Bugbear

    1. (Cursed Bear) A bugbear may be any variety of bear (black, brown, northern, dire, etc.); an afflicted creature, struck with a terrible curse. All of the bear's natural drives are lost, and the bear begins to wither from no-longer eating. The flesh droops from the creatures bones, and the eyes glaze over with white pearlescent cataracts. It is a ghastly sight to behold, standing deathly still in the woods, though one is likely to smell the beast before seeing it, as the flesh begins to rot, and the thick fur becomes matted with filth. This natural horror is augmented by a supernatural aura of fear projecting from the creature, most intense when in view of its terrible eyes.

    The curse is said to be the result of intense malice directed against a bear, perhaps as a result of the bear killing and eating a beloved individual. Normally, this would result in a creature wasting away, or fleeing its home, the bears natural resilience and stubbornness work against it, allowing the curse to fester in the creatures body, corrupting the soul.

    2. (Beast-man) non-standard, see: Lonce; Atelwer; Foreshaped 

Bindmage

    "Bindmage" is a generalized term for magic users specialized in the art of manipulating spiritual associations (bindmagic). This is an art practiced by certain orders of monks and psychosophists, but is mainly associated with witchcraft.

Bicephalus

    The Bicephalus is a pair of Giants fused together into a lumbering uncoordinated monster, bearing two miserable, temperamental heads atop one set of broad twisted shoulders. There were once several of these creatures, all created by the mad flesh-wizard Zivzov, punishing a clan of Wris who stole his cattle. After the wizard's demise, all of the miserable two-headed guards perished as well, all except for Bicephalus, who still haunts the ruins, kept alive through some sort of magic. He is very old, and very angry-- particularly at himself. Or rather, the two heads that call themselves Bicephalus are angry at each other, as they are distinct minds, each controlling half of the grotesque body. The creature sometimes goes by the name Taranau, but considers this name private, and will not tell it to foes.

    

    See also: Wris

Beithir

    Beithir are a variety of Titan, and are counted at times among dragonkind for being reptilian, large, and for their cleverness, but these are similarities only in broad strokes. Beithir seem to operate outside of standard physicality, and many of their features are said to be mere notions of those features, rather than actual physical attributes. They can be said with certainty to be large and serpentine, with a viperous head and mouth large enough to swallow a man whole. Length seems variable-- that is, an individual may itself vary in length depending on the occasion. They do not move as one might expect a giant snake to move, but rather how an enormous centipede might move. One may get the impression that the Beithir has many small legs, but there are none to be found. The scales of the Beithir are small and tight. The creature has a bluish cast to its complexion. The Beithir is said to have a "sting" but this is, again, somewhat abstract. It is said to be like being struck with a bolt of lightning, though there is no flash of light, nor any movement from the creature at all, save for a fixed stare from its unsettling eyes. When it wishes to, the Beithir has a pair of human-like arms that it may use to manipulate objects, or open doors. The creature is capable of telepathic communication, though it rarely deigns to talk to its prey. 

Bees, Sentient

    Not to be confused with red bees who may be sentient if possessed by an intelligent soul. Proper sentient bees are very much alive, and quite natural, known to inhabit the southern jungles. They are not visually distinguishable from ordinary bees. They construct massive hives, which serve as a central hub for their distributed intellect. Memories and other knowledge is stored in special complexes of honey. They are thought to be the creation of certain mysterious southern gods, to act as emissaries, devotees, and recorders of scripture. Tithes of pollen and sugar will win favor, which may allow a visitor to probe the depth of the bees' knowledge.

Bees, Red

    Most insects have fractional souls, with simple minds not too far removed from plants and minerals. But hive creatures are different. Though each unit insect (be it bee, ant, termite, etc.) has only a tiny mote of spirit, their collective is interconnected in a large, distributed soul. When a hive of bees is fully killed, and this spirit is departed from every unit bee, this strange soul may be supplanted with something else. This may be a soul constructed by a psychosophist, or the soul of some demon, or the restless soul of a dead mage. It is a delicate skill, binding a soul distributed among a swarm in this way, but the methods are well documented. A swarm of "Red Bees" is exactly this-- they are not really so much red as merely dry and dark in color. A swarm of this nature has the benefit of being able to infiltrate through very small openings, and is quite challenging for a foe to destroy completely with conventional weapons. As servants to a thanaturge, they thusly make ideal spies.

