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A
BESTIARY
OF
THE KNOWN
WORLD
E
Part Two
NATURAL BEASTS
A wide variety of natural animals populate the Known World, only a
few of which were described in the Artesia AKW rulebook. Here are
some more animals common to the environs of the Middle Kingdoms.
a BEARS
A variety of bears inhabit the regions of the Middle Kingdoms. Te
bear is considered a sacred animal of the Cult of Adjia, and is not
considered a proper target of the hunt by them. Bear hunts are quite
popular amongst the Aurian and Danian nobility, however.
APP 5 STR 13 STAM 9 DEX 5 TECH 2 BODY 34
PER 3 WILL 5 MEM 3 IMAG 3 INST 3 MIND 17
PRE 6 CONV 8 COUR 7 EMP 4 WIS 6 SPIRIT 31
SKILLS: Feral Tongue 3, Awareness 4, Foraging 8, Hand-to-Hand 5, and
Evade 2
GIFTS: Keen Smell 8
BINDINGS: Fear (humans) 2
WEAPONS: Hand-to-Hand 5: Bite +1 Puncture, Claw +8 Cut, Swipe
+10 Impact
HIT LOCATION TABLE: Four-legged Animal
ARMOR: Hide: Overall 4/3/3
ENC: 0
MOVE: 34 (Run x2: 64)
NOTES: Bears dont see or hear very well, but have a
keen sense of smell. Te Characteristics block above can
be applied to the Black Bear Lineage common throughout
the Middle Kingdoms and Palatia, and the small Eastern
Brown Bear Lineage of Hemispia. Te Western Brown
Bear Lineage of the Middle Kingdoms and the Western
mountains of the Tessid-Golan Empire results in
somewhat larger bears; they add +1 APP, +2 STR, +1 STAM, and 1
DEX for an average Body of 37. Te largest bears in the region are
of the duins Grizzly Bear Lineage, which adds +2 APP, +4 STR,
+1 STAM, and 1 DEX for an average Body of 40. Bears may have
specifc Lineages, Birth Signs, and Birth Omens. Bears are usually
encountered alone or in small family groups.
I BIRDS OF PREY
Several large predatory birds can be encountered in the Middle
Kingdoms region, either domesticated or in the wild.
APP 5 STR 2 STAM 5 DEX 8 TECH 5 BODY 25
PER 9 WILL 3 MEM 6 IMAG 5 INST 5 MIND
28
PRE 5 CONV 8 COUR 10 EMP 2 WIS 7 SPIRIT
32
SKILLS: Feral Tongue 6, Awareness 6, Hand-to-Hand 3, and Evade
6
GIFTS: Keen Sight 4
BINDINGS: Fear (humans) 2
WEAPONS: Hand-to-Hand 3: Beak 3 Cut, Talons 1 Cut
HIT LOCATION TABLE: Bird
ARMOR: Feathers: Overall 2/1/1
ENC: 0
MOVE: 25 (Fly: Soaring/Gliding x3: 75, Active x6: 150, Dive x20:
500)
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NOTES: Te various predatory birds of the region are all raptors.
Tey fy in several modes: Soaring (up) or Gliding (down), which
requires no expenditure of energy; Active fight (fapping the wings)
which is the equivalent of the Run Action and therefore causes
Fatigue ENC Points; and Diving, which technically requires no
energy but is generally only done for very brief bursts (a few phases),
aimed at attacking unsuspecting prey. A Dive provides a +10 Attack
Modifer. While raptors can claw or peck with their beaks, the
most common attack is indeed the Grab, after which their prey is
lifted into the air and slowly choked to death (generally this can
only be done with prey that weights less than around 10 lbs or so;
in other words, that does not cause any ENC to the bird squirrels,
rabbits, voles, smaller birds, snakes, toads, lizards, etc.), though some
varieties will seek to kill with their Talon attack at the end of the
dive.
