Tarrasque

Description

History

Like everything else, the Tarrasque was created. From a cruel diety or an insane sorcerer, it's creator is unknown. The fact remains, however, that the Tarrasque exists. Rumored to be an outcast from another Plane, it exists as the most dreaded creature to the Prime Material. Rumors, however, are often based from truth; the Tarrasque, however, remains a mystery. Though only one is known to exist, tales of dreaded horror speak of more -- some stories portray an entire society of these savage beasts.

It is hoped that the beast is, indeed, a solitary creation; some hideous abomination unleashed by the darkest arts or the elder, forgotten Gods to punish all of nature. Because of it's innate elemental nature, the Tarrasque is believed to have spawned from the Elemental Darkside; the unforgiving side of nature. It's lair is located in an area unknown to anything; it obliterates everything in it's wake and time heals the wounds with nature's growth. Another rumor speculates that the Tarrasque is responsible for the exinction of ancient civilizations; the records of the last days foretells of a "great serpentine beast sent by the Gods to end the World."

Known Life Cycle

Every decade, tales of absolute terror spring from once peaceful kingdoms and their neighboors all around. Several bands have been sent to dispatch the cause, but nothing ever returned from such expeditions. Few are the survivors of the Tarrasque's rampage; even fewer remain as eye witness accounts to the immense creature. However, it is fortunate that the Tarrasque is only active for short periods of time; typically emerging from it's dormancy to ravage its domain for substance for periods of one to two weeks. After such forage, the beast seeks its hidden, underground lair where it remains dormant for five months to a year and a half; after such time periods, the beast repeats its viscious cycle.

The true terror only occurs once every ten years. Active for several months, the beast not only relocates its lair, it destroys a massive amount of the natural enviroment. During these months, the beast is even more fearsome than before; one witness spoke of seeing the creature speak, another of dark, terrible magical talents that lay dormant within such a creature.

In one encounter, a forgotten warrior recounted her nightmare as dealing with her own judgement and punishment; the creature's power was incredible, rivalling that of the Minor Gods of the Material Plane.

Description

The creature is beast described as a demonic aberration, crossed between a dragon and a minotaur; evidence states that the beast is related to neither of these families. Bipedel, the fifty-some foot long creature is serpentine in relative nature, it's tail twice the mass of it's body. The beast has two limbs that serve as arms; claws attached to either capable of severing through anything short of existence itself. Its exoskeleton is reflective, though a murky brown in natural light; an area of true light will reveal the beast's ebon scaled carapace, as deep as the moonless oceans.

The legs of this creature are immense, supporting the bulk of the beast and moving at incredible speeds when desired. Perhaps left to the imagination, the abomination's feet sport a set of talons that are sought for their sharpness; like the claws of the forearms, these talons will shred anything that is unfortunate enough to be caught in their path. The tail, lashing about as its own lifeform, is estimated to be at least 34' long and powerful enough to crush an elder red dragon's chest; without effort, the beast can lash its tail through buildings, armies, and wound the earth deeply.

It's body, scaled and often mottled by countless months of exposure to the earth and mud, is impervious to most Prime Material weapons; anything short of an enchancement will only shatter along the beast's scales. Should a weapon even penetrate the exoskeleton, leathery flesh and regenerative blood only adds to the Tarrasque's defense. It's head, narrow and refined as a serpent's; a high set jaw that enables the beast to devour full sized humans in one bite, a crusted formation of scales above either eye, nostrals centered just above the angled maw. Even without its latent abilities, the beast is a fearsome sight.

Known Abilities

Even the basest of all creatures have talents that enable them to survive. None are as terrifying, however, as those seen by the Tarrasque. If encountered while foraging for its meal, the beast will display its immunity to psionics, elemental-based magic ( excluding those summoned from the Ethereal Plane ), and incredible speed. As if this wasn't enough, the beast can regenerate at a stunning rate; wounding the beast will only heal it's previous injuries from its own carelessness. Because of the nature of its scales, any ray or bolt force is reflected; often directly back at the caster of such spells or his/her companions.

Weaponry is futile, magic is hopeless, and cowardise results in being trampled, what else does such a creature need to survive in the world of men?

Every decade, from the wastes of its awakening arise new tales of dread; the Tarrasque's intelligence is unsheltered and the beast is immediately capable of using spells unknown to even the most ancient of sages. It can shift its form at will, similar to a polymorph self spell, communicate with all intelligent creatures, including the undead and plants, among other abilities, the most dreaded of its known is the Tarrasque's ability to displace reality at will; the beast can and will manipulate the threads of reality around an opponent, exiling the petty creature into nonexistence ( for all intents and purposes, utterly destroys the victim, not even a wish spell can bring the afflicted back; only the Tarrasque will recall the creature's existence. )