Godsent

The Godsent are species of animals that are larger than life, born at the inception of the world when Udis first shaped the sphere of Visctheria. They roam the globe peacefully, watching as empires rise and fall, unaffected by the whims of civilization.

The Godsent differ from country to country, keeping to their ancient breeding grounds for longer than memory can recall. They stalk the surface and the depths of the planet, mostly ignoring the much smaller sentient races that populate Visctheria. Giant serpents burrow below the soil, and massive rays take to the skies, covering the ground below in huge swaths of shadow as they pass overhead.

Carlathan Spiders

The Carlathan Spiders mostly reside in the Meskaovanian colony of Carlatha. Dark creatures, they can grow up to three feet across, and will feed on their caretakers if they are not careful. There is a small herd of spiders kept in the depths of the Bellowguard's stronghold in Durial, but the massive farms are in the colonies, carefully guarded for their export of Carlathan Lace. This lace is the strongest and most delicate fabric on the planet, and is highly coveted around the world for its beauty and versatility.

The webs began to thicken, pulling at your hair and clothes as you push through the small tunnel. Soon all you could see were thick strands of the gooey white thread, blocking you from going futher.

— The Legend of Everia

by sunnybirdboi

Dragon

The Dragons disappeared from the world long ago, after the first coming of the Strutheo Star in 5057 BD. When the continent split, the ancient creatures vanished, taking to the high mountains and deep oceans. Few still exist today, but some claim to have seen the great beasts erupting from the waves on voyages, or pulling themselves from the mountainside while climbing the passes.

Glothir

The massive flying Glothir rarely interact with the other Godsent, roaming the skies of the world and putting whole cities into darkness as they pass overhead, reaching up to 100 miles in length. Their barbed tails whip through the sky, occasionally exterminating the local bird population, and giant wings span the stratosphere, cutting through the clouds and storms with ease. They regularly inhabit the rougher weather patterns, following the thunder and lightning from region to region. This has earned them a reputation of a harbinger of sorts, bringing terrible weather and hours of darkness.

by sunnybirdboi

The hunk of metal that Ruith called a sword never left her side. Forged of Duralian steel, and hilt bound in the leather of a Ninian Wyrm, Ruith had trained with the weapon since childhood. She was only able to lift it once she hit age thirteen. Since then, her strength had exploded, quickly learning to twist and swing the giant blade of Nightbane with the best of the kingdom's warriors.

— The Lying Court, Chapter Two

Ninian Wyrm

In Reacia, the Ninian Wyrm rules the land. One of the more aggressive Godsent, the Wyrm is often hunted as a rite of passage for the Darkbreakers. The tough, scaled flesh makes for the toughest armor in Visctheria, making the Reacian military a force to be reckoned with. The Wyrm inhabits burrows it creates below the surface of the world, sucking the surrounding nutrients from the soil. Huge, dead clearings cover the distance above the burrows, marking the presence of the Wyrm, and providing an easy method to hunt the creatures - if you can get high enough to spot the clearings. Venomous and dangerous, the Ninan Wyrms breed quickly, and prove to be more of a pest than a primordial being, growing from their freshly hatched size of a humanoid arm to up to 300 feet long. The smallest of the Godsent, they began as a worshiped creature, and descending to game to hunt for sport.

Ostrello

Roaming the seas of Visctheria are the Ostrellos. Their translucent flesh makes them invisible from above the water, but once below the waves, their sheer gargantuan mass makes them impossible to miss. Reaching sizes of up to 500 miles in length, the tentacles offer a home to multiple ecosystems that only survive within the wispy tendrils. While these tentacles look thin, floating gently in time with the currents, they range from one to five miles in diameter, with the thicker arms producing a deadly venom that only the Coliceathe can survive. Their heads glow softly, natural phosphorescence creating colorful light shows under the ocean that have drawn many a curious sailor to their deaths.

by sunnybirdboi

by sunnybirdboi

Wyllow Dyr

The Everian territory holds the entire population of the Wyllow Dyr. The huge creatures roam the Living Lands, covered in just as many flora and fauna as the giant trees that make up the forest. Vines and ferns are woven into their hides, caught from passing through the undergrowth and canopy simultaneously or sprouting directly from their flesh. Huge antlers often tangle in the trees, breaking off to create massive traps that fall from the canopy when the wind picks up. Their hooves leave depressions in the underbrush, forming ponds that become watering holes for the many strange species that reside in the humongous forest.

Proathian Viper

The Viper prowls the icy wastelands of Proatho, searching for new victims to drain of heat. Once it sets its fangs into you, its venom puts you into a sleep so deep it lowers your body temperature, which can induce hypothermia in the frigid temperatures. While this makes the Viper incredibly dangerous, collection of its venom has allowed for invention of a general anaesthetic that has saved countless lives around the world.

by sunnybirdboi

The Crulaetiks are peaceful creatures, and sentient. Who are we to mine them for their flesh? If we harm them and expect them not to fight back, we can only expect the same thing of ourselves.

