( CREATURES )

[wolfofmidgard]

"Monsters"

Dragons Coming from deep within the worlds, among the roots of Yggdrasil, dragons are winged creatures who are, usually, extremely high strung. Dragons of a certain age, who fight their way out of the roots of the World Tree, often take up caves among the Realms and hoard treasure (attracted by the glinting light, but they also eat metal to strengthen their scales). Most breathe fire, but some have been documented as breathing ice or even spitting up a caustic, burning fluid. They have not been seen in some time, and when born are immediately imprinted on the first creature they see. Their scales are described as one of the hardest substances in all of the Realms. Draugr Undead vikings, Draugr retain some semblance of intelligence after death and enjoy causing suffering among the living. Draugr have a wide variety of abilities and often jealously guard their graves, where all of their worldly treasures were buried, similar to how a dragon guards their hoard. But they are not inconvenienced by their graves and are not completely tied to them, and they can also move about in daylight (though they show an affinity for the night). Among their abilities is shapeshifting (they can make themselves taller, and even turn into other species of creatures), becoming intangible (black smoke), and even magic (entering the dreams of the living, changing the weather, temporarily turning day into night, and seeing into the future). They carry with them the stench of decay and cannot be wounded by mundane weaponry, and, most importantly, they can only be killed by a true hero. Draugr do not kill others with weaponry — rather, they prefer to kill the living with their bare hands, or by shapeshifting into something with natural weapons such as claws. They subsist by eating the living. Someone who is killed by a draugr will become one. Kokko Birds of iron and fire, Kokko are intensely territorial and have a wingspan of 25 ft. They prefer areas of great natural heat, such as hot springs and volcanoes, and can cause eruptions when riled. Permanent death is impossible, as they will melt and reform a week or so later. But even then, they can only be affected by a hero wielding an iron blade. Kokko lay a single iron egg only once every few years (living alone until then), and often, the chick inside is not strong enough to break the shell. But it cannot die, either, and so lives forever trapped inside its metal prison, which (unless touched) is similar in appearance to any volcanic rock. Kraken Dwelling deep within the oceans of several Realms, Kraken, too, have not been seen in quite some time. They are territorial creatures who, in ancient times, would attack ships that they perceived as a threat. Kraken have a fair amount of magic inherent in them and are able to see perfectly in the dark abyss of the oceans. They're intelligent and tenacious, and can live to be quite ancient. Trolls There are several types of trolls. Some more than ten feet tall with two heads, some of them human-sized with an affinity for hiding. Trolls seem to have an ancestral hatred for humans, and will attack one on sight. They eat mostly the local wildlife, and have underground dens to call home. Their night-vision is extremely powerful, making venturing into their dens a risky proposition. In the heaviest winter months, trolls mostly keep to their dens — the Urdahl family believes that they hibernate — which gives nature a nice time to recuperate. Unlike Giants, who much more resemble Midgardians or Asgardians, Trolls look rather primitive, as if carved clumsily from stone. Winter Wolves Stellan Urdahl believed that they originally came from Niflheimr, the home Realm of the frost and rock giants. About six feet tall, when full grown, the winter wolves have a pack oriented mindset and never travel alone, usually hunting in groups of four or five. Their nickname comes from their white-blur, stiff-looking fur, which ice occasionally freezes onto due to their low body temperature. They also have exceptionally huge, amber-colored eyes. Unlike trolls, they aren't always a threat, and peaceful encounters have been recorded. Winter wolves are magical beasts, inherently, and are completely unaffected by the cold.