ELEMENTALS

Elementals Agta (20)

One of the largest tree-dwellers in Alawan, the Agta are usually non-violent as their size and general characteristics tend to scare trespassers away without needing a direct confrontation. These creatures have a tendency to be roundabout in their directions, opting to obstruct the adventurer’s pathways with knocked down trees or upturned overgrowth in order to steer them away from going deeper into their territories. Travelers who have seen an agta usually describe them to be eerily fast in their movement amongst the trees, blending in with shadows, and an unmistakable smell of a smoking cigar left in the wake of their obstructions. They’re fairly large but they are also slower than their fellow tree-dwelling Kapre counterparts.

ELEMENTALS MANANANGGAL

ELEMENTALS

Elementals Manananggal (20)

The bane of many a small town, the Manananggal is a winged, vampire-like creature defined by its distinct, sophisticated hunting technique. While a lot of stories about the Manananggal focus on how the Manananggal detaches itself from its lower body to hunt its prey, this is just a minor evolutionary detail. What really sets it apart from other beasts, is how it effortlessly infiltrates a community, and gathers the data it needs to hunt its prey—where they live, who lives with them, what they do, how they sleep. It is a predator of the highest degree—equal parts cunning and vicious, and terribly efficient at what it does. There are a number of theories on how to kill a Manananggal, but not a single soul in Alawan has ever dared test them out.

ELEMENTALS SANTELMO

ELEMENTALS

Elementals Santelmo (20)

Little is known about these mysterious fire spirits. While it looks like a floating ball of fire, the Santelmo’s flame is non-consuming, does not provide any warmth, and its light is strangely contained to itself. It is said that a Santelmo is a manifestation of a lost and restless soul, and that the appearance of a Santelmo can either signal good or bad luck—whether this is true or not, Santelmos do have the ability to attract other creatures to its light—like moths to a flame. Countless stories have been told of men drowning to their deaths by following a Santelmo into a deep lake and other untimely demises from chasing its light.

ELEMENTALS DUWENDE

ELEMENTALS

Elementals Duwende (20)

Known by many names across many different cultures, Duwendes are ancient creatures that predate many creatures in Alawan by at least a few millennia. Despite looking like shriveled old men, Duwendes are naturally playful and possess a keen sense of wonder for everything and anything that is of the earth. They are drawn to relics, rare metals, forgotten minerals containing strange magic, and similarly curious and playful creatures. Owing to their playful nature, they're not known for restraint, and their magic is as volatile as their temper. If, through some fortuitous event, one encounters a Duwende, it’s best to stay on its good side—as they are known to bring good luck to those they favor (although this rarely comes without a catch). And while they can curse those who cross them with bad luck, Duwendes tend to get a bit more creative when it comes to curses.

ELEMENTALS LAMPONG

ELEMENTALS

Elementals Lampong (20)

Lampongs are nature spirits that are shepherds of animals in the wild. It is most known as a shapeshifting protector that assumes the visage of a hunter animal to misdirect hunters giving the animals in its care enough time to run the other direction. Their magical disguise almost acts like an impenetrable shield that deters damage for five hits before the lampong finally becomes vulnerable for a sixth. When not in danger, they appear as duwende-sized satyrs and centaurs with some humanoid features that blend in with their wild Alawan animal kin, and are formidable fighters when the situation calls for it.

ELEMENTALS TIGBANUA

ELEMENTALS

Elementals Tigbanua (20)

Certain tribes describe Tigbanuas as cannibalistic, one-eyed demons that prey on both the living and the dead. Often the subject of stories used to prevent children from staying out late at night, these ghouls possess an otherworldly hunger perfectly complemented by their otherworldly strength and agility. That said, Tigbanuas do have one weakness: they are known to be as dimwitted as they are dangerous. They tend to rely too heavily on their extra sharp senses and primal impulses, that they are often tricked by something as simple as a small trinket. Not counting their obvious weakness, there is not a single warrior in Alawan foolish enough to face the Tigbanua alone.

ELEMENTALS TAO SA BIRINGAN

ELEMENTALS

Elementals Tao sa Biringan (20)

The unseen guardians of flora and fauna are often harbingers of doom to those full of malice for the ones in their protection. Once long ago, they were familiars for Babaylans and other adventurers who would gladly feed information around naturally-occuring cures and poisons and more than once, assisted fighters in battle through their blessing. Nowadays, these once glorious Engkantos are more seen as reluctant soldiers to higher causes they genuinely believe in but would rather not partake and participate if they had the choice. They are capable fighters and while not as magically-blessed like their Diwata siblings, they are better at espionage and strategy and would only act in accordance to their benefit.

ELEMENTALS TIKBALANG

ELEMENTALS

Elementals Tikbalang (20)

Intelligent horsemen warriors that are known to protect their territories by deterring potential trespassers by trapping them into looping pathways. With the head of a horse and body of a man, these skilled fighters tend to avoid direct confrontations whenever possible but are almost always sure winners in a duel. Tikbalangs are usually level-headed when not provoked and are usually able to give adventurers directions and information as needed but only if one passes a test of their choosing. Whenever possible, never opt for races or one on one physical challenges. You may have an advantage in intellectual challenges but tikbalangs can be unexpectedly cunning - tread wisely.