Bees, Pus

    Pus Bees are, perhaps, poorly named. They do not remotely resemble bees in appearance or behavior. The association comes from Pus Bees congregating in "hives" where there can be found "honey." However, rather than the "bees" producing the green ooze that could be vaguely described as honey, it seems that the honey is some variety of slime mold that lives in symbiosis with the bees. Consumption of the honey causes psychosis, and the scent seems to resemble bear piss. Congregations of pus bees are found frequently in dead trees and logs on the outskirts of the poison forests of the south-east Midalrealm. 

    The green "honey" protects the bees over the winter, and the bees will consume it during times of scarcity. Most of the time, however, the bees-- which resemble floating, disembodied zits, up to two inches in diameter-- meander aimlessly through the air. When the bees a living creature, they burst in a spray of pus. The pus induces vomiting when in contact with exposed flesh. The vomit, in turn, attracts more bees, who feed on it. If not cleaned from the skin immediately, pustules form on the skin, which will eventually pop free from their host to rejoin the hive.

    While Pus Honey is occasionally consumed in certain communities as a recreational drug, care must be taken to avoid consuming live Pus Bees (Pus bee honey should always be cooked before consumption, just in case). Swallowing a pus bee results in what is called puking sickness.

Bees, Carrion

    Looking no different from typical honey bees, but for their unusual blue color, Carrion Bees are often found swarming around rotting meat. These bees are bred and kept in caves and dungeons to the far south, but have been found as imports elsewhere. Rather than gathering pollen and nectar from flowers, carrion bees, as their name would suggest, eat meat and decaying flesh. Their hives are disorderly, unlike their flower-feeding cousins. These haphazard combs are more challenging and tedious to harvest, but produce honey none the less. This honey is, like the bees, blue, and has a strange bitter flavor, but in no way resembles flesh or decay in scent of flavor. The type of beast fed on by the bees when producing the "honey" will produce slightly different results. The honey accepts magical effects easily, and is often used as an ingredient in elixirs.

Bear, Dire

    The Dire Bear is far larger and more threatening than even the the large grizzled brown bears, cave bears, or white northern bears. Sometimes known as an Ursoc, or Rought, the Dire Bear will hibernate through the winter as it's smaller cousins do, though it is much more easily disturbed, and sleeps for less time. It gives little pause at the cold for it's very large size, but this size builds in the beast a hunger that is hard to satisfy in the lean months, making the bear a plague to ranchers near their territories.

Bear

    A Bear is large carnivorous beast. Typically solitary except when one has cubs. Though they appear to be slow and bubbling, it would be a mistake to underestimate a bear. They can run as fast as a horse, when properly motivated. Their layers of thick fur, hide, fat and muscle make a bear able to take countless blows without faltering. A bear is wise enough to flee from a fight if it can, if it sees it's for as large or threatening enough, but will fight to the death if caring for young.

    Small black bears are of little threat, even to a solitary man, unless cornered. They are expert climbers and will flee quickly up a tree if pursued. The primary threat of a black bear is at night, where they will not hesitate to rummage through a camp, searching for food.

    Towering brown bears are far more frightening to encounter, and will make a meal of a lone unarmed man in most scenarios. These two varieties hibernate underground over winter, but the even larger white bears of the far north do not, and move surprisingly silently across the snow. These northern bears are the most dangerous, as they are also adept swimmers, preying primarily on seals.

    When raised from a young age, bears may be tamed somewhat easily. Their behavior and mannerisms resemble those of hounds to an extent

Beamgheist

    A Beamgheist typically has the appearance of any ordinary tree (but for a peculiar aura), but when taking an interactive form, they will appear like a cartoonish haunted tree, with vague face and two of it's branches often twisted into arms and hands. A type of Fae, typically a former fae-tree who has been twisted one way or another, and no longer feels the need to keep up the act of being a tree. Other names include Treespirit, Hauntwood, Ent/Treant (particularly ones who have uprooted themselves), or occasionally a Treegaurd (when the gheist is defending a particular stand of trees from woodsman or fire)

    Uprooted trees may be convinced to resettle with the right persuasion, or, if the tree has risen due to an offence, if the offence is settled/resolved.

