《Monsters of Terra: A Compendium》Phoenixes
Advertisement
“My city was broken, and great evil surrounded me. I thought hope a bitter memory before I looked up at a sky wreathed in flame.
“The air rippled with the cry of something that made me feel small and powerless. Like a newborn babe. Then, I saw it. The bird of legend. I know not why it came to our aid, but am ever grateful for it. Those who I thought unstoppable are now nothing more than ash.” – The Diary of Geffal
And, so we come to yet another noble creature. We’ve dealt with some horrors, so perhaps it’s just as well I include those the good needn’t fear.
For the phoenix, little is known. Even less than usual. In fact, nobody is entirely sure if there are more than one of the creature. It may be that it is altogether unique.
There have been a few accounts from those who reportedly witnessed the death of a phoenix, but as this is shortly followed by that same phoenix being reborn from the ashes of its old body, it isn’t exactly easy to tell how many there are.
For the purposes of this entry, I will refer to them as being more than one, but just remember that it is unknown.
Phoenixes rarely appear, and when they do, they are often very peaceful. Even among the noble creatures we’ve discussed thus far, such as gryphons and sphinxes with their code, none are as gentle as the phoenix.
Or, at least that’s what the accounts I’ve dug up suggest. I’ve never had the honor of seeing one in person. Few people do, though many search their whole lives.
So, really everything in this entry could be total rubbish. But, it’s the best I can do.
There are no reports of phoenixes being violent to any but the most despicable of creatures or people. But, should they choose to attack… there is little anyone can do to stop them.
Their mastery of fire is supreme. It is said even dragons must respect the flames of a phoenix. There are also reports of demons pouring through a portal at various times only to be utterly wiped out by a phoenix.
Advertisement
Ash and smoke will be all that is left of those who oppose a phoenix.
I think it goes without saying not to provoke it should you be fortunate enough to stumble upon this majestic creature.
Phoenixes are not invulnerable though, and there are many accounts of them being slain. Only to then be reborn and resume the fight. Once reborn it takes just a single day for a phoenix to return to its original size. And, even in its smallest and most vulnerable state, it is immensely powerful and dangerous.
As to what a phoenix looks like, the accounts differ. In many, however, the phoenix a bird of pure fire, but others say they have feathers of brilliant colors. All those accounts which involve a phoenix fighting invariably speak of it as being fire embodied.
Its power over fire is definitely more magical in nature than that of a dragon’s. A phoenix can breathe fire, but it’s been said that they can set the entire sky alight. That torches and braziers turn into massive fonts of living flame and leap to obey them. And, that even hellfire answers the call of a phoenix.
Because of this, some believe that phoenixes have ties to the hells, but such a thing is utterly preposterous. Demons don’t go out of their way to exterminate evildoers. Nor do they do what else a phoenix is famous for.
The gift of a new life.
Indeed, phoenixes are apparently capable of allowing another creature to be reborn the way they are themselves. Fire leaps over the one who receives the gift and renders them to ash in moments. Leaving an infant among the ash.
This may sound horrifying, but those who have received such a gift say that it was painless and that all their ailments were stripped clean. From then on, they grew anew but retained all their memories. All their experience. All their skills. They also aged and died without a phoenix around to renew the gift.
Many search for the phoenix for this reason, but the creatures are almost impossible to find.
Advertisement
Some say that this is because they do not live on our plane of existence, but rather choose to visit when they feel like it. I’d say that the sheer size and power of these creatures lends credence to this theory if only because a giant flaming bird should be rather obvious.
Although, phoenixes have also been described as being only twice as large as an eagle. Not nearly as big as a roc.
So, they may simply reside in a forest or a mountaintop somewhere, secluded and away from prying eyes.
Either way, their size is a matter of debate. Some believe there are different varieties with some being smaller than others.
As in the account I quoted earlier, phoenixes occasionally get involved in the affairs of others, but it is a rare thing indeed. And, when they do get involved, it’s when great evil has been or is being committed. They don’t seem to care beyond that. Perhaps it’s a case of neither side being worthy of being saved or deserving of being slain?
There are places that worship phoenixes, but the gods seem to tolerate it. Something they don’t usually do. It’s best to be careful though as some cults spring up claiming to worship the fire bird, but many of them are dark, twisted things. And, those the gods do not tolerate.
And, should the gods ignore it, a phoenix may not.
There was a report of a cult leader to the south-east who would say that the phoenix would appear to tell them if anything he said was false. He encouraged his followers to engage in practices I shall not name here and was well known for kidnapping young girls for his own entertainment…
But, during one of his sermons, he once again invited the phoenix to strike him down should he speak falsely. Needless to say, a phoenix seemed to have heard him, and it didn’t like what he’d done. It ate him the way an eagle eats a rabbit.
Then, it incinerated everything he’d built, including his followers, and melted down his possessions which were then handed out to the victims before the phoenix moved on again.
And, ironically enough a monastery was built on that site. Now, devoted warrior monks live there. They took it upon themselves to act as phoenixes do. They spend each day training their minds and their bodies and only leave the monastery to deal with great evils.
These men and women don’t get involved in political disputes though. Instead, they hunt down cults that engage in dark practices as well as anything demonic.
