Post by Trippy Hare on May 20, 2006 16:38:06 GMT -5
The Stygian race is a mystery at best and a nightmare at worst. Known more by the name "Daemons" or simply "demons" than by the name Stygians, these voracious creatures have earned their malignment, both by driving the Dwarven race out of the mountains, and the voracious, unrepentant manner in which they attack their foes. Widely varying in both appearance and intellect, the Stygians have no real society or culture, and the only social order amongst Stygians is "Might makes right", whichever Stygian is bigger makes the rules.
Most Stygians are considered "Dirty Ones", not due to any physical uncleanliness, but rather, the uncouth manner in which they operate. Dirty Ones are mindless animals, and are often under the control of, or eaten by, other Stygians. Dirty Ones vary widely in appearance, but usually stand about four feet tall, and stand on two to four legs. Most Dirty Ones have small horns or tusks or other bony protuberances about their faces.
While Dirty Ones make up the overwhelming bulk of the Stygian population, two other classes of Daemons exist: Great Ones and Cauldrawns. Great Ones more resemble the "classic" demon, horns, tails, long, curved claws and vicious fangs. They stand about twelve feet tall, though they are usually on all fours, and thus only appear about six feet tall. Great Ones, despite their monstrous appearance, are, for the most part deviously intelligent, and move the Dirty Ones about as pawns for whatever ends suits their fancy.
Cauldrawn, like Dirty Ones, have no mind of their own. These enormous, bloated creatures are completely immobile, and posses no sensory organs or any means to gather information about their surroundings. All the Cauldrawn do is consume whatever is dropped into their cavernous maws, and spit out great gobbets of rotting flesh and filth, out of which, after a period of incubation, emerges another demon. The length of time the gobbet remains determines what sort of demon emerges, with Dirty Ones born every few days and Great Ones every few years. Rarely is another Cauldrawn ever born.
Despite their asexual manner of reproduction, some demons posses the anatomical features necessary to breed with other creatures. One out of every 100 or so demons spawned will have the ability to mate, though if that demon is a Dirty One the necessary anatomy is usually forcibly removed by a Great One...or the Dirty One is bodily thrown into the mouth of a Cauldrawn.
Despite their highly aggressive nature, Stygians rarely venture outside their subterranean tunnels, and almost never instigate a confrontation away from the mountainsides. No one knows their motivation behind this behavior, despite the fact that many Stygians are capable of speaking and understanding languages. This isolationism has led some kingdoms to believe the Stygians to be nothing more than a myth, while it has led others, mostly wealthy vassals and royals, to desire to have a Stygian pet. Queen Daeleth, of Failewyn, is one such person, and has an enormous Great One bound in magically-enchanted mithril chains.
Most Stygians are considered "Dirty Ones", not due to any physical uncleanliness, but rather, the uncouth manner in which they operate. Dirty Ones are mindless animals, and are often under the control of, or eaten by, other Stygians. Dirty Ones vary widely in appearance, but usually stand about four feet tall, and stand on two to four legs. Most Dirty Ones have small horns or tusks or other bony protuberances about their faces.
While Dirty Ones make up the overwhelming bulk of the Stygian population, two other classes of Daemons exist: Great Ones and Cauldrawns. Great Ones more resemble the "classic" demon, horns, tails, long, curved claws and vicious fangs. They stand about twelve feet tall, though they are usually on all fours, and thus only appear about six feet tall. Great Ones, despite their monstrous appearance, are, for the most part deviously intelligent, and move the Dirty Ones about as pawns for whatever ends suits their fancy.
Cauldrawn, like Dirty Ones, have no mind of their own. These enormous, bloated creatures are completely immobile, and posses no sensory organs or any means to gather information about their surroundings. All the Cauldrawn do is consume whatever is dropped into their cavernous maws, and spit out great gobbets of rotting flesh and filth, out of which, after a period of incubation, emerges another demon. The length of time the gobbet remains determines what sort of demon emerges, with Dirty Ones born every few days and Great Ones every few years. Rarely is another Cauldrawn ever born.
Despite their asexual manner of reproduction, some demons posses the anatomical features necessary to breed with other creatures. One out of every 100 or so demons spawned will have the ability to mate, though if that demon is a Dirty One the necessary anatomy is usually forcibly removed by a Great One...or the Dirty One is bodily thrown into the mouth of a Cauldrawn.
Despite their highly aggressive nature, Stygians rarely venture outside their subterranean tunnels, and almost never instigate a confrontation away from the mountainsides. No one knows their motivation behind this behavior, despite the fact that many Stygians are capable of speaking and understanding languages. This isolationism has led some kingdoms to believe the Stygians to be nothing more than a myth, while it has led others, mostly wealthy vassals and royals, to desire to have a Stygian pet. Queen Daeleth, of Failewyn, is one such person, and has an enormous Great One bound in magically-enchanted mithril chains.