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Hiraeth Creature #1216 - Naul-Nyari

"The chaotic Fae Realm is known for its equally volatile lords-- Fae who manage to rise above the fold, who wield the whims of reality as a knight wields a blade. Thankfully, they tend to keep each other in check, for an empty realm is one not worth ruling. A lord known for pushing these boundaries is Lord Basil, forever an upstart. The Fae Realm is no stranger to change, but Basil fancies the route of acceleration-- to see the realm turn inside out in the hopes of birthing something new. 

Keeping him in check are the Nyari sisters-- twin lords who carry the fury of Fae Realm winds. Living blades, each bristle of fur stings like a spear, and their bones grow into scythes. They crash from the sky, cracking like lightning, no armour or hide strong enough to withstand their mere caress. The Nyari sisters were Basil's unofficial overseers, always making him doubt his movements, but now there's only Naul-Nyari. 

Her sister was lost during the Fae invasion of Hiraeth, fighting on the side of the defending Fae, said to have been banished and thrown into the wilds, left as a lesser creature. Naul-Nyari believes Basil had something to do with it, even though they briefly fought on the same side. Though the sisters are separated, Naul-Nyari still keeps her eyes wide open for any Fae Realm treachery."

[hiraeth-wayfarer]

Hiraeth Creature #1215 - Parvithadra

"Alchemy is a prestigious study--finding the essence of all things in this world and harnessing them for common use. So revered was this art in Hiraeth, entire schools and guilds were dedicated to it. To find the truth of life, one had to immerse themselves in it: flora, fauna, and minerals, each thing carrying a blueprint within them that alchemists sought to replicate through the means of chemistry and ritual. Alchemists in Hiraeth even managed to create life, but they were far from the first. In the ancient Harbour Lands, leagues past the domain of sea monsters, nearly all native life shows signs of alchemical birth.

All places touched by Harbour Land inhabitants are guarded by fearsome homunculi. Such beings born of Hiraeth alchemists seem to carry a spark of wildness and cunning, no matter how small, but these constructs were streamlined, still unquestioningly guarding their master's old haunts. Even in their abandoned Harbour Land homes, there are signs of these creatures: living flora made to grow food and decorate gardens. If alchemy was such a common part of Harbour Lands society, it is worth a wonder what secrets they hadn't uncovered. Maybe those secrets were what swallowed them whole and left nary a trace of their passing."

[hiraeth-wayfarer]

Hiraeth Creature #1214 -Saughast

"Hiraeth is undoubtedly a land of high strangeness--a traveller who has accrued any time in the wilds can tell you as much. The unknown and the ethereal hidden away under a moonlit sky is what adventurers long to uncover, but a seasoned wanderer will know not all peculiarities need to be chased. Sometimes, that feeling of hesitation gripping your legs and begging you to turn around should be heeded. 

A placid trapper is the Saughast: strangers in long coats and boney masks. They seem to appear at night, steadily driving small wagons or setting up shop in abandoned homesteads. The Saughast doesn't pounce upon their victims or cast furious spells, but rather offers them wares. They are merchants, selling odd jewelry and totems. Their goods are said to be miraculous, blessing you with any boon you may wish, but for a greater price. There have been many stories of folk tempted by a Saughast's promises, only to find a brief happiness that ends abruptly. Some meet an early demise, while others are said to have transformed into werebeasts. 

According to Deep Realm demons, all of a Saughast's goods are scavenged from the remains of Primordial Beasts. Such beings were said to breed life into the world, but their ancient magic wasn't meant to mingle with mortal creatures. With pilfered shards of bone and even bristles of old teeth, a Saughast will fashion them into bizarre trinkets meant to spread chaos. The rarest of finds is old skin, which the Saughasts stitch into finery. Wearing such garb is said to transform one into something even more dire than a werebeast."

[hiraeth-wayfarer]

Hiraeth Creature #1213 - Imikangi

"Something that can always be expected in Hiraeth is the unexpectedness of Fae. Being natural curiosities, it is only natural that they take on curious forms. Often overlooked despite this is Imikangi, a Fae who has taken up residence in Hiraeth’s central woodlands. Appearing as a small ball of fur, she’s been known to curl up in berry bushes, enjoying the dappled sunlight and the smell of sweet fruit as they sleep. 

Imikangi wasn’t always this peaceful: she hails from an almost knightly order, known in the Fae Realm as the Brotherhood of Warrior Princes. None of the members are actually royalty, but they made themselves such through merit and deed, helping those in need with their immense strength. Imikangi, once unfurled, was a living chakram of stingers, wings, and claws. Cutting through the winds, she could level a forest into stumps or knock the tops off mountains. Imikangi is a veteran of Hiraeth’s two greatest wars: the long-passed Giant’s March, and the much more ancient Fae Realm Invasion. Imikangi, along with many other Fae, aided Hiraeth against tyrannical Fae Lords, and more than earned a place as an honourary resident. Many of Warrior Princes have taken on more humble forms since then, but occasionally they will recall a fragment of their destructive power if they feel so inclined."

