Gwyllt

The Gwyllt are inhuman monsters who plague the Shaper and their children. Inimical to mortal life, the Gwyllt exist only to terrorise and kill. The Church of the Shaper encourages its children to oppose the machinations of the Gwyllt wherever they are discovered.

Known Gwyllt Types

Caorthannaigh

Nicknames: Fire Mockeries, Infernals

Rumoured to be related to the fire touched, the Caorthannaigh are a warlike variety of the Gwyllt. They are said to be in search of their Queen, who was trapped under a lake by the Shaper, which is why they are often found near lakes. They generally attack on sight, and have a fierce fire that burns within them, enabling them to spit fire which they do as an attack or to dry up wells.

Knochenbriseadh

Nicknames: Gluttons, Brutes

A kind of Gwyllt found predominantly in the forests of Bruid they are large, powerful brutes with voracious appetites. They are known to rampage through the forests, devouring any living thing too slow to escape their path of destruction. Known to be quite dim, and would be easy to trick if not for their volatile temper. They have the ability to throw "tantrums" which send those around them flying and their blows can shatter weapons, as such when encountered on the front lines they can very easily break the lines and shield walls they crash against. It is also worth noting that other Gwyllt seem to be aware of their mental failings and use them as herded creatures to soften up their prey.

Blutigcnámh

Nicknames: Bloody Bones, Scarlet Skulls

A particularly unpleasant breed of Gwyllt common to the forests of Bruid in the more settled areas, as well as Siabhal and Baol. They prey on livestock and are generally found near farms and butchers, they are said to be able to slaughter an entire herd of cattle in a single night. Though they seem to prefer livestock, they do not spare unwary farmers and gleefully slaughter them too. They are skinless and glisten with blood and raw flesh.

Maca Rí

Nicknames: Mockeries, Gwyllt Birds

A type of Gwyllt found commonly in Bruid and near Uasa, they are individually weak but dangerous in groups. They cannot seem to speak normally, instead cawwing or mimicking what they hear, they seem to particularly enjoy tormenting those in authority, known to be spiteful and mischievous.

Wenigadaí

A strain of Gwyllt common in Bruid, seen as more of a nuisance than a threat in their own right but can still pose a threat in large groups. Sly and cunning, they are reputed to be unable to speak a word that is not a lie. Often steal supplies from settlements and rob travellers and small groups.

Rhy Gryf

The Rhy Gryf is a Gwyllt regarded with particular fear and suspicion. They are alleged to be mortals who have made a deal with the Gwyllt and become consumed by their power. Made of moving ice, the Rhy Gryf are known to be exceptionally strong and freeze their victims to devour their icy flesh. Because of their existence and alleged origins, the Torchbearers regard anyone who seems too interested in the Gwyllt with well founded distrust.

Helfa Wyllt

Nicknames: Hunterbane, Huntsgwyllt

The Helfa Wyllt is the reason that anyone living outside of a heavily defended city has a moment of panic at the sound of sudden howling. They are known for their habit of hunting mortals seemingly for sport, and for stoking the beasts around them into a murderous frenzy, sending them forth to flush out prey. Even the most faithful sheepdog has been known to turn on their master at the prompting of this Gwyllt. It was discovered by Rígan Diavall that the Helfa Wyllt's influence is ultimately fatal for the common beasts as it causes their hearts to swell and bloat with the rush of aggression it induces. It should also be noted that the Helfa Wyllt's presence can cause creatures to generate Rampages within even Wildlings of the highest intellect.

Gelyn Mellt

Nicknames: Drake Mockeries, Stormstalkers

The Gelyn Mellt are particularly hated by the Drakeblooded. Stories tell of how the Gelyn Mellt were the sworn foes of the dragons, harrying and harassing them while they tried to protect the land, emerging from storm clouds to challenge the dragon’s rule of the sky. The Drakeblooded continue this vendetta, leading hunting parties whenever there are reports of large numbers of crops and buildings being destroyed by lightning.

Scáthán Spiegel

Nicknames: Mirrored, Dopplers

One of the most duplicitous and insidious Gwyllt threats, no one knows what the Scáthán Spiegel truly looks like. They are shapeshifters, able to assume the form of those dearest to you. While the cosmetic resemblance is perfect, they are not able to copy any of the skills or magical abilities of their target. They are known to possess a limited mental link to those they copy, allowing them to imitate the person superficially though those who know them well can often spot differences. They are the reason Torchbearers always work in very close pairs.

"Nochtdawel"

Nicknames: Silencers, Hushes

Creatures with black upon their brows in strange blotchy patterns, they appeared in Draíod out of thin air. These beings caused a massive wave of Silence across the field for 15 minutes and then attacked in the confusion and then sending people into a deep sleep. Their proper names and what they wanted is unknown though they may have been akin to the rumors of Gwyllt that targeted people with knwoledge.

The Smiling Gwyllt

Encountered by the band in Bruid the Smiling Gwyllt is and was a thing of legends, responsible for the decimation of an entire village that it allegedly consumed centuries ago. Though the city eventually recovered the creature soon returned and was the subject of mystery and confusion until it was finally faced in battle.

The Smiling Gwyllt manifests as a bloody mouthed, grinning entity which is surrounded by floating pieces of itself, additional teeth that arrange themselves into a smile in an order similar to the human dental map. The Canines, Molars, Incisors, etc each have a different mark and traits and appear to regenerate from the blackened core Gwyllt.

The floating smile menaced the woods and pursued living creatures but while motivated by hunger it was extremely cunning. The Smiling Gwyllt killed the Monarch Trotzdolch to drive the herd berserk and consuming various animals to cause a food shortage and increase aggression in particular territories so that the undead it herded towards the camp were at maximum numbers.

It preferred ambushing returning bands than direct attacks and did have to be pursued or cornered in order for conflict to be on the terms of the band. The central Smiling Gwyllt itself was utterly invulnerable to harm save when it was consuming a victim. While it ate its enemies the other teeth would spiral around it as a defensive group trying to protect it while it was vulnerable.

Fortunately Sky, at that time a new recruit, was able to hang on to life and acted as a lure to the creature so the band could slay it. With that done the beast was obliterated, though it's ability to terrify, sunder armor and strike with impossible strength was formidable once it was vulnerable it had limited durability despite the calcified armor it appeared to be covered in.

Murder Birds

Nicknames: Carrionids, Mockinghawks Purple feathered Gwyllt with violently sharp claws on their arms and a violent streak a mile wide. These spiteful creatures have lethally sharp claws and the ability to use their song to lure people and things to their death, drawing them from the lines and then hacking at their prey. Once they have felled the targets, they heal the victim's chest and head to ensure they are conscious and then mock and belittle them that their allies have abandoned them or will never reach them in time, dragging the body away from the field of battle to increase the likelihood of death. They generally stay at a distance and will goad other Gwyllt such as Macarí to attack in the front lines while lingering behind to spot victims to draw out and away.