[Monster] Aroike [Founder Review]

[Sturlin]

Aroike They came out of the darkness. They came out of the trees. He shriveled like a piece of old fruit. Shriveled away to nothing. I can still see the look on Kartol's face as the monster sucked him up. I can still hear it whispering to me. ~ ravings attributed to Sener the Mad, former hunter of the Sylira region, after encountering a lone 'Aroike King' Abstract Aroike (pl. Aroike) are highly dangerous and intelligent humanoids who are at home in the forested Wildlands of Sylira. They can run and glide through the treetops with ease while hunting and their strength is many times that of a human male. Camoflaged by their valuable hides and guided by a fierce cunning, they are among the deadliest pack animals encountered by adventurers in the Sylira region. Appearance Aroike are powerfully built to a frame similar to that of great apes or overlarge monkeys. They possess retractable claws on both hands and feet. Three distinctive features include their face, tail, and 'wings'. Their face has been likened to the face of a bat stretched over the skull of a baboon, tails uniformly reach the size of twice the height of the beast, and what appear to be wings are in actuality flaps of skin which extend from wrist to ankle. Possible colorations include brown, gray, and black. Origin and History Aroike are monsters of Valterric origin, the youngest and most versatile classification of monster known to the lands of Mizahar. The wild djed they evolved from changed their physical form greatly during the first few years of their existence making it difficult to pinpoint their exact origin. After perhaps a century, the nature of their evolution changed and they became the fearsome Aroike. At this point in their history it is known that they either migrated to the wildlands of Syliras or had been born there, emerging into public knowledge only when they deemed themselves ready. As a rarity among their classification of Valterric monsters, Aroike no longer appear to be physically evolving. More disturbingly, in the eyes of scholars and warriors alike, they are instead evolving at a rapid rate intellectually. As with any creature born of the wild energies of the Valterrian their appearances and sizes can vary greatly. In spite of these variations an Aroike is clearly definable and recognizable to those who are familiar with them. This intellectual capability has led them to have a social history, unlike many creatures which are classified as monsters. Biology There are several distinct features of the Aroike which should be discussed in detail, and which are possessed by all members of this species. Before that information is shared it is important to understand the variations which can occur. Among these variations are size, cunning, speech, and tool use. Size: Aroike vary in size from three to nine feet in height. There appears to be no distinguishable correlation between parent size and the size of offspring. One variable which remains constant among the Aroike is their proportional weight and mass. Each specimen weighs approximately forty pounds per foot of height. It has been speculated that this exact range of weight evolved due to their ability of short term flight, which could be limited drastically by variability in weight. Cunning: The majority of these creatures display intelligence which rivals that of humans and other intelligent species. However, the difference between their mental potential is wide-ranging and unpredictable. Some Aroike never achieve a mental capacity greater than a human child, while the brother of such a misfit might display intellect which far outstrips those of the scholars which study the species. It is unlikely that any creature encountered outside of its pack will be one of less than average human intelligence. Speech: Contrary to what would be expected, the Aroike's ability to speak is connected in no way to the level of intelligence it was gifted at birth. Instead it is a biological difference which varies from birth to birth. This is considered the second most monumental evolution the species has experienced since its conception. Approximately one in five Aroike are born with the proper vocal chords and jaw structure to approximate the speech of other species. Due to their isolated social structure Aroike heard speaking the languages of other species are more often utilizing mimicry than true understanding. No one has attempted to capture one and determine if they are able to truly learn outside their given environment. The Aroike communicate primarily through body language, grunting, and whooping calls. While some Aroike are capable of speech, the large numbers of Aroike incapable of speech have prevented the species from developing its own language. The members of the species who converse regularly, such as the Aroike Kings, are taught a subset of the common tongue by the Alpha. Being the most highly evolved Aroike in the pack, he is most likely to have learned speech during his lifetime. Tool Use: Once again a mutation of body rather than mind. This evolution was first observed in the summer of 436 A.V. by a Syliran hunter who was found near death at the gates of Syliras. Approximately half of all modern Aroike are born with an opposable thumb which allows them a much greater range of gripping and manipulation. Since the evolution of this thumb the brightest minds of their species have been able to fashion crude homes and technology through the use of their fully functional hands. It is important to note that Aroike have mastered the use of fire, and that each pack has at least