The Dark God

Saklugz

A powerful entity that rules over the Khavasak

Sanaul

A title used by the Dark God

Tehruhk

A title used by the Dark God

The Essence-Forged

Arkuloch

The Dark God's firstborn children

Onguloch

The Dark God's second born children

Arkuloch

Athoch

The second born Arkuloch

Azdrafaus

The third born Arkuloch

Lokaios

The first born Arkuloch

Onguloch

Arikhe

An Onguloch: the belly

Banorg

An Onguloch: the lungs

Geshake

An Onguloch: the stomach

Ibakhin

An Onguloch: the molars

Creations, Military

Agrugag

A large, razor taloned carrion bird used by the Ukni for military purposes, including harassment and pursuing routed armies

Gagruhk

A large species of vulture native to the Uru and Ordagh deserts. The Gagruhk, like the Agrugag, are creations of the Dark God forged from the common vulture. Unlike the Agrugag, which are used for military applications, the Gagruhk spend their entire lives in the Khavasak’s two main desert systems. While they are not used offensively, Gagruhk possess a number of adaptations that make them useful for defensive purposes. The most important of these features is its ability to communicate mentally with other Gagruhk, which, when combined with their heightened taste for human flesh, goad the vultures to attack any humans who try cross the desert without the pheromone pouches used by Ukni soldiers and merchants to ward them off. Once the Gagruhk locate a traveler, they will communicate their location to both other Gagruhk and their Tukbharan handlers, who use the vultures as an information system to monitor passage from the free kingdoms

Guchawyr

The breed of Wyr responsible for maintaining the species' breeding grounds. The Guchawyr’s front and back legs are closer to other four legged creature than the bipedal Lagoswyr, but the back legs are strong enough to support it’s full weight for brief intervals, such as when the are attacked. While the claws on the Guchawyr’s front legs are strong enough to be used for hunting and defense, containing a mild poison that can kill or sedate wild animals, the Guchawyr is the least aggressive of all Wyr species. The food hunted by the Guchawyr is the primary source of nourishment for the breeding grounds, alongside the cannibalized carcasses of other Wyrbhuth

Kuddaba

A grey, wiry, goat-horned biped with near-impenetrable skin that is native to harsh mountain environments around the borders of the Khavasak. The size and color of Kuddaba can vary based on locale, allowing them blend in with the landscape and waylay unsuspecting travelers. Owing to the harsh environment and the wide expanses of territory each Kuddaba needs to find sufficient sustenance, the females will deposit their eggs in the cracks and crevasses of large rocks. These eggs will then emit a scent that passing males will pick up on, allowing them to locate the stones and, in a show of breeding prowess that ensures that only the most resilient of seeds will fertilize the embryo, the males will use their petrous phalluses to break through the rock. This peculiar mating habit explains the mistaken belief that the Kuddaba have intercourse with the rocks themselves

Lagoswyr

A bipedal Wyrspawn that, unlike the other breeds of Wyr, possesses both the capacity to imitate human speech and communicate directly with the Dark God. In addition to their claws, which have opposable thumbs similar to humans, the Lagoswyr can use their tails to deliver devastating puncture wounds. The Lagoswyr often act as emissaries for the Dark God, interacting with human spies and initiating small scale strikes.

Thevruloch

A thin, long-necked creature with a large stomach and a tiny throat, the Thevruloch are beings designed by the Dark God to harvest the power of sacrifices done in his name and the name of his children. The Thevruloch’s strange biology means that they can never retain enough nourishment to sate their hungers, leaving them in a perpetual state of desire while the majority of what they consume is channeled into Saklugz and the Arkuloch.

Wyr

A serpentine beast bred in the Galghad that can grow into multiple different sub-species

Wyrbhuth

A Wyr in it’s development stage, before the various breed characteristics begin to manifest. Depending upon it’s age, Wyrbhuth can range in size from that of a tadpole to a large snake

Wyrkul

A four legged species of Wyr used as mounts by the Lagoswyr. The Wyrkul possesses a much lower frame than a horse, with hard reptilian skin and angled limbs similar to that of a spider. Their head’s are oblong in an equine fashion, but with sharp teeth and lizard-like ears. The Wyrkul are able to reach speeds that far exceed traditional mounts, but can only do so in short bursts that, while useful on the battlefield, are less than ideal for long travel

Wyrmejh

A large, serpentine variety of Wyr nearly one man in diameter and six to eight men in length. Acting as a brood mother for the Wyr’s spawning grounds, a single Wyrmejh protects each of the Galghad’s Wyr nests

Creations, Animal

Blackhorn Bear

A corruption of the common Fisher Bear. The Blackhorn Bear possess long, twisted horns that curve around the side of their head to point forward; large, square jaws; and dull black eyes. They are extremely aggressive towards humans.

Chazerun

A species of bright red goose with a green pattern dappling their heads, the Chazerun hides from predators by submerging itself to it’s neck in the swampy, overgrown waters of the Galghad. Despite this defense mechanism, the Chazerun is incredibly aggressive and territorial towards any creature that it does not see as a threat, charging out of it’s hiding place and biting travelers with it’s jagged beak.

Dohekhuj

A species of coyote native to most of the central Khavasak, the Dohekhuj are named for the deep, mournful howl they use to communicate, which was mistaken for a lamentation for a missing mate. They have a gradient pattern of black fur on their paws and back, gray fur on the underbelly, and the rest somewhere in between. The Dohekhuj follow a pack hierarchy, and live in groups of eight to ten. They have occasionally been known to follow travelers, but usually prefer to remain hidden until they attack.

