by S A Maus
Nepharic are the most dangerous Sphirium known to Man, perhaps even the greatest Malphic in existence save the Worm. So great are they, even the knowledge of their power caused many to be revered as deities in the ancient world, with their worship still persisting in desolate reaches of the kingdoms to this day. There is no uniform power or nature of Nepharic to warn of or prepare for, as they are as varied in their kind as Men are in theirs, but there are some consistent attributes we may be aware of. All are known to be accompanied by immense, supernatural dread, a fear that drives Men and animals to madness in the surrounding land. Only special tempering of the will can combat this fear, and even such tempering is but a seawall against the swell, holding so long as the storm does not worsen. They are of absolute command of the Mist as well, with power unmatched by even the Edlain, perhaps even greater than the Ancient, capable of conjuring storms or summoning flames from the ether, and being nearly impervious to wounds of a magical kind.
While Nepharic are extremely rare and none have been recorded in modern history, nonetheless, their threat demands all En’shen seeking to become Masters be required to learn all that is known about them, so that, if need arises, they can join others of their rank from the Magium (Ex note: I believe a precursor to the Magi of the modern day) and the Holy Setun (Ex note: unknown. I assume an ancient religion that has either evolved or become defunct) in seeking out and destroying the creature. It is absolutely forbidden for any Hunter below the rank of Master to seek out Nepharic and even Masters are required to travel in full groups of twenty, with recommendations being as high as can be mustered before need becomes too great.
Execution methods for a Nepharic require the use of questionable magical ethics and thus are taught to Masters and Masters alone. There can be no rest for Nepharic.
(Addendum from Master Matheu) due to the nature of Nepharic, and the increasing foolhardy nature of novice Hunters, I have added a note to the compendium. Nepharic are not normal spirits. You WILL die if you approach one alone. They have near total control of their direct atmosphere, can conjure storms out of nothing, fly upon the winds, and dominate the minds of even Ekulit. Imagine every power of First Spirits mixed with the mortal capacity for magic and Mancy and you might begin to understand why they were revered as gods. They have no fear of iron, silver, or Sitesilver, and are immune to all forms of Apamancy. If you hear even the faintest rumor of a Nepharic, you are to immediately report it to the nearest Hunter liaison. A Nepharic is as dangerous to a kingdom as an army one hundred thousand strong and should be considered an imminent threat. There is no penalty for a false alarm, so long as it was made sincerely; Nepharic threats are not to be taken lightly. Even the Ancient did not tangle with Nepharic unless they must.
Eghoul: The variance of possessed lesser creatures
Ghoul (Ginni)
Height: 1.3-2 meters
Weight: 15-30 kilograms
Distinguishing Features: Mottled grey skin with profuse wounds and often slavering mouths. A foul stench follows a Ghoul who has been active for any length of time and they often have filth of some sort smeared upon their body.
Territory: Ghouls are often found in remote places where pagan religions still hold sway, but migrated Ghouls can take up residence in places of filth and are often a problem in larger cities with expansive sewer systems.
The creature which the entire Eghoul classification are believed to have spawned from, Ghouls are vile, malicious creatures, born of demons entering the world and finding host in the bodies of sacrifices offered to the Aul (Ex. Note: old name for Phell, used for both the Mist and its inhabitants), such as cattle or birds. However, unlike a spirit summoned in a spiritual form, a demon summoned into a sacrificial body does not have to return to Aul upon the expiration of its contract and can instead choose to remain, twisting the sacrifice and becoming an entirely new creature. Many lesser demons will happily take up this sacrificial contract, as they can ascend to a new status of power by inhabiting the Mist of Aarde in physical form. These demons are often not only eager for ascension, but extremely vile in temperament, having spent much of their existence as servants to stronger demons of Aul.
While a Ghoul may be born of any fleshly sacrifice (not of a mortal soul), they will all take a similar appearance upon rebirth: pale in skin, drawn of flesh, thin as a fence post, and often decaying in some manner where the sacrificial wound was made. Ghouls are weak in stature but often quick-footed and cunning, retaining the intelligence of the demon that inhabits it. The demonic part of the Ghoul is what a young Hunter must focus on, for it is the demon which is most susceptible to damage and why all Hunters are recommended to bring Blessed weaponry and Verses (Ex note: I am very curious as to what these ‘holy’ weapons were) for rebuttals as they engage the Ghoul. Many dead Men sought to meet a Ghoul with steel rather than the spirit.
