February Beastiary 2023

Introduction:

Here is a small beastiary of creatures I have documented that exist past The Barrier in my dreams. While the order in which they appear mimics the order of the words that reminded me of them, it is not an indication of the order of when or where I met them. Some are related to each other, and some are existent in their own worlds. I will leave a small blurb here to serve as a quick bio for each, while all other relevant information, including AI generated art of the creature and procured music that fits them, will be on the specific page of the entity in question. There truly are some interesting things out there past The Barrier...

The Beastiary:

1. Celestial Phoenix

Bio:

What I originally perceived to be just mythology, or perhaps an exaggerated concept for a legendary bird, turned into a study about such a fundamental, important aspect of the universe at large. There wouldn't be life without these creatures creating the very sun that warms our planet, and the beautiful stars of the night sky. For each and every one one of them, there is one of these vibrant, cosmic creatures that call it home.

2. Tigear

Bio:

Fearful should be those who find themselves wandering into a tigear den. I remember seeing just how quick they move, and capabilities their claws have when tearing through the environment. To think such a little experiment would breed a species that causes terror throughout the wilds.

3. Wood Wolf

Bio:

These wolves are very sweet and interesting creatures. It took a while to understand that there wasn't a wolf behind their elegantly carved masks, and are in fact purely made of plant life. Perhaps they are an elemental of sorts? They have such massive horns too! Almost longer than their whole bodies!

4. Oroxortoise

Bio:

Oroxortoise? It is as it sounds. It appears to be a turtle-like creature as the name somewhat implies, but despite sharing similarities through the shells it has, this thing is nothing like a turtle. In fact they are hyper aggressive and extremely fast--shockingly so. Attacking it didn't do much either. They are tough bastards.

5. Rainbow Wyvern

Bio:

These dragons are awesome! Once I saw one I knew I wouldn't ever forget them. They change the color of storms, or maybe they themselves are the storm? I just know the way the light from the lightning that flickered around them refracted off their scales was something I wish everyone could witness.

6. Shadow

Bio:

These things are creepy. I noticed them when I was roaming around abandoned structures at night. They don't appear to want to cause harm, or at least they don't seem capable of it. They like to follow me around though and whisper haunting thoughts to me. I kinda wish they would allow me to explore in peace, but at the same time I can't help but feel like some of them are familiar to me.

7. Guridokyatcha

Bio:

These guys have sarcasm and wit that matches even my crass humor sometimes. I want to say they are a little bit crude, but it seems like it is--mostly--good natured ribbing. They take pride in punishing the greedy, which I can certainly get behind. They are pretty rare too! Makes sense for a mythical yokai made of gold and shiny stuff.

8. Xixil

Bio:

I don't really know much about the Xixil outside of what I could ascertain from their appearance in my dreams. At least ones that were unrelated to concepts I had tied to my writing. In fact, they seem omnipresent, as if they are a kind of fauna that exist in all dreams. They also seem to be a ready snack for nightmarish creatures that stir my anxiety; an unfortunate truth I've witnessed a few times now.

9. Eldraekon

Bio:

If there was one thing that scares me more than the hounds that skulk the halls and roads of this strange dimension, it's these terrifying beasts. Stronger, faster, and bigger than the hounds, they are incredibly difficult to escape once spotted. I've found it easier to just not be seen in the first place.

10. Liminal Hound

Bio:

Exploration of the strange spaces in between dreams and worlds, where familiar aspects of either dream or world mesh together and become tangled in unnatural ways, are always halted due to these things roaming around. They are certainly not friendly, and pose a pretty consistent threat to my travels through this dimension.

11. Tipit

Bio:

I have always been a cat person, so these things were always fun to come across in more surreal locations past The Barrier. They are a bit sassy, and have their own goals and intentions at times, but as a cat owner I've come to expect that behavior. These ones have the ability to read souls though, but I mean one could argue normal cats can do that too.

12. Zabetos

Bio:

When the Zebatos first appeared within the coastal regions of my dreams I mistook it for a massive hurricane. In a way it is, one that is centered around this titan sized creature. I couldn't even begin to tell you how one would begin to deal with this creature. At the end of the day, the only sensible thing to do was run, especially when its roar alone can wipe out whole villages.

13. Warped Memory

Bio:

Memories from my past, My personal hell. Servants of the true me, Their images are familiar, yet twisted. In my nightmare I see their hatred, In the waking world I feel their anguish. Even when I am awake, Safe from the darkness, I hear their guttural shrieks, From beyond The Barrier.

