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bestiary

Rare Creatures & Mythical Beasts of Wonder Literature

Exotic entities from 'Aja'eb-nameh (Books of Wonders)—serpents, hybrids, and impossible creatures from travelers' tales.

The Books of Wonders

Persian 'Aja'eb-nameh literature (Books of Wonders) catalogued fantastic creatures from across known world. Some were real animals misunderstood, others were div, others remain mysteries.

Naznāz (نضناض) - The Black Serpent

(Detailed in "Child-Hunters & Maternal Protectors")

Summary: Human-faced black serpent breathing smoke. Heart grants animal language comprehension but corrupts speaker.

From: 'Aja'eb-nameh texts

Samand Eslar (سمند اسلار) - The Death-Gaze Serpent

(Detailed in "Child-Hunters & Maternal Protectors")

Summary: Two-headed, two-winged serpent. Gaze kills instantly. Even striking it causes attacker to die.

From: 'Aja'eb-nameh texts

Other Wonder-Literature Creatures

Mar (مَر) - The Generic Serpent Category

Region: Kerman and others

Note: "Mar" simply means "snake/serpent" in Persian. Many entities have "mar" in name:

  • Boz-Mar (Goat-Serpent)
  • Bom-e-Mar (Owl-Serpent, see below)
  • Various serpent div

In Némand: Serpents generally associated with div corruption (temptation, deception). Exception: Shahmaran (wise serpent-queen).

Bom-e-Mar (بومِه مَر) - The Owl-Serpent

Region: Ardabil, Fars, Gilan, Khorasan, Lorestan, Mazandaran

Alternative Names: Khaneh Mar, Boom Mehr

Appearance: Hybrid of owl and serpent

In Némand:

  • Tier: 2
  • Nature: Chimeric abomination. Div merged owl (night hunter) with serpent (ground predator). Result: can hunt from air AND ground.
  • Method: Silent flight (owl) + venom strike (serpent). Deadly combination.
  • Weakness: Neither fully aerial nor terrestrial. Can be fought in transitional zones (treetops, rocky outcrops) where it's disadvantaged.

Kulesh (کولِش) - The Were-Wolf

Region: Fars, Hormozgan, Khuzestan, Mazandaran

Alternative Names: Garg Abdanan, Hayvan-al-Shib, Sagtol, Sam', Kulej

Description: Wolf or wolf-hybrid creature

In Némand:

  • Tier: 2-3
  • Were-Beast: Human cursed to become wolf (div corruption of transformation magic)
  • Lunar Connection: Transforms during full moon (celestial cycle affects consciousness)
  • Tragedy: Retains partial human awareness while in wolf-form. Remembers kills after transforming back. Living nightmare.
  • Cure: Extremely difficult. Requires breaking div-curse (Tier 4 purification) or killing (mercy vs. murder dilemma).

Story Hint: Village plagued by wolf attacks. Protagonist hunts wolf, discovers it's cursed human. Must choose: kill werewolf (ends attacks, murders victim) or attempt cure (risky, time-consuming, might fail). Victim begs for death ("Please, I can't control it, I've killed children"). Mercy-kill vs. hope-for-cure. No clean answer.

Shoghal-e Shoom (شغال شوم) - The Ill-Omened Jackal

Region: Fars, Gilan, Isfahan, Mazandaran

Alternative Names: Sagarg, Di-Shal, Shal Ba'o, Ow-Shal, Gadan Shoghal, Sagtur, Gargas, Ketan Shoghal, Siashal

Behavior: Jackal that brings bad luck. Seeing it predicts misfortune.

In Némand:

  • Tier: 1 (as animal), 2 (as omen)
  • Omen Mechanic: Doesn't cause misfortune—predicts it. Jackal appears before disaster because it's drawn to pre-disaster consciousness-ripples.
  • Nature: Normal jackal with div-sensitivity. Scavenger instinct + consciousness-awareness = appears near death.
  • Not Enemy: Killing jackal doesn't prevent disaster. It's messenger, not cause.

Transformation Curses

How Div-Transformation Works:

  1. Initial Corruption: Angra action or curse creates vulnerability
  2. Div Attachment: Fragment bonds to victim's consciousness
  3. Gradual Metamorphosis: Over time (days to months), body changes to reflect div-nature
  4. Loss of Control: Eventually div-self becomes dominant. Human consciousness suppressed but not destroyed.
  5. Irreversible Threshold: If transformation completes (100% physical change), reversal impossible. Must catch it early.

Examples of Transformation-Cursed:

  • Kulesh: Human → Wolf
  • Nasnaas: Human → Half-Person (punishment for specific crime)
  • Boz-Mar: Natural animals → Chimeric hybrid
  • Widow Ghoul: Grieving woman → Ghoul (grief-transformation)

Horror Element: Victim is aware throughout. Human mind trapped in monstrous body. Can see loved ones but cannot communicate. Ultimate nightmare.

Social Enforcement Mechanics

Galim Gush / Galim Goosh (گلیم گوش)

Region: Fars, Kordestan, Lorestan

Alternative Names: Goosh Fil, Dandan Fil, Manask

Name Meaning: "Carpet Ear" or "Elephant Ear" (huge ears)

Appearance: Entity with enormous ears

Behavior: Hears everything (enhanced Daryāft). Reports misbehavior to parents/authorities.

In Némand:

  • Tier: 1
  • Surveillance Div: Embodies parental fear of children's secret wrongdoing. "I can hear everything you do."
  • Not Directly Harmful: Doesn't attack. Just observes and reports. But creates paranoia.
  • Social Panopticon: Children believe they're always watched. Behave even when alone.

Foolad Zereh (فولاد زره) - Steel Armor

Region: Kordestan

Alternative Name: Janpula (meaning "body of steel")

Folklore: Entity or person with impenetrable armor

In Némand:

  • Tier: 3
  • Invulnerability: Azhur Ore-infused skin. Cannot be wounded by normal weapons.
  • Possible Origin: Tier 5 Engineer who underwent full cybernetic enhancement (consciousness transferred to metal body). Or ancient guardian-construct still functional.
  • Weakness: Joints, gaps in armor. Or consciousness-disruption (attacks mind, not body).

The Pattern of Social Div

Enforcement entities exist because communities need them:

  • Pre-Modern Policing: No formal law enforcement in villages. Social pressure + supernatural fear maintain order.
  • Parental Authority: "Behave or Nane Har Dom comes" is both threat and truth.
  • Geographic Safety: "Don't go there—it's haunted" keeps children from dangerous areas (cliffs, deep water, etc.).

Dark Side: These div can be manipulated. Authoritarian parents might unconsciously strengthen enforcement div through excessive fear-mongering. Tyrant like Zahhak could weaponize social-control div to enforce regime.

Story Integration: Protagonist realizes Zahhak isn't just using military—he's weaponizing fear-div. By terrifying population, he feeds and empowers enforcement entities loyal to his regime. Resistance requires not just fighting soldiers but breaking fear itself (restoring hope/courage weakens div-control). Revolution becomes psychological/spiritual as much as military.