a few members who are aware of its secrets. Traits Common to All Aroike: These creatures, regardless of the variations listed previously, all possess quite similar features. The head is possessed of a fanged snout, humanoid in nature, with a face that is said to resemble that of a bat. Ears are large and batlike, giving the creature keen hearing, but its body otherwise bears a clear resemblance to a bi-pedal monkey or ape. Build: The distribution of body mass is also uniform. Each creature is built compactly to their skeletal frame, with minor body fat and maximum utilization of muscle. Those specimens which are three feet in height possess a strength slightly greater than that of an adult chimpanzee, or twice that of a human male. Strength continues to vary based on size until reaching nine feet, where specimens demonstrate strength slightly less than that of a Jamoura (8 times that of a man). Two of the largest specimens sighted were rumored to have uprooted small trees in their pursuit of a Drykas horseman during the year 479 A.V. without breaking stride. The stride of an Aroike is considerable. Though the larger specimens demonstrate lesser agility, and the smaller specimens demonstrate greater agility, the average Aroike can reach speeds of up to 30 miles per hour while moving through the trees. While running on all fours an Aroike can reach speeds of up to 40 miles per hour. Fur: All specimens possess lightly furred bodies. Color of fur has only three variations: brown, gray, and black. This fur is uniform in color over the entirety of the body. To those extremely brave adventurers who choose to hunt the Aroike this is a valuable commodity. Both its quality and the danger involved in acquiring the pelt lend themselves nice toward earning a high price at market. Claws: Both hands and feet possess small hooked, retractable claws. In proportion they are slightly smaller than the claws of a cat. These claws are never utilized in combat, as they are vital to the movement of the creature. They allow the skilled climbing of trees and wooden structures, as well as any surface with an abundance of crevices such as brick. Movement through the trees would be highly limited without this mutation, and as such if the Aroike is forced into hand to hand combat it will often ball its hands into fists to protect its claws. "Wings": Fearsome indeed is the silent predator which can dive from above. The length of an Aroike's arms and legs are connected on each side by a wide flap of tough, furred skin. When leaping from treetop to treetop they can be seen spreading both arms and legs wide to drift upon the air. This is in truth little more than a leaping gait through the treetops rather than a glide, though the flaps do assist in precision and distance of the leap. The smaller the Aroike, the further it can dive without risking injury to itself. All Arioke, regardless of size, are able to achieve a controlled dive from the limbs of a tree. Tail: Strangest of all the attributes possessed by the dreaded Aroike is the tail. Just as in weight, the length of the beast's tail is always approximately double the height of its body. These obscenely long tails are fully capable of gripping and manipulating simple objects. Aroike will often use them to hang from tree-branches to await their prey, and are able to roll them tightly around such branches to lengthen or shorten their distance from the perch. While traveling on the ground an Aroike will sometimes be seen wrapping its tail around the trunk of its body. Though no tail-less specimens have been spotted, it is hypothesized that were one to lose its tail in combat it would be unable to steer while gliding. Diet: These creatures require large amounts of meat to sustain themselves, but blood is their favorite food. It is meat that they hunt for, and blood that they crave. This biological need more than anything dictates the small size of their social groups. Their slow metabolism gives them the ability to go for a week or sometimes two without feeding. In spite of this, the large amount of meat required for a single feeding, coupled with the number of Aroike in each pack, helps to keep the population down. Even the endless expanse of the Wildlands would be unable to supply enough meat for these creatures to congregate in large numbers. When feeding the Aroike typically puncture an artery and drink whatever blood they can suck from the victim. Once no more blood is available they tear free fat, muscle, and bone to devour. Upon consuming all of the edible meat they crack the bones, eat the marrow, and leave the remains on the ground for scavengers. At times of celebration the blood will be collected in simple flasks and gourds to be devoured communally, as a delicacy. Hunting Methods and Ranges These creatures choose their strongest and most cunning members for the hunt, and in the deepest reaches of the wildlands they hunt as a community. When hunting, the Aroike will work in groups of two or three and will co-ordinate their efforts to ambush prey. The trees are very important to the hunting of this species. Both gliding and hanging in wait by a tree branch are used to ambush their meal and eliminate it quickly. While they are capable of impressive sprints through the tree tops they do not possess the endurance to maintain such speeds indefinitely, and therefore utilize tactics which surprise and confound their prey. It is said that if you can survive the first two minutes of flight from the Aroike, you will survive the day. Once an Aroike has captured its prey, it will usually attempt to kill it by breaking the vitctim's