— Marsha Melengoth, member of the Pnuremgard Clan

Crulaetiks

Crulaetik roughly translates to "crackling" in Priquian, which is the only sign that they are nearby. Giant crystalline golems move through the crystal caves on the island of Priquish, living quietly and feeding off small creatures that find their way in. While they have never harmed a traveller that did not attack first, they are often killed for their valuable bodies, and sold among the Clans of Priquish.

Kraken

The Kraken is a massive species that roams the oceans of Visctheria, taking down ships and guarding islands they claim as their hunting grounds. Extremely territorial creatures, they often fight amongst themselves when they encounter one another, and create huge storms with their sheer power. While few have been killed, many new Sailors of the Crescent Council are given the impossible task as a test. Their reaction determines much of their path with the Council.

by sunnybirdboi

by sunnybirdboi

Dulcenoth Owl

The only one of its kind, the Dulcenoth Owl is worshiped in Athos as a god of knowledge, and guards the Athos Repository, a massive library in the center of the city capital. Arcanists will travel from all over the world to dedicate research to the Owl, reading their theses aloud in a special presentation that will draw global audiences. Presenting on the stage in the Repository is a highly coveted position. Rumour has it that if you speak to the Owl in its native tongue, it will teach you the secret of the Godsent.

Xinkanrin Bat

In the massive cave system below Zareya's Academy for the Magically Inclined in Estrana, the Xinkanrin Bats live peacefully. Regular school and research tours through the caves keep them accustomed to Visctherians, but the deep caves beneath sea level house some of the largest Godsent known to Viscankind. Feeding off swarms of bugs and fish from the underground lakes - as well as smaller, less fortunate creatures - they exist in pitch black, their echoing croaks bouncing through the rock for miles.

by sunnybirdboi

by sunnybirdboi

Wooly Mammoth

The giant Wooly Mammoths of Skaolia have been ritualistically hunted for generations. While every part of their body is put to use, their skulls are carefully cleaned and used in massive bone puppet plays. The Skaolians tenderly write and put on regular productions of fully realized storylines, often with multiple characters. They tell the stories of the Gods in caricature, and continue stories across the whole country.

Blue-Nosed Badger

The badgers of Oshor cause problems enough for the Vacinae as is. When the Blue-nosed Badger was discovered to grow to the size of a house, government action was immediately taken to build badger-proof gates at the entrance to each city. Magic walls extend through the dirt, keeping away peering eyes and curious critters, but the Blue-nosed Badger pushes through with it's anti-magic cone.

by sunnybirdboi

Antarah beckoned down one of the huge crows to the arm of her throne, where it perched, eyes dark and beady. It looked out over the courtroom with disdain, as Antarah trailed a finger down its feathers. "Don't you want to think this through?" she crooned.

— The Lying Court

Lycenian Crow

The royal animals of the Crown in Reacia, the Lycenian Crows inhabit a special birdhouse built atop the palace in the capitol city of Lycen. While some say their presence sets a dark omen over the crown, their grim aesthetic fit very well with shortlived Corvinian Dynasty, the last dynasty with which they were to reside in the palace. During that dark period, the Crows revealed they will eat human flesh if given the chance, and began to hunt the city for more meat. As a result, Queen Ruith Liaore decreed they be killed in an event that came to be known as the Murder of the Crows.

Shiacan Rhino

The Shiacan Rhino is dying out, hunted to near extinction for their tough skin and ceremonially-used horns. Once they are taken down, they are often sacrificed in the very spot they fell, draped in flowers and vines to honor the spirit of the creature. Many artworks of the Rhino depict these flowers bursting from their skin while they still live, as if it is a part of them.

by sunnybirdboi

by sunnybirdboi

Mumentoth

While few still exist in their native land, the wilds of Raxala, there is a thriving population of Mumentoth in the Meskaovanian palace. They act as circus animals in the main halls, and as guards and executioners deep in the dungeon caves below the palace. These creatures have a neverending appetite, and will eat any meat given to them - including their own kind.

Bearded Kamarind

Deep in the jungles of Hobrax, where the tree cover almost completely blocks the sun, you can find the bright orange coat of the Bearded Kamarind hidden above you. Growing to the size of elephants, they live their lives near the tree canopy - occasionally toppling the trees that cannot hold their massive weight. Feeding off of mostly squirrels and other small mammals, the Bearded Kamarind is an omnivore, and also keeps the tree tops from totally blocking the light from getting to the undergrowth.

by sunnybirdboi

by sunnybirdboi

Prikos

The Prikos are the backbone of Priquian society, carrying hundreds of pounds of supplies for thousands of miles across the wastelands. Massive furred and horned monsters, they are used as pack animals, farm creatures, and battle beasts simultaneously. A single Prikos, living for up to eighty years, can last a family generations, passed from warrior to warrior. They often carry the badges won by their champion on their saddles.

