Holaryths

Condemned Beastiary Entry

Master Alric's Condemned Compendium of Creatures.
Entry #001: Holaryths
Height: Unknown at time of Entry
Habitat: Lost Libraries, sacred places of knowledge, Ancient and forgotten places of study and research.

Physical Description: Unknown Behaviour: The entity responsible for the macabre fate befalling the discovered cadavers exhibits unequivocal hyper-aggression. The inflicted injuries upon the lifeless forms are of a savage nature, imbued with an undeniable emotional fervour. The malevolence expressed through the mutilations attests to the creature's unrestrained and instinctual penchant for destruction or perhaps it is a protective and territorial reaction? Exercise extreme caution when within the proximity of this entity, as its motives appear driven by a primal, unrestrained force. Danger Level: DO NOT SEEK OUT THIS CREATURE, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.

Excerpt from Alric's expedition notes from the day:
~ Incident of the Hidden Library and the Abominations Within ~ In response to a summons, I journeyed to recover the remains of three men, daring thieves of renowned skill, entrusted with the perilous mission to pilfer a tome concealed within an enigmatic library marked upon their maps by their undisclosed employer. These adept and notorious lawbreakers met a swift and brutal demise, prompting profound inquiries into the mysterious circumstances surrounding their deaths. The retrieval operation unveiled a disconcerting revelation— the lifeless forms lay a mere 40 feet into the concealed repository. This raises unsettling questions: why did these seasoned rogues not retreat when faced with danger? What creature or force lurked so proximate to the entrance, claiming their lives with such savagery? Whatever it was the feeling of danger lingered, and we grappled with the uncertainty of the creatures continued presence during our investigation. Under my instruction the key body parts of each man needed to interrogate them through necromancy were removed from the library and taken to a more secure location, lest we lose our heads as well. Upon the retrieval of the bodies, the royal necromancer conducted a communion with the deceased in pursuit of information surrounding their untimely demise. Despite their criminal pursuits, our motivation was to offer closure to their unsuspecting families and to identify why such powerful beings were protecting such a run down and forgotten library. What transpired during this necromantic interrogation unveiled horrors too ghastly to be disseminated amongst the general populace, shrouding this tragic tale in a veil of unspeakable dread. I have transcribed the most palatable of the information received during the necromantic interrogation of the deceased below, It is my assertion that the individual under scrutiny herein was the first victim, spared the grisly spectacle that unfolded in the wake of his demise, he was spared the true horrific details of this malevolent encounter. Details we later learned from the subsequent victims, they will remain engrained in me forever.

Necromantic Interrogation #001"
what is left of the first corpse writhes as the court necromancer whispers the incantation under his breath.
Corpse #1: . . . [Silence] / It's. . . it . . . / [whimper]
Corpse #1: . . . Run .
The corpses face twists to mimic the last thing it heard before its head was separated from body: . . . [primal screech]
As the screech of the unknown creature bellows from the corpse you hear it get louder and louder signifying the creatures approach to the man in his last moments - the body falls limp once more, the necromancer stumbles in shock after reliving the last moments.