Last week, the talented Terry Maranda spilled the beans on how COVID and speculative evolution creature design led to a 5e bestiary.
Frankly, the whole Sol’Kesh project has been a pleasing eye-opener to me on what can be done with speculative evolution. There’s a week left to run on the Kickstarter, so before we share our exclusive Ynnil STL files and preview, here’s a reminder.
The Ynnil are reptilia (yes, Bronwen, mother of dragons, insisted we went with a reptile monster) and a specialist ranged predator. Thanks to Terry’s work, we can also say that the Ynnil tend to prey on the Gomitoad and Lexati while it has its own fair share of predators, including the Basilospri, Skyelarx, and Scavick.
Scampering claws dig deep into the tree bark as the large lizard climbs higher for a better vantage point. Poised over a thick limb, its nimble hands push aside leaves to reveal an open space for a single chance. Within moments a feathered blur passes the canopy’s clearing, and with instinctual precision, the ynill lets loose a stream of dark venom, blinding the hapless bird and dropping it down to the forest f loor below where the ynill is already rushing down to claim it. Fortunately these ranged predators hunt alone, spending most of their day basking in the sun above the canopy, patiently waiting for a flock of flying prey to launch their debilitating venom. When courting for prospective mates, the males can be found gripping the fragile branches of the tallest trees, spitting their stream of venom as high into the sky as possible, in an effort to impress the darker green females watching below from behind the leaves.
Statblocks in the project are for 5e but easily convertable by experienced GMs to systems of choice. However, you may disagree with the speculation behind the evolution path Terry has gone with.
Where on Sol’Kesh are Ynnil found
How is that for a detailed world view? We’ve the insight from Terry where these little biters can be found!
Sol’Kesh even provides STL files for people with 3D printers or access to them to create their own little critters for the tabletop battlemap.
We have both presupported and unsupported design files in Google Drive with the Ynnil there to take and add to your world.
The Kickstarter, which has been funded, concludes on December 5th.
Quick Links
- Sol’Kesh: Ynnil downloads.
- Kickstarter.
Leave your own remarks on this in the comment area at the bottom of this page.
