeing one is said to be an omen of good luck.

Next is the Rainbow Butterfly (danaus iridis). Similar to the crystal hart, these beautiful insects can be found all across Turtle Island. True to their name, these creatures possess vibrant wings that fluctuate between every shade of the rainbow. Perfectly harmless creatures, they are often collected for the purpose of using in potions and enchanting - they are particularly useful in glamour spells, assuming the caster or brewer knows how to utilize their color changing ability.

Colloquially known as the Bubble Toad (anaxyrus bullarum), these amphibians can be found near the rivers and lakes of the northeastern corner of the continent. By outside appearances, there appears to be nothing special about this toad. Its defense mechanism is what sets it apart from its non-magical brethren. When threatened, the bubble toad will spit out what else but a bubble. A poisonous bubble - though not in the way you are thinking. Any person or animal that comes into contact with that bubble will find themselves under the effects of a powerful hallucinogen. As you might imagine, certain people view this “poisoning” instead as a fun activity, unfortunately leading to the capturing and abuse of these poor creatures.

The Utanigator (alligator gigantus) is a very large, very dangerous relative of the standard alligator found in the southeastern wetlands of Avural Ug’dol. For many years they were thought to be the same species, merely specimens that had survived long enough to grow so large, but magical testing has shown them to be too different. This creature's scales are almost as hard as processed steel and are frequently used to craft armor and shields. That is, when they can be retrieved - those same scales are nearly impossible for standard weapons to pierce through. Combined with the creature’s immense size and strength makes these are some of the deadliest animals on the planet.

Mishipeshu (panthera aquaticus), also known as underwater panthers, resemble a scaled-covered version of their furry relatives with a set of sharp dragon-like scales going down their spine and tail. They are primarily found in rivers and lakes around the northern central part of the continent, and people are advised to stay away from the shores of any body of water suspected of being a mishipeshu’s lair. For a time it was unknown if these creatures were mammalian, amphibian, or reptilian, until it was discovered they have live births rather than laying eggs.

The first truly monstrous monster on our list is the Wendigo. The wendigo resemble a very tall human, with pale white skin, extra long limbs, and an overall gaunt appearance. Haunting the woods of the far north, they often appear before disaster and are said to be a bad omen - with good cause. These creatures are highly cannibalistic, but what is truly horrifying is the way they are able to force that cannibalism onto others. Recipients of even a single bite become victims of what is known as the wendigo’s curse, filling them with an unstoppable urge for the flesh of their brethren. Though curable, if not done quickly enough the victims are still said to have ”cravings” for days afterwards.

Uktena (lampropeltis cornigigantu), also known as the great horned serpent, are one of the deadliest creatures on the list. A large and solitary creature, they can be found infrequently among the forests and caves of the central and northern parts of the continent, sometimes reaching over fifty meters in length. With its powerful constricting muscles, it is capable of crushing boulders into pebbles, and it can unhinge its jaw to swallow creatures as large as a bear whole. But its most dangerous feature is the jewel-like scale on the center of its forehead. Uktena are able to release a powerful flash from this scale, one that is capable of magically stunning anyone unlucky enough to be in the blast radius.

Thunderbirds (aquilla tempestus) are very large birds of prey that can be found in every corner of Avural Ug’dol - thought sightings are extremely rare. The natural predator of the uktena, these two creatures can often be found battling over territory. Per their namesake, these birds are capable of generating powerful thunderclaps with their wings. Their appearance always seems to precipitate a coming thunderstorm, though it is unknown if they are responsible for summoning them or are simply drawn to their location. Unlike the wendigo, a thunderbird sighting is said to be a good luck charm, bestowing good health and happiness on the viewer and as such, are revered and even worshiped by some. Like the rest of this list, all of these powerful and dangerous creatures should be handled with caution and respect - unless you want to wind up being their dinner.