Karadian Bestiary - Valley of Ashes
Anomalies
Valley of Ashes
Kingdom of Volar
Kingdom of Volar was a dominant civilization in the another world, whose terrible demise led to establishing its connection with Gates of Eternity. This connection led to said world 'bleeding' into this, regionally overwriting it and creating Valley of Ashes as a whole. While majority of the other world died together with Volar, some remnants remain, inhabited by warped creatures that once were inhabitants of cursed kingdom.
Ashen Abominations - A warped monstrosity, either created as a grotesque mockery of men... or that once was a men. It looks as if a man was completely covered (and, in fact, at least partially converted into) with white ashes, and then warped into an almost canine-like quadruped. They are wild and relentless beasts, hunting adventurers that managed to intrude upon remains of Volar through the transdimensional breaches.
Ashen Warriors - A sad remnant of a regular soldier of Volar. Devoured by the curse and partially changed into ash. With their minds almost completely devoured they are almost bestial in their rage, trying to annihilate all non-tainted living beings around. With a black worm-like thing visible in a whole in his head which will now animates this being. Its ruined equipment and problems with coordination makes them not overtly dangerous, but nevertheless... problematic, especially when they have magical support.
Ashen Priests - A sad remnant of a female priest of Volar, which spend her life venerating the God-King. In death it can use weak depth and destruction hexes.They can even transfer power to other curse-inflicted beings, practically healing them and restoring their power. Dangerous and potentially deadly, especially because they travel in groups. Surrounded by Ashen Warriors and in big part changed into ash, and with typical 'worm' in their heads.
Ashen Nuns - When God-King was replacing the old faith, he found no reason to keep old contemplative or beggar monastic orders. The situation was different when it came to female sisterhoods. New ones were to venerate God-King in a pretty... carnal way. Their vestments still blasphemously similar to what they once wear. Their dances are reinforced with magic - once it could only charm others, but now most of them cause mental debuffs or even sanity damage. They can also buff other cursed volarians. Their 'changes' are mostly on the inside, since otherwise it might... interrupt with their charms too much.
Ashen Knights - What remains of a member of mortal member of volarian knighthood. Devoured by the curse as all other volarians were. Still wearing a decent quality plate armour and with wide array of weaponry. Managed to at least partially avoid being turned to ash, but nevertheless they are controlled and very, very agressive - though seem to control themselves enough to fall intro frenzy only when intruder get too close, otherwise trying to make them go away with frantic gestures.
Ashen Archpriests - Once a part of a medium level of priesthood venerating God-King. Human, but coming from a slightly better (in terms of genetic) part of volarian population and thus managed to resist the curse a little. Tries to warn intruders to back off with gestures and incomprehensible words before charging blindly, casting depth and destruction hexes, not to mention healing wounded soldiers in a way possible only due their curse.
Ashen Singers - Once one of the 'lowly' nuns that were found to have a beautiful voices. Their songs and dances were empowered with magic to then grant strenght and other buffs to warriors of Volar (not to mention that most of them also entertained them in other ways). Now, something else replaced the God-King as the source of their power, making their songs break minds and cause powerful debuffs to their enemies. While still being able to temporarily charm enemies.
Ashen Divine Knights - One of many Divines, immortal 'gods' that ruled Volar after the God-King rise to power. Taller, stronger, more intelligent and agile that any mortal human. Now completely devoured by the curse. They are still terrifying (and rarely encountered) threat, but lost a lot from their intellect. Instead they can use depth and destruction hexes at short range.
Ashen Bishops - One of many Divines, immortal 'gods' that ruled Volar after the God-King rise to power. Taller, stronger, more intelligent and agile that any mortal human. All of them beautiful females, made to lead the mockery of Church made to venerate their divine overlords. All of them now - after they were devoured by curse - use potent Depths and Destruction Magicks, while being able to heal and empower other soldiers of Volar.
Ashen Dancers - One of many Divines, immortal 'gods' that ruled Volar after the God-King rise to power. Taller, stronger, more intelligent and agile that any mortal human. All of them beautiful females, wearing blasphemous version of ancient nun vestments, made into a source of entertainment for God-King, his family and court (in every possible meaning of the word). Their dances once a source of power and joy, now twisted into sources of dread and fear. Hurting sanity of onlookers while debuffing them and buffing their allies.
