Maiko's Note
You don’t hear a Muruhal.
You don’t smell it.
You don’t know it’s there until the forest goes silent and you feel the pressure of being watched from somewhere you can’t see.
Some say it’s clever. I think that’s true.
Some say it uses tools. Maybe.
Some say it’s not a beast at all, but the forest’s memory of a predator that was once human.
Whatever it is, I’ve never seen more than one.
And I don’t think I ever want to.
Death from Above
Shindjal: Muruhal
Faction:
Mama Gadun
“When the birds fall silent, stop walking. Do not breathe. Do not speak. If it is already above you… pray that it is not hungry.”
— Endulani forest proverb
1. Overview
The Muruhal is a solitary, elusive predator found across the continent of Shawadjàn - lurking wherever cliffs rise, branches interlock, or mist winds between stone and bark. It does not live in packs, it does not roar, and it does not leave trophies. Its name means “death from above,” and it has earned it.
Even among the Nodilani, who have adapted to Madun for generations, the Muruhal is feared - not for its savagery, but for its intelligence, precision, and chilling unpredictability. It is not seen often. But when it is… it is usually too late.
2. Origins & Background
The Muruhal has no single homeland. It thrives in any region with sufficient vertical terrain or concealment:
Endudjan: Misty forested highlands and river valleys
Kosudjan: Harsh desert mountains with deep, starlit canyons
Eastern Cliffs: Windswept sea-facing rocks and spire forests
Its remarkable ability to alter skin tone to match its environment makes it nearly invisible when motionless. Little is known about its origin - no nesting sites or dens have ever been found, and sightings of more than one individual at a time are nonexistent.
3. Appearance
Body: Sleek and muscular, roughly panther-sized but with a flattened, flexible torso for crawling along walls and trees
Limbs: Four powerful legs ending in barbed digits capable of clinging to vertical surfaces
Tail: Long and whip-like, with a forked tip used for balance and sudden strikes
Head: Flat skull with a bone-framed face, four recessed eyes in forward-facing pairs, and a hidden mouth beneath that unfolds when feeding
Skin: Textured and chameleon-like, able to mimic bark, rock, or shadow
4. Behavior
Lives and hunts alone - no confirmed observations of social interaction or reproduction
Avoids populated areas, showing a strong aversion to noise and human scent
Primarily hunts during twilight mist in Endudjan, and at night in the desert cliffs of Kosudjan
Diet consists of large prey like the Enduvijara, but has been known to stalk isolated Nodilani who wander too far from settlements
Tool use rumors:
Tales speak of Muruhali using rocks as thrown weapons or sticks as crude spears
No formal proof exists, but tavern stories persist among hunters and travelers
Prefers to ambush from above, often descending vertically and silently
5. Ecology & Distribution
The Muruhal plays a subtle role in the predator-prey chain across Shawadjàn. Its presence keeps prey animals alert and maintains ecological balance - especially among species like the Enduvijara, which depend on vigilance and mist-borne communication to survive.
Found in:
Endudjan forests
Kosudjan cliffs and desert mountains
Coastal ridge forests in eastern Shawadjàn
Never seen in open plains or urban regions
No known natural predators
6. Cultural Role
The Muruhal occupies a mythic space in tribal memory:
Endulani hunters wear stylized Muruhal masks when training, to remind students to hunt with silence and stillness
Kosuklani refer to it as “the night that watches”
The flesh of the Muruhal is technically edible, but considered bitter and difficult to cook—most hunters avoid consuming it
Its teeth and claws are sometimes worn as talismans by lone travelers, believed to ward off other predators
7. Myth & Symbolism
Said to be a fallen shadow of the goddess Sulmalàn, a spirit punished for turning its silence into violence
Appears in children’s warnings: “Don’t speak where the wind listens. The Muruhal hears better.”
In Endulani dreams, it sometimes takes the form of a silent guardian - a dual symbol of both fear and balance
The rarest forest shamans claim the Muruhal is not a beast, but a judge, sent to cull arrogance and excess from the world
Maiko's Note
You don’t hear a Muruhal.
You don’t smell it.
You don’t know it’s there until the forest goes silent and you feel the pressure of being watched from somewhere you can’t see.
Some say it’s clever. I think that’s true.
Some say it uses tools. Maybe.
Some say it’s not a beast at all, but the forest’s memory of a predator that was once human.
Whatever it is, I’ve never seen more than one.
And I don’t think I ever want to.