14. F3N3X-1.0.3v

Bio:

As an electronics engineer, I find these little guys quite interesting to examine while playing around with them, or at times even while repairing them. Seldom do I get to enjoy creatures that are robotic in nature, yet maintain an animal like state of mind. It is a wonder how this species even came to be, considering how advanced the tech they use is.

15. Stone Body

Bio:

Yet another entity that appears to have been created instead of naturally occuring, however unlike the robotic foxes I have seen, these guys are hard to determine their origin. Both who they were created by, and the kind of technology they use, is completely unknown to me. It definitely isn't modern technology as I understand it, but hey at least they have taken a liking to the people they hang around now.

16. Onynx

Bio:

Unfortunately these guys aren't friendly, because they are kinda adorable. At least from a distance they are when they are playing around with each other, but it isn't like that at all when they detect you and begin to try and chase you down. It gets even worse, because apparently they shoot quills and can grow to the size of a car! I've learned my lesson now.

17. Raderon

Bio:

Much like the Zabetos, I wasn't sure if there was some major natural disaster happening or something else similar to that until I saw the eldritch beast for myself. The locals told me of a god that was buried within the earth, but I didn't realize that a creature of this size, one that could carry mountains on its back, was what they were referring to. I don't remember that much aside from the only option I had in order to survive was to flee.

18. Terriot

Bio:

If there was ever a creature I would want to take with me past The Barrier, this is the one. I mean just...look at it. They are absolutely adorable, and are also fiercely loyal. I enjoyed every second palling around with the Terriot I had come across. They are so fluffy too! I may be a cat person, but I struggle to even look away from its curiosity filled face.

19. Origore

Bio:

What an actually disgusting creature. Slimey, sticky, messy, and above all else they are horrifically stinky. The moss they create seems to spread pretty quickly, but isn't immediately toxic to the touch unlike the slime those blobs produce. I couldn't recommend getting stuck in a contaminated zone with these things, if anything to avoid that god awful smell.

20. Prismatic Fae

Bio:

I remember being pretty hurt once and meeting one of these faes. I hardly even noticed that it had landed on me due to just how soft and gentle it was. Were it not for their flashy wings, I don't think I would have noticed it--not until it healed me and offered to help me along the beaten path I was on.

21. Mycelium Messenger

Bio:

I have seen many interesting utilizations of different species across the worlds beyond The Barrier, but using mycelium as a messaging system is by far the most unique method of using a species' capabilities. That being said, once explained to me, it kinda makes sense. The little guys are an interesting bunch too, though are kinda skittish to being touched.

22. Borgor

Bio:

This is a...strange...creature. Was I hungry when crossing The Barrier when I came across this monster?

23. Krempto Swarm

Bio:

I already am not a fan of getting wet and absolutely do not enjoy swimming, but these little scary swarmers are an even better reason to just stay on the beaches. While I've never been attacked by a swarm, I have seen the victims of their attacks, and I think I would rather just take my chances outside of the waters.

24. Leperditious Lamb

Bio:

This creature is actually an entity pulled from The Barrier within my best friend, and most of my notes here in the beastiary are pulled from his descriptions and experiences. While I have yet to encounter this creature in my own worlds, I have no doubt that it will appear now that I have knowledge of its existence.

25. T.F.T.H. Parasite

Bio:

I am pretty sure I know where my mind pulled the concept of this creature from, and it was terrifying running into it. They are kinda like Origore's on steroids, and are very toxic to the touch. Fighting the creatures that spawn from the flesh isn't hard, but not getting touched in the process is the main issue. Escaping to space was the only real method of not contracting the parasite.

26. T.F.T.H. Flesh Moon

Bio:

Even in space the universe doesn't seem to be safe. I remember escaping, but then the planet transformed. I think in reality the flesh isn't that quick, but the end result was this planet chomper coming after me! For every cute and cuddly thing past The Barrier, you have these world ending aberrations that are the apex predators of all my dream worlds.

27. Creeper

Bio:

You'd think a predator like this wouldn't be such a scaredy cat, even when it's bigger than me, but that is very much what it was. It kinda reminded me of a boxer dog my dad owned; big and tough until a loud noise or something like that spooked him. Luckily I have a really good sixth sense, and rarely struggled to identify creepers from your standard plants and foliage.

Credits

Art: WOMBO's dream-AI Art Module

Music: Michael Ghelfi Studios & Bardify on Youtube

Special thanks to my bestfriend for lending me the terrifying species found in #24 which he discovered in his own dream!