neck with its powerful arms and jaws. If this fails, then the hunting party will surround its prey and wear it down with blows from fists and attempt to grasp and trip the intended meal with their tails. Once the creature is too tired to continue fighting, the group will move in for the kill. The hunting ranges of the Aroike span the entirety of the Sylira region, but are limited to the wildest tracts of land. While some scholars speculate that this is from fear of the cities, others insist that it is an attempt to gather strength. Enough travelers wander the forest and never come back for one to wonder just how many were captured and devoured by the Aroike. Social Structure and Reproduction OOCThe following information is known only to a handful of scholars which devote their time to such pursuits, and to the Knights of Syliras. While there may be others who possess this knowledge, it is not common nor is it easily accessible. Pack Life: Aroike live in packs of ten to fifteen adults, and often twice as many offspring. The distribution between males and females is usually, but not always, equal among the pack. Hierarchy is important to the Aroike and each member of the pack is acutely aware of who is directly above it and below it in status. The Alpha of the pack chooses the hunting party and delegates work to its subordinates. Predictably the Alpha is often the most evolved Aroike present. There are approximately 80 packs spread throughout the Wildlands, totaling around 1040 individual Aroike. Many packs have taken to building crude shelters out of wood and furs, as well as weapons and hides to protect their bodies. In spite of these localized living arrangements, each pack claims a territory of approximately 120 sq. miles. While they are only capable of crafting objects out of bone, stone, and wood, it is not impossible to see an Alpha wielding an iron weapon. Similarly, it is likely that the Alpha will wear many suits of chain or other patch-worked armor over his massive frame. Because Alphas rarely hunt, they are the most likely to wear scavenged and heavy equipment of those who have been eaten by the pack. The packs located around Syliras form a loose-knit society which keeps in contact at least once a year, sometimes once a season. If one pack is threatened by outside attack or starvation it is not uncommon for them to barter for aid from another nearby pack. Inter-pack matings are common, as are meetings between Alphas to discuss recent events and discoveries by the 'Aroike Kings'. Aroike Kings: An informal title assigned to the best and brightest of the Aroike by the scholars which study them, or perhaps the drunks and storytellers who spread their tales. An Aroike King is in truth only an Aroike, but it is one which was born with the pinnacle of biological advantages present among its kind. For some reason unknown Aroike Kings are always black of fur. While size is variable, they all possess great intellect, an understanding of speech and its use, thumbs for grasping or tool use, and an insatiable curiosity. Though they are predominately male as their name suggests, female 'Kings' are possible. It is estimated that at any time there are between 25 and 35 Aroike Kings spread throughout the Sylira region. Aroike Kings are the only ones of their kind which are commonly solitary. These creatures range out through the world by themselves in an attempt to learn the secrets of the more enlightened races and return them to their own kind. They never travel more than a month's time away from the nearest pack, returning to mate and discuss things with their kind as often as possible. Recently, they have begun sneaking into cities and settlements to spy on the inhabitants. While they do not come to feed, invariably a prolonged stay in such an area is followed by strange disappearances and bloodless corpses. Reproduction: Females cycle every two years, a blessing for the creatures which share land with a pack. The Alpha randomly chooses which males mate with which females, and can be found bartering with neighboring packs for mating rights if offspring are unsatisfactory. Due to the erratic nature of the biology of these creatures, it is unlikely to find an Alpha which mates with every female. Diversity is something the Aroike seek when mating. Births are most often singular. At times it is possible for twins to be born, but such a birth often renders the mother sterile or kills her outright. The children are simply too well developed by the time of their birth for the Aroike body to endure birthing two at once. Within one week a newborn is capable of walking, gliding, and climbing. Offspring are sexually mature at one year, and reach full height and maturity at two years of age. The life expectancy of an Aroike is between twenty and thirty years. Aroike and Syliras Spread throughout the entirety of Sylira are perhaps eighty packs of Aroike. Their slow mating habits and the inherent danger of living in the wilds have kept their numbers in check thus far. It is feared that in the future, were they to develop better tools and medicine, that they could become a real threat to civilization in the area. As things currently stand the only ones who concern themselves with the Aroike are travellers and the Knights of Syliras. While travelers and hunters run the risk of encountering a pack if they travel too deeply into the wilderness, the Knights concern themselves primarily with ensuring that none of these so called 'Aroike Kings' are able to infiltrate the castle. Such a discovery would be a blow to their reputation, as well as a danger to their citizens.