Te Characteristics block above can be used for the domesticated
Aurian Brown Falcon Lineage, the occasionally domesticated Red-
Tailed Hawk, the wild duins Harrier Hawk Lineage, and the wild
Silver Goshawk Lineage. Te Kestrel Lineage is somewhat smaller,
and adds a 1 STR and 1 STAM for an average Body of 23. Te
duins Eagle Lineage is the most common eagle in the region, and
adds +2 APP and +4 STR for an average Body of 31. Te Crested
Serpent Eagle Lineage is a slightly smaller variety throughout the
Middle Kingdoms famed for eating snakes, and adds +2 APP and
+3 STR for an average Body of 30. Te Imperial Golden Eagle
Lineage migrates between the duins Mountains, the Pallithanes to
the North-East, and the Baragh Metras to the South-West; they add
+3 APP and +6 STR for an average Body of 34, and +2 COUR for
an average Spirit of 34.
Te Characteristics block above can also be used for carrion birds
such as vultures; all vulture Lineages receive the Ghost Mask 2 Gift.
Te Black Vulture Lineage produces some of the largest birds in the
region, with up to a 10 wingspan; they add +2 APP, +8 STR, +1
DEX, and 2 TECH for an average Body of 34, and +2 PRE for an
average Spirit of 34. Tey rarely attack living things. Te White-
Backed Vulture Lineage is fairly large also, and adds +1 APP, +6
STR, and 1 TECH for an average Body of 31. Te Grifon Vulture
Lineage is slightly smaller; they add +1 APP and +5 STR for an
average Body of 31. Te Lammergeier Vulture is the smallest (and
usually last at the body of carrion); they add +3 STR for an average
Body of 28. Te Lammergeier Vulture consumes bones by dropping
them on rocks, and so as the Eater of Bones is considered the most
sacred of vultures in the Old Religion.

Te Characteristics block above can also be used as the basis for
nocturnal birds of prey, such as Owls, except that all Owls add +2
MEM for an average Mind of 30 and receive the Otherworldly Visage
2 and Keen Sight 10 Gifts. Te Danian Owl Lineage is a typical
kind of Owl, as is the Great Horned Owl Lineage, which also
receives Second Sight 4; the Barn Owl Lineage is the most common
and a bit smaller, and adds a 1 STR and 1 STAM for an average
Body of 23. Te largest of the Owls is the duins Eagle Owl
Lineage that adds +2 APP and +3 STR for an average Body of 30.
Birds of Prey may have specifc Lineages and Birth Signs, but do not
usually receive Birth Omens.
Z CATTLE
Cattle are the economic backbone of much of the Known World,
and the Middle Kingdoms are no exception, with several distinct
Lineages of domesticated cattle in the region.
APP 5 STR 15 STAM 10 DEX 3 TECH 1 BODY 34
PER 4 WILL 3 MEM 4 IMAG 3 INST 3 MIND 17
PRE 4 CONV 7 COUR 5 EMP 5 WIS 6 SPIRIT 27
SKILLS: Feral Tongue 4, Awareness 4, Foraging 5, and Evade 2
GIFTS: None
BINDINGS: Fear (wolves) 4
WEAPONS: Hand-to-Hand 0: Kick +10 Impact, Horn Gore +8
Puncture, and Trample (prone opponents) +15 Impact
HIT LOCATION TABLE: Four-legged Animal (treat as large)
ARMOR: Hide: Overall 3/2/2
ENC: 0 [STR x4 for ENC determination]
MOVE: 34 (Run x2: 68)
NOTES: Te above Characteristics block can be applied to typical
cattle of the Danian Cattle Lineage common throughout the Middle
Kingdoms and the Short Hair Cattle Lineage common throughout
the Known World. Te bulls of the red-coated Aurian Cattle Lineage
common to the Middle Kingdoms and their cousins in the Far North
add +2 STR and 1 DEX for an average Body of 36, but females of
the Aurian Lineage use the same Characteristics as above, and have
no horns. Te shaggy Highlands Cattle Lineage common to Daradja
results in a smaller variety, though spry, and adds 4 STR, +2 STAM,
and +2 DEX for an average Body of 34. Te Galian Brown Cattle
Lineage, common throughout the Empire of Tessid-Gola and now
imported on occasion to the Middle Kingdoms, adds +2 STAM for an
average Body of 36. A variety of other cattle Lineages are known, but
these are the most common types in the Middle Kingdoms. Cattle may
have a specifc Lineage and Birth Signs, but not Birth Omens.
Z SHEEP
Sheep are ubiquitous in the Middle Kingdoms, a fundamental
part of the economy and farm life. Tey are distantly related to
Antelopes and other Bovids.