Ashen Grand Knights - Member of a small 'caste' of Grand Knights, recruited from Divine Knights that achieved great deeds in service of the God-King. Now twisted beyond recognization by the curse, roaming endlessly in search of pray to slay... while also empowered with powers of depth and destruction magic that they can use in short range. Fearsome and - thankfully - rare enemies.
Ashen Cardinals - Member of a highest echelon of local church, most of them related by blood to God-King himself. Eternally young and powerful females, thet despite this were devoured by the curse and now are a deadly threat due to their prowess in Destruction and Depths magic. All of this while being able to empower and heal other volarians.
Ashen Concubines - Member of local 'sisterhoods', in most cases related by blood to God-King himself, whose religious... services were mostly limited to entertaining God-King and his family. All of them handpicked on a bsis of their beauty, voice and ability to dance. Now capable of not only charming, debuffing and mindraping enemies, but also buffing their allis. Which makes them a truly terrifying foes.
Destroyer
Destroyer is the name of an eldritch being responsible for demise of the Kingdom of Volar, its entire world (or, perhaps, universe), and all inhabitants. With only a few of them remaining as cursed beings, perpetually forced to roam what little remains of their world. He is believed by imperial scholars to be a physically manifested god-tier being, with his sheer presence breaking reality to the point where even time itself died, and both sun and other stars were extinguished. His servile daemons still roam what little remains of this world (even visiting Gates of Eternity), spreading terror and madness. He himself lies in the catacombs beneath the palace of God-King.
Faitheater - Destroyer servile daemons manifesting as a circa two meter high humanoids, with empty eye sockets (darker than they should be), an inhumanly round mouth (with razor sharp teeth) and strong arms ending with three tough fingers with very sharp nails. Their names comes from the fact that they are often seen devouring symbols of faith, regardless of the religion they originate from. They are at best average at combat, but when they manage to restrain enemy they can attack him in a pretty magical way dubbed the 'soul devouring'. An effect are massive debuffs and death magic-like damages.
Howler - A daemons manifesting as a bunch of connected rags and body, humanoid just enough to be in a terrifying way inhuman. Its face is a shapeless, dark mess only partially hidden by fleshy hood-like something - from which their terrifying, depth magic-filled howl emerge. Damaging sanity of those unlucky enough to encounter them. That also seem to empower other servile daemons of Destroyer.
Defiler - A feared servile daemon of Destroyer that manifests as a towering figure clad in black robes, with something... moving beneath, as indicated by regular... bulges in various places. Their hands and legs seem to made mostly from intertwined tentacles. They can use powerful destruction and depths hexes, while summoning Howlers, and Faitheaters. Very dangerous, especially becasue they almost never come alone.
Fiend - Destroyer's heavy infantry. Fast, tough and powerful. Two and a half meter of muscles, hatred and almost biologically imprinted desire to dominate and destroy. They have two sets of upper limbs, allowing them to easily overwhelm single enemy simply be the number of hits that reaches them. Not to mention the almost insane power behind each of them. Their equipment might be rather scarce and of weak quality, but they shouldn't be underestimated.
Greater Faitheater - Highest (about 2,5 meters), tougher and stronger version of faitheaters. Their ability to 'devour souls', and habit of inhabiting formerly consecrated place while devouring objects of worships remains as it was. They are also capable of casting (practically 'spitting' them from their unnaturally round mouths) destruction and depths magic hexes. Though not overly powerful.
Destruction Priest - A blasphemous parody of the priests of He-Who-Is, Destroyer eternal archenemy. Tougher and stronger Defilers wearing robes slightly similar to those of ancient volarian priests, but covered with truly eldritch symbols that damage sanity of those that look at them. They are also capable of casting powerful destruction and depths magic hexes while buffing their allies.
