#haunze

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Haunze Worldbuilding: Bestiary #4

Wacchtier

The Wacchtier is according to Haunzian folklore a chimerical creature that proliferated in medieval art, architecture, and woodworking. It has a semi-humanoid face, four upcurving tusks where the upper canines on its nose-bridge cross over eachother, the body of a lion, a thin blacked-haired mane, a barbed tailtip resembling that of a thistle bulb, and clawed feet with five digits; its forefeet are semi-humanoid too with hooked nails. Its belly and feet are covered by golden brown scales. The coat pattern of its pelage consists of large, irregular, jagged dark grey-brown to black blotches separated by grey-brown, thornlike bands. Their eyes are always golden yellow.

Wacchtier were in the medieval period thought to protect the building or the bed from harmful creatures and/or harmful people that might be a threat. They'd either frighten them away or fight them. At night they'd come to life and protect while one is asleep and vulnerable. As the sun rises the Wacchtier resume their place once more to serve as guardians during the day. Medieval illustrations of wacchtier show that they are often depicted in combat with black insectoid creatures. Older source often speak of the animosity between the two creatures and that they were mortal enemies.

In the beginning of the Republic Age, however, the Empyreal Ecclesia officially degreed them to be symbols of heresy which resulted in many of the decorations being destroyed. Only a few examples have survived.

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@darkwinged-keyblader liked for a starter

Enya’s feet led her to the weald that was once her sanctuary as she walked down the path that was lit by faints shafts passing through the winding branches. She looked up with remorse to the gnarled oaks that rose high like cathedral colums, their barks pristine, preserved from the destruction she wrought in Haunze when she had been a Nobody. Only now was she able to sense the faint traces of protection magic of past keyblade wielders in its fullest. Greys like her...But she was undeservering to be called one of them. Her heart was weighed down by the atrocities committed during the Red Night and the Black Dawn that surely ashamed the ancient Haunzian keybearers. Her expression became pained with disgrace, self-imposed exile was the best for Haunze, but Enya believed her punishment for her blood-soaked penalties deserved to be far more severe. Leaves crunched under Valio’s feet as he stepped towards her.

“It's not your fault,” Valio spoke. “A part of you did this, and a part of you wanted this, but the only reason any of this happened was because of Xigbar. I know you would never do something like this.”

Enya turned to look into his blue-green eyes, "but I still did it, Valio," she said softly, regret heavy in her voice. "When I was Iryna I felt... nothing but logic. Like I was a living machine. To Iryna Haunze needed to be restarted," a shudder runs down her shoulders. “To her the people weren't... humans.”

Valio's stomach was cold at her words. “But the only reason she came to be was because of Xigbar! She's a part of you, but that doesn't mean that you're responsible for what brought her out!”

“But her actions are my own, that won’t ever change,” she swallowed, and her throat was so dry and constricted it was painful. Enya bowed her head, wind stirring gently the short strands of her dark hair, but its faint chill could not soothe the wound in her heart and soul. She had killed people. She had not meant to, and would give most anything to undo it, but it was done, and it was irrevocable. Decimated a city to reset its system, wrought destruction based on hypocritical justification. It was unforgivable. And she didn’t want to be forgiven.

Valio sighed, together they walked through the growing dusk, some feathers were strewn across the floor of the forest. The further they walked on, the more they saw more black feathers scattered around. Valio frowned and picked one up by its quill. “Wow, must have gotten into a really rough fight,” he angled it. “Think it's from an eagle?”

Enya shook her head, the only largest birds of prey she had often spotted were buzzards, and this primary wing feather was much larger than average so it couldn't belong to a raven either. A sudden long, low bay rent the air all around, Enya's breath caught, her skin horripilated, the Wraiths were on the hunt. She rushed forward, Valio picked up the pace and followed on her heels, they followed the spoor of black feathers.

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Haunze Worldbuilding: Bestiary #1

The Vivalter

The Vivalter is a crepuscular insectlike creature from Haunzian folklore, though there are claims circling around this creature does in fact exist, only that it has a small population and an equally small habitat that is isolated. Although attributed to be a dark creature, it is always described as benevolent in nature. The Vivalter is a black-bodied butterfly with a wingspan that ranges from 8 to 10 cm. Hindwings crenulated deeply twice on each side of swallowtail. Also are there moon-shaped spots on the edges of the hindwings. The flamboyant patterns and colours present on the hindwings are often compared to stained glass rose windows. Most colours pertain to dusks. The butterflies are considered to be beautiful in appearance.

With each wingbeat it gives off a translucent powder that induces sleep and stirs imagination: invoking good dreams. Several literary sources say that even while feeding, they continue to flutter their wings.

A now dated practice was for parents to hang a charm made out of hoops over a cradle or bed. The rings would spin by the wind. The reflections from the rays of the sun or moon were said to attract any Vivalter. The Vivalter would then perch on the inner ring - the oculus - powdering the slumbering child's face that would protect them from nightmares.

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Haunze Worldbuilding: Bestiary #3

Vüschen

The vüschen is a phenomenon known in Haunzian folk belief that is either atmospheric ghost lights, songs of disembodied voices, or both, by all accounts witnessed by miners. Multipile autobiographs vary by saying the vüschen either mislead or guide miners. While folklore and superstition typically attribute vüschen to ghosts or elemental spirits, modern science explains them as natural phenomena such as hallucinations caused by a combination of vibrations and gases induced by excavations correlated with heightened senses by being deep underground.

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Haunze Worldbuilding: Bestiary #2

The Zyvre

The Zyvre in Haunzian folklore is a nocturnal heronlike bird that purifies fouled water. The plumage of its dark teal-grey body has faint hues of polished nacre. It glowing wingtips iridesce like the surface of a soap bubble. A Zyvre has three long, flowing, streamer-like tails that fade to light blue-green and become translucent and the tips. Legend says that when the tails of a Zyvre dip into dirty water, it instantly absorbs all the foulness. In medieval tapesteries Zyvres are often perched on the edges of fountains. Aquamanilia in the form of Zyvres were common too in the same period, notably among noble households; although eating the flesh of a Zyvre was said to be poisonous, if a person drank from an aquamanile in the shape of a Zyvre, any poison put in the ewer would be negated.

Zyvres are said to have long lifespans but when a Zyvre is dying, it perches on a tree nearby a body of clean water. Weeping willow trees were thus respected by medieval Haunzian society as it was said flocks of Zyvres perished together.

In paintings of the Republic Age, Zyvres are predominantly featured in hunting scenes or in still lives as trophies. Zyvres were dubbed as the Freshwater Black Pearls.

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Worldbuilding Facts #3 - Blindness

- In Haunze blindness is perceived by the Empyreal Ecclesia as a blessing from the light; it means the person's eyes were blessed by its brightness and the person is therefore absolved from seeing anything perverse and be afflicted by it.

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The Sigil of Haunze

The original sigil dating back to [DATA EXPUNGED]

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Old ire ignited once more, so shall the white rider, astride a black warsteed, bring the day when dues will be paid in blood. Come to break down the gates of white-gold. When false glitter is stamped out to show the world's true nature.

Meister Hieronymus [REDACTED DATE]