A-Ban

Affanc

(Animal)—This is a massive, beaver-like creature, standing about sixteen feet tall, with long back claws that lives in the bottom of some lakes. From there, it will prey on the surrounding countryside and chop down forests wholesale. It is very crafty, able to hide or ambush victims, and it may cast poison quills (the size of human lances) from its tail. Affancs are pitch black, and they can stir lakes out of their basins and into roiling deluges. It can create whirlpools in lakes to suck unwary swimmers and small craft to their doom.

Alquin

(Dragon)—This is a timid, house cat-sized dragonette native to the Baelric hills. They are telepathic, and able to bond with humans for life. The alquin and its partner can telepathically see through each other’s eyes at will. Alquins cannot speak, but they are intelligent and empathically can make themselves understood. They have sparkling, multicolored, peacock-like wings, and they glide more than fly. Without a human caretaker, the alquin will subsist by robbing hen houses, preying on lambs, and making a pest of itself. They lack the ability to breathe fire. Alquin’s are solitary creatures. When a party stops to enjoy a meal, the alquin will begin pestering them. It is delightful and beautiful but it really wants to steal some food.

Amphiptere

(Dragon)—This dragon, about 12’ long, has no legs, making it a winged serpent. They are speechless and have animal intelligence.

Angel/Ellid

(Angel)—These are immortal, divine messengers and warriors of significant power. Part bureaucrats, soldier, guards and messenger, and arranged in seven tiers, each tier being seven times in number of the one above. Angels can assume human form; or that of glorious, androgynous, golden-winged humans in armor and with blazing halos; or invisible incorporeal forms. Even when incorporeal, they may affect the material world. Most of them represent themselves as neither male nor female, but they can assume gender if they wish, and even interbreed with other sentient races. (See Nephilim and Elioud listings.) Mostly, angel’s individual names end with “-el” or “-iah,” although there are exceptions. Many have portfolios of responsibilities, much like saints do or gods do. While overwhelmingly good, they have the free will to choose to be good or evil, subservient or rebellious. There have been at least two wars in heaven, and the fallen angels are like primal demons. Many of these fallen, now called Watchers, were consigned to subterranean prisons on Aarthus.

Animal Brides/Bridegrooms

(Unknown)—These are mythological animals that have shape-shifted to mate with humans. Strictures usually proscribed their tenure among mortals that, if broken, result in them departing instantly, whether they want to. Their offspring are human, but with some characteristics associated with the animal parent.

Animated Skeleton

(Undead)—Usually animated by magik, these skeletons are aggressive, non-sentient attackers that are immune to logic, pleas for mercy, etc. These are hard to demobilize, and if broken apart, all the separated body parts remain animated, still functioning with cohesion. They have no ego or personhood, remember none of their life or skills, and are merely killing machines.

Apple Tree Man

(Elemental)—In some apple tree groves, the oldest tree is empowered to assume the form of an old man with twig fingers and bark skin to defend his fellow trees with magik. Locals consider apple tree men to be sinister and threatening, but they can be good neighbors if treated with respect. Apple Tree Men are solitary creatures. When a party travels through an isolated apple tree orchard, and they stop to pick apples, the apple tree man will call them out and demand recompense. It is capable of violence, but that is not its first nature.

Aquastor/Phantasmata

(Thought Form)—This is a created, artificial spirit, a sort of invisible, non-corporeal thoughtform, actively dreamed into being and controlled by a wizard. These spirits are intended to be temporary, single-use creations, because if allowed to roam free, they often gain egos (and thus rebelliousness). Once they have gone rogue, they sometimes gather power until they can manifest more often, becoming corporeal beings for short periods and becoming visible to the naked, untrained eye. Eventually, some of these can even establish themselves as permanent, material, living beings. This is quite rare, but it’s happened at least twice before.

Arimaspi

Aragent the Dragon Maid

(Dragon, Unique)—Aragent was an ancient, blue, heraldic dragon who fell in love with King Kelthan Suncloak. She pursued him and finally assumed the form of a lovely maiden to capture his heart. Their lineage still persists as the Kolthens. Legend has it she made her lair at Kelthan’s tomb to guard his body and treasure, or that she died with him in his last battle. The Kelthan cycle has been heavily embroidered upon over time, so the details of her actual life have become obscured.

Automata

(Artificial)—A mechanical, robotic creature full of cogs, gears and machine works. Its form is variable, but usually configured as a human. Sometimes the automaton is merely mechanical in function, but some are fully sentient. These constructs, if damaged, are non-healing, but they are repairable.

Banshee

(Faerie)—This is a beneficial, tutelary faerie. She attaches herself to a family and becomes their guardian. She is cursed with precognition, and if death is coming for one of her wards, she will howl to warn her patrons of the approaching doom. That wailing cry is an unearthly combination of wolf and goose. Banshee lives along rivers, and, in their traditional faerie form, they wear a faerie cloak, a green gown and winding sheets. Like so many faeries, she is duo-formed, also being a hag with stringy black hair, one nostril, buck teeth, and weeping red eyes. She rarely shows herself to her mortal wards, and generations can pass with no one seeing her. Banshee’s are solitary beings. Parties usually don’t encounter them directly, but hear them in the near distance. When you hear the howl of a banshee you must wonder who is going to die soon.