Archfiends - Even stronger and tougher fiends, rewarded by their master with more power for their deeds and achievements on the battlefield. Their number is very low, because whenever they are two of them in the same time, they will always fight each other for domination. They are clad in metal armours and weapons of much better quality. In short - a major danger, capable of easily obliterating unprepared groups of adventurers.
Variable - Most of Destroyer's servants are rather... singleminded in their thirst for destruction and general misery. It is hard to call them them intelligent. Variables are different. They are experts at impersonating adventurers and other unfortunate victims, then skillfully manipulating them into their much too early demise. They can immediately abandon their camouflage of humanity, showing their true form. Of a female-like humanoids wearing chunks of flesh and skin, with unnaturally long (and sharply ended) upper limbs, flexible on their entire length. Not mention capable of very fast regeneration.
Grand Faitheater - Five meter high version of Faitheaters. Using all their typical ticks, only in a much more powerful way while being able to summon them (and a lot of them) to fight. Also supernaturally resistant and generally a pain in the ass to deal with.
Fiend Lord - A rare case of insanely powerful fiends that managed to draw their lord's attention with their extreme strength, wish to dominate and ferociousness in combat. Not to mention complete lack of empathy and mercy. Two and a half meters of muscles, clad in plate armours made from melted and reforge armours of volarian knights, covered in blasphemous symbols that empower them.
Artificials
Valley of Ashes is a magical anomaly. As all of them, it has a habit of unearthing long forgotten nightmares and unleashing them once again on the unsuspecting world. Artificials are something like that. A beings similar to incomplete homunculi, human-like and living but ultimately fake and soulless, forced to follow their creators orders for eternity. They are patrolling the Marsh, one of regions in the Valley, mercilessly slaughtering every sapient being they encounter. Created in some unknown antiquity by something that even today lives in the remains of the destroyed towers in the middle of the Swamps, the dread it caused in life enough to anchor himself into Dark enough to be ressurected when anomaly was created.
Artificial Footman - Standard footman model of Artificials. They look like humans, only hairless and genderless, wearing alien looking dark green armour (supposedly once silver, but they adapted to the situation on the Swamps), and wide array of weaponry. Their intelect is very limited, they are directed by basic set of instructions - easily summed up to 'patrol there, kill all sapients' - and their mind can be easily made go bluescreen if they are for example draw outside their patrol route and made go lost. On the other hand they travel in packs, and are extremely ferocious and resilient - there were several occasions of Artificials impaled on spears that nevertheless pushed forward and strangled or broke the neck of the spearman.
Artificial Shooter - Standard ranged fighter of the Artificials. They look like humans, only hairless and genderless, wearing alien looking dark green armour (supposedly once silver, but they adapted to the situation on the Swamps) and use equally alien looking bows or crossbows. Quite accurate and dangerous, especially when defended properly by Artificial Footmen.
Artificial Spellcaster - Standard spellcaster of the Artificials. They look like humans, only hairless and genderless, wearing alien looking dark green armour (supposedly once silver, but they adapted to the situation on the Swamps) and use equally alien staffs. Can cast elemental magic. Quite powerful and dangerous, especially when defended properly by Artificial Footmen.
Artificial Knight - Standard knight of the Artificials. They look like humans, only hairless and genderless (plus approximately 2,5m high), wearing alien looking dark green plate armour (supposedly once silver, but they adapted to the situation on the Swamps), shields and various one-handed weaponry. Dangerous and tough, plus always with support from other Artificials. In other words - a pain in the ass for the adventurers who dare to ented the Marsh.
Artificial Bannerman( - A modified Artificial Knight, with a high banner added (that he carries on his back). Capable combatants on their own, while also being able to reinforce surrounding Artificials. Always walk with escort, sometime quite big in number. Dangerous and a prime target due to his ability to buff - and summon - allies.
Artificial Annihilator - One of four rarer, more... specialized, high level Artificials. Annihilator is a towering, bulky and more male looking Artificials, that wears some clothing only on the lower half of his body (and on his head). He uses two heavy battleaxes, each of which would be normally a two-handed weaponry. Their strenght is on almost absurd level, easily capable of slicing people apart with a singular strikes, making them a truly terrifying threat. Not to mention their inhuman resilience.