[hiraeth-wayfarer]

Starting in March the Pokemon Redesign project will return! 

A lot of my creative time and energy will be devoted to the Paldea redesigns. If you like my work and want to help me out, support is always greatly appreciated. 

I have a Patreon and a Ko-fi, and if you want some of my works, I have digital books on Pay-hip, physical books on Amazon, art prints on INPRNT, and clothing and more on Redbubble and Teepublic. 

Thank you so much for following my work and I hope you’ll enjoy the upcoming redesigns as well!

[hiraeth-wayfarer]

Hiraeth Creature #1212 - Yuun

“There are stories shared among those who feel lost and weary in the midst of life’s current; stories of a spirit who carries a healing breeze in their breath and plucks away all woes burrowed within a soul. They live in the forgotten parts of the east, in spiralling, tree-top roosts, only appearing before those they deem worthy. These rumours speak of the Yuun, a half-beast born of old alchemy.

Right as the kingdoms were beginning to fall, a guild of alchemists toiling in the Mystic Veil sought to cure the Northern Kingdoms of their growing plague. A curse was spreading, creating a toxic forest and walling in hapless citizens. The alchemists took inspiration from the Fae, who held records of divine beings who drew in all malignant forces, suffering to spare others. The alchemists toiled quickly, but their haste couldn’t match the footsteps of angry giants. The Giant’s March was believed to have ended this experiment, but the alchemist's work would bear fruit. In the twilight of their world, knowing they would never see morning, a few of the alchemists used taboo ritual to move their souls into new vessels, creating the Yuun.

While this gave the Yuun life, the souls of the alchemists seem to live in a haze. They have no want or memory to go north, and instead live in a sort of ephemeral state. Yuun use their powers to feed on illness and malevolent magics, regurgitating it as healing powder. Their whole body is infused with alchemical properties and they need to travel the land to intake herbs and minerals to keep their bodies functioning. If there was a way to guide their memories, they could be a great boon to the world, but they seem to be content as they are, half-way between animal and ghost.”

[hiraeth-wayfarer]

2022 Summary of Art

Still goin’.

[hiraeth-wayfarer]

Winter Moon

Keep reading

[hiraeth-wayfarer]

Hiraeth Creature #1211 - Quicksilver

“Hiraeth is known for her untamed nature, but amongst her natural soul, Metal Gardens grow. Steam beasts wander out from these places, some acting with nature while others seem to defy it. Along with these metal creatures, strange elementals are born from the process of their creation. Magical coolants and smoke take form from the imperfections of mechanical birth, but the rarest of these is Quicksilver.

Quicksilver is what gives steam beasts their will; their uncanny approximation of sentience. This living alchemy is bestowed to mechanical beings through their tinkerers, the Sphinxes. From the dawn of creation, Sphinxes were the custodians of the metal garden that once encompassed the world. When spiritual awakening took control, giving life to flora and fauna, the gracious Sphinxes admitted defeat, while the spiteful Sphinxes would continue to torment their conquerors. This schism is said to be why some gardens create immersive creatures and some give way to monsters.

Hiraeth was said to embrace the gracious Sphinxes, even naming a kinship of beasts after them, but the spiteful Sphinxes forever kept the fear surrounding metal gardens alive. Sphinxes are incredibly powerful, some of the only beings able to harness both natural and celestial magic, their will seems to carry on after their demise. Though the tinkering continues and metal creatures are born, the passing of a Sphinx seems to allow Quicksilver to escape and form its own body. They are peaceful when left alone, but those who would lash against them or covet their alchemical properties will be faced with a whirlwind of chaotic magic. Consciousness in its purest form, one should sympathize with their basic wish for autonomy.”

[hiraeth-wayfarer]

Hiraeth Creature #1210 - Vertithadra

“There is a land across the ocean where sea monsters sleep, far from the mark of Hiraeth-born spirits. Brave seafarers stumbled upon this land in search of what lay over the horizon but what they would find, they could never hope to understand. And yet, find it they would, led by their captain, bewitched by lost memories.

Many of the crew were lost in the shadows of sprawling catacombs, but those who turned towards heavenly light would face even greater fear. The sailors were beckoned by a second Moon, which their bewitched captain demanded to reach, no matter who came with her or not. The second Moon hung over a grand city, its light seeping through the branches of a great tree. Empty of folk, the masters of the city were the Verithadra, great spindly terrors who grew from large crevasses and entangled around crumbling towers. They themselves appeared as moonlings, their heads a bloated light that seemed to hang in the air, though they were far from the tranquility of the Moon Goddess.

