Kwo Dubh

The Jacks of the Plains have the story of the Kwo Dubh, the semi sentient of the plains that roams in search of the lost. It is said to be of a different breed and behaviour than any other sentient in the lands. Stories tell of the large black wolf that walks on two legs but acts like a wild wolf, seemingly half way changed. The body and intellect of a sentient but the instincts of a feral.
Mothers and Fathers of all the Jacks tell their children the Stories of the Kwo Dubh. Large and fearsome, wearing no clothes, roaming the wild plains and the edge of the moors and rivers. The slavering jaws always hungry for any food it can find wild or otherwise. Any that get separated or loose the light of the fire are at risk of the monster stealing from the darkness to find its next meal.

Summary

While the story of the Kwo Dubh is considered a fairytale or myth by the Jacks, there does seem to be some perceived truth to the story as all full grown Jacks abide by the rules with regards to groups and fire. There is a belief that they are threatened by animals on the moors. Feral wolves and bears have been noted to catch a sentient and dispatch them for a meal so the precedent does exist.

Spread

The myth of the hulking beast is very specific and is known throughout most of the kingdoms. Jacks Inns and households all have the small mark of a flame engraved on the outer door frame as a ward to keep the beast out.

Cultural Reception

The legend is accepted by all of the villages and kingdoms that have had interactions with the Jacks. They are never mocked for the belief that a large monster may threaten them or their kind. In most places the kingdoms and cultures are very wild and rural so the idea of threats from the darkness is very common. Only the city of Furlancia is the myth mildly derided by the larger carnivores that have lived their lives in the City. The knights and soldiers that live their lives on patrols are known to carve the ward of the flame on their encampments to ward of any sort of presence.

In Literature

There is little written of the beast as the the Jacks pass their histories down through song and story. It has been written in the histories of the knights of the Menhir and by the scholars of Furlancia.

In Art

There have been some tapestries made that depict outdoor life that the Rabbits lead and in many of those that depict nighttime activities you will see a deeper shadow in the form of a sentient Wolf, sometimes a glowing set of eyes. It is never depicted as a complete version as that is believed to draw the ire of the beast.

Date of First Recording

15 AA

Date of Setting

Ongoing