Artificial Controller - Roughly female looking 'special model' of Artificials. Two faces hidden behind masks. Dark silver in color robe seemingly made from some metallic fabric granting surprisingly good resilience. They can manipulate gravity with deadly efficiency, repelling projectiles (or accelerating those of their allies), pulling enemy closer... or even launching their footmen at enemies to strike them midflight. Not to mention causing direct damage.
Artificial Manipulator - Child-looking necromancer of the Artificials. Small and vulnerable for physical damage (while almost invulnerable for magic), but surrounded by small armies of undead they ressurected. Their biggest problem is that their physical power is massively increased by flood of power from the Manipulator. A simple punch from them can bend metal breastplate. They tend to... break after two-three hit tops. But they still serve as good meatshields and cause a lot of damage before they fell.
Artificial Devastator - Well armored Artificial that wears what can be described as pre-aetherite version of aetherite rifles... and a rather special one. With large backpack filled with ammunition and a 'tube' like barrel that launches them with extreme velocity. They are similar in shape to crossbow bolts, but can be fired automatically. They are capable of piercing through smaller trees, literally shredding everything in front of the Devastator.
Ceralynian Undead
1000 Steps is a region of Valley of Ashes that once was a burial grounds for nobility of elven Kingdom of Ceralyn, prior to its eventual collapse and destruction. As magical anomaly devoured their tombs, the melinen that governed it went insane. Now, the dead are walking again, trying to murder everything that dares to enter their tombs.
Undead Courtier - In life they were courtiers of kings of Ceralyn on their most important vassals - in short, one of those who were deemed worthy of being layed to rest in the most prestigious burial grounds of the kingdom. Now, wearing shreds of their formal vestments, they roam the tombs. They are generally not armed (some did picked up some trashy weapons), but exist in droves and can warn others by using the little bells they carry.
Ceralyn Soldier - A standard soldier of Ceralyn, that managed to draw attention of his lord to the point that he decided to bring them with him to ceralynian afterlife. Now, as skeletons wearing ruined equipment (with symbol of Ceralyn, a tree with white bark, still visible hear and there) that seems worned almost enough to break when hit by modern equipment... but it doesn't, due to magic. A regular irritant for those who breach the tombs on 1000 Steps.
Ceralyn Archer - A standard archer of Ceralyn, that managed to draw attention of his lord to the point that he decided to bring them with him to ceralynian afterlife. Now, as skeletons wearing ruined equipment (with symbol of Ceralyn, a tree with white bark, still visible hear and there) that seems worned almost enough to break under modern equipment... but it doesn't, due to magic. A regular irritant for those who breach the tombs on 1000 Steps.
Ceralyn Sorcerer - A standard sorcerer of Ceralyn, once quite profficient in the specific type of Old Magic that was used in the long dead kingdom. They managed to draw attention of his lord to the point that he decided to bring them with him to ceralynian afterlife. Now they guard his tomb as skeletons in a ruined robs, carrying staffs from whitewood and with a mana crystal as a core. Their magic is roughly similar to elemental magic of today.
Ceralyn Guardsman - A standard guardsman, one strong enough to catch the attention of their Lord. To the point that he decided to bring them with him to the afterlife. Now, as skeletons wearing ruined chainmails and helmets, with long spears or halberds, they roam the halls of the tombs of their benefactor, attacking all intruders with almost reckless ferocity.
Ceralyn Mage - A standard magician of Ceralyn, one profficient enough in the ceralynian Old Magic to catch the attention of his lord. To the point that he decided to take him with him to the ceralynian afterlife. Their Old Magic was based on singing (now is essentially chantless) and focuses on a chain spells, with each next stronger, making them always a prime target before they managed to overwhelm attacking adventurers.
Ceralyn Knight - A member of lower nobility of Kingdom of Ceralyn, that managed to become a good enough warrior to catch the attention of his lord... and was taken with him to ceralynian afterlife. Now, clad in heavy (but rusted) armors with symbol of Ceralyn on their chests, they guard the tombs of their benefactors.
