"It's name sounds like a joke. But I swear I've seen it. Lurking in the woods. The twisted flesh of deer and man, with teeth and long as a finger. It's neck stretched upward and curls to see its prey. It's hands look too human to be anything from the wilds. It's fingers curled around that blasted instrument. I heard it's song once. I've ne'er ran so fast."
The En-deer-tainer, or the Deerhead Bard is a myth and urban legend from around the realms of Veret, Valleon, and the Salic Colonies. The creature lurks in deep woods, playing music for the wanderers and pilgrims to hear in the middle of the night. Waking them during their rest, they listen closely to the sound of the music. A haunting melody coming from twisted fingers and a mutated form.
The creature had been described numerous times, and many stories mix up what the creature looks like. However, some traits stay consistent throughout the rumors and tales. The creature has a humanoid form from the neck down. Or at least that is what seems, as a long cloak of black fur covers up the lower half. People have only ever truly seen the hands and lower arms of the beast. The human hands wrap around a stringed instrument with a crank. The familiar sight of bards and taverngoers, the hurdy gurdy. It plays a melody that lures the attention of any who hear it, mystifying them into a stupor, or terrifying them out of their wits. Above the cloak, there is a long neck of light brown fur, topped with the head of a deer. Long fangs shine from beneath it's lips and a pair of human eyes stare back at those who find themselves making eye contact with it. A pair of twisted antlers sprout from the head of the creature, bloody velvet clinging to the monuments of bone.
The Fable
The creature was not always this way. He was once a travelling bard. The bard was talented, but never quite grew to become famous or wealthy. Travelling from place to place, he would make a meager living playing in pubs throughout the east of Czerelan. He travelled along the coast, greeting many and playing beautiful music. He would never stay in a place long enough to truly know anyone. One day he would come across a town that would be different. He went to the closest bar to seek employment. There he witnessed the most beeautiful woman he had ever seen. Auburn hair and bright green eyes. Her ears pointed and her voice soothed him like a lullaby. A bow was slung over her back, for she just came back from a successful hunt.
He quickly became infatuated, but she did not offer the same. Rebuffed, he would try and try again to earn her affection. Nothing he did would bring him her attention. One night, people had mentioned that a young boy had gone missing in the woods. The Bard wished to prove himself by finding the boy. He would join the Huntress' party and would still try to swoon her. She grew angry at the bard, wishing he would leave her alone. She cared not for him or his wishes, she wanted him to move on. He became enraged and stormed off into the forest. As he stormed into the forest, he walked and walked. His feet grew tired and realized that he had walked until night fell. He shivered in the cool darkness of the forest and searched for any source of light. As he looked around, he realized he had lost his party. He ventured back the way he came, and beheld a light! Salvation was before him, until he found a small child sized shoe. He took out a small blade and approached the light, thinking it to be bandits. However, he spotted a hut. A hut with a wooden door, riverstone walls, and a chimney that had pale smoke reaching toward the sky.
He approached the hut, blade hidden in his sleeve. His hurdy gurdy in his other hand. Before he could step further the door opened and the missing boy approached. He asked if the bard was lost. The bard let down his guard and approached the hut, a breath of relief and joy exited his lungs. The boy said he had been taken in by a woman, but he had lost his shoe. When the bard gave the boy the shoe, he led the bard inside. Upon entering the hut, the strong stench of foul cooking burned his nostril hairs as he saw an old woman sitting in front of a cauldron, twirling a foul looking liquid. She said she knew why the bard had been looking for the boy. The boy had been speaking with her and had told her of his failed attempts to woo the huntress. The bard, humiliated scowled at the boy. The woman said she knew of a way for the bard to steal the huntress' attention. The bard was immediately intrigued, he had sought for her attention for so long. He begged and pleaded, anything for her to look at him different, to want him as he wanted her. The woman offered a potion, but only if he would give her something in return. She wished to be able to hear his music after taking the potion. He happily agreed, promising to return to the hut whenever he could to play her music. She handed the bard the potion and he began to drink. He felt confident, cheerful, and excited. She told him cheerily, "Go find her, or she will find you." and before she could finish he had run out of the hut. As he ran through the woods, he realized things began to shift. His steps were heavier and he felt taller. A sharp pain erupted along his spine as he ran. Then he saw the light of torches. Hunters equipped with bows, led by the huntress stumbled upon the bard. They did not recognize his new form. He had turned into a beast beyond recognition. His head and neck stretched to inhuman proportions. He grew a snout as black nose. his teeth grew sharper and antlers sprouted from his head. The huntress was ready to fire an arrow, until she saw the instrument he held. Recognizing the man, horror spread across her face as she ordered her men to run. She had seen him differently, just as the bard had wished. He had hunted her like she were prey. Now wearing the guise of prey, the huntress would lead parties to kill the beast.
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