The Feywood
146. Feywood: Cerberus
GENUS: Beast
CLASSIFICATION: Wolf
[1/2] Observations
Originally watchdogs of hell who came to our land to hunt down those who turned against the king of the underworld.
They were charged with the duty of catching those disloyal to their king, and branding them with their fiery horns as a mark of their betrayal. The brand carried magicks of enforced servitude, and those so marked could never leave the underworld again.
Though they no longer serve their ancient master, having long since been set adrift in our world, they continue to give chase and attack with fiery horns.
[2/2] A Curious Treasure
There is a flame fueled by vengeance and hatred, and never shall it flicker or fade. Perhaps it is the hell-gate's flame burning on the horn of the cerberus that has earned it the title "Watchdog of Hell." Yet these flames touch none but the wicked, and singe the good not in the least. Hence the custom of searing the sinful with flame to adjudge the weight of their sins.
147. Feywood: Deadly Nightshade
GENUS: Plant
CLASSIFICATION: Mandragora
[1/2] Observations
Being a mandragora with a head like a red tomato. Hailing from the eastern highlands, changing climates brought them down to the low lands.
Many are the treatise written by natural philosophers attempting to trace the roots of the strange black and white markings covering their bodies, reminiscent of the clothes worn by prisoners.
[2/2] Sage Knowledge (57 of 78)
Draklor Laboratory
Weapons research laboratory located a short distance from the administrative district in the northeast of Archades, sponsored by the Archadian Imperial Army, with Dr. Cidolfus Demen Bunansa as its head researcher and maker of policy.
Research is divided among airship design projects, sundry weapons projects, and magickal endeavors. In recent years, particular attention has been paid to magicite research, with great strides being made in the manufacting of magicite and improved methods of drawing energy from the stones.
A strict security system is in place to ensure that none of the knowledge in Draklor Laboratory leaves its doors without authorization.
148. Feywood: Mu
GENUS: Beast
CLASSIFICATION: Dreamhare
[1/2] Observations
The curious mu makes its home in the ancient trees of the Feywood. Their nests are made by boring holes in the tree trunks, whence they peer out to watch for danger. Spending all of their waking lives beneath the shade of the treets, their bodies are pale and colorless. So close is their affinity for the trees that some communities consider them to be tree spirits.
[2/2] A Curious Treasure
According to the chronologists, the creatures known as mu came as emissaries from the moon, and were once reveared as sacred beings.
Thus is the dust they guard with their lives though tto come from the moon itself. Indeed, this moondust is markedly different in nature and composition from most similar sands found here in Ivalice.
149. Feywood: Mandragora Prince
GENUS: Plant
CLASSIFICATION: Mandragora
[1/2] Observations
Being the mutated form of a mandragora grown near a killing block or other such place where blood is spilled in large quantities, having eyes the color of blood. Writes the naturalist Merlose in her vicid account of an encounter with one such beast: "...gazed I then into those crimson pupils, and witnessed I there its abiding madness."
If the blood spilled on the ground where it grew was pure, then it is said it will become a mandragora prince, with fell appearance, but hopeful heart.
[2/2] A Curious Treasure
Only those with luck in spades might hope to find a lucky four-lead clover. So goes the tale, and with its telling this humble leaf grew into something sacred and mystical, a bringer of good luck.
Yet, few are they who know that the four-leaf clover is host to a deadly poison, string enough to kill the largest of giants. And no wonder so few know. After all, if you happened to be fortunate enough to find something so rare, you'd be unlikely to want to eat it!
150. Feywood: Basilisk
GENUS: Beast
CLASSIFICATION: Serpent
[1/2] Observations
Being a variety of serpent able to maintain its body temperature regardless of its environs, preferring to live in colder regions. It has two distinctive scale-patterns on its breast which are said to be the result of interbreeding between two strains of serpent.
As its body is covered with scales of surpassing smoothness, it is able to move quickly through areas of deep snow.
[2/2] On the Diessection of Beasts
A single piercing Gaze from that Eye turneth the hale Body to Stone, or so it is said.
The Serpent Eye Men calleth it and with Fear.
It is thought this Belief derives from the Similarity observed between common Serpents, and certain Ophidian creatures of malecolent Nature, who holdeth the Power to turn Others to Stone.
