Krait

Name: Krait (plural: Kraits)
Origin: First sightings in the Iuk-'U Delta.
Threat: High, if magic-user. Low, if non-magic user.
Tactics: Similar to certain types of jackals. Opportunistic and harassing their prey in packs of four to eight, snapping and scratching at limbs until the prey falls and then swarming the prey and holding them down while they either siphon magic, eat the flesh, or both.
Subspecies: None known.
Size: When standing on two legs, heights range from 5' to 6' (152 cm to 183 cm)
Distinctive features: Emaciated-looking and gangly. Elongated heads and with no apparent eyes.
Locations: In most forested areas around Epressa, and also lurking around populated places like towns and cities. They seem to have learned as a species that roads as well often have mages traveling along them, and they find places to lurk in ambush and overwatch the roads.
Source: Tsvetomir Georgiev

Kraits, simply put, are mage hunters. They can sense magic like a shark can smell blood in the water, and this is their preferred source of sustenance. They tend not to attack head on, but to instead harass and weaken the mage through fast hit-and-run bites and scratches as a group (some packs have learned to goad certain mages into wasting their magic before getting close). Once the mage has fallen down onto the ground, the Kraits swarm in. They pin down their prey and with their forelimbs and "feeder" tendrils emerge from each Krait's mouth and burrow underneath the mage's flesh, and through these tendrils they begin to directly siphon and feast on the magic potency of their victim. It is unknown, though it seems likely, that the blood of their victim serves as a conduit for this siphoning--though contradictory cases of Kraits feeding on bloodless victims are documented.

Kraits can subsist for far longer on feasting upon a mage's magic than by eating simple meat like a common carnivore. Thus, it is uncommon for Kraits to outright kill humanoids or animals, but it does happen. Because of this, Kraits often leave mundane humanoid travelers alone--far too risky for little reward.

Appearance​

Kraits are gaunt, near skeletal creatures. They have taut, sickly looking gray-green leathery skin, gangly and long arms and legs, long and thin tails, clawed (though not very sharp) feet and hands. Their heads are horrifically distinctive, elongated and with no apparent eyes and open maws that appear to be constantly grinning or sneering. Kraits are most often seen running on all fours, but they do occasionally stand up on their rear legs and can walk like this for a short time (some clever Kraits have been observed to attempt impersonating humanoids before by standing upright like this, especially at night).

Habitat​

Areas with dense vegetation, hilly terrain, any place that is suitable to their ambush tactics in hunting their mage prey.

Traits​

Magic resistant: Not completely immune to harmful magic, Kraits do nonetheless shrug off arcane volleys that would be devastating to any other creature. Hexes, curses, defensive magics all have reduced effectiveness against them.

Magic siphon: Once a Krait has gotten their "feeder" tendrils into a victim, they can directly siphon out the victim's magic potential. This leaves the victim extremely arcane fatigued, or whatever other ill-side effects come from using their magic to too great an extent.

Sight and Sense: It is currently unknown what manner of sight Kraits possess, but they are not blind, despite the lack of obvious eyes. Kraits also have a sense for detecting magic and magic-users within a certain radius.

References​

The Veil Falls

Firestorm