Age of Defiance Beasts Great and Small 2023

Pegacorn/Pegasid

(1. Wings)
In the much more remote stretches of Kundain flocks of these incredible creatures can be sighted in the wild, either grazing out on the plain or congregating at the shores of the Winding White. Pegasids have ranged throughout the world long before aboriginal Men arrived, but the ancient Freelanders lacked the motivation or means to tame them.

It moved as quick as a gust and fur black as void reflected no light. It swung its head to and fro, a scratch to a bear’s rump, a nick to a kirya bull’s rump. Each of the animals touched by the pearly gray horn fell and writhed and shuddered with agony before crumbling into sand. A feather-winged pegasid, a relative to the extinct pegacorns, struggled to get airborne, but a single tap on the hoof by the horn sent it crashing back to the ground in a pile of dust.

— Fight Alone Ch. 15

Skybolt Sunhammer, Original Form by Mardrena

Five thousand years would pass until the uber-savant Deres undertook a project to combine the flying capabilities and hardiness of pegasids with the intelligence, grace, and power of the wild unicorns, and thus created the Pegacorn. Currently classified as extinct in the modern day, pegacorns helped Thangiens advance as a culture and played pivotal roles in myriad battles. New pegacorns can no longer be bred, even from wild specimens. If they are to ever return one day, a cure must be found to the contagion introduced by the Thunthen.

Fendahu (fen-DAH-hoo)

(2. Stripes, 11. Purr, 12. Roar, 13. Shriek)

Planet Fienlor by Mardrena

When asked "why are there no cats on Thanged?" the common response is :"They all got sent to Fienlor". Thuruk's sixth planet is home to the wiry "Cat-lords", often considered a misnomer given the average Fendahu is slightly shorter than an average human. Fienlorans care nothing for the millennia-long struggle between Thuruk's superpowers. They live, love, and hunt Fienlor's vast array of monstrous game. Sur Daggur viewed Ander's victory at the Siege of Bainshaebo as beginner's luck and sought to flex his might by cowing the Fendahu. The Cat-lords humbled Sur Daggur further by literally having his personal troops, the Obsidian Guard, for lunch.

Feinloran Tracker by Mardrena

Dais had always heard references to the “Cat-lords of Fienlor” in the past but the Fendahu standing before him looked far from lordly. Blackblaze, in his bipedal form, looked tall and regal in his armor. Kier looked fairly lean and had to stare up at Dais with his yellow-green eyes, standing a head shorter. Dais could tell from the way the Fienloran’s fur bristled and his ears raised that he was trying to give the appearance of being as tall. Kier had coarse dark-brown fur all over his body and unlike the rest of the crewmembers seemed to eschew a uniform of any sort in favor of being fully in the buff. He wore no adornments save for a few dark-blue threads braided into his mane close to his neck. Apparently he felt any jewelry or clothing would impair his stealthiness. His gaze followed Dais as Caroline led him to the next crewmember, and Dais noticed out the corner of his eye.

— Cataclysm War Ch. 7

Unicorn

(3. Horn, 20. Gentle)
Much the same way as ancient Men, these dainty equines traversed the Transgalactic Rifts from the Oldworld in ages past. Although long since hunted to extinction on Earth, they've flourished on Thanged, being found in the remote reaches of Kundain, Tirmutua, and even the Southern Salt. Viewed as holy, the sight of one is considered a sign of good luck and prosperity by all Thangiens, Freelander and city-dweller alike. Hunting them for any reason is forbidden, but every so often an arrogant individual seeks to slay one to stroke their pride and attempts to solicit tracking assistance from the Freelanders. Such individuals are found the next day being picked clean by vitreelas...

“The unicorns will have much work before them…” She gazed into the horizon and saw dainty figures approaching the desolation zone. Their fur shone with a silver sheen, and eyes of blue, gold, or light brown regarded the Ronin Warriors with respect. Spiral golden horns touched the dust, and sand turned to brown soil. As they walked abreast of each other, roots snaked through the new loam and sprouts reached skyward, leaves peeling open under the tender care of the unicorns.

