Prak - Monster

Monster Summary

• Size: Cat/Dog
• Motivation/Temperament: Defensive
• Preferred Environment: Population centers, northern (cooler) regions
• Prevalence: Common
• Danger Level: Individual if solo | Small Group if in a horde
• Attack Description: Forms a mass with armor out; mob anyone vulnerable or down
• Monster Core Size and Appearance: Size of grain of rice; variety of dingy colors

I recently came across a rather violent little creature in the city of Dreza. One of my traveling companions stopped to take a closer look at this curious creature and it promptly bit his hand and ran off with the fellow's lunch.

Description

The locals call this beast a Prak. It looks much like the rodents I’d see in the pantry as a child, stealing bits of cheese and bread. Only these were much larger with a fascinating row of what seemed to be armor plates running along their spine from the top of their head to where the tail starts. In contrast to the small creatures that would raid my mother’s kitchen, this furry thief came up to a man’s knee and had teeth that rivaled that of my father’s hunting dogs. If the teeth weren’t enough, the rows of plates along its back gave the vermin a truly menacing appearance.

After stealing the morsel from my friend, the pest darted away far faster than any man could hope to pursue. I attempted to give chase but it flashed into a gutter drain before I was anywhere near it, along with the snack.

Habitat and Nuisance

As I stayed in the city I saw more of the Prak lurking about. They seemed to dwell in the rain gutters and sewers, coming out only in search of food. Whenever they detected any large creature, human or otherwise, they’d quickly scurry to their underground hideout.

I'm told that they inhabit most of the cities in northern Aropria, preferring the cooler and temperate climates and abundance of food wastes to gorge on. They’ll wreak havoc on food supplies if left unchecked, and when they group together they can destroy a city’s food supplies in a matter of days. Many towns have run into trouble exterminating them. Picking them off one at a time is ineffective as they breed at an alarming rate, and when they group together to form a horde it is truly a sight to behold.

Danger and Attack

I was able to convince an The Ion’cavar member along with a small troop of guards to take me on a Prak hunt in the sewers below the city. They gave me armoured boots that covered my legs above the knee. When we arrived at their nest the Prak began to run around madly. At first glance their movements seemed totally uncoordinated, but when I looked closer I found that they were not fleeing, but pressing their bodies together, side by side, with the armor on their backs forming a continuous shield. The armor, combined with the constant motion, made striking them with swords and spears almost impossible. One of the younger guards was hit in the back of the knee by one of the rodents and fell into the mass of Prak. They fell on him immediately, their long teeth finding the gaps in his armor, cutting deep. He was dead before any of us could move to help him. We retreated to the surface quickly before more of us could fall to the onslaught. I asked the The Ion’cavar what would be done about the horde now and he simply said there was only one way to deal with a horde that size, fire, and walked away. The only way to create a fire of that size in the damp sewers, that I am aware of, is through unbelievable skilled congruence casting. I decided right then and there that I didn’t want anymore to do with these demons as long as I lived.

This world is truly wonderful and beautiful, but there are times when creatures like the Prak give me pause to consider our place in the grand scheme of things. The Prak are by no means intelligent but there is an unparalleled drive to survive in spite of all odds that is terrifying to behold.

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Cities with Prak infestations: