Bloodfire Nightmare

The Bloodfire Nightmare is a creature found in the most remote and inhospitable corners of Baeleris, but it is not native there. Most notably, they can be found in the volcanic areas of the Ebonpeak Mountains, the steam fields of Mechanika, or the obsidian abysses of Aetheria. There are occasional reports that one of the animals has ventured closer to cities or settlements, but these remain largely unconfirmed.

Strange Origins

How exactly Bloodfire Nightmares were created is still unknown. However, it is considered certain in the universities that these creatures did not originate in Baeleris. Individual specimens that have been observed in the wild suggest a mixed ancestry.

Ninth Hell

The animals' affinity for fire, their burning eyes, and the embers in their manes and tails suggest a kinship with the nightmares from the ninth hell. The size of the Bloodfire Nightmares also suggests descent from the hell dwellers.

The Dark Court

Both the slender build, long, powerfully muscled legs, and feathery wings of the Bloodfire Nightmare appears similar to the Dark Pegasi of the Fairy Courts. More specifically, the Dark Pegasi of the Dark Court.

Although the sheer appearance suggests such a hybrid, it has not yet been possible to capture a specimen to examine it more closely and confirm or reject the theories. For this reason, many adventurers and hunters try to find and capture a Bloodfire Nightmare - or kill it in case of doubt. So far, it is not known that this endeavor has succeeded.

Appearance

Although there have now been several dozen sightings of Bloodfire Nightmares, it is not certain that this description applies to all animals of the species. However, each additional sighting seems to confirm rather than refute the description set down here.

Sexes

Like most animals found on Baeleris, the Bloodfire Nightmare appears to have two biological sexes - male and female. However, since two different animals - one male and one female - were once sighted in the same region, but never both at the same time, there is a theory that the animals can change their sex according to necessity. This theory is heavily disputed since such behavior is unknown so far.

Physique & Exterior

Bloodfire Nightmares have an intimidating appearance. They have a shoulder height between 170 and 190cm, long, well-muscled legs, and a strong torso. The physique is largely reminiscent of a horse, with powerful hooves and a broad chest. The neck is described as long, elegantly curved. The head is relatively small and delicately formed, with a narrow mouth, large nostrils, and large eyes. Mane and tail are long and dense, often interspersed with red patches reminiscent of embers.

The fur on the head and front chest resemble scales in their pattern, but unconfirmed observations insist that it is indeed fur. The eyes, as well as the nostrils, appear to be filled with embers. Additional "ember nests" can be found all over the body of the animals.

At first glance, the wings resemble those of a raven and can reach a total wingspan of up to 6 meters. They are adorned with strong, black feathers that can range in shade from pitch black to violet, just like the fur of the animals.

Diet

Bloodfire nightmares have not been observed feeding so far. However, they have been seen using fiery breath as a weapon, suggesting that they are carnivorous. Additionally, the regions where these animals naturally occur do not have particularly abundant vegetation, making it even more likely that they feed on birds, lizards, and other small animals.

However, this information is highly speculative.

OGL

Lifespan

50 years

Average Height

1.70m - 1.90m Shoulder Height

Average Weight

500kg - 700kg

Average Length

2m - 3m