Other Creatures and Threats

The Sons of Leeds

The Glowing Man. The Shadow Man. The Leeds Devil. These names float around the Barrens, frequently spoken with fear. But who, or what, are they? For years, it was thought that they were a pack of restless cryptids, guarding the Barrens against outsiders… for a price. Recently, though, the truth has come to light. The thirteen sons are not creatures, but Lineages, physically altered by the voluntary experiments of one Mama Leeds. They once clashed violently with the people of Hayven, but with a treaty in place and respect shown for Mama, they have become tentative allies. You may still not want to bump into them in the night, terrifying as they are, but at least now you’re likely to survive the experience. Just try to be nice, and don’t bad mouth their mother.

The Black Swans

Have you ever woken suddenly from a nightmare so vivid that you swear, for a moment, that you see the object of your terror moving out of the corner of your eye? Have you ever laid awake for hours, too scared to move, too scared to breathe, in case you saw it again? Have you ever slept with a lantern lit because you were too afraid to close your eyes without it? If you’re lucky enough that the answer is no, then you should pray that you never come across one of the Black Swans- or that answer will swiftly change. 

Some say that the Black Swans are assassins. Some say they’re only nightmares. Still others say they’re boogeymen that traverse the Gravemind like we do the surface, or that they’re twisted creatures fused to the masks they wear. Maybe they’re all of the above, or none of them. A few even whisper that they serve a man in the shadows, though to what end, few can say. They can all agree on two things, though: Don’t go out alone at night, and don’t go to sleep.

The White Deer

Though many horrors inhabit the Barrens, not all of its denizens are so unpleasant. The White Deer, native to Artemis Valley, are a welcome sight to the locals and visitors alike. Many in the Barrens see them as good omens, or even elusive protectors who watch over lost children. They seem to be far more intelligent than your average deer, and have no fear of Lineages- the Undead, though, they will hunt with impunity. The white deer are rumored to have been a pet project of an old member of Arclight Station, though exactly who isn’t well known. Whatever their origin, these gentle creatures stand as fierce defenders of Artemis Valley, the Barrens, and those who live and visit there.