The inner Fold of their Eyelid being Stone as a Matter of Course, those who found these Creatures newly slain witnessed there the power of the Serpent Eye.
151. Feywood: Alruane King
GENUS: Plant
CLASSIFICATION: Mandragora
[1/2] Observations
Being the mutated form of alraune, its horns having acquired strength akin to that of metal through ceaselessly struggling for dominance within the pack.
The combat awakened those who survived, and as one they departed.
In a secret place they now foregather, locked in combat through day and night, to determine the strongest alraune in the world.
[2/2] A Curious Treasure
The sharp and deadly weapon of the alraune king is indeed but a coiled up vine. They may whirl it around at will, skewering anything which strays too close.
The report of one such vine penetrating wyrmscale is no idle rumor.
Indeed, the gyrating power of the gimble stalk is greatly to be feared, and if its strength could but be applied to weapons of war, oh, the victories one might claim...
152. Feywood: Behemoth
GENUS: Giant
CLASSIFICATION: Behemoth
[1/2] Observations
Being a giant lord of darkness, fashioned by the gods during the creation of heaven and earth. Its muscles are hard as steel, and its bones made of bronze. Originally appearing as a great ox, the souls of the many warriors it killed in battle have altered its form forever. This diet of death has added to its skill in combat withal, as it draws strength and knowledge from the warrior-souls imprisoned within its veins.
[2/2] Tips for the Adventurer
If you've confidence in your abilities as an adveturer, it's said the behemoth is the perfect test of one's mettle.
Should you defeat one, your confidence will grow still further, and the vitality you gain by consuming a behemoth steak will help you to yet greater feats.
In this world where the strong eat the weak, there can be no mistaking but that this is the true parth of those who would succeed.
153. Feywood: Onion Queen
GENUS: Plant
CLASSIFICATION: Mandragora
[1/2] Observations
Every season, a fresh and beautiful female wild onion is selected by her peers to lead the patch. The chosen one, filled with confidence in her own beauty, becomes elegant, noble, and queen-like in every respect. There are some who theorize that, to preserve her beauty, the onion queen becomes wary, fearing injury. However, judging by their undiminished propensity for violent behavior, the wise observer might question the veracity of this theory.
[2/2] On the Subject of Names
Why is it that we use the name of a certain vegetable to refer both to those who excel and also those without experience in the ways of the world?
It is a well-known fact that all heroes in all tales disliked vegetables as children. Their legend begins with their overcoming of this weakness, and then continues with a journey filled with hardships.
That noble vegetable, the onion, lives on as a symbol of hardships overcome, and as the mark of a true hero.
154. Feywood: Preying Mantis
GENUS: Insect
CLASSIFICATION: Mantis
[1/2] Observations
Being a strain of killer mantis bearing four pairs of large wings upon its back.
Though the wings have atrophied, a flight membrane spanning the legs susggests that these creatures were once able to fly.
They were carnicorous by nature, and very aggressive, attacking with their blood red sickles held high.
Many villagers call them demons, hungry for blood, and tell tales of them to scare children at night.
[2/2] A Curious Treasure
One popular theory goes that the wind carries within its gossamer folds invisible sickles, apt to swirl and cut men's flesh. When these sickles are bared, the sound of slicing wind is heard in the air, and the body is suddenly ripped and torn.
As no blood comes from the cuts, and there is no pain, many are they who have died without knowing aught was wrong. People call these unseen threats the sickle-blades.
155. Feywood: Pumpkin Star
GENUS: Plant
CLASSIFICATION: Mandragora
[1/2] Observations
Being named for its prominence in the upper echelons of pumpkin head society.
These creatures know of learning, and all are dedicated to the pursuit of some form of knowledge. For those who know the most success, there is a reward: a star-shaped langern.
In recent years, their intellect has advanced by leaps and bounds, causing some natural philosophers to fear a coming clash with out civilization in the days to come.
[2/2] A Curious Treasure
There once lived a young boy who was wont to study even as the sun fell and the moon rose. In time, people came to call him a sage. Born to a farm, he took a pumpkin grown from his own patch and made of it a lantern, threeby reading at night when all of his daily duties were discharged.
So did the boy grow in knowledge until he was wise.
