I'm looking for a fantasy character, a legendary creature that I can put in my book. It has to be something that won't leave the forest, as that's the part I want it to fit, but I haven't done any fantasy writing before so I'm not sure what to use. Someone suggested a Basilisk, but would it stay in the forest? It didn't seem the kind of creature that would be scared of any terrain. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.
I'm not sure if I've posted this in the right area, so please move it if I haven't done it right!

Well, adjust it! Give it a reason to stay there, like a plant that it has to eat that will only grow there (providing it eats plants).

I looked Basilisks up, and they sound very... creepy. They did seem to have some theological associations I didn't necessarily agree with. I'm not sure how much they are used in fantasy, but that might affect how people interpret them.

Can you give the ideas on what you have for it so far, like the type of forest it lives in, what it eats, it's color and size, or any specific (or more general) details?

If you can give me what class (i.e. reptilia, mammalia etc.) and what you want it to do, yeah sure

Well, I want it to have the ability to change color for camouflage, and I'd like it to have red eyes at night partly because that seems even more creepy haha. It's meat eating and will attack humans etc. I don't want it to be massive, more middle sized and crafty, maybe enjoying the chase and tormenting play of cat and mouse. (I wanted to make it something that was greatly feared and often talked about) I haven't really thought about the kind of forest, but it's very deep dark forest. I want to make it that this *thing* lives in the deep of the forest and isn't often spotted.

sounds a lot like my homemade lyrblaka! my suggestion, throw together a dragon/lizard that fits... Sounds to me like it would be rather long though... Look up some pictures of a skink, that might work... then take off from there :)

I like the idea of a snake type but maybe something that was half snake, mm not sure if there's something like that, but not half human of course. I spotted something called the Naga that is half woman half snake and I liked that idea but don't want it to be half human. Any ideas are welcome, but I'm leaning towards reptilian.

Make up something half snake and half tiger! That would fit the meat eating part. As for the not leaving, it could simply be unable to survive in the conditions outside the forest, or it could have been blocked by some kind of "barrier" (I'm thinking like a force field here), or there could be a type of animal that live in the areas outside of the forest that hates the thing and will try to kill it. It might be interesting if that animal attacks people too... Let me know if these don't work, and I'll imagine some more.

I like this idea of half tiger and half snake, it really sums up what I want it to be, cunning but strong. Do you think it would be too long a creature like Riniel said? It's my one worry. Otherwise I love this idea!

My thought on that is you can adjust with how long it it; it's the beauty of being the author! (If that didn't answer your question, let me know.)

I would start off with a Manticore. It likes the cat/mouse hunt, it can camouflage itself well, and will eat and destroy anything. Very deadly.

It has a human head, but you could get rid of that part. And in it's natural form, it looks like a medium sized, red lion. Mammal, I guess? Of course it's not often found in it's natural form since it hunts often.

ah now I like that also Willow, I can change the half human form etc as I dont want it to be like a cannibal hehehe! So yea that would work as well! Thanks.

Moved this to Bestiary, since it is more a creature than a character. If you want it back in Character Development, Elanor, just ask.

No its fine here I wasn't sure where to put it

sorry, you misunderstood me. I meant that, by your description, it seemed it should be long. A cross with a tiger would be interesting...

I like all the ideas that are coming up! For the camouflage element you wanted, you could have his fur be double sided, and he could flip it back and forth to light and dark so that he could blend in.

Oh, kind of like the stripes?

This is a great idea! I like it alot! You all have some great ideas, thanks! I like the idea of the:



So I'm thinking it could be half lion half tiger, what do you guys think of that? And it could have a double sided coat maybe, so it would have the head of a tiger and stripes etc but the other half of its body would be the red lion.

Woah yes yes yes! This fits what I want exactly! Nice find! I can make in a Liger plus it says they grow twice as large as both parents togther so nice and strong!

Sounds good to me...I've always wanted to include ligers in my writing! =D

eruheran

Ligers are so cool. And it's something that doesn't require too extensive of a description, because people can look it up they want more info.