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Description

The cold brings danger, for it is an element aligned with taking instead of giving. Those who make their living in its environs learn to be wary of its many forms. It is the worm that creeps within the body. It is the blanket that smothers the skin. It is the knife that cuts through to the bone. Cold is a reminder of the fallibility of heat; of our own finite resources. It is the promise of what all things will become in the end, and many consider it a close cousin of death.

Among them are those who see beyond the thin veil of icy water and pale snow. Those who see the legs among the branches and teeth among the hail. They recognize this fourth shape of winter and the form it chooses to take. This form prowls the snowcapped surface and howls with the voice of the wind. It leaves no tracks, only the frostbitten gristle of those who cross its path. It is a frigid spirit. A force that can only take. A travelling companion to the reaper.

This semi-quadrupedic entity follows the tide of winter, visiting long after the dead brown leaves are cast in snow. The unwary may mistake it for an odd beast, but its physicality is a deception: the "beast" every bit a force of nature as it is a living construct. As such, it is not entirely bound to the rules one assigns to biological hunters. It is not merely a denizen of the frosts, it is attuned to the frosts. It does not dwell in frigid lands because it has evolved to do so but actively seeks them out because the frozen bleakness empowers it. It wields weapons both intuitive and arcane, acts as both hunter and wraith. Its reputation has earned it a nigh-mythical status with those who've seen it. Some call it aulth'wyuui, the "winter soul" - a wandering echo of all who've succumbed to hypothermia. Others know it as "the cold ferryman", a sub-agent of death in a symbolic form. Most think of it as only a frigid bogeyman, acquiescing to the idea they'll never know anything about its origins. To these people, the creature is simply "The Shiversnatch", because that is what it embodies and that is what it does.

The Shiversnatch can hunt any lifeform in its vicinity, but usually seeks groups of intelligent victims. This is not thought to be deliberate, but rather a by-product of its nature. This force of decay is intrinsically drawn to those who are desperate, desolate, or lack hope. Such emotions strengthen and embolden it to action far more than prey who possess primitive feelings or none at all. Once it determines potential prey, the Shiversnatch will stalk them carefully, ever watchful for the moment they find themselves outside and at the mercy of the icy wastes. It strikes the lonesome, the vulnerable, and the unwary alike through a variety of physical, magical, and psychological avenues. it taps on windows, breaks down doors, steals food, destroys possessions, and kidnaps children all to unnerve, weaken, and confuse its true targets. Its presence saps heat, its breath frostbites the skin, its howls send chills down the spine, and the clacking of its teeth can be felt in the bones. Tales have even been told of the Shiversnatch shutting its mouth with such force that the resonant frequency cracks ribs or stops the heart.

Should a target refuse to face the wrath of the winter, the Shiversnatch may bring the winter to them with localized storms, severe winds, and extreme drops in temperature that can even manifest inside a shelter. If the targets are unnerved or disheartened, the assault is strengthened until fortifications inevitably give way, enabling the Shiversnatch to gain entry and a direct path to its target. Though the chance of escape or determent are minimal at this point, it is infinitely preferable to direct combat. Many have fought the Shiversnatch. Some have run, most have died, and none have won.

The Shiversnatch's thin frame belies astonishing strength impossible for a non-supernatural creature. It can easily lift other beings in its hands and scuttle away or slice them apart with its razor-edged talons. Its blubbery skin is thicker than packed sand, while its frozen exoskeletal limbs cannot be pierced by blade or bullet. Mere contact with the creature freezes all water on the surface of one's skin, effectively binding that layer of skin to the Shiversnatch's own and making removal difficult without tearing the epidermis. Its teeth cleave muscle and bone in one bite and the prick of its tongue causes rapid tissue necrosis. In combat it continually shudders, vibrating with potential energy to be directed towards its next burst of unpredictable speed. It is, for all intents and purposes, a being honed to destroy. Though most animals are rather remarkable creatures, they are the product of millenias worth of biological trial and error that have never accounted for an enemy supernaturally focused into a killing machine. Faced with such a threat in combat, they fall in droves.

Even other monsters - supernatural or not - can find themselves targets of this menace. Entities both stronger and deadlier fatally underestimate the fearless persistence of the Shiversnatch, especially given the nigh-unkillablility of the monster in its element. The elder dragon atop the mountain or lich king of the deep caves may possess great power, but they are no more immune to the claws of the cold than they are the scythe of death.

By now the Shiversnatch's hazardous qualities should be clear. That being said it is not a perfect hunter. Virtually all beings possess some form of exploitable weakness, and the Shiversnatch is one of them. An intelligent or capable victim can evade, outwit, or even deter the Shiversnatch outright and survive its assalts. A logistical battle with this creature is like facing off against a hurricane. One cannot hope to battle it on its own turf, but it is entirely possible to use the rules of how it works against it.

