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Salem Academy Mods (![[info]](http://www.inksome.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} salem_mods) wrote,@ 2009-03-16 20:27:00 |
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| Entry tags: | magical creatures, school info |
Magical Creatures
Not all of the magical creatures you'd find around Hogwarts are located in the Unites States. There are also some few that are native or unique to the Americas as well. Here's a list of the commonly found magical beings and creatures found in America. Aethonan - An Aethonan is a breed of winged horse. They are chestnut in color and live mainly in Britain, but they have been seen elsewhere. Ashwinder - The Ashwinder is a serpent that is created from the remains of any magical fire that is allowed to burn unchecked. The Ashwinder is pale-grey with glowing red eyes. They rise from the embers of the dying fire, and slither off into a dark corner to lay their eggs, leaving an ashy trail behind. Ashwinders only live for an hour, and will collapse to dust when they have laid their eggs. Ashwinder eggs are red and give off intense heat. If they can be frozen with a Freezing Charm, they can be used in a Love Potion, or eaten whole as a cure for ague. Bigfoot - The Yeti, aka Bigfoot or the Abominable Snowman, stands up to 15 feet, and is a snowy white furred humanoid, that may be related to the troll. It fears fire. The Yeti will attack and eat any thing that it meets, so no witch or Wizard has had the opportunity to study it up close yet. Yeti's are one of the Wizarding Worlds worst kept secrets as there had been so many Muggle sightings of the Yeti, the International Confederation of Wizards had to place a permanent International Task Force up in the mountains to take care of it and Tibet has one of the worst Wizarding secrecy records, due to its continuing breaches of Clause 73 of the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy. Bundimun - The Bundimun is a magical creature found worldwide. It is a greenish fungus with eyes, that can destroy a whole house. The secretions of the Bundimun rot building structure, and if a house gets a large enough infestation it can collapse. Scouring Charms can clear out small infestations, but large colonies should be dealt with by the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures (Pest Sub-Division). Bundimun secretions, when diluted, are used in some magical cleaning solutions. Centaur - A Centaur is a magical creature that is a fusion of a human and a horse. Despite being intelligent, Centaurs in the UK are classified as Beasts by the Ministry of Magic at their own request since they were unhappy at having to share Being status with Hags and Vampires. American Centaurs, however, consider themselves magical beings, not beasts. Chizpurfle - A Chizpurfle is a type of very small parasite. Crab-like in appearance, they are up to a twentieth of an inch with fangs. Magic attracts them and they are commonly found in the fur and feathers of Crups and Augureys. They attack magical objects like wands and cauldrons, grawing through to the magical core or gorging on the last remnants of potions. In the absence of magic, Chizpurfles attack Muggle electrical items. This explains the curious failing of new electrical goods. Chizpurfle infestations are usually easily handled by patented potions on the market, but more severe infestations need to be dealt with by the Pest Sub-Division of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. Clabbert - A Clabbert is an arboreal creature that resembles a cross between a monkey and a frog. Its smooth skin is mottled green, and it has short horns and a wide grinning mouth full of razor sharp teeth. Its long arms and webbed hands and feet allow it to move gracefully through the trees. On the Clabbert's forehead is a large pustule which flashes red when the Clabbert senses danger. The Clabbert is generally found in the southern states of America, but can now be found worldwide. American Wizards used to keep Clabberts to give them early warning about approaching Muggles. The International Confederation of Wizards were forced to introduce fines to stop this. Despite looking nice at night, a tree full of glowing Clabbert pustules caused curious Muggle neighbors to wonder why the Wizards still had their Christmas lights up in June. Crup - A Crup is a wizard-bred dog that strongly resembles a Jack Russell Terrier, except that a Crup has a forked tail. They are Wizard-bred dogs, since they are extremely loyal to wizards and ferocious toward Muggles. They will eat almost anything. Crup owners are required by law to remove the tail of the animal when it is six to eight weeks old, using a painless Severing Charm in case they are noticed by Muggles. A license from the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures must also be obtained, and the owner must pass a test to see if they are able to control the animal in Muggle-inhabited areas. Doxy - The Doxy, sometimes referred to as the Biting Fairy, is a small Fairy-like creature. Sometimes mistaken for a Fairy, the Doxy is covered thick black hair, and has an additional sets of arms and legs. Doxies have shiny beetle-like wings, and a double row of sharp venomous teeth. If bitten, a Wizard or Witch should take an antidote immediately. Preferring cold climates, the Doxy is found throughout Europe and North America. Doxies bury their eggs underground, and can lay up to five hundred in one go. The eggs generally hatch in two to three weeks. Doxies are considered pests. They can infest houses, taking up residence in the draperies. Removing them requires a good supply of Doxycide. Dugbog - The Dugbog is a marsh-dwelling magical creature. It resembles a piece of dead