— Fight Alone Ch.15

Viewed as stewards of nature, unicorns are credited with allowing Thanged's ecosystem to recover so quickly after the Dread Winter and keeping Tirmutua, Kundain, and the Southern Salt so lush and fertile. Five thousand years ago Deres tasked his young granddaughter Vthia with enticing a male specimen which with to breed with local pegacorns. The mighty Unor answered her entreaty, becoming the Father of all Pegacorns. Most unicorns have a lean, delicate build. Unor was described and depicted as having a physique closer to that of a Grand Cresta. With intelligence on par with the average humanoid and able to channel restorative and defensive powers through their horns, it is from them that pegacorns and later on Pegasi inherit so much of their power.

Unicorn Wall Sigil by Mardrena

"Unicorns aren't cutesy decorations on backpacks or symbols misappropriated by stuffy nobility or the deranged. They're avatars of God's power: fingerprints of Creation left over from the Dawn of Time."-Captain Caroline Wendell

— Spacequake Ch. 6

The Natives of the Eastern Jungle were supposedly created from unicorn stock, but whether in mimicry or mockery is a subject of much debate, for the territorial unicorn-men share only a superficial resemblance to their peaceful ancestors. Likewise, scholars can't seem to settle on whether Grand Crestas are an ancestor, descendant, or divergent from their delicate cousins given the lack of fossil evidence of unicorns on Thanged.

Pegasi

(4. Shell, 5. Colorful)

Pegasus in Action by Mardrena

Anyone doubting the existence of the Four Queens need only take a quick jaunt to the Academy of Peirolyth where Eyurodin, the Lady of Flames, can be seen laboring away in person at the High Forge. After the death of his father Sur Daggur at the Battle of Banguk, Mal Daggur seethed at the many losses sustained at the hands of the indomitable Thangiens and their mystical flying steeds, the pegacorns. He devised a contagion to attack the valiant pegacorns, robbing his foes of their ability to navigate space as well as their precious companions. The wasting illness threatened to exterminate the entire species. But for the labours of the Goddess of the Forge, Thangiens would have lost the Children of Unor and Deres' legacy.

People congregated on the edge of the road. Many Pegasi joined the crowd, just as curious as the people. In fact, almost half of the crowd had a Pegasi accompanying them, each with its own unique colors and design.

— Aftermath Ch. 11

Pegasi Foal by Mardrena

Now reborn in fully-mechanical bodies, Eyurodin gave to them all that they had in life: the means to eat, grow, play, age, fly, even reproduce. Pegasi come in a variety of color combinations and patterns. When vocalizing to humans they whinny like horses, but when speaking to one another they sound like vintage electronics and are fully capable of all the motions and mannerisms of their original equine bodies. Able to unleash terrific energy attacks via their horn cannons and field heavy ordinance with their war saddles, the reborn Pegasi serve as living testimony that Thangiens enjoy the support of real goddesses, and incontrovertible proof of Eyurodin's divine might.

At first, they saw four lights that moved in pairs. The lights bobbed through the shadows until finally emerging into the light. The Ronin watched amazed as a group of Pegasi emerged from the stable, moving in double file. They moved out into a tight semi-circle. “I have hand-picked each of these from the herds, and they have all agreed to serve as mounts.” Norin throat-clicked again and before the Ronin had ample time to study the Pegasi’s coloring, they began spreading apart, moving to the side in step in a show of their training. Their shiny hooves thumped against the gravel as they spread into a wide semicircle. They came to a stop then spread their wings at full stretch, the tips barely touching one another. The Ronin applauded the display.
“Check it ouuuut! Custom Pegasi!” Kento beamed.

— Fight Alone Ch. 15

The Razzer

(7. Mythical)

Razzer Sketch by Mardrena

Unicorns can be seen and heard, even petted by the worthy and virtuous. Far less is known about this mysterious creature found exclusively in the Southern Salt, even in the modern age. Deres had to abort any attempt to venture deeper into the Salt: not only because of the increasingly treacherous footing, but due to the incessant rude vocalizations he found himself subjected to at every turn. The creature seemed to hound his every step and evade any form of examination at a distance. Deres made quick sketches based on what glimpses he caught, and more recent scrawls from Freelanders corroborate his details. Whatever its nature or motivations, it has remained a mystery for five thousand years since Deres undertook his great trek.

