Jhoterordenes
Jhoterordene: [yoh-terror-deen]
Traditional Ozolithian
Translation - Hound/Canine of Great Size
Expedition Venus, who are the reason the colony of Aelusia was established, recorded the first sighting of these creatures. With what little can be gathered from Brittania Deverey's journal, shortly before her decent into madness, the creature is all black appearing to ooze and bleed a thick, almost liquid black smoke. Its body ranges anywhere from 10 to 15 feet in length with three sets of two legs lining the sides of its body. The tail measures approximately 3 ft in length and has a single barb at the end, similar to a scorpion. Its head features the elongated snout common in many canines particularly among jackals. The top of the head, however, lacks any muscle fur or skin, revealing the bone of the skull and slowly grading into fur and flesh as one draws their eyes downward to the bottom of its head. It has a forked tongue that sits behind two rows of serrated teeth.
The creature does not possess any nails or claws but instead has hands with 5 digits, including thumbs, on its front legs.
Jhoterordenes have two distinctive skeleton configurations. Its bone structure changes, snapping out of place and into another through special ligaments. When the Jhoterordene requires grace, precision, and stealth, it will instinctively shift its bone structure to one that appears almost feline. This "retracting bone structure" then reverts back, looking much more like a canine when it becomes hostile and attacks to make use of increased strength.
The creature does not possess any nails or claws but instead has hands with 5 digits, including thumbs, on its front legs.
Jhoterordenes have two distinctive skeleton configurations. Its bone structure changes, snapping out of place and into another through special ligaments. When the Jhoterordene requires grace, precision, and stealth, it will instinctively shift its bone structure to one that appears almost feline. This "retracting bone structure" then reverts back, looking much more like a canine when it becomes hostile and attacks to make use of increased strength.
"What's wrong with eating?" Brittanya asked and the monster replied in a rasping growl,
"it is a disgusting obligation, the sounds, the tactile sensations...id rather not."
Personality and Behavior
These creatures are highly intelligent, capable of strategic planning and speech. This intelligence is likely bestowed upon them by the Universal Mania that lingers in areas on the border of Lartasia.
These beings were never meant to have such intelligence and their feral tendencies tend to bleed through. Jhoterordenes are creative with their violence, preferring to play with their food. They often create the most elaborate and horrifying methods of torturing their prey. It is unclear why it is they do this. In fact, it seems they don't really know either.
In the journals of Brittanya Deverey, the members of expedition Venus asked the creature why it seeks to torture its prey. It responded with, "If I knew, would it matter?" Implying that it is either instinct of pure enjoyment if the creature was lying.
These methods of torture often depend heavily on the environment they find themselves in when they catch their prey. Toxic plants nearby will often be offered as food to keep their prey alive. Environmental hazards like storms, deadly creatures, and traps nearby are put to use often by placing their prey within that environmental hazard in an attempt to see how they deal with exposure or to see if they are smart enough to get out. Often times they prefer to eat their prey piece by piece learning what injuries their prey can endure, what organs cab be removed, and how much blood loss they can sustain before death. They then adapt to prolong their life while they are consumed.They find suffering delightfully entertaining but don't directly seek to kill until they are finished with the meal.
Jhoterordenes do not like to eat and they are remarkably picky eaters when they actually do. They find eating sickening and often try to hide themselves when having a meal. If it is able to collect more than one victim it will often carry the meal it chooses away from the others or indulge in its meal with its back turned if it cannot find a suitable, secluded area to feed.
It does not kill quickly. It usually likes to watch its pray squirm and struggle while it eats it alive to keep its mind off of the eating. It despises cold food, preferring to eat its meals at 32°C and above, which is likely where this habit developed as the heart still beats maintaining body heat.
Jhoterordenes are generally passive when not hungry but are aware of the fact that they will eventually have to eat. In recent years some have led adventures astray and followed them simply to be entertained until they are ready for their meal. The older Jhoterordenes find sentient beings remarkably boring unless they are hunting them, and will give information truthfully if asked on a full stomach. This doesn't mean that Jhoterordenes are only aggressive or will only attack when they are hungry. They will attack anything on sight if they feel but it has either encroached upon their territory or offended them in some way and its unclear exactly what offends them, due to the eldritch changes made by The Void Stranger.