APP 5 STR 5 STAM 4 DEX 7 TECH 1 BODY 22
PER 6 WILL 4 MEM 3 IMAG 4 INST 5 MIND 22
PRE 5 CONV 5 COUR 4 EMP 6 WIS 6 SPIRIT 26
SKILLS: Feral Tongue 5, Awareness 5, Foraging 5, and Evade 2
GIFTS: None
BINDINGS: Fear (wolves) 5
WEAPONS: Hand-to-Hand 0: Kick 1 Impact, (ram) Horn Butt +0
Impact
HIT LOCATION TABLE: Four-legged Animal
ARMOR: Hide: Overall 2/1/1
ENC: 0
MOVE: 22 (Run x3: 66)
NOTES: Te above Characteristics block can be applied to the average
members of the domestic Danian Forest Sheep Lineage common
throughout the region, the Aurian Short-Horn Sheep Lineage, and
the duins Prancing Sheep Lineage. Te wild duins Moufon Sheep
Lineage adds +1 APP, +2 STR, and +1 DEX for an average Body of 26;
the rams horns are much larger than on domestic varieties, so its Horn
Butt attack does +4 Impact damage. Te largest sheep in the region
come from the wild duins Bighorn Sheep Lineage, which adds +2 APP,
+5 STR, and +1 DEX for an average Body of 30; its horns can be quite
large, and bighorn rams routinely fght each other, using Hand-to-Hand
4 and doing +7 Impact damage. Specifc sheep Lineages exist, and
sheep may be afected by Birth Signs, but not by Birth Omens. Wild
sheep are usually encountered in small family groups or small herds.
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R LARGE CATS
In addition to their smaller domesticated cousins, there are a variety
of Large Cat Lineages that prowl the mountains and wastes of the
Middle Kingdoms. Cats are known for their ability to see into the
Otherworld.
APP 5 STR 10 S TAM 6 DEX 9 TECH 2 BODY 32
PER 8 WILL 7 MEM 4 IMAG 6 INST 4 MIND 29
PRE 7 CONV 8 COUR 8 EMP 3 WIS 5 SPIRIT 31
SKILLS: Feral Tongue 4, Awareness 6, Tracking 2, Follow 4, Watch 4,
Athletics 5, Stealth 8, Hand-to-Hand 6, and Evade 5
GIFTS: Second Sight 4
BINDINGS: Fear (humans) 2
WEAPONS: Hand-to-Hand 6: Bite +4 Puncture, Fore Claw +4 Cut,
and Hind Claw +8 Cut (after Grab)
HIT LOCATION TABLE: Four-legged Animal
ARMOR: Hide: Overall 3/2/2
ENC: 0
MOVE: 37 (Run x3: 111)
NOTES: Large Cats usually attack their prey using Bite and front Claw
attacks; a Cat that succeeds with a Bite attack may choose to continue
biting their prey as though they had succeeded in a Grab attack, doing
their STR in Puncture damage each phase and also having the option
of raking their prey with their Hind Claws (that requires a separate
and successful Attack action). Te Characteristics Block above is for a
typical member of the duins Mountain Lion Lineage common to the
Middle Kingdoms region. A smaller cat of the Lynx Lineage can also be
found, that adds 2 STR and 1 STAM for an average Body of 29, and
1 COUR for an average Spirit of 30; the Lynx usually has Stealth 6,
and Hand-to-Hand 4. Te truly large Lion Lineage of Tessidia and
the Gola is occasionally imported for the menageries of wealthy nobles;
they add +2 APP, +4 STR, and +1 DEX for an average Body of 39, and
+2 PRE and +2 COUR for an average Spirit of 35. Large Cats may have
specifc Lineages, Birth Signs, and Birth Omens. Cougars and Lynxes
are usually only encountered singly; in its natural habitat, the Lion
operates in small family groups, but in the Middle Kingdoms they are
usually only found alone and in captivity.
SUPERNATURAL BEASTS
In addition to the supernatural creatures described in the Artesia
AKW rulebook that are native to the Middle Kingdoms region,
Satyrs, Sirens, Centaurs, Minotaurs and Grifns can be found
elsewhere in the Known World. Satyrs and Sirens are the most likely
to be encountered nearby, or perhaps wandering into the Middle
Kingdoms of their own accord.