wood while stationary. It has finned paws and sharp teeth, and it glides through marshland, feeding on small animals, and occasionally attacking the ankles of humans who venture into its habitat. Its favorite food is Mandrake, and Mandrake-growers have found their plants nothing more than a bloody mess when they pull them out of the ground. Fairy - A Fairy is a small human-like creature with large insect-like wings, which are either transparent or multicolored. They have a limited intelligence, and live mainly in woodlands or glades. The fairy is a vain creature, and will often allow itself to be used as decoration by Wizards. They possess a weak brand of magic that allows it to evade its predators such as the Augurey. The fairy cannot speak; instead, it makes a high-pitched buzzing noise to communicate with its fellow fairies. Fairies can lay up to fifty eggs in one go, laying them on the underside of leaves. The eggs hatch into brightly colored larvae, and, at six-to-ten days, they spin themselves into a cocoon. They emerge a month later as adult fairies. The Muggle impression of the fairy is a generous one, having been ingrained into children's minds in the form of "fairy tales". Wizards believe that, of all the magical creatures in the world, the fairy, along with the unicorn, have received the best Muggle "press." Flobberworm - The Flobberworm is a ten-inch, toothless pale purple worm which eats vegetation, especially lettuce and cabbage. The mucus it exudes is used to thicken potions. Both ends of the Flobberworm are identical, and it prefers to live in damp ditches. Flobberworms do not have teeth and do not bite. Ghoul - Ghouls are ugly creatures that resembles a slimy, buck-toothed ogre. They tend to live in the attics or barns of wizards and witches. They are relatively harmless creatures and are just seen as nuisances because of the noise they make. They are relatively dimwitted, and live off of bugs and other household pests. At most, they will groan and throw objects. A Ghoul Task Force exists at the Ministry of Magic, under the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. The Task Force is used to remove unwanted ghouls from houses that have passed in Muggle ownership. There is a variety of ghoul, called the Chameleon Ghoul. Gnome - A gnome is a common magical creature which infests the gardens of wizarding households. It looks roughly like a potato with legs. Gnomes live in burrows underground. There they dig up the roots of plants, wreaking havok on the garden, and requiring the resident witch or wizard to routinely perform pest control (known as "de-gnoming"). This typically involves taking hold of a gnome, swinging it around until it is dizzy, and then throwing it out of the yard. The species has such a low level of intelligence that, when a de-gnoming is being carried out, they will hurry out of their burrows to see what's causing the commotion. This, of course, renders them more easily caught. One can also use a Jarvey to de-gnome a garden, but this method is considered much too violent, and is thus seldom used. Horklump - The Horklump resembles a fleshy pink mushroom covered in black bristles. Originally native to Scandinavia, the Horklump is now found throughout Europe and the Americas. They use sinewy tentacles to root around in the earth for their desired food, earthworms. They are fast breeders, and can cover an average garden in a matter of days. The Horklump is the favored delicacy of the Gnome. Jarvey - The Jarvey resembles an overgrown ferret, and is commonly found in Britain, Ireland, and North America. The Jarvey is capable of human speech, although true conversation with a Jarvey is impossible. The creature uses short, usually rude, statements and phrases in an almost constant stream. Jarveys live below ground, and their diet consists of moles, voles, rats, and Gnomes. Jarvey are particulary good at hunting Gnomes, and are sometimes employed to degnome a garden, although their methods are usually brutal. Jobberknoll - The Jobberknoll is a small, blue speckled bird that never makes any noise until the moment before it dies. It then lets out a long scream, which consists of every sound it ever heard backwards. Jobberknoll feathers are used in Truth Serums and Memory Potions. Knarl - The Knarl is a creature that greatly resembles a hedgehog. They are highly suspicious creatures and believe that any food left out for it is a lure for a trap. Knarls will usually go beserk if they see an attempt to poison them, causing damage to a garden. Muggle children have often been blamed for damage committed by a Knarl. Kneazle - A Kneazle is a magical creature, similar to a cat in appearance. They have spotted, speckled or flecked fur, large ears and a lightly plumed tail, like a lion. They make excellent pets if they like a Witch or Wizard. They are very intelligent, independent and occasionally aggressive, and have an uncanny ability to detect suspicious and distrustful people. They can also safely guide their owner home. Kneazles can interbreed with normal cats, and generally have up to eight kittens in every litter. Kneazle owners are required to have a license to own the animals. Some Witches and Wizards make a living by breeding Kneazles or part-Kneazles. Merpeople - Merpeople are sentient beings that live underwater, and are found all over the world. Their customs and habits are mysterious. In the UK, like the Centaurs, they refused being status in favour of beast. American merpeople however, like American Centaurs, also consider themselves beings, not beasts. Merpeople can breathe above the waves for a time, but it is unclear if they can ever truly leave their habitat. Merpeople society is based around organized communities, and they have a great love of music. Their