Shadow Dogs

They lurk in the night, stealing children from houses and killing Canlesiz for sport. They tear apart forests for the pure thrill. And, as odd as it sounds, they are based in real life.

Summary

The myth of the Shadow Dogs is complex and extremely varied, but the basis is that there are creatures (similar to dogs on Earth) who are made of pure shadow but can manipulate the living world. The general consensus is that they were created when a goddess created Romnuchic, but had to balance the light of the world with darkness, and thus made the Shadow Dogs. These creatures are extremely intelligent but very chaotic, and often hunt for their own enjoyment. Many say that they will arrive in a settlement from the forests beyond if that settlement has ever been corrupted with hate, fear, or malice.

Historical Basis

Historians and scientists speculate that the legend originated from sightings of wood wolves that were seen in the shadows and misidentified. However, the truth of the matter is that these creatures are very real. They're called turokawiz, and while they were actually created by Canlesiz themselves, they are just as dangerous as the myth says they are. These are creatures of nightmares, and the goddess who ruled over Romnuchic would send visions to Canlesiz before the turokawiz were created as warnings for what was to come.

Spread

The reach of this myth is planet-wide, and almost every child hears it from one person or another before they are in their teens.

Variations & Mutation

There are countless variations of the Shadow Dogs myth, so many that you may never hear the same story from two people, even within the same settlement. Parents will often use it to scare their children into behaving, while leaders will use them as a metaphor for a corrupted government. Some say that the goddess created them by accident, while other say it was in hatred towards the Canlesiz.

In Literature

Many poems, especially early ones, have been written surrounding this myth, many of them from first-hand accounts of someone seeing a Shadow Dog. Like all myths, several books have been written around the premise of these creatures, most notably an older text from 304 depicting one young Canlesiz' journey to defeat the evil of the Shadow Dogs once and for all, named appropriately "Shadows."

In Art

Superstitions still surround these creatures, making many artists afraid to depict them, but the braver ones have created spectacular paintings and sculptures about the myth. A 15 ft. tall statue of a Shadow Dog was built as a gift for a leader who had a particular interest in the legend and now stands in the town square of that settlement to this day. Not many songs have been written about Shadow Dogs specifically, although quite a few musicians credit the myth as an inspiration for their darker pieces.

Date of First Recording

While the true first recording date is unknown, some of the older texts date back to the early 200s

Related Species

• Turokaw