G SATYRS
Half human and seemingly half goat, satyrs are the two-legged
descendants of Agdahs couplings with mortal women during the
Paradise of Creation. Tey are fairly rare, but can still be found in
ancient forests and hills. Teir distant cousins, four-legged centaurs,
are only found in the plains of the Sea of Grass and so await a later
volume.
APP 8 STR 8 STAM 7 DEX 6 TECH 5 BODY 34
PER 5 WILL 3 MEM 4 IMAG 5 REAS 4 MIND 22
PRE 6 CONV 5 COUR 4 EMP 4 WIS 4 SPIRIT 23
SKILLS: Awareness 6, Acrobatics 4, Athletics 6, Contortionist 3,
Stealth 4, Persuasion 4, Seduction 8, Dancing 4, Musicianship 4
(Pipes 4), Artistry 2, Navigation 4, Folk Lore 2, Star Lore 2, and Evade
6
GIFTS: Animal Mask 6, Feral Tongue 4, Brazen Body 8, Brazen Tongue
5, Brazen Touch 4, Enchanted Aura 4, Forked Tongue 6, Many Tongues
4, Open Heart 6
BINDINGS: Lust 8, Vanity 4
MAGIC: Invocation, Purifcation Ritual, Ofering Ritual, and Star
Reading Ritual
INVOCATIONS: Genich: Genetrix 2, Agdah: Ammon Agdah 2,
Dieva: Dusk Maiden 4
WEAPONS: Hand-to-Hand 0: Fist +0 Impact, Kick +3 Impact (or
by weapon, usually none)
HIT LOCATION TABLE: Anthropoid
ARMOR: Hide: Overall 3/2/2 Exposed Head, Face, Neck, Shoulders,
Arms, Hands, Chest, Stomach 0/0/0
ENC: 0
MOVE: 40 (Run x2: 80)
NOTES: Satyrs are widely regarded as slothful pleasure-seekers, and
while they are peaceful creatures they are usually greeted with hostility
by the men of human communities that they approach; as they are
primarily interested in human women, satyrs dont necessarily seem to
mind the rude or even violent receptions they receive from their men-
folk. Nonetheless, they rarely leave the protection of deep, ancient
forests, preferring to spend their time chasing after the afections of
Faerie Spirits and leaving it to luck to bring an attractive woman onto
their path. Once a woman has attracted the satyrs interest, it will
use every trick in the book to gain access to her bed, but usually the
greatest danger to their paramours, aside from exhaustion, is to their
chastity and/or reputation. Once a satyr has slaked its considerable
(often pent-up) lusts, they tend to become bored and wander of.
Satyrs are usually encountered alone, but occasionally theyre found
in small groups. Satyrs may have specifc Lineages, Birth Signs, and
Birth Omens.
F SIRENS
Sirens share the same ancestress as the mermaids, Agave the White
Lady of the Oceans, and look a great deal like them, being also
half-human and half-fsh; but unlike their gentler cousins, sirens
are descended of Agave and Irr, the Black Sun, and they eat
human fesh.
APP 10 STR 6 STAM 6 DEX 6 TECH 5 BODY 33
PER 6 WILL 5 MEM 5 IMAG 5 REAS 5 MIND 26
PRE 8 CONV 4 COUR 5 EMP 2 WIS 5 SPIRIT 24
SKILLS: Old Emmetic 5, other human language 4, Awareness 6,
Stealth 6, Swimming 7, Persuasion 4, Singing 6, Navigation 8, Star
Lore 4, Yheran Cult Lore 4, Hand-to-Hand 4, Evade 6
GIFTS: Feral Tongue 4, Ghost Mask 4, Haunting Voice 10, and Voice of
Madness 8
BINDINGS: Cruelty 4 (4 to PER and EMP in social interactions
with prey)
MAGIC: Invocation, Ofering Ritual, Sacrifce Ritual, Purifcation
Ritual, and Star Reading Ritual
INVOCATIONS: Yhera: Queen of the Deep 4, Yhera: Dread 2,
Heth: the Sea King 4
WEAPONS: Hand-to-Hand 4: Fist 3 Impact, Tail Slap +0 Impact
(or by weapon, usually none)
HIT LOCATION TABLE: Mermaid
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ARMOR: Scales: Overall 6/3/5 Exposed (Head, Face, Neck,
Shoulders, Arms, Hands, Chest, Stomach) 0/0/0
ENC: 0
MOVE: On land 16, Swim 40
NOTES: Sirens usually live in much deeper waters than their
mermaid cousins (indeed, they are often thought to be the Guardians
of Lost rne Dr), though they will sometimes come close to shore
to feed. Tey use their voices to lure sailors into wrecking their ships
in dangerous waters, either by drawing them close to hidden rocks,
or by driving them mad so they destroy their own boats, and then
the sirens will consume the bodies of the drowned. Sirens are usually
encountered in small groups; in the Middle Kingdoms region, they
are most likely to be seen or heard in or near the Cape of Fangs of
of Umis. Sirens may have specifc Lineages, Birth Signs, and Birth
Omens.