Eagle Archer of Ceralyn - A member of quite elite formation of ceralynian archers called the Eagle Archers. Extraordinary archer, that actually didn't lose his skills in death. Somehow they managed to gain notice of some lord enough to be taken to ceralynian afterlife. Now, they roam the rooms of tombs. In remnants of light metal armour and helmet made to resemble eagle's wings.
Member of Four Hundred - A member of an elite group of Ceralynian archmages known as Four Hundred. Rarely encountered, but always a tough opponents - their elemental magic is quite strong, can make truly terrifying comboes... and even buff other undead simultaneously. In short - a real problem.
Ceralyn Lord - Kings, generals, higher ranked nobles and, in rare cases, war heroes. In short - those that were important enough to manage to get themselves a tomb on the 1000 Steps. Each of them is an undead now. Towering skeletons in ceremonial - and extremely tough - armours, with a wide array of weaponry and Old Magic at their disposal. Always surrounded by their most trusted (in life, now they aren't really sapient) bodyguards, from the Four Hundred, Eagle Archers and knighthood.
Broken
Imperium decided once to send a 47. Batallion of 101st. Infantry Division to try to find an entrance to the center of the Valley, rumoured to be hidden behind the 1000 Steps, in the half-mystical fortress on the mountain plateau overseeing the Valley. This batallion managed to breach the walls and enter the fortress... only for something truly terrible to happen. Now remains of it roam the plateau and insides of the fortress.
Broken Commando - One of imperial soldiers from the 47., that was killed and then swallowed by the anomaly. Now, with his soul departed, his remains roam the area, his remains filled with the malice of the anomaly itself. He now uses aetherite rifles, swords and shields to fight all intruders. Their entire squads still coordinate their actions quite efficiently, not to mention being able to used magical granades. They are extremely dangerous.
Ascendant Commando( - It is hard to say what exactly happened to the 47. Batallion in that accursed fortress. But whatever it was, it... transformed many of them. Granting a dream of most powerful magicians - Ascendence - to them... but one imperfect and followed by madness. They are essentially daemons, while still using typical tactics and equipment of the 101st. Infantry Division. Plus insanely fast regeneration that together with their daemonic nature allows them to survive - and, in fact, barely notice - decapitation.
Many-Times - One of those soldiers who achieved imperfect Ascendence. Their... existence seems somehow misplaced and fragmented. A singular Many-Times exists simultaneously in several bodies. They are in fact a single being, that is spread over entire 'group', with new ones shifting into existence to replace those fallen. Their combined resistance is truly insane, making them capable of withstanding enough firepower to take down few dozens of soldiers. At the very least.
Sufferer - Probably the saddest fate that could befell soldiers from the 47. Sufferers are Ascendants overcharged with Death Magic. Their constant pain drove them insane long ago. They are distorted, their equipment mostly missing, their skills replaced with relentless ferocity... and the devastating magical explosions that happen when they receive too much damage and their internal magic discharges violently.
Many-Deaths - A soldier from the 47. that achieved partial ascendence... and went insane. Violently. It's ascendence was also very flawed and somehow... damaged their very being. Now each of them has from six to fifteen lives. Each time they are slain, they will rise again - and it's impossible to tell how many times it will happen. What's more they seem to return stronger each time....
Daemons
A variety of daemons that can be encountered in a various places of Valley. All of them from very different sources, each of it not big enough to justify completely unique subcategory
Stain - A sentient stain of blood. Small in size, and capable of 'sliding' on land while being really, really 'low'. They are barely reaching an adult person ankle. Despite this, they are a major threat, generating blood (that, when released in air, drives local beings more and more mad... and heals them). They can steal live by drinking blood of beings they managed to 'glue' themselves to. They can also cast Blood Magic hexes (the stronger the more of them is) or, if there is enough blood in the air, suddenly launch a powerful Destruction Magic hex while killing off half of them. Since they can also quickly replicate themselves...
Bloodeater - Another daemon from Blood Forest region of the anomaly. A much more vertical stain of blood, that reaches even two meters in height. They can manifest upper limbs that get sharper and sharper as more blood is in the air. Since they also generate it... meaning that each fight with them is a race against time, with them growing stronger and stronger (and replicating, with each of their copy as strong as them) all the time...