    Just as fae spirits may occasionally possess animals, trees and other plants may become so possessed as well, which may be the origin of certain well known Beamgheists in settled lands. 

Beaksteed

    Orcs have always had a distaste for riding Harts- they find them to be too skittish and stubborn for frequent use. Instead, in the absence of a Wargr to ride, orcs often are found riding Beaksteeds, Hnaaok-thull in orc tongue. The Beaksteed is an ill tempered beast, and requires a strong hand to control. Like horses, they have a strong sense of group hierarchy, and compared to Harts, they are much tougher, having no qualms with riding into combat- or even participating in it. They are somewhat slower than harts or horses, but also more strong willed, having distinctive personalities- which may or may not clash with that of their riders. Beaksteeds are mostly hairless, though they do have a thin layer of coarse fur-like feathers on their backs and necks. They are similar to horses in overall shape, but with a thicker hide, long whip-like tails, and a shrill beakish maw in place of a snout. Their ears are small and hard to notice, and their eyes small and beady. 

    They are true omnivores, and will happily eat carrion and refuse- but are not themselves dirty, and will spend a decent portion of the day preening themselves. Their feet are small and clawed, but tough, with thick pads like a camel. Where a horse is more likely to kick, a beaksteed would prefer to rear up and slash with its front claws- though its true weapon is its long beak. Somewhat noisier than other mounts, they have a series of shrill bird-like calls they will make to communicate with others of their kind, to express distaste with the current state of affairs, or for no obvious reason.

Bat, Giant

    As the name suggest, the Giant Bat is a variety of very large chiropteran, in size as massive as a lion. To the surprise of their opponents, a Giant Bat is nearly as nimble on the ground as it is in the air- its leathery wings fold up neatly, and can be used to gallop about on. Its hind feet are somewhat small, but very dexterous. Though poor at understanding speech, giant bats are quite clever, and can be taught to fight melee combatants with a sword or other weapon held in their hand-like hind-feet. They may carry a light rider on their backs, and have been used as war-beasts by dark elves, and on occasion hobgoblins.

Basilisk

    A Basilisk may take a variety of forms, depending upon which sort of beast has been possessed by the Basilisk's Curse. The curse effects any sort of simple reptilian beast. Typically, this means snakes and lizards, but this may also effect other simple creatures, such as amphibians or tortoises, and larger beasts, such as gar, drakes, wyverns, and even Ssthaa, (though neither Dragons nor Askards, nor other large warm-blooded beasts with scales are afflicted). The curse takes control of the creature's body immediately if weak of will, otherwise following death, turning the hide tough and stony, the eyes cold and white. 

    The gaze of a Basilisk is its defining feature. This gaze afflicts a different sort of curse on any who meet it, seizing the body still, and dulling the flesh into rigid stone. This effect is not deadly, strictly speaking; the victim's soul is retained bound to their stone visage, and retains a slight bit of awareness. Rendered defenseless, the Basilisk will slowly pry thoughts, memories, and feelings from the anchored soul of its victim, (which sustains the unnatural creature somehow). This typically continues until nothing but the statue remains, though the creature may be distracted if prey with more interesting thoughts presents itself. Killing the Basilisk will thaw its victims instantly, but will not restore the parts of their souls that have been consumed. If the soul has been picked completely clean, the body will remain stone forever, even following the Basilisk's death.

    See also: Ichneumon; Cockatrice; Medusa

Barrow-wight

    A Barrow-wight is a portion of a strong spirit, buried with their belongings, or at a place of personal significance. The mythic portion may stay associated with the remains for a time, but certain types of burial lend themselves to dissociation from the departed, such as forest overgrowth, or simply being forgotten after a great deal of time. The mythic portion may be revered elsewhere, while the primitive animate identity remains bound to treasures. If enough of the will remains in the ghost, it's strong connection to a particular place or items may allow it to animate it's bones and manipulate the living.

Barrowbeast

    Barrowbeasts are enormous, hill shaped creatures. They have long, serpentine tails and necks, but these are not flexible. They use these long necks to crane their tiny heads up high, to eat the tops of trees. They are very slow moving, and live in small herds.