Sunday, August 15, 2010

C is for Catoblepas

C turns out to be a somewhat scanty letter, as far as classic monsters go.  The Catoblepas and Cockatrice both come to mind, interestingly both known for turning their enemies to stone.

Unfortunately, turning your enemies to stone is, in the realm of beasts, solely relegated to the Basilisk, who is way cooler and way crankier.  If you want to go in the human direction, the Medusa (or maybe just "Medusa") is the clear victor.

Nevertheless, the Catoblepas has a number of other features that make it interesting.

First of all, it's got the body of an ox, and the head of a swine.  It will turn you to stone with its gaze, but fortunately it's always looking at the ground.  This is for two reasons: one, it's head is so heavy, it has trouble lifting it.  Two, it's neck is thin, long and loose, like an empty intestine.

The great black beast roams the plains and feeds exclusively on poisonous vegetation, which gives it a deadly poisonous breath.  Is there anything about this beast that can't kill you?  Unlikely.

What put the Catoblepas on the books?  The Catoblepas is an herbivore, probably a herd animal.  It can kill with a gaze, but it has a tough time gazing.  Its breath is poison, but why would you never need to get close?

Imagine early morning on a rolling plain.  The sky is gray, the air is cool, and mist hangs low on the ground.  As you gather your belongings and kick out the last of your campfire, you hear a snuffling nearby, but dismiss it- all manner of creatures call these plains their home.  You move slowly on your way, hoping the fog will clear soon.  The snuffling continues, and you see shapes looming in the fog- but the shapes are wrong.  Elongated, thin, bulky, bulbous- looking around you quickly come to the realization that you're surrounded.  In the middle of the herd, it's only a matter of time; the beasts could stampede, terrified by your presence; pressing closer, the oxygen could be sucked straight out of your lungs; following their lead, you keep your eyes down, but it's only a matter of time before you lock eyes with one.


Predators are obviously dangerous.  Without caution, prey animals can easily compete.

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