The Juju Zombie: The Other Voodoo Zombie

Created from the dark magic of voodooism, the Juju Zombie (a.k.a Zuvembie) is a very dangerous and more intelligent species than it's common zombie cousin. Unlike normal zombies who process 'the virus', Juju Zombies do not have an infectious bite and/or blood. To become one, somebody must be reanimated by a voodoo priest or witch doctor. Native to Haiti, the Caribbean, and uninhabited regions of Eastern Africa; the Juju Zombie are used as laborers and protectors of whoever creates them. Their intelligence level can match a normal Voodoo Zombie, as they can understand simple commands but, can go beyond their Voodoo cousins. For example, you have two of the species: the Voodoo and Juju. You tell the Voodoo to walk downhill as well as the Juju the same thing. The Voodoo walks downwards but, trips on it's own feet as it catches speed downhill. The Juju, smarter than the Voodoo, decides to go downhill sideways to avoid tripping over it's feet.

What makes a Juju Zombie more dangerous than any other zombie species is that it can use magic for defense and attack. Their power comes from what reanimates them from the dead, the dark magic. Unlike the Voodoo Zombie, which is a non-carnivorous, reanimated 'strongman', the Juju uses range weapons to attack and devour it's victims. Like normal zombies but, uncommon for a Voodoo Zombie, the Juju Zombie does need food to survive. They mainly enjoy mammalian flesh such as from humans and large game like boar. Juju Zombies are known to survive long as twenty to thirty years until they fully decompose but, can survive even longer if they can tap in their ability to regenerate in which can allow them to survive even longer before their magical substance are used up. Their regeneration can't go to great lengths though such as regrowing entire limbs but, can regenerate flesh and even bone. The one thing that can fully kill a Juju Zombie is the element of fire, which cancels out the Juju's magic and burns away the flesh.

The Zuvembie (Juju Zombie) is immune to most human emotions like hesitation or fear, and even mortal deaths like being shocked by high voltage. Also like their Voodoo cousins, they're strong but, mainly rely on magic than strength.

The Gloom: The Aussie Gargoyle

The Gloom are one/two foot tall, sad-looking gargoyles that are only native to Australia. They are mainly found in heavily populated areas in Australia (such as cities, beaches, parks, etc...) but, tend to keep away from human contact as possible. Being shy, the Gloom makes no contact with other species except it's own kind. When threatened by a larger creature, like for example humans, the Gloom releases a pheromone that causes the intruder to become deeply depressed. This depression can last in the range of minutes, hours, days, or even months. While the intruder is in sorrow, the Gloom will simply glide away thanks to it's small wings on it's back. The Gloom are nocturnal hunters and will eat anything edible such as leftovers in trash bins, gum, small city birds (pigeons), and even loose pieces of debris from buildings like concrete. Their rock hard scales protects them from the rays of the sun (which all gargoyles hate) and tend to sleep in shadowing areas like in abandoned buildings. The Gloom can be domesticated but, can be a handful when raising thanks to their pheromone defense which can cause their owner (if exposed frequently) to committ suicide.
Though they hate the sun, all gargoyle species spend some time to absorb heat due to them being mainly reptiles. Beaches or on top of city buildings are perfect places where a Gloom can contain ultra-violet light but, has to be careful not to absorb too much or else it will become true stone.

The Lanx: Vampire Potatoes?

First originated in Peru, the potato is one of the world's most favorable vegetable that comes in many different forms including the famous french fry and the potato chip. Though can be dangerous due to being related to the nightshade family (some examples include wolfsbane, tobacco, and tomatoes), the potato has a far-off, supernatural cousin called the Lanx. The Lanx is referred as "a potato on the outside, but a vampire on the inside" by Monstrologists. Though closely related to the Grool, a supernatural species of land sponge that feeds off of bad luck, the Lanx is far more dangerous than it's cousins. Being vampiric, the Lanx uses it's frightening teeth to attach themselves onto their victims ( which is usually on the victim's back). Not completely sessile, the Lanx can move by rolling their potato-like bodies to areas where potatoes grow to hide amongst them. Waiting for a perfect victim to pass by (such as a human or farm animal), the Lanx will attach itself and won't let go until it drains all the life force. After feeding, the Lanx will be larger and darker in color. The only known way that someone can remove a Lanx before it can successfully drain its victim is by pouring large amounts of oil over the creature to lose it's grip on the victim's body or limb.
The Lanx is a parasite and must feed off of hosts to survive. A potato pile like this can hold a very dangerous creature that can kill anyone if not removed. Though they too originated in Peru, the Lanx follows wherever the potato goes. Lanx, unlike the potato, tastes bitter, bloody, and can cause food-borne illnesses.