No one knows whether or not the creature Expedition Venus encountered is still at large but it is clear that something does prowl the border of The Flickerwood Orchard. Whatever it is, It waits. many individuals have disappeared or have been found mauled and killed in the same brutal ways the Jhoterordene is known for.
These beings were never meant to have such intelligence and their feral tendencies tend to bleed through. Jhoterordenes are creative with their violence, preferring to play with their food. They often create the most elaborate and horrifying methods of torturing their prey. It is unclear why it is they do this. In fact, it seems they don't really know either.
In the journals of Brittanya Deverey, the members of expedition Venus asked the creature why it seeks to torture its prey. It responded with, "If I knew, would it matter?" Implying that it is either instinct of pure enjoyment if the creature was lying.
These methods of torture often depend heavily on the environment they find themselves in when they catch their prey. Toxic plants nearby will often be offered as food to keep their prey alive. Environmental hazards like storms, deadly creatures, and traps nearby are put to use often by placing their prey within that environmental hazard in an attempt to see how they deal with exposure or to see if they are smart enough to get out. Often times they prefer to eat their prey piece by piece learning what injuries their prey can endure, what organs cab be removed, and how much blood loss they can sustain before death. They then adapt to prolong their life while they are consumed.They find suffering delightfully entertaining but don't directly seek to kill until they are finished with the meal.
Jhoterordenes do not like to eat and they are remarkably picky eaters when they actually do. They find eating sickening and often try to hide themselves when having a meal. If it is able to collect more than one victim it will often carry the meal it chooses away from the others or indulge in its meal with its back turned if it cannot find a suitable, secluded area to feed.
It does not kill quickly. It usually likes to watch its pray squirm and struggle while it eats it alive to keep its mind off of the eating. It despises cold food, preferring to eat its meals at 32°C and above, which is likely where this habit developed as the heart still beats maintaining body heat.
Jhoterordenes are generally passive when not hungry but are aware of the fact that they will eventually have to eat. In recent years some have led adventures astray and followed them simply to be entertained until they are ready for their meal. The older Jhoterordenes find sentient beings remarkably boring unless they are hunting them, and will give information truthfully if asked on a full stomach. This doesn't mean that Jhoterordenes are only aggressive or will only attack when they are hungry. They will attack anything on sight if they feel but it has either encroached upon their territory or offended them in some way and its unclear exactly what offends them, due to the eldritch changes made by The Void Stranger.
No one knows whether or not the creature Expedition Venus encountered is still at large but it is clear that something does prowl the border of The Flickerwood Orchard. Whatever it is, It waits. many individuals have disappeared or have been found mauled and killed in the same brutal ways the Jhoterordene is known for.
A Curse of Knowledge
Because these creatures once were normal everyday fauna their intelligence often gets the better of them. At its worst it can lead to their downfall. A Jhoterordene that has recently fed often gives in too philosophical musings and ponders various elements of its existence. It does not reach any groundbreaking conclusions nor is anything particularly profound about what it thinks.
It is usually just the case of another delusion it has, believing itself to be intellectually superior to everyone it meets. In these particular situations asking it a riddle no matter how simple will often lead to a means of escape. It has great difficulty thinking about answers to riddles and will spend a great deal of time trying to do so. It will be so lost in thought that it will not realize you are leaving, as it is desperately tries to solve your riddle.
This particular tactic does not work with older Jhoterordenes, as they likely have been tricked in this manner before. It is remarkably effective at handling younger Jhoterordenes in the juvenile stage of transformation, who will spend so much time thinking about it, prolonging their hunger, that they starve to death.
It is usually just the case of another delusion it has, believing itself to be intellectually superior to everyone it meets. In these particular situations asking it a riddle no matter how simple will often lead to a means of escape. It has great difficulty thinking about answers to riddles and will spend a great deal of time trying to do so. It will be so lost in thought that it will not realize you are leaving, as it is desperately tries to solve your riddle.
