Bestiary

If you hear the soft sound of bells, don’t move. This is the first sign of the presence of an eloko. These creatures (known in the plural sense as biloko) live in those deep, unexplored parts of the forest that give a traveler the feeling of doom. If someone happens to trespass into an eloko’s territory, that person might notice a lack of game animals and editable vegetation. Why? Because each eloko has enchanted the forest to hide his food from them. It’s best, really, that such food remains hidden, though. If a stranger finds food and takes it for herself, the eloko will jealously hunt that person down and take her life. Occasionally, however, he won’t bother trying to hide the food — he may, in fact, make its presence more obvious. Biloko love the taste of human flesh (particularly that of women), so they sometimes use their magic to lure in their next meal.

The sound of an eloko’s bells invokes an enchantment that tricks the trespasser into imagining whatever the eloko wants them to imagine. In one old story, for example, a young hunter ventured into the forest and took his wife with him. When he left her at a campsite to gather wood, she heard the sound of bells. A tiny voice came out of the woods and called to her. She thought it was a human child. It wasn’t. It was an eloko. When the hunter returned, the only thing he found at their campsite was her bones.

An eloko’s greed knows no bounds. His hunger for food and desire for flesh makes him volatile, and so trying to reason with him is useless. It’s been said that biloko possess (or are possessed by) the vengeful, angry spirits of ancestors who died in the forests; by channeling their rage through his claws and hunger, this creature can tear a person’s soul apart. Those devoured by an eloko, tales claim, cannot pass on to What Waits Beyond. When consumed, their essence is utterly destroyed. The only defense against eloko involves magic — traditionally bound into an amulet — that can protect the stranger from illusions before the eloko has a chance to kill them. If an eloko gets his claws and teeth into you, he won’t merely be eating your flesh — he’ll also devour your soul.

Attributes: Strength 4, Dexterity 4, Stamina 4, Charisma 3, Manipulation 4, Appearance 3, Perception 3, Intelligence 2, Wits 3

Abilities: Alertness 3, Athletics 2, Brawl 5 (Devour), Expression 1, Intimidation 4, Melee 2, Stealth 4, Survival 2

Willpower: 5

Health Levels: OK, ‒1 ‒1, ‒1, ‒2, ‒2, ‒5, Dematerialized

Armor Rating: 0 (four soak dice, total)

Powers/Advantages: After using its bell to draw prey away from safety, the eloko attacks from concealment (‒2 difficulty), with claws (Strength + 2 lethal damage) and then attempts to swallow its prey whole (Strength + 3 lethal damage) / Claws and Fangs; Human Speech; Musical Influence; Rapid Healing (4 pts.)

Image: A small, dwarf-like creature with sharp claws, piercing eyes, reddish skin, and vivid green grass covering his body instead of hair, an eloko has a gaping mouth that opens wide enough to swallow a human whole. He tends to use weapons made from the bones of his prey, and it’s been said that the bells he rings are made of bone as well.

Roleplaying Notes: The souls of the dead within you cry out for sustenance. To feed them, you must feed yourself as well.