Beasts of the Mountains

Devil Dog

Alternative Names: Hell Hound, Mountain Cur
Type: Dog
Description: Although sightings occur in forests and near the outskirts of towns, the mountains are full of sightings of these twisted canines. As varied as domesticated canines, it seems no two sightings of Devil Dogs are exactly the same, but some features (such as glowing eyes and malicious cunning) are universal. Some Devil Dogs travel the mountains in small packs, others are lone stalkers; Many are nocturnal, but not all. Many reports include supernatural abilities, such as fading into the fog or fiery breath – an unearthly howl is by far the most common.

Devil Monkey

(See Description under Beasts of the Forest )

Grassman

(See Description under Beasts of the Forest )

The Stone Clad

Alternative Names: Thunenhyarhen, Gennonsgwa, Atnayalho
Type: Humanoid (Aggressive)
Description: Gray skinned and towering of height, the Stone Clad are race of primitive humanoids with very tough skin and a taste for human flesh. Incredibly primitive, even by Native standards, the Stone Clad strike small, unprotected villages and occasionally trade caravans with simple branch-clubs and thrown stones. They seem to attack at the winter weeks when hunting season tapers off and have little to no interest in any non-meat food or non-food artifacts. The only sign of crafting ever seen in the Stone Clad is the stone-encrusted cape always worn by the leader of a band of Stone Clad. The leader of the band is always the strongest and most vicious of the group and is referred to as Stone Coat by the Haud, confusing early stories that argued whether Stone Coat was a single leader or the term for war-chief of any band of Stone Clad. As of yet, no Stone Clad dwelling has been found, nor any evidence of religion/culture or even a female of the species.

Thunderbird

Alternative Names: Tlanuwa, Culloo, Cigwe, Binesi
Type: Giant Bird
Description: Like the Roc of classic legend, the Thunderbird is a gigantic eagle-like raptor that rules the sky. Ancient stories of the Roc say it is large enough to carry an elephant in the manner an eagle carries a rabbit – likewise, tales of the Thunderbird say it is large enough to carry an Orca the way an eagle carries a trout. While no specimen that large has ever been confirmed, there are reliable reports of thunderbirds with a wingspan well over 36 feet. Thunderbirds seem to nest high in mountain peaks, though no nest has yet been found. Legends vary tribe-to-tribe and clan-to-clan on whether the Thunderbird causes storms or just enjoys them, but the idea that Thunderbirds have a taste for giant water serpents seems pretty universal – more evidence needs to be gathered for further study.

Wampus Cat

Alternative Names: Appalachian Painter, Mountain Howler, Schlenk
Type: Cat
Description: A mountain lion with a midnight-blue coat and black, shaggy tuft at the end of it’s tail, the Wampus Cat is a ferocious ambush predator with an extremely flexible spin and screeching cry that can paralyze a man in fear. The Wampus Cat can twist it’s flexible spine to an amazing 200 degrees, giving it an amazing advantage while fighting on uneven terrain or tight quarters. This astonishing flexibility is believed to be the source of stories that the Wampus Cat has six legs, for it is hard to cope with the image of a torso bent to those proportions without another set of limbs.