For one, the Shiversnatch is rarely found in areas higher than 32 degrees Farenheit, and prefers places coated in either snow or ice. Due to its abnormal properties, it is fully capable of causing low temperatures at will, but this is a slow process and must compete with any artificial methods of keeping or generating heat. One who realizes they are hunted can simply make for warmer climates or fortify and heat the area they have, opting to either evade the storm or weather it. The stoic or experienced are also keen to keep their hopes high and minds practical, giving the creature little to feed on. The Shiversnatch is patient and will persist if it senses doubt or believes it can win the war of attrition, but if there is no indication that either are working in its favor, it abandons the hunt. Simple defiance and a good work ethic go a very long way.

In person, the Shiversnatch can be somewhat deterred with weapons that utilize heat - flamethrowers, chemical fires, thermal bombs, and other scorching items. While they don't seem to damage the creature, it is loathe to be near what it cannot extinguish, either metaphorically and literally. Loud noises also repell the creature, but only if they are not sounds associated with either it or its element. The creature appears to feel threatened and uncomfortable if its chilling roars or discombobulating clacks cannot be heard above the sound of yelling, singing, or chanting. It is even hypothesized a large and well-equipped force could trap it within a ring of searing heat and unfamiliar noise, though it is also postulated the Shiversnatch has situational teleportation abilities and would migrate when the area becomes unsuitable.

Interestingly enough, the Shiversnatch can be partially tamed. This sounds counterintuitive for a force aligned with death, but just as the Shiversnatch can sense despair and resignation, so too can it sense strength and fortitude, and what's more, appears to feel something approaching respect for these emotions. If sufficiently swayed, it may follow their owner around without any intent to kill, simply watching said owner from a distance and seeing them brave its territory just as it does. This interest usually wanes harmlessly with time, but grows into a potentially symbiotic relationship if its subject is also interested in death or is a hunter themselves. The "tamed" Shiversnatch does not express affection or desire closeness with these people, but will often stalk them during their own hunts and deliver finishing blows to their prey, taking only minor sustenance for itself and leaving the rest to its symbiote. It has also been known to enter conflict and save symbiotes from potentially fatal encounters. Whether this is due to an emotional connection to the hunter, practical assistance to a fellow force of death, or just a way to stave off boredom is unknown.

Beware the wintry wastes, for the Shiversnatch may set its sights on you. Likewise, be respectful of the stubborn hermit toughing it out, for the Shiversnatch may have set its sights on them in a very different way.

Description

The cold brings danger, for it is an element aligned with taking instead of giving. Those who make their living in its environs learn to be wary of its many forms. It is the worm that creeps within the body. It is the blanket that smothers the skin. It is the knife that cuts through to the bone. Cold is a reminder of the fallibility of heat; of our own finite resources. It is the promise of what all things will become in the end, and many consider it a close cousin of death.

Among them are those who see beyond the thin veil of icy water and pale snow. Those who see the legs among the branches and teeth among the hail. They recognize this fourth shape of winter and the form it chooses to take. This form prowls the snowcapped surface and howls with the voice of the wind. It leaves no tracks, only the frostbitten gristle of those who cross its path. It is a frigid spirit. A force that can only take. A travelling companion to the reaper.

This semi-quadrupedic entity follows the tide of winter, visiting long after the dead brown leaves are cast in snow. The unwary may mistake it for an odd beast, but its physicality is a deception: the "beast" every bit a force of nature as it is a living construct. As such, it is not entirely bound to the rules one assigns to biological hunters. It is not merely a denizen of the frosts, it is attuned to the frosts. It does not dwell in frigid lands because it has evolved to do so but actively seeks them out because the frozen bleakness empowers it. It wields weapons both intuitive and arcane, acts as both hunter and wraith. Its reputation has earned it a nigh-mythical status with those who've seen it. Some call it aulth'wyuui, the "winter soul" - a wandering echo of all who've succumbed to hypothermia. Others know it as "the cold ferryman", a sub-agent of death in a symbolic form. Most think of it as only a frigid bogeyman, acquiescing to the idea they'll never know anything about its origins. To these people, the creature is simply "The Shiversnatch", because that is what it embodies and that is what it does.

The Shiversnatch can hunt any lifeform in its vicinity, but usually seeks groups of intelligent victims. This is not thought to be deliberate, but rather a by-product of its nature. This force of decay is intrinsically drawn to those who are desperate, desolate, or lack hope. Such emotions strengthen and embolden it to action far more than prey who possess primitive feelings or none at all. Once it determines potential prey, the Shiversnatch will stalk them carefully, ever watchful for the moment they find themselves outside and at the mercy of the icy wastes. It strikes the lonesome, the vulnerable, and the unwary alike through a variety of physical, magical, and psychological avenues. it taps on windows, breaks down doors, steals food, destroys possessions, and kidnaps children all to unnerve, weaken, and confuse its true targets. Its presence saps heat, its breath frostbites the skin, its howls send chills down the spine, and the clacking of its teeth can be felt in the bones. Tales have even been told of the Shiversnatch shutting its mouth with such force that the resonant frequency cracks ribs or stops the heart.

