Codex of the Rabid Ancients Part I - Printable Version +- StarFell Forums (https://forum.starfell.online) +-- Forum: StarFell Forums (https://forum.starfell.online/forumdisplay.php?fid=1) +--- Forum: Lore (https://forum.starfell.online/forumdisplay.php?fid=3) +---- Forum: World Lore (https://forum.starfell.online/forumdisplay.php?fid=4) +----- Forum: Fauna Lore (https://forum.starfell.online/forumdisplay.php?fid=16) +----- Thread: Codex of the Rabid Ancients Part I (/showthread.php?tid=54)

Codex of the Rabid Ancients Part I - Delmar - 07-09-2024 Codex of the Rabid Ancients Part I Taken from Pinterest; Kohl Hall.  “As I’ve studied the dominion of our realms, I’ve come across a truly horrific realization. This world is much older, much darker, than what is often presented.” - A Frostborn Scholar Origins of the Codex It was said that the tomes, translated to the common tongue as the Codex of Ancients, were discovered by a band of Frostborn. In the pursuit of exploring the north, they came across an ancient cave of ice and worn stone. Amidst the center of the cave, the skeleton of a long-dead being was found bearing with them a rotten satchel. Within was a set of tomes, each inscribed with eldritch markings. The vast sum of these pages bore a language that not even the wisest of their kin could decipher. Yet, after one fateful day, nearly 200 years after the first finding of the set of Codex's'. A stranger came to grace these nomadic folk. Stories tell of an entity, hewn of stone-like skin, and eyes like two shards of glass. They say this stranger sought the scholar that first found the tome, allowing his mind to see through that which was not known by the many. Yet, this enlightenment was something young. For upon his understanding, did this stranger depart as soon as he had arrived, drifting away amid a roaring blizzard. However, the scholar Elibor Harthak came to decipher the inner workings of the tome slowly. Though slow was his copying of the book, the first tome of such has now been rumored to be spread. Granting insight into the otherworldly monstrosities and horrors that plague the material realm. Of creatures that lurk at the ready, and beings that hunger for that which they have lacked. Pt I The first of the translated tomes describes the most gluttonous of the ravenous Ancients. Renowned for their constitution and rabid strength, these beasts reside near mountains and deep taiga forests Redlines The above information is only to be known, either through the roleplay of the Scholar; or if one were to find one of the transcribed tomes. Belrax - The Gluttonous Giant[ET] Rarity; Epic - Legendary  by Diana Franco When the realm was meager and its inhabitants were few, there was a story of one of the first Frostborn—a shepherd by the name of Daramir Tallhorn—who wandered the vast terrains with a flock of goats. He traveled through snow, fjords, and foothills, sleeping under the cover of trees, with the sky as his roof and the lush landscape as his walls. Despite his freedom and wide-ranging adventures, he lacked one essential thing: food. Sustenance was sparse, and his herd of goats needed nourishment to continue their travels. But the fields bore only scraps, and the lakes turned to puddles beneath the mighty hunger of his herd. Soon, the shepherd became withered, his lips parched from thirst, his gullet empty from the gnawing hunger that consumed him. Yet he persevered until his travels led him to the site of an ancient ruin. There, on the ground, lay the burnt and desecrated remnants of a once writhing eldritch entity.  It called to him—the last vestiges of a once living entity—urging him to consume its power, to take the remaining strength as a means to guide his roaming flock. From the blood of the ancient, his vision grew clearer; from the flesh, his form stretched and elongated. He grew taller, stronger, and filled with an indomitable sense of purpose. But in his hunger, he had fully transformed. No longer a mere mortal, but rather, one now blessed with the power of the Ancients.  From the remaining scraps,  the most gluttonous of his shepherded herd came to wander. Most found the power to be too much, their bodies transforming into writhing, slug-like, masses. Others, however, transformed into something different. Semi-sentient goats, that bore a now fledgling mortal intelligence.  This Lesser Ancient, once empathetic, became nothing more than a ravenous mass. It is said that he remains entrapped in a glacier on an unknown isle and that his gluttonous forces seek to free him from his icy prison. His occasional struggle, caused the lands nearby to shake and shudder with earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.  Those who interact with this Lesser Ancient find that he embodies the distinct domains of Giants, Gluttony, and Goats. This Lesser Ancient and his followers are seldom interacted with, due to their simple and gluttonous nature. Redlines This creature can only be played by ET, with Senior ET/LT or Management approval.  Cyclops[ET] Rarity; Rare By Vince Serrano  Legends tell of a Kobold archer who roamed the mountains, known for his fleetness of foot and his skill with a bow. This young rabbit wandered far and wide through the mountains until one day, he stumbled upon a vast and silent wood. There, he noticed a set of deep, heavy tracks, wandering through the broken brambles of the dark forest. Driven by a desire to etch his name into the annals of history, the young rabbit ventured deeper into the woods. Eventually, it is said, he found the large pit where the Gluttonous Giant resided. With pride and cockiness, the skilled ranger descended further, until he located the resting place of the Lesser Ancient. The giant lay in slumber, with only one eye remaining open. From this point, the rabbit grew careless. In reckless pride, he shot an arrow at the giant's eye. The bolt struck its mark, causing the Gluttonous One to reel awake in pain and anger. His movements shook the earth, bent the trees, and sent animals fleeing in terror. Overcome with fear, the cocky kobold fled into the night after his cowardly attack on the giant. In response, the giant tore the bleeding eye from its socket, leaving a gruesome hole where it once lay. Yet, like much of his flesh, the eye had already begun to bear a small sliver of sentience. Like a farmer planting a seed, the ruinous giant shoveled stone and dirt, creating a pocket to plant