cynomorpha | celestial beasts

	GHOST DOG The Ghost Dog is an outsider. It does not truly belong in the court of the celestial beasts. It has joined them all the same but never fully. The Ghost Dog is a loner and a trickster. Its long feud with the Rat Prince is the result of its own doing; one too many petty pranks played on a favorite target. The Ghost Dog is also a wanderer, an explorer who takes in existence with the clearest of eyes. The Ghost Dog knows Death well, although has yet to be caught in those icy jaws itself. It has a way of always slipping free just at the eleventh hour. There are more tricks to play, there are more things to see. The Ghost Dog is patron of the afterlife and of the retention of intellect after death. Those born beneath its stars are said to be noble but difficult to pin down. Eccentric loners who cow to no man, they are the ones who will bring strange new ideas to this world and to hone them well.
	RAT PRINCE Prior to the arrival of the Dog, the Rat Prince enjoyed attention and status unparalleled. The Prince has not forgotten this, and it is the creature's greatest ambition to prove its superiority to the moon, the sun, and the stars. Many of the folktales surrounding the Rat Prince begin with its latest scheme to gain infamy. Some of these stunts work out and the Prince is exalted that day. Some of them do not and instead show the pettiness of the creature's obsession. These stories are meant as a warning about the toll of envy. The Rat Prince is patron of the physical realm and the collection of earthly goods. Those born beneath its stars are said to be diligent workers and are revered as the backbone of society. They are versatile in their many skills, which they hand down through strong traditions. They are generous and the hosts of many feasts.
	NAKED SWAN Beneath his mask, the Swan prince is vulnerable. In the folklore, the Swan maintains the comforts of the court of celestial beasts. He is also butler to the ephemeral beauties of the world. His favor in any given dispute can become the turning tide in a feud between beasts but he noticeably enough never picks his own fights. He only makes blithe observations and relays cold-hearted gossip where appropriate. He is the first to relay the known flaws of his fellows and also the first to cry foul when criticized. His tales are a warning against weak-hearted and petty leadership. The Naked Swan is the patron of performances, of guilds, and of society. Those born beneath his stars are said to be welcome everywhere they go. They are the insiders--they are the flock. They set trends, they define language. They are often politicians and actors but you can find a Swan in any field encouraging connection and community and sharing ideas. Swans are the blood of mankind, the ties that bind.
	CRYING SPIDER The weaver. There would be nothing here without the Spider and she is given credit for creating and sculpting the Kingdom where living things now reside. She built up the mountains, she constructed the trees, she bejeweled the ocean. While the Spider is often busy maintaining the workings of the world, of time and space, she also longs for a greater closeness with the other beasts. She tolerates the antics of the others far too much and it is always she who has reconstructed the world after their feuds and schemes go too far. The Crying Spider is patron of art and intuition. Those born beneath her stars are said to be beautiful craftsmen with a deep attention to detail and order. They are sensitive and delicate, but immensely powerful. They are artists, fortune tellers, doctors, lawyers, administrators. They are known for their beauty and for their seemingly inevitable descent into tragedy.
	DYING CROCODILE As its title implies, the Crocodile has a deep relationship with Death. Neither is it truly alive nor is dead. It does not think of tomorrow, and only cares for the meaning of the moment and personal satisfaction. It poses the question of what truly matters in life, when life creeps ever closer to its end. The Crocodile's nature remains mysterious to mankind but in its folklore it is often the one who divulges secret knowledge from deep beneath the primordial mud; the location of some precious ore, the incantation to open a locked door, or the secret to inner peace. The Crocodile is the patron saint of all warriors, who rush headlong to join their icon at the edge of the blade. Those born beneath its stars are said to be individualists, stubborn and difficult to bend but motivated by their own fire. You can find strong-willed Crocodiles in any field. High Masters of the Dying Crocodile are berserkers who know no fear of Death.