[Sturlin]

Someone has already commented to me about how much this wall o text sucks. I apologize for that.

I hope to have several sketches done of them which could be interspersed among the text for the article, if others agree that they like the creature.

[Cypress]

Excellent monster. The wall of text is perfectly acceptable, and required, as I see it

[Gossamer]

Quick note...

Origin and History
Aroike are monsters of Valterric origin, the youngest and most versatile classification of monster known to the lands of Mizahar. The wild djed they evolved from changed their physical form greatly during the first few years of their existence making it difficult to pinpoint their exact origin. After perhaps a century, the nature of their evolution changed and they became the fearsome Aroike. At this point in their history it is known that they either migrated to the wildlands of Syliras or had been born there, emerging into public knowledge only when they deemed themselves ready.

As a rarity among their classification of Valterric monsters, Aroike no longer appear to be physically evolving. More disturbingly, in the eyes of scholars and warriors alike, they are instead evolving at a rapid rate intellectually. As with any creature born of the wild energies of the Valterrian their appearances and sizes can vary greatly. In spite of these variations an Aroike is clearly definable and recognizable to those who are familiar with them. This intellectual capability has led them to have a social history, unlike many creatures which are classified as monsters.

I read this far only... but at this point, I still didn't know what the heck an Aroike looks like. For these articles, you need an intro that is a quick abstract of what the creature is.

[Sturlin]

I don't really understand that, as usually a picture goes at the beginning of the post. I suppose I don't get it, but i'll include it. Detailed information is provided in biology. Edited to include requested abstract.

Wanted to include all the necessary information on a complex monster that the storytellers would need to use it and include it properly.

[Stitch]

I would check the wiki for some examples. What she means is that you need a brief summary at the very beginning of the post. If you check the Skills Wiki, you will see a good example. Each skill has a brief example at the beginning of the article, and then goes further into detail.

So, brief summary (abstract) at the very beginning in order to give a general idea of what we are dealing with at a quick glance... And then continue onto the more detailed information, for the storytellers, or players truly interested in the info.

Not saying your current abstract is wrong, that isn't my place. Just trying to ease the confusion. <3333

[Gossamer]

Yup... Stitch got it.

Look at Jae's Olid abstract.. just below his pic... It basically tells the reader in a quick summary what the article is about. That's the kind of abstract you need. What are you pitching to us, Sturlin? Do we want to keep reading? History is great, but when people's minds are still going 'huh?' then you already lost your reader! If you clue them in first, they will pay attention and read the rest absorbing the whole article better.

Olidosapux (pl. Olidosapai) is a large, horned four legged mammal primarily found in the Sea of Grass and southern parts of the Northern Reaches. Traveling in small herds, they spend most of their time roaming the lands and grazing.

Okay.. so we're reading about a large horned mammal thats a grazer... our brains are good to go to absorb the rest of the wrok.

[Sturlin]

Completely missed gossamer and stitch's responses, but after talking to tarot i think i accomplished the essence of what they wanted. Abstract and appearance edited in, and heavily edited for organizational ease.

[Sturlin]

Quote added at the beginning.

[Cayenne]

Something that has me vaguely curious is how, with wings, tail, etc... they slip into settlements and not get noticed. You'd think they would be found out?

Otherwise, interesting article.