It may sound strange for such a small group to go after demons given my earlier description of a very minor demon, but these phoenix monks are beyond mortal men.
Some believe that when the phoenix visited, it bestowed great power on those who became the first monks. But, others think they achieve it through discipline, practice, and study.
The monks are well known for their skill with fire and healing magic as well as incredible martial prowess. They are fearsome warriors, and many a dark cult has been eradicated by a single warrior.
Many find it strange that these monks could be so terrifying and possess such strength. Especially as they cannot call on the power of their god the way a priest might. But, I think not. Phoenixes are powerful creatures, it’s only logical that those who follow them would focus on becoming strong themselves.
One needn’t fear these men and women though as they are well known for adhering to strict rules and regulations. They police their order and root out corruption wherever it rears its ugly head.
Were you a rogue warrior, or the leader of a cult you would have much to fear. But, they concern themselves with little else. Oh, if you’re a demonologist you may wish to avoid them at all costs though.
Nicholas Wolfram, Professor of Monsterology at Lestria University
Advertisement
Project Pegasus: An Airplane Crashed into Me So I've Been Reincarnated as a Skeleton
“Where am I?” The place seemed familiar yet my head ached each time I tried to remember it. “This place is kinda creepy.” Wait, what happened to the school? “There should be a plane crash around here somewhere. Also, why am I still alive?” Or maybe... This is the afterlife? “Wait. Nevermind that.” “How in the world could a plane even crash on me like that?” As I stood, I got a glimpse of my right hand touching the ground. “AHHHHHHHHH---!!!” There was no flesh. “Sh*t. What is this?! Why are my hands just bones?! Am I decomposing?! It doesn’t seem to hurt though.” Just like normal, I could feel my heart beating faster, however, as I touched my chest, I felt my fingers sliding through the intervals of my ribs; my heart was gone. “Aaaaah!” As I panicked, I heard a girl’s voice behind me. “Ahm... Suddenly, something touched my right shoulder. My body froze. Slowly, I looked at it; I saw a hand wrapped in white bandage.
8 185Master's Doll
Follow Rea, a young boy whose face was as gorgeous as a doll. His whole being captivated a doll maker named Taurent Brialle and brought him in to live in his manor to take care of him. Taurent's obsession to everything beautiful made the house feel similar to a prison. Yet, Rea had decided to devote his life as to repay the chance given by Taurent to continue living. What can I do without you? You are the most beautiful creation I had - Taurent Brialle Are you really living or are you just a mere shell that is controlled by threads? - Haemi Kral Haemi Kral, a son of a lord who wanted to make friends with Rea, noticed something was off with the relationship between the boy and the doll maker. As a young boy filled with sunshine and justice, he wanted to bring Rea out of the world he was trapped in and live as a real person with his own mind and will. Rea was forced to choose whether to stay loyal to the master who saved him or to go along with the will to once again live as a real person? A living doll was given the chance to think between living an easy life or to strive in a world as a proper human.
8 129Saviour
Fate and Destiny decide the path that rest ahead, but who's to say someone can't save you from either of those?Who's to say your story ends there?(Team Bucciarati x reader)Disclaimer: There will be spoilers. (Following the anime)I do not own JoJo's Bizarre Adventure. JoJo belongs to Hirohiko ArakiAchievements:#1 jjba 02/12/2021#1 jojosbizarreadventure 03/22/2021#1 Fugo 04/04/2021#1 GoldenWind 04/25/2021#1 Brunobucciarati 04/27/2021#1 Mista 05/08/2021#1 ventoaureo 05/12/2021#1 jojosbizarreadventure 05/20/2021#1 GoldenWind 09/03/2021
8 131Heavenly Will
The world of five continents. It’s a world of no magic. A world were martial cultivators stand at the summit. A world where the strong prey on the weak. A world…of immortals. Qing Yun. A name that stood at the peak of the world of the five continents. It was the name of a young man who stood between the strong. A young man known as Asura. A young man known as a heavenly saint. He killed millions, he saved thousands. He was known as the weak whom the strong feared. A young man who…reached the end of his life at the age of 21. But…it was not the end. Who was the one that spoke to him in his last moments? It was a voice that sounded so domineering that it could shake the heaven itself. It was the voice that will change Qing Yun’s destiny forever. Being given a second chance to live, Qing Yun was reborn in this world of immortals again. With a new life and a new family will he be able to protect his loved ones this time? Will he be able to save those whom he let down in his previous life? Follow the story of this young man on his journey to immortality and his struggle…against the heaven…
8 201Coffee & Slime
In a continent plagued with humans, monsters, and unspeakable evils, our Hero is reborn as a child in the Kingdom of Slime. As he learns how to survive, will he choose to save the world, or destroy it? What can a mere slime do? Current release schedule: One chapter every 1-2 days. Bonus chapters will be awarded at the end of each arc (max 2 per arc), for the following goals, mainly to motivate me to write better: - Every 100 followers - Every 10 ratings Goal met this arc! Please expect the bonus chapters around chapter 30ish.
8 134Boundless Plains
Lost in a new, seemingly endless world and searching for a way home, Jeck is soon going to find that the odds are quite literally stacked against him.
8 157