Throughout Mythea, stories persist of creatures that exist somewhere between history and legend.
Some are believed to be ancient guardians.
Some are considered divine messengers.
Others are monsters whose existence remains unproven.
Most people will never encounter such beings.
Yet nearly every region possesses stories about them.
Whether these tales are true remains one of Mythea's greatest mysteries.
Perhaps the most famous legend in all of Mythea.
The Last Dragon of Stars is said to have been born during the first days of creation.
Its scales resemble the night sky itself.
Constellations shift across its body.
Its eyes burn with ancient starlight.
According to myth, the dragon sleeps somewhere beneath Mythea.
Every few centuries signs appear suggesting it may be awakening.
No one agrees whether this would herald salvation or catastrophe.
Sacred to Seleneva.
Silver Stags are said to appear before those standing at important crossroads in life.
Their antlers resemble woven silver branches.
Legends claim following a Silver Stag will always lead to an important truth.
Whether that truth is welcome is another matter entirely.
Many noble families of the Stag Houses consider them sacred.
Associated with the Thorn Bride.
These spectral beasts supposedly hunt those consumed by obsession.
Witnesses describe black hounds covered in thorned vines.
Some stories claim they pursue possessive lovers.
Others claim they guard forbidden secrets.
Few tales end happily once a Thorn Hound appears.
A legendary bird linked to Elysir.
The Starfire Phoenix is said to burst into brilliant celestial flame upon death.
Unlike ordinary phoenixes, it is reborn from starlight rather than ash.
Its feathers are believed to contain fragments of forgotten knowledge.
Many scholars spend their lives seeking evidence of its existence.
Associated with the Ashen Hand.
Ash Wyrms are said to dwell beneath ruined cities and ancient battlefields.
Their scales resemble black stone and drifting ash.
They feed upon abandoned places.
Entire ruins are rumored to disappear after an Ash Wyrm makes its lair there.
Many historians dismiss these stories.
Archaeologists are less certain.
Sacred to Thalorien.
These immense beings supposedly resemble humanoids formed from bark, flowers, vines, and living wood.
Garden Giants are believed to protect ancient groves and sacred forests.
Most legends describe them as peaceful.
Until their homes are threatened.
Entire armies are said to have vanished after disturbing protected woodlands.
Among the strangest creatures in Mythean folklore.
Sailors tell stories of enormous whales swimming through the night sky during certain lunar events.
Their songs are said to influence dreams.
Some astronomers insist the stories are nonsense.
Others secretly maintain records of sightings.
The Lantern Collegium has never officially commented.
Common in Velvet Sultanate legends.
The Golden Serpent supposedly dwells beneath the desert sands.
It is said to guard forgotten cities and hidden treasures.
Some stories portray it as a wise protector.
Others describe it as a cunning deceiver.
Many treasure hunters have searched for its lair.
Few return.
Associated with Vorathys.
These massive cats possess glowing eyes and manes resembling living embers.
Legends claim Ember Lions appear to individuals standing upon the edge of great change.
Those who follow them often discover their true purpose.
Or their greatest downfall.
The stories vary considerably.
Associated with Vespera.
Unlike most mythical creatures, the Black Swan rarely appears directly.
Instead it is often encountered through dreams, visions, or omens.
It is said to appear before life-changing encounters.
Romances.
Betrayals.
Revelations.
Opportunities.
The faithful believe seeing a Black Swan means destiny is approaching.
A creature of the deepest oceans.
Its body is said to be formed from translucent crystal.
Entire coastal cultures tell stories of the Leviathan's passing beneath their waters.
The creature is believed to be older than recorded history.
Some myths claim it remembers the birth of the world.
Not quite a creature.
Not quite a spirit.
The Hollow King appears throughout dozens of unrelated legends.
Descriptions vary.
Only one detail remains constant.
His face is always hidden.
He is often encountered near ancient ruins, crossroads, or forgotten roads.
Those who meet him are supposedly offered a bargain.
No two stories agree on what he seeks in return.
Ancient myths speak of seven primordial creatures serving Vorathys and Vespera.
Each supposedly embodies a different aspect of desire.
Only fragments of these stories survive.
Some scholars believe the Seven Beasts still wander the Endless Wild.
Others insist they were never real.
No complete account has ever been found.
Across Mythea, animals occasionally appear altered by exposure to Starfire.
Examples include:
Wolves with glowing eyes
White ravens
Crystal-scaled fish
Luminous deer
Birds that sing forgotten languages
Most are harmless.
Some are not.
Many are considered signs of nearby magical activity.
Several cultures preserve stories about creatures that existed before civilization.
These beings supposedly helped shape the world itself.
The Last Dragon of Stars is often counted among them.
Others include:
The First Wolf
The World Turtle
The Sky Serpent
The Stone Bear
The Deep Mother
No culture agrees on the complete list.
Most scholars agree on one thing.
Mythical creatures are rarely discovered where people expect them.
Many are likely exaggerated.
Some are undoubtedly real.
Others may exist somewhere in between.
Yet new sightings continue to emerge every year.
New stories are told.
New mysteries appear.
And somewhere beyond the next horizon, another legend waits to be discovered.