The Drop Bear: The Killer Koala of Australia

The koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) is one of Australia's most recognizable marsupials. This adorable creature only eats the leaves of the eucalyptus tree that only grows on the continent and aren't as aggressive toward humans. On the other hand, its cousin the Drop Bear, is another story. The Drop Bear is an over sized koala that instead devours meat from any game the creature can find in the forest areas of Australia and even in New Zealand. The Australian Drop Bear, less aggressive than the New Zealand species, is the starting point of a very invasive species. The Drop Bear are known to board ships and planes, travelling over great distances, in the search of food. Attacking from above, all Drop Bears jump from tall branches to either knock out or kill istantly their prey which includes anything smaller than a rabbit to the size of an adult human. Afterwards, depending if the prey source is dead/or alive, the Drop Bear will quickly eat it's victim then climb up a tree to avoid any other hungry predators.

Being extremely aggressive to certain extents, a Drop Bear will attack even dingoes or the Hooroo (a species of giant, aggressive kangaroos). Though mainly live in forests with high places to hide, the Drop Bear will occassionally travel into heavily populated areas to hunt. In Sydeny, Australia; Drop Bears are known to jump down from trees near parks and homes to attack dogs, cats, and even children. The Australian is twice the size of a regular koala, while the New Zealand and the Giant American Drop Bears are three/four times the size. The New Zealand are aggressive but, not as aggressive as the Giant American which are known to have killed other large carnivores such as bears and mountain lions. Drop Bears are known to adapt well to certain limits and after adapting, they become even more aggressive to fit it's enviroment. Humans who are in Drop Bear terroritory must at all times what for signs of Drop Bears. The best way to detect one is by spitting into the air to wait for a response for a drooling Drop Bear.

The Drop Bear is highly dangerous and locals do warn tourists to avoid heavily forest areas. More people are attacked or killed by a Drop Bear each year in Australia than any animal (including the Hooroo).

The Draggle: Australia’s Other Platypus

The Draggle is a related to the platypus, a duck billed marsupial. Similar looking toward a platypus, the only way to tell the difference is that the Draggle are known to walk on their powerful hind legs and have a light blue coloration around their eyes. Throughout the marshlands and swamps of Australia, the Draggle hunts for worms and digging insects as it digs for them in the wet soil with it's large digging claws. The claws are mainly used for digging but, if disturbed or threatened, the Draggle with leave a serious gash in the enemy's skin. Like their cousins the platypus, the Draggle do swim thanks to their oddly shaped, beaver-like tail. While in the water, it looks exactly like a platypus as it swims in search of crayfish and other small crustaceans. The Draggle is a daytime animal but, during full moons they become true 'wild animals'. During a full moon, the male Draggle attracts a mate by doing a type of daggy-dance. Daggy-dancing is a more harmless way these peaceful animals compete for territory and females.

After mating, the female will hide out in her underground den while the male goes out to hunt for food. Both the male and female Draggle stay together until the young grow to adulthood. The female will later lay two large, silver coated eggs. Draggle eggs are quite valuable in Australian culture and are favored by many predators so, in result both the male and female will take turns leaving the den to hunt for food. As soon as the eggs hatch, the female and male leave the den together to search for food. Each parent takes care of the same sex child if both a male and female are born. Sometimes one parent will have to take care of both children but, usually the other parent will help out in caring for their young. After learning to the basics of survival, the parents will start taking them along hunting. When they reach adulthood, the children leave the den to find a mate and the parents will stay together until one of them dies. Draggles are quite social animals and families from different generations are known to live nearby each other.

Some Monstrologists believe that the Draggle is the next evolutionary stage of the platypus (illustration above) but, the two species are quite different because the Draggle mainly lives on land, only venturing into the water if prey sources are low.

The Hooroo: Australia’s Nastiest Kangaroo

In Australia, there are several monsters that shouldn't be bothered and this is one of them. Growing up to about forty to fifty feet tall, the Hooroo (name in Australian means 'good-bye') is a very aggressive creature. Due to it's size, the Hooroo is incredibly strong enough to lift a rig without breaking much of a sweat. Next to their strength, they have flesh-ripping teeth and sharp claws on five digit fingers that makes them twice as dangerous due to their appetite for flesh (includes cattle, camels, kangaroos, bunyips, drop bears, and even humans). The Hooroo lives only in the remote deserts in the Outback but, will occasionally wander further to human settlement if prey sources are extremely low. With powerful legs, the Hooroo can hop at speeds that can out run a helicopter if it wanted. With it's aggressive behavior, humans don't dare confront this creature or disturb it.

