Swelk
Classification: Moss-Covered Swamp Elk
Habitat: Heave Island – Toxic Marshlands
Elemental Type: Nature / Poison / Water
Status: Neutral-Aggressive (Territorial When Provoked)
Group Name: A wade of Swelks
Description:
Swelks are massive elk-like creatures that roam the thick, boggy wetlands of Heave Island. Towering at nearly twice the height of a human, their hulking forms are draped in layers of emerald moss, fungal blooms, and creeping algae. Their antlers are broad and thorny, resembling twisted swamp branches, often home to birds, insects, or glowing spores.
Although not innately hostile, Swelks are deeply territorial and highly sensitive to noise and movement. Their heavy hooves churn through marshy terrain with surprising silence—until provoked, at which point they charge with elemental fury and spore-shedding impact.
Behavior:
Marsh-Wardens: Swelks are seen as natural guardians of Heave Island's most toxic groves. While they don’t seek out battle, they react violently to threats near nesting grounds or sacred pools.
Toxic Rejuvenation: These beasts absorb poison and RAD through their skin, purifying it via their mossy coats. In high RAD zones, this accelerates their growth and thickens their armor-like moss.
Antler Blooming: During seasonal cycles, their antlers sprout bioluminescent fungi that may explode into clouds of spores if struck.
Appearance:
Mossy Hide: Their coarse skin is entirely obscured beneath moss, hanging lichen, and root systems that run across their flanks and legs. This natural camouflage makes them nearly invisible in overgrown areas.
Eyes: Large and silver-pupiled, glowing faintly green in low light—indicative of their RAD resilience.
Antlers: Jagged, irregular, and gnarled. Covered in bark-like growths and dripping with ambient moisture.
Hooves: Wide, cracked, and webbed—adapted for swamp navigation.
Abilities & Combat Traits:
Spore Slam: Charges with force, releasing a burst of toxic spores from its moss upon impact
Bog Shield: Swelk raises its mossy coat defensively, drastically reducing incoming damage for 1 turn
Antler Sweep: Wide arc melee attack, may disarm or knock back lighter characters
Poison Reabsorb: Gains regeneration when standing in poisoned or RAD-soaked terrain
Weaknesses:
Fire Magic: Burns through moss and fungal protection
Electric Magic: Disrupts their connection to swampwater-based healing
Dry Zones: Vulnerable when forced out of wetlands; moss begins to flake and defense drops
Environmental Notes:
Swelks are found primarily in the deep toxic basins of Heave Island’s western marshes
Local folklore speaks of "Elder Swelks"—massive ancient variants with sap-dripping antlers believed to guide lost travelers
RAD Storms cause seasonal migration—these are dangerous windows when Swelks are at their most unpredictable
