The Skree in the Mountain

My mother says her uncle say the Skree. Its giant red eyes pulsing with every lightning flash. Its jagged claws thrashing towards him with the thunder and its howl piercing with the wind. She says he never was quite the same afterwards.

— Wesley Tarin, age 7

In the center of the imposing jagged spiral mountains lies a demon of storm and shadow. He is protected by the giant stalagmites that thrust themselves out of the ocean depths. While no one has seen the Skree, everyone has heard his mighty roar. During torrential storms the Skree lets loose a powerful screech that echoes through the town. Some describe the Skree's cry as a cry of desperate hunger, some believe it is a shout of jealous greed, others a cry of crushing heartbreak, but all agree that it is a cry of promised pain and vengeance.

Traditions for Protection

The villagers have many tricks and tools to protect themselves from the Skree. Some burn an evening offering of lavender leaves and tangerine peels to calm the raging beast. Others hang protective charms from their windows, though the most effective shapes and colors and a subject of fierce debate. Everyone keeps their windows tightly closed during the heavy rain season to prevent the demon from entering and stealing precious belongings, and small children are often gifted the right claw of a blue crab.
Individuals caught outside during a storm must complete a cleansing bath before interacting with others. This path involves water from a specific stream, and seven different flower blossoms. Used flower must be carefully burned to properly diffuse the Skrees energy.

Tourism

Despite the fearful stories spread about the Skree, the villagers seem to relish references and superstitions about the feared entity. The Skree festival is held at the start of the stormy season and draws thousands of visitors to the otherwise forgotten coastal town. Here villagers sell their various charms, incense, crab claws and other assorted protective charms and remedies. Local artists sell interpretive depictions of the Skree, all of them vague and surrounded in shadow. The festival brings in significant trade and income to the region and allows the city to thrive.

Reality

Legends of the Skree have existed for over 7 generations. Members of the town are zealous followers of their superstitions and warn people to stay away from the jagged peaks (a dangerous journey in its own rite). The occasional skeptic travels near Skree Mountain and claims to not have seen any sign of a creature is considered delusional. The local leaders are quick to refute any telling that discredits the Skree's existence and have turn down any assistance various Paladins and adventurers have offered.}