Colorado Devil Ram

The Midwest Krampus

A bipedal predatory cryptid that stalks pastures and farms in northwest Colorado. It is a formidable rival of Northern Wendigos.

Anatomy

The Devil Ram stands 7 and a half feet tall (230cm~) on its hind-hoofed legs. Its slender build is entirely covered in dark brown/burgundy fur with blackened skin beneath.
It has elongated arms disproportionate to its body, used for faster strides and longer reaches at prey. Hands are equipped with large claws often sharpened on rocks by Devil Rams to keep well maintained. Their fingers are double jointed, allowing controlled retraction of claws and a more structured grip around objects.
Its head is comprised of a goat skull, similar to that of a Wendigo, though a Wendigo's face has closer characteristics to that of a fox skull. Three sets of horns are displayed on their head, with female variants of Devil Rams having most of their horns curved downwards (headpiece) and males variants having all their horns curved upwards (crown).
Though fairly skinny compared to other beasts in the bestiary, The Devil Ram has supernatural strength and durability that rivals a fully crowned Wendigo; with a handful of reports of them being able to carry a complete cow carcass on its own across vast distances.

Behavior

Methodical and malicious, Devil Rams never attack the same place twice without a new method. They have incredible intelligence and a form of fragmental sentience similar to their previous incarnation. They use this intellectual gift to plan raids and attacks on populated areas, primarily villages or farms with open-range livestock.
Devil Ram attacks are very rare, but when they occur they're notorious for their destruction and despair, with casualties almost always guaranteed.
Attacks have varied in many unique ways. In the short time during its discovery, Devil Rams have:

• Stealthily stolen sheep and chickens inside locked barns by prying open wooden planks on the barn walls, placing them back when departing.
• Viciously attacked a farmhouse, leaving the entire property defenseless afterward.
• Hiding inside buildings or infrastructure to catch unsuspecting individuals.
• Rampaged in a small town, creating panic and hysteria among citizens.
• Held a child's life ransom for livestock.

The Colorado Devil Ram does not speak but communicates using deep bellowing calls, similar to that of an alligator.
A Colorado Devil Ram has killed many people across its time of discovery but has been noted it has no interest in taking or consuming the body of its human victims, suggesting they only attack humans for defense or pleasure.

History

The origin of the Colorado Devil Ram began at the start of the 19th century, as American settlements began establishing across the Colorado counties. The territory was in high demand, with many farmers using the fertile land for farming and breeding livestock. Poor families and travelers will often enter these properties, begging for food and water for survival. Those who were unfortunate to receive donations were left to primal urges for survival.
The combination of loss of will to live and consuming tainted or cursed meat of an animal became the catalyst of transforming into a Devil Ram.

-Tall Tale

Passages from a manuscript 'The Brothers Pry Tall Tales: Folk Legends and Stories across the American Frontier' called 'The Heart Changed Reverend'. The writing draws parallels to later accounts and discoveries on the cryptid, linking to the potential birth of the Colorado Devil Ram.

A weary Reverend knocks frantically on the farmhouse, with one clenched fist slamming the wooden door with force and the other holding the hand of a very tired child. The door swings open to a farmer with a belittling face looking down at a group of malnourished childs lead by a man of god who can drop any moment from exhaustion.
"What do you want?" demanded the farmer. A burst of warmth from the insde fireplace hits the ice kissed face of the wanderers.
"Please sir." The Reverend begs, "I apologize for the abrupt appearance at such a late hour. We're in need of shelter and some food. We've been on foot in the wilderness close to a week now; hoping to find safe passage to a town or settlement to care for these sick and tired children. We were part of a wagon trail that couldnt make it. I promised the kid's parents I would find somewhere safe for them to stay."
The Reverend's head turns to the lone child, following him like a lost duckling. They childs' entirely covered in filth and mud, with their tearful eyes cleanly showing the trauma and emotion that he had to endure.
The Reverend continues. " I know it's late and we arrived at your doorstep without notice, but if you could spare some bread and maybe a roof to sleep under, we would very much appreciate your hospitality."
The farmer seemed unmoved. His well-worn face shows a stubborn raised man whose only interest is personal gain. Shaving off any attachments outside of his name.
" I think its best if you kept trudging along. I have nothing to give, and I'm not obligated to give. Winters setting in and im in no genrous mood to be giving out my rationed stock I've worked a year off for. Best be taking your matter to the town further down."
" Precisely, winter is setting in. With the cold weather..." The Reverend halts himself, whispering the rest "... With the cold weather we mayy not even survive till daybreak. We have nothing, sir. Nothing."
Firm as his attitude, the farmer replies " And you'll have less than nothing if you dont make it out of my property. If you want salvation, head to the town, cause theres none here." The door slams infront of his face. The Reverend bangs on the door, unleashing his true desperation he's held back.
"Take the boy inside. You don't have to worry about me at all, just please bring the boy inside!" The actions of his gaurdian falling to oblivion left the young child with a defeated face and a sinking feeling in his heart.
The Reverend begs, slamming his fists feriociously, almost splintering the wood. Tears rolling down his eyes hoping the miracles of the lord will give the child salvation closer with eat bang to the door.
The door swings open again. The farmer brandishes a rifle, aimed and cocked right at the Reverend's head. His fearful reaction reels the religious man back, falling to the floor and his hands raised beside his face.
" I was being polite before. Now, this is a warning to leave my property now."
Like all religous men, The Reverend was a fleeing man when danger knocks on their door. It was better to run to see another say then to die fighting on a hill. But something snapped in him, when he instinctively grabbed the barrel of the rifle. The two wrestle over the weapon, the barrel swinging everywhere within the chaos- BAM!
A round goes off, both the men flinch. Waiting for the sensation of pain to finally hit them. But it doesn't come. The Reverend in a beat, turns to the boy he shepered here, hunched over and cupping the side of his stomach. Throug hthe finger tips blood begin to leak down his small hand, keeling over in shock. The Reverend pounces to him, cradling the young boys head in his arms, sobbing uncontorllaby. The little boys eyes grow dim looking out ot the wilderness, his body grows ice cold and limp.