Khejhdavun

A corruption of the common locust with red bodies and a black lion sigil emblazoned on their carapace. Khejhdavun were created by the Dark God to devour the fields of bordering enemy kingdoms. They possess a number of modifications unique to their species, including alterations to their pheromone system that prevents them from crossing into the bounds of the Khavasak. Seen as omens of famine and disease, Khejhdavun are an ever-present danger to the citizens of the free kingdoms. This danger is mitigated by Plaguechaser Newts, who are bred by the thousands and set loose to follow the locust hordes, keeping their population in check.

Kolghur

A medium sized breed of tracking hound with a black, white, and crimson piebald coloration. Kolghur are bred as scent hounds, and their noses have been honed over millennia to surpass nearly any other species of dog. Beyond their noses, the Kolghur's most distinctive feature are their large ears. When they are resting, these ears look very similar to the floppy ears of other tracking dogs, but when the Kolghur are alert, their ears can stiffen into stiff, horn-like shape similar to a straight sea shell.

Krukkot

A large, dark brown species of cockroach with elongated feelers and a high yield breeding strategy that favors aggressive behavior and fast bursts of speed. Krukkot are known for being significantly less skittish than other species of cockroach, and for being more than willing to surge out en masse to ambush disgusted humans and swarm across whatever they happen to be eating.

Kulbalren

An extremely large species of leech known for their madness-inducing venom. While Kulbalren bites are harmless to humans, they are incredibly effective against horses. Countless travelers have found themselves stranded in the middle of the Galghad or thrown from their horse once the poison from an unseen bite sends them into a frenzy.

Kulburz

The large black destriers ridden by the Kulbakkas heavy cavalry. Kulburz have a uniform coat of dark black fur with bright red irises. They are are notoriously fierce and foul tempered.

Nunochrog

A species of weasel with black fur, a red underbelly, and a long, hooked, inside claw on their paws. Native to the inner Khavasak, the Nunochrog possess an infectious stream of urine that induces paralysis in any animal who consumes it. The Nunochrog will urinate into a water source, whereupon the short-lived bacteria will quickly disperse through areas as large as a pond or small marsh. While harmless to fish, reptiles, and amphibians, any mammal who drinks from a tainted water source will fall limp, giving the Nunochrog a chance to devour the paralyzed prey, typically eating through the abdominal cavity. The Nunochrog will feed on humans, but a number of precautions, most notably boiling water or simply letting it sit in a container before drinking it, will neutralize the toxic urine.

Saket

A fire red jackal with scars of black along its body; large, back-bent, hook shaped ears; and cold, glassy eyes, the Saket is native to Xumer and most of Aios’ desert regions. It is said that they have some premonition for the coming of death, a gift which allows them to beat other scavengers to carcasses while transforming the creatures into bearers of horrendous omens for human populations.

Thekhaln

A breed of courser used by the Kulnarn light cavalry for skirmishing. Named for the red streaks along the brown fur of its back, the Thekhaln require much less upkeep than the larger Kulburz destrier, and are thus useful for long distance skirmishing and scouting in addition to their more traditional light cavalry engagements.

Tukvatvat

A species of duck with a yellow and black brindle coloration whose males have a hard, flower-petal-esque protrusion surrounding their phallus. The Tukvatvat use this strange adaptation to tear through the flesh of females to hold them in place during coitus.

Vuwavatun

A green and black passerine bird with twin red mohawk-like feather bumps along the side of it’s head. The Vuwavatun are known for the distinctive feeding habits of their young. Rather than having a dedicated nurturing period where the mother bird will tend to her hatchlings, Vuwavatun emerge from their eggs already capable of flight. The hatchlings will derive their nourishment from consuming the young of other, nearby birds. The Vuwavatun are able to do this because, in the hours after completing the carnal act, males of the species ejaculate a special, secondary fluid that is laden with parasites. The male Vuwavatun will immediately fly off to any nearby nests, penetrating the shells with their phalluses and injecting them with an infectious seed that leads them to emerge helpless and prone, emitting a scent that the newborn Vuwavatun are drawn towards.

Wenghur

A large black dog with long, tangled fur; forward pointing, bull-like horns; and lifeless black eyes. Bred in the flame blasted lands of the Vakrag for military use, the Wenghur are employed by the Ukni for a number of purposes, including breaking enemy lines and individually engaging cavalry. Their greatest talent, however, is for quickly and efficiently chasing down and slaughtering fleeing soldiers.

Wentuk

A species of owl with a black back, gray belly, and two small, upward curved horns on the side of it’s head. Despite it’s fearsome appearance, it is a stupid, relatively harmless animal.

Zunghur

A small black dog with yellow eyes and pointed, outward-angled ears. The Zunghur are bred for heartiness in the unforgiving wastelands of the Uru, subsisting on nothing but carrion for the majority of their developmental stages. While the Zunghur are resistant to sickness, their diet and unsanitary behavior make them incredible disease vectors. Both their waste and their bites harbor fatal, infectious parasites. They are typically sent ahead of the main army to squeeze into fortified cities and spread plague to the congested population. However, the Zunghur are preyed on by Plaguebane dogs, who will sniff them out and hunt them, preferring them over even the rats they typically feed on.

Creations, Plant

Bhigal

A breed of cypress tree with a cracked, hole-ridden grey trunk bearing a large number of thin branches. Typically found in swamps or other watery environments

Thuburz

A black tree with long, thin branches that shoot out in every direction and rejoin each other to create a massive web which is used by the Thuburz to restrain surrounding trees and dominate the light

Non-Created Animals

Kivarash

An aquatic parasites that severs the tongues of saltwater fish, attaching itself to the severed stump as it spreads its spawn through the fish’ bloodstream, where they will take control of the hosts nerve endings. Once this has been achieved, the Kivarash forces the fish into the jaws of a predator, where the process of being eaten releases it’s eggs into the ocean