Lurking Shadow

The Savage West: Horrors of the Frontier

Xidhru

---

Some time passed as Xidhru waited in his cave, gnawing on the human flesh from his recent attack. As his hunger was satiated, the pangs it caused began to dissipate, and reinvigorating him. Two of the three humans were devoured, their remains consisting of bones with the occasional chunk of flesh still attached. To the outside observer, it may seem to be scattered randomly when in fact, they resemble occult symbols. One of the few signs that this creature is more than some random boogeyman that goes bump in the night or garden variety monster that anyone could dispatch with a little knowledge and constitution.

The third human, a young woman, Xidhru left alone. He already had his fill and killing her now would mean he would not have a fresh meal the next day. He could easily crush her bones or otherwise make an escape nearly impossible, but that would not be any fun. Xidhru relished the fear in her and, if fueled by hope, may result in an escape attempt which he would obviously foil. Eventually, hope will evaporate from her and sanity will fade, she would become a broken shell. A long process, but Xidhru had time and was seeking some enjoyment before he continued his investigation to the source of the Weeping Winter. The woman had only just passed out from fear yet again when he sensed a presence. He could feel the snow shift outside before settling. He could tell something was around his cave before either hiding or leaving the area of his influence, but then why would they leave objects behind in the snow?

Someone was investigating the area and likely laid a trap as if they were hunting some common animal. Not one to turn down a guest, Xidhru opted to humor the human and venture outside. From the exterior, one could see the wind pick up, obscuring vision and hearing to some degree, originating from within the cave. A low growl reverberated from within, merely to test the human’s resolve, before being silenced once Xidhru reached the mouth of the cave. Xidhru stood upright letting his sheer stature and claws intimidate whoever lurked around.

”I know you are out here human.” Xidhru bellowed.

”What brings you to my refuge? Adventure? Did you expect to hunt some simple beast? I warn you that I am much worse than what you expected. My hunt was successful; I have no need of another meal. Leave and I will not give chase, but if you stay your life may be forfeit.” Xidhru stated, awaiting a response.

@Pennydumb123

The Savage West: Horrors of the Frontier

@Pennydumb123

You can, I wrote that extra bit at the end about the trail intending someone to have an interaction with him

The Savage West: Horrors of the Frontier

Xidhru

---

Kansas hardly looked different than what Xidhru was used to, a frozen wilderness where only the resilient would survive. Whether it be the herbivores that would have to adapt to hide in the environment or the carnivores that would need to hone their senses to hunt the former. Frost covered every surface as if the world was painted white and simultaneously devoid of heat. Xindhru could only faintly sense other beings as animals were few and far between, not that he minded as he enjoyed tracking down a meal. The only difference from the far North is that Kansas was home to a large tribe of humans. These ones seem to prefer a more sedentary life and have great disdain for the other tribes.

After a long journey, Xidhru was feeling weary with pangs of hunger. Fortunately for him he happened on a small group of travelers on a lone road to Wichita, but unfortunately for the humans, they would never arrive. Xidhru wasted no time in commanding the winds to hinder their path, swirling with enough snow to make the twisting road difficult to see. A common tactic he employs, and indeed it worked again as the humans missed a turn, no longer heading for Wichita. Xidhru waited for the humans to realize they were lost and, capitalizing on their confusion, moved in to strike.

---

“I think we are lost, we should have reached town by now.” said one voice.

“If we keep moving, maybe we will find some kind of landmark to guide us.” said another, laden with worry.

“I can’t see more than a few feet in this damn weather.” Spoke a third.

” You should not be traveling in this weather…” a monstrous voice growled.

”…Things like me prowl the roads for weary travelers.”

A grunt of surprise was all the first voice could muster before a sharp pain in his chest silenced him. As the world grew dark, all he saw were his guts flying out from several gaping holes in his body before freezing over rapidly. Attempting a defense, the second gripped a revolver shakily before firing several rounds hitting nothing but the wind. One swipe was all it took to incapacitate him, his arm loosening from the bonds of the body and flying a few feet away with a death grip on the revolver. He only had time to see a humanoid entity tower over him, with eyes that seemed to pierce his soul, before losing consciousness. Again, his wounds froze over rapidly. The third voice, a young woman, opted to choose flight but did not travel far before tripping over a hidden root, banging her head hard against a tree as her vision faded.

