The village of Holmoak has always stood out from its neighbours in the Fenwater Delta for its prosperity, and the enormous oak tree visible for miles in the flat, brackish delta. What most don't know is that an ancient creature lives in the great oak: a pale, faceless vaguely man-shaped creature. It knows all that happens in the area under which the oat's roots spread. It is able to alter its limbs at will, elongating its fingers into razor-sharp claws or rootlike suckers that drain life. It uses its magic to improve the village's fortunes. In return, a cult of villagers feed it travelers. Its flesh is spongy, porous and uniform: it has no organs to speak of. It can only be truly harmed by piercing weapons carved from the wood of, or burned with fire kindled from, the great holm oak it lives in. Instinct: To endure

• Know its domain
• Drain essence
• Call cultists

Skilled at crawling under floorboards and skirting in houses. At rest it looks like a green patch of fungus, but smells like rot and decay. The acid is secretes can rot away the foundation of a house. When alarmed it will scuttle away on its many legs, but is able to secrete and shoot its acid when cornered. Its acid can be diluted to be used in certain cleaners. Instinct: To eat

• Secrete acid
• Run and hide

A type of tree guardian and usually found in trees suitable for wand making. It is small as it does not grow larger than 8 inches. It is commonly mistaken for a bit of bark or stick. Normally peaceful, but will attack any who try to harm its tree by jumping down and normally attacking the eyes of the victim. It is smart to offer some woodlice to the bowtruckle before harvesting the wood from its tree. Instinct: Protect its tree

• Stab delicate parts
• Chirps to warn others

Small insect about half an inch long. Colored vivid sapphire blue, though it moves too fast to be seen when not hovering still. It wings, which are attached to the top of its head, rotate very fast and cause it to spin as it flies. The bottom of the body has a long thin stinger. The stinger, when dried, is used in many potions and brews. Instinct: Hide

• Sting Victim
• Moves too quick to see
• Causes giddiness and levitation when stung
• Whistles for others to join

Instinct: to pursue

• Follow despite all obstacles
• hide in the shadows
• summon more Hetzerdämonen

Bred by placing a chicken egg under a toad. It is a brilliant green serpent which can grow up to 50 feet in size and last for almost 1000 years. It venomous fangs are not the only weapon it has, as its stare can cause instant death for those that gaze upon it. Can only be controlled and directed by a parselmouths. Instinct: Eat and kill

• Poison
• Death stare

Looks like an underfed vulture and is greenish black in color. Normally makes its tear shaped nest in thorns and brambles. Usually remains hidden and only flies in heavy rain. Feeds on insects and fairies for a normal diet. Its feathers resist liquid and as such are useless as quills. Instinct: Hide until it rains

• Cries at approach of rain

Born from a magical fire allowed to burn for too long. It is a pale grey serpent with red eyes. It leaves a trail of ash behind it as it slithers. They only live for one hour and tried to find a dark secluded spot to lay its eggs. The eggs are bright red and give off an intense heat. The eggs are of great value for love potions. Instinct: Lay eggs

• Rise from the flames
• Eggs ignite surrounding area in flames

Monstrous eight-eyed spider that is covered in thick black hair. Produces a clicking sounds with its pincers when angry or excited. The female, which is larger than the male, produces up to 100 white eggs the size of beach balls. It is capable of human speech and has near-human intelligence. Instinct: Eat and breed

• Eat large prey
• Spin webs
• Call young

Intense and pale as death, the somberly dressed man stands rigidly, his arms crossed over his chest , his eyes wide and intense, and his nose wrinkled in an expression of extreme distaste. Yellow teeth bared, his overly large incisors jut forward, not like those of a man, but of a filth-hungry vermin. Instinct: To acquire power

• Drain a victim's blood
• Control a victim's mind
• Move objects with its mind