Should a target refuse to face the wrath of the winter, the Shiversnatch may bring the winter to them with localized storms, severe winds, and extreme drops in temperature that can even manifest inside a shelter. If the targets are unnerved or disheartened, the assault is strengthened until fortifications inevitably give way, enabling the Shiversnatch to gain entry and a direct path to its target. Though the chance of escape or determent are minimal at this point, it is infinitely preferable to direct combat. Many have fought the Shiversnatch. Some have run, most have died, and none have won.

The Shiversnatch's thin frame belies astonishing strength impossible for a non-supernatural creature. It can easily lift other beings in its hands and scuttle away or slice them apart with its razor-edged talons. Its blubbery skin is thicker than packed sand, while its frozen exoskeletal limbs cannot be pierced by blade or bullet. Mere contact with the creature freezes all water on the surface of one's skin, effectively binding that layer of skin to the Shiversnatch's own and making removal difficult without tearing the epidermis. Its teeth cleave muscle and bone in one bite and the prick of its tongue causes rapid tissue necrosis. In combat it continually shudders, vibrating with potential energy to be directed towards its next burst of unpredictable speed. It is, for all intents and purposes, a being honed to destroy. Though most animals are rather remarkable creatures, they are the product of millenias worth of biological trial and error that have never accounted for an enemy supernaturally focused into a killing machine. Faced with such a threat in combat, they fall in droves.

Even other monsters - supernatural or not - can find themselves targets of this menace. Entities both stronger and deadlier fatally underestimate the fearless persistence of the Shiversnatch, especially given the nigh-unkillablility of the monster in its element. The elder dragon atop the mountain or lich king of the deep caves may possess great power, but they are no more immune to the claws of the cold than they are the scythe of death.

By now the Shiversnatch's hazardous qualities should be clear. That being said it is not a perfect hunter. Virtually all beings possess some form of exploitable weakness, and the Shiversnatch is one of them. An intelligent or capable victim can evade, outwit, or even deter the Shiversnatch outright and survive its assalts. A logistical battle with this creature is like facing off against a hurricane. One cannot hope to battle it on its own turf, but it is entirely possible to use the rules of how it works against it.

For one, the Shiversnatch is rarely found in areas higher than 32 degrees Farenheit, and prefers places coated in either snow or ice. Due to its abnormal properties, it is fully capable of causing low temperatures at will, but this is a slow process and must compete with any artificial methods of keeping or generating heat. One who realizes they are hunted can simply make for warmer climates or fortify and heat the area they have, opting to either evade the storm or weather it. The stoic or experienced are also keen to keep their hopes high and minds practical, giving the creature little to feed on. The Shiversnatch is patient and will persist if it senses doubt or believes it can win the war of attrition, but if there is no indication that either are working in its favor, it abandons the hunt. Simple defiance and a good work ethic go a very long way.

In person, the Shiversnatch can be somewhat deterred with weapons that utilize heat - flamethrowers, chemical fires, thermal bombs, and other scorching items. While they don't seem to damage the creature, it is loathe to be near what it cannot extinguish, either metaphorically and literally. Loud noises also repell the creature, but only if they are not sounds associated with either it or its element. The creature appears to feel threatened and uncomfortable if its chilling roars or discombobulating clacks cannot be heard above the sound of yelling, singing, or chanting. It is even hypothesized a large and well-equipped force could trap it within a ring of searing heat and unfamiliar noise, though it is also postulated the Shiversnatch has situational teleportation abilities and would migrate when the area becomes unsuitable.

Interestingly enough, the Shiversnatch can be partially tamed. This sounds counterintuitive for a force aligned with death, but just as the Shiversnatch can sense despair and resignation, so too can it sense strength and fortitude, and what's more, appears to feel something approaching respect for these emotions. If sufficiently swayed, it may follow their owner around without any intent to kill, simply watching said owner from a distance and seeing them brave its territory just as it does. This interest usually wanes harmlessly with time, but grows into a potentially symbiotic relationship if its subject is also interested in death or is a hunter themselves. The "tamed" Shiversnatch does not express affection or desire closeness with these people, but will often stalk them during their own hunts and deliver finishing blows to their prey, taking only minor sustenance for itself and leaving the rest to its symbiote. It has also been known to enter conflict and save symbiotes from potentially fatal encounters. Whether this is due to an emotional connection to the hunter, practical assistance to a fellow force of death, or just a way to stave off boredom is unknown.

Beware the wintry wastes, for the Shiversnatch may set its sights on you. Likewise, be respectful of the stubborn hermit toughing it out, for the Shiversnatch may have set its sights on them in a very different way.