---

Xidhru wasted no time in dragging the three hapless travelers to a cave he found earlier. He prefers his meat fresh… and alive, using ice to prevent them from expiring due to blood loss. It would not be far to the cave, and his meal. As the Ice walker left, the wind at the scene died down, leaving only traces of his presence behind. All that would be found are a few globs of flesh, some strewn debris and, perhaps most notably, a lone arm clutching a lone revolver. The only clue to where the bodies are would be a few thin lines of frozen blood leading away to a cave only a few miles outside Wichita.

The Savage West: Horrors of the Frontier

Xidhru

Name: Xidhru
Also known as ‘The Frozen One’ and the ‘Ice Walker’

Appearance:

Picture

Credit to Patrick McEvoy for artwork

Xidhru is a hulking humanoid entity standing roughly 12’ (3.65M) tall. He is covered in crimson fur, though his veins glow bright enough to be noticeable through the fur. His eyes glow an eerie icy-blue and his sharp teeth clearly defines him as a carnivore. He has razor sharp claws that can quickly tear through anything unfortunate enough to draw his ire… or be his meal.

Species: Eldritch Things
Species Lore: Not much is known about Eldritch Things, their low population offers little chance for knowledge of their kind. They share few similarities with each other, both in appearance and in abilities. They have a very long lifespan, many having lived long enough to see nations rise and fall. Due to their supernatural abilities, several are revered as gods and have cults dedicated to them (though few care about others, even their own worshippers).

Faction: None currently.

Personality: Brutish, Aggressive

Bio: Xidhru has existed in North America for hundreds of years, and in that time he has prowled the far North for prey to feast on. His savage nature and control of Ice and Wind means that nothing can escape while he is hunting. His favorite preys were the local tribes of humans who would on occasion unfortunately travel near him. When the corpses were found, if they were found at all, they would be found ripped apart like a starving wolf would do to deer. Over time, some of the natives would leave sacrifices in the areas Xidhru frequented. When it became clear that this would be a regular occurrence, Xidhru would not let the unnatural wind he created harm the natives for as long as the sacrifice kept coming and even gifted a portion of his powers to a select tribe who would raid other tribes for Xidhru. On occasion Xidhru even communes with some of his ‘priests’.

Recently he heard tales of an unnaturally long winter in the south. This weeping winter has gone on for far longer than it should have must be the work of another entity with abilities similar to his, the work of an entity that could prove a threat to him. What if this entity is friendlier to the humans? His worshippers might turn to this other being. Xidhru decided to investigate, intent on eliminating this potential threat before it became a problem. Maybe he could even expand his influence and make worshipers of the humans in the area.

Melee: Xidhru often uses his brute strength and sharp claws to through flesh and bone. There are few things that can withstand his attacks.

Abilities:

- Xidhru is able to create unnatural wind and Ice to slow his prey and absorb their warmth. His presence is often accompanied by an unusually biting cold wind.

- Immunity to sub-zero temperatures

- While his blizzards are harsh enough to make seeing and hearing difficult, Xidhru is capable of sensing prey as if it was a clear day

- Heightened sense of vision, hearing, and smell compared to the average human. Xidhru can track someone who has as much of a mile of a head start most of the time

- Xidhru’s magical nature leaves him slightly vulnerable to physical influences. While he is not an easy target, some individuals managed to drive him off, if only for a while.

- Xidhru is vulnerable to extreme heat due to his frost affinity, though rarely are individuals capable of producing a flame in his inclement weather.

Other:
- Xidhru, being very aggressive, hates backing down and often does not retreat unless he feels his demise is likely. Though this rarely happens, on occasion potential prey happens to be well prepared or lucky enough to fend him off.
- While he often sees others as potential sources of food, he on occasion cooperates with others if their goals align. This usually does not last long after Xidhru has no need of them however.

The Savage West: Horrors of the Frontier

@Grec

That the only thing? should I put it in CS after that edit?

The Savage West: Horrors of the Frontier

@Grec

ok, but still a bit confused on what you mean. Do you intend him to have a slight weakness to physical attacks along with magical? or instead of being largely resistant, it would be just a slight resistance?

