Bestiary

The bestiary acts as a general compendium of most living beings, which roam Eseron and, especially, Eldland. The first bestiaries were written by hunters and gatherers of long-forgotten settlements, as simple survival guidelines when encountering strange creatures, but nowadays many scholars have taken over such work, filling the current bestiaries with any new knowledge they might have obtained during their travels or personal research of the ecosystems found within the four continents and the many oceans of Eseron.

While such may be the case, all scholars, hunters, and gatherers have created a unified system to classify any creature or being they might cross paths with, based on the rarity of the being, the scale, and the classification it might hold. The rarity determines how common a creature is and how many of the beings exist. The scale is the next important factor, determining the overall scale and size of any living creature one may encounter and how hard or easy it might be to spot in the wild. Lastly, the general classification of the creature is determined and selected. Such selection is based on common traits that creatures might share, such as their behaviour, intelligence, appearance, and more.

Rarity

Common

Most common creatures can be found in large masses throughout the four continents of Eseron or their respective habitats; known by nearly everyone and having been seen or interacted with by many.

Uncommon

Uncommon creatures are those that, while not as frequently seen as common beasts, still inhabit recognisable regions of Eseron. They may appear in lower numbers or only thrive under certain conditions, such as in specific climates, altitudes, or during certain seasons. Many travellers will encounter an uncommon creature multiple times during their lifetimes, though such sightings are often fleeting or limited to particular locales.

Rare

Rare creatures are far less frequently encountered, their existence often whispered of in tales or recorded sparsely in the logs of explorers. They may inhabit isolated territories, avoid interaction with other beings, or require unique environmental factors to survive. Rare creatures are often prized for the mystery surrounding them, as well as the difficulty in studying or even confirming their presence.

Epic

Epic creatures are extraordinary in nature, standing apart from the ordinary patterns of the natural world. They may embody forces of nature, demonstrate remarkable abilities, or be tied to ancient myths and histories. Encounters with epic beings are life-changing events for those who survive them, for such creatures are often immensely powerful, intelligent, or uniquely strange. Few scholars ever document more than a handful of such beings in their lifetimes.

Legendary

Legendary creatures exist on the edge of reality and myth, often known more through song, scripture, and folklore than by verifiable evidence. Their presence is said to shape the fate of entire regions, or even the world itself. While some scholars question whether they walk Eseron at all, hunters and wanderers insist on their truth, recounting sightings of beings whose grandeur and might defy imagination. To encounter a legendary creature is to brush against the very foundation of Eseron’s living history.

Scaling

Miniature

Miniature creatures are the smallest beings one may encounter in Eseron. Often overlooked due to their size, they thrive in hidden places: burrows, undergrowth, cracks in stone, or even within the bodies of larger beasts. Though tiny, many play vital roles in the balance of ecosystems, and some can be surprisingly dangerous in numbers or through the potency of venom or other abilities.

Small

Small creatures are generally no larger than a house cat. They are the most diverse in form and habitat, ranging from nimble prey animals to clever predators. Their size allows them to remain elusive, and they often rely on speed, camouflage, or sheer numbers for survival. Many small creatures live in proximity to settlements, where they are both companions and nuisances alike.

Medium

Medium creatures are of a size comparable to humans and most other humanoids. This scale encompasses a wide array of beasts and beings, from herd animals and forest predators to intelligent species that walk upright. Medium creatures are among the most commonly described in detail within bestiaries, for they are large enough to pose a challenge to the unprepared, yet not so massive as to be unmanageable.

Large

Large creatures tower over humans and are formidable presences within their environments. They are often apex predators, beasts of burden, or territorial guardians of wild regions. Encounters with large creatures demand caution and respect, as even a single strike or movement from such beings can prove lethal.

Gigantic

Gigantic creatures are towering colossi, shaping the land they walk upon and dominating the ecosystems around them. Few can claim to have seen such beings and lived, for their immense size makes them as dangerous as natural disasters. Mountains may tremble beneath their steps, seas churn at their passing, and forests bend to their will. They are rare, awe-inspiring, and often regarded with reverence, fear, or worship.

Classifications

Humanoids

Any creatures that have been classified as Humanoids are beings similarly in body shape and stature to humans. While they often resemble humans, their mentality and behaviour can vary greatly from the thought processes and emotional range of humans, ranging from being more animalistic in nature to being emotionless killers. At the same time, many hunters and scholars have noted an elevated state of intelligence for those beings, as they are often shown to have finer motor skills and can even use traps and tools with ease. Some of those creatures are even capable of speech, communicating with one another and sometimes even other species.

Humanoids
Blemmyae

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Beasts

Many creatures of Eseron are classified as Beasts, their shapes being more animalistic in nature and less humanoid. Most of them are covered by fur or chitinous scales or exoskeletons, while their general behaviour is less intrinsic than that of Humanoids. Instead, those beings act based on their instincts and a quick evaluation of whether they can survive a specific scenario or not. Due to a more instinctive approach, Beasts usually don’t have the highest level of intelligence, with a few exceptions, and rarely have the same level of intelligence as humanoids or other classifications.

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Draconids

Following the ancient legends of what an actual dragon might look like, Draconids are falling into a semi-category, as they hold traits or some resemblance to the dragons of folklore, without anyone actually knowing what a real dragon might look like. As such, most being categorised as Draconids are larger in scale, covered by scales, and often don’t resemble any of the known species of snakes or lizards. Scholars have also noticed a higher level of intelligence within those creatures, as they often use unique hunting methods or even use trickery to fool their prey.

Draconids
To be announced!

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Elementals

Being creatures of legends and myths, Elementals aren’t exactly alive, as their bodies lack a nervous system or organs like those of other creatures; yet, they are seemingly kept alive through the residual influence and energy of the other realms. As such, Elementals don’t conform to the same norms as other creatures, being capable of taking on abstract shapes and forms, while always being made from the raw elements of the world, such as water, ice, fire, stone, and sometimes even air itself. Due to such unique bodies, many of those beings are a rare sight to behold when met, yet one shall be careful around those beings, as their intent isn’t easily readable and their intelligence is often far greater than one could assume.

Elementals
To be announced!

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Occult Beings

Lastly, one may classify a creature as an occult being. Occult beings do not fall into any of the other categories, but are rather beings of folklore stories, myths, and legends, including spirits, undead, vampiric beings and sometimes even the very spiritual representation of Eseron itself. Due to such uniqueness, not a lot is known about those creatures, and meeting one is always a unique event. Yet, one shall treat carefully around those beings, as they can be either friend or foe alike.

Occult Beings
To be announced!