Hemadryad - Hamadryad of the Blood Forest that went insane as its terrifying curse spread. Now they manifest as women wearing bloodied rags instead of clothing, with blood permanently dripping from all holes in their body. They are intensely sensitive to the ammount of blood in the air, quickly rising from small problem into a terrifying threat as it grows. Their Blood Magic grows stronger, they can summon Stains and Bloodeaters, and even start casting Destruction Magic hexes. They can even suck blood, healing themselves.
Hanged Lady - A daemonic servant of a Strangler, an archdaemon responsible for creation of Gallow's Forest by taking over Gallow's Hill. They can hipnotyze a single enemy, paralyzing him while they slowly hang them on one of the forest trees. They can do the same when they manage to sneak behind one's back. They can also use Destruction Magic and are often surrounded by undead from the graveyards that Strangler desecrated. They manifest as young maidens, with their neck's broken and head bend in unnatural way.
Mud Nymph - Probably a long forgotten concept that the Valley made resurface. They haunt the Marsh, attacking pretty much everything they encounter. They manifest as humanoids with slightly female looking shape, made completely from mud. They attack by launching mud and earth on tresspasser, seemingly enjoying luring them straight at Artificials or hydras, disappearing while they are tear to shreds.
Great Raven - A raven-like daemon that haunts the 1000 Steps. Three to seven meter long, with immense appetite for human flesh. They are tough opponents, that can sometimes attack in droves, ripping their prey to shreds before it can even think of defending itself. Thankfully they aren't too often encountered.
Corrupted Beasts
Beasts deformed and mutated by the curses that slowly devour Valley of Ashes as a whole.
Net Spider - Net Spiders were once local specie of giant arachnidae (descendants of Locust daemons) that were overtaken by corruption that devours Mist Forest. They are covered by mycelium of the infectious mushroom that is responsible for the curent state of Mist Forest. According to research it can be find also on the inside, long ago taking over spider nervous system. In combat they use something similar to normal spider nests, that they launch at enemies. It almost instantly solidifies, constraining their movement. After one fire, they charge to use their poisonous fangs.
Spitter Spider - Spitter Spiders were once local specie of giant arachnidae (descendants of Locust daemons) that were overtaken by corruption that devours Mist Forest. They are covered by mycelium of the infectious mushroom that is responsible for the curent state of Mist Forest. According to research it can be find also on the inside, long ago taking over spider nervous system. They can spit their very potent poison. They prefer stealth attacks, hiding in bushes and places like that, hoping to hit invader's face. Instantly poisoning him, probably lethally.
Arachnidar - A true nightmare of an arachnobe. A towering and bulky humanoid made from dozens of local spiders devoured by mycelium of the infectious mushroom that devours Mist Forest and connected into a single being. That can use both nets and poison spits, while being surprisingly resilient (after all it can't feel pain anymore). It is vulnerable to fire magic, which is its greatest weakness.
Mancatcher - Mancatcher is a source of dread for those adventurers who dare to visit the Rocks area. It is believed to be a mix of black mold (magical parasite that slowly overtakes the Rocks) with various types of plant life. Warped beyond recognizion. Now they are essentially a murderous sundew... with their tentacle even a dozen meters long, with the whole deeply rooted into ground. When cornered it can disperse pheromones that draw closer molded beings.
Corrupted Daemons
Shroomed Lignomorph - Once a Lignomorph. Now? Overtaken by mushrooms, spreading toxic spores wherever it treads (and additional doses when hit). Not to mention being violently agressive, attacking in groups, and good in hiding in bushes and among tall vegetation, where it can remain static for months before somebody comes close enough to trigger their attack.
Shroomed Hamadryad - A hamadryad that was overtaken by corruptive mushroom that devours the Mist Forest. Look like pale, slightly emaciated women covered with sickening growths that spread poisonous spores. Their faces are normally uncovered - to let them see and hear - which only adds them creepiness. Their empty faces - the fungus that infects them doesn't see any reason to control their face mimic after it devoured their minds - are said to be a stuff of nightmares.
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