From their bulbous heads, they shot forth devastating magic bolts. Their one goal was to keep all away from the second Moon, but the captain was cunning and slunk in the shadows, her crew doing their best to keep pace and keep silent. No matter the horror or pain shooting from their hearts, they had left all the world for this, and the only thing they had left was to stand before this unknowable Moon, roosting upon titanic timbers.”

[hiraeth-wayfarer]

Hiraeth Creature #1209 - Quorjja

“The Deep Realm is a land of casual chaos, wherein things and places from realms, unwanted or unremembered, are left to rest. This mishmash of realities all becomes overgrown, tied and bundled together from the endless forests birthed from the remains of primordial beings. A creature who celebrates this endless crossing of realms is the Quorjja, quaggy creatures who beam with the light of a long-lost moon. 

The demon folk of the Deep Realm speak of Quorjja as interlopers, not born naturally, but crossing over from an unknown place. Wherever they gather, they sing, and as they sing, prey follows. They eat small insect-like things that appear from elsewhere, digging little holes in the fabric of reality, causing strange plant-life and fungus to start growing. Demons often tolerate the Quorjja, but never allow them to gather in too great a number. The song of the Quorjja is said to bring about a strange nervousness, and the louder it gets, that nervousness grows into panic, which will then grow into hysteria. It is possible that territories where the Qurojja are overlooked will become uninhabitable, their song overtaking all things. With a tattered reality unchecked as well, who is to say what else would start to emerge?”

[hiraeth-wayfarer]

Hiraeth Creature #1208 - Ihengtra

“Many believe that old witch magic is still steeped in the fog of Hiraeth's marshlands. Seances and ceremonies long past still seem to faintly ring in the air in places long abandoned by folk. The presence of the old covens will never be forgotten, as the children of their rituals still live on to this day. One of these children is the Ihengtra; a critter who wriggles through land and water, dragging behind it a lumpy, secondary head. Risen from soft bog algae dragging up ancient stone, witches from a long past age created them to tend their gardens, removing weeds and snapping up pests who would hinder the growth of powerful alchemical flora.

Ihengtra are considerate but gluttonous and would need to be treated with care as to not graze from the gardens they were meant to defend. A cruel master will find both their flowers and their tender gone in a day. In this day and age, there are very few masters to be found for the Ihengtra. Having eaten most of their old wards, they now carry a strong magic within them. As they graze throughout the day, the residue they leave behind weaves unorganized markings across the ground. These unintentional ritual-lines create chaotic pockets between realms when entered, meaning the wrong step could take a wanderer who-knows-where. Spirits try to shepherd them away from well-traveled paths but, if a traveller was looking to be whisked away into the unknown, finding a Ihengtra herding ground is a definite way to do so.”

[hiraeth-wayfarer]

🪶Contributor Spotlight: Guest Artist🪶

Please join us in giving a very warm welcome to one of our talented guest artists, a master of strong shapes and beautiful colors, @cosmopoliturtle!

Signed,

The BFU Curators Committee

🐾[ Carrd || Mod Intros || Twitter II Insta ]🪶

[hiraeth-wayfarer]

Hiraeth Creature #1207 - Dofforin

“The skies are a brilliant expanse, soaring upwards into a shining and ephemeral shell that borders Hiraeth and all that there could be beyond. From the ground it may appear peaceful, but up in the heavens, the whipping winds are teeming with life. A beast who embodies this unpredictability is the Dofforin, monarchs who reigns from cloudscapes. Massive creatures who would tower amongst elder timbers and rattle them as they stride, they defy this notion as they walk amongst clouds and other vapours, using them as roosts. When a Dofforin is at peace, they will most likely drift by without any on the ground having knowledge of their presence. It is only when they are enraged that they force the land around them to take heed.

Other sky leviathans or malevolent spirits may anger a Dofforin into a territorial dispute. The bellow of a Dofforin causes the sky to shatter, creating all manner of deranged weather effects. Brilliant rainbows accompanied by shards of ice and blades of wind. Strikes of lightning create phantasmal beasts who scorch their master's foes. These events can become so catastrophic that often spirits have to rally together to quell the fighting before the Dofforin tears the land beneath them apart. Druids have also been known to challenge Dofforins to battles in hopes of gaining more mastery over the air from the harrowing experience. 

No one knows for sure how these beasts of immense power came to be. Old scholars theorized they might have been part of an all-powerful spirit who had mastery of the weather systems before being cursed by banishment during the Fae invasion, or that they might be some kind of Fae war beast themselves, left behind in the aftermath. Wild folk have a different belief, that the Dofforin are the manifestation of souls who departed on stormy nights, unable to reach the Moon, they instead followed the sparks of lighting, coalescing together. While no one can say for sure, their overwhelming powers place them aside from the balance in a way that is both frightening and awe-inspiring.”