The Razzer by Mardrena

Kirya (keer-yah)

(8. Prey, 15. Tamed)

These bouncy bovines are the primary source of meat protein for not just city-dwelling Thangiens and Freelanders, but all other carnivores and omnivores on Thanged. Distinguished by the long horns that slope over their backs, they populate Kundain in herds ranging from anywhere to fifty to a hundred individuals. Their meat is nutritious but quite gamey and for prolific hunters like gherfen, are quite literally a soft target with the wide neck and dangling dewlap. Freelanders will hunt wild herds as needed. Flocks of gherfen can decimate a herd before realization sets in and the survivors panic and flee. City-dwellers source meat from herds maintained around Bainshaebo proper. Even in the wild kirya can be too absent-minded for their own good, able to be slowly approached by strangers unless provoked or attacked.

Kirya Cattle, Stained Glass by Mardrena

Mia paused and turned to face him, jabbing a thumb over her shoulder and grimacing in uncertainty. “Wait...Where’d the meat come from?” She asked, remembering the sealed chunks inside the fridge and the fact that Thunthen loved hunting deer in the forest regularly.
Cye doubled over laughing while Bak glanced from side to side, blushing in embarrassment. He composed himself and cleared his throat before placing his arms behind his shell. “With the Transgalactic Gate no longer blockaded by Mal Daggur’s fleet, King Torke has dispatched riders to deliver shipments of meat from Kundain. Kirya bull might be a bit...gamier...than you’re used to. The Watch-Rider has decreed that the Ronin Warriors shall want for nothing in their time of need.”

— Cataclysm War Ch. 5

Pegotaur

(9. Monstrous)

Foraging Pegotaur by Mardrena

Just as mysterious as the Razzer but seen far frequently, this hulking denizen of the Eastern Jungle defies all convention in regards to classification or study. It is not remotely similar to prominent equines like Grand Crestas or pegasids, nor is it a bovine. At a glance it seems a simple-minded herbivore like the kirya, but has demonstrated incredible strength and anger with cautionary stories circulated by Freelanders in Kundain. Deres avoided the Eastern Jungle almost entirely, but those who brave the depths and live to tell about it share similar descriptions of rounded ears, a long tail with a thick tuft, wide rectangular muzzles, and three thick digits on each hand and foot. It definitely appears mammalian in nature, but its origins remain a mystery with no fossil evidence whatsoever. Thangiens shrug their existence off as a living fossil, a precursor to more widespread equines. Visitors to Thanged from the Vault of Stars suspect a far deeper origin: that they either were created by, or are in fact remnants of the Peh'qu'tour, the long-lost Guardian-class rivals of the Totalitary

Pegotaur Concepts by Mardrena

Sttanavoseni

-(stana-VOH-sen-ee (second t is silent)) 10. Danger, 17. Burrow
One of the rare Freelander-exclusive words, it generally can be translated as "stockpiler" or in more modern days "doomsday-prepper". Ancient Freelanders credited them with giving advance warning to the Dread Winter, since they observed the Stockpilers moving about openly, far more frantic than usual. They took it as a sign to likewise prepare and thus had sizable stores of foodstuffs when they took refuge in the Northern Ring.

The Stockpiler by Mardrena

Not nearly as destructive as Oldworld rodents, the diminutive sttanavoseni is the most wide-spread rodent on Thanged, occasionally seen weaving their way through the thick grasses of Kundain or milling about the entrances to their burrows. Resembling a cross between a gopher and a jerboa, they are distinguished by their long tufted tails they hold erect to mimic swaying stalks of grain. If by chance a stray mouth should catch the tail, the assailant is left with a mouthful of fur while the stockpiler escapes. They spend most of their lives gathering seeds and hulls from a variety of native plants, but actually only eat a tiny percentage of what they gather in their lifetimes. They are quite literally their own worst enemy, exerting undue levels of stress on their little hearts spending each and every day foraging, reducing their lifespans considerably to a mere few cycles.