Foolish and amateur Monstrologists loose their lives each year as they try to creep up on a Hooroo. The Hooroo is solitary animal until mating season comes in place where the strongest of males mate while the weaker ones die off. If you happen to come upon a Hooroo in the Outback just remember these rules:

1) Stay down wind from it. The Hooroo can track a person through the desert just by smelling the sweat pouring down a person's face.

2) If creeping up on it, move whenever the creature turns it's head. It doesn't have eyes at the back of its head but, it can listen for you so move quietly and slowly.

3) If being chased, try running into thick areas or hide in tight spaces so then there's less of a chance that the Hooroo won't capture and consume you.

4) If there are other Hooroos around, run toward them. There's a chance that a fight will break out if males or females see another opponent (especially during mating season).

Females are smaller than males and tend not to attack as much unless disturbed or frightened. Males on the other hand with attack no rather what the circumstance.

The Yurg: The Subterranean Rhinoceros of ‘Middle Earth’

'Middle Earth' is a term used by Monstrologists of a time period when all the races were trying to gain control over Europe. Throughout this time period in Earth's history, a wide variety of species roamed this world either fighting in wars or trying to stay undetected. The Yurg is one of the species that lived during this era. A Yurg is part of the rhinoceros family with an odd horn protruding out of its head. Being mainly used as cattle/oxen, they were used for many labor jobs amongst the dwarfs and the orcs. The Yurg is a herbivore and will only eat the roots of the plants for their water. Being mostly subterranean, the Yurg digs it's way into a hill side or mountain with it's powerful hooves. Using them to scrape away both dirt and loose rocks. The horn of the Yurg is quite durable as well, as its used to break apart hard rocks as the Yurg charges at any hard solids their hooves can't dig through. They mainly live alongside dwarfs due to their subterranean nature of building homes, cities, and kingdoms underneath the ground in huge caves. The Yurg doesn't like the sun as much so, it would only come on to the surface as it rains or during the nighttime to graze for food that's not available underground. Though shy creatures, they are also strong and durable as well thanks to their large muscles and tough skin. To humans, they're not really known amongst are race but, asking a dwarf or even an orc can give away some helpful hints of handling/finding Yurgs underground.

Yurgs are rarely bought by humans but, in the orc or dwarf world. They're favored as both creatures of labor, companions, or even as food.

The Warg: Vicious Riding Canines of the Orcs

Being five feet tall at the shoulder and ten feet long in length, the Warg is a very dangerous predator. Originally from Scandinavia, this large wolf were used in the place of horses as vikings fought over territory. Like wolves, the Warg hunts in packs and rarely take down large prey by themselves. Alpha males of Warg packs are said to be the most ferocious and vicious amongst the entire pack. Wargs are unique creatures because they also carry features of other animals such as bears and hyenas. Like bears, Wargs have a bearlike face with a long muzzle full of teeth, and can climb trees due to processing strong dewclaws. Like hyenas, the body structure of the Warg has a hunched back (similar toward a spotted hyena), have short fur throughout most of its body that shows different types of patterns such as spots, and Wargs process a powerful bite in which they can crunch bones into pieces. Wargs, like hyenas, are also known to eat the bones either by accident or to contain marrow from within the bones themselves as food.

Both wild and captive Wargs are dangerous, ferocious, and vicious toward anyone who trains them. Wargs raised completely in captivity, over several generations, will later lose their aggression over their masters but, not over strangers. It takes over fifty generations to contain a docile Warg and its mainly impossible due to it being a very long process. The first group of people known to first used Wargs were the vikings, using them to strike fear into their enemies. Then the barbarians used them for awhile as another means of transportation. Though in earlier years, Orcs used them to become their riding partners or companions. Some Wargs easily bonded with their riders, while others turn out to became a snack. Wargs are known to turned their heads around to bite the leg of their rider, only to later consume him/or her due to flexibility in their necks. Wargs are illegal to own in the human world but, Orcs still have rights to their heritage.

Wargs are known for their speed as they can come upon their prey in only a few seconds and are extremely strong in which they can flip (and even dent) a Volkswagen on its side after hitting it with it's shoulders.