#medieval beasts

[saltedsnailstudio]

carved a few more peculiar creatures

[cleaverqueer]

Drew some fanart of my fave medieval page beast

(Its this)

[doubtspirit]

The manticore is an example of a human/animal hybrid from medieval bestiaries (Credit: Science Photo Library)

[vooruitmariek]

Curiosity

[tiffanysabrinatattoo]

People's Cyclopedia of Universal Knowledge (1883)

[cuties-in-codices]

scorpion catching a dog with its tail

in the "buch der natur" (book of nature) by konrad von megenberg, illuminated manuscript, alsace, ca. 1442-1448

source: Heidelberg, UB, Cod. Pal. germ. 300, fol. 211r

[orendaart]

Beast of Burden VI

WIP

Background is an acrylic and oil painting. I color edited and added digital elements (writing, illustration).

[soylent-crocodile]

Bohf-bwam (Monster)

(Book of Hours, Flanders; kept in Baltimore, in the Walters Art Museum)

(This is a very old one, created years ago when I first saw this amazing piece of medieval art. I did some minor edits to their statblock, and completely redid their description- they were originally just "no one knows where they come from or what they're thinking, they just cause violence". Nowadays I try to ensure that every creature I make has some kind of story hook to it, rather than being a prepackaged Random Encounter. Enjoy!)

Bohf-bwam are chaotic, violent creatures that spawn in places with high magic potential and a particular veneration for weaponry and martial prowess- typically forming with a hand gripped tightly around a specific and well-adored weapon. Most often they form in the great halls of castles, wielding a displayed ancestral weapon, although more low-tech societies may accidentally create them in camps or villages. Indeed, the bohf-bwam pest problem is hypothesized to be a reason why so many "barbarian" cultures have an aversion to arcane magic, as their love of weaponry can easily produce large groups of these creatures when mixed with magic.

A bohf-bwam's violence is erratic, instinctual, and unplanned; these fits may come and go, and the subject of their violence is typically whatever or whoever is close to them. It is not unheard of for bohf-bwams to be tamed, somehow, by a particularly kind and affectionate person, and such creatures will focus their violent rage on defending the subject of their attention, becoming peaceful- even friendly- in other situations.

Particularly powerful magic weapons may spawn larger, more powerful bohf-bwam. Such creatures gain the Giant and Advanced simple template and lose the oversized weapon ability. Many gain additional spell-like abilities relevant to their weapon- a bohf-bwam wielding a +1 Flaming Sword may have the ability to cast Fireball 1/day, for example.

A small bipedal reptile-like creature scurries forward, a hand wielding an axe where its head would be.  Misc- CR2 CN Small Aberration HD3 Init:+2 Senses: Blind, Blindsense 90ft Perception:+2 Aura: Aura of Martiality 30ft Stats- Str:15(+2) Dex:15(+2) Con:12(+1) Int:4(-3) Wis:6(-2) Cha:13(+1) BAB:+2 Space: 2.25ft Reach:5ft Defense- HP:16 (3d8+3) AC:15 (+1 Size, +2 Dex, +2 Natural) Fort:+3 Ref:+3 Will:+3 CMD:13 Immunity: Dazed, Dazzled, Stunned, Confused Special Defenses: Fast Healing 1 Offense- mwk Handaxe +6 (1d6+3) CMB:+2 Speed:20ft Special Attacks: Proficiency with All Martial Weapons Feats- Iron Will, Power Attack Skills- Intimidate +5, Knowledge (local) +1, Perception +2 Spell-like Abilities-  Spiritual Weapon 3/day Special Qualities- Oversized Weapons, Spiritual Echo Ecology- Environment- Any Languages- Aklo (Cannot speak) Organization- Solitary Treasure- None (mwk handaxe) Special Abilities- Aura of Martiality (Su)- Creatures affected by a bohf-bwam’s aura must make a DC13 Will save or be compelled to use any available melee weapon, as opposed to spells and abilities, natural weapons, or ranged weapons, in combat. This is a compulsion effect and the save is hit die based. Aberrations and creatures with intelligence 2 or less are immune to this effect. Oversized Weapons (Ex)- A bohf-bwam wields weapons as though they were a size larger than they are. Spiritual Echo (Sp)- The weapon created by a bohf-bwam’s Spiritual Weapon spell-like ability takes the form of whatever weapon the bohf-bwam is currently wielding in its head-hand. If it is not weilding a weapon, it cannot use its spell-like ability.