Almost every other animal on Thanged picks on them in some form, with the exception of the gherfen because they are so small they are beneath the notice of the Helmed Hawks. The thumping of hooves from either kirya or Crestas sends them scurrying into their burrows. The stench of a vitreelas is a powerful deterrent, and Pei monkeys are dexterous enough to grab them as they move, picking seeds and burrs out of their fur like eating peanuts from a bag before releasing the annoyed stockpiler. Tree bears are the worst, since once they discover the small opening of a burrow, they will tear the ground apart just to get at their hoard of seeds. A week's worth of foraging would be but a mouthful for the tree bear, and thus the little stockpiler must begin his labors anew.

Nosy Neighbor by Mardrena

Fyrhundi (feer-hoon-dee)

(14. Howl, 18. Bond)

Fear Hound Concept by Mardrena

Unimpressed with the skulking mongrels that accompanied aboriginal Men from the Oldworld, Witheren, Maiden of Blood, sought to create a beast of great stature as a Grand Cresta is to a Oldworlder horse. Unlike Crestas, who answer to no one-not Men or even Gods-these creatures would have to be obedient and loyal, almost to a fault, but intelligent and capable of compassion. The first of such creations was Xiar, the God-Hound, whom Witheren gifted to a prominent land-owner in Kundain both as an answer to his prayer for a protector and as a sort of divine "dry run". The tale of the greedy farmer is best left for another time, but Xiar is recorded in history as protecting Tirmutua from tyrants in the City Strife and is depicted bounding into battle alongside Roth, Queen of Triumph, during the Bloody Bricks, happily devouring the wicked.

Xiar, the God-Hound by Mardrena

Ryo’s eyes strayed to the tailgate of the truck as Britania had to stand on her tiptoes to keep her grip on something. He’d only heard stories about the Thangiens’ exotic gift but never seen it for himself before. The truck bounced up once again as Goldheart sprang down onto the ground and started sniffing about, moving out from behind the truck. “WHOA!!” Ryo’s eyes went wide at the sight of the fyrhund in comparison to the truck. “Is that your dog?! He’s huge! He’s bigger than Whiteblaze!” he exclaimed. Roxi couldn’t help but notice how he said ‘your’, but looked over her shoulder and smirked when Brianna lost her grip on the collar and Goldheart wandered off.
“Eh, he’s taller allright, but I reckon he’s not nearly as heavy.” Britania seated herself on the tailgate and the three of them watched as Goldheart caught sight of a white form lying in the shade. “Speaking of…I think he’s going to say hi…” Roxi winced as the fyrhund loped over.
Whiteblaze grimaced and opened one eye a crack in reaction to the blasts of warm air hitting his face and saw a large wedge-shaped muzzle snuffling all over his face. The tiger had never seen a fyrhund before, nor had the fyrhund seen a tiger. Whiteblaze lashed his tail in warning.
Goldheart jerked his head straight up when he saw this and raised both ears. Whiteblaze lashed his tail once more, and Goldheart’s head turned to follow the movement. He cautiously stepped over, watching the striped tail intently. Whiteblaze twitched his ears and watched, bemused, as the fyrhund lunged, trying to clamp his jaws around the tail, but the tiger swept it out of reach. Goldheart tried to bite it again, but once more Whiteblaze flicked it away.
“….yeah, that can’t possibly end in a good way…” Ryo muttered.

— Foes From Another World Ch. 8

Fyrhundi Wall Sigil by Mardrena

His ultimate fate remains unknown-whether he surrendered his divinity and lived out his days as a mortal or lives to this day in disguise-but the great "Fear-Hounds" are his children. If you happen to encounter a fyrhund alone at night, either in the wild or in Bainshaebo's streets, greet him as the good people did ages ago. Fyrhundi are invaluable companions for Freelanders, Lonesteaders, and the smaller less-renowned households of Bainshaebo. Distinguished by their wedge-shaped muzzles, branched tails, and batwing-like ears, fyrhundi are depicted in artwork and heraldry. Their deep, booming "blast-barks" can quite literally drive fear into the hearts of evil.