This particular tactic does not work with older Jhoterordenes, as they likely have been tricked in this manner before. It is remarkably effective at handling younger Jhoterordenes in the juvenile stage of transformation, who will spend so much time thinking about it, prolonging their hunger, that they starve to death.
The myth
Legends and myths have been built up around these creatures but their name itself comes from an ancient myth that centers around a mythological being referred to as The Jhoterordene Lord. Jhoterordene is a word used to describe canines of unusually large size.
The Lord of Great Hounds is a tale many children in Ozlith would have heard while growing up. The Lord had no name but was the faithful companion of a long-forgotten folk hero. His tale has withstood the test of time, traveling with the people of Ozlith when the empire fell.
While there are numerous elements to the story and even numerous acts to the overall plot, they all seem to have the same subject which is loyalty and respect. Children were often taught this tale to instill the same values in them. For whatever reason, Jhoterordenes refer to themselves as The Jhoterordene Lord and firmly believe they are the only one of their kind.
In Lartasia, more recent Legends have begun to emerge teaching how to deal with these particularly vicious creatures. Shintzu, the head of one of the most prolific Daimyo in eastern Lartasia, came across one of these creatures on his land.
He confronted the Beast directly not realizing what it was he was dealing with. Luckily for him he was wearing a handkerchief given to him by a lover he was courting. It was purple, a color that Jhoterordenes find revolting. This is why the Jhoterordene refused to follow Expedition Venus. Aelusia is filled with purple.
While there are numerous elements to the story and even numerous acts to the overall plot, they all seem to have the same subject which is loyalty and respect. Children were often taught this tale to instill the same values in them. For whatever reason, Jhoterordenes refer to themselves as The Jhoterordene Lord and firmly believe they are the only one of their kind.
In Lartasia, more recent Legends have begun to emerge teaching how to deal with these particularly vicious creatures. Shintzu, the head of one of the most prolific Daimyo in eastern Lartasia, came across one of these creatures on his land.
He confronted the Beast directly not realizing what it was he was dealing with. Luckily for him he was wearing a handkerchief given to him by a lover he was courting. It was purple, a color that Jhoterordenes find revolting. This is why the Jhoterordene refused to follow Expedition Venus. Aelusia is filled with purple.
He called out to the beast,
"why do you not strike at me, demon?"
"Your disgusting taste in attire. Were I starving, i'd still not grace you with a death at my hands."
A Hint Of Truth
Like all legends these do hold a hint of truth and it can easily be used for information on how to better handle an attack from a Jhoterordene. First and foremost every single one of them believes they are the only one alive and there are no others. They refuse to acknowledge each other's existence. Some even speculate that they have an innate, almost sixth sense, that allows them to avoid encroaching on each other's territories so they do not have to address the fact that others exist.
Feeding their delusions, especially that of their royalty and strength, can easily prolong your life and persuade them to assist you as they're loyal subject. This particular tactic does have a degree of failure. Whether it succeeds or not heavily depends on the last time the Jhoterordene has eaten.
Feeding their delusions, especially that of their royalty and strength, can easily prolong your life and persuade them to assist you as they're loyal subject. This particular tactic does have a degree of failure. Whether it succeeds or not heavily depends on the last time the Jhoterordene has eaten.
Purple
It is unclear why they react the way they do to the color purple. Purple is a color that quite literally makes them nauseous. It disgusts them, and makes you look significantly less appetizing. This information can save your life as having a simple purple handkerchief can stop them dead in their tracks mid charge. This fact is one of the major reasons why almost all Daimyo in eastern Lartasia have purple in their house colors. For this particular legend, it is a hundred percent true.Remove these ads. Join the Worldbuilders Guild
I can easily picture one of these things becoming grumpy if their prey dies too early. 'takes all the enjoyment out of this dreary activity.' It's nice to know if I walk through mania wearing purple, I'll be relatively safe.
YUP! A lot of the extremely powerful monsters in the setting have special things that the players can do to turn a hard fight into an easy one if they just put in the work to learn it. Special weaknesses, or in this case, strange behaviors that expose it.