Welcome, Keltin Moore fans! Today, we’re going to take a closer look at the intimidating stilt beast.
Physical Characteristics:
The series has this to say when Keltin first spies the beast:
The beast was tall, nearly ten feet at the shoulder. Its legs were spindly and stilt-like, with pointed feet that pierced deep into the snow, leaving deep prints in its trail. The stilt beast moved forward carefully, testing each drift with a probing foot before taking another cautious step forward. A bullet-shaped head swung below its shoulders from a long, thick neck, focusing intently on the goats that hadn’t yet realized they were being stalked…
The stilt beast was black with white splotches as if lye had been sprinkled onto its scaly surface. Its mouth formed a funnel with a single spike thrusting out from within as its four eyes gleamed like gold in the sunlight.
Into the North: A Keltin Moore Adventure
The stilt beast has a “second brain” hidden within its torso just ahead of the second set of legs which aids it in locomoting its otherwise awkward body.
Habitat:
The stilt beast is native to the far northern forests of Riltvin and Drutchland. The beast’s long, narrow legs and feet are an adaptation to the heavy, seasonal snows of its environment, allowing it to keep its body well above the collected drifts.
Behavior:
The stilt beast is a nocturnal predator, using its four large eyes to easily navigate the dark night. Upon finding its prey sleeping it pounces, delivering a fatal blow to the back of its victim skull with the specialized spike protruding from its mouth. It then uses its funnel-like mouth to slurp up the blood and soft organs from its victim’s body, leaving the gutted corpse for other scavengers. Stilt leg beasts are wary creatures and tend to avoid human settlements, though they may prey upon domestic animals if their regular food sources are scarce.
Legends and Lore:
There is a legend among the Gellow of Drutchland that the first stilt beast was in fact a hunter among their people. The story says that during a time of famine, the hunter foraged later and later into the cold nights, unwilling to rest in his quest to feed his people. Finally, the hunter did not return from his hunt at all, but on the morrow his people found a thunder beast killed near their village, its blood and organs drained and the flesh left untouched. The Gellow butchered the beast and were saved, giving thanks to the hunter who had given his life for theirs.
