The Borekin

/ˈbɔːr.kɪn/

 

 

Origins and Culture

Tales of the Borekin, a forgotten breed of monsters that once used to be a prominent part of our world, have been woven for millennia. The Borekin originated from the earth itself, where it is said that various rocks and stone gave birth to the first Borekin.The Conquest of Calardion was marked by The Great King's decree to eradicate these foul creatures. They were not mere beasts, but savage entities with faces resembling a disfigured human. Only a bore would think to wed something so hideous. Hence, the name. The Borekin were not just strong, but possessed a raw power that was beyond imagination. Legend whispers of their ability to effortlessly tear a grown man in two with nothing but their bare hands. The very thought of such power is enough to send shivers down one's spine, leaving them in awe and questioning what other incredible feats these creatures could accomplish.

The Borekin lead simple lives. They would hunt, breed, and defend their territory. They are very dangerous based on what the texts tell us. But they don't seem to go out and attack randomly. As long as you respect their territory, they will not approach you. It is believed that some Zolflari kings had pacts with Borekin. These pacts were not just for mutual protection, but also for maintaining a delicate balance of power in the region. Pacts that would ensure Zolflari wouldn't be invaded from the south. King Béll-divora, son of Hém-divora, decided to give up farmlands to the south. They were giving all of it to the Borekin. With the Borekin's territorial nature, this was a surefire way to guarantee safety from the south.

Magic 

Only a little is known about their use of magic, but if the texts are to be believed. They had shamans who would use their energies from their unbridled rage and anger. So, magic for the Borekins is a means of war. The Elfearan of the Northern Crystal Deserts uses a similar way of magic, where they channel their feelings of pride into their land, bending it to their castes' will.

Appearance

We do not have sufficient descriptions of what the Borekin look like, aside from them being described as vile and hideous. Whatever they may have looked like, they were loyal to a fault. For hundreds of years, they have stayed south, dealt with their own problems, and troubled no one as long as they didn't step into their territory uninvited. With a select few picking up their odd tongue, they were able to strike deals with their neighbours. They'd also send tributes in the form of pelts and precious stones to the great king as gratitude for his grandfather, for the Borekin remembered a kind deed.

Language

Yet, the true challenge lay not in their strength or territoriality but in their unique Mode of communication. The Borekin conversed through a series of guttural sounds, each one carrying a specific meaning. These sounds would shift into short chants, a form of communication unique to their culture. These chants, when combined, culminated in a language that was often unbearable to the uninitiated. This Mode of communication was not just a way to exchange information but an essential aspect of their identity and culture. Dealing with the Borekin was a task that many found daunting, especially considering that each tribe had its own unique guttural dialect. Legend has it that the great king, in a bid to prevent the spread of this 'filth ', ordered the hanging of all who spoke their language, making what little trade and diplomacy they had with them impossible.

The Great Cleansing

So, naturally, no one expected the Great Cleansing to happen. The Great King saw that the Borekin were not pure. How dare these creatures be so close to the Zolflari with nothing to show for it except for pelts and shiny rocks. And above all their stench, they stunk more than a filthy lowborn. (As status was based on smell). The Borekin had made a fatal mistake that would see them wiped out.

Are there any Borekin left? It's a question that has recordkeepers stumped. For I, we are still determining if they still exist. Rumours and tall tales about brown humanoids with fangs as big as a carrot have been circulating lately. But they are nothing more than that... tales.

Further Reading

The Zoflari

Stonebacks

 

/ˈstoʊnˌbæks/

 
The Stonebacks of Laylakar tower over most beings in this world, with their imposing stature reaching heights of up to 30 feet. They embody gluttony and greed, with their appetites being ever so initiable; their goal is to endlessly consume while simultaneously showcasing their superiority over lesser beings. It is said that they can live on for millennia, with their longevity directly tied to their gluttony and the greater need for sustenance as they age. Their everlasting hunger drives them to devour not only food but also minerals, magic and sometimes, the essence of life itself. An ancient Stoneback is nothing to scoff at; they are beings of immense power, sustained by the countless lives and resources they have absorbed. The Stoneback’s innate ability to become one with its environment depends on the Stoneback itself; you might find some melding into the rocky crags of mountains and others disappearing into dense verdant forests. Stonebacks are solitary creatures by nature; they only come together to mate or clash over territory and food.

Batten, John Dickson (UK, 1860-1932)

How does one deal with a Stoneback? For one, encountering a Stoneback is a rare (often fatal) experience. Every Stoneback stinks (literally); a foul stench precedes the Stonebacks, a rancid odour that emanates from their eyes. This peculiar trait is a telltale sign of a Stoneback’s presence, even if they conceal themselves. They are crafty, though; while blending in with their environment, the Stonebacks close their eyes, which causes the malodorous scent to dissipate, making it easier to hide and hunt unsuspecting adventureers. You’d do yourself a favour if you brought a bard proficient with big bells or chimes or a magic user with a spell that can generate a cacophony of noise. This will disorient the Stonebacks and disrupt their camouflage; you might even incapacitate them for a short while if the sound is annoying. If you take a Stoneback down, look at its “tattoos” carved into its flesh. They are no mere decoration; they tell us the age of the Stoneback, and each scar is a year. Some are bigger than others; scholars theorize that the bigger the scar, the bigger the event that caused it. Some say it represents an entire century, but no one truly knows. But you’d have to take it down first, which is not so likely. Stonebacks have disproportionately large hands, resembling those of great apes. Logically, one would think they’d be lumbering slowly towards their target; in reality, they have a terrifying quadrupedal sprint, something that can’t be believed until seen.

The Narcoleafer

/ˈnɑr.koʊ.liː.fər/

A predator natural to the Twilight Grove, the Narcoleafer resembles a vibrant parrot in form. It's made out of a smattering of plants and tree bark, allowing it to blend in seamlessly with the surrounding flora.

Nacroleafers are dangerous predators because of their solitary nature; they use their colourful appearance to lure their prey. The Nacroleafer emits a hypnotizing and fragrant toxin mimicking a prey's favourite smell. Their docile nature makes it seem like they are vulnerable when caught by surprise, but in reality, they are very resilient creatures; regenerating damaged parts rapidly allows them to fly away from adversaries quick enough.

Nacroleafers reproduce asexually; they split into pieces over a while (usually in a place where pieces can be stored together), and over time, when a Narcoleafer has gathered enough resources -- mostly comprised of other plants, dead animals, and insects -- the resources join together with the Narcoleafer pieces to produce an offspring.

Many an adventureer has fallen prey to a Narcoleafer. Pompous adventureers often underestimate its ability to make creatures vulnerable via its toxin, leading to many deaths that could have been avoided via careful planning.

The C'raab

 

/ˈkrɑːb/

The origins of the C’raab are a mystery, leaving scholars questioning their sanity. Ancient texts mention a master race of chitinous beings; their size is debated; some records state that they are the size of men, and some state that they are the size of a horse, but the discrepancies don’t only end with size. Their physical features tend to change from record to record; some texts depict these beings as human-like in appearance, allowing them to blend in with the average man. Some mention that their appearance is of a bat-like creature with mandibles, frightening to the sight. These discrepancies continue to the number of limbs, eyes, heads... One thing is for sure, though: records never fail to mention their exoskeleton (or skin?), smooth and metallic and chitinous in nature; the colours, though, vary. The colour descriptions range from dark, void-like hues to bright colours that mimic an odd-looking map. Records of the C’raab are still being found; with more and more details being uncovered, we can only assume that we have so much yet to learn.