language is known as Mermish, and only a few Wizards know how to speak it. However, since their language can only be heard properly underwater, it sounds like screeching when spoken above water. Mooncalf - The Mooncalf is a shy creature that only comes out of its burrow during a full moon. The Mooncalf has smooth, pale grey skin, and four spindly legs that end in large flat feet. The Mooncalf also has bulging eyes that sit on the top of its head. Once the Mooncalf is in the moonlight, it performs complicated dance moves standing on its hind legs. It is believed that this is part of the Mooncalf mating ritual, but also has the side effect of creating geometric patterns in wheat fields that confuse Muggles. Mooncalf dung, if harvested before the sun rises, will make magical plants grow fast and strong. Niffler - A Niffler is a treasure-hunting creature resembling a porcupine with a long narrow snout. They are very attracted to shiny things, which makes them wonderful for locating anything metallic or shimmery, but they might bite if a person is wearing jewelry. Nifflers are kept by Goblins to burrow for treasure. Nifflers are gentle creatures, and can be affectionate to its owners but will also destroy belongings and property if kept in a house. Nifflers live twenty feet below the ground in lairs, and can produce six to eight young in a single litter. Nogtail - The Nogtail is a demon-like creature resembling a piglet, but stunted by narrow black eyes, a thick stubby tail, and long legs. It is mainly found across Rural areas in Europe, America and Russia. Nogtails sneak into a pigsty, and suckle on an ordinary pig which curses the farm. The longer the Nogtail goes undetected, the longer the blight will stay on the farm. Fast and hard to catch, the only way to make sure the Nogtail will not come back is to chase it away with a pure white dog. The Pest Sub-Division of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures maintains a pack of a dozen albino bloodhounds specifically for this purpose. Plimpy - The Plimpy is a small round fish with two legs ending in webbed feet. It lives in deep lakes, and feeds on water snails. The Plimpy is not dangerous, but will nibble on the feet of unsuspecting swimmers. Merpeople consider the Plimpy to be a pest, and they deal with it by tying its legs into a knot and letting it drift away. Re'em - The Re'em is native to the wilds of North America and the Far East. The Re'em is extremely rare, resembling giant oxen with a golden hide. Re'em blood gives immense strength to the drinker. However, since demand far exceeds supply, and obtaining the blood in the first place is extremely difficult, it can only be found on the open market rarely. Sea serpent - The Sea Serpent is an aquatic creature found in several oceans around the world. Reaching over a hundred feet long with a horse-like head and snake-like body, the Sea Serpent is a fearsome looking creature. Despite this, no Sea Serpent has ever been known to hurt a human, despite Muggle stories of encounters with the beasts. Shrake - A Shrake is a magically-created species of fish, found in the Atlantic Ocean. The creature is covered in spines and deliberately seeks out and destroys Muggle fishing nets. The first Shrakes were supposedly created in the early 1800s by a group of wizard fisherfolk who had been insulted by Muggles. The shrake, by damaging the nets used by Muggles to fish in that area of the sea, cause no end of trouble. Streeler - The Streeler is a giant snail that is native to Africa, but has been successfuly bred by Wizards in Europe, Asia and North America. The Streeler changes color on a hourly basis, and leaves behind a trail of venom so toxic that it burns all vegetation that it touches. Streeler venom is one of the few known substances that can kill Horklumps. Thestral - A Thestral is an unusual type of winged horse, invisible to those who have not witnessed death. Thestrals are considered highly unlucky by most wizards and, to those who have seen death, appear as carnivorous, skeletal horses with reptilian features. Troll - A Troll is a magical creature of prodigious strength and immense stupidity. Trolls generally reach a height of twelve feet and weigh up to a ton. They are violent and aggressive, and engage in unpredictable behavior. Trolls feed on raw flesh, and are not fussy what they eat, from animals to humans. There are three types of Troll, each with its own unique set of physical differences: mountain, forest and river trolls. Vampire - A Vampire is a magical being that is known for biting people on the neck and sucking their blood. They are usually pale and gaunt, with sharp teeth for puncturing the neck. They have an aversion to garlic, and can be kept at bay by its presence. Vampires were first classified as beings by the Ministry of Magic in the UK, a fact that led both the Centaurs and Merpeople to decline the same status since they did not wish to be associated with them. However, in America, all trhee groups are classified as beings by the Bureau of Magic. They are not considered to be Wizards, and the treatment of Vampires is laid down in the Bureau's Guidelines for the Treatment of Non-Wizard Part-Humans. Werewolf - A werewolf is a human who, upon the rising of the full moon, turns into a fearsome near-wolf. Werewolves can be distinguished from regular wolves by several small distinguishing characteristics, such as the pupils of the eyes, snout shape, and tufted tail. At all other times, they appear as normal humans, though will often seem to be ill as the full moon approaches. This condition is caused by infection with lycanthropy, usually occurring when a human is bitten by a transformed werewolf. There is no known cure.
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