Old Fyrhund Design by Mardrena

Goldheart sank his teeth into the back of Don Marquin’s neck and jerked his head from side to side, and the werewolf raked his claws through the red fur.

— Foes From Another World Ch. 8

Pei Monkey

(16. Pack, 21. Messenger)

Gold Pei Monkey by Mardrena

Pei Monkey Sketch by Mardrena

Thanged's lone natively-evolved primate, Pei are thought to be named such by Freelanders of Asian descent because their gold fur and wiry black mustaches makes them look like a shrewd emperor swathed in gilded robes. Small troupes spend most of their time in the scattered trees found throughout Kundain, venturing to the ground to forage on occasion. They are bitter enemies of gherfen, who will target Pei and knock them out of their trees in a dive. If flocks are sighted, Pei will vocalize shrilly, warning any nearby animals of the danger. Standing roughly knee-high to a average human, Pei seem to have a curious relationship with Grand Cresta. Deres made note of a peculiar occurrence in which a Cresta stallion-riddled with fresh wounds from a rut duel-approached a Pei seated on a rock in the shelter of a tree. The Pei proceeded to pat the Cresta as if consolingly and applied fresh Richtho leaves to his wounds. The sight inspired Deres to immortalize his findings in a children's book dedicated to his grandchildren and challenged his understanding of Cresta behavior. "How ironic," he wrote, "that the little Pei-and not men-can tame Grand Crestas?"

Beast Buddies by Mardrena

Vitreelas (vih-tree-laas)

(19. Stinky, 25. Parasite)
The "Entrails-Eater" has the ignominious distinction of being known as the ugliest bird in existence on Thanged with scholars unable to determine if it evolved or devolved to be mostly featherless with the exception of patches of thick needle-like quills about the chest and neck. Found everywhere on Thanged with the exception of the Northern Ring, vitreelas are almost always found hunkering around a carcass, reeking of blood and rot. The primary reason gherfen engage in surplus killing is because vitreelas are strong enough to muscle in on fresh kills, so a flock of ten gherfen will eat from one carcass while vitreelas will cluster around the other nine. The only animal that can shrug off a vitreelas' intrusion is a tree bear due to its superior strength.

The Entrails Eater by Mardrena

The purpose of the many large pustules riddling its sinuous fleshy neck is unknown since just before digging in, a vitreelas will rub its neck over a carcass before eating, almost appreciatively or affectionately. Researchers believe the pustules contain powerful antiseptics to combat disease, scent markers to ward off competitors, or enzymes to aid with digestion. Because the pustules bore an unnerving resemblance to those found on the bodies of afflicted during the Genesis Plague, many city-dwellers sought to cull the birds or outright exterminate them. Roth emphatically forbade this, stating that even the unloveliest of birds had a purpose to serve in the world.

Tree Bear

(22. Food)
Contrary to the name, the "glutton of the plains" does not live in trees, since they are so heavy, but they are fond of ripping them asunder in search of grubs. Insatiable omnivores, tree bears spend most of their time eating and storing up loads of fat despite the temperate weather of Kundain and the Eastern Jungle. While not necessarily scavengers, tree bears won't turn down a fresh kill if its near enough and will jealously hoard a carcass for hours, licking flesh off the bone scrap by scrap. During the storm season they are first on the scene when caevas formations tear through the fringes of the jungle. One of the reasons stormwood is able to dry and cure so well is because tree bears have learned to suck burrowing beetles and larvae right out of their holes. Deres made note of an incident where he observed a tree bear busily licking at the rich sap bleeding from a shredded log. A nearby Grand Cresta sauntered over and stooped down, hooking its horn under the trunk and rolling it over as if annoyance. Deres' contemporaries back in Bainshaebo dismissed his perception of altruism as the Cresta simply coveting the lush grass beneath the trunk. Deres countered that all grass in Kundain is lush, and the Cresta seemed to go out of its way to "help". The Cresta went about its way grazing and the tree bear gobbled up the helpless exposed grubs.

