Bloodwood Behemoth

The Bloodwood Behemoth is a mysterious and terrifying magical being that haunts forests and wooded areas throughout Aranath, though it is most frequently encountered in the Kargathian Wetlands. Even here, where its appearance is more common, it remains a rare and feared phenomenon. These monstrous entities are unknowingly born through a dark and twisted process involving the repeated soaking of the soil around a tree with blood, particularly the blood of innocents. The origin of this process is shrouded in mystery, as no one truly knows what triggers the transformation—whether it’s random chance, the influence of latent magic, or the will of a malevolent god.
Creation
The Bloodwood Behemoth is not crafted by human hands nor summoned by a spell; it is created through a horrific natural occurrence. Whenever a significant amount of blood is shed around the base of a tree—be it from battle, sacrifice, or unexplainable misfortune—the tree absorbs that blood into its roots. The blood of innocents is especially potent, and even the death of one pure soul in such a manner can sometimes be enough to start the process of transformation.
However, the process is far from predictable, and no one knows exactly why or how a tree becomes a Bloodwood Behemoth. Some scholars suggest that only specific trees or locations are cursed, while others believe the presence of dark magic or ancient spirits fuels the transformation. Others whisper of long-forgotten gods who take delight in bending the natural world to create such horrors.
Physical Description
Once created, the Bloodwood Behemoth is an imposing and nightmarish creature. Most often, it takes the form of a massive, humanoid figure, towering over even the tallest human. Its body is composed of wood, bark, and twisted roots from the tree it was born from, and its limbs creak and groan like old timber as it moves. Its monstrous form is crude and primal, with thick branches acting as makeshift arms and legs, and its face—if it can be called a face—is a horrifying arrangement of knotted wood, hollowed eyes, and a gaping maw of jagged bark.
However, the creature does not always take on a humanoid shape. In some instances, especially when the bloodshed that created it involved animals, the Bloodwood Behemoth may resemble the form of the local wildlife. These variations often resemble the twisted form of wolves, deer, or other creatures that roam the forests. Occasionally, it may even take on a hybrid form, with parts of animals and humans mixed together in grotesque ways, depending on what remains lie near the original tree.
The behemoth is not a single entity but an extension of the tree itself. Should its body be destroyed, the tree that birthed it remains intact, and, given enough time, the Bloodwood Behemoth will slowly regenerate and rise again unless the tree itself is uprooted and destroyed.  
Behavior and Abilities
The Bloodwood Behemoth has no sense of morality or purpose other than to act as a guardian of the area it now haunts. It does not hunt prey like a living creature but is instead drawn to the scent of blood or the disturbance of its territory. Once it identifies an intruder, the creature becomes a relentless force of nature, pursuing its target with single-minded aggression until the threat is either dead or has fled far enough away.
It moves with surprising speed and agility for a creature made of wood, using its great strength to crush or impale anything that stands in its way. Its thick, bark-covered body is highly resistant to damage from conventional weapons, as blades often glance off or become lodged in its hardened exterior. However, fire poses a serious threat to the behemoth, and many who know of its existence carry torches or other means of burning it should they find themselves in its territory.
The Bloodwood Behemoth is also known to have some limited magical abilities tied to the forest. It can manipulate nearby plants and roots to entangle or hinder its prey, and it is able to heal minor wounds by drawing strength from the surrounding vegetation. The more blood that is spilled in its vicinity, the stronger and more aggressive the creature becomes, as though it is feeding off the violence around it.
Reputation Among the Locals
In the Kargathian Wetlands, the Bloodwood Behemoth is spoken of in hushed tones around campfires and in orcish longhouses. The orcs of this region have encountered the creature more than most, and they view it with a mixture of fear and respect. They know that to anger the forest by shedding too much blood in one place can summon this abomination, and some believe it to be a curse placed by ancient spirits to punish those who desecrate the land.
Legends among the orcish tribes tell of warriors who fought against Bloodwood Behemoths and were consumed by the forest. Their bodies were said to become one with the trees, their souls bound to the woods for eternity as punishment for their bloodlust. For this reason, the orcs of the wetlands are often cautious when waging war or hunting in heavily forested areas, preferring open plains or swamps where the trees cannot "watch" them.
Scholars from other parts of Aranath view the Bloodwood Behemoth as a tragic consequence of unchecked violence, a warning from the natural world about the dangers of overzealous bloodshed. However, even in more civilized regions, the creature is considered a myth by many, dismissed as mere superstition despite the occasional disappearance of travelers or hunters who ventured too deep into the woods and never returned.
Conclusion
The Bloodwood Behemoth is a terrifying and unpredictable entity born of blood and wood, a creature that haunts the forests of Aranath and serves as a grim reminder of the cost of violence. It is a guardian of the trees, created through mysterious and horrific circumstances, and once it is born, it becomes an almost unstoppable force of nature. For those who venture into its territory, caution and respect are the only defenses against the monstrous creature that lurks within the woods, waiting for the scent of blood to call it forth.