Over time, the myth of Mythelia spread across the continents, each civilization weaving its own version of the creature into its culture. To the Milaroi nomads of the Kyriya deserts, Mythelia was the spirit of the dunes, a being that could turn into a swirling dust storm, erasing whole caravans without a trace. In Lorlaroost, an island chain far to the south, sailors tell tales of a massive serpent that shifts form to resemble shipwrecked souls calling for help—only to drown the rescuers who fall for the ruse.
 
But it is the Northern Viking Tribes that speak of Mythelia with the most reverence and fear. Among them, it is said that Mythelia was once a god—banished from the heavens for defying the natural order of the world. As punishment, the god was cursed to walk the earth, its form ever-changing and unknowable. They call it "The Beast Who Was Forgotten" and speak of a creature who roams the northern forests and mountains in the shape of wolves, bears, and even trees, forever evading capture and living outside the bounds of mortal comprehension.
 
What sets Mythelia apart from other creatures of myth is its reported ability to shapeshift—an aspect that varies wildly depending on the storyteller. Some accounts claim Mythelia can assume the form of a loved one, returning to those who have lost family or friends. It is said to slip silently into the lives of its victims, becoming someone they trust, only to strike when they are most vulnerable. Other legends suggest that it takes the form of entire tribes, appearing as a group of travelers, and slowly integrating itself into their lives, only to turn on them when the time is right. In some stories, the creature is said to appear as multiple beasts at once, attacking in waves, blending in and out of the surroundings like a shadow.
 
The Henge of Mythelia, a ruinous site deep in the wilds of Sorva is said to be a gateway of sorts, where the creature can shift freely between dimensions. Legends tell of powerful shamans and sorcerers who sought to bind the beast to their service, only for it to twist its form and escape, leaving nothing but a decimated village behind. Many believe the shape-shifting nature of Mythelia is not a mere ability, but a sign of a creature that does not belong to the physical world at all—a being that exists outside of time, capable of defying the very laws of nature.
 
While many of these tales are steeped in superstition and legend, the most intriguing aspect of Mythelia is not the creature's transformations, but the unreliability of the evidence. There are countless stories of hunters who have encountered the beast in the wild, only to return with incomplete accounts—their tales marked by confusion and inconsistency. The descriptions of Mythelia are often contradictory, and eyewitnesses report that once they encounter the creature, they cannot what they truly saw. Some claim it is an enormous wolf with glowing red eyes; others speak of it as an enormous bird, its wings casting shadows over entire villages.
 
There are even a handful of strange sightings that have been recorded by scholars and historians, though each one remains unverified. One such story tells of a man who swore he saw Mythelia in the form of a shapeless mist that stretched across an entire village during a full moon. After several days, the mist was gone, and the village had withered and aged over night. Survivors spoke of hearing voices within the fog, but no one ever saw the beast itself.
 
The lack of concrete evidence has made it impossible for scholars to classify Mythelia as anything other than a powerful myth. Some argue that it is merely a projection of humanity’s deepest fears: the fear of the unknown, of things that slip through our fingers just as we think we understand them. Others believe that Mythelia is something ancient and primal, possibly a forgotten deity or a fragment of the world’s original forces.
 
Despite the skepticism surrounding Mythelia, there are those who insist that it is very real—and that the stories of its sightings are just the beginning. According to these believers, the creature exists in a state of perpetual transformation, tied to the natural forces of the world, and it cannot be pinned down in any one form. Whether it is a supernatural being, a spirit of nature, or some ancient force, the fact remains that its influence persists across the cultures of Crosantten.
 
Mythelia, The Shape-shifting Beast, remains out there to this very day. Its true nature, like the beast itself, is elusive and ever-changing. Some say it is simply a story, a tale woven by cultures to explain the unexplainable. Others, however, whisper that the creature still walks the world, shifting its shape and slipping between the cracks of reality, waiting for the moment when it will reveal itself once more.
 
And as long as Mythelia's true form remains hidden, its legend will only continue to grow.