Tree Bear Close-Up by Mardrena

The phrase "don't feed the bears" does not really apply to Freelanders. They learned long ago that tree bears are fond of ransacking funeral cairns, smashing open urns filled with offerings of grain or dried fruit, or plodding up to campfires and filching a haunch of roasting meat off the spit. To this end, Freelanders in need of large quantities of fur, bone, and fat will lie in wait and ambush an intrusive tree bear. Tree bears have acute senses of smell and no doubt can sense Freelanders lying in wait: they know it is a trap, and still their stomachs get the better of them. Lonesteaders outside the walls of the city will staff their farms with fyrhundi to ward off nuisance bears targeting local kirya herds or coops of chamia hens.

The Glutton of the Plains by Mardrena

Fearix

(6. Nocturnal, 23. Vicious, 27. Stalk)

The Devil Cat by Mardrena

Nicknamed "assassin-cats" due to their relentless nature, these demonic felines can be "programmed" to zero in on a particular target, harrying it relentlessly until it can sink its tusks into the soft flesh. Its native habitat is unknown, but Dygra, the Dynasty Beast-Warden, kept one among her dreadful menagerie. It was deployed in an effort to murder the newborn Ryu Sanada, but timely intervention from Whiteblaze, Blackblaze, and WILDCAT put an end to its murderous rampage. Whether more remain in the Dynasty's keeping is unknown, but others have not been fielded in battle since, which is a good thing because their jutting tusks are capable of denting and puncturing dererium due to their otherworldly nature.

The two tusks protruding from the front of its upper jaw came closer, inch by inch, to Mia’s chest where she held Ryu. It’s lower jaw shuddered in anticipation and it seemed to purr in perverse glee. While Mia remained frozen in terror, Ryu squirmed in her arms and pulled himself up slightly. She blinked when she saw him curl his fist and raise it as the two tusks drew within a hairbreadth from them both. Ryu’s fist shot out and he punched the devil-cat in the nose.
The fearix blinked, looking confused by the sudden strike. Ryu punched the nose again, and even though he had no hope of causing damage, apparently the gesture befuddled the monster.

— Legacy of Wildfire Ch. 3

Fearix-Old Concept by Mardrena

Gherfen (YER-fen-G is silent)

(24. Silent, 26. Predator)
Thanged's most prolific killer, the planet would be up to its eyeballs in Pei monkeys and kirya cattle but for these circling menaces. Known as the "Helmed-Hawk" due to the clusters of bony crests adorning the head, gherfen dispatch their prey almost effortlessly and can impale a grazing kirya before it realizes its dead. Gherfen execute high-speed dives with the same force that drives a plank of wood or a straw through a wall or tree in the midst of a storm. Unlike terrestrial raptors, gherfen are actually social birds, hunting in flocks of ten-to-fifteen. Even though a single kirya carcass can feed a flock for days, continued survival of a flock hinges on notching as many kills as possible due to staunch competition from vitreelas and tree bears.

The Helmed Hawk by Mardrena

Gherfen seem to avoid targeting humans because they quite literally have too many bones: the meat-bone ratio is displeasing to them and the lack of exposed soft tissue as would be found in a kirya makes targeting wanderers too high a risk. Conversely, Grand Crestas are able to hear and intercept diving gherfen, and yet the birds seem determined to "one-up" the wild beast-horses eventually. Kirya herds and chamia hens make for very tempting prey, and most farmers have taken to keeping fyrhundi on site to warn of incoming flocks with their blast-barks. In modern times air-shield technology has become more commonplace to keep gherfen out of Bainshaebo proper.

Pei Monkey, Stained Glass by Mardrena

Tree Bear, Stained Glass by Mardrena

Vitreelas, Stained Glass by Mardrena

Gherfen, Stained Glass by Mardrena