Hiraeth Creature #1200 - Ehnku“As realms weave between forest dells, river bends, and mountain

Hiraeth Creature #1200 - Ehnku“As realms weave between forest dells, river bends, and mountain cliffs, the expanses of Hiraeth seem limitless. Across a wilderness with unfathomable depths, animals thrive in innumerable forms. No matter the will of seasons or magic, life thrives eternal. Even when on the precipice of extinction, from the spears of kingdoms, under the shadows of giants, or in the claws of outworld hunters, the beasts of Hiraeth have forever pushed onwards undaunted. Towering through storms or bathing in drops of dew, every one of Hiraeth’s creatures are first chosen of the spirits and the wardens of balance, their wellbeing reflecting the state of the world around them. In emotions unspoken by common word, they tell the stories of their lineage through the quiver of a pupil, the thundering of lungs, and the snap of teeth. The world was shaped for them and they in turn help shape the world.There was once a time, before folk, before spirit, and before beasts: a time when all the world was boiling steam and churning metal. Many bleak ages passed by with little to remember and no soul willing to keep record. Spirits were but flickers of life, hiding in crevasses of stone that were untouched by machinery. Sky and sea coated in burning smoke and the earth constantly grinded away, there was no great wilderness. The beasts of the day were microscopic, globular things, unseeable and unrecognizable in modern times. Fauna was given a life on a whim, hidden away in what little water pooled from leaking pipes, allowing moss to grow in tiny sanctuaries undetectable by the the toiling machines, who sought only to plunder ores and minerals. These creatures existed forever meandering and languishing until they were called upon—a roar that shook the cosmos, the first erupting mountains spurred by the Earthen Maiden. Stone and fire heaved upwards and mythical spirits took form, no longer willing to be shackled. In this, the most pinnacle of moments, when life itself risked everything to thrive, as the first light of Sun shone down from parted clouds, the beasts of Hiraeth, too, broke free.From every corner of the obscured Undercroft, endless primordial creatures swirled together in a great vortex, forming a lashing, dancing, howling tree of sinew, bone, fur, and scales. The first noble beast, the Tree of Manes grew outwards in all directions, aiding the spirits in their conquest. The machinery that built up the land hacked and chopped violently at the Tree, and for every headed limb that was hewn, it formed a new animal that could roam and fight on its own. No matter if they travel by flight, foot, or fin, all originated from the Tree of Manes. In a violent, breathtaking display, the Tree of Manes was cut down to their final limbs, and all the land once beneath its bellowing canopy was stripped free of steel. As spirits ran across the span of the world, growing flora, the fauna from the Tree followed after, and from hence forth, Hiraeth was populated with countless lifeforms, birthing the balance that embodies nature to this day.———————————The spirits gathered at the heart of the Tree of Manes, expecting to find a headless stump, but instead they found Ehnku, the last limbs of the Tree. Fierce but humble, the mythical spirits dubbed Ehnku “King of Beasts”, and kneeled before them. Ehnku demanded nothing for their part, but asked the spirits to always treat their children with understanding, and to let them choose their paths freely. Ehnku’s words were honoured, and spirit and beast became entwined as allies and friends. As spirits endured, beasts changed time and time again, always in finding new forms to take and new lives to live, free flowing as the limbs of Tree of Manes was. Ehnku would rise to battle again whenever the entirety of the balance was threatened, such as when the Ravenous Beast descended from the celestial sea, her hunger decimating many of Ehnku’s children. It would take aid from the Fae Realm to seal her away. Ehnku acknowledged the sacrifice of the Fae in this war, but was forever wary of their magic, knowing its capability of disrupting the balance.Hiraeth would find herself upheaved many times as she braced cataclysm after cataclysm. She eventually became unrecognizable to Ehnku. Some spirits and fae see Ehnku as an archaic, primeval symbol of a strict order, but many more still revere and respect Ehnku for helping shape the world and create the lasting bonds between magic and nature. There have been sightings of Ehnku throughout history, clashing with giants and steam beasts, forever a warrior at heart. Still regarded as King of Beasts, many have sought them for guidance, as quarry, and even just for the thrill and the bragging rights of having seen such a legendary figure. Ehnku is more familiar with the wilds than any, and is said to only be seen when wished to be—many spirits living in the obscure corners of the world haven’t even glimpsed Ehnku themselves. The closest many consider an encounter with Ehnku’s auspiciousness is seeing those beasts of Hiraeth who still have multiple heads, which is said to mean their lineage was tied to a limb that was closer to the centre of the Tree of Manes. In truth, all the animals of Hiraeth carry a part of Ehnku, forever tied to strength and perseverance of the King of Beasts, letting them press ever onwards and grow in an ever turning world.” -- source link

More pics about