Megalopod

Up to four times the size of a regular killer whale, Megalopods can destroy a ship with ease, pulling the sailors to a watery grave. They prowl the Garlin Deep, seeking to destroy and consume all before them. While few have been killed, there are some research explorations that wish to document the creatures. With no natural camoflage, they stand out easily, but they have nothing to worry about with their high position on the food chain.

by sunnybirdboi

by sunnybirdboi

Ghost Adder

The Ghost Adder is the biggest myth of the Garlin Deep. A long, lithe, scaled creature, the Adder apparently feasts on smaller beasts and sailors themselves, pulling them deeper into the waves to tear into their flesh. It also does not truly exist, completely made up by the sailors who spotted a floating log on the Garlin Deep.

Jursa Major

Hailing from Qascon and Broca, Jursa Major is a massive bear with patchy brown and white fur. Vicious claws and sharp teeth create a terrifying predator on their own; its gargantuan size only compounds the terror it brings. While many fear Jursa Major and run from them, they are actually herbivores, and survive the great winters by consuming the frozen plants under the ice. Their claws and teeth are for digging, not killing.

by sunnybirdboi

by sunnybirdboi

Bighorn Sheep

The Bighorn Sheep of the Plaxoran Range protect the smaller herds of mountain sheep that populate the cliffs, acting as divine guardians for the creatures. None are able to kill the mountain sheep without invoking the wrath of a Bighorn, which can bring bad luck, illness, and even injury or death if attacked directly. They live on the highest cliffs of the mountains of Everia and Priquish, and are a protected species under the Everian government. Priquish hunts them for sport.

Dusk Eagle

The Dusk Eagles fly over the smaller countries of the Eastern Continent, picking off small creatures like deer, horses, and smaller Visctherians themselves. They are large enough to fly their prey to their nests, and feed their young whole foxes and smaller birds of prey that they capture in their talons. They are considered a population threat by Oshor, and are to be killed on sight, pending a hefty reward.

by sunnybirdboi

Table of Contents

Ayda Northana

by sunnybirdboi

Ayda Northana was an Arcanist credited with documenting key information about all twenty-three species of Godsent, as well as discovering no less than seven types of the creatures on her own. Her massive contribution to the study of the creatures when the field was still in its infancy helped move the research along to an almost complete understanding before the Visctherian Analogs were able to document her findings.

Northana also helped establish Aquavelle, a massive city that rests on top of the largest Ostrello on record. The city is home to the Crescent Council, where they rule with an iron fist. Aquavelle also farms the Ostrello for their poison, and trade with the Everian Tainted Ones for their yearly supply.

The Golden Dyr

by sunnybirdboi

While only twenty-three species of Godsent have been discovered, there is rumor of a twenty-fourth: the Golden Dyr of Zabralka's Island. Supposedly related to the Willow Dyr, the Golden Dyr apparently lives on Zabralka's Island off the northern shore of Meskaovania. The cursed land hides from all researchers, keeping any myths and legends safe from destruction.

Attack on the Stardiver

by sunnybirdboi

Hilgor the High Flying lifted the Stardiver from the sea in a Kraken attack, performing a great feat of extraordinary magic that had never been done before. After much study, he was able to solve the mystery of flight for millions of researchers, creating an arcane equation that has held up for almost three hundred years. When Hilgor left the research field to pursue piracy, he hunted down that Kraken and took its heart as a trophy, turning it to stone with his new gift.

Everian Beliefs

Most of Everia believes the Godsent weren't created by the Gods - as they follow a very different pantheon - but are actually something closer to siblings, almost gods themselves. Ghaotz, force of chaos, birthed the gods and Godsent, and all animals are descended from these god-like beings.

Trade Routes & the Godsent

Eletha ran her fingers through the thick fur wrapped around her shoulders, and watched them be engulfed in the white pelt. How far had this come, she thought, to sit and rot in the closet of a spare bedroom in the Meskaovanian palace?

— An Unknown Story

While much of Visctherian trade is based on spices and fabrics, easily creatable exports, there are some routes that still thrive on Godsent poaching. Many countries protect their Godsent populations, choosing to respect them and help them grow. However, poachers flourish in the wild, killing any creatures they can.

There's little to be done to stop them, as Godsent pelts fetch a pretty penny on the black markets of Visctheria. Any poachers that live through killing a Jursa Major or a Megalopod can live off any funds they receive from the sale for the rest of their lives, creating a high demand for both the pelts, and hunters. A whole warrior force, disgused as Arcanists, actually managed to slaughter a species of Godsent almost to extinction, threatening the very existence of the Crulaetiks.

Related Reading