Dondregh

My love, hear me, I will defeat one such creature— for if I cannot, our love was never truly meant to be.

— A perished lover

Dondreghs are fearsome monsters that reside within the peaks of Nipinoul, making the Gokh who live within them their frequent prey.

Appearance

Each appears as an emaciated human torso, covered in frostbitten skin. A round segment of its chest— where one would expect its heart to lie— is caved in, as if its heart had been scooped out by something more powerful. One will be quick to note that it lacks arms— at least, arms connected to its shoulders, as it walks on a set of three muscular arms attached to its torso in place of legs. Attached to each of these arms is a human hand with elongated fingers, the skin of each calloused on the bottom to allow for greater grip on the precipitous grounds they tend to inhabit.

Dohn-drehg

Habitat & Rest

Dondreghs are most common within the snow-capped peaks of Nipinoul: The Great Spine, though there have been reported sightings of them among other mountain ranges throughout Qet.

Dondreghs bury themselves in snow to rest, doing so intermittently, whenever they cannot sense prey nearby.

Genetic Ancestor(s)

• Monsters

Average Height

4'11"

Average Weight

107lbs

Their heads do not support the same features as humans, the creatures lack ears, noses, and hair entirely— however, they do possess two tiny black eyes that rest across from one another on the far ends of the head. Each is surrounded by lighter, leathery skin. Between these lies the "mouth" of the dondregh— a gaping hole surrounded by writhing human fingers that move about seemingly without reason. As if beckoning prey to place themselves within. These also serve to tear the flesh from their kills.
A faint orange glow emanates from somewhere within its throat, shining through the mouth. In thick snowfall, the writhing fingers cause this light to flicker not unlike a flame— luring weary wanderers nearer. One must wonder how, exactly, these creatures manage to survive among the mountaintops— as they move about by unsteady, shaky rhythms. This is especially dangerous when traversing across ice and snow, yet few have ever seen one slip.

Habits

Dondreghs eat both man and monster— though they greatly prefer to feast upon human flesh. Regardless, they are feared even by other monsters— their magic proving difficult to fight against. How can one attack with their very blood freezing solid, yet alone defend themselves— or flee?
And this is where their terrifying strength comes from— the ability to greatly manipulate temperature. A fight against a dondregh is one of limited time— it typically takes a mere two minutes for one's body to begin to slow down, three for joints to freeze up, and four for death.

A Trial of Love

Dondregh are common targets for trials presented by a lover's clan to their suitors, if a suitor can best a monster as fearsome as this— surely, they would be not only worthy of but able to stand side by side their lover in marriage. Many, unfortunately, perish in these pursuits— most notably those who attempt the hunt on their own, which is seldom advisable.
Clans seeking to keep a member of another from marrying one of their own commonly present the trial of slaying a dondregh with one's bare hands— alone— as a way to decline suitors without outright saying so. This allows them to avoid conflict with the suitor's clan, especially if the suitor chooses to accept.

My hand is frozen to my side, my knee frozen mid-stride. I would close my eyes to spare me the sight of that horrid creature in my final moments were they not frozen wide open.

— An unfortunate victim

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