[The original version was insectoid, but I wasn’t a huge fan of the art, and the signature on it was illegible, so I wanted to find something I could properly credit. I love the big spiky horror above, which is supposed to be just a generic “Beast”.]
Vordrax This
strangely warped humanoid creature is covered in long spines and blades, mostly
on its back and shoulders, but extending across its body. Its muscular arms are
oversized and end in huge clawed hands, and its legs are small. A nest of horns
grows from its brow, and its eyeless face is dominated by a fanged maw.
The vordrax is a jungle
dwelling carnivore believed to be the product of sadistic magical experiments.
Although it is obvious that thorns, spines and bladed appendages grow from
their skin in all directions, these members also grow inside their bodies,
causing their flesh to constantly tear apart and mend back together. As such,
they are typically violent creatures, lashing out at all around them in an
attempt to distract themselves from the constant intense pain. Vordraxes are
easy to track, as scratched rocks, torn vegetation and the shredded bodies of
smaller creatures trail behind them. The only exception to this paradigm of
violence is towards each other—vordraxes make for good parents, and a band of
siblings may continue to travel and forage together well into adulthood.
In combat, a vordrax throws
itself recklessly into the midst of melee, trusting to its fast healing, barbed
skin and indifference to bladed weapons to defend itself. If surrounded, it
uses its flechette burst to damage multiple enemies, otherwise it focuses its
rage on the most threatening individual. Some vordraxes do not fear death and
fight until slain, but others value their own lives, particularly if they have
relatives. On the rare occasions a vordrax can be befriended, they make
incredibly loyal companions, although their one-track minds usually try to
solve every problem by tearing at it with claws and horns.
A vordrax stands six feet
tall and weighs about 200 pounds. They are very similar in physical appearance
to one another, and can be difficult to tell apart even to a trained eye.
Shores of Swords 