ELEMENTALS DIWATA

ELEMENTALS

Elementals Diwata (20)

Powerful elemental spirits that are stewards of their natural habitat. Typically benevolent but quick to anger and their magic has tipped many scales of critical battles in favor of the adventurers that have paid many respects to their influence. Rituals to ask for a diwata’s blessing are known to be specific to the scope and terrain of their magic but usually involve repeated prayers, offerings of crop and cattle, and mutual respect of certain boundaries. Some diwatas are also known for their fickle natures, often punishing innocent mistakes like crossing rivers at the wrong time or not paying respects to the tree where they reside. But they are great allies after you gain their respect and even powerful friends that can save you in critical moments.

ELEMENTALS BUNGISNGIS

ELEMENTALS

Elementals Bungisngis (15)

The Bungisngis is a one-eyed giant that prowls islands and swamps in search of food. While a mature Bungisngis usually stands at only twenty feet tall, it is strong enough to easily lift creatures twice its size. The Bungisngis is a carefree creature that generally keeps to itself and is not known to be overly-aggressive. However, it is known to have an extremely short temper, especially when it hasn’t eaten for days. With that said, despite their incredible strength and capacity for violence, these one-eyed giants usually don’t view anything smaller than them as threats, and would often find anything that crosses their path amusing.

ELEMENTALS SIRENA

ELEMENTALS

Elementals Sirena (20)

Sirenas are alluring creatures whose beauty is renowned to be the last thing you see before death envelopes you while they sing you a lullaby. Any attempt to describe the supposed physical characteristics of a sirena would never be consistent beyond the general form of having the upper body of a humanoid yet ending in a fishtail. Close encounters often revolve around hearing a song sung along beaches and deep caves and seeing a beautiful creature that when submerged, appear as fearsome monsters that sacrifice their victims in exchange for longevity or blessings from their deities. Not known for their conversation skills, a wary adventurer can ward against their hypnotic songs by interrupting their songs through asking questions or muffling their ears when passing through known sirena haunts.

ELEMENTALS TIYANAK

ELEMENTALS

Elementals Tiyanak (5)

Believed to either be ghoulish reincarnations of aborted babies or the unholy offspring of a demon, Tiyanaks are vampire-like creatures that resemble babies. Despite being incredibly agile, Tiyanaks are particularly lazy and risk-averse, and prefer to take the form of adorable babies and lie in wait for their prey. Once they smell an unwitting passerby, they mimic the cries of a newborn baby to draw their prey to them. Once they decide to feast, they morph into their true form—a bald, goblin-like creature with bloodshot eyes and razor-sharp teeth. In most cases, encountering a Tiyanak in the wild can lead to certain death. That said, one sure way of taming a Tiyanak (at least temporarily) is to make it laugh.

ELEMENTALS BATIBAT

ELEMENTALS

Elementals Batibat (20)

Life as we know it in Alawan exists in a delicate balance and with peace and growth, there are dark forces that are borne from chaos and devastation. When trees and othergrowth that house spirits are cut down before its time, the destruction distorts the essence within, birthing vengeful Batibats. Known in some cultures as Bangungots, the Batibats are vengeful demons who infiltrate dream spaces of humans that dare to dwell where their tree once stood, trapping the minds in terrorizing nightmares weaved directly from the victim’s worst fears while they suffocate or drown the physical body. Vigilant adventurers know not to trespass too close to dead or dying trees if they could help it, and must learn to stay awake at all costs in order to ward off their influence.

ELEMENTALS KAPRE

ELEMENTALS

Elementals Kapre (20)

Often used to scare little children and poachers from venturing into the forest, the Kapre is a hairy, tobacco-smoking, tree-dwelling giant. While they look menacing, Kapres are rather laid-back, and have been known to befriend creatures who genuinely respect their surroundings. That said, Kapres are among the most powerful creatures in Alawan—gifted with incredible physical strength, as well as the ability to use magic that warps the perception of travelers, causing them to lose their way in the forest. Moreover, Kapres aren’t known to be very forgiving once you’ve made an enemy of them. If you pick up the scent of burning tobacco while traversing an unfamiliar path in the forest, it is often in your best interest to just run back where you came from—lest you unintentionally invoke the wrath of a Kapre.

ELEMENTALS TAMBALOSLOS

ELEMENTALS

Elementals Tambaloslos (20)

The Tambaloslos is said to be the embodiment of a man’s lust and capacity for all sorts of debauchery. Among the stranger creatures in Alawan, the Tambaloslos is a dark, lanky creature, with an overly large head, mouth, and phallus. While not as violent as other Elementals, the Tambaloslos is defined by its mischievous nature. It derives an almost sexual pleasure from leading travelers astray. The more they wander, the louder the ecstatic laughter. According to those that have escaped it, the only way to break the Tambaloslos’ devious curse is to take one’s clothes off and wear them inside-out. This absurdity apparently amuses the Tambaloslos so much that it loses sight of its victim for a brief moment, long enough to break its desire to follow and disrupt.

ELEMENTALS BOROKA

ELEMENTALS

Elementals Boroka (20)

As fascinating as it is fearsome, the Boroka is a flesh-eating creature with a penchant for devouring hearts, livers, and other viscera. It has the head of a woman, sharp claws, hoofed legs like that of a horse, and giant feathered wings. While the Boroka has evolved to have all the impressive physical attributes of a number of wild beasts, it is particularly fond of hunting helpless children. Like a great nocturnal bird of prey, it is said to swoop down on people’s homes at night to steal their children. With that said, it is believed to be driven away by loud noises and certain spices.