Miran's Magnificient Monster Manual

[Togetak]

Interlude: Exotic Creatures

In previous chapters I have spoken of Daemons and Magimals native to Esshar, creatures the layman is likely to encounter in some fashion, due to their habitats crossing over with that of our world. These creatures, I feel, are those most useful to know about, as their direct interaction with us means knowledge of their habits, how to avoid their ire and- perhaps- how to love them.

This, however, obviously means I have focused less on the more exotic beasts of the world. Those rare and illusive creatures that dwell far from society, deep within the earth, under the sea, or high above the mountains. Creatures few are likely to see and, perhaps, none have ever lived to see and write about before. These creatures, I believe, have their own magesty to them- beasts so rare as to be mythical, and likely never spoken of in most circles. 

In this interlude, and others like it, I will attempt to catalogue these strange and rare creatures as I personally encounter them, and relay them to my you, my dear reader, as best I can.

Oremadillo

(Image missing, due to the nature of my encounter)

A creature I have witnessed once, evidentally far out of the native habititat of their kin. Appearing rather similar to the mundane Armadillo, a rather exotic creature in it's own right, these beasts are around the height of a man, and wider than three. Most strikingly, beyond the impressive size of teeth, are the ores that adorn the creature's back- seemingly grown there, perhaps from their tunneling lifestyle? I could not tell if the creature had grown them by some organic means, the buildup from accumulated metals from digging, simply exuded through their skin, or perhaps it had intentionally grown them from an innate control of metal magic? I can give no conclusive answers, unfortunately.

Aggressive and predatory by nature, the creature I and my companions encountered was a violent beast, feasting upon human remains when we encountered it, deep into a hidden path under the earth. It appeared to use the ores upon its back as a means of a "trap", luring unwary miners right to the waiting maw. These Magimals are masters of earthen magic, shifting their tunnels through a combination of their earthshattering spells, and their giant tunneling claws. I sustained a very nasty wound from this creature, streams of sand slashing into my flesh so deeply as to keep the arcane particulartes circling in my blood for days afterwards (to a very significant amount of pain on my part).

I can do little but warn you, dear reader, should you ever find yourself far from the beaten path, deep in the earth, be suspicious of any bountiful ore outcrops you see, for you may end up with a fate far worse than mine.

Silverwall Basilisk

This creature is by far the most powerful Magimal I have ever encountered- likely even more powerful than the mutated Daemon could ever hope to be. As with the Oremadillo, I and my companions encountered only a single one- but this creature was almost the death of us. An innate master of ice and water magic, far beyond any Magi I have ever encountered (Indeed, I myself was travelling with one such Ice magi, who found himself nearly ineffective against the creature's sheer control of the element) these creatures are colossal lizards, scales coated with thick and wicked deadly spikes of ice.

The lair of this creature, an underground spring deep enough beneath the ground for heat to be thick in the air, showed it's true power over ice. It was enough not only to freeze the entire cavern- but to freeze all tunnels attached to it, through the half hour walk back to the surface.

In combat, it was far more ferocious than anything i'd ever encountered, outstripping not only my own admittantly lacking Nature Magic, but the other two acomplished Magi that accompanied me on the expedition. It required the three of us working in tandem to slay the beast using it's own environment against it- and even then, only just. Upon death the creature's flesh was entierly turned to ice, instantly melting as the temperature in the area returned to the natural order. Only a skull was left behind, kept frozen by arcane permafrost.

While I can give little information on the beast, having seen only one and only through the lense of combat, it's clear these creatures dwell deep under the earth, loners that drill out massive tunnels and feast upon the other creatures of the earth that come to dwell in them. This beast, too, I can offer little advice about, beyond a warning: Should you encounter ice in the depths, remember this beast, and turn back. You will not survive, should you attempt to fight it, and it is far too dangerous to simply observe from a distance.

We should think ourselves lucky these creatures are content to burrow down in the lowest recesses of the earth, or we'd all be living much more dangerous, and much colder, lives.