Excerpt later in the Passages:

There. he layed in the exposed winter forest, huddling himself in a fetal position to harness any ounce of warmth left within him. Frostbite is immenent on his hands and face. Everypart of him shaking from the cold and from hunger. Heartbroken and oath destroying, his mind falls empty and defeated, a loss of worth mustering inside him. The only thing he could do now is pray to himself, hoping slip into death is warmer than the hell he is in now. A cry calls out in the forest, His opens pry open weakly.
A mutilated sheep lays on its side. Possibly an escaped prisoner form the farm he visited earlier. It's underbelly is ripped open, steam escaping from it. The Reverend crawls across the snowbed, over the wooly animal, as its cries and meeping get weaker and weaker until nothing is heard.
His eyes lock into the innards of the sheep, the only food he has seen for close to a week. The heat hits his face. He shudders to himself, tears falling down the same trail on his cheek he weeped before. As he plunges his hand into the carcass, the heat of it steaming his hand to satisfaction. Pulling his arm out is a chunk of an organ, possibly its liver. The blood of the sheep masks the blood of the young boy he promised to care for. He breaks down, conflicted between morality and survival. His teeth sink into the rubbery substance and eats it whole.
A cry of desperation falls upon him, emotion and pain surging through him. A metamorphis. Echoing across the landscape, his wails grow deeper in to a bellow that rumbles the ground.

Reproduction

The Colorado Devil Ram lacks sex organs, leading to no signs that these creatures breed. This is not uncommon amongst Cryptids and Beasts; as most of these monsters are created through supernatural or anomalous means.

Dietary Needs

The Colorado Devil Ram mainly dines on meats of animals, with livestock being their personal favorite.
Though they are accustomed to killing and taking courses of livestock with them, it's not confirmed they do actually feed off of animals, nor eat at all.
Some Trappers researching and tracking the elusive Colorado Devil Ram hypothesize that they only hunt primarily for sport.

Habitat

Most commonly found within the ranges of Colorado, It is unknown where the Colorado Devil Ram truly resides as no form of nest or caves have been found to inhabit one. But they are mainly seen in pastures or farmlands during hunts, often in terrain that isn't too extreme and provides a lot of mobility to roam. They have been reported to enter populated towns and settlements to attack any livestock or humans, causing curfews to be issued across the vast regions of Colorado.
The Colorado Devil Rams reside mainly in the northwest area of Colorado.

• Denver Metro, Colorado
• Front Ranges, Colorado
• Northwest, Colorado
• South East, Wyoming
• Southwest, Wyoming
• Northeast, Utah

Similarities Between a Colorado Devil Ram and a Wendigo

Comparisons between the Colorado Devil Ram and a Wendigo are strikingly similar and can often be confused with one another.
They both have similar anatomy, are apex hunters in their region, solitary creatures, and originate from tales of humans converting into beasts after consuming unethical substances. These two species are also considered to be under the same genus.

Hunting a Colorado Devil Ram

Devil Rams are considered unliving creatures, making them difficult to take down with firearms. High-caliber rifles and shotguns are the best tools to use when engaging with one.
Similar weakness to a wendigo, being able to shoot it in the back of its head will be the best approach to destroying the creature. Unfortunately, Devil Rams are very agile and mobile, proving difficult to find a well-placed shot.
Subduing the creature will be the best tactic, whether using lures or traps to get a direct shot to its head, neutralizing it.
The Colorado Devil Ram's intelligence should not be underestimated, it can pre-plan its actions and uses any advantages it could find to go against large trapper parties.

'As I entered the room, that THING stood over my son, holding it's talon hands across his throat. Knowing that I understood what's happening, it's other boney hand points out the window to the cow pen outside. Its willing to make a deal.'

- Howard Bun, on his encounter with a Colorado Devil Ram, 1888

Category 
5A Cryptid
Height
7'6" (230cm~)
Weight
280lb (122kg~)
Pseudonyms
Farm Wendigo, Krampus, Satan of the Northwest

by Tiia Monto

Pictured: remnants of an Organ Snapier killed by a Colorado Devil Ram.