Majestic Creatures Profile

The Peryton

Habitat: Eldathren
Appearance: Has a head, neck and forelegs of a stag, and the plumage, and hindquarters of a bird.
Diet: Herbivore
Rated Danger Level: 5
The Beast Tamer: Despite what some may find adorable they are not safe for people to try and come across!

The peryton is a mythological hubrid animal combining the physical features of a stag and a bird; the head, neck, forelegs and antlers of a stag, combined with the plumage, wings and hindquarters of a large bird. However, interpretations may vary, with the peryton being a deer in all but colouration and having bird’s wings. It was first named in the 1957 Book of Imaginary Beings by Jorge Luis Borges.

According to Borges, perytons lives in Atlantis until an earthquake destroyed the civilisation of which the creatures escaped by flight. Supposedly a peryton casts the shadow of a man until is kills one during its lifetime, at which time it starts to cast its own shadow.

In addition some historical versions of the heraldry of King Charles VI of France featured winged stags as heraldic supports. This also includes versions of the late medieval battle standard of the Dukes of Bourbon, thus making it known that while Borges is not the initial inventor of the concept, he may have coined the name.

The term "peryton" also refers to radio signals originating from Earth that resemble fast radio bursts—brief pulses that seem to come from beyond our galaxy. These perytons were discovered to be caused by the premature opening of a microwave oven door, which releases a frequency-swept radio pulse mimicking a fast radio burst as the magnetron powers down.

Perytons have been found and/or used in modern literature and games. Examples include:

• A monstrous version of the creature appears in the tabletop game Dungeons and Dragons and its derivative novel Darkwell, a book in The Moonshae trilogy, where a flock of perytons are amongst the army of evil monsters that are summoned by the main antagonist of the book.
• John and Carole Barrowman’s novel, Hollow Earth, features the creature.
• Perytons appear in, Across the Green Grass Fields, the sixth of the Wayward Children series by Seanan McGuire.
• Finally, a group of them appear in the fourth Fablehaven book; Fablehaven: Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary, by Brandon Mull.

The peryton has been influenced by Borges with the description of it being a stag and bird. With the addition that both genders have antlers. They are known to be aggressive to people often trying to kill any that encounter them, but are actually herbivores and can be found in Eldathren.

The most recent sighting of a Peryton was a few weeks ago. Though be warned, some of what the witness says doesn’t make that much sense. Here is what Bofric Wodehouse had to say regarding it;

“Oh, that ol' tale 'bout the peryton, eh? Aye, 'twas a sight. Jus' b'fore dawn, it was. The forest all hush-hush like, not a peep o' bird song, see? A peryton, y'see, it's a critter outta the old stories. Got a stag’s body, but with wings, great big ones, like a hawk's, but black an' shimmery. Eyes that glow like embers, they do. Was trudgin' through the wood, y'see, mindin' m'own. Then I spots a shadow, but it ain't no ordinary shadow, no sir. Looked human-like, but there weren't no human 'round. So I looks up, an' there it was, circlin' the clearin'.

Ah, majesty an' fear all rolled in one, it was. Big as a stag, but them feathers, dark an' gleamin'. Wings spread out wide, castin' that strange shadow. Eyes, they bore right into ya, like seein' yer soul, y'know? And oh, it saw me, alright. Froze me to the spot, it did. Felt like it was weighin' me, judgin'. Then, whoosh, down it swoops, silent as a whisper, into the trees it vanished. Got lucky I did. Ain't seen it again, not proper like. But the signs, aye. Strange tracks, odd noises in the night. Other folk whisperin' 'bout shadows that ain't right, calls that chill yer bones.

Folks are on edge, they are. Some curious, wantin' a peek. Others, wary, rememberin' old tales 'bout dark deeds an' such. Me, I just keep me wits about an' respect the unknown. Aye, heed this—tread careful, respect the wild. Don’t go chasin' trouble. If ya see it, keep yer distance. Some mysteries, they ain't meant for meddlin'. Best left be, y'hear?”

For more detailed sources of information, see the following links: https://worldoflegend.eu/library/08e7e20f-07ab-4358-9716-8f848c5f6b57

~ The Mystic, Hecate