The Savage West: Horrors of the Frontier

@Grec

You want me to make him have more weakness to physical attacks? or just not be as resistant?

I don't intend him to be nigh-invulnerable, just that it takes more effort than a single lucky (or well aimed) shot to subdue him.

The Savage West: Horrors of the Frontier

@Grec

Alright, finished my submission

Xidhru

Name: Xidhru
Also known as ‘The Frozen One’ and the ‘Ice Walker’

Appearance:

Picture

Credit to Patrick McEvoy for artwork

Xidhru is a hulking humanoid entity standing roughly 12’ (3.65M) tall. He is covered in crimson fur, though his veins glow bright enough to be noticeable through the fur. His eyes glow an eerie icy-blue and his sharp teeth clearly defines him as a carnivore. He has razor sharp claws that can quickly tear through anything unfortunate enough to draw his ire… or be his meal.

Species: Eldritch Things
Species Lore: Not much is known about Eldritch Things, their low population offers little chance for knowledge of their kind. They share few similarities with each other, both in appearance and in abilities. They have a very long lifespan, many having lived long enough to see nations rise and fall. Due to their supernatural abilities, several are revered as gods and have cults dedicated to them (though few care about others, even their own worshippers).

Faction: None currently.

Personality: Brutish, Aggressive

Bio: Xidhru has existed in North America for hundreds of years, and in that time he has prowled the far North for prey to feast on. His savage nature and control of Ice and Wind means that nothing can escape while he is hunting. His favorite preys were the local tribes of humans who would on occasion unfortunately travel near him. When the corpses were found, if they were found at all, they would be found ripped apart like a starving wolf would do to deer. Over time, some of the natives would leave sacrifices in the areas Xidhru frequented. When it became clear that this would be a regular occurrence, Xidhru would not let the unnatural wind he created harm the natives for as long as the sacrifice kept coming and even gifted a portion of his powers to a select tribe who would raid other tribes for Xidhru. On occasion Xidhru even communes with some of his ‘priests’.

Recently he heard tales of an unnaturally long winter in the south. This weeping winter has gone on for far longer than it should have must be the work of another entity with abilities similar to his, the work of an entity that could prove a threat to him. What if this entity is friendlier to the humans? His worshippers might turn to this other being. Xidhru decided to investigate, intent on eliminating this potential threat before it became a problem. Maybe he could even expand his influence and make worshipers of the humans in the area.

Melee: Xidhru often uses his brute strength and sharp claws to through flesh and bone. There are few things that can withstand his attacks.

Abilities:

- Xidhru is able to create unnatural wind and Ice to slow his prey and absorb their warmth. His presence is often accompanied by an unusually biting cold wind.

- Immunity to sub-zero temperatures

- Heightened sense of vision, hearing, and smell compared to the average human. Xidhru can track someone who has as much of a mile of a head start most of the time

- Xidhru is notably resistant to physical attacks such as from a sword or bullets from a rifle though he is weak to magical attacks, even more so to fire (though he is capable of shrugging off a few blows before feeling threatened)

Other:
- Xidhru, being very aggressive, hates backing down and often does not retreat unless he feels his demise is likely. Though this rarely happens, on occasion potential prey happens to be well prepared or lucky enough to fend him off.

- While he often sees others as potential sources of food, he on occasion cooperates with others if their goals align. This usually does not last long after Xidhru has no need of them however.

The Savage West: Horrors of the Frontier

Can I ask how you want it formatted? Or what section needs to be fixed?
@Grec

@Forgiveness

I would guess it is the fact that it is not properly in a hider. The brackets '[s]' in nickanames and [picture] should not be used in HTML as it is looking for the ending bracket which is not there. Use parenthesis instead for those two and it should fix it.

The Savage West: Horrors of the Frontier

@Grec

Would it be alright if I do a char with some degree of control over cold weather, nothing that would solve the weeping winter by itself. It would also be a bit villainous. Not that it is outright hostile to anyone, but it is carnivorous and has a taste for humans on occasion though that is not it's sole diet. If this is not suitable for the RP, I've got a another idea.