this seed of gluttony. Accounts differ on how the Cyclops came to rise. Some say the stones split, and throughout the region, hungry masses with great maws and single eyes came to then ravage the land. Others claim that the Cyclops emerged after the kobold returned, captured by Graka’luk, and fed as fertilizer to the giant's garden. Regardless of their origin, it is confirmed that these beasts rose from the earth, acting as a deterrent to those who sought to settle in forests and mountains. Much like their father before them, they developed a proclivity for stealing cattle and sheep, guarding these creatures fiercely. Physicality Cyclopes are always at least 20 feet tall and often have two mouths—one on their stomach and one where a mouth would normally be. Due to their singular eye, they have a limited sense of sight; to compensate for this, their sense of smell is extremely heightened. Their strength is considered greater than most, allowing them to easily destroy most wooden structures and, with great effort, even some lesser stone structures. Mentality While most Cyclopes are often seen as merely murderous and ravenous, there are a select few capable of communion, and, very rarely, these creations of gluttony can be reasoned with. Though most are compelled to consume anything in sight, they often find themselves guarding and protecting sheep and cattle. These Cyclopes frequently take large herds, amassing their own "Great Herd," much like their father did many centuries ago. Redlines These creatures can only be played by ET.  The Mimic Rarity; Uncommon By Sam Keiser It's said that many ages ago when Belrax was still twisting and growing in power, a group of warriors stumbled upon him. In a moment of fear and terror, they attacked the slow-minded creature. The result was a bloody battle, ending with the deaths of all the adventurers except for one, Joren Mimik. Escaping with a portion of the giant's severed tongue, Joren took it back to the Astral Elves for examination and documentation. However, his escape did not last long. Unbeknownst to him, as he placed the tongue into an empty box, it began to grow anew, congealing and clutching to the wood—a parasite that had wormed its way into its new host. Slowly, it transformed the box into a false chest with a ravenous desire to eat and grow. On the eve of his final night, just a day's ride from his destination, Joren fell into a trap of his own making. The rattling of the small coffer awoke him from a deep sleep. Confused, he opened the chest, revealing a writhing mass of tendrils and teeth that latched onto him. The result was fatal, leaving him as food for the creature he had inadvertently created: the Mimic. Physicality Mimics take on the appearance of mundane objects, most commonly they range from as small as a jewelry box to as large as a wardrobe. However, there have been rumors or reports of Mimics that have reached larger and smaller sizes. They often bear an exterior that takes on a durability akin to stone. Granting them a greater armor than most would come to surmise, their mundane appearance attributed to the goop they produce. Lastly, their bite is most recognized, capable of denting iron plates.  Mentality Mimics are mostly sedentary creatures, being able to survive without food for years. Often leading them to reside in the same place, thus they are solitary hunters, rarely seen in groups.  Redlines These creatures cannot be tamed Mimics may only be played by players if they are door or chest sized, anything greater or smaller must be played by an ET The outside shell of these creatures is as strong as stone, though often look's akin to wood or metal.  Graka’luk Rarity; Uncommon By Russell Dongjun Lu  These fiends often act as the underlings to the great lord of gluttony, and it is rumored that there is a group that aims to free their lord. When Belrax first came to be, the humble shepherd and his herd stumbled upon the desecrated body of a dying Ancient. Driven by hunger, the shepherd feasted upon the corpse to sustain himself and continue guarding his flock. His goats, ever loyal, did not abandon their stalwart shepherd. Instead, they grazed upon the corrupted grass, which had been soaked in vile, sanguine fluids that held fragments of tantalizing power. For most, their bodies mutated into grotesque blobs, unable to bear the weight of the immense power bestowed upon them. But for a select few—those who consumed both the grass and gore—their bodies transformed and transmuted. Their limbs elongated, their front legs turned into clawed hands, and their snouts lengthened as their teeth became sharp and carnivorous. These creatures became known as the Graka’luk, the goatmen of the Giant, who came to terrorize the realms of mortals. Often traveling in large herds and tribes, to see one was to know that many were nearby. While most tend to become rabid beasts, others are said to develop intelligence. Folktales even mention a particular band of Graka'luk, the Ravenous Rams'. A group rumored, to hold a desire to free their captive master.   Physicality Graka’luk always stand well above 9 to 10 feet tall, their forms covered in thick fleece and sturdy muscle. This grants them strength on par with a grizzly bear, and their bite is powerful enough to dent and pierce through plate armor. A headbutt from these creatures is capable of cracking bones upon impact. However, despite their immense power, they have a particular weakness with bludgeoning weapons. Additionally, due to their heightened senses, they have a physical aversion to mint, always avoiding places where it is present. Mentality Graka’luk bears intelligence on par with a Neanderthal and holds a simplistic, and basic way of thinking. Thus they are often seen wielding tools, either scavenged from those they have killed, or created from brute-force methods.  Redlines These creatures cannot be tamed through mundane and normal methods These creatures hold a repulsion towards mint, often avoiding places with mint around them. This is not common knowledge but could be learned from the actual Codex of Lesser Ancients.  Graka’luk are always 9-10 ft tall, and bear strength on par with a bear.  Graka’luk hold a particular weakness towards bludgeoning weapons Unless influenced through outside or magical means, Graka’luk will always hold a tribal level of thinking. RE: Codex of the Rabid Ancients Part I - MeteorDragon - 08-22-2024 Accepted.