[hiraeth-wayfarer]

The Sun-Fire Coast

“At the end of a primeval age, when the Summer Folk first awoke in the southern realm, their eyes were graced with a vibrant ocean breaking against glimmering sands. The Sun-Fire Sea lit the flames of their inquisitiveness. Even as they braved the mainland wilds, the majesty of the sea, swirling with colours painted by the Sun's light, would be burned into their cultural memory and continue to inspire their adventurous nature.

All the waters spanning Hiraeth were formed by Tethys-- she who first rose from the abyss and renewed life to a ruined world. By her guidance, she cleared the sea of steam and slag, and weaved together rivers and lakes to nurture the land. Seen as a part of all waters at once, Hiraeth was held by her in what was once considered a motherly embrace. Though the borders of her frame are still holding us, her touch is now empty.

Malevolent beings rise in the watery realms just as they do on land. Whenever a destructive force formed out at sea, Tethys answered with her mightiest warrior, Naga. Naga was the second from the abyss, rallying the spirits and bringing forth all the sea's fury. Tethys, moved by Naga's unwavering loyalty and ferocity, came to rely on her in all regards. Champion, guardian, confidant, and eventually, lover. Though these were mighty beings, having seen Hiraeth's first dawn, they were bonded in a way that any common folk could empathize with. It was when this bond was broken, when Naga finally faced a foe too strong, that Tethys's embrace left us.

Our seas are now seen as a frightening place, where seafarers are bound for the stomachs of monsters. The last serene waters are believed to be the Sun-Fire Sea, where Tethys and Naga shared their vows. Tethys is said to have left to the farthest reaches of existence, but some claim to have seen her phantom in the south, just as the Sun goes to rest. Tethys was said to take many forms, and this gargantuan, winding spectre is believed to both be made out of sentiment for Naga, but also distended and unfurled in an attempt to carry the immense grief that still flows through her."

[hiraeth-wayfarer]

What’s the strongest being in your hireath-verse.

This question has kind of stun-locked me because I've written about over 1000 guys, I can't help but feel I've written about some weird entity that's like an infinite power source or could atomize people with a thought but it's too nice to do so.

Also "strength" is very relative and subjective depending on how you view the world but I'll try to keep it basic.

Visceroht was probably the strongest in raw power before she was defeated, since she was only able to be felled by Rael-Tagei, who learned how to redirected her attacks back at her, a feat that was so monumental it ended up taking her own life as well. Their final conflict also created the Great Betwixt, essentially cleaving a huge ravine into the world.

In terms of beings that are still alive, Kairos and the Earthen Maiden are good contenders, being these sort of ancient beings who help bring life and anchor their respective realms. They probably have the most sway over the physicality of the worlds they inhabit if they wished so. Created from the Earthen Maiden also is Vouna, the Mountain Princes, and Elbrusonde, which are basically  manifestations of her will and wrath.

Some special shout outs that I could remember are also:

Usatara and Attsol who shepherd the Sun and Moon, the two most governing sources of life and magic in Hiraeth.

Leuneirophants who defend both Hiraeth and the Fae Realm from horrors that could potential be born from the dreaming planes between realms.

Caspadyns who are an amalgam of Fae who use their willpower to mend ills by taking them into their own body.

Nophazael are a species of giant who are probably the closest to Visceroht in power. Even if its just a shadow of her power, they have nearly unmatched raw strength and can hurl immense amounts of celestial magic that take a physical toll on the land around them.

Ozusei can learn about anything by consuming it, so with the right item they could reveal incredibly valuable secrets from history.

Lsiroth can take fragments from a soul and craft it into a trinket or a weapon, so depending on who's soul they're working with they could hypothetically make the deadliest weapons or artefacts in all the realms.

Gloom-Shells can project a curse on anyone just by being too close to them.

Jinns are astronomically rare but can straight up grant wishes.

Hopefully that's a nice peek into who's a tough guy. c:

[hiraeth-wayfarer]

Life + Art Update

Hello everyone, hope you are as okay as can be!

I’m expecting my art uploads to slow to a crawl this month–a family member is going into surgery for a few days. The process has been very stressful but the surgery itself is safe and everything should be okay. That being said I will be making myself more available to help my family when needed so I won’t be drawing as much.

The time I’m going to be spending on art will be mostly dedicated to my newest personal zine which is almost finished! It’s about 80% done. I’m hoping to share it with you all soon! I’ve put a lot of time towards it and it’s something I care about greatly and I hope you’ll find some joy in it when it’s ready.

Thank you for your patience, thank you for reading, and thank you for being you!