While Ghouls are not particularly dangerous by themselves, it is their propagation which makes them of worry to Shalim. A Ghoul body produces virulent toxins that, when passed to a Man, can infect and create an Ol-Ghoul (often called a Ghoul as well), a sort of slave class in service of the parent Ghoul. A Ghoul left to linger in a city may soon overrun the entire populace through transmitting of their disease and thus it is recommended that a Cleanse be performed on all major cities every four years to prevent infestation.
Execution of a Ghoul is always necessary, as there is nothing to give relief to, and a novice Hunter should prepare accordingly by viewing the texts within the Mortuic.
Master Drimmun’s Note: Stop asking me about holy weapons. We learned long ago that you don’t need them to destroy a Ghoul. Listen to your teachers and use the prescribed methods.
Ankmen: Corrupted forms of Men.
Shimmelot (Shimmelot)
Height: variant
Weight: variant
Distinguishing Features: None while in the form of Men. Shifted Shimmelot appear as animals with white eyes, no matter the form they take.
Territory: Due to their nature, Shimmelot may live anywhere in Aarde, though there appears to be a higher concentration nearer to Ankoeldeon.
Of all creatures in this compendium, Shimmelot are perhaps the least worrisome. They are Men who have been changed with something akin to a curse (though we should not understand it as such). The Man’s body becomes capable of shifting at its smallest form, ceasing to be that of a Man and becoming that of a mundane creature, such as a wolf or a horse, yet retaining the intelligence and humor of the Man it was. Of note: never has a Shimmelot been capable of shifting into anything other than an animal, leading some to theorize this is changing ability is a natural disease of some kind. A Shimmelot can only ever shift into a single animal form, determined through unknown means, and has no control over the animal it may change into, though it can control the timing of the change itself.
It is unknown how or when a Shimmelot takes form. Some believe a Shimmelot exists from birth, born to mundane parents with a dormant flaw that will manifest later. Others believe that one becomes a Shimmelot through interaction with something in the world, perhaps a cursed object or a mysterious disease we Hunters have not discovered. Whatever the case, all Shimmelot manifest by the age of fifteen, no matter the kind of Man they are. This is often a terrifying experience, causing the Shimmelot great distress and sometimes forcing those of a more fearful nature to commit violence in their panic. It should be noted that Shimmelot are not evil of their nature, being as normal as any Man besides their shapeshifting, capable of moral choice. As such, a Shimmelot should not be condemned for their actions upon their first transformation, but should instead be guided to understanding and controlling their change once it has occurred. A properly assisted Shimmelot should be able to integrate seamlessly into common society.
Yet, as any Man is capable of great evil, so a Shimmelot may choose to appease their darkest side. A Shimmelot who chooses such a path will often require Hunter intervention, as a Shimmelot heals much more quickly than a normal Man and is much
stronger, not to mention their ability to blend in with the animal kingdom.
Most Shimmelot are easy to spot when shifted, as the animal transformation is a mirror of the size of the Man. A four foot tall squirrel is quite easy to pick out. However, some are not so easy, usually Shimmelot who have attained transformations of larger animals, such as a horse or a bear. In such cases, Hunters should look for creatures with blank, white eyes and who seem to move with an unnatural intelligence.
Silver is the recommended tool when hunting a Shimmelot as it stalls their quickened healing, but any weapon of sufficient sharpness will kill. Refer to the Mortuic for greater detail.
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About the Author
After reading The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe in a single sitting at the age of twelve, Seth Aaron Maus felt an urging to try his own hand at fantasy. Eleven years and two books later, his vision came to life in the Mist of Aarde and the souls which inhabit it. His goal was always to craft a new world for readers to enjoy, and he remains hard at work to fill out his universe, populating it with the mundane and extraordinary. Currently Seth is working on the third book in The Darkest Heart series, as well as minor works to accompany the world of Aarde, and every Mist about it. When he's not writing he can be found enjoying some online games with his friends, or trying to satisfy the demands of his cat overlords.