Therefore do we say that the light of the pumpkin is a symbol of great learning, and so has the jack-o'-lantern become a favored affectation of scholars.
156. Feywood: Golem
GENUS: Plant
CLASSIFICATION: Golem
[1/2] Observations
Being a great, soulless, vegetative creature that supports its mass and moves about by means of extraordinarily long arms.
Said to be the manifestation of tree spirits, from trees burned down on battlefields, golems are peaceful by nature, though they suffer no intrusion upon their territory.
They are strong as their lifetrees were old, so old that some are already in advanced stages of petrifaction even as they stand.
[2/2] Research Notes
Those vines and other parasitic plants that attach themsleves upon the golem draw from them their hatred and thus grow eventually becoming mystletainn, a word meaning "stricken by catastrophe" in the language of the woodland peoples.
It is widely believed that without the proper purifications, mystletainn calls misfortune upon its bearer, and has the power to kill with magicks. So do those who approach golems unwarily, and carry home what they find, condemn themselves to a grisly, ensorceled death, bewailing their fate with their final breaths.
157. Feywood: Topstalk
GENUS: Plant
CLASSIFICATION: Mandragora
[1/2] Observations
Being a leader of sorts among the sharp-toothed deadly nightshades.
They live upon the flesh of other animals and various fantastickal creatures, the latter part of their diet causing them to become hardier than others of their ilk. Their vicious fangs have property of amplifying the noise of their screams, making them all the more clamarous and inspiring of fear.
[2/2] A Curious Treasure
Upon consuming this vegetable, one loses interest in all, the will to act...quite gone.
Recognized as a highly effected reagent for inducing languidness. The manner of its use is up to you.
It is the lowly tomato stalk, and by all rights should be thrown away.
158. Feywood: Mirrorknight
GENUS: Fiend
CLASSIFICATION: Ulstrix
[1/2] Observations
Being a high rank of bagoly, the armored, flying weapons of war, so effective in combat against enemy soldiers it was honored with knighthood.
However, with the advent of airships, the need for its presence on the battlefield decreased, and the old flights were disbanded. Thought not disposed of in light of their past contributions, these once-proud warriors of the sky were exiled into the wilds.
Having lost reason to fly, they soon lost the ability, and now they crawl along the ground, hunting for prey as any common beast.
[2/2] Tips for the Adventurer
There's good reason why smiths favor scales polished to a mirror finish when making armor. Those who see their own reflection, and the rage burning in their eyes, in mirror scale armor are stricken, unable to move, until their enemy frees them eternally from shame.
It is as though they are slain by their own image.
159. Feywood: Holy Element
GENUS: Holy Elemental
CLASSIFICATION: Elemental
[1/2] Observations
Being the holy essence found in that which is sacred and pure. Occuring only in places where the Mist runs deep, a fact wich has led some natural philosophers to speculate of a deep lying connection between the aspect of holiness and the Mist.
Of all the elementals, the holy elemental is truly a boon, ridding the accursed of evil spirits, and lending strength to the righteous, and passing judgement on the wicked.
[2/2] Sage Knowledge (20 of 78)
The Garland
No. 1 Heavy Carrier Class Airship. Being the flagship of the anti-Imperial coalition forces led by Marquis Ondore.
Built in secret by the Marquis to prepare for war against the Archadian empire. Believed to have much the same capabilities as the Imerpial heavy carrier Alexander.
160. Feywood: Tartarus
GENUS: Undead
CLASSIFICATION: Wolf
[1/2] Observations
Being a beast with fur of deep green, with a white geometrickal pattern of great beauty thereupon. Originally living in the depths of the underworld, they evolved to look like the virulently poisonous tartar-fronds of hell, thereby to avoid predation. The tartarus are as evil as violent as that upon which they feed: souls condemned to hell's bottom.
[2/2] Sage Knowledge (73 of 78)
The Feywood
An ancient wood deep in the jungles of Golmore. The combination of dense Mist and regular snow, the latter a product of the region's elevation, is enough to keep away even the viera.
Many of the trees have stood for several thousands of years, and some have begun to petrify. Numerous plants once thought extinct grow here, and many rare birds and animals can be seen in their primitive forms, unchanged for millennia.