Kgul
I have traveled this whole world and there is one thing that frightens me. The Winterlands are harsh already and when your toes and limbs are numb, you hear a screech from above. The beast descends and words struggle to describe this loathsom beast. Is this a bat, is this an octopus. No, this is monster that has swept up our guide in its tentacles dragging out into the darkness, leaving us only with his screams." - Salandra Alki, The Historian
A kgul is a hungry creature native to the The Vaarak Winterlands that sleeps like a cicada emerging every 15 years to eat, lay eggs, and return to sleep. This horrifying time awake is often know as the Nights of Darkness. Each region in the area will have its own cycle, so while rare a well traveled adventurer will likely encounter this creature.
They are fiercely territorial apex predators who only fear other kgul as the more experienced single predators are known to hunt their own offspring as they emerge from their nests.
When not devouring their own, they hunt from above soaring over trees looking for a meal. When they've spotted their quarry they drop from the sky and use their eight tentacles to wrap up the oft unsuspecting creature. They restrain the prey and then attach their circular mouth to whatever soft fleshy part of the body they can find.
The pain of a kgul's bit is excruciating and those that are lucky to escape are left with a jagged round circle and covered with the slimy mucous that covers a kgul's body.
People of the Winterlands build reinforced basements or lockboxes to hide during the 21 days the freshly hatched kgul awaken terrorizing the area.
Cults
There are people in Amerielle who worship the creature as some minor god or devil. They prepare feverishly to prepare for an approaching Night of Darkness waiting to great their gods and help direct them to their meals. Humanoid sacrifice is often part of their dark rituals. It's not uncommon for entire cults to be consumed by the ravenously hungry creaturesBasic Information
Anatomy
The Kgul has a large tear dropped body of a dark purple hue, four feet long with 8 long suckered tentacles. Its mouth is a circular opening with rows and rows of triangular teeth. Two large wings reminiscent of a bat's all the creature to fly high above the trees looking for prey.
Genetics and Reproduction
Every 15 years a pod of Kgul awakens from their nesting area, hunts enough food to lay their own eggs which they deposit into the ground. The young kgul then return to an area to hibernate for an additional 15 years while they await full adulthood.
Growth Rate & Stages
When waking from a second hibernation kgul awaken, traveling from region to region looking for new prey, they usually die during this second phase. There are rumors that those that retire for a third season do exist and grow in to the much feared Elder Kgul.
Ecology and Habitats
They are drawn to thick forests and rocky areas that are difficult to navigate too as ways to hide their nests. However, when hunting they prefer the edges of forests where they can easily and unsuspectingly drop in on their enemies.
Additional Information
Uses, Products & Exploitation
Brave hunters will pursue these creatures creating hunting parties called "Kogs," timing their creation to the new batch of kguls that awaken every 15 years. They hunt them for their teeth and the dried skin, both of which have magical properties used in all kinds of magical artifacts, potions, and spells
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
The Kgul has no eyes and relies on its keen sense of smell and sound to locate and hunt creatures.
Geographic Distribution
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