UNIQUE THINGS
Te Known World has a number of unique creatures wandering
its surface or appearing in it; the Wild Hunt was described in the
Artesia AKW rulebook. Another, the Bull of Myrad, is described
here and can be encountered at random, though it might best
serve as something seen at a distance.
e THE BULL OF MYRAD
Old legends in Dania and Auria tell of a great auroch Bull that
occasionally roams the countryside, which supposedly was
fatted in the dungeons of old King Myrad of Terapoli during
the Golden Age on the bodies of his prisoners. It is said to be
alternately a thing flled with hate that seeks to gore men and
consume them, and on the other hand to be a symbol of the
ancient Kingship of the Danias. Te Bull of Myrad may be
encountered (rarely) in Atallica, Dainphalia, Auria, or (somewhat
more often) in the hills of Umis; some think that it makes its
home beneath the city of Terapoli, in the remains of King
Myrads dungeons, while others believe that it now resides in the
hills near Caven More, the ancient Kings hold of Umis.
APP 10 STR 30 STAM 21 DEX 3 TECH 1 BODY 65
PER 4 WILL 12 MEM 8 IMAG 4 INST 9 MIND 42
PRE 15 CONV 20 COUR 18 EMP 2 WIS 10 SPIRIT 65
SKILLS: Feral Tongue 5, Awareness 8, Foraging 8, Hand-to-Hand
10, and Evade 10
GIFTS: Dreadful Bellow 12, Dreadful Visage 6 at no cost, Enchanted
Aura 12, Evil Eye 8, Initiate/Mystery 8 at no cost, Otherworldly Visage
10, Spirit-Walking 10, Wrathful Visage 12
BINDINGS: Hate Aurians 8
WEAPONS: Hand-to-Hand 10: Kick +25 Impact, Horn Gore +23
Puncture, and Trample (prone opponents) +30 Impact
HIT LOCATION TABLE: Four-legged Animal (treat as large)
ARMOR: Hide: Overall 12/8/10, Ward against Magic 12
ENC: 0 [STR x4 for ENC determination]
MOVE: 65 (Run x2: 130)
NOTES: Te Bull of Myrad is the largest example of an auroch
that anyones ever seen; it is a huge creature, weighing several tons
and dwarfng most normal cows and horses. Te mere sight of
it can cause a Dread Binding in mortals; as with other aurochs,
the Gift Dreadful Bellow should be considered the same thing as
Dreadful Voice. Unlike most other animals, it will actively seek to
challenge humans (seeking primarily Aurians, but its not very good
at distinguishing between Aurians and people from other Cultures).
Where its hatred of Aurians comes from, no one is certain; most
speculate that the Bull was part of the Golden Realm of An-Athair in
some fashion and that it seeks to destroy Aurians in vengeance for the
downfall of the Green Temple (though no mention is made of a great
auroch in any of the known tales of An-Athair). Tere has been some
speculation of a connection between the Bull of Myrad and the Kings
of Umis (indeed, the heraldic symbol of Umis in recent centuries has
been a bull), but what exactly that connection might be is uncertain.
Te mere presence of the Bull, if approached properly when its at rest,
has been known to open the minds of those nearby to the Mysteries of
the World. Occasionally someone claims that theyve killed it, but it
usually turns up again anyway, leading some to speculate it might be
immortal (perhaps like the Phoenix) and most to simply dismiss any
claims of its death as the words of liars.
